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Very well put Wendy. Couldn't have said it better myself. [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Tebay, Wendy M <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> Date: Sunday, November 15, 1998 9:17 PM Subject: i smell another rat >I must also beg to differ once again with some of these "snake-oil" attacks >on people's characters. Frankly, I do not include myself amongst any sort >of list "police" groups, of any sort. I am all for critical thinking and >investigating all claims made here, but that means ALL claims made. I do >sense an overwhelming bias against alternative treatments and sometimes >docile, almost mindless acceptance of ideas and treatments either proposed >or endorsed by standard western medical experts. No one seems to go after >any of the traditional western MD's or pharmaceutical companies with the >same zealousness reserved for those who ideas or proposed treatments are >more on the fringe. I have seen lists of drugs posted here many times, >sometimes with info making it clear that there's a profit motive involved, >sometimes not. I do not think either side's motives are any more nor any >less good/bad or selfish/unselfish. > >Has anyone stopped to consider that maybe some of these people got into the >promotion of certain products for profit, only after having used them >themselves, or having seen them used for others that they know. Personally, >I think combining the ability to make some money, ALONG WITH a product in >which one believes completely, is a wonderful combination. For instance, >down the road, I've thought of also combining my environmental interests >with a business. That might include alternatives to traditional pest >control, alternative medicines, nutritional supplements, etc. I would be >VERY offended, to say the least, if perhaps I were able to cure myself of PD >via nutritional supplements and diet, and then had people attacking my >character and motives later if I then decided to share this which had worked >for me with others for a profit. If I found a vitamin/herb treatment >program that worked for me, I'd love to just give it away, but since I'm not >Bill Gates, I could hardly afford to do that. Thus self-interest comes into >play too out of necessity. People should make their profit-making >intentions clear, I agree. To be consistent then, there should also be alot >more policing of the doctors, drug companies, and ALL OTHER groups who post >here. > >I also take issue that when there are possible personal/corporate gains to >be made on something alternative, that self-interest automatically also >confers upon the product the label of snake-oil. Every drug or treatment >ever discussed here would fall into that category, if profit alone is the >criteria. > >Again, as I said above, and on an earlier post, not only might this person >truly believe in this product due to personal experience, but also, they may >have some very altruistic plans for those profits. Any business that I >undertake would be something that was in line with my personal >interests/issues, and also the profits I received would not only support me, >but also help me to even further support those same issues. > >So, let's all maintain both critical and open minds. They are not mutually >exclusive. There are also ways to challenge someone without attacking their >integrity and motives, especially prematurely. Let's also make sure this >critical analysis and investigation is applied equally all-around. And >finally, let's avoid reducing issues to cliches like "snake-oil", etc. > >Wendy Tebay