Manufactroversy
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To take the first three examples, in order: [[evolution]] (together with [[Common descent]]) is one of the best-tested and most successful [[scientific theory|scientific theories]]. There is no evidence that vaccines cause [[autism]]<ref>The only scientific paper ever to be published to this effect was of very low quality and has since been retracted. Its author has been "struck off", i.e. prohibited from practising medicine.</ref> or any other harm, and overwhelming evidence that they save lives. Global warming is happening and can be measured, and the cause has been proven to be man. However, the amount of, and how to mitigate, it remains up for debate: interestingly, denialists seem to ignore this part. | To take the first three examples, in order: [[evolution]] (together with [[Common descent]]) is one of the best-tested and most successful [[scientific theory|scientific theories]]. There is no evidence that vaccines cause [[autism]]<ref>The only scientific paper ever to be published to this effect was of very low quality and has since been retracted. Its author has been "struck off", i.e. prohibited from practising medicine.</ref> or any other harm, and overwhelming evidence that they save lives. Global warming is happening and can be measured, and the cause has been proven to be man. However, the amount of, and how to mitigate, it remains up for debate: interestingly, denialists seem to ignore this part. | ||
| + | mon examples== | ||
| + | *[[Intelligent design]] and other aspects of the creation-evolution debates. | ||
| + | *Various claims of [[Vaccine denialism|vaccines]] causing harm. | ||
| + | *[[Global warming]] denial. | ||
| + | *[[Obama citizenship denial]] | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 00:05, 6 February 2013
A manufactroversy[1] is a manufactured controversy.
A manufactroversy can be a form of denialism: pretending that a controversy exists over something which is, in fact, not in debate by anyone who has the slightest grasp of the facts, but which a number of people wish to deny for religious, political, or other reasons. The usual motive for this is to attempt to give the appearance that the facts are still up for debate. Another kind is the manufactured "scandal": blowing a non-issue out of proportion.
Often related to the "tell both sides" method of reporting, where only one side has any evidence, so the reporter searches out a crank just so they can tell another side.
This concept is also illustrated through what one editor would describe as "fill-in-the-blank outrage" by American Christian fundamentalists. Examples of this include fundie leaders suddenly declaring things as diverse as environmentalism, feminism, gay rights, socialism, etc. to be threats to Christianity, unscriptural, unholy, or some other version of "wahhh" when there is no indication that Christians as a whole considered these things threatening over the nearly 2000 years of the religion's existence. Until just now, of course.
Were one cynical, one might posit that these fundies are being manipulated by their leaders and by political opportunists in order to further ideological goals or to sucker money out of the masses. But when has that ever been an issue?
The term "swiftboating" is often used in American media due to the smear campaign against John Kerry launched by the organization Swift Boat Veterans for "Truth."
Common examples
- Intelligent design and other aspects of the creation-evolution debates.
- Various claims of vaccines causing harm.
- Global warming denial.
- Obama citizenship denial.
- Non-issue yawners or other non-events being turned into the scandal of the week (see Ward Churchill, ACORN), particularly by 24-hour rolling news coverage needing to fill time when there's no real news.
- Any of many other moral panics, too numerous to list.
To take the first three examples, in order: evolution (together with Common descent) is one of the best-tested and most successful scientific theories. There is no evidence that vaccines cause autism[2] or any other harm, and overwhelming evidence that they save lives. Global warming is happening and can be measured, and the cause has been proven to be man. However, the amount of, and how to mitigate, it remains up for debate: interestingly, denialists seem to ignore this part. mon examples==
- Intelligent design and other aspects of the creation-evolution debates.
- Various claims of vaccines causing harm.
- Global warming denial.
- Obama citizenship denial
See also
- Andrew Breitbart: His stable of websites are one of the main purveyors of manufactroversies in the U.S.
- Drudge Report: Another main purveyor
- Molehill mountaineering
- Teach the controversy
Footnotes
- ↑ Ceccarelli, Leah "Manufactroversy, The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed" Science Progress Spring/Summer 2008: 82-84.
- ↑ The only scientific paper ever to be published to this effect was of very low quality and has since been retracted. Its author has been "struck off", i.e. prohibited from practising medicine.