I was combating HIV disinformation decades ago, long before DK or Indivisible or the Truth Brigade were thought of. Today it’s ivermectin, a drug that is very effective against parasitic worms, but has no effect on viruses. Hydroxychloroquine, too.
I joined an online discussion group in the days before Twitter et al., a group devoted to the idea that HIV does not cause AIDS, and to various quack remedies. Every day I looked for the latest nonsense, and went to find the truth of the matter. And every day I posted the truth and replied to comments. After just a few weeks, I checked in with the group to find that everybody was gone. I have no idea whether I convinced them or just chased them away.
There are such stories out in MSM and on various social media every day.
Eliminating ‘river blindness’ with ivermectin
River blindness, which is endemic to parts of Africa and South America, is caused by worms transferred by flies to people’s eyes. The worms burrow inside the eyes, and eventually damage them, causing total blindness. Two doses of ivermectin annually, donated by the manufacturers, kill the worms and prevent the blindness. Health workers now organize big festivals to get people in these trackless rain forests to come for their treatments. Good for worms in dogs, sheep, horses, and cattle, too. Just not for viruses. Also people should not take doses big enough for horses and cows.
Texans are using cow dewormer to treat COVID. Poison calls have skyrocketed.
With cancer the big quack remedy was once Laetrile, the toxic cyanide compound found in bitter almonds and peach pits. There are many historical studies of quackery, including the anti-tartar toothpaste in Huckleberry Finn that did indeed remove tartar, but took the enamel with it.
The myth arose in southern Africa that AIDS could be cured by sex with a virgin, leading to a massive wave of rapes of ever-younger girls.
Anything that can take down any of these lies and delusions will save lives right away, and contribute to the erosion of the Trump death cult and its political manifestations.
Join the Indivisible Truth Brigade
Propaganda, false characterizations, intentionally misleading messages, and outright lies threaten our democracy and even our lives. We can effectively combat disinformation, despite the well-funded machines that drive it.
Or you can just come over to Twitter once in a while to follow and retweet me and my friends in the Truth Brigade List. Even if you only click on the tweet above and retweet it once, I will thank you and follow you. We also have a Daily Kos list. Ask me on Twitter if you want to be on it.
We are working on Facebook and Quora, too. There are too many ivermectin and other disinformation groups on these sites to begin to list here, but I am thinking about doing some future Diaries about them.