This is why so many no longer trust experts
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“Below is a review from a year or so ago; I’d given up on this show. Recently, they played one on the Freakonomics show (not Freakonomics md), so I listened in. The topic was breast feeding.
First they had Emily Oster on (look up her podcast if you like data). Emily is probably left leaning because she’s a professor (yeah, that’s not all that fair). But I’ve never seen her bias in her research and she’s taken some politically incorrect positions. That’s courageous in academia. Emily found that there was almost no value to breast feeding once the data was controlled for race, intelligence and a dozen other factors.
I was amazed and encouraged. I have no opinion on breast feeding, but dropped Baku’s show because he always, always injects his social justice bias into the data. I often agree with him, but can’t trust him. But now, he brought in an expert who didn’t fit his bias. Go Bapu; maybe I misjudged you.
Next was Emma Fitzsimons (sp?). She concluded that there was a 15% advantage in cognitive skills (reasoning, verbal) that children of privileged women had thru age 7. No mention of controls like Emily did. Maybe she did proper research, but Bapu didn’t ask if she did or ask Emily why the difference. And of course Bapu finished with a plea for social justice.
It’s so disappointing because Bapu has a great background and speaking ability. But just another mediocre advocate. Anyone wonder why “experts” are no longer trusted?
My review from a year or so ago:
Love the combination of medicine and economics and Bapu (hope I got that right) is easy to listen to. Episodes like the Marathon, Retirement and what docs say and do were excellent. But some of the recent ones are introducing political bias into his work. The one on gender bias is an example. At the risk of overly generalizing, it netted out to the disparity was due to women not selling themselves well and there's an institutional bias against them. The work of Dr. Goldin was mentioned but essentially ignored. If I'm remember this right, she found that 97% of the wage gap was due to women fairly or unfailry needing more work flexibility than men. So, they might need more time off for children or a job that required fewer hours. She was mentioned, but the work dismissed with "we controlled for all that" (not a direct quote, but I think accurate). That women need more flexibility was the entire argument for the pay gap. How can you not address this and go right to women are persecuted. Also, you brought on a guest who was clearly an advocate for all forms of diversity; that's her job. So, don't pretend she's objective. There are other examples, though much more subtle and usually only short comments. I don't need another NPR podcast that twists the data or selectively picks the data that supports their side. Actually, no one does as science itself is now losing credibility as it's being viewed as a tool of one side. Please go back to being an objective economist and doctor, and stay away from advocacy. There are a gazillion shows that already are doing this. If there are arguments that don't support what you believe, tell them, kill them with what you know, but don't become just another tool of either side.”Read full review »
Marcus517 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
12/31/22
More reviews of Freakonomics, M.D.
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“I’m very happy freakonomics radio network is expanding and the first episode of this new series is already very promising”
zaza76bz via Apple Podcasts ·
Italy ·
08/09/21
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“Bapu brilliantly approaches medicine with an economist’s eye for facts, data and evidence. I love this approach. His guests are always smart and cheerful, an irresistible combination. Keep going, Bapu. You rock!”
Jimmy Barnes - don't laugh! via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
09/04/21
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“We need experts now more than ever.”
k2utah via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/28/21
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