Rethunking AIDS

I think this is the tweet that started it all. It seems to be the one replied to, anyway.

Odd question: “is it science when the rigors of the discipline are not applied?” What on earth does he (I suspect it’s the website owner, although at the time I naïvely assumed it was someone helpfully pointing out a misinformation site for my future ire) think science is? In any case, I was rushed off my feet and didn’t go into semantics, merely noting the presence of the website and replying:

The above was tweeted in between, but not directed at me. He seems to be trying to drum up trade for the site. I didn’t see this until later.

Not having the foggiest idea what he’s on about and assuming he’s in good faith, I reply:

What? This is the first real indication he’s not 100% kosher, especially as I wasn’t being sarcastic and hadn’t accused him of denialism.

I don’t answer, because I’m snowed under. In any case, if he knows me from my blog he shouldn’t have to ask. However, he turns up again like a bad penny an hour later:

You’d think he’d have taken time out to find out to whom he’s talking, but no.

Ah, this is definitely a troll. He’s had time to look at my blog, then accuses me of not being straight with him. They do this when they don’t get the reply they want. Presumably he wants to bog me down on Twitter, but unfortunately for him I *do* have more interesting and important things to do.

Not asking me to repeat everything? Oh yes you were: it’s an old troll tactic to try and wear people down that way, by making them waste time repeating the same arguments over and over. As for an open mind, I do have one, but not so open my brain falls out (and the ‘closed mind’ accusation is another classic antiscience trollism).I wasn’t aware I was debating anyone, since I’d pointed out I was too busy, and I couldn’t see any Noble Laureates in the room to disagree with me or otherwise. Appeal to anonymous higher authority? Good one, lad. I’ll stick with Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and her colleagues anyway.

I had suggested he was using denialist tactics *once*. Presumably the sarcasm accusation is because I didn’t come rushing to him asking for further information and saying how all this has been a revelation to me. Actually, I’d discovered the existence of the very nasty denialist group “Rethinking AIDS” a few months back, so I’d had time to get over both my surprise and anger. So, if he wants it quite clear, let’s give it to him with both barrels. With extreme politeness.

To this I receive no reply. He posts this later on, to anybody who might be listening:

Then why so defensive of criticism of that site? And as for political expediency and profit, that’s the first time it’s mentioned. Goalpost moving, anybody?