The best response to the New York Times' article about the autism-inflammation theory comes from Emily Willingham. She writes,
What we have here is an argument that relies on shaky and shifting hypotheses of autism and autoimmune epidemics and hygiene, built using sparse data and scientific hints, a poor understanding of basic evolution and ecology, and a paradox of calling for a return to a more infectious past to “cure” autism while blaming immune-dysregulated, occasionally infected mothers of the present for … autism. In his closing, Velasquez-Manoff argues that evolution provided us with a roadmap of the original microbial and parasitic ecosystems we once were, one that, presumably, if we follow it, will guide us out of the “insanity” and “affliction” that is autism. If it’s possible, that’s where he’s most wrong. Evolution isn’t something that happens with a plan. To describe it in those terms is to have a profound failure of understanding of what evolution is. Where we’re going, evolutionarily speaking, there are no roads. And it would be better for most of us if there weren’t any parasitic worms, either.
Apt. 11d 
About “Best Response to the Autism/Inflammation Theory” whatever you have shared here seems to me pretty outstanding from all side. Thanks mate and keep it up.
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Do non-bot women ever say “mate” to other women?
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Maybe in Australia?
As far as the parasitic worms, I’m quite glad to have never seen them in anything but a dog.
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“As far as the parasitic worms, I’m quite glad to have never seen them in anything but a dog.”
Likewise. I whiled away many cold evenings in the Peace Corps reading our health manual (“Where There Is No Doctor”) and the parasitic worm sections were particularly lively. The one I remember best is the guinea worm. The WTISND technique for dealing with it is waiting for it to erupt from your skin and then slowly, carefully spooling it out.
“The offspring [of the guinea worm] are worms that migrate through the body tissues on a slow journey toward the skin. By the time the worm completes its trek (about one year later), it resembles a giant spaghetti noodle measuring as long as two or three feet. Victims of the disease sometimes see the worm moving beneath their skin as it prepares to break the surface. The worm eventually pushes its way out of the skin, causing an excruciating burning sensation”.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-is-guinea-worm-disease
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Where we’re going, evolutionarily speaking, there are no roads.
I agree with any argument that has unnecessary “Back To The Future” references.
It was why, completely unexpectedly, I enjoyed “Hot Tub Time Machine” on Netflix last month.
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Every time I see a hot tub, I shout “Hot Tub Time Machine!” This is making me a favorite among realtors as we house hunt. #not
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Wendy,
You need to see Closing Escrow. I’m not saying it’s a good movie, I’m just saying you need to see it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473015/
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I’m mildly intrigued by the autism/inflammation theory, but that article was really awful. I don’t actually see the point o publishing a scientific theory as an op ed piece. Op eds are bound to over-interpret, mis-state, over-generalize the state of the idea. And, this one does all those things, and in a particularly dangerous area of science where people search for miracle cures.
I would be interesting in hearing the editorial decision making that went behind publishing the article, since it doesn’t make sense to me. I’d expect such an article tied to a scientific paper (say, as a science news result). But this was pure opinion, not vetted scientifically.
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