#NaturalNonsense: Science Supporters Condemn Natural News

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Jan 19, 2019 at 1:17 PM 171

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#NaturalNonsense: Science Supporters Condemn Natural News Founder Mike Adams

Kavin Senapathy Contributor

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kavinsenapathy/2...09fd0b6753

If you don’t know who Mike “Health Ranger” Adams is, he may be a steadfast presence in your social media newsfeed without your knowledge.

Awarded the top slot on Real Clear Science’s “Worst Websites for Science in 2016” list, and with its founder touted by Dr. Oz as “the Renegade Health Ranger,” Natural News is a thorn in the sides of all who hold legitimate science dear.

But bad science isn't Adams' only offense. Natural News is a fake news fixture, with articles on Obama birtherism, HIV/AIDS denialism, and the Sandy Hook tragedy as an elaborate hoax by FEMA to promote gun control. With the current uproar about fake news, the website and its founder should top lists of spurious sources.

Despite its outlandish stances, Natural News has been a staple since 2003. Attracting millions of unique visitors per month, you probably know at least a couple people who follow the website (just go to Facebook and see how many of your friends “like” the page).

Now, dozens of science supporters (including me) have launched a grassroots New Year's resolution campaign against both Adams and his website, tagged with #NaturalNonsense. The message went out via a graphic simultaneously posted on Facebook by a host of public pages, from the popular Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe podcast to the Refutations to Anti-Vaccine Memes organization, at 8:10 am eastern time on Thursday:

“Natural News is one of the most egregious purveyors of fake news. Starting January 1st, 2017, we pledge never to share content from this source, and ask others to do the same."

Molecular geneticist Layla "Biochica" Katiraee explained to me why she is part of the campaign: “Natural News has routinely peddled incorrect information and misled its readers in attempts to sell its nutritional supplements and organic goods that Adams claims protects consumers from a wide range of maladies, ranging from Zika to cancer.

Not only do his claims harm the individuals who purchase these with the hope that their own condition will be improved, but it harms public health initiatives that can be impacted by pseudoscience and false information.”

Mark Alsip, blogger at Bad Science Debunked said: “I recently lost a sister to cancer and saw firsthand how much pain, confusion, and false hope can be caused by the pseudoscience peddled by sites like Natural News.

Given that they and their writers sell products that contain the same ingredients they link to cancer, I feel obligated to speak out about what appears to be an example of dangerous consumer fraud.”

Cell biologist and Thoughtscapism blogger Iida Ruishalme explained: “I learned of Natural News first when I became a mom - it is the regular source of scares in internet mommy groups.

This site, like many other misleading 'alt' health sites, is trying to make new parents view anything and everything in their surroundings as a health danger - although we are healthier and live longer than ever before.

The consequences of needless worry and anxiety are much more significant than the purported risks put forth in these clickbait stories by fake health news like Mike Adams’.”

Scientist Alison “Mommy, Ph.D” Bernstein explained on her site: “Natural News writes some downright crazy stories, like those about ancient civilizations on Mars, but some stories about Zika or the safety of vaccines harm public health initiatives.”

Adams’ reaction to public uproar over the fake news phenomenon was tellingly defensive. In a December 8th post on Natural News, the Health Ranger himself decried what he dubbed “fake news hysteria,” condemning CNN, New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, USA Today, NPR, MSNBC, Fox News and more as “fakestream” “corporate media.”

As one of the most ardent purveyors of quackery, it's only natural that Adams feels the heat now that fake news is in the hot seat.

If you’re still not convinced that Natural News is nonsense, just take a look at Adams’ biography. Equal parts alarming and entertaining, his bio is a buffet of grandiosity garnished with fact-scarce ideology, with myriad nuggets like:

“Adams was the youngest person he knew who owned a personal computer.”
"Adams possess the technology to monitor trends and make predictions about bank runs, epidemic disease, race wars and other issues reflected in human communications on the 'net. To date, he has not deployed such a technology and has not announced any plans to do so."

“Adams has no criminal record and has never been arrested.”
“Adams chose not to attend graduate school but was offered numerous scholarships to do so.”

Though his bio is uniquely fascinating, Mike Adams is nothing short of affront to the truth, and Natural News, with its staff of over twenty writers, is his platform.

He has called for the killing of those who speak out in support of biotechnology. He fabricates and publishes stories about those who dare criticize him. He aims to convince desperate cancer patients to use snake oil rather than proven treatments.

He is a leading proponent of chemtrail conspiracy theories. He runs an “independent news” search engine Good Gopher, which sources results from sites like Breitbart and GovtSlaves.info.

Mark Alexander Sevilla, of Do You Even Science, Bro?, explained that friends don’t let friends share from Natural News. “I see too many of my friends and family sharing outrageous articles from shady websites, and I feel like I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't tell them it was B.S.”

Natural News has not responded to a request for comment.

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