Michael Sharpe skewered by @JohntheJack on Twitter

Stewart said:
The timing of this is very interesting. It looks to me as though someone must have read Steven Lubet's column on Virology yesterday and brought it to Sharpe's attention that he was doing more harm than good.
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His sudden change of heart and ‘lock down’ suggest this doesn’t it.

Shame it’s all been put in the public domain for all to see like all critical debates (or attempts at them) should be.

I think even though he hasn’t answered any of the questions about his research he has revealed exactly his position and that is useful to carry on the debate elsewhere.

I would like to thank Michael Sharpe for his contribution it’s been really useful.
 
Stewart said:
The timing of this is very interesting. It looks to me as though someone must have read Steven Lubet's column on Virology yesterday and brought it to Sharpe's attention that he was doing more harm than good.
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The psych lobby shows up in periods of great threats. Timing is everything. It reminds me of when ME-ICC got published. This is when Wessely decided he needed to intervene and claimed he has received death threats. In this current case, I think all of this PR on Twitter by Sharpe was related to the parliamentary discussion from last week. They are defending their turf.
 
Robert 1973 said:
The strange thing is that I think it was me who first wrote “GOTCHA!” in this thread, and yet I appear to be one of the few people who have not been blocked (see: https://www.s4me.info/threads/micha...ohnthejack-on-twitter.3464/page-79#post-83525).

I would not ordinarily use such tabloid language when discussing such serious issues, but it felt appropriate in the context of the thread and Sharpe and Wessely’s own goals. However, for all the laughs they have given me, I would hate any outside observers to think that I, or anyone else in this forum, consider this to be some sort of game. Lest there be any doubt, the reason I am challenging these people is to try to expose their flawed ideas and irresponsible actions which I consider to be responsible for a significant part of the misery that I have endured through 26 years of debilitating illness. I sincerely wish that such actions were not necessary, that I was able to use my limited resources to focus on things that have nothing to do with my illness. But those who are charged with our care and protection have failed us for decades, leaving many of us to feel that we have no choice but to fight for ourselves for the dignity and respect we have been denied – the human rights to which every citizen is entitled.

I know others feel differently but, for what it is worth, I have no problem being called an activist. It is probably an accurate description of what I have become, and I am proud to follow in the footsteps of those who have fought oppression and injustice to make the world a better place. What makes me angry is that such activism has become so necessary.

[Edit: typo]
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Agree, we have been forced into ‘activism’. I too was blocked by Sharpe yesterday when he was doing his blanket blocking. Am surprised I lasted this long. The man is entirely lacking in self-awareness and is chillingly unaware of harms visited on us because of his ‘science’. His tweets are truly parodic if not downright sinister. #jesuisvexatious
 
I'm not sure whether much productive has come from these exchanges with Prof Sharpe.

I'm concerned that a number of these exchanges have not helped the reputation of pwME (on twitter, at least). Lots of people with ME themed profiles liking each others tweets and passionately responding to particular people, and maybe a couple actually insulting them, isn't a good look. It feeds into the idea that pwME are on a vendetta against/harassing people/researchers, that they're unreasonable, and that they're excessively concerned with their sick role or that having ME relates to a kind of online groupthink.

I think online dialogue and awareness are really important, but I believe pwME may not be coming out looking too good in all these exchanges.

I'm not happy to make these observations, but I think they're necessary to make.
 
Stewart said:
The timing of this is very interesting. It looks to me as though someone must have read Steven Lubet's column on Virology yesterday and brought it to Sharpe's attention that he was doing more harm than good.
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I posted a link to him yesterday. He's not showing in the thread now of course because I am blocked.


His retweets this morning are interesting.

And


Wonder if they'll be discussing PACE.
 
petrichor said:
I'm not sure whether much productive has come from these exchanges with Prof Sharpe.

I'm concerned that a number of these exchanges have not helped the reputation of pwME (on twitter, at least). Lots of people with ME themed profiles liking each others tweets and passionately responding to particular people, and maybe a couple actually insulting them, isn't a good look. It feeds into the idea that pwME are on a vendetta against/harassing people/researchers, that they're unreasonable, and that they're excessively concerned with their sick role or that having ME relates to a kind of online groupthink.

I think online dialogue and awareness are really important, but I believe pwME may not be coming out looking too good in all these exchanges.

I'm not happy to make these observations, but I think they're necessary to make.
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On the contrary, Michael’s tweets have reinforced the notion that PACE scientists simply will not listen to valid criticism. Unless pwME are being hostile or rude or bombarding MS with multiple tweets - which I have seen seldom - we really need to get away from the notion that we can’t speak up without reinforcing idea of vendetta. He is provoking patients and advocates with his insolence. It really is that simple.
 
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Keela Too said:
I haven’t managed to keep up with screenshots of Tweets and am now without my laptop til next week. I will try and do more then (just on phone now). Maybe someone could grab important ones in the meantime- like that “block you - kind regards” one.
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Perhaps we should encourage people to save any tweet we think it worth posting to wayback machine, so it's publicly archived? This is easy to do, and I've got a browser add on that makes it even easier. Thanks for all your work Keela, we should really try to share it out now.

edit: The following are links to the wayback machine, and they show up fine here as tweets. I think it would be good if we could try to save copies of any tweets we think are worth posting to the wayback machine, and then linking to the archived tweet, rather than one which could disappear in the future.


"@_NathalieWright Sorry. I am going to block you as we are going round circles. Kind regards"



"To CFS and ME patients and activists. I am grateful to those who engage in genuine dialogue. Unfortunately not all do and some waste time playing games of 'gotcha'. I am sorry but life is just too short and those playing games will be blocked. A lost opportunity."

 
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Milo said:
The psych lobby shows up in periods of great threats. Timing is everything. It reminds me of when ME-ICC got published. This is when Wessely decided he needed to intervene and claimed he has received death threats. In this current case, I think all of this PR on Twitter by Sharpe was related to the parliamentary discussion from last week. They are defending their turf.
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Yes, and they don't want that looked at too carefully.
Has he diverted us from actions that would have helped us more? In my view, in the light of the debate last week, yes.
Now it's over, then he can afford to drop it.
 
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