Homeopathy speaker banned from SW Vet Show

Re: Homeopathy speaker banned from SW Vet Show

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 21:53:25 GMT

Maybe this needs to be the next petition to the RCVS. Get them to investigate (and hopefully strike off for practising medicine with NO evidence whatsoever) any veterinary surgeons peddling homoeopathy.

Re: Homeopathy speaker banned from SW Vet Show

james herriot lied — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 21:52:24 GMT

[quote user="alex gough"]

Either way, it is their right to withdraw from a meeting they feel is tainted, just as much as it is a right of the organisers to decide who they want to speak.

[/quote]

Well, yes it is. But it's not necessarily the sponsors' right to deliver an ultimatum; if they don't wish to be involved, so be it, but if they're trying to censor the programme, that's out of order.

I'd be surprised if it's not the best attended and liveliest discussion in the entire event. If the speaker makes it to the end, he'll be a more stoic individual than me.

Re: Homeopathy speaker banned from SW Vet Show

Stephen Courtney — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 21:21:09 GMT

If a homeopath is claiming to have cured cancer - well why isn't he out there shaking diluted water around and curing everybody?

I wouldn't go to such a lecture, but I'd quite like the Preliminary Investigation Committee of the DC to go.

Re: Homeopathy speaker banned from SW Vet Show

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 17:26:59 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Arlo, correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't the main object of these shows to collect money from exhibitors, the lectures being simply a way to get people in?[/quote]EVELYN. You're even more cynical than me!!

Re: Homeopathy speaker banned from SW Vet Show

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 17:15:09 GMT

[quote user="alex gough"]So bravo to the companies taking a stand[/quote]

Perhaps. They do pay for the shows, after all.

Arlo, correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't the main object of these shows to collect money from exhibitors, the lectures being simply a way to get people in?

Re: Homeopathy speaker banned from SW Vet Show

Alex Gough — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 17:05:45 GMT

Look at this another way. There are commercial reasons why companies don't want to be associated with things they think are either unethical, or could affect their reputation. Depending on who these companies are, this could be an ethical stand, or a commercial decision. Either way, it is their right to withdraw from a meeting they feel is tainted, just as much as it is a right of the organisers to decide who they want to speak. If this was a purely alternative conference, and the companies had not realised, they would surely have a right to withdraw. No one would dispute the right of a company to withdraw from a conference with speakers from the far right, or the arms dealing community, and homeopathy can certainly induce similarly strong emotions!

So bravo to the companies taking a stand, and for the conference organisers I would say stand up for what you believe. Don't ban a speaker because of pressure from one direction, then reinstate him because of pressure from another direction!

Re: Homeopathy speaker banned from SW Vet Show

Bob Russell — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 17:05:07 GMT

Strange to be in the situation of supporting a speaker spouting the 'unsupportable' nonsense but veterinary surgeons are a pretty well educated lot so perfectly capable of deciding for themselves!

I made the mistake,as a student , of going to a Socialist Worker talk. To this day I don't have a clue why I did but it was a great relief when people started to leave the room. I was too polite to be the first!

The advertisers behaviour was unacceptable IMO!

Re: Homeopathy speaker banned from SW Vet Show

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 16:24:16 GMT

You beat me to it Arlo I was going to pose exactly the same conundrum.

Advertisers should have no say in dictating what is up for discussion and everyone should have the right to put forward their point of view however wacky the rest of think it is otherwise democracy is dead and we become like our 'friends' messers V. Putin and A. Hamza et al. As all should have the freedom of speech, we have the freedom of choice to accept it or reject it and the speakers hopefully will have the strength of belief to defend their position. I still think homoeopathy is poppycock but that is my choice.

Full marks to the organisers for (belatedly) going against the wishes of the advertisers who I believe should be named and shamed.