A Sociological Eye

  We really need to talk about the concept of neurodiversity. Current events make that very clear. As you are likely aware, if you were in contact with media at all this week, President Trump has announced that there has been a terrible rise in autism, and that it has two causes. One, everyone expected him to name, because it is the fixation of his Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr.—childhood vaccines. But nobody except for thrilled antivaxxers paid much attention to that same old discredited claim. The other was the surprise, intended to draw headlines and furor: acetaminophen, generally referred to in the US by the brand name Tylenol. In particular, Trump claimed that autism results in children whose pregnant mothers took Tyelnol. This isn’t actually a new claim, and those at the core of the MAHA movement, seeking to “Make America Healthy Again” through actions ranging from sensible to bizarre, were probably familiar with this particular belief. But as most peopl...

  Social media algorithms today are weird in many ways. One way is the overpolicing of content that relates to people's lives coming to an end. I watch a lot of medical videos, because one of the things I study is the sociology of medicine, and it is really quite bizarre to see doctors who are explaining medical cases have to resort to all sorts of euphemisms when the case involves someone who didn't make it. "Despite this treatment, the patient had an outcome incompatible with life." That's just silly. It doesn't help anyone. And it is hurtful that algorithms take down posts where people are mourning the passing of a loved one whose end by their own hand, because the posts used the standard term for such an act. When it comes to actually viewing people's passing or their disturbing remains in media and social media, that's been treated as forbidden ever since the aftermath of 9/11. Many Americans were traumatized by watching scores of people lea...

  This is where we are in the saga of American history: over the past week or so, a bunch of phallic sex toys have been thrown onto the courts at WNBA games. Many of them have been neon green, though they've been other colors as well. And now a cryptocurrency group is claiming responsibility for the fad, crowing that it is all part of a successful launch of a memecoin, "creatively" named Green Dildo Coin. What is this all about?  The WNBA has seen a lot of growth in mainstream popularity in the U.S. over the past few years. On the one hand, this has been great for players, who are being taken seriously as athletes in popular culture at last. On the other hand, it has also made them targets for misogynist, homophobic, and racist haters. Sadly, the favorite leisuretime sport enjoyed by a whole swath of the population now is mocking, harassing and threatening perceived culture-war enemies. Thus, WNBA players and coaches complaining about the annoying rain of silicone phall...