The trouble with Expert Advice
A good man, but sometimes...
I was
watching a show recently where a doctor was giving expert advice on dealing
with Covid-19. It was frightening. I wondered,
“How much
of this advice is scary because it is ‘cover your ass’ advice that the doctor
is giving.”
In other
words, is his advice slanted such that there is no way for him to be accused of not taking the virus serious, being ridiculed, or even taken to
court?
Example:
Years ago
pregnant women might be told that if they had a glass of wine a day it would be
fine. No one was encouraged to drink while pregnant, but in many doctors opinion moderation was reasonably safe. Unfortunately, some women got plastered daily and
when the baby had issues claimed the doctor said it was OK. In order to protect themselves, a doctor now will
not take any chances. He will tell pregnant
women absolutely no alcohol.
I am not
advising pregnant women to drink, just giving an example where medical advice
is slanted to protect the doctor by not necessarily giving his actual medical opinion. Most people recognize when the doctors advice is as much to protect himself as to give accurate information and the result is a diminishing value towards a doctors advice.
While
listening to the scary Covid expert (and yes I know Covid is serious and dangerous) I envisioned the same type of
advice applied to crossing a street.
Moderator: “Tell me Dr. Doom, these days, is
it safe to cross the street?”
Dr. Doom:
“Well that
depends on who is crossing the street.
Studies have shown that children under six should not cross the street without
adult supervision. Even with
supervision, parents should be sure to look both ways for cars before crossing,
and if they see a car they should wait.
There have been cases of adults crossing the street with children who
have been hit by a car and it is very dangerous…it has even caused DEATH!”
Moderator:
“Is there anything we can do to stay safe while crossing?”
Dr. Doom: “Along with the suggestion to
always look both ways, people should wear bright clothes and at night have
reflector tape. You should only cross at
an intersection, preferably one with a traffic light. Only cross at the green light. Make sure the green light is facing you, not ongoing
traffic. Also, while walking, always
stay on the sidewalk until you need to cross.”
Moderator:
“So, if you follow all these rules crossing the street is safe?”
Dr. Doom: “Safe is relative. There have been instances of a driver losing
control or running a light and pedestrians who have followed all the rules
still being run over.”
Moderator:
“You mean even wearing light clothes with reflector tape, looking both ways and
crossing at the green can be dangerous?”
Dr. Doom: “Certainly. You are dealing with 3000 pounds of metal
traveling sometimes 70 miles an hour. It
is very dangerous.
Moderator: “What else should people do?”
Dr. Doom: “Well, if you absolutely HAVE to
cross a street, in addition to wearing the correct clothes, looking both ways
and waiting for the green light, you should walk fast, do not dawdle, pay
attention while crossing, but and I can not stress this strongly enough,
crossing the street is NEVER 100% safe.
Anything can happen. You could
slip and fall, there could be driver error, some people freeze, dogs sometimes attack…there
are a number of things that can go wrong.
My advice is ‘If you do not have to cross the street, don’t!’”
Moderator: “Great
advice! Thank you Dr. Doom.
There it
is folks, stay at home, it is too dangerous out there!
Coming up
after words from our sponsor, a home economic advisor tells us if it is safe to
put away knives from the dishwasher.”
OK, OK, I
get it. Wear a mask, actually wear two masks, stay six feet from
others, wash you hands often and scrub for at least 30 seconds, get tested often, get the vaccine, but then still do all of the above. Finally, wait
until experts say you can leave the house.
There is an instructional on street crossing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jCpBH5zehI
