Media Dustup Pits Bloggers and Wired Against NYTimes

destinyland writes "Wired magazine ran a table listing the scientific effects of prescription drugs (and one illegal drug) — leading to an accusation from the NYTimes that they were 'promoting' drug use. But this routine controversy led to a fierce pushback online from bloggers and from Wired's reporter, who discussed his past drug use on his own blog and called for an honest discussion of scientific evidence and straight talk about medical effects."

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Wired magazine should change it's name

[Dr.Who]

to stewed, or blasted, or ...

wink wink

[Kneo24]

Winking is serious business.

Re:Considering......

[zappepcs]

.......That William Randolph Hearst and his Yellow-journalism fueled the war on drugs in the first place, the Media are the LAST people I trust to provide me with reliable information.

There, fixed that for you

My lawyer said....

[Balthisar]

I'm suing Wired. Even though my lawyer said not to mention anything outside the courtroom, the Wired article enticed me to try ALL of those drugs in order to rescue my failing career.

Under the Aderall, everyone that passed my cube though I was calling them names. That resulted in an unpleasant meeting where I swore at my boss.

With the Aniracetam, I had the unpleasant assignment of examining the weld quality on some Ambassor Bridge repairs. Thank goodness for fall harnesses!

I don't even want to recall the embarrassment at work when taking the Aricept. It was like first grade all over again.

Methamphetamine was probably my best try. I had to stop taking it when I was sent home for "the nerves."

The Modafinil made everyone think I actually *did* something with the stripper in the back room at the club, and worse, that it was contagious.

The Nicotine just got met cited by the county for violating workplace rules. It actually worked out quite well, but the $250 smoking fines really add up, ya know?

The Rolipram was a little better than the Aricept. You get much more sympathy when everything comes out from above rather than from below.

I'm currently taking Vasopressin. For some reason, people keep telling me to chew my food before I swallow it.

Maybe I shouldn't have taken them in the prescribed order? In any case, don't tell my attorney. Something about "spoiling my case."

Re:when haven't we promoted drugs?

[ColdWetDog]

Have you noticed how freaking huge Hillary's face has become recently? Symptom of anti-depressant abuse.

Well maybe you ought to cut down on the Prozac then. Of course, consult your doctor.

Either that or move away from the screen.

Re:Sometimes, old things just need to die

[Just Some Guy]

I don't know whether they believe only old, right-wing fossils still read newspapers or whether they're having trouble recruiting quality staff on the wages they're willing to pay.

I have never, not once, heard anyone describe the Times as conservative. :-)

Wired has always published its share of articles written with a smart-ass or tongue-in-cheek tone, and its audience both likes them and understands that they're not intended to be taken as gospel.

They've also had plenty of non-mainstream material that was dead serious. I subscribe to Wired, and although I haven't read that article yet, I wouldn't be surprised if it was completely straightforward and factual. They're one of the last magazines I expect to pander to conventional wisdom (except for the "Ask Wired"-style columns where they tell people that it's illegal to rip CDs and other such idiocy), so I wouldn't be surprised if they had an article about the best drugs.

Incidentally, 2600 had a good article on nootropic drugs a couple issues ago, but I halfway expect it to be followed up some day with "Hacking 2600 Readers: Convincing Geeks to Give Themselves Parkinsons". Even if I weren't old and boring with kids and a mortgage, I wouldn't try stuff out of it.

Re:when haven't we promoted drugs?

[mixmatch]

I think we should use your reply for every post on Slashdot that mixes up the two, but will need your permission since your comment is trademarked to you.

Re:when haven't we promoted drugs?

[inKubus]

weed isnt physiologically addictive either until you get to about a few pounds of it a day. If you are doing that much weed addiction is the least of your problems. Good luck finding a study that says any different.

unfortunately weed prevents capitalizing the first word in your sentence and if I may be quite frank here the proper use of the comma.

Re:when haven't we promoted drugs?

[Anonymous Coward]

Ohhhh. You mean in "isn't." Dude that's an APOSTROPHE. You do know what an apostrophe is, don't you? It's a HIGH comma. (I am so baked.)

No no no.

[Max Littlemore]

My concentration was so bad before I took crystal meth that I couldn't take the rest of the sentence in.

By the way, did you know that self mutilation with a chainsaw can shed weight quicker than any known diet and exercise regime? Oh, and it may cause death or permanent disability.

My god, what have I done?

Re:when haven't we promoted drugs?

[Anonymous Coward]

but you should never say never.

Hey, that's just what my dealer says, when he has some new stuff to try!

Re:Drugs Drugs Drugs, Which are good which are bad

[Monkeyboy4]

Being mad at the Times for inaccurate, biased or fear mongering articles is like being mad a dog when he nips you. He's a DOG! That's what he does! Being mad at the NYT is just as silly. Trust them like you would Entertainment Tonight.

But you can train a dog not to nip you...How do you train the NYT? Roll them up and hit them on the nose with themselves?