tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post109476682515279027..comments2024-01-28T00:20:40.933-08:00Comments on Agoraphilia: WHO's Business Is Suicide?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1095963139067996902004-09-23T11:12:00.000-07:002004-09-23T11:12:00.000-07:00Again, "global" is a misnomer here--I can't imagin...Again, "global" is a misnomer here--I can't imagine how WHO can effectively run a globally coordinated effort with limited human and monetary resources. I think the typical modus operandi is to have programs running in a handful of localities producing know-how that is eventually transferred to local groups in other countries (the coordination part).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1095926111197986742004-09-23T00:55:00.000-07:002004-09-23T00:55:00.000-07:00Why does it need to be treated in a coordinated fa...Why does it need to be treated in a coordinated fashion? Or, more to the point, why does the coordination need to occur at the global level? The only justification I can think of has to do with psychological contagion (the perception of suicide as more acceptable because more are observed to do it) -- and as indicated earlier, such contagion is limited to localities.Glen Whitmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01425907466575991113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1095873382324994352004-09-22T10:16:00.000-07:002004-09-22T10:16:00.000-07:00Unfortunately it seems that the WHO report misses ...Unfortunately it seems that the WHO report misses on explaining why the suicide rate is expected to go up. Suicide is more a social issue than a health issue, i.e., suicide is a catchy trend--suicide becomes more acceptable to those contemplating their options when they hear of other suicides.<br /><br />The point of suicide being a global issue is that it can be dealt with in a coordinated fashion--whether it's through education, counselling, etc.--not that suicide is a globally contagious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1095796015665699712004-09-21T12:46:00.000-07:002004-09-21T12:46:00.000-07:00In this case, WHO's "mission creep" is easy to und...In this case, WHO's "mission creep" is easy to understand: it's public-choice in action. WHO is calling on the world's goverments to implement regulatory schemes promoted by the personal friends of WHO bureaucrats. WHO wants to "curb access to" pesticides, firearms, and painkillers, right? That is to say, they want to prevent the economic use of pesticides (the Green agenda), outlaw the private possession of firearms (the Oppressive Governments Everywhere/ Generalized Leftist agenda), and restrict access to painkillers, probably as part of a general scheme to limit drug dispensing to licensed pharmacies that require prescriptions from licensed doctors (the Medical Professional/ Heath Bureaucrat agenda).<br /><br />It would be pure luck if any of the measures WHO promotes saved any lives, but all of those measures are calculated to make life richer and more satisfying for bureaucrats, health professionals, and leftists. Since WHO is a bureacratic organization staffed by health professionals and leftists, whose friends are all bureaucrats, health professionals, and leftists... what would you expect?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1095534941063337482004-09-18T12:15:00.000-07:002004-09-18T12:15:00.000-07:00I'm sure you can find at least one person with acn...I'm sure you can find at least one person with acne in every country. That the incidence of acne differs from country to country is another thing acne has in *common* with suicide; suicide rates differ substantially across countries.<br /><br />It's certainly true that suicide can have a traumatic effect on families, more traumatic than many other causes of death. I still don't see how that makes it a public health issue, unless you adopt an overly broad definition of public health that would include pretty much any health issue (in which case why use the adjective "public"?). And it certainly doesn't make suicide a matter of *global* concern. The psychological contagion effects you mention are generally limited to localized areas -- e.g., a rash of suicides at a particular high school or college. There's no evidence I know of that shows contagion of suicide from, say, the U.S. to Mexico. And in any case, the contagion is one of ideas, not pathogens.Glen Whitmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01425907466575991113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1095124110442414622004-09-13T18:08:00.000-07:002004-09-13T18:08:00.000-07:00I do not think that acne is a global phenomenon, i...I do not think that acne is a global phenomenon, i.e., I do not think it as an affliction found in every country. Some countries without it are even filthy.<br /><br />Also, The trauma to friends and family after a suicide are often far greater and far reaching. That is, they may be plagued not only with a grief and a sense of loss, but also guilt, which in turn may lead to more suicides. Also, after one person kills himself, others may garner the nerve to do it, too. They may think to themselves that "this is how we deal or punish."<br /><br />Re: niacin, I haven't researched it lately, but, while niacin has many beneficial effects, it can also cause some of the same problems as prescription cholesterol-reducing drugs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1095076014677313692004-09-13T04:46:00.000-07:002004-09-13T04:46:00.000-07:00Oh, I forgot--niacin can help your memory too!Oh, I forgot--niacin can help your memory too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1095075601862070012004-09-13T04:40:00.000-07:002004-09-13T04:40:00.000-07:00Public Service Announcement
Poor nutrition is a c...Public Service Announcement<br /><br />Poor nutrition is a causative factor in mental depression (which of course can lead to suicide). For instance, a deficiency of B3 (niacin=nicotinic acid) can lead to Pellagra. Pellagra is clinically manifested by the 4 D's: photosensitive dermatitis, diarrhea (digestive problems), dementia, and death. Most multi-vitamin preparations contain niacinamide which is similar to niacin and doesn’t cause uncomfortable flushing. But, Niacin has beneficial effects that niacinamide doesn’t. Niacin can improve one’s lipid profile; that might help prevent clogging off the arteries. Niacin can also help alleviate mental problems including depression (see dementia above). It might also help with chronic fatigue and skin problems (see dermatitis above). Fortunately there is a form of niacin (complexed with inositol, another B vitamin) that doesn’t cause flushing and is available in any good vitamin store called no-flush or flush-free niacin. Sadly, most doctors don’t understand (mal) nutrition a lick and will just prescribe anti-depressants, which is just going to mask the underlying problem. There are sound nutritional reasons to keep our kids from overdoing the sugary junk food too.<br /><br />TrumpitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1094842628501973942004-09-10T11:57:00.000-07:002004-09-10T11:57:00.000-07:00Something relevent via Volokh Conspiracy:
http://...Something relevent via Volokh Conspiracy:<br /><br />http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2004_09_07.shtml#1094840362<br /><br />Jason B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com