tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post3040195542880673575..comments2024-01-01T16:01:35.711+00:00Comments on Dick Puddlecote: Agent Nutt Highlights The Ineptitude Of Just About EveryoneDick Puddlecotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-4666330758250657872010-11-03T02:16:45.340+00:002010-11-03T02:16:45.340+00:00As Ian says, the stats are very unclear, especiall...As Ian says, the stats are very unclear, especially when you are not permitted to see them. <br /><br />I have just been on to the ONS (office of national stats) website in order to try to find the AGE RANGES of deaths which are supposed to have been caused by smoking, in particular, by lung cancer and heart disease. I have found pretty good figures for NUMBERS in 2009 (eg. heart disease = 42,455 males = 17% of all deaths in 2009 = 113 per 100,000 of the population). There are also good comparisons of these figures with 2006. Other causes are liver 'problems' and Alzheimers. But there are no stats for the associated AGE RANGES. <br />I have emailed the ONS with a query. I have done this before (very respectfully!) and they have responded quite quickly. I shall wait and see.<br /><br />I think that the importance of these numbers cannot be over-estimated. If 99% of these 'diseases' occur in deaths over 75, for example, there really is no STRENGTH in the argument that passive smoking kills people. I am sure that you understand why I put the word 'strength' in capitals. But, we also have to accept that the age ranges might show that <i>it is possible</i> that smoking is an important factor, if there are significant numbers dying 'prematurely' from these conditions. <br /><br />I think that it is worth the effort to discover the facts. <br />If the ONS put me off, I feel that I could justify a 'freedom of information' request. In this case, even though I have never done it before, I feel that I could probably phrase the request in a way in which it could not be denied. <br /><br />We shall see.Junicannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-3630644319606706012010-11-02T18:55:42.918+00:002010-11-02T18:55:42.918+00:00Dick, I find that among those who believe 'sci...Dick, I find that among those who believe 'science' and statistics are the same thing there is a woeful ignorance of how to interpret statistics.<br /><br />So when all the seventy year old Ernie Spitmuscles turn up a their GPs with a grumpy liver after supping six pints a night for the past fifty years it can only be the alcohol to blame. And because alcohol users are commonplace and intravenous heroin users still relatively rare then that proves alcohol is the more dangerous drug.<br /><br />That is an example of the wekll known scientific method of starting from an answer and working bacwards.Ian R Thorpehttp://greenteeth.blog.co.uk/2010/11/01/the-nutty-professor-nutt-strikes-again-9875084/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-83027360476963488632010-11-02T18:36:56.431+00:002010-11-02T18:36:56.431+00:00Further to what Richard said, 2 November 2010 12:0...Further to what Richard said, 2 November 2010 12:07<br /><br />Someone suggested the following (I don't, unfortunately remember who). (I may have some of the details wrong)<br /><br />In well known misuse of drink problem areas:<br /><br />Install a stripped-down goods transport container. Said container to be empty apart from heavy duty cages to sub-divide the area and a bucket in each.<br /><br />Put troublesome drunks into individual cages as the evening progresses. Leave well alone until morning.<br /><br />Remove hungover drunks.<br /><br />Hose out the interior.<br /><br />Remove container until next weekend.<br /><br />I believe something like this has actually been proposed but was turned down because the conditions would breach the drunks' Human Rights!<br /><br />AlanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-33958438427353596192010-11-02T15:30:57.534+00:002010-11-02T15:30:57.534+00:00Watching Nutt interviewed by the Beeb yesterday, I...Watching Nutt interviewed by the Beeb yesterday, I couldn't help noticing that he had to squeeze himself onto the BBC sofa, owing to an excess of stomach. I wonder if the Prof has taken into account the fact that EATING TOO MUCH causes more harm than all the drugs and alcohol put together?<br /><br />Note: I made this statistic up, but what the hell, so did he.lenkohttp://dailymoaner.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-58210289438932484402010-11-02T13:21:40.288+00:002010-11-02T13:21:40.288+00:00Lol @ Anon 11:59 :)Lol @ Anon 11:59 :)Dick Puddlecotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01481866882188932892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-16071780145476749892010-11-02T12:54:15.544+00:002010-11-02T12:54:15.544+00:00He does have a point, but the bit on 'aggressi...He does have a point, but the bit on 'aggressive' alcohol harm reduction is 1) only the last sentence. 2) specifically says harm, not alcohol itself. and 3) will be misconstrued by vested interests to be a reason for doing something more harmful than the original problem.<br /><br />Incidentally, the ISCD website is generally a wonderfully sane piece of work, concentrating as I think all sensible people should n harm reduction rather than hysteria. I think he needs at least 2.79 cheers for it.PJAhttp://pja.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-81997299255552464982010-11-02T12:48:42.316+00:002010-11-02T12:48:42.316+00:00Never having tried smack or crack is the same cure...Never having tried smack or crack is the same cure a bacon & egg butty with brown sauce washed down with copious amounts of tea? Perhaps the prof could enlighten us.<br /><br /> I accidently 'worked' (bollok juggled) for the National Treatment Agency for a bit and had the lovely experience of meeting some right proper junkies - gaddzooks. And I thought I was a wreckhead with me booze & pot; bleedin' amateur.<br /><br /> Oh, and the Jamie Oliver thing - hmm, well, yeah, he is kind of an arse but he's got this new show on Ch4 at 5.30pm and yesterday's was veggie lasagne & a fancy salad and it hit all the right boxes.Dick the Prickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02683095612320513712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-70946545439594703942010-11-02T12:07:26.005+00:002010-11-02T12:07:26.005+00:00Prof. Nutt might have a point, despite his lack of...Prof. Nutt might have a point, despite his lack of proper science. I asked a policeman friend once (who was on the switchboard for a while due to a back injury; he had to send constables to investigate incidents in response to phonecalls from the public) how many of his calls last week were alcohol-related. "All except two, an old lady who had fallen, and a burglar. All the rest involved drink." <br />I like a drink myself, to put it mildly, but if it causes so much reported crime in fellows less affable than I, maybe there's a case for Nutt's assertions. Perhaps if Drunk and Disorderly resulted in an overnight stay in the cells, magistrate in the morning, and 14 days jail, then alcohol would magically cease to be as "harmful". .richardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-64634683818800356692010-11-02T11:59:25.890+00:002010-11-02T11:59:25.890+00:00Look, before people start sniggering about this an...Look, before people start sniggering about this and criticising things, please remember this: <br /><br />Y'see, Professor Nutt is a Professor. And so he's an authority. People like him Know What They're Talking About. And he's been perevude. He's been perevude in the Lancet, no less. And that's an authoritive journal.<br /><br />Did I mention that he's a Professor? And an authority? And an author? And that he knows what he's talking about? Because that's the important thing.<br /><br />It doesn't matter that he thought it all up one afternoon with his mates. The important thing is that he's a professor, and a Dr, and an authority who knows what he's talking about. All his mates are professors and drs too, and they know what they're talking about too. They know their onions. Oh yes. Why else do do you think this is such a big story, and the BBC is all over it?<br /><br />Because he's a professor and a dr and an author and he knows what he's talking about and he's been perevude and published in the Lancet, that's why! How many times do I have to tell you, for crissakes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-10413468411248668492010-11-02T11:23:23.790+00:002010-11-02T11:23:23.790+00:00That's pretty much my view on it, Dick. There&...That's pretty much my view on it, Dick. There's no doubt that the danger of illegal drugs is grossly exaggerated, in reputation by the media and in fact by their prohibition, but Nutt very clearly has some kind of prejudice against alcohol. Fair play to him for accepting there are benfits, though.Sam Duncannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-78595593861991814462010-11-02T11:18:30.424+00:002010-11-02T11:18:30.424+00:00Don't forget, Nutt has more than a passing ...Don't forget, Nutt has more than a passing 'health expert' interest in Alcohol Control.<br /><br />http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1241069/Ex-drugs-tsar-creates-synthetic-alcohol-gives-buzz-hangover.html<br /><br />xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-38013197117181896422010-11-02T11:07:44.551+00:002010-11-02T11:07:44.551+00:00As an heavy smoking non drinker
I await with a gre...As an heavy smoking non drinker<br />I await with a great enthusism<br />the witch hunt and vindictive <br />vendetta on the yellow streaked <br />boozers. Yes you ,you who sat back,<br />tutted a little and did,nt give a<br />toss when the old,the disabled,the<br />lonely were made to huddle between<br />waste bins for a smoke.Just like<br />Judas you obeyed the Pharisees and<br />shit on your friends and family,now comes the day for your crown of thorns.<br />Before any frothy pip squeek chirps up in reply,give us the low down on<br />What did YOU do when your mates got stuffed<br />If something ...good on yer<br />If nothing......Shut it<br /><br /><br />Free for all...or noneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-43074072785578552792010-11-02T07:34:46.673+00:002010-11-02T07:34:46.673+00:00Nutt is a free man and allowed to say what he like...Nutt is a free man and allowed to say what he likes. What's sickening is that the BBC in particular said that this means there should be a 'clamp down' on alcohol.Mark Wadsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07733511175178098449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-62917372623171105692010-11-02T03:05:51.288+00:002010-11-02T03:05:51.288+00:00http://press.thelancet.com/tlnuttdrugharm.pdf
The...http://press.thelancet.com/tlnuttdrugharm.pdf<br /><br />The original article, if you're interested!TBhttp://www.byrnetofferings.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-73694898926464479682010-11-02T01:00:38.361+00:002010-11-02T01:00:38.361+00:00In Nutts world peanuts are more dangerous than cya...In Nutts world peanuts are more dangerous than cyanide capsules. Many folk have choked on peanuts or had allergy problems but not many people have died from taking a cyanide capsule because they're too hard to get access to.nuttynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-5600378615297071762010-11-01T23:52:06.670+00:002010-11-01T23:52:06.670+00:00Nutt by name.......Nutt by name.......Bill Stickerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05285528897339442436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-47612190399731080272010-11-01T23:37:18.943+00:002010-11-01T23:37:18.943+00:00One thing that I realised only recently was that t...One thing that I realised only recently was that the word 'harm' in relation to alcohol statistics includes accidents resulting from 'alcohol abuse'. I found this out when I was looking at USA statistics regarding death from alcohol 'harm' (85 000 per an in the states and, oddly enough, 85 000 in Europe - has someone got their stats mixed up? Oh, and Patricia Hewitt said 85 000 deaths per an from smoking). <br />But I think also that Nutt is comparing TOTAL 'harms' rather than simply the relative level of 'harm'. I do not trust this study any more than I trust any other (and that includes global warming). <br />Let's put it this way.<br />Suppose that I overdose on alcohol every night for a week, and you, Dick, overdose on heroin every night for a week, who is most likely to peg out? (By the way, has anyone ever heard of a person overdosing on tobacco?)Junicannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3141759542968821728.post-68136755056993024422010-11-01T23:16:42.561+00:002010-11-01T23:16:42.561+00:00Never see any of my mates who drink a few beers sh...Never see any of my mates who drink a few beers shoplifting or stealing.<br />Wonder why ?<br />I mean it's worse than heroin.<br />LOL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com