Hello Jamie,
I appreciate you taking the time to comment, but, unfortunately, you’ve decided to take this route. I rarely respond to comments, but I feel inclined to respond to you. I respect people who critically review pieces and expose shortcomings in studies, arguments, etc… I believe it keeps writers honest and refines the quality of work on this platform. What doesn’t belong on Medium, however, is animosity. There’s no space for it. All of your hard work with critiquing goes out the window when your tone/mission is to destroy. No writer will take you seriously. Please stop wasting your time and our time. I’m only giving you daylight because I want to encourage you. Please continue to read articles and keep commenting. We need people like you. Just take a deep dive into why you’re doing it, and consider being a productive member on Medium by using your insight to positively challenge writers as opposed to tearing them down.
Now, let me go over a few things.
- Do I need data to back up the fact that running can improve your health and overall wellbeing? I really hope not. We can lean too heavily on research when it’s simply not necessary. Sometimes it’s just a case of using common sense. Do I need to cite that drinking water is good for you? I understand your point about certain common medical beliefs being wrong in the past, and I’m totally with you. It’s comical to think about what used to be the scientific norm. That being said, your point is irrelevant in an argument about aerobic physical activity being a healthy habit.
2. Stroke can absolutely be considered a chronic disease. The CDC, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, WHO, and more include stroke in their classification of chronic disease. For the literature that does not, stroke is included under the umbrella of ‘heart disease’ as a chronic condition. Yes, the nature of a stroke may be acute, but it is still very much a chronic disease.
3. You’re on the right track. A study with only eight subjects shouldn’t have been included. It was a poor study to pair with my statement that aerobic activity strengthens immunity. I should’ve found something more robust. To say that it’s capable of proving “absolutely nothing”, however, is incorrect. Even an n=1 can prove something…but you already knew that.
4. Yes, I failed to mention these studies were on mice. That’s totally on me and should have never happened. The reality is, due to ethical reasons, it is often more difficult to conclusively test this on humans than rodents. Sometimes we have to lean on imperfect measures to begin to draw conclusions. Are they right all the time? Absolutely not. But that’s part of science — trying, failing, owning up to previous maladaptive paradigms. In the meantime, here are three studies that clearly support my statements. Don’t worry, these are all on humans. Are they perfect? No. Is science ever perfect? Probably not. My point is, to say that human study evidence “doesn’t exist” in this field is blatantly false. In order to effectively call me out, you must also do your research.
5. “We seek pills and treatment because they are less onerous than the lifestyle changes which you point to as the alternative”. This is your argument, but it is also (ironically) my case in point. Yes, pill-popping is less onerous than exercise, that’s exactly why we’re taking so many of them. We have been exposed to a culture of overmedication and we’re buying into it. Am I saying that all medications are bad? Absolutely not. The advancement of medicine is amazing. It is clear, however, that many individuals are abusing pharmaceuticals. The dial has gone too far to the other side. Pills won’t solve all of our problems. We must continue to live balanced lives that prioritize nutrition, physical activity, and stress-relieving practices such as mindfulness. Just take one look at the Opioid Overdose Epidemic and tell me that we don’t need a cultural rewiring.
Here is the reality, I’m not perfect. I’m not a perfect writer. I’m not a perfect person. What I pride myself in, however, is being better every single day. Your comment has helped me achieve this, but in a truly unfortunate way.
So Jamie, here is your mission. Keep reading work here on Medium. Keep observing with a critical eye. We need you in our community. You help further push the quality of articles here on this platform. What I ask of you is to leave the animosity at the door. It doesn’t help me, and it doesn’t help you. Sure, there are ‘slimy’ writers here on Medium. Some use clickbait and fail to provide sufficient evidence. Are they doing us a disservice? Yes. Do they deserve to be corrected? Yes. Do they need to be personally attacked? Absolutely not.
Please continue to challenge writers to be better. Just don’t ever think that the way you’re currently doing it is ok. It’s not.
All the best to you and your time here on Medium. You can be a real difference-maker if you choose to be.
Sincerely,
David Liira
