[cybersandwich]

>When vaccine expert Peter Hotez tweeted a link to a thorough critique of Kennedy’s lies and misrepresentations by Vice.com, Rogan challenged Hotez to participate in a public debate with Kennedy.

>Hotez refused, though he offered to engage Rogan — whose show he had appeared on before — one on one, a context in which Hotez was prepared to address Rogan’s misconceptions serially. Rogan treated that offer as an evasion, which led to Hotez being accosted at his home by a stranger demanding that he take the bait.

I agree with the sentiment that you don't engage with quacks. At some point, you are legitimizing their wild unsubstantiated claims when you engage with them. But I also think they need to be challenged as well so that they don't get to spread bullshit unchecked. Thats what Hotez was doing.

So, lets give Hotez some credit here, because he also offered to discuss Rogan's misconceptions. He just refused to 'debate' an unqualified, uncredentialed pseudo-'expert' who very likely wouldn't approach the debate in good faith. It would be giving that person a platform to throw around more misinformation and "their own research".

Also, Hotez reluctance to debate is validated by the absolute wackjobs that are coming out of the woodwork to harass him. Someone stalking him at his house? Being piled-on by Muskovites and Rogan fans, and anti-vax lunatics. Yea, really selling him on debating! I'm sure that group of people will be swayed by verifiable scientific evidence.