Technology

We are entering a stupid age, for which we may never recover.

On the other hand, half a century earlier-

So I guess the stupid waxes and wanes?

Oh how humanity hath fallen

Too bad that's not the great America some people wants to bring back. Nobody would mind this one.

I think social media algorithms have fried people's brains. Imagine we'd ban them, go back to content being kinda diverse and random, without adversaries able to game the system and push massive swaths of propaganda to people. The fact alone that most youths get their news from freaking TicTok of all places...

Can anyone find independent reports of this massive celebration for the announcement of the results of the Francis Field Trial in 1955?

Edit: Found a Wiki summary

Stark contrast to the reaction most people had to the invention of seatbelts in cars.

If the polio vaccine happened today:

"Salk's Menace" Vaccine Spreads Fear

As the nation's newly adopted vaccine against poliomyelitis, the inactivated poliovirus (IPV) shot, began to circulate, reports of its alleged dangers were already being touted by concerned citizens.

"This is just another example of Big Pharma trying to control our bodies," declared Agnes Johnson, a local mother of five, who claimed she had "lived" with the symptoms of the vaccine. "I've been hearing stories from friends and family of children who suffered from 'long-term' effects" from receiving the shot.

At a recent public health meeting in Brooklyn, Dr. John Smith, a prominent anti-vaxxer, presented his research on what he called "the true story" behind the IPV. He alleged that Salk had "tainted" the vaccine with experimental ingredients, and that the vaccine was being aggressively pushed by government agencies to cover up its supposedly disastrous effects.

"I've seen patients come in with symptoms that were clearly caused by the 'new' shot," Dr. Smith said, his voice filled with conviction. "We're being told it's just a minor risk, but I'm telling you, this is not safe."

As the vaccine continued to gain acceptance across the country, another vocal critic, Rev. John Williams, took to the pulpit to warn of the alleged dangers of mass vaccination. "We are being herded onto the 'tragedy' of the Salk shot," he declared to a packed church. "We must stand up against this medical monolith and reject the experimental treatments."

Meanwhile, health officials were left scrambling to address the growing public outcry, as reported cases of vaccine-induced illness began to rise. As the nation's top medical leaders struggled to counter the growing misinformation, Dr. Salk himself was quick to respond. "The science is on our side," he said in a recent press conference. "We are confident that our vaccine will do more good than harm."

Despite this reassurance, anti-vaxxers remained resolute in their claims of a government-led conspiracy, citing the supposedly "mysterious" circumstances surrounding the vaccine's development and distribution.

As the debate over the new vaccine continues to rage, one thing is certain: the battle over public health will not be won by the voices of reason, but by the loudest and most fervent of critics. The true story of Salk's menance is just beginning to emerge – stay tuned for further updates.