NPR's Confused Response

Earlier this week, NPR sent the following response to my comment about a segment from "All Things Considered" last Friday:

from	npr_response@npr.org <npr_response@npr.org>
date	Mon, Dec 27, 2010 at 12:17 PM
subject	Re: Real health conditions, skeptics, and satire... not funny. – Message ID:217142

Response to Message #217142:
Dear Shelley,

Thank you for contacting NPR.

We appreciate you sharing your concerns with us. We strive to offer the highest quality of news and information available. Listener feedback helps us to accomplish this goal.

We welcome both criticism and praise, and your thoughts will be taken into consideration.

Thank you for listening, and for your continued support of public broadcasting. For the latest news and information, visit NPR.org.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/12/23/132281484/fake-pills-can-work-even-if-patients-know-it
Sincerely,
Alan
NPR Services
202-513-3232
www.npr.org

Nice form letter folks, but I think you missed the point. My comment was about a piece from "All Things Considered," not a health news segment.

I wrote 'em back yesterday, and this time I included the url for the subject of my comment.

Real health conditions, skeptics, and satire... not funny.

I just sent NPR's "All Things Considered" the following comment concerning the satirical commercial for 'Placebo' at the end of yesterday's segment "This 'Placebo' Could Be The Drug For You."

As I listened to the brief intro to your satirical commercial for 'Placebo,' I thought, "This should be good."

My expectation quickly changed to sadness... Rickets? You realize this serious vitamin deficiency is still all too common in many parts of the world, right?

And then to offense... Attention deficit disorder? Both the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization recognize this condition. Still, parents of children with ADD and adults with the condition endure jokes and skepticism.

Would "All Things Considered" have aired a satirical commercial that suggested 'Placebo' for anemia and schizophrenia? I don't think so. I expect NPR to present facts about misunderstood medical conditions, not contribute to skepticism and stigma by mocking.

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