Hate mail

It is almost inevitable that any site on the Internet which dares to confront dishonesty will receive critical emails. There is a particular class of email called "hate mail" where the criticism goes beyond civility and simply becomes abuse. Hate mail is almost invariably illiterate, usually contains profanity, and indicates the writers' lack of logical, cognitive, and language skills. It says much about the supporters of medical quackery that the only response they can provide when asked to show evidence of their claims is to call people names and shout obscenities.

This is not really "hate mail", as Mr Law just likes to make light-hearted, sarcastic comments.

Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 19:00:35 +1300
From: Juderon
Subject:
"Medicine that works, medicine that doesn't work, and the number 1 killer of
under 40 year olds...."

I'd love to debate the above topic with you in public sometime [if costs could be met -- perhaps via your 'education programme...'

Having worked in the disease system for 20 years and been associated with it in one form or other for another decade, I have no doubt who the loser on the night would be. Also have no doubt which side would be seen to be the most fraudulent... Statements such as. "much of it is actually dangerous" are fraudulent statements in themselves. "Actually" is a definitive term -- where's you evidence?

Game?

Where are you based?

Regards
Ron Law

In early November, 2003, an article by Australian "journalist" Eve Hillary appeared on several web sites around the world. It's purpose was to defend an Australian who was being investigated by the authorities for offering worthless diagnostic tests. The form of the defence was to make personal attacks on several people, one of whom was Peter Bowditch of ACAHF. He was accused, among other things, of being a member of a world-wide conspiracy called "The Illuminati". It appears that the article was only published on sites outside Australia, presumably to avoid Australia's defamation laws. (The particular quack being defended, Jennie Burke, was quite happy to use those defamation laws to try to coerce Mr Bowditch into silence. She failed.) You can read the article here.

From: "Harry"
Subject:
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 06:37:50 -0800

You are a perfect example of what can happen to a person when he chooses "evil" too many times. You are probably full of so many demons that you cannot even choose anything "good" or "fair" and certainly not "reasonable". I don't know why I'm even writing as I know one cannot reason with insanity. Or...maybe you are just really, really stupid.
Linda

Dear Harry and/or Linda,

Congratulations on being the first person to submit what is traditionally known as "hate mail" to ACAHF, although I suspect that you are not very experienced at the genre as all the words were spelled correctly and seemed to be in the correct order.

ACAHF welcomes comments and criticism. We thank you for your interest and for taking the time to write to us. Your email has been passed on to the person in the organisation who is best qualified to deal with it.

From: "Solazone"
Subject: Health Fraud - ha ha
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 08:42:15 +1000

Not only do you appear to be an uninformed bigot by your bullshit press release, you are also putting at risk the health of many thousands of decent Australians who depend on herbal cures, rather than risk the so-called cures proffered by the big pharmochemical industry. I'll bet you're funded by these monsters, who have no-one's interest at heart other than their own profits. Why don't you learn some morality and decency, and get down off your multinational high horse, and try to help suffering sick people, rather than dedicate your time to helping your slave-masters corner the health market through repression of knowledge and of freedom of speech.

Ernest Gavey.

From: "Estelle Oosterbroek"
Subject: a danger to society
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2004 10:58:07 +1000

To Peter After reading your advertising blurb to invite people to your 2004 Annual Conference I felt impelled to write to you. I am all for balance in this world and there is nothing at all with a healthy dose of scepticism. However, perhaps you should actually do more research before you make the bigoted comments you did. Right now, science is actually proving concepts long held true by those you slate. And, no, I'm not a homeopath or any other form of medical practitioner. Rather I'm someone who uses both forms of medicine, but chooses to leave invasive medical practices to those times when they truly shine.

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for a number of operations performed in my younger years. And I'll always be grateful to those who performed them. However, I rarely visit a doctor, choosing instead to use gentler, kinder medication that contribute to my health and wellbeing rather than causing (sometimes more) problems than they suppress.

There is room for everyone on this planet. People like you ... and those who choose to open their eyes and their hearts to the infinite possibilities that reside around us. I'm well aware that you'll probably discount me as a dupe. But I'm a healthy 'dupe' if that's the case and I've got this way through using the very products and people you trash.

Best wishes
Estelle

Mr William P O'Neill of the Canadian Cancer Research Group, wearing his Gutless Anonymous Liar mask, sent the following message to ACAHF. You would think that almost five years of fruitless abuse of Mr Bowditch's family might have given him the hint that such talk will not make Mr Bowditch go away or change his opinion about disgusting quacks like Mr O'Neill. Mr O'Neill writes anonymously because that is the coward's way.

From: Tarapia Tapioco <comesefosse@ntani.firenze.linux.it>
Subject: are you the same peter bowditch?
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 02:39:09 +0100 (CET)

are you the same peter bowditch whose daughter recently tried to kill herself? if so i have some news for you!

by the way, do you have insurance?

Mr O'Neill again.

From: Anonymous Sender <anonymous@remailer.metacolo.com>
Subject: Good News!
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 23:10:19 +0000 (UTC)

it just goes to show that any cockup anywhere can pretend to be anything they want to....australian council against health fraud? and your members and qualifications and associations...? oh you dont have any?....what a fucking joke....and youre bowditch the same piece of shit that operates those other fucking bullshit websites.....i would love to spend five minutes with you........i read in usenet you raped your own kids.....real pillar of the community....fuck off

Date sent: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 05:30:08 -0700
From: Roger Barr
Subject: Homeopathy

Your article "Homeopathy - all the idiocy that fits" is wonderful in its lack of scientific method.

When there is a reproducible natural phenomena that is not understood (like say ... gravity, or like cures like, or the power of homeopathic dilutions) you dont dismiss it, off hand, because some of the attempted explanations for the phenomena dont make sense or fit with your conception of the universe. Instead you investigate the phenomena _thoroughly_ and attempt to find a better theory that fits the facts.

Your grasp of scientific method is as good as the 14th century papacy.

Roger