Oster, like many Harvard grads, seems to lack any sense of ethics and this was an excellent review of her "work", such as it is. I would add a few points and I am sure there are many more that could be added but at some point, I understand, you have to stop because with Oster, the amount of bad data and poorly structured research is a bottomless pit.
There is a short pdf, which is admittedly hard to find (google "astley oster pdf download"), from 2013 by Susan Astley Ph.D. who is a professor of Epidemiology and Pediatrics at the University of Washington and director of the Washington State FAS Diagnostic & Prevention Network of clinics critiquing Oster's work in 2013 on drinking while pregnant. Astley, very politely explains why Oster is full of shit (my words not hers) when it comes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. I mean, why believe a PhD in epidemiology who has studied FAS for years, who met Oster and told her, "1 out of every 14 children we have diagnosed with full blown FAS over the past 20 years had a reported exposure of just 1 drink per day”. I have read elsewhere that Oster, upon hearing this walked away. I guess if she were to learn more, she would have had to correct her error.
The problem is that FAS in light drinkers is a case of low probability but incredibly high impact and lots of people have a hard time processing this kind of event. Yes, chances are low, but your child's life, and yours for that matter, is dramatically impacted by this decision if it turns out your one drink a week caused them to have FAS. It appears that Oster, who seems to lack empathy all around, is one of these people who can't process low probability/high impact life events.
I would just add that Oster herself is subjectively a terrible parent based on her own writing. First let me state that running a household and running a small business are not the same thing. I have done both and I would note, I can't fire my children, nor do I have the responsibility to help my employees manage their breakups with their boyfriends and girlfriends. Oster displays her lack of parenting skills in the story she tells about her family rule that dinner time was never to be missed. So when her daughter gets into a running club that meets twice a week at 6pm, Oster says she can't join. Why? because it conflicts with the family dinner. Wait a minute! Your child wants to participate in a sport that would be good for her health, and have her interact with others, and it's a sport you love too, and she can't because you have a rule about dinner time? Here's a simple solution Emily. Move the damn dinner time twice a week. Why? Because that's what good parents do when their kids make good choices! It really isn't that hard if you are not a fossilized twat who can't change an opinion based on new data once it arrives.
Anyway, thanks for writing this. I am sorry for the small piece of your soul that must have been sacrificed in doing all this research.
Completely agree in the strongest possible terms. Oster is a damn academic economist who understands NOTHING about the pandemic and the larger, complex issues involved. Her opinions should be relegated to the dustbin of history. I have nothing but scorn and derision for Oster. Contrast that to Professor Deborah Lupton in Australia, a sociology professor, who is brilliant, wise and does stellar work. Her understanding of the social implications of the pandemic is sublime. She is very willing to work with experts in other fields crucial to pandemic management, being generous and thoughtful in interactions. An immense contrast.
Oster, like many Harvard grads, seems to lack any sense of ethics and this was an excellent review of her "work", such as it is. I would add a few points and I am sure there are many more that could be added but at some point, I understand, you have to stop because with Oster, the amount of bad data and poorly structured research is a bottomless pit.
There is a short pdf, which is admittedly hard to find (google "astley oster pdf download"), from 2013 by Susan Astley Ph.D. who is a professor of Epidemiology and Pediatrics at the University of Washington and director of the Washington State FAS Diagnostic & Prevention Network of clinics critiquing Oster's work in 2013 on drinking while pregnant. Astley, very politely explains why Oster is full of shit (my words not hers) when it comes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. I mean, why believe a PhD in epidemiology who has studied FAS for years, who met Oster and told her, "1 out of every 14 children we have diagnosed with full blown FAS over the past 20 years had a reported exposure of just 1 drink per day”. I have read elsewhere that Oster, upon hearing this walked away. I guess if she were to learn more, she would have had to correct her error.
The problem is that FAS in light drinkers is a case of low probability but incredibly high impact and lots of people have a hard time processing this kind of event. Yes, chances are low, but your child's life, and yours for that matter, is dramatically impacted by this decision if it turns out your one drink a week caused them to have FAS. It appears that Oster, who seems to lack empathy all around, is one of these people who can't process low probability/high impact life events.
I would just add that Oster herself is subjectively a terrible parent based on her own writing. First let me state that running a household and running a small business are not the same thing. I have done both and I would note, I can't fire my children, nor do I have the responsibility to help my employees manage their breakups with their boyfriends and girlfriends. Oster displays her lack of parenting skills in the story she tells about her family rule that dinner time was never to be missed. So when her daughter gets into a running club that meets twice a week at 6pm, Oster says she can't join. Why? because it conflicts with the family dinner. Wait a minute! Your child wants to participate in a sport that would be good for her health, and have her interact with others, and it's a sport you love too, and she can't because you have a rule about dinner time? Here's a simple solution Emily. Move the damn dinner time twice a week. Why? Because that's what good parents do when their kids make good choices! It really isn't that hard if you are not a fossilized twat who can't change an opinion based on new data once it arrives.
Anyway, thanks for writing this. I am sorry for the small piece of your soul that must have been sacrificed in doing all this research.
This was an incredible comment, thank you!
Completely agree in the strongest possible terms. Oster is a damn academic economist who understands NOTHING about the pandemic and the larger, complex issues involved. Her opinions should be relegated to the dustbin of history. I have nothing but scorn and derision for Oster. Contrast that to Professor Deborah Lupton in Australia, a sociology professor, who is brilliant, wise and does stellar work. Her understanding of the social implications of the pandemic is sublime. She is very willing to work with experts in other fields crucial to pandemic management, being generous and thoughtful in interactions. An immense contrast.
Lupton is great! I gotta get her book on Long COVID and Society soon!