# Proposal: Global Topic Ban on Promoting Unproven COVID-19 Treatments **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 17, 2020, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976 "2020-04-17T12:21:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/1 "2020-04-17T12:21:13Z")
[https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=892537](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=892537) I think the board should have a global topic ban on promoting unproven COVID-19 treatments as being posted in at least the thread linked above. There is a very real chance of causing harm by creating artificial demand for a treatment, or in complications arising from taking such medications. I know the counterargument will be that bad information can be fought with good information, but let’s be serious for a moment. The people promoting unproven treatments are not going to stop no matter what gets posted, and this is too serious of a real issue, with the potential for real-world impact to take lightly. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/2 "2020-04-17T12:50:33Z")
This is a really good idea. False information has no shortage of outlets, (Facebook & Twitter especially). The Straight Dope should hold itself to a higher standard in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/3 "2020-04-17T13:30:39Z")
Not to mention the potential liability issue if someone follows one of our more colorful posters’ advice ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/4 "2020-04-17T13:43:51Z")
The Quarantine Zone isn’t my forum. However, I will bring this thread to the attention of the mod staff and we’ll get back to you with a decision. How’s that? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/5 "2020-04-17T13:49:46Z")
Sounds good to me, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/6 "2020-04-17T14:01:58Z")
So if someone wants to talk about a proposed treatment, is that disallowed even if it’s scientifically valid, but just not one that’s yet been proven? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/7 "2020-04-17T14:32:49Z")
I completely agree with the OP, but I think the emphasis here should be on the word “promoting” unproven treatments. The operative statement, to quote the CDC, is “There are no drugs or other therapeutics [currently] approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to prevent or treat COVID-19”. But there are at this moment 657 planned or ongoing studies listed at [the NIH site clinicaltrials.gov](https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=COVID-19&Search=Apply&age_v=&gndr=&type=&rslt=) and it should be permissible to discuss any of them on a scientifically responsible basis. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/8 "2020-04-17T14:42:07Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So if someone wants to talk about a proposed treatment, is that disallowed even if it’s scientifically valid, but just not one that’s yet been proven? I think that’s a fair question, and not easily answered since it will get into shades of grey. Overall, collectively, we need to be careful about advocating or promoting versus discussing. Ultimately, it comes down to how it is presented. Linking to a study in a scholarly journal is sharing information (and hopefully eventually good news); whereas, linking to a YouTube video that says (effectively) “This works.” is fraught with potential peril. And then there’s everything in-between, which are the shades of grey. I’m mainly saying we need to exercise caution because of the potential for real-world impact. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/9 "2020-04-17T15:07:34Z")
Yep. another vote for - this all sounds like solid sense to me. j ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/10 "2020-04-17T15:14:53Z")
Perhaps promotion of unproven treatments should be treated like religious witnessing is; move the thread to Great Debates and allow others to challenge the proposal. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/11 "2020-04-17T15:29:26Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Perhaps promotion of unproven treatments should be treated like religious witnessing is; move the thread to Great Debates and allow others to challenge the proposal. I understand what you’re saying; however, there is a difference. If people debate tax policy, immigration policy, religion, etc. etc. etc., then there’s little chance of a large real-world impact in real-time. Most of us are simply not in the position to have a big effect on these things beyond with our voting voice. It is interesting, informative, useful, and fun to debate these things; however, with this particular topic people could be making real-world choices that have a real impact on this crisis in real-time. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/12 "2020-04-17T15:43:32Z")
The big difference between the Dope and other sites is that idiocy, harmful or otherwise, gets shot down here fast, generally with the backing of solid evidence. If Dopers don’t get the opportunity to see how foolish and risky COVID-19 treatments (or other forms of “alternative medicine”) are, it increases the chances that they’ll fall for the blandishments of whoever is promoting them. If posters here persist in hyping specific unproven products with links to sellers, I have no problem with shutting that down. But we’re prevented from fighting ignorance if forbidden to discuss the nature of that ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/13 "2020-04-17T15:54:23Z")
> [@BeepKillBeep](#): > > I understand what you’re saying; however, there is a difference. If people debate tax policy, immigration policy, religion, etc. etc. etc., then there’s little chance of a large real-world impact in real-time. Most of us are simply not in the position to have a big effect on these things beyond with our voting voice. It is interesting, informative, useful, and fun to debate these things; however, with this particular topic people could be making real-world choices that have a real impact on this crisis in real-time. I will point out that not one single poster in that thread has supported or been convinced in any way by the OP. In fact, about 80% of the posts (almost all except those by the OP) are providing excellent counter evidence. I don’t see any evidence that anyone on this board is making a choice to use this treatment based on that thread; in fact, quite the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/14 "2020-04-17T16:36:33Z")
And the OP was specifically given a topic ban about an hour before this thread was started. Seems to me nothing else needs to be done unless someone else takes up the mantle. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/15 "2020-04-17T16:53:15Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > And the OP was specifically given a topic ban about an hour before this thread was started. Seems to me nothing else needs to be done unless someone else takes up the mantle. Here are the relevant instructions. > [@don't forget the zinc](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-forget-the-zinc/851382/22): > > **Moderating** > > You first. > > Stop promoting untested treatments for coronavirus. This is simply misinformation. If you find actual studies that demonstrate the value of this therapy, then you are free to discuss them. Until that time, don’t open new threads on this subject. > > Colibri > Quarantine Zone Moderator > [@Legality of Nevada malaria treatment ban](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-nevada-malaria-treatment-ban/850247/113): > > **Moderator Warning** > > Part of the moderator instructions that you were given was to “Stop promoting untested treatments for coronavirus.” While you have not created new threads on the topic (which was the other part of the moderator instruction), you are clearly promoting this untested treatment. > > As such, this is an official warning for failure to follow moderator instructions. > > If you continue to promote these untested treatments, we will be forced to review your posting privileges here. Do not post about this again. I think we can deal with this on a case-by-case basis without instituting a global topic ban. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/16 "2020-04-17T16:59:27Z")
The problems with a blanket ban, as I see it, is that 1) AFAIK no treatment has yet been clinically proven to be effective; and 2) the difficulty of defining exactly what “promoting” means. Technically this could include someone saying “this treatment appears promising” before it has passed clinical trials. However, we can insist on links to authentic scientific and medical studies rather than Youtube videos, which is the course we have been taking so far. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/17 "2020-04-17T17:29:25Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > However, we can insist on links to authentic scientific and medical studies rather than Youtube videos, which is the course we have been taking so far. That rule should be applied to Great Debates, as well. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22253293&postcount=31](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22253293&postcount=31) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/18 "2020-04-17T17:41:42Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > That rule should be applied to Great Debates, as well. > > [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22253293&postcount=31](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22253293&postcount=31) Something preventing you from looking anything up on your own? My first Google result for _coronavirus 15 feet distancing_: [For Runners, Is 15 Feet the New 6 Feet for Social Distancing? When we walk briskly or run, air moves differently around us, increasing the space required to maintain a proper social distance.](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/well/move/running-social-distancing.html) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/19 "2020-04-17T17:42:58Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > That rule should be applied to Great Debates, as well. > > [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22253293&postcount=31](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22253293&postcount=31) I don’t see where that is “promoting unproven treatments.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976/20 "2020-04-17T17:44:10Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I don’t see where that is “promoting unproven treatments.” [It doesn’t.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=22253250&postcount=30) 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-global-topic-ban-on-promoting-unproven-covid-19-treatments/851976.md?page=2)