this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2025
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Science Memes
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@meowmeowbeanz@sopuli.xyz is totally right. The meme is based on a wrong premise.
It claims that Autism was a known thing in 1911 (true), and that Tylenol was created in 1955 (misleading since the active ingredient, Paracetamol was created in 1878 and was in wide use before the brand Tylenol was created). Then it implies that the argument is that Tylenol is the only cause of Autism and then poses that as a contradiction.
Logically, that's like claiming that some People died in 1700, and that the Ford Model T was only created in 1908 and then claiming that thus it's nonsense that cars can kill people.
On the one hand it ignores that the active ingredient of the medication was in use far earlier than that one random brand showing up, and on the other hand it claims that the argument with Tylenol and Autism is that every single case of Autism happens due to Tylenol, which pretty much nobody is claiming.
So the meme is just wrong on many levels.
So instead of making up and disproving a lie, why not use actual science? There's overwhelming scientific evidence that Paracetamol has no effect on Autism.
One might say that this doesn't really sway those who choose to ignore science in favour of their own gut feelings, but on the other hand, does a fallacious lie sway them?
I think we can agree the meme is terrible and misleading.
I guess we can.