I've been musing a bit in comments and asides lately over the low carb movement. When I discovered the LC internet community in early 2009 those were some still heady days. In retrospect I'm not sure how much it was really growing vs. the hype of same, but it was a thriving community with well traveled blogs and discussion boards. The number of "big names" touting Taubes' alternate hypothesis was staggering, really, and reports of how the mainstream was finally catching on were frequent. Looking back, it seems the year or so before were even headier times for low carb. Fast forward and in 2011 many big names jumped ship, not to mention the readership of blogs like this one increased dramatically. Even many who remain wedded to LC as the only superior answer to all ills no longer believe TWICHOO to be correct. Many have retooled their message, clarified their positions, etc.etc. This is clearly more difficult for some than others -- it's hard to shift gears when your entire persona is inextricably linked to Livin La Vida Low Carb after all. So in a way, while it by no means excuses their behavior, those like Jimmy and Gary, Feinman and Westman, Carpender and Naughton, etc.etc. at least make sense to me. These folks have built careers on, and their livelihoods are sustained by LC. Most of the aforementioned are not about to do a Don Matesz any time soon, and many have reflexively dug in their heels to forge forward -- I hope they at least put blinders on their one trick pony for the sake of humane treatment.
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