A lot of people think that Bloggers are just people voicing their opinion and don't actually make a difference to issues that are happening. Well one boy from Wales (yay! Wales!) took on a Texan Medical Clinic and WON after it claimed success in unproven medical treatments.
The full story is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/29/schoolboy-blogger-us-clinic
What I think is amazing about this story is that even young people that blog can make a difference. This clinic were charging thousands of dollars for unproven medical treatments for terminal cancer patients. Dr. Burzynski and his clinic claimed that they had a cure for cancer, aids and malaria. Obviously, someone is going to find out that they are exploiting ill people and stick up for them, so why threaten a schoolboy just because you think you are better than them?
The Texan medical clinic obviously felt threatened by Rhys Morgan because the things he was saying were true, however, I think it is disgusting that the man representing the clinic felt it necessary to take a picture of the boy's house on Google Earth, and send him it in an email. This was an attempt to intimidate the boy into giving up on his argument against the clinic and the threats against him. I suggest you take time and read rhys' blog about the threats from the man representing the Texan medical clinic as it is invaluable information for bloggers all over the world!
Mr Marc Stephens claimed to represent Dr. Burzynski and his clinic but never actually gave Rhys a copy of what the clinic found offensive and untrue. He didn't even tell him who he worked for, and Morgan couldn't find any records of a lawyer in the US under that name. Clearly a lack of professionalism here. And the fact that Mr Stephens undermined the intelligence of Rhys Morgan was clearly a mistake.
If anyone tries to undermine a blogger, remember, we are much more intelligent than you might think!
Sorry this wasn't a normal type of blog but I just thought this story was a fantastic example of why bloggers take time in what they are doing. If it wasn't for Rhys Morgans actions, several other bloggers would have faced 'legal action' by Marc Stephens.
As the world becomes ever more online, blogs are going to become ever more important forms of personal media. Sky News once used to have guest bloggers on, in person, allowing them to get their view point across on the subject of the day, and then used to put a link to that person's blog on the website.
ReplyDeleteIf a blogger has a lot of regular followers and readers, what they say con potentially have a huge impact, i.e. the story above. Also, the story I broke in the summer about a company take-over had an impact bigger than I could have imagined.
There are some very smart and influential bloggers out there doing some very good work, and long may it stay that way! Xxxx