Let’s stop taking Dr Joy seriously

Stuff reports:

Scientist Dr Mike Joy is making no apologies for an internet post in which he criticises the dairy industry about nitrate contamination of drinking water and asks: “How about we bring back hanging for industry CEOs?”

The post referred to an article about Minnie Dean, who was hanged for killing a child in 1895.

“Minnie Dean was hung for killing babies in Southland but our dairy industry is currently putting babies (and adults) at risk with nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater,” Joy said in his post.

Dr Joy has every right to say deranged offensive things. But maybe media shouldn’t treat him as someone who has anything constructive to offer? He is I guess the white collar version of the protesters who had placards wanting Jacinda Ardern to be executed.

“Federated Farmers are trying to make me out to be nuts so that they can avoid the facts,” Joy said.

Its not Federated Farmers making Dr Joy looks nuts. It is Dr Joy.