OPINION

Forced to scam

Re: "Scam centre war room picks up pace", (BP, Sept 1).

This article highlights Thai cops attempting to dismantle the scam gangs operating over the border in Cambodia.

This is happening in Poipet, which borders my neck of the woods in Sa Kaeo province.

I know many from my village who "work" in this field, not necessarily scamming, but in online gambling.

Not too sure why this has to be done over there and not elsewhere, but it suggests that Cambodian rules are somewhat less stringent.

But again, another example revealing the dearth of work opportunities open to Thai youngsters.

I know what I would choose, and it wouldn't be a 10-hour graft in the baking sun digging up tapioca for a few satang.

Turbo cancer myth

Re: "Bold MAHA claims", (PostBag, Aug 18).

Please, please, Mr or Ms PostBag Editor, spare us from any more spins from Khun Michael Setter on his crusade against the mRNA vaccines and how they have been implicated in the rise of new, more aggressive forms of cancer, described in anti-vax circles as "turbo cancers".

He's had more than a fair chance to make his case.

In one of many letters, published "Bold MAHA claims", he referred to a number of articles which he claimed support the turbo cancer theory.

I made a point of going through those studies, as well as others that came up in a Google search for them.

They are, in the main, statistical analyses of a worrying increase in cancer rates generally, with particular concern expressed for the increase being seen in younger age groups.

There is not a single use of the term "turbo cancers" nor any mention of mRNA vaccines in any context. The concept of "new, medically recognised, aggressive forms of cancer" is not alluded to in any way.

My own suspicion is that the scary idea of turbocharged cancers is a cynical beat-up by serial mischief makers of the statistic that some cancers in younger age groups are being diagnosed at an unusually advanced stage.

To a large extent, this is attributed in the research to a lack of prior screening at age points where patients would not traditionally have been considered to be at risk of cancer.

It does not imply that the cancers have progressed more rapidly than usual.

It's worth bearing in mind that this is only the latest attack in Mr Setter's years-long crusade to demonise mRNA vaccines.

He will have to do a lot better than that if he is to convince us that the idea of turbo cancers is indeed anything other than a "fairy tale" and "myth", as well.