Navigating the Dr. Mike Controversy: An Analysis of His Choices
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Chapter 1: The Context of the Controversy
As the COVID-19 pandemic intensified in the United States, I found myself increasingly anxious. Living with generalized anxiety disorder, I often found myself glued to social media and news sites for the latest updates. Thankfully, I turned to Dr. Mike, who recently faced backlash for attending a party during a significant spike in COVID cases.
For those unfamiliar, Dr. Mike is a physician with nearly 6.5 million subscribers on YouTube. I initially followed him for his insightful discussions on mental health, but during the pandemic, he became my go-to source for reliable information. Amidst the chaos of conflicting messages about mask-wearing and pandemic severity, Dr. Mike consistently offered a balanced perspective.
He emphasized the need to adapt our strategies as new information emerged, teaching us to stay vigilant without succumbing to anxiety.
At the time of this writing, it's late November, and COVID cases are breaking records. Many people chose to stay home for Thanksgiving for the first time in years. In contrast, Dr. Mike traveled to Florida to see his father and was photographed at a party on a boat, surrounded by others without masks. Following this incident, he posted an apology on his second channel, which has a modest 58,000 subscribers compared to his main channel's audience of 6 million. Unfortunately, his apology was filled with questionable reasoning and self-justification, giving critics of COVID guidelines more fuel.
While I don’t believe Dr. Mike deserves to be "canceled," it’s crucial to have a thoughtful dialogue about his actions, the shortcomings of his apology, and our path forward.
Section 1.1: The Nature of Public Apologies
Public apologies can be incredibly challenging, especially for figures in the limelight. You’re often criticized no matter how you respond. Having faced public scrutiny myself, I know that some will accept your apology, while others will not.
My aim is not to discredit Dr. Mike’s apology but to examine the flawed reasoning that led to his actions. As Otto von Bismarck wisely noted, “Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.”
This year, I have developed a keen interest in the psychology behind decision-making, diving into works like How to Decide by Annie Duke and The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli. A critical lesson I've learned is that risk assessment is vital for making sound choices. This notion is beautifully articulated in Risk Savvy by Gerd Gigerenzer.
In his apology, Dr. Mike reflected on how he evaluated the risks of traveling to Florida and attending the boat party. He referred to CDC guidelines regarding boat occupancy and claimed everyone had been tested. Given his youth and health, he concluded that attending the party was a reasonable choice.
Unfortunately, his risk assessment was flawed. Critics pointed out that Florida's guidelines permit only 10 people on a boat, yet the photograph clearly shows more than that. More importantly, Dr. Mike’s justification for attending created cognitive dissonance. He seemed to overlook his own guidance that the pandemic is not solely about individual risk but the potential to infect others.
Section 1.2: The Broader Implications of Risk Assessment
Although Dr. Mike is young and healthy, contracting the virus would endanger everyone he encounters, including his father, who is at higher risk due to age. Furthermore, he could unintentionally spread the virus to countless others during his travels.
While he claimed that all attendees had been tested, this does not fully encompass the broader implications of risk. As a prominent voice during the pandemic, Dr. Mike’s actions not only risked spreading the virus but also set a poor example for his followers and provided ammunition for anti-mask advocates.
Recently, a wealthy friend of mine hosted a gathering of several dozen people. Fortunately, he and his guests could afford rapid tests. While I questioned his decision to gather in the first place, I must commend him for considering public perception—no photos were allowed at his event. In contrast, Dr. Mike willingly posed for pictures, fully aware of his influential status.
Lastly, Dr. Mike justified his actions by referencing the mental toll of isolation during the pandemic. This sentiment resonates with many of us, yet his reasoning appears lacking.
Chapter 2: Moving Forward
I don't advocate for Dr. Mike to be canceled, but I do believe it's essential to engage in discussions about this incident. It’s vital to scrutinize who we elevate in society and acknowledge that everyone can err.
A recent study from Johns Hopkins revealed that over 250,000 deaths in the U.S. annually stem from medical errors. Matthew Syed, in his book Black Box Thinking, discusses the lack of a self-correcting mechanism in the medical field to reduce these numbers. This illustrates that even medical professionals can make mistakes. Dr. Mike has previously emphasized the importance of intellectual humility in his TED Talk.
My concern extends beyond Dr. Mike’s actions; it touches on a broader issue regarding the behaviors of the wealthy and elite. I hold Dr. Mike in high regard, but I worry he may be heading down a path similar to that of Dr. Drew, who has studied celebrity narcissism yet exhibits similar traits himself.
While I hope this isn't the case, I wonder if Dr. Mike will face scrutiny from those around him. Like many, I initially turned to independent news channels like Philip DeFranco’s to escape polarized mainstream media. It will be interesting to see if Phil, a friend of Dr. Mike’s, covers this story with the integrity his audience expects.
Ultimately, the most disheartening aspect of this situation is that anti-maskers and COVID skeptics will use it to further their agendas. Groups like QAnon and those who politicize science will exploit this incident, which undermines efforts to curb the pandemic. Dr. Mike's influential role should have led him to consider this in his decision-making, but it appears he did not.
As we anticipate the vaccine rollout, hospitals face overwhelming demand due to surging COVID cases. We must strive to minimize the virus's spread while setting a positive example for others.
You can connect with me on Twitter and Instagram @TheRewiredSoul and follow my reading journey on GoodReads. If you're seeking mental health support, I highly recommend BetterHelp, an affordable online therapy service. By using my affiliate link, you also support The Rewired Soul.