Saying — based on evidence — that somebody is stupid isn’t an ad hominem. At worst it’s shorthand for “his actions are stupid”.
Which, given the evidence, they unarguably are: Virtually every expert in the field, as well as other biohackers, think that what he’s doing is a bad idea, and based on dangerous superficial knowledge. The comparison to Barry Marshall (the stomach ulcher guy) is particularly unhelpful since Marshall was an expert in the field, and acting on a solid theory and with a contingency plan. But even his actions are still rightly called reckless.
All that said, I’m still impressed with Roberts’ self-experiment, and curious about the results of the long-term follow-up. But it is stupid.
Which, given the evidence, they unarguably are: Virtually every expert in the field, as well as other biohackers, think that what he’s doing is a bad idea, and based on dangerous superficial knowledge. The comparison to Barry Marshall (the stomach ulcher guy) is particularly unhelpful since Marshall was an expert in the field, and acting on a solid theory and with a contingency plan. But even his actions are still rightly called reckless.
All that said, I’m still impressed with Roberts’ self-experiment, and curious about the results of the long-term follow-up. But it is stupid.