Can you point me to one video or photo on the web that actually shows fibers coming from the skin?

Can you find ONE dermatologist who claims to have seen this happening?

No, all you have are patient accounts, which when examined cannot be verified.

You engage in nothing but armchair analysis, which leads you to wrong conclusions. You say what people are finding is fibers stuck ON normal skin or stuck in exudate. This is a classic example of what I referred to before, that you ignore statements that contradict what you want to believe and accept those that confirm your position. There are copious examples across the internet of people who have fibers coming out of unbroken skin.

I see in your responses you ignore the major points I am trying to make, that you decry the validity of anecdotal evidence when it comes from a Morgellan claimant, but you rely on the same caliber of evidence to form your own conclusions. This is the hallmark of bias.

I’ve said all I have to say on this subject.

In fact I think it hardly ever happens, and what people are finding is either fibers suck on normal skin (as anyone will find) or fibers stuck in exudate.

I think this because nobody has ever presented evidence of fibers emerging from skin – no photos, no videos, no sections of biopsies.

You can’t present a theory with no evidence, and then ask for evidence from those who question the theory.

I ask you directly, JimT, what is the evidence that backs your theory? Links, references, photos or videos. Any evidence would do. I don’t require you to jump through high hoops – you have set that requirement yourself.

You’re either missing or avoiding my point completely. You have raised very good points that people who claim to have Morgellons need to respond to. What I find wrong with your site is you do not hold the debunkers to those same standards. When someone says he examined a patient and saw textile fibers, you should question that. These are the anecdotal reports I am referring to, Michael, that you do not hold to the same critical requirements that you do Morgellons claimants. How does the doctor know it was textile? What process did he go through to determine that? Did he send it to the CDC? Did he even look at it under a microscope?

I have noticed it is typical of so-called debunkers to concoct bizarre explanations — anything at all, just so they can say they said some words, to explain things. You say that the fibers coming out of people’s skin are embedded textile fibers. Have you ever tried to insert a piece of lint into your unbroken skin? It’s like pushing a string. You have said on this site that embedded fibers in a person’s skin is common. I challenge you to defend that statement. I personally know that I do not have even one fiber coming out of my skin. I have occasionally gotten a few fiberglass fibers in my skin when working with insulation, but they go away after bathing. But pulling environmental fibers out of skin on a continual basis, even in places such as the inside of one’s mouth where something like that might happen once or twice in a lifetime, on a continual basis?? Is there never a point at which you finally say “Yeah, that’s freaky unlikely. It deserves a thorough investigation.” Frankly, it takes more faith for me to believe that thousands of these people are totally stupid enough not to know what they observe than it does for me to think it is caused by a disease.

You require those who claim Morgellons to jump through very high hoops, but those who support your claim can say anything they want without question.

Even the “thousands of people who claim to have this disease” is suspect – based simply on people who registered at the MRF site, and not actually people who made a claim to have the disease.

The original MRF case definition says:

Most patients will have sought care from multiple medical care providers. A large number will have been diagnosed with Delusional Parasitosis likely because of the juxtaposition of unexplained skin lesions and sensations and psychiatric overlay.

http://web.archive.org/web/20060926014910/morgellons.org/casedef.html

Anecdotes:

NOTHING compares to the physical pain that comes along with Morgellons, except for the emotional and, yes, MENTAL PAIN of knowing not one of the 30 doctors that have seen me can give me an answer as to what, how, why, when or how long this will remain!

I have been to 20 to 30 doctors. They do not believe me or that my skin texture has changed.

http://www.kcet.org/lifeandtimes/blog/?p=131

I’m a 51 yr.old fem. had this condition since May,
2003. After 3 Primary Care physicians, 13 dermatologists, I have been to hell and back.

http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=347035

Dear Sir or Madam: I have been suffering with severe Morgellons disease symptoms since at least January, 2006. I have been to see 17 different physicians (allergist, immunologist, infectious disease, MD’s, DO’s, rheumatologist, endocrinologists, etc.)

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Morgellons_Congress_CDC/signatures-30.html

You can quibble over the numbers – but the central point remains that these people have been examined by several doctors who are far better qualified than I am. Hence it would not change anything for me to examine them.

If 20 doctors have examined a patient, then why would it change things if I examined them?

While you might find comfort in saying “it ain’t so,” you’re only convincing yourselves. If your goal is to really convince somebody who is watching these things come out of their bodies, you might actually want to see it for yourself. Then you’d have grounds for expecting people to respect your opinion.