Woo shaming

[B2G]

My two least favorite terms all wrapped into one phrase.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

1. Shame on woo! n/t

[Bobbie Jo]

7. lol

[icymist]

55. Poor Mason Woo!

http://www.woo.com/home/Mason_Woo.html

All this attention and you shame him!

[vi5]

2. What the hell is Woo?

And why is DU suddenly so enamored of acronyms?

[Phlem]

6. I don't think it's an acronym.

It's a label used on people who believe in Pseudo Science. Never mind that fact that at some point in the past, a lot of our current science could have been labeled "woo". Homeopathy, Crystals, etc...

-p

[HERVEPA]

11. Please don't tell me you're saying Homeopathy, Crystals are current science.

You weren't saying that, right?

[gcomeau]

13. If they weren't many others are...

...hence the shaming being very called for.

[Phlem]

14. No that's not what I'm saying.

Jeebus.

I have been into science for years and the one thing I know is you don't beat people over the head with it and scare them off. So fucking what if they're into "woo", I would embrace them and sink some "real" science in there too. We need more critical thinkers in this world and instead taking religions plan of attack, by hunting them down and recruiting them, a lot of scientifically minded people (especially here in DU) most feel intellectually superior by shaming and mocking them. Hence more people with religious propensities than critical thinking.

-p

[HERVEPA]

16. Well, your post was not clear to me.

That's why I asked the question. I wasn't sure. There are plenty of people on this site who believe they are real, especially the homeopathy ridiculousness.

[Phlem]

17. try re reading my post, I've updated it.

-p

[HERVEPA]

19. OK. I reread it.

Nice, but I don't think you're going to be able to change minds whatever method is used. If one believes you can dilute something out of existence and think the memory of it being there can help you, I believe you are incapable of any logical or analytical thinking.

[Phlem]

22. If one believes you can dilute something out of existence and think the memory.

So what are you saying exactly. That I think I can dilute religion with science?

[Phlem]

24. Wow. So quick to reply to all my posts until this one. How very courteous of you.

I answered your questions.

So this is your summation of me? "I believe you are incapable of any logical or analytical thinking."

How very typical. And a very shitty insult by my standards.

I believe for a self described logical, analytical, thinker that being closed minded is the antithesis discovery, which is Science.

Have a Nice Day.



-p

[HERVEPA]

26. I am at work, actually, so can't always reply right away.

I am having a difficult time following you.
I was describing homeopathy, and saying there was not hope for those who believe in it.
As I think I understand, you do not believe in it.
I was not taking any shots at you (unless you do believe in it, and I interpreted it wrong).
I think you need to grow a little thicker skin, by the way.

[Phlem]

29. I have PTSD since early child hood from an abusive stepfather

How thick does my fucking skin need to be?

and I knew it was going to be something like "I was on the can etc....."

-p

[HERVEPA]

30. Sorry about your PTSD

I'll end this now to prevent more stress for you.
Take Care.

[MrMickeysMom]

34. Do you believe in work, HERVEPA?

Or, were you contributing to someone's stress while getting paid for it?

I'll end this now to prevent you getting paid overtime…

[HERVEPA]

62. Read the frigging stream of posts

I was trying to understand what he was saying, and of course had no idea of the PTSD until the last post.
So why don't you just stick it....

[MrMickeysMom]

63. "why don't just stick it…" ???

It's late… and I think I've read quite enough frigging posts, thank you.

Have a nice "stick it", then…

[icymist]

60. 'Winning Others Over' according to the Gallup Business Journal

Woo stands for winning others over. You enjoy the challenge of meeting new people and getting them to like you. Strangers are rarely intimidating to you. On the contrary, strangers can be energizing. You are drawn to them. You want to learn their names, ask them questions, and find some area of common interest so that you can strike up a conversation and build rapport. Some people shy away from starting up conversations because they worry about running out of things to say. You don't. Not only are you rarely at a loss for words; you actually enjoy initiating with strangers because you derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection. Once that connection is made, you are quite happy to wrap it up and move on. There are new people to meet, new rooms to work, new crowds to mingle in. In your world there are no strangers, only friends you haven't met yet -- lots of them.

http://businessjournal.gallup.com/content/721/Woo.aspx

[PeaceNikki]

23. ideas considered irrational or based on extremely flimsy evidence or that appeal to mysterious...

woo-woo

Woo-woo (or just plain woo) refers to ideas considered irrational or based on extremely flimsy evidence or that appeal to mysterious occult forces or powers.

Here's a dictionary definition of woo-woo:

adj. concerned with emotions, mysticism, or spiritualism; other than rational or scientific; mysterious; new agey. Also n., a person who has mystical or new age beliefs.

When used by skeptics, woo-woo is a derogatory and dismissive term used to refer to beliefs one considers nonsense or to a person who holds such beliefs.

Sometimes woo-woo is used by skeptics as a synonym for pseudoscience, true-believer, or quackery. But mostly the term is used for its emotive content and is an emotive synonym for such terms as nonsense, irrational, nutter, nut, or crazy.

http://www.skepdic.com/woowoo.html

[Cleita]

36. You could say that about a lot so science.

Take quantum mechanics for example.

[PeaceNikki]

37. Look, don't pull me into this flame fest. I have no dog in this fight. I was just answering the ?

kthxbai

[Cleita]

40. Well try a different definition.

Mine is that it is a derogatory term coined to make followers of certain spiritual practices and healing methods that are not mainstream look like they are crazy. Unless people are directly affected or harmed by the followers of such beliefs and practices they should mind their own business.

[PeaceNikki]

45. yes, I fucking said it was derogatory.

Did you miss that part?

Jesus Christ, that's why these flames keep going. People like you are looking for a fight.

[Gore1FL]

44. What issues do you have with quantum mechanics? n/t

[Igel]

49. Perhaps that it's a decent model.

That makes accurate predictions and allows us to explain and extend phenomena that otherwise doesn't seem to have a good explanation.

Or perhaps that we don't fully understand it, in that just being able to describe and predict doesn't constitute "understanding."

I go one step further than most. We shame creationists and anti-evolutionists. I consider that to be a variety of "woo."

Some want to hold other forms of "woo" in high honor. This I find difficult to understand.

[athena]

52. A decent model?!!!

Clearly, you haven't even taken an undergraduate-level course in quantum mechanics. It's an outrageous understatement to say that quantum mechanics "allows us to explain and extend (sic) phenomena that otherwise doesn't (sic) seem to have a good explanation." Moreover, it is not true that "we don't fully understand" quantum mechanics. You may not understand it, but that doesn't mean we don't understand it.

The current problem in theoretical physics is that whereas three out of the four fundamental forces (the electromagnetic, weak, and strong forces) can be understood quantum mechanically, the fourth force (gravity) currently is not. The goal of the best theoretical physicists in the world today is to come up with a quantum mechanical model of gravity. So it's completely nutty to claim that quantum mechanics is what is unsatisfactory in physics.

Quantum mechanics is a mathematical theory. You can't claim to understand it or know anything about it based on a few lay-person books or movies. Such books and movies generally aim to demonstrate how "cool" quantum mechanics is. They are not intended to give you the impression that quantum-mechanics is not a rock-solid part of physics.

[athena]

48. What would you say about quantum mechanics, again?

Do I understand you correctly to be claiming that quantum mechanics is somehow woo-woo or new age? If so, you're wrong. Quantum mechanics is one of the most mathematical, most rigorous, and most successful areas of physics. You use it whenever you check your phone, microwave your food, or get an MRI. You see evidence of it whenever you look at a fluorescent lamp through a diffraction grating. Just because some of its mathematical conclusions appear unintuitive doesn't mean it's woo-woo or new-age.

[Salviati]

54. Except that quantum physics actually makes testable predictions that are verified by experiment.

So there's that...

[Cleita]

61. Nobody has denied that.

However, think about it. You present the concepts of multiple universes. We only see one. You say there are nine to eleven dimensions. We experience three or four. There are branes. What? So you can see how exotic this is. So you put it through rigorous tests to prove it. However many concepts that are considered woo have not been given the same proof testing.

Remember the sciences of astronomy, mathematics, chemistry etc. all came from what started out as mystical thought and attempts to practice magic. My point is that if people want to believe in what you want to label magical thinking, let them. Why make fun of them unless they are hurting you?

[Electric Monk]

43. Alchemy used to be "woo" to most people, but now it's part of what we call chemistry.

For example.

[PeaceNikki]

46. Neat!

[Igel]

51. Rather the contrary.

People like Newton believed in alchemy. They developed methods to test it, to try to improve it. But what alchemy was after, the claims it made, the predictions it made, all failed. That this went on for centuries before observation and prediction were considered important enough to count for much of anything is truly impressive.

Alchemy died. The methods that were finally responsible for its death lived on because what they produced was rigorous, predictive, and observationally grounded. They were not, however, derived from alchemy itself.

Similarly, astronomy grew out of the corpse of astrology, but it took a rethinking of the entire meaning of the observations to reach that observation. Astrology lives in, rather unchanged since before astronomy really established itself. Astronomy, however, has produced some rather startling insights.

It's rather like saying we get broccoli from dirt, so nutritionally there's no difference between the vitamin content of broccoli and clay.

[Deep13]

53. willful stupidity nt

[icymist]

56. World Of Outlaws

http://worldofoutlaws.com/

[Atman]

3. This

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024287934

[L0oniX]

4. Woo should be ashamed!

[RC]

42. He should, but he is probably a Republican, so he has no shame.

[get the red out]

5. If there is a hell I should burn in it WITH SHAME

I take Glucosamine for my joints and believe in a higher force both.

I drink herbal tea also. I know I am an embarrassment to liberals everywhere, simply an uneducated horror story of a pseudo-person.

I also live in the south.

I've come clean.......

[Phlem]

8. For Shame!

I might have to shake your hand and have a cup myself.



-p

[Vashta Nerada]

12. Herbal tea is good.

I am currently enjoying a cup of Masala chai tea.

I, however, don't believe that it can cure anything that ails me.

[geek tragedy]

9. woo is me. nt

[Vashta Nerada]

10. Woo should be shamed.

[icymist]

59. I see nothing wrong with this store

http://www.ilovewoo.com/
Looks like they sell some cute things. Nothing to be ashamed about.

[reformist2]

15. But together, you've created something hilarious and true!

[HERVEPA]

18. I believe you meant to say twoo.

per Madelaine Kahn in Blazing Saddles

http://www.hark.com/clips/wzlksffwnh-its-twue-its-twue

[reformist2]

25. How could I miss that! lol

[lumberjack_jeff]

20. How about "woo shaming and consensus privilege"? n/t

[Puzzledtraveller]

21. Woosh!

[Squinch]

27. OK, I'm a fan of some things that are scientifically proven but are being called

"woo" here.

But that phrase is seriously hilarious!

[Phlem]

28. And the biggest "woo" offender of all

Albert Einstein:

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

-p

[Ian David]

31. "Woo Shaming" is so excellent, that I just submitted it to Urban Dictionary. Thanks!

Submission under review

Your entry is under review by editors.

Woo Shaming

Definition: The justifiable ridicule of those so ignorant of how the Universe really works, that they subscribe to nonsense such as homeopathy and crystal power.

Example: There are some things that are so patently absurd as to be unworthy of arguing against; those who believe in these things are lost beyond redemption, and the only thing left to do is engage in woo shaming.

by Ian David on Jan 6, 2014

tags: Science, Pseudoscience, Alternative Medicine, Education, Woo, Homeopathy, Derp, Reality, Medicine, Skepticism, Skeptic, Alt Med

[B2G]

32. Nice!

[Ian David]

35. The first instance I could find of the phrase was a Facebook posting from 2012.

Someone accusing someone of "woo shaming" someone else over body modifications.

FWIW, I don't think body modifications are woo. They're either art or fetish, unless you think they give you super powers or something.

[B2G]

38. Lol...I didn't Google it so I'm surprised

I had an original thought?

[Ian David]

39. Pretty much. Just you and a couple others, as far as I can tell. n/t

[ProgressSaves]

33. I prefer my woo in entertainment form.

Dished out by greats like George R. R. Martin and not by Dr. Smith that claims to cure headaches by burning sage and drawing pentagrams on my back with needles.

[Phlem]

41. I here ya B2G

On a lighter note, my 2nd grader asked Santa for a Chemistry set, a lab coat and goggles for Christmas. Santa delivered 3 different chemistry sets and a Snap Circuits Jr and her lab coat and goggles. It's so fun to do experiments with her and she is so stoked. I'm just the happiest dad around I can't put it in words.

Science Rocks!



-p

[sabrina 1]

47. Shame on failed scientific experiments that created generations of heartbreak.

[Drahthaardogs]

50. Can I buy you a beer?

(and for the record, the word "yummy" is a distant third)

[madinmaryland]

57. Why the fuck is everyone so infatuated with the Sham Woo guy

[icymist]

58. Was it really that bad a movie?

This place gave it three and a half stars:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120531/