General Discussion

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)

10. It's bred into us

Sat Jun 8, 2013, 12:15 AM

Jun 2013

Looking for patterns in things, searching for cause and effect, and so on, got us off of grasslands and shorelines, and into huts.

If we weren't wired to suspect things, we wouldn't have science.

But, casually, we all misperceive probability and statistics. Why was it a national news story that the woman who won the lottery was let ahead in line by someone else? The unspoken assumption is an entirely magical belief that the winning ticket was inalterably destined to come out to person number 2 in that line. That's utter bullshit, but it is the reason why it was a "fun" story to some, and a portent of the gods to others.

We develop mythologies as a way of making sense of the world around us. Why do the seasons come and go? Why does the Nile rise and fall?

Tide comes in, tide goes out...

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Why do we so eagerly take to woo? [View all] Archae Jun 2013 OP

People who believe in pseudoscience have a misalignment of their chakras. Liberal Veteran Jun 2013 #1

lol Liberal_in_LA Jun 2013 #5

My Friend RobinA Jun 2013 #8

DUzy! eridani Jun 2013 #18

+1 burnodo Jun 2013 #100

Only a person filled with thetans would post that! Dash87 Jun 2013 #58

Got any proof for your claim? postulater Jun 2013 #2

My psychic, Miss Cleo channeled me. Archae Jun 2013 #4

sorry, but I think "woo" is a stupid internet slang term quinnox Jun 2013 #3

So what do you call it? Archae Jun 2013 #6

anything but "woo" quinnox Jun 2013 #7

I agree quinnox Puzzledtraveller Jun 2013 #12

I suspect the word "woo" is here to stay. Laelth Jun 2013 #28

Woo is almost certainly more prevalent on the Left than the Right, sadly. nt Codeine Jun 2013 #85

Depends on which woo. JoeyT Jun 2013 #130

What the hack is it? sammytko Jun 2013 #35

Completely agree. Twofish Jun 2013 #56

agreed! nt G_j Jun 2013 #76

Homeopathy.. one of my favorites MattBaggins Jun 2013 #9

So no homeopathic remedies work? Puzzledtraveller Jun 2013 #14

Pretty much TlalocW Jun 2013 #17

Correct RudynJack Jun 2013 #41

You are correct MattBaggins Jun 2013 #42

Are you conflating "homeopathy" with the term alternative medicine/ treatments? etherealtruth Jun 2013 #49

Probably Puzzledtraveller Jun 2013 #91

Nope. None. The placebo effect doesn't count. Dash87 Jun 2013 #59

Yes. Iggo Jun 2013 #68

Of course no homeopathic remedies work. Codeine Jun 2013 #87

I dunno, some might be a useful treatment for dehydration. (nt) Posteritatis Jun 2013 #106

Not true. eShirl Jun 2013 #141

That is correct. No homeopathic "remedy" works cleanhippie Jun 2013 #155

It's bred into us jberryhill Jun 2013 #10

Agreed, and that's why conspiracy theories are so popular. Archae Jun 2013 #11

But it's one of our better qualities jberryhill Jun 2013 #15

Very true. randome Jun 2013 #34

What I meant... Archae Jun 2013 #72

The OP asks "Why" do people do this jberryhill Jun 2013 #80

It might even be hard-wired genetically. annabanana Jun 2013 #61

Did you know the federal government just approved another phen-phen type drug today? Major Hogwash Jun 2013 #13

A cure for hunger! jberryhill Jun 2013 #16

Why do you repeatedly try to link/group/etc Chiropractic Medicine with Homeophathy? That's not cool. Electric Monk Jun 2013 #19

Though I appreciate the OP and the spirit of the OP etherealtruth Jun 2013 #39

But many chiropractors RudynJack Jun 2013 #43

You are, of course, correct etherealtruth Jun 2013 #46

The latest fad (if you could call it that) in chiropractic is chiropractic for babies. Archae Jun 2013 #50

Oh, god etherealtruth Jun 2013 #51

There is a difference between theory and practice here eridani Jun 2013 #136

When my son was in high school he did something to his back in PE pnwmom Jun 2013 #138

and then there are chiropractors like my sister's who peddle homeopathy and "kinesiology" eShirl Jun 2013 #140

My friend fell and hurt his back burnodo Jun 2013 #102

So true! A scam IMO! n-t Logical Jun 2013 #142

What is the purpose of this post? KT2000 Jun 2013 #20

That's not the point Scootaloo Jun 2013 #23

Again - KT2000 Jun 2013 #26

Who said politicians are scientists? Scootaloo Jun 2013 #65

the point is - KT2000 Jun 2013 #92

I'm a hospice nurse. Sometimes I do sound tuning fork relaxation mucifer Jun 2013 #32

What you describe is not quackery or "woo" etherealtruth Jun 2013 #38

You see no issue with charlatans stealing peoples' money? Dash87 Jun 2013 #60

beliefs are not innocent KT2000 Jun 2013 #63

I love how these posts always draw out the "oh, you must be a paid shill" script... (nt) Posteritatis Jun 2013 #105

when the same person KT2000 Jun 2013 #119

It's an excuse to use the "anti-vaxxer" dog whistle. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #109

Homeopathy is not "alternative medicine." It's not even actual medicine. cleanhippie Jun 2013 #156

Not really KT2000 Jun 2013 #159

Because woo is cheaper than science Scootaloo Jun 2013 #21

Good point. I suspect that $ does play a role in making woo appealing. n/t Laelth Jun 2013 #30

Because they work for some or many of those that try them. Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #22

Anecdotally, they work RudynJack Jun 2013 #44

who cares when it's *your* anecdote? Matariki Jun 2013 #110

Then you should RudynJack Jun 2013 #117

Miracle cures like this: Ms. Toad Jun 2013 #24

There are different kinds of chiropractors. JoeyT Jun 2013 #131

The OP tarred them all Ms. Toad Jun 2013 #134

Yeah, it's kind of an iffy field to discuss. JoeyT Jun 2013 #135

Pseudomedical horseshit Warpy Jun 2013 #25

Same reason people buy lottery tickets, I suppose. Laelth Jun 2013 #27

Truthfully? I think it's a lot to do with the fact that medicine in your country costs money. sibelian Jun 2013 #29

Of course, woo is even more popular in Europe, Codeine Jun 2013 #88

Well, I don't know about that. sibelian Jun 2013 #145

Personally I don't do woo madokie Jun 2013 #31

Because people believe what they read on the Internet... SidDithers Jun 2013 #33

Were I interested in the general subject area, here's where I'd start reading. proverbialwisdom Jun 2013 #121

No, you'd start with Age of Autism... SidDithers Jun 2013 #124

Not true, however, the BBC recently linked to Age of Autism as one of two "Related Internet Links." proverbialwisdom Jun 2013 #151

It isn't always woo. Alternative practices are being used in medical facilities. In_The_Wind Jun 2013 #36

Here's something interesting. LWolf Jun 2013 #53

I'm glad that you are ok! In_The_Wind Jun 2013 #57

You know what they call alternative medicine that actually does something? Posteritatis Jun 2013 #104

It works for me. In_The_Wind Jun 2013 #139

... because desperate people make poor choices etherealtruth Jun 2013 #37

"desperate people make poor choices" sufrommich Jun 2013 #47

Well, there are three hot-button words in your title. ananda Jun 2013 #40

There is no such thing as allopathic MattBaggins Jun 2013 #45

Medicine in an art and a science treestar Jun 2013 #48

Well.... cliffordu Jun 2013 #52

I don't know JustAnotherGen Jun 2013 #54

Chiropracty and naturopathy are not 'woo.' Twofish Jun 2013 #55

Oh yes they are MattBaggins Jun 2013 #99

So was giving women breast cancer by prescribing premarin also woo? KittyWampus Jun 2013 #122

This message was self-deleted by its author mother earth Jun 2013 #62

Couldn't have said it better. Twofish Jun 2013 #64

I agree, Ela RobertEarl Jun 2013 #66

I was told by someone I was anti science because I advocated aloe for minor burns Puzzledtraveller Jun 2013 #67

Studies with aloe on second degree burns MattBaggins Jun 2013 #103

Actually, no. Ms. Toad Jun 2013 #133

I'll treat my cancer with chemo and you can use your healing stones. Apophis Jun 2013 #73

This message was self-deleted by its author mother earth Jun 2013 #83

Why does part of me think Puzzledtraveller Jun 2013 #93

This message was self-deleted by its author mother earth Jun 2013 #95

Those two topics are totally related, aren't they? Apophis Jun 2013 #113

I'm sure you're one of those people who believe that vaccinations cause autism, aren't you? Apophis Jun 2013 #112

This message was self-deleted by its author mother earth Jun 2013 #149

I'll stick to science. Apophis Jun 2013 #160

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2013 #147

Naturopathy is western MattBaggins Jun 2013 #101

LOL, please name the WOO topic you think has been proved..... Logical Jun 2013 #143

This message was self-deleted by its author mother earth Jun 2013 #154

Woo is Woo. You "believers" crack me up! n-t Logical Jun 2013 #158

This message was self-deleted by its author mother earth Jun 2013 #162

I believe you are gullible fool that believes anything! n-t Logical Jun 2013 #163

Music break, science song. Hope a little off-topic levity is ok. proverbialwisdom Jun 2013 #69

Post removed Post removed Jun 2013 #70

And Thalidomide! WinkyDink Jun 2013 #74

And laetrile! Archae Jun 2013 #79

Enjoy your stay... Archae Jun 2013 #77

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2013 #81

People who believe in woo are weak-minded wishful thinkers. Apophis Jun 2013 #71

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2013 #75

What "thought?" Archae Jun 2013 #78

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2013 #84

I know someone who lives their entire life in the world of New Age woo. Zorra Jun 2013 #82

I don't why you listed Chiropractic. My wife has had amazing results for her SlimJimmy Jun 2013 #86

Read this. Archae Jun 2013 #89

Call it what you want. My wife's chiropractor has made a postive difference for her. SlimJimmy Jun 2013 #111

If chiropractice is only used to treat certain bone and muscular issues, it has some use derby378 Jun 2013 #90

I agree with what you've said. Her Chiropratic practitioner specializes in SlimJimmy Jun 2013 #107

Placebo effect! -t Logical Jun 2013 #144

Placebo effect that has lasted for a year, when the best option the others could offer SlimJimmy Jun 2013 #146

The chiropractor I see has done my back and shoulders a whole lot of good Matariki Jun 2013 #94

Because there are different kinds of chiropractor. JoeyT Jun 2013 #132

If you don't want to try "alternative" therapies, then don't JanMichael Jun 2013 #96

What you mean "we", paleface? Iggo Jun 2013 #97

THIS WILL CURE YOU ! olddots Jun 2013 #98

Because "profit motive" = "non-woo" lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #108

Did you notice? Archae Jun 2013 #115

I don't see few reasons to recommend one over the other. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #118

A rebuttal from Tim Minchin derby378 Jun 2013 #116

Woo sounds sexy and Id like to hump it. bunnies Jun 2013 #114

Yes Hyaluronic acid is unproven woo MattBaggins Jun 2013 #157

I didn't write this and DO NOT endorse every claim, but it rebuts the "anti-vax nutjobs" silliness. proverbialwisdom Jun 2013 #120

"Age Of Autism" is a total bullshit web site. Archae Jun 2013 #123

The poster you're replying to is a defender of Andrew Wakefield... SidDithers Jun 2013 #125

Not surprised. Archae Jun 2013 #127

Heard of Dr. Poul Thorsen? proverbialwisdom Jun 2013 #129

The fact that people are *still* Wakefield fanboys at this point is stunning. (nt) Posteritatis Jun 2013 #148

Prove it. Hint, you can't. I deliberately choose not express 'opinion,' I post INFORMATION. proverbialwisdom Jun 2013 #150

Keep denying it... SidDithers Jun 2013 #152

Lack of nuance does great disservice to that argument. proverbialwisdom Jun 2013 #128

FYI - Out of the Mouths of Babes:"Autism is a Sickness Where Your Tummy Hurts and You Can't Talk" proverbialwisdom Jun 2013 #167

And here's when woo combines with right-wing bullshit. Archae Jun 2013 #126

My father used the "woo" of a chiropractor to deal with pnwmom Jun 2013 #137

Consumers of woo are morons, plain and simple. sagat Jun 2013 #153

An MRI was unable to detect a serious problem a chiropractor solved in a single session. Fire Walk With Me Jun 2013 #161

Because people inherently sense we are missing information. DirkGently Jun 2013 #164

Why do so many eagerly embrace Poo?* Berlum Jun 2013 #165

This is one result of anti-vaxx woo. Archae Jun 2013 #166