General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why do we so eagerly take to woo? [View all]etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)Intelligent people faced with hopelessness and dire situations may step out of their usual reasoned behavior patterns and attach themselves to any glimmer of hope they may find (regardless of how irrational and false).
Quackery is dangerous.
I am not talking about "alternative" or adjunct therapies used to provide comfort/ ease stress ... anything that does no harm and eases pain (be it physical, mental or spiritual) .... If it doesn't dissuade folk from effective treatment, doesn't give false hope (preventing folk from taking care of issues that need to be addressed) and doesn't prey on folk financially it is not what I consider "woo" or quackery.
If "something" has no basis in reality (science), dissuades people from seeking or participating in proven/effective treatment, gives false hope, and/or squanders someones financial (or emotional) resources... it is quackery and it is dangerous.
It is irrelevant whether the promoters of the quackery are charlatans, true "believers" or simply stupid .... quackery and its promoters are dangerous.