Comments | emotionisdead9: Do tell me why everyone should be skeptical of everything. It's exhausting.

emotionisdead9

Do tell me why everyone should be skeptical of everything. It's exhausting.

Nov 09, 2008 12:20

It's amazing how much garbage scientific information is out there. The more I study science and learn more about nutrition specifically, the more skeptical I become about almost all of the things I thought scientists knew. A perfect example ( Read more... )

Comments 3

falucious November 10 2008, 03:42:56 UTC

there are lines between science and marketing and science and propoganda. unfortunately, unless you're actively attempting to distinguish things yourself it probably won't be done for you.

you should read voodoo science: the road from foolishness to fraud by dr. robert l. park.

conservethebest November 10 2008, 06:01:22 UTC

Ultimately you have to realize that researchers are people as well, and they're influenced by things like money. While we'd all like to believe that "scientists" (I don't like using that word, it's way too broad) are purely seeking the truth, it's unwise to do so, as they're just as human as the rest of us.

Being skeptical of information you hear is a good thing. It makes you a more discerning person.

You should take an upper-division statistics course. It can really help you determine which studies are full of shit, and which aren't.

emotionisdead9 November 10 2008, 17:16:56 UTC

I left the word "scientist" as a broad term on purpose because I'm not necessarily only targeting one instance or situation. I realize that "scientists" or for lack of a better word, drug researchers, are people and are influenced by money; but it doesn't make sense to me how so many of them could care so little about the false or altered information that they endorse that truly makes so much of a difference in today's society. Considering the fact that, in the example of the drug Crestor, SO many people are susceptible to heart disease or HAVE heart disease, how can someone come out and straight-up lie to millions of people that this might help just so you can get a paycheck? I obviously know this is a reality of the world...I'm just saying I wish that it wasn't. I can't imagine ever doing such a thing if drug researching were my chosen profession. You're just a phony with a white coat that gains from lying to the entire world ( ... )