Wild Goose Chase: Pseudoscience isn't benign

[topaznebula]

[CW: Content Warning for child neglect and death, and ableism in an image]

Pseudoscience hurts people, and there are real consequences for complacency.

What's the harm in someone believing in the healing powers of crystals? Is there a problem with someone believing that a deck of tarot cards can tell their future? If someone says a chiropractor

Comments

[rayaso]

This is an excellent, informative essay. I agree with what you have said.

[alycewilson]

I completely agree with you about the chiropractors and their lack of training, having a father who's an actual doctor.

[banana_galaxy]

My parents took me and my siblings to a chiropractor every two years for pretty much my entire childhood. I'm not really sure what their reasonings were. But I don't think it was to cure anything. I think it might've been they believed it was good for general health. Maybe it was also because I had poor posture. In any case, I haven't seen one for years, and I haven't taken my kids to see one ever.

The vaccination issue is the biggest one for me, especially when the argument is thrown around that it causes autism, because I'm autistic and so is one of my kids, so it gets pretty personal for me. It's offensive that people are basically suggesting a dead kid is better than an autistic one.

Science is there for a reason.

[halfshellvenus]

Both my parents were actual doctors, so I've been hearing about the over-reaching claims of chiropractors for a long time.

One of the most common risks is when someone sees a chiropractor after a car accident. Whiplash typically goes away on its own after about two weeks. But when you go to a chiropractor for it, the effects of what he/she does in attempting to treat that condition may be with you for a lifetime-- if only because you're now convinced you need to keep seeing the chiropractor. :(

[dadi]

Sigh. I hear you. My sister is a firm believer in chiropractors, naturopathologists and whatnot. And there is NOTHING that can make her change her opinion, alas.