Comments on: Self-indulgent retrospective – 2007 http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/ Ben Goldacre's Bad Science column from the Guardian and more... Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:20:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: psybertron http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19273 psybertron Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:26:33 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19273 A good collection Ben ... I've made a few negative comments over your arguments / attitudes to the quackery in the past ... but I can't fault 99% of it. Best wishes for the new year. That said, the "Jeffers" post contains a warning you should note "most messages on this site are implausably adulatory of its owner" ... This stuff is just too easy to poke fun at and share the joke with us - take care to encourage thoughtful specific criticism of your own criticisms. Good or bad, science isn't everything. A good collection Ben … I’ve made a few negative comments over your arguments / attitudes to the quackery in the past … but I can’t fault 99% of it. Best wishes for the new year.

That said, the “Jeffers” post contains a warning you should note “most messages on this site are implausably adulatory of its owner” … This stuff is just too easy to poke fun at and share the joke with us – take care to encourage thoughtful specific criticism of your own criticisms.

Good or bad, science isn’t everything.

]]> By: spk76 http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19272 spk76 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:53:40 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19272 It's the electrosmog discombobulating your cognitive faculties. It’s the electrosmog discombobulating your cognitive faculties.

]]> By: Kinky The Cat http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19271 Kinky The Cat Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:52:02 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19271 Sorry folks, dodgy laptop skills... Sorry folks, dodgy laptop skills…

]]> By: Kinky The Cat http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19270 Kinky The Cat Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:49:24 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19270 Have had a look at the Bioiniative Report it seems to me to contain a lot of anecdote and not a lot of actual evidence. It is suggesting alarmist changes to public policy on the basis that, even though there is no evidence that normal exposure to electromagnetic fields harms people, we are so constantly exposed that if they are proven in the future to be dangerous a large proportion of the population would be affected. Jeffers - Ben has always been supportive of people showing the distressing symptoms attributed by "the electrosensitive lobby" to electromagnetic fields while pointing out that it cannot be proven that this is the cause of their illness. Have had a look at the Bioiniative Report it seems to me to contain a lot of anecdote and not a lot of actual evidence. It is suggesting alarmist changes to public policy on the basis that, even though there is no evidence that normal exposure to electromagnetic fields harms people, we are so constantly exposed that if they are proven in the future to be dangerous a large proportion of the population would be affected.
Jeffers – Ben has always been supportive of people showing the distressing symptoms attributed by “the electrosensitive lobby” to electromagnetic fields while pointing out that it cannot be proven that this is the cause of their illness.

]]> By: Kinky The Cat http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19269 Kinky The Cat Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:28:42 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19269 Have had a look at the Bioiniative Report it seems to me to contain a lot of anecdote and not a lot of actual evidence. It is suggesting alarmist changes to public policy on the offchance that electromagnetic fields **might** be bad, even though there is no actual proof that they damage people. Jeffers - Ben has always been supportive of people showing the distressing symptoms attributed by "the electrosensitive lobby" to electromagnetic fields while pointing out that it cannot be proven that this is the cause of their illness. Have had a look at the Bioiniative Report it seems to me to contain a lot of anecdote and not a lot of actual evidence. It is suggesting alarmist changes to public policy on the offchance that electromagnetic fields **might** be bad, even though there is no actual proof that they damage people.
Jeffers – Ben has always been supportive of people showing the distressing symptoms attributed by “the electrosensitive lobby” to electromagnetic fields while pointing out that it cannot be proven that this is the cause of their illness.

]]> By: guthrie http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19266 guthrie Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:20:05 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19266 Jeffers, if the above posts are implausibly adulatory to you, then I'm afraid that your idea of sarcastic and strongly worded meant that your post was taken as being insulting and rude. Jeffers, if the above posts are implausibly adulatory to you, then I’m afraid that your idea of sarcastic and strongly worded meant that your post was taken as being insulting and rude.

]]> By: Robert Carnegie http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19262 Robert Carnegie Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:20:31 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19262 Well, for a start, "Bioinitiative Report" strikes this near-layman as a very, very silly name. Well, for a start, “Bioinitiative Report” strikes this near-layman as a very, very silly name.

]]> By: jeffers http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19245 jeffers Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:23:53 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19245 A couple of weeks ago I tried posting a message on this site drawing attention to the Bioinitiative Report, a hugely important study, almost entirely ignored by our beloved media, published last August by an international team of experts (with a contribution by the European Environmental Agency). The study supplies comprehensive and up to date scientific evidence for the serious health risks associated with electromagnetic fields, including those associated with wifi (www.bioinitiative.org). No sooner had my post appeared than it disappeared again. Perhaps there was a technical error on the site; but my message was strongly worded and not a little sarcastic (whereas most messages on this site are implausably adulatory of its owner), so I wonder whether Dr Goldacre pulled my posting, numbering it among the "abusive" messages he claims to have received from what he likes to call "the electrosensitivity lobby". Here's to finding out. A couple of weeks ago I tried posting a message on this site drawing attention to the Bioinitiative Report, a hugely important study, almost entirely ignored by our beloved media, published last August by an international team of experts (with a contribution by the European Environmental Agency). The study supplies comprehensive and up to date scientific evidence for the serious health risks associated with electromagnetic fields, including those associated with wifi (www.bioinitiative.org). No sooner had my post appeared than it disappeared again. Perhaps there was a technical error on the site; but my message was strongly worded and not a little sarcastic (whereas most messages on this site are implausably adulatory of its owner), so I wonder whether Dr Goldacre pulled my posting, numbering it among the “abusive” messages he claims to have received from what he likes to call “the electrosensitivity lobby”. Here’s to finding out.

]]> By: Peter Bowditch http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19241 Peter Bowditch Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:13:25 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19241 Nice stuff, Ben. I don't think either of us are going to be short of material in the near future. Or even the far future, unfortunately. Nice stuff, Ben. I don’t think either of us are going to be short of material in the near future. Or even the far future, unfortunately.

]]> By: Robert Carnegie http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19240 Robert Carnegie Tue, 01 Jan 2008 03:09:56 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19240 I admit the comic timing of unexpected "coffee enemas" convinced me to post that quote. And the thought of "grounds for a lawsuit" persuades me to take up this much more of your valuable time. I admit the comic timing of unexpected “coffee enemas” convinced me to post that quote.

And the thought of “grounds for a lawsuit” persuades me to take up this much more of your valuable time.

]]> By: Peter F Foley http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19239 Peter F Foley Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:53:54 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19239 Did Lucia De Berk work at a Hospice? The problem is the Human brain is hardwired to engage in low benefit behaviors to survive instead of laying down to die when it is hopeless. That and faulty pattern recognition memes. I washed out my colon with caffeine and felt better--instead of changing my diet and drinking one more Litre of water a day to ease the 'flow'. Keep lighting the candles of reason in the hurricane of stupidity. Pete. Did Lucia De Berk work at a Hospice? The problem is the Human brain is hardwired to engage in low benefit behaviors to survive instead of laying down to die when it is hopeless. That and faulty pattern recognition memes. I washed out my colon with caffeine and felt better–instead of changing my diet and drinking one more Litre of water a day to ease the ‘flow’. Keep lighting the candles of reason in the hurricane of stupidity. Pete.

]]> By: BobP http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19237 BobP Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:57:16 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19237 That's put me off coffee for the rest of the day! That’s put me off coffee for the rest of the day!

]]> By: Robert Carnegie http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19236 Robert Carnegie Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:02:48 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19236 Except for almost every detail, could the carrot man be the guy writing here? > http://www.positivehealth.com/article-view.php?articleid=2038 (found on several web sites) Response there: "I have trained on the Gerson Therapy...one should consider that others may have such a weakened system and compromised liver that could not take more of the juices without detoxing support from the coffee enemas; this is very serious, particularly if tumours dissolve too quickly bringing toxicity levels up." Carrot Guy may be dead; articles on his video site aren't dated but I don't see anything referring to 2007. Except for almost every detail, could the carrot man be the guy writing here? > http://www.positivehealth.com/article-view.php?articleid=2038
(found on several web sites)

Response there: “I have trained on the Gerson Therapy…one should consider that others may have such a weakened system and compromised liver that could not take more of the juices without detoxing support from the coffee enemas; this is very serious, particularly if tumours dissolve too quickly bringing toxicity levels up.”

Carrot Guy may be dead; articles on his video site aren’t dated but I don’t see anything referring to 2007.

]]> By: evidencebasedeating http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19235 evidencebasedeating Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:05:06 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19235 Phew! so much to cover so succinctly put here's to the next 10 years of weekly Badscience - if the Grauniad know whats good for them oh, and solve a puzzle. since when did you archive stuff from Jan-August 1007? Are you a timelord? Phew!

so much to cover

so succinctly put

here’s to the next 10 years of weekly Badscience – if the Grauniad know whats good for them

oh, and solve a puzzle. since when did you archive stuff from Jan-August 1007?

Are you a timelord?

]]> By: mockingbird http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19234 mockingbird Sun, 30 Dec 2007 23:45:12 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19234 My favourite thing someone said to me this year was that he had read an article about a man who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He refused treatment, and later had a dream which gave him the idea to eat nothing but carrots, completely recovering not long afterwards and leaving all his doctors baffled. I'm not sure what point this guy was trying to make but I think it was something to do with cancer not affecting you until you know you've got it. My favourite thing someone said to me this year was that he had read an article about a man who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He refused treatment, and later had a dream which gave him the idea to eat nothing but carrots, completely recovering not long afterwards and leaving all his doctors baffled. I’m not sure what point this guy was trying to make but I think it was something to do with cancer not affecting you until you know you’ve got it.

]]> By: AitchJay http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19232 AitchJay Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:00:04 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19232 Thanks for a great read every week Ben, look forward to more of the same in the coming year.. Thanks for a great read every week Ben, look forward to more of the same in the coming year..

]]> By: jackpt http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19231 jackpt Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:04:38 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19231 It's kind of bitter-sweet. The responses to the articles were often depressing. The homeopathy people particularly. Your column is always a good read though. I hope things like G2 columns and a higher profile become a trend in 2008. It’s kind of bitter-sweet. The responses to the articles were often depressing. The homeopathy people particularly. Your column is always a good read though. I hope things like G2 columns and a higher profile become a trend in 2008.

]]> By: marcdraco http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19230 marcdraco Sat, 29 Dec 2007 23:42:41 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19230 mm maybe, i’m not so sure. i strongly suspect that a likely outcome of all the nonsense in the media is a kind of formless, uncallibrated, unreasoned, blanket cynicism. “one minute science tells us that courgettes are good for cancer, the next they tell us that alcohol is bad for you, it’s all nonsense” etc. So then end result is F.U.D. and confusion; which is good for the tabloids, great for the crazy non-science of perpetual motion machines & creationism, and bad for people like us who make it our life's work to make the world a slightly better, saner place. Without people like you Ben, we'd be in a whole heap of doo doo! mm maybe, i’m not so sure. i strongly suspect that a likely outcome of all the nonsense in the media is a kind of formless, uncallibrated, unreasoned, blanket cynicism. “one minute science tells us that courgettes are good for cancer, the next they tell us that alcohol is bad for you, it’s all nonsense” etc.

So then end result is F.U.D. and confusion; which is good for the tabloids, great for the crazy non-science of perpetual motion machines & creationism, and bad for people like us who make it our life’s work to make the world a slightly better, saner place.

Without people like you Ben, we’d be in a whole heap of doo doo!

]]> By: student grant http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19229 student grant Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:59:22 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19229 Ben, Thanks for supporting sanity, exposing the fruit-loops and charlatans, and giving us a laugh along the way. Happy New Year! Ben,
Thanks for supporting sanity, exposing the fruit-loops and charlatans, and giving us a laugh along the way.
Happy New Year!

]]> By: manigen http://www.badscience.net/2007/12/the-year-in-bad-science-2007/comment-page-1/#comment-19228 manigen Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:49:47 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/?p=601#comment-19228 A damn good year for the column all round, I think. Congratulations, Ben. A damn good year for the column all round, I think. Congratulations, Ben.

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