Comments on: Rather brilliantly I have been plagiarised by the Times… http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/ Ben Goldacre's Bad Science column from the Guardian and more... Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:46:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Kimpatsu http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23740 Kimpatsu Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:26:13 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23740 <i>They really could try a less obvious name though.</i> What are the odds of that...? They really could try a less obvious name though.
What are the odds of that…?

]]> By: DoubleBluff http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23381 DoubleBluff Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:25:07 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23381 Have you seen the only two comments on the Times' article? What a useles article George, Fla, USA Rip off. Tom, Stoke-on-Trent, England Brilliant. Have you seen the only two comments on the Times’ article?

What a useles article

George, Fla, USA

Rip off.

Tom, Stoke-on-Trent, England

Brilliant.

]]> By: ossian http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23341 ossian Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:06:34 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23341 Bad Boys "The Blog Where S. Claus Exploses the Lies and Misinformation at the Foot of the Christmas Tree" Latest Posts: Whose Getting Ashes in Their Stockings [Page 3] He's Not The Messiah; He's a Very Naughty Boy Thanks Mummy The Mistletoe Action Was Hawt [an expose of the spread of plastic mistletoe with guest advisors from Gardeners Questiontime] Bad Boys “The Blog Where S. Claus Exploses the Lies and Misinformation at the Foot of the Christmas Tree”

Latest Posts:

Whose Getting Ashes in Their Stockings [Page 3]

He’s Not The Messiah; He’s a Very Naughty Boy

Thanks Mummy The Mistletoe Action Was Hawt [an expose of the spread of plastic mistletoe with guest advisors from Gardeners Questiontime]

]]> By: jasondenys http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23319 jasondenys Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:39:16 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23319 Wasn't 'Bad Astronomy' the first 'Bad' blog? Wasn’t ‘Bad Astronomy’ the first ‘Bad’ blog?

]]> By: mikewhit http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23302 mikewhit Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:14:08 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23302 “50% of all hospitals/doctors/[insert your favourite bete noir here] are below average!” - depends on the distribution. Now 'below the median' I could get annoyed about ... “50% of all hospitals/doctors/[insert your favourite bete noir here] are below average!” – depends on the distribution.

Now ‘below the median’ I could get annoyed about …

]]> By: zeno http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23296 zeno Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:06:48 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23296 I emailed Bad Statistics the other day about a Theos poll. The press release was titled '1 in 3 Britons believe in virgin birth', but the poll question didn't quite match it, asking the level of agreement with the statement that "Jesus was born to a virgin called Mary" was historically accurate. (I see the problem as being that many will instead see the statement as 'Jesus was born to Mary' and leave out the virgin bit.) They found that two-thirds did. Tom Whipple seemed quite interested in this mismatch, so it may appear in a future column! Talking of Theos, they did another poll about the nation's awareness of Charles Dawrin's 200th anniversary and 150th anniversary of the Origin of Species. Not surprisingly, it found that 80% did not know about it - hopefully that will change in the coming months. However, there is hope for future generations: 25% of those 'up to four years old', were aware! (See http://campaigndirector.moodia.com/Client/Theos/Files/DarwinpollNov08.pdf) I emailed Bad Statistics the other day about a Theos poll. The press release was titled ‘1 in 3 Britons believe in virgin birth’, but the poll question didn’t quite match it, asking the level of agreement with the statement that “Jesus was born to a virgin called Mary” was historically accurate. (I see the problem as being that many will instead see the statement as ‘Jesus was born to Mary’ and leave out the virgin bit.) They found that two-thirds did.

Tom Whipple seemed quite interested in this mismatch, so it may appear in a future column!

Talking of Theos, they did another poll about the nation’s awareness of Charles Dawrin’s 200th anniversary and 150th anniversary of the Origin of Species. Not surprisingly, it found that 80% did not know about it – hopefully that will change in the coming months. However, there is hope for future generations: 25% of those ‘up to four years old’, were aware! (See http://campaigndirector.moodia.com/Client/Theos/Files/DarwinpollNov08.pdf)

]]> By: yoav http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23291 yoav Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:51:12 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23291 Remember, 98% of all statistics are made up. My favourite statistically based shock headline is: "50% of all hospitals/doctors/[insert your favourite bete noir here] are below average!" Remember, 98% of all statistics are made up.

My favourite statistically based shock headline is:
“50% of all hospitals/doctors/[insert your favourite bete noir here] are below average!”

]]> By: warhelmet http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23253 warhelmet Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:33:29 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23253 @The Biologista - are you completely mad? Putting a badsciencesque column in a women's magazine would scare the advertisers. Especially the woo ones that you find at the back amongst the cosmetic surgery ads. And the scratch cards with premium rate claim numbers. It can't be done... Well, I'd love it if someone could prove me wrong. And Sili - "good fight" - the article doesn't really challenge anything of any import. It's a silly article. BadEducation. That's the column I want to see. With particular concentration on mathematics and science. And maybe a bit of logic and rhetoric. And critical reasoning. And proper "media studies" in the sense that one is taught how to parse a newspaper article, etc... It's certainly not the case that more coverage of these issues is a good thing. I, for one, would prefer that it wasn't necessary. I am sick to the back teeth of newspapers being filled with non-news content. Look at the sunday editions. Bah, humbug. @The Biologista – are you completely mad? Putting a badsciencesque column in a women’s magazine would scare the advertisers. Especially the woo ones that you find at the back amongst the cosmetic surgery ads. And the scratch cards with premium rate claim numbers. It can’t be done… Well, I’d love it if someone could prove me wrong. And Sili – “good fight” – the article doesn’t really challenge anything of any import. It’s a silly article.

BadEducation. That’s the column I want to see. With particular concentration on mathematics and science. And maybe a bit of logic and rhetoric.
And critical reasoning. And proper “media studies” in the sense that one is taught how to parse a newspaper article, etc…

It’s certainly not the case that more coverage of these issues is a good thing. I, for one, would prefer that it wasn’t necessary.

I am sick to the back teeth of newspapers being filled with non-news content. Look at the sunday editions.

Bah, humbug.

]]> By: vince http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23247 vince Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:04:23 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23247 No BadStatistics book yet, at least! Amazon have refused to let me buy any more copies of BadScience since I bought 5 in September; apparently they limit these things! Anyway, the more coverage of these sorts of issues the better, as long as the coverage is reasonably clear. No BadStatistics book yet, at least! Amazon have refused to let me buy any more copies of BadScience since I bought 5 in September; apparently they limit these things!

Anyway, the more coverage of these sorts of issues the better, as long as the coverage is reasonably clear.

]]> By: Junkmonkey http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23239 Junkmonkey Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:01:43 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23239 I hope it gets better too but take heart from the fact that it is there in the first place (or rather second place since BadScience was first). Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The more there is of this kind of thing the better. And don't forget: http://www.badpsychics.com/ I hope it gets better too but take heart from the fact that it is there in the first place (or rather second place since BadScience was first). Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The more there is of this kind of thing the better.

And don’t forget:

http://www.badpsychics.com/

]]> By: S http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23220 S Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:11:11 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23220 How about Bad Things (including all Stuff) How about Bad Things (including all Stuff)

]]> By: The Biologista http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23216 The Biologista Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:19:04 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23216 Now if only we could sneak such a column into one of the major women's magazines. A significant unchallenged source of total credulous trash right there. Now if only we could sneak such a column into one of the major women’s magazines. A significant unchallenged source of total credulous trash right there.

]]> By: jonathanhearsey http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23215 jonathanhearsey Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:44:51 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23215 Don't worry, Ben - we've all been lifting your original stuff for years!!!!! JH Don’t worry, Ben – we’ve all been lifting your original stuff for years!!!!!

JH

]]> By: drunkenoaf http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23211 drunkenoaf Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:02:48 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23211 Ye gads, that's a lame column. I just wonder what would happen if Mr. Whipple annoyed a litigious quack like Rath. Would Mr. Murdoch stand behind him like the good people at the Guardian did with you? Would Whipple even dare? Ye gads, that’s a lame column.

I just wonder what would happen if Mr. Whipple annoyed a litigious quack like Rath. Would Mr. Murdoch stand behind him like the good people at the Guardian did with you? Would Whipple even dare?

]]> By: used to be jdc http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23210 used to be jdc Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:51:57 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23210 Ooh, good point Sili - there's <a href="http://www.badarchaeology.net/" rel="nofollow">Bad Archaeology</a> too. Couldn't find a blog called Bad Statistics though. My weak google-fu may not have been powerful enough this time. I should really dilute and succuss it... Ooh, good point Sili – there’s Bad Archaeology too. Couldn’t find a blog called Bad Statistics though. My weak google-fu may not have been powerful enough this time. I should really dilute and succuss it…

]]> By: Sili http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23209 Sili Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:01:05 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23209 Isn't there already a "Bad Statistics" blog? Along with, of course, Bad Astronomy Bad Martial Arts (Good Math), Bad Math And those I just the ones I recall. To be fair, warhelmet, "Women/Life & Style" strikes me as section that's louse with bad stats (and chemistry and psychology and sociology and whathaveyou). I think it's admirable if someone tries to fight the good fight against the vacuous columnists of that persuasion. Isn’t there already a “Bad Statistics” blog?

Along with, of course,

Bad Astronomy
Bad Martial Arts
(Good Math), Bad Math

And those I just the ones I recall.

To be fair, warhelmet, “Women/Life & Style” strikes me as section that’s louse with bad stats (and chemistry and psychology and sociology and whathaveyou). I think it’s admirable if someone tries to fight the good fight against the vacuous columnists of that persuasion.

]]> By: warhelmet http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23207 warhelmet Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:54:14 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23207 Hang on - look at the page and where it sits in the Times Online hierarchy... Something under "women" and "life & style". At least the grauniad have the courtesy to stick Ben in the main paper, in the news section. Interesting. Hang on – look at the page and where it sits in the Times Online hierarchy…

Something under “women” and “life & style”. At least the grauniad have the courtesy to stick Ben in the main paper, in the news section.

Interesting.

]]> By: The Biologista http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23206 The Biologista Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:15:53 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23206 It's not half bad. They really could try a less obvious name though. It’s not half bad.

They really could try a less obvious name though.

]]> By: used to be jdc http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23205 used to be jdc Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:55:18 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23205 I've been plagiarising you for ages and no-one's offered me a bloody job. I’ve been plagiarising you for ages and no-one’s offered me a bloody job.

]]> By: John http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/comment-page-1/#comment-23204 John Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:54:04 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2008/12/rather-brilliantly-i-have-been-plagiarised-by-the-times/#comment-23204 (Not strictly on message but in reference to the story in the mini-blog you have to laugh at the insentivity of Google ads.) I checked out the story about the woman drinking herself to death on water and the ads below were: * lose 5 pounds in three days * got a drink problem * this site guarantees to remove really gross stuff from your gut. (Not strictly on message but in reference to the story in the mini-blog you have to laugh at the insentivity of Google ads.)

I checked out the story about the woman drinking herself to death on water and the ads below were:

* lose 5 pounds in three days

* got a drink problem

* this site guarantees to remove really gross stuff from your gut.

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