Comments on: The year in nonsense http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/ Ben Goldacre's Bad Science column from the Guardian and more... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:24:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rhoe http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30580 Rhoe Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:01:29 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30580 I was knocked over by how brilliant and thoughtful this site and the column is. It's completely changed how I evaluate the media, how my friends evaluate the media, and what we can expect if our own research projects were ever given attention. Really quite great, your are, Mr Goldacre. I was knocked over by how brilliant and thoughtful this site and the column is. It’s completely changed how I evaluate the media, how my friends evaluate the media, and what we can expect if our own research projects were ever given attention.

Really quite great, your are, Mr Goldacre.

]]> By: Dr Spouse http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30512 Dr Spouse Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:23:04 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30512 I only started reading in 2009, too, but look forward to more. I'm wondering if you've seen the latest "research" wasting our money - the YouGov survey reporting one in 6 children had difficulty learning to talk. Anyway, in a burst of self-promotion, which you may feel free to delete, I'd like to put a link to my take on it here: http://evidence-based-parenting.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-in-six-children-have-difficulty.html I only started reading in 2009, too, but look forward to more.

I’m wondering if you’ve seen the latest “research” wasting our money – the YouGov survey reporting one in 6 children had difficulty learning to talk.

Anyway, in a burst of self-promotion, which you may feel free to delete, I’d like to put a link to my take on it here:

evidence-based-parenting.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-in-six-children-have-difficulty.html

]]> By: Mags http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30495 Mags Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:48:27 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30495 I am a new subscriber, but already enjoy your blog and column in the Guardian. My sons bought me your book for Christmas, which I think is amazing as they didn't know about the afore mentioned - they just know I like to know about odd things and how things work! Brilliant book! I am a new subscriber, but already enjoy your blog and column in the Guardian. My sons bought me your book for Christmas, which I think is amazing as they didn’t know about the afore mentioned – they just know I like to know about odd things and how things work! Brilliant book!

]]> By: Davros http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30493 Davros Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:14:02 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30493 Ben, as a new subscriber to the site, but a devoted reader of your Guardian column, I concur with all this praise being heaped on you. Your book is magnificent, and joins my list of indispensible reading for people who are interested in how the world really works, along with Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos and The God Delusion by RD (and pretty much everything else he's written). Keep up the great work! Davros Ben, as a new subscriber to the site, but a devoted reader of your Guardian column, I concur with all this praise being heaped on you. Your book is magnificent, and joins my list of indispensible reading for people who are interested in how the world really works, along with Innumeracy by John Allen Paulos and The God Delusion by RD (and pretty much everything else he’s written). Keep up the great work!

Davros

]]> By: labpharmacist http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30455 labpharmacist Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:12:24 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30455 A cracking year. Bought the book, evangelised about the book, ditto for the Blog. My concern now is that your (deservedly) stellar rise in the media will distract you from "sticking to the knitting"! I hugely look forward to opening up google reader in the morning and seeing that Bad Science has 'gone black'! :-) Have a great New Year Ben - we scientists need people like you. Now if only we could get Claire Fox to firstly listen, and then understand what you are going on about! the LabPharmacist A cracking year. Bought the book, evangelised about the book, ditto for the Blog. My concern now is that your (deservedly) stellar rise in the media will distract you from “sticking to the knitting”!

I hugely look forward to opening up google reader in the morning and seeing that Bad Science has ‘gone black’!

:-)

Have a great New Year Ben – we scientists need people like you. Now if only we could get Claire Fox to firstly listen, and then understand what you are going on about!

the LabPharmacist

]]> By: Sarah Hague http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30453 Sarah Hague Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:58:43 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30453 Ben, your blog is a beacon of sanity in an increasingly nutty, dishonourable and shockingly ignorant (media) world. Thank you for your dogged refusal to accept the crap. Happy New Year. Ben, your blog is a beacon of sanity in an increasingly nutty, dishonourable and shockingly ignorant (media) world.

Thank you for your dogged refusal to accept the crap.

Happy New Year.

]]> By: lukeg http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30414 lukeg Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:36:40 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30414 +1 what TheLady said. I must say it is profoundly alienating and upsetting to be surrounded by people who have "denied themselves access to the most significant developments in the history of Western thought" and, moreover, go so far as to claim that those very same developments are somehow without value and beauty. I cannot overestimate how reassuring this site, and the network of which it is a part, really is. Thank you so much. +1 what TheLady said.

I must say it is profoundly alienating and upsetting to be surrounded by people who have “denied themselves access to the most significant developments in the history of Western thought” and, moreover, go so far as to claim that those very same developments are somehow without value and beauty.

I cannot overestimate how reassuring this site, and the network of which it is a part, really is.

Thank you so much.

]]> By: TheLady http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30394 TheLady Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:02:31 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30394 Ben, you're officially my Hero of 2009, and your renomination for the 2010 award is pretty much guaranteed. Keep doing what you're doing, and keep being awesome doing it. Ben, you’re officially my Hero of 2009, and your renomination for the 2010 award is pretty much guaranteed. Keep doing what you’re doing, and keep being awesome doing it.

]]> By: foofdawg http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30377 foofdawg Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:16:01 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30377 Thanks for a great blog this past year! We're all looking forward to more of the same from you (but hopefully not as much woo) next year! Merry and Happy! Thanks for a great blog this past year! We’re all looking forward to more of the same from you (but hopefully not as much woo) next year!

Merry and Happy!

]]> By: richardelguru http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30372 richardelguru Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:54:56 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30372 So let's all be historically sensitive and cry "Io, Saturnalia!" So let’s all be historically sensitive and cry “Io, Saturnalia!”

]]> By: NeilHoskins http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30370 NeilHoskins Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:35:06 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30370 Whilst the scientific basis for the existence of a deity, who lived as a man in the Middle East about 2000 years ago, is flaky to say the least, the psychological benefits of some kind of midwinter festival should surely be fairly easy to demonstrate. So have a good 'un. Whilst the scientific basis for the existence of a deity, who lived as a man in the Middle East about 2000 years ago, is flaky to say the least, the psychological benefits of some kind of midwinter festival should surely be fairly easy to demonstrate. So have a good ‘un.

]]> By: tomrees http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30329 tomrees Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:34:47 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30329 About the "Industry funded studies, it turns out, are massively more likely to get into the bigger, more respected academic journals". You reckon there is "no explanation for it." I reckon there is. The causality is probably reverse. You're defining "bigger, respected" by the crude measure "impact factor". This is not a measure of size, or of respect, but of how often papers are cited. Industry-sponsored trials will get cited more often because the industry in question will cite them. Hence, the journals in which these studies are published will have a higher impact factor. There are a number of journals out there which are neither big, nor respected, but which have a high impact factor for this very reason. It would be simple to test it. Write a paper and submit it for peer review. Against one, put that it was industry funded and has industry authors. See which gets the harshest, more sceptical peer-review. I'm pretty sure I know which one would get put through the mill. What do you think? About the “Industry funded studies, it turns out, are massively more likely to get into the bigger, more respected academic journals”. You reckon there is “no explanation for it.” I reckon there is.

The causality is probably reverse. You’re defining “bigger, respected” by the crude measure “impact factor”. This is not a measure of size, or of respect, but of how often papers are cited.

Industry-sponsored trials will get cited more often because the industry in question will cite them. Hence, the journals in which these studies are published will have a higher impact factor.

There are a number of journals out there which are neither big, nor respected, but which have a high impact factor for this very reason.

It would be simple to test it. Write a paper and submit it for peer review. Against one, put that it was industry funded and has industry authors. See which gets the harshest, more sceptical peer-review. I’m pretty sure I know which one would get put through the mill. What do you think?

]]> By: njd http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30327 njd Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:58:32 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30327 You've missed a trick there, Ben. There's enough material each year for a Bad Science annual. You’ve missed a trick there, Ben.

There’s enough material each year for a Bad Science annual.

]]> By: Windows 7 Professional http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30310 Windows 7 Professional Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:28:54 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30310 The best software online shop: http://www.software-hotbuy.com/ <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/" rel="nofollow">Microsoft Office 2007</a>,only $110! <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/" rel="nofollow">Windows 7</a> only $139! No Tax and Free Shipping! <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/microsoft-office-ultimate-2007-full-version-p-11.html" rel="nofollow">Office 2007 Ultimate</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/microsoft-office-professional-2007-full-version-p-2.html" rel="nofollow">Office Professional 2007</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/microsoft-office-professional-2007-full-version-p-2.html" rel="nofollow">Office 2007 Professional</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/microsoft-windows-7-professional-p-24.html" rel="nofollow">Windows 7 Professional</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/microsoft-windows-7-ultimate-p-25.html" rel="nofollow">Windows 7 Ultimate</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/windows-vista-ultimate-sp1-32bit-retail-full-version-p-6.html" rel="nofollow">windows vista ultimate</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/windows-vista-business-sp1-32bit-retail-full-version-p-5.html" rel="nofollow">Windows Vista Business</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/adobe-flash-pro-cs4-p-22.html" rel="nofollow">Flash CS4</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/adobe-illustrator-cs4-p-23.html" rel="nofollow">Illustrator CS4</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/adobe-photoshop-c-4.html" rel="nofollow">Photoshop cs4</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/adobe-creative-suite-3-master-collection-full-version-p-20.html" rel="nofollow">Master cs3</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/adobe-acrobat-c-6.html" rel="nofollow">Acrobat 9</a> <a href="http://www.software-hotbuy.com/adobe-dreamweaver-cs3-full-version-p-17.html" rel="nofollow">Dreamweaver cs3</a> The best software online shop: www.software-hotbuy.com/
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]]> By: Hanny http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30158 Hanny Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:05:55 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30158 Yes, please do keep up the good work. See you in 2010! Best wishes. Yes, please do keep up the good work. See you in 2010! Best wishes.

]]> By: milli http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30153 milli Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:44:20 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30153 thanks for the "thanks". you provide an outlet for the scientific rage against the machine. I do believe you understand. thanks for the “thanks”. you provide an outlet for the scientific rage against the machine. I do believe you understand.

]]> By: Bishop Gillian Wakefield http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30147 Bishop Gillian Wakefield Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:45:08 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30147 Well done. Merry Christmas - although the scientific evidence for that too is sketchy, to say the least. OT: Do runways cause global warming? Well done. Merry Christmas – although the scientific evidence for that too is sketchy, to say the least.

OT: Do runways cause global warming?

]]> By: jameskildare http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30141 jameskildare Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:53:12 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30141 The backache is a pain or stiffness of the back. Pain in the inferior or average part is commonest to feel the back. In article findrxonline indicated The backaches are more common during the adolescence, but also the people of legal age suffer and who appear and disappear during periods of time. The backaches can be caused by a pull in some of the 200 muscles of the back that allow us to maintain to us raised. The pull takes place when raising very heavy objects, when raising something from an uncomfortable position or when doing too much effort with muscles of the back. Most of the backaches the twist of a ligament or muscle can be caused by tension or. The <a href="http://www.findrxonline.com/rss/articles/backache-pain.htm" rel="nofollow">backache</a> can be associated with: • Stiffness, creeps, loss of mobility in an arm or a leg • Pain Chest or difficulty to breathe • Increase of the intensity of the pain, although this with medicines • Difficulty to walk or to maintain the balance. The backache is a pain or stiffness of the back. Pain in the inferior or average part is commonest to feel the back. In article findrxonline indicated The backaches are more common during the adolescence, but also the people of legal age suffer and who appear and disappear during periods of time.
The backaches can be caused by a pull in some of the 200 muscles of the back that allow us to maintain to us raised. The pull takes place when raising very heavy objects, when raising something from an uncomfortable position or when doing too much effort with muscles of the back. Most of the backaches the twist of a ligament or muscle can be caused by tension or.
The backache can be associated with:
• Stiffness, creeps, loss of mobility in an arm or a leg
• Pain Chest or difficulty to breathe
• Increase of the intensity of the pain, although this with medicines
• Difficulty to walk or to maintain the balance.

]]> By: Sili http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30139 Sili Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:18:38 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30139 And a merry Christmas to you, too. And a merry Christmas to you, too.

]]> By: throg http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/comment-page-1/#comment-30138 throg Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:24:10 +0000 http://www.badscience.net/2009/12/the-year-in-nonsense/#comment-30138 "If politicians want us to take them seriously on the evidence for global warming, they have to show they care about evidence everywhere." I agree 100%. Consistency please. Not strictly OT, but perhaps stopping the third runway at Heathrow would be a good place to start. “If politicians want us to take them seriously on the evidence for global warming, they have to show they care about evidence everywhere.”

I agree 100%. Consistency please.

Not strictly OT, but perhaps stopping the third runway at Heathrow would be a good place to start.

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