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Philosophy/religion

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Original poster

The anti woo thread.

538 replies

LetThereBeRock · 04/02/2011 16:22

Can all those who don't believe in homeopathy,ghosts,talking to the dead,reading minds etc,please check in here?

There must be a few of us.

I feel as though I've logged onto allthingswoo.com rather than Mumsnet.com at the moment,and I'm not referring to this particuarly forum,but chat and AIBU?.

And if anyone says anything about how we should be openminded,I'm afraid I'll have to beat you to death with a a stick,one cut from an ash tree by the light of the first Summer moon of course.

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HerMajestiesSecretCervix · 04/02/2011 16:23

I'm here! Woo is not for me.

HerMajestiesSecretCervix · 04/02/2011 16:23

Neither is religion.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 04/02/2011 16:24

I am anti-woo.

AMumInScotland · 04/02/2011 16:25

Does woo include religion?

Original poster
LetThereBeRock · 04/02/2011 16:26

I agree re religion.

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BeeBox · 04/02/2011 16:27

I don't believe in: homeopathy, crystal therapy, aura reading, clairvoyance, adjusting Chakras, exorcising negative energies, taking three drops of woo juice and praying to the Lord of Woo to cure cancer...or any of that shoite.

Can I join?

Nagoo · 04/02/2011 16:27

Feverishly atheist here.

But I did get excited about forgotten carrots in my garden that I raked up today during a tidy up... that was a miracle of nature.

Original poster
LetThereBeRock · 04/02/2011 16:27

Well to me it's woo,but you're still welcome to post if you are religious,actually anyone is so long as they don't try to convince me that homeopathy is a legitimate treatment,or that we should all be more open minded.

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Original poster
LetThereBeRock · 04/02/2011 16:28

Of course you can,Beebox.

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Original poster
LetThereBeRock · 04/02/2011 16:30

I'd be excited about the carrots too.That's allowed.

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sethstarkaddersmackerel · 04/02/2011 16:31

I got sucked into inventing my own woo the other day Sad
Friend's dh is in very bad state (coma) after car crash. I was baking some bread from a recipe on his blog and I was thinking about the symbolism of the yeast coming back to life from a handful of old dough and thinking if the bread turned out all right.....
....then I remembered he is a professional science educator and Ben Goldacre fan and gave myself a slap and concentrated on writing supportive messages to friends Smile

it is scary how easy it is to start believing in stuff in extremis, when you really want something to hang onto.

AMumInScotland · 04/02/2011 16:34

I think I'll leave you to it - I'm too busy trying to convince other woo-merchants that evolution is true at the moment Grin

Original poster
LetThereBeRock · 04/02/2011 16:36

Don't get me started on evolution. I hate those threads. Inevitably someone squawks 'but it's just a theory'.Angry

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Original poster
LetThereBeRock · 04/02/2011 16:37

I can't decide if homeopathy or mediums/psychics piss me off more.

Actually it's probably homeopathy,at least the NHS isn't paying to send people to Sally Howard and John Edwards,and you don't walk into Boots to find their products displayed along side the aspirin and Lansoprazole.

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Original poster
LetThereBeRock · 04/02/2011 16:39

Hope your friend's dh comes through this,Seth.

I can understand why people want to believe such things can make a difference when there's a crisis in their lives,and I've no anger towards those people at all,only towards those who push such nonsense on those very vulnerable people who are looking for some comfort,and reassurance.

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sethstarkaddersmackerel · 04/02/2011 16:40

That 'open-minded' thing drives me insane. You believe in science, oh you are so narrow-minded Confused.

TrillianAstra · 04/02/2011 16:42

That's just a fundamental mistunderstanding of what 'theory' means in scientific terms as opposed to in casual conversation.

You might like this

NormanTheForeman · 04/02/2011 16:42

I think I'll join the anti-woo thread. I believe in cups of tea myself. I don't think they have any magic properties or anything, I just think they taste nice and quench your thirst! No woo there.... Grin

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 04/02/2011 16:42

i am just glad that the medical system in this country believes in science not woo.
just imagine if everyone who wanted a career making people better thought 'I know, I'll be a homeopath'.

AMumInScotland · 04/02/2011 16:43

I think we've been round theory/hypothesis/religious concept/scientific method/evidence/facts/etc about 3 times now, but it doesn't seem to be getting anywhere.

I have to admit, I fair despair of teaching in the UK if people don't know what scientific method is, or how accepting a scientific theory as probably correct is different from believing a religious tenet.

Original poster
LetThereBeRock · 04/02/2011 16:44

I forgot another pet peeve of mine. When purveyors of woo go on about the horrors of drinks/medication/cleaning products etc,and inform us that they have shock horror,'chemicals in them!'.

I want to scream at them 'Everything has fucking chemicals in it you loon!'

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Habbibu · 04/02/2011 16:45

Thing is, I don't believe in (say) homeopathy, but I do believe in the power of placebo, which also strikes me as a very cheap safe way of dealing with minor ills, so to that extent I can't help thinking that there's a place for safe placebos of some sort. But is the pseudo-science necessary for the placebo to work? That would be an interesting study.

Habbibu · 04/02/2011 16:46

I do hate the word "woo" though. It just always strikes me as a bit smug.

NormanTheForeman · 04/02/2011 16:46

Lol LetThereBeRock - better not drink this water , it's full of H2O.... Grin

niceday · 04/02/2011 16:47

Do you believe in MN though?