Poll: Homeopathy - Is it Bollocks?

[TheIronRuler]

It always amazes me what proportion of people are willing to throw science and reasoning out the window to believe in this crap. What worse is when they argue based entirely upon annecdotal evidence and forget that repeatable results that are distinguishable from a placebo are even remotely important. As I currently look at 4.9% (just under 1 in 20) believe in this scam, please let my faith be rewarded and make that number go down

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The solution to our problem is to try and show them why Homeopathy is bollocks in a simple manner. It worked with my father.

 

[Wyes]

This [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWE1tH93G9U] video is about a well known magician debunking homeopathy. He actually explains everything very clearly.

 

[Sethzard]

Yes it is. Tiny quantities of good stuff haven't been shown to have any more effect than a similarly administered placebo. If someone showed me evidence in a double blind trial that homoeopathy is better than a placebo then as Tim said, I would change my mind. Sadly no convincing evidence of the like has come about.

Spoiler: More Tim

Spoiler: David Mitchel on the subject

 

[Rude as HECK]

My nan died of a homeopathic overdose because she forgot to take her pill.

 

[BrassButtons]

What I don't understand is what that has to do with the treatment that worked for my mother. Are you saying that 100% of homeopathy treatments involve diluted medicine?

Yes, all homeopathic remedies involve diluted medicines. Though there are some other 'alternative medicines' (I really hate that phrase) which are labeled as homeopathic despite not being actual homeopathic remedies. So there is the possiblity that your mom was taking, say, herbal supplements, and not actual homeopathic remedies.

If so, then perhaps the treatments given to my mother for her migraines were always to strong to work. As such, a diluted version of that medicine was all she needed. Either way, the end result was success.

If it was an actual homeopathic remedy, and if it was prepared correctly (according to homeopathic principles) then it should have been diluted far past the point where chemistry says it could cause any effect.

 

[Marik2]

It always amazes me what proportion of people are willing to throw science and reasoning out the window to believe in this crap. What worse is when they argue based entirely upon annecdotal evidence and forget that repeatable results that are distinguishable from a placebo are even remotely important. As I currently look at 4.9% (just under 1 in 20) believe in this scam, please let my faith be rewarded and make that number go down

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The solution to our problem is to try and show them why Homeopathy is bollocks in a simple manner. It worked with my father.

Wow really?

Didn't think your dad would change his mind

 

[someonehairy-ish]

Some bloke walked into the pharmacy and asked me if we stock homeopathy stuff. I have rarely had to fight so hard to keep a straight face.

I feel quite worried that 5% of the escapist said 'no'. Even accounting for trolling and misreading of the poll title and such, that's still more than I'd expect.

Fyi I'd expect close to zero. The Escapist forums can usually be relied upon to include a smaller percentage of dipshits than the general population does.

 

[pearcinator]

Thanks guys for not crucifying my post...I really have limited knowledge on this stuff but I thought I would just share my beliefs anyway.

Of course you need meds for cancer and stuff like that. Don't they attack the cells directly? Thus making it impossible for your body to cure it?

Doesn't aids attack your immune system and make it so you can't recover from anything? Like, aids is not the thing that kills you, it stops your body from being able to cure a common cold and then you die from that?

That's why I am guessing there is no cure for cancer and aids yet because it is a lot more difficult to kill something bad disguised as something good without killing the good things. I realise that my post is real basic (I don't know the proper terminology and I am becoming a primary school teacher so I tend to explain things in the most basic way possible). I hope you understand what I mean.

I still think you only need meds for the serious stuff. I have a friend who is studying pharmacy so he would know a lot more than I would on this matter.

 

[Snotnarok]

The mind is a very powerful thing, and with enough thought, focus and time you can think a lot of things away.

You think those magnetic bracelets actually work? Of course they do, you MAKE them work by thinking and hoping they will. Without that though, no they're useless, unless you want to hang something on your fridge.

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Magnetic Bracelets? You do understand what we are talking about, right?
If you want to bring other topics to light be my guest.

Yes I understand what you're talking about, the placebo effect that's the same thing with magnetic bracelets. I'm saying it's the same sort of thing.

 

[Thaliur]

It was a theory. Apparently radiated water could cure lots of things in your system, believe it or not - CERTIFIED pure!

Well, it did work, in a way. Once you drink enough irradiated water, most other ailments you might suffer from would seem pretty minor, and maybe appear healed ;-)

 

[TheIronRuler]

It always amazes me what proportion of people are willing to throw science and reasoning out the window to believe in this crap. What worse is when they argue based entirely upon annecdotal evidence and forget that repeatable results that are distinguishable from a placebo are even remotely important. As I currently look at 4.9% (just under 1 in 20) believe in this scam, please let my faith be rewarded and make that number go down

.
The solution to our problem is to try and show them why Homeopathy is bollocks in a simple manner. It worked with my father.

Wow really?

Didn't think your dad would change his mind

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Yep. It took me some time but I finally pulled him to the light side.