Pseudo-Science Groups you want to pummel.

[tkioz]

GAH! I'm pissed off and frustrated. I just came home from the hospital where my cousin just gave birth to a healthy baby girl, only her stupid mother-in-law started on to the doctor "don't you be giving my grandbaby any of those drug-company placebos" (I don't even think they give newborns shots anyway...).

So started an hour long "debate" between me and the stupid old woman, before it devolved into a quiet yelling match before I stomped off, I also think my mobile phone bill is going to be huge because of all the web-pages I was looking up for facts, only to have the stupid woman deny it point blank as propaganda and reference from pseudo-science garbage put out by some stupid moronic group.

Now personally I have a deep abiding detest for international pharmaceutical companies, I think the people running them are far too concerned with making money rather then helping people, but on this subject I'm with them, these anti-vaccine groups just piss me off, they twist statistics, omit facts (such as the number of lives that would be lost if we stopped vaccinating), claim to be to in it for "informative" purposes only, and trick people into thinking that they are rebels speaking out against the system when in fact they are crackpots twisting science for their own stupid ends.

For the first time in my life I was worked up in such a way I'd advocate burning their literature and banning their web-sites they are so harmful, does anyone else know of any pseudo-scientific groups that you'd shut down tomorrow if you could?

 

[sigma83]

Religion tends to like to twist facts for their own gains, which pisses me the fuck off.

Homeopathy. Acupuncture. Remember, it's only called alternative medicine because it doesn't work. If it works, it would be called medicine.

 

[Simple Bluff]

My grandparents stopped giving shots to their dog after two years and he lived to be 17. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the OP (I really don't know much about vaccine shots or the like), I'm just throwing it out there.

OT: I don't hate any, they're welcome to question whatever they like. Anti-Evolutionists, Flat-Earth society, they're all fine. I only don't like it when people start fabricating facts, denying TESTED and PROVED theorys without tests or proofes of their own, etc.

 

[verindae]

Not sure on the names of any specific groups but I agree with your sentiments on the issue. The facts and statistics just don't support their twisted view on things so it just comes across as ignorance of the highest order which I find infuriating, especially so when it comes to something that's proven to be life saving such as vaccinations.

EDIT: I live in the UK where all vaccinations are free, paid for by the state, recommended but completely optional. Why would they do that if it was all a hoax? Governments don't make a habit of providing expensive drugs for shits and giggles to my knowledge.

 

[Colour Scientist]

My grandparents stopped giving shots to their dog after two years and he lived to be 17. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the OP (I really don't know much about vaccine shots or the like), I'm just throwing it out there.

OT: I don't hate any, they're welcome to question whatever they like. Anti-Evolutionists, Flat-Earth society, they're all fine. I only don't like it when people start fabricating facts, denying TESTED and PROVED theorys without tests or proofes of their own, etc.

Well it has to be said that if they were 'PROVED' they wouldn't be theories, would they? They would be laws, but they aren't.

 

[Quaxar]

OT: I don't hate any, they're welcome to question whatever they like. Anti-Evolutionists, Flat-Earth society, they're all fine. I only don't like it when people start fabricating facts, denying TESTED and PROVED theorys without tests or proofes of their own, etc.

Wait... "Flat-Earth society"? Holy gravity, Batman!

Yeah, anti-medicine people are really strange but as long as they only risk their own lives I'm fine with them.

 

[Queen Michael]

Religion tends to like to twist facts for their own gains, which pisses me the fuck off.

Homeopathy. Acupuncture. Remember, it's only called alternative medicine because it doesn't work. If it works, it would be called medicine.

Amen, brother!
I hate the way many proponents of alternative medicine think "we ought to be open-minded" means "we ought to immediatrly assume that alternative medicine works and not be the slightest bit open to any other possibilities."

 

[tkioz]

OT: I don't hate any, they're welcome to question whatever they like. Anti-Evolutionists, Flat-Earth society, they're all fine. I only don't like it when people start fabricating facts, denying TESTED and PROVED theorys without tests or proofes of their own, etc.

Wait... "Flat-Earth society"? Holy gravity, Batman!

Yeah, anti-medicine people are really strange but as long as they only risk their own lives I'm fine with them.

I'm not, because they aren't risking their own lives, or that of their children, they are risking other lives, the bloody idiots, it's called Herd Immunity [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity], there are people out there who can not be vaccinated for safety reasons (a very small amount, no where near the amount these groups claim), because of these morons and their propaganda those people are more at risk, not to mention the chances of mutated illnesses because of these morons providing a breeding ground.

 

[Deralix]

Religion tends to like to twist facts for their own gains, which pisses me the fuck off.

Homeopathy. Acupuncture. Remember, it's only called alternative medicine because it doesn't work. If it works, it would be called medicine.

Amen, brother!
I hate the way many proponents of alternative medicine think "we ought to be open-minded" means "we ought to immediatrly assume that alternative medicine works and not be the slightest bit open to any other possibilities."

Practitioners of alternative medicine are qualified physicians (Acupuncture being the most well known), though. So...really, they're more qualified to assess the validity of it than you are.

 

[verindae]

My grandparents stopped giving shots to their dog after two years and he lived to be 17. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the OP (I really don't know much about vaccine shots or the like), I'm just throwing it out there.

OT: I don't hate any, they're welcome to question whatever they like. Anti-Evolutionists, Flat-Earth society, they're all fine. I only don't like it when people start fabricating facts, denying TESTED and PROVED theorys without tests or proofes of their own, etc.

That is some of the most scientifically unsound, ignorant crap I've ever read, it got me a laugh though so thanks for bringing them to my attention. I would actually be unsure if they might not just be taking the piss if I hadn't looked around a bit more lol

 

[Marmooset]

Higgs bosonists.
God particle, my ass.

 

[Angerwing]

My grandparents stopped giving shots to their dog after two years and he lived to be 17. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the OP (I really don't know much about vaccine shots or the like), I'm just throwing it out there.

OT: I don't hate any, they're welcome to question whatever they like. Anti-Evolutionists, Flat-Earth society, they're all fine. I only don't like it when people start fabricating facts, denying TESTED and PROVED theorys without tests or proofes of their own, etc.

Well it has to be said that if they were 'PROVED' they wouldn't be theories, would they? They would be laws, but they aren't.

Profound misunderstanding of scientific theory, right here.

Protip: 'Theory' doesn't mean what you think it means, in this context. Neither does law.
Protip v2.0: Gravity is a 'theory'. Relativity is a 'theory'.

OT: I cannot stand people who are into Astrology. If you think that horoscopes and shit are real, you are a deadset fuckwit. No ifs or buts. If you think that mass quantities of gas and debris millions and millions of miles away will affect your financial/love life, you deserve a swift kick in the throat. Yes, I know people who think it's true.

 

[Simple Bluff]

*snip*

Guy above me said it better

 

[megalomania]

Religion tends to like to twist facts for their own gains, which pisses me the fuck off.

Homeopathy. Acupuncture. Remember, it's only called alternative medicine because it doesn't work. If it works, it would be called medicine.

Amen, brother!
I hate the way many proponents of alternative medicine think "we ought to be open-minded" means "we ought to immediatrly assume that alternative medicine works and not be the slightest bit open to any other possibilities."

Practitioners of alternative medicine are qualified physicians (Acupuncture being the most well known), though. So...really, they're more qualified to assess the validity of it than you are.

Most practitioners of alternative medicine are NOT qualified physicians. They may have qualifications in their field but they are not doctors. Doctors go to med school for 6 years in UK in order to be a doctor and I would trust one of them to save my life - I wouldn't trust the herbalist down at my local voodoo store to resuscitate me!

Acupuncture has some limited use which is often dramatically over stated by its advocates. As for the rest of it; if I haven't read about it in the British Medical Journal, The Lancet or The New England Journal of Medicine I don't want it.

 

[verindae]

Higgs bosonists.
God particle, my ass.

I'm not sure how that constitutes a pseudo-science as from my understanding it's a current and valid scientific theory undergoing scrutiny.
Of course the phrase God Particle doesn't really have a place in science, but the theory of the existence of the particle is sound, or are you just flame baiting sir?

 

[PurePareidolia]

Ugh, don't make me choose.
Antivaxxers are the most obvious, but most alt-med practicioners can fit the bill. Psychics are a big one, same with 9/11 truthers. They'd all pretty much go in the big sack to be hit with sticks. Plus the creationists of course.

 

[Imsety]

Well it has to be said that if they were 'PROVED' they wouldn't be theories, would they? They would be laws, but they aren't.

No matter how often you explain the definition of a Scientific theory [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_theory], there will always be people saying "it's only a theory, not a fact".

"Alternative medicine" practitioners really bug me, as all they'll ever achieve is instill a sense of feel-good in people that they could just as well reach by themselves if they had some confidence in their body. Though I'd never want to see it banned (freedom of expression and all), I think they should certainly be urged to be more open and honest about what they practice, and perhaps compelled to send people with real medical problems to real doctors.

 

[Queen Michael]

Religion tends to like to twist facts for their own gains, which pisses me the fuck off.

Homeopathy. Acupuncture. Remember, it's only called alternative medicine because it doesn't work. If it works, it would be called medicine.

Amen, brother!
I hate the way many proponents of alternative medicine think "we ought to be open-minded" means "we ought to immediatrly assume that alternative medicine works and not be the slightest bit open to any other possibilities."

Practitioners of alternative medicine are qualified physicians (Acupuncture being the most well known), though. So...really, they're more qualified to assess the validity of it than you are.

Most practitioners of alternative medicine are NOT qualified physicians. They may have qualifications in their field but they are not doctors. Doctors go to med school for 6 years in UK in order to be a doctor and I would trust one of them to save my life - I wouldn't trust the herbalist down at my local voodoo store to resuscitate me!

Acupuncture has some limited use which is often dramatically over stated by its advocates. As for the rest of it; if I haven't read about it in the British Medical Journal, The Lancet or The New England Journal of Medicine I don't want it.

This. One problem I have with homeopathy is the way homeopaths give advice about regular medicine even though they don't have any formal education in that subject. One extreme example is a homeopath who told a woman to stop taking her medicine and start using homeopathic medicine instead. She did. She died.

And while I'm ranting: CREATIONISM. I seriously dislike the way they demand that the creationist theory of the origin of life be taught in schools, because there ISN'T one. "God did it." And how did he do it? "With his almighty power." Yes, but could you describe the exact process? "God did it." Yes, but look, if I say carpenters built my house that doesn't mean I've told you how they went about doing it, right? So could you give me some details as to the exact process?
No. Because there isn't an actual theory. All you get is "God did it SOMEHOW".

 

[verindae]

And while I'm ranting: CREATIONISM. I seriously dislike the way they demand that the creationist theory of the origin of life be taught in schools, because there ISN'T one. "God did it." And how did he do it? "With his almighty power." Yes, but could you describe the exact process? "God did it." Yes, but look, if I say carpenters built my house that doesn't mean I've told you how they went about doing it, right? So could you give me some details as to the exact process?
No. Because there isn't an actual theory. All you get is "God did it SOMEHOW".

Something that really bugs me is the whole twisting of the second law of thermodynamics to try and support their claims. If you wanna believe that some almighty unknown created everything then that's fine but don't go messing with proper scientific laws to try and prove something that by it's nature is unprovable.

 

[Lucifron]

Anti-Evolutionists, Flat-Earth society, they're all fine. I only don't like it when people start fabricating facts, denying TESTED and PROVED theorys without tests or proofes of their own, etc.

BORKBORK! Glaring contradiction detected!
Granted, I don't how serious Flat-Earth society is, but Anti-Evolutionists and Young Earth Creationists belong in the category of people whose qualities you described in your post.