Well, it is. It sure is easier to just follow the crowd, to believe forwarded emails, to think commercials and tv shows are honest and forthright, to believe everything the news tells us as fact, etc, etc….
I used to podcast a morning radio show. It was goofy fun. Amusing if a bit crass. But after awhile, I realized they never really said anything new. And they had their producer on there who was so full of lies and hate that I just couldn’t stand it anymore. It didn’t help that he proclaimed his christianity along with the hate he spewed forth.
So I gave it up, even though I had been using it to keep me company since I’m alone most of the day. I had to replace it with something. I like to listen to people talk while I do mundane things. Around the same time I found Atheist Nexus. One thing led to another, and I discovered that there’s this whole Skeptical community out there, as well as an Atheist community.
So I’ve been sampling and listening to different Skeptical and science podcasts lately. I love it. It’s intelligent, fun, interesting, and stimulating. I’ve realized several things, though, as I’ve been listening and taking in all this great new information.
- My brain had gone to mush! I wasn’t thinking critically much at all before I found all of these resources and information. I mean, to be fair, I was thinking logically about religion and atheism. But with other stuff, I was just a sheep like everyone else.
- It’s hard to be skeptical. It takes a lot of extra work that most people don’t bother with. I don’t mind the extra thinking, but as I start critically thinking more, I have to keep reminding myself to not just accept things at face value.
- On that note, I notice that I have totally bought into a huge amount of bullshit over the years, simply because it seemed logical and I never bothered to look into it more deeply. Pseudo-science is a big area for that. They know how to seem logical so that you never question them.
For instance, take Airborne as an example, the effervescent tablet that supposedly prevents colds and stuff. My husband Butch just got a really nasty cold. I told him to take something when he just started getting sick. My dad had bought some Airborne for me and I offered it to Butch. He wouldn’t take it because it tastes nasty. But I really wanted him to, because I had taken it in the past and it seemed to help.
I learned on the Skeptics Guide to the Universe Podcast from March 5, I think (I’m listening to the whole year), that there was a lawsuit against Airborne for basically faking the one study they had done. Supposedly they paid 2 jokers with no research or medical experience to start a company to do the study. So it was basically poorly done with no real science or legitimacy. In August, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission stated that Airborne has agreed to pay up to $30 million to settle FTC charges because it doesn’t do what it claims. So that’s 2 lawsuits. Yet it’s still sold everywhere. WTF!?
So, what’s the big deal, right? I mean, you take the stuff and you think it makes you feel better, so it must be doing something. Why get all upset about it?
First there’s no proof whatsoever that there is any science behind taking mega doses of vitamins or herbs to ward off a cold. In fact, mega doses of vitamins have been shown to possibly shorten life span. (I need to find that study. It was done earlier this year). Second, there has been no legitimate testing of this product to prove it does anything.
Third and most importantly, 1 tablet of Airborne contains 5,000 IU of Vitamin A (100% Daily Value) as well as 1,000mg Vitamin C (1,670% Daily Value). The directions tell you to take one tablet every 3 hours as needed. Huge doses of vitamin A can lead to Hypervitaminosis A which can cause birth defects, liver problems, loss of bone density, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, headache, and more. Huge doses of Vitamin C can have a laxative effect.
So, here I am, a newfound skeptic, trying to get my husband to take this ridiculous stuff that does nothing good for you, and in fact can hurt you. I have no excuse. I was ignorant.
At least I’m trying hard to fight that ignorance. It would really help if companies wouldn’t go out of their way to lie to us about so many things. And while I hate big government getting into my business, I think it should be illegal to blatantly lie to consumers about these kinds of things. I don’t understand why Airborne is still on the shelves. I mean, 2 lawsuits in one year and it’s still being sold in pharmacies and stores everywhere?
Anyway, it’s a perfect example of how ignorance is not bliss, and you really do need to look deeper than just the surface. It’s a lot of work. Sometimes it seems so overwhelming because then who do you trust? Can you ever relax? Must we always be vigilant?
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