Article on Woo -
limetree683
Posts: 51 Member
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/27/new-wellness-bloggers-food-drink-hadley-freeman
A good overview of the many types of woo promoted within the weightloss industry, from unqualified barely pubescent girls giving nutritional advice to people claiming their diet cures cancer.
A good overview of the many types of woo promoted within the weightloss industry, from unqualified barely pubescent girls giving nutritional advice to people claiming their diet cures cancer.
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What is woo?0
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^Stuff without an evidence base that claims to help you lose weight - e.g. gluten is bad for you (everyone seems to be intolerant to gluten all of a sudden), that juicing will help you cure cancer etc etc.0
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Anything you don't agree with, generally, but is used to say, "This is BS" - "This is woo."percolater wrote: »What is woo?
Sometimes, though, people might say something is woo because they don't like and/or agree with it, even when all the scientists, doctors, et cetera agree on it.
Someone saying it's "woo" doesn't necessarily make it so, KWIM?
One man's "Healthy At Every Size" is another man's woo. One man's "Sodium intake should be watched" is another man's woo.
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UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
+1
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UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
+3
Woo is not a term for things you don't agree with.
Woo is a term for pseudo-science and feels-based medicine and nutrition advice. I have never seen it used as it was asserted upthread.
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Anything you don't agree with, generally, but is used to say, "This is BS" - "This is woo."percolater wrote: »What is woo?
Sometimes, though, people might say something is woo because they don't like and/or agree with it, even when all the scientists, doctors, et cetera agree on it.
Someone saying it's "woo" doesn't necessarily make it so, KWIM?
One man's "Healthy At Every Size" is another man's woo. One man's "Sodium intake should be watched" is another man's woo.
No. HAES is all woo. All of it. Every last bit.0 -
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flyingtanuki wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
+3
Woo is not a term for things you don't agree with.
Woo is a term for pseudo-science and feels-based medicine and nutrition advice. I have never seen it used as it was asserted upthread.
+1
Sometimes known as quackery, charlatanism, cons and by other names as well.
There is a social cost to woo, paid for in dollars and victim's lives: http://whatstheharm.net
Here is a collection of more notorious woo: http://www.quackwatch.org
wow that quackwatch is a fun site.0 -
Great links!
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To froggy frog ^^^
Anything you don't agree with, generally, but is used to say, "This is BS" - "This is woo."percolater wrote: »What is woo?
Sometimes, though, people might say something is woo because they don't like and/or agree with it, even when all the scientists, doctors, et cetera agree on it.
Someone saying it's "woo" doesn't necessarily make it so, KWIM?
One man's "Healthy At Every Size" is another man's woo. One man's "Sodium intake should be watched" is another man's woo.
@percolater here you go : http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Woo0 -
To froggy frog ^^^
Anything you don't agree with, generally, but is used to say, "This is BS" - "This is woo."percolater wrote: »What is woo?
Sometimes, though, people might say something is woo because they don't like and/or agree with it, even when all the scientists, doctors, et cetera agree on it.
Someone saying it's "woo" doesn't necessarily make it so, KWIM?
One man's "Healthy At Every Size" is another man's woo. One man's "Sodium intake should be watched" is another man's woo.
@percolater here you go : http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Woo
ahahahahaha. Laughs. Thank you.0 -
That's how it's used.UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
I think there's even a thread going now that discusses the idea of sodium being something you might want to keep an eye on as "woo." Doctors and scientists disagree, but it's "woo" to some.
HAES is not considered "woo" to the HAES people.
I was just explaining how the word is used. People tend to use it to mean "things I don't like/believe/agree with."
I'm not suggesting people stop using it or use it in the way others do. I don't personally even use the word.
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That's how it's used.UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
I think there's even a thread going now that discusses the idea of sodium being something you might want to keep an eye on as "woo." Doctors and scientists disagree, but it's "woo" to some.
HAES is not considered "woo" to the HAES people.
I was just explaining how the word is used. People tend to use it to mean "things I don't like/believe/agree with."
I'm not suggesting people stop using it or use it in the way others do. I don't personally even use the word.
Green Tea Extract isn't considered woo to those who take GTE. Imagine my utter fecking surprise. Woo is and always has been pseuedoscience, regardless of your attempt to say otherwise.0 -
Look, I wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings or insult anyone.tincanonastring wrote: »
That's how it's used.UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
I think there's even a thread going now that discusses the idea of sodium being something you might want to keep an eye on as "woo." Doctors and scientists disagree, but it's "woo" to some.
HAES is not considered "woo" to the HAES people.
I was just explaining how the word is used. People tend to use it to mean "things I don't like/believe/agree with."
I'm not suggesting people stop using it or use it in the way others do. I don't personally even use the word.
Green Tea Extract isn't considered woo to those who take GTE. Imagine my utter fecking surprise. Woo is and always has been pseuedoscience, regardless of your attempt to say otherwise.
I am not arguing over the definition of a made-up word that I don't use, lol.
I was just explaining to the person who asked how the word is used. If you disagree, then we disagree.
I am not entering into some stupid fight and sincerely apologize if I offended anyone. It was not my intent.
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Anything you don't agree with, generally, but is used to say, "This is BS" - "This is woo."percolater wrote: »What is woo?
Sometimes, though, people might say something is woo because they don't like and/or agree with it, even when all the scientists, doctors, et cetera agree on it.
Someone saying it's "woo" doesn't necessarily make it so, KWIM?
One man's "Healthy At Every Size" is another man's woo. One man's "Sodium intake should be watched" is another man's woo.
Everybody loves science until it challenges their personally held BS.0 -
Look, I wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings or insult anyone.tincanonastring wrote: »
That's how it's used.UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
I think there's even a thread going now that discusses the idea of sodium being something you might want to keep an eye on as "woo." Doctors and scientists disagree, but it's "woo" to some.
HAES is not considered "woo" to the HAES people.
I was just explaining how the word is used. People tend to use it to mean "things I don't like/believe/agree with."
I'm not suggesting people stop using it or use it in the way others do. I don't personally even use the word.
Green Tea Extract isn't considered woo to those who take GTE. Imagine my utter fecking surprise. Woo is and always has been pseuedoscience, regardless of your attempt to say otherwise.
I am not arguing over the definition of a made-up word that I don't use, lol.
I was just explaining to the person who asked how the word is used. If you disagree, then we disagree.
I am not entering into some stupid fight and sincerely apologize if I offended anyone. It was not my intent.
If you don't use the word and you clearly don't understand what it means, then what are you doing trying to answer the question? No one is offended at you being wrong about the meaning of a word. Jaded bemusement would be a better description.0 -
Barely concealed guffaws.0
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The term woo has disputed origins. It could be based on making woo-woo noises as a comforting sound, or woo as the sound of the magician doing the big reveal. Either way, it refers to people trying to use poor evidence or strained reasoning that lacks any evidence to promote false things. I believe the term was popularized by James Randi and his debunking efforts.
It is most often used in MFP land for health / fitness woo, but there are many flavors of woo. Depak Chopra speaks a lot of quantum woo for example. Sometimes, even very commonly held beliefs are woo, such as the belief that high amounts of vitamin c will have health benefits like cold prevention.0 -
UltimateRBF wrote: »
Look, I wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings or insult anyone.tincanonastring wrote: »
That's how it's used.UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
I think there's even a thread going now that discusses the idea of sodium being something you might want to keep an eye on as "woo." Doctors and scientists disagree, but it's "woo" to some.
HAES is not considered "woo" to the HAES people.
I was just explaining how the word is used. People tend to use it to mean "things I don't like/believe/agree with."
I'm not suggesting people stop using it or use it in the way others do. I don't personally even use the word.
Green Tea Extract isn't considered woo to those who take GTE. Imagine my utter fecking surprise. Woo is and always has been pseuedoscience, regardless of your attempt to say otherwise.
I am not arguing over the definition of a made-up word that I don't use, lol.
I was just explaining to the person who asked how the word is used. If you disagree, then we disagree.
I am not entering into some stupid fight and sincerely apologize if I offended anyone. It was not my intent.
No one's offended. This isn't about being offended...
Just as long as we all agree that wheat is like sandpaper for your gut, when your baby starts getting people food give it zucchini instead of banana, and eating a highly restrictive diet cures eating disorders, my feelings will not be hurt.
Disagree with me and I will NOT be offering you a discount on my services as an integrative nutrition health and wellness coach.
Have a nice day! X0 -
barbecuesauce wrote: »UltimateRBF wrote: »
Look, I wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings or insult anyone.tincanonastring wrote: »
That's how it's used.UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
I think there's even a thread going now that discusses the idea of sodium being something you might want to keep an eye on as "woo." Doctors and scientists disagree, but it's "woo" to some.
HAES is not considered "woo" to the HAES people.
I was just explaining how the word is used. People tend to use it to mean "things I don't like/believe/agree with."
I'm not suggesting people stop using it or use it in the way others do. I don't personally even use the word.
Green Tea Extract isn't considered woo to those who take GTE. Imagine my utter fecking surprise. Woo is and always has been pseuedoscience, regardless of your attempt to say otherwise.
I am not arguing over the definition of a made-up word that I don't use, lol.
I was just explaining to the person who asked how the word is used. If you disagree, then we disagree.
I am not entering into some stupid fight and sincerely apologize if I offended anyone. It was not my intent.
No one's offended. This isn't about being offended...
Just as long as we all agree that wheat is like sandpaper for your gut, when your baby starts getting people food give it zucchini instead of banana, and eating a highly restrictive diet cures eating disorders, my feelings will not be hurt.
Disagree with me and I will NOT be offering you a discount on my services as an integrative nutrition health and wellness coach.
How much of a discount? And are you a self titled health and wellness coach, or do you at least have some credentials from an online test that proves you can read questions? Because I prefer the self titled ones, any kind of testing just proves you've bought into the system.0 -
barbecuesauce wrote: »UltimateRBF wrote: »
Look, I wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings or insult anyone.tincanonastring wrote: »
That's how it's used.UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
I think there's even a thread going now that discusses the idea of sodium being something you might want to keep an eye on as "woo." Doctors and scientists disagree, but it's "woo" to some.
HAES is not considered "woo" to the HAES people.
I was just explaining how the word is used. People tend to use it to mean "things I don't like/believe/agree with."
I'm not suggesting people stop using it or use it in the way others do. I don't personally even use the word.
Green Tea Extract isn't considered woo to those who take GTE. Imagine my utter fecking surprise. Woo is and always has been pseuedoscience, regardless of your attempt to say otherwise.
I am not arguing over the definition of a made-up word that I don't use, lol.
I was just explaining to the person who asked how the word is used. If you disagree, then we disagree.
I am not entering into some stupid fight and sincerely apologize if I offended anyone. It was not my intent.
No one's offended. This isn't about being offended...
Just as long as we all agree that wheat is like sandpaper for your gut, when your baby starts getting people food give it zucchini instead of banana, and eating a highly restrictive diet cures eating disorders, my feelings will not be hurt.
Disagree with me and I will NOT be offering you a discount on my services as an integrative nutrition health and wellness coach.
How much of a discount? And are you a self titled health and wellness coach, or do you at least have some credentials from an online test that proves you can read questions? Because I prefer the self titled ones, any kind of testing just proves you've bought into the system.
I always say I haven’t had training, and I never get into the science because that’s not my strength.
[That's a direct quote from that Calgary woman btw]0 -
barbecuesauce wrote: »UltimateRBF wrote: »
Look, I wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings or insult anyone.tincanonastring wrote: »
That's how it's used.UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
I think there's even a thread going now that discusses the idea of sodium being something you might want to keep an eye on as "woo." Doctors and scientists disagree, but it's "woo" to some.
HAES is not considered "woo" to the HAES people.
I was just explaining how the word is used. People tend to use it to mean "things I don't like/believe/agree with."
I'm not suggesting people stop using it or use it in the way others do. I don't personally even use the word.
Green Tea Extract isn't considered woo to those who take GTE. Imagine my utter fecking surprise. Woo is and always has been pseuedoscience, regardless of your attempt to say otherwise.
I am not arguing over the definition of a made-up word that I don't use, lol.
I was just explaining to the person who asked how the word is used. If you disagree, then we disagree.
I am not entering into some stupid fight and sincerely apologize if I offended anyone. It was not my intent.
No one's offended. This isn't about being offended...
Just as long as we all agree that wheat is like sandpaper for your gut, when your baby starts getting people food give it zucchini instead of banana, and eating a highly restrictive diet cures eating disorders, my feelings will not be hurt.
Disagree with me and I will NOT be offering you a discount on my services as an integrative nutrition health and wellness coach.
Have a nice day! X
You must have an online degree as a nutritionist ..0 -
too many words!0
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I think I'd rather listen to Madeleine Shaw - she's laughing at her salad, so you can tell she's legit.barbecuesauce wrote: »barbecuesauce wrote: »UltimateRBF wrote: »
Look, I wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings or insult anyone.tincanonastring wrote: »
That's how it's used.UltimateRBF wrote: »^Yeah but there are a LOT of concepts in the health and nutrition world that are flat out wrong and not remotely based in science. It's not all "do whatever works for you, everybody is different". Crap deserves to be refuted, especially if it's the kind that swindles people out of their money, and even more so if it could be dangerous.
"Woo", while a made up term, is not the term for something you just don't agree with.
I think there's even a thread going now that discusses the idea of sodium being something you might want to keep an eye on as "woo." Doctors and scientists disagree, but it's "woo" to some.
HAES is not considered "woo" to the HAES people.
I was just explaining how the word is used. People tend to use it to mean "things I don't like/believe/agree with."
I'm not suggesting people stop using it or use it in the way others do. I don't personally even use the word.
Green Tea Extract isn't considered woo to those who take GTE. Imagine my utter fecking surprise. Woo is and always has been pseuedoscience, regardless of your attempt to say otherwise.
I am not arguing over the definition of a made-up word that I don't use, lol.
I was just explaining to the person who asked how the word is used. If you disagree, then we disagree.
I am not entering into some stupid fight and sincerely apologize if I offended anyone. It was not my intent.
No one's offended. This isn't about being offended...
Just as long as we all agree that wheat is like sandpaper for your gut, when your baby starts getting people food give it zucchini instead of banana, and eating a highly restrictive diet cures eating disorders, my feelings will not be hurt.
Disagree with me and I will NOT be offering you a discount on my services as an integrative nutrition health and wellness coach.
How much of a discount? And are you a self titled health and wellness coach, or do you at least have some credentials from an online test that proves you can read questions? Because I prefer the self titled ones, any kind of testing just proves you've bought into the system.
I always say I haven’t had training, and I never get into the science because that’s not my strength.
[That's a direct quote from that Calgary woman btw]
My favorte is Nutritiarin Nancy though (despite her high falooting PhD she got for a 3k word "dissertation"): https://www.facebook.com/NutritarianNancy0 -
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