What is "woo"

Clearly I'm not that MFP savy..explanation??
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Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    It's generally used to describe claims with no foundation in science.
  • starwhisperer6
    starwhisperer6 Posts: 402 Member
    Diet pills, herbal cleanses, wraps. All the things people tell you will drop the weight quick.
  • Lourdesong
    Lourdesong Posts: 1,492 Member
    Pseudoscience and flimflam, often rooted in wishful and magical thinking.

    Usually espoused by those hostile or indifferent to science, reality, logic, and facts. And/or by those out to swindle people who are hostile or indifferent to science, reality, logic, and facts.
  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    Anything in the "Diet" world. Like Raspberry Ketones, That G word, cleanse, Shakeology, etc. Something someone tells you that you need to make money. I'm a big hater of the WOO. I'm that person that succeeded at weight loss without the WOO. If I can do it, everyone can.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    edited November 2015
    Any of the following in relation to weight loss/fitness advice:

    Malarkey

    Codswallop

    Balderdash

    Nonsense
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    "Woo", "derp" and "broscience" are terms that some people use to say that they believe others to be wrong. They base this on their idea of "science", sometimes correctly, sometimes not.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    "Woo", "derp" and "broscience" are terms that some people use to say that they believe others to be wrong. They base this on their idea of "science", sometimes correctly, sometimes not.

    What's funny is I bet we have completely different posters in our minds.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    edited November 2015
    Kalikel wrote: »
    "Woo", "derp" and "broscience" are terms that some people use to say that they believe others to be wrong. They base this on their idea of "science", sometimes correctly, sometimes not.

    Obviously, different people have different definitions. Some not as relativistic as others.

    A more thorough and appropriate explanation/definition from another thread:
    Woo is a term used among skeptical writers to describe pseudoscientific explanations that have certain common characteristics.
    The term comes from woo-woo, an epithet used in the 1990s by science and skeptical writers to ridicule people who believe or promote such things. This is in turn believed to have come from the onomatopoeia "woooooo!" as a reaction to dimmed lights or magic tricks. The term implies a lack of either intelligence or sincerity on the part of the person or concepts so described.
    As a coincidence, the Chinese word "Wū" (巫) means a shaman, usually with magic powers.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    edited November 2015
    RGv2 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    "Woo", "derp" and "broscience" are terms that some people use to say that they believe others to be wrong. They base this on their idea of "science", sometimes correctly, sometimes not.

    What's funny is I bet we have completely different posters in our minds.
    I didn't have anyone in mind. I'm not even sure who all uses the words. I was answering the question. I'd never heard "derp" or "broscience" before I was on MFP and had to ask, myself.

    I don't use the words, myself, but it's nice to know what other people mean.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    "Woo", "derp" and "broscience" are terms that some people use to say that they believe others to be wrong. They base this on their idea of "science", sometimes correctly, sometimes not.

    I have an 8 year old daughter. When I read "derp" I automatically think of MLP.

    130232443562.gif?1305073704
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    RGv2 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    "Woo", "derp" and "broscience" are terms that some people use to say that they believe others to be wrong. They base this on their idea of "science", sometimes correctly, sometimes not.

    What's funny is I bet we have completely different posters in our minds.
    I didn't have anyone in mind. I'm not even sure who all uses the words. I was answering the question. I'd never heard "derp" or "broscience" before I was on MFP and had to ask, myself.

    You don't know who uses the words, but you're comfortable making statements about why they're using them and whether or not their usage is correct?
  • queenofpuppies
    queenofpuppies Posts: 189 Member
    edited November 2015
    I have heard that the usage comes from 'wu' the Taoist word for the eternal non-being...or the unknowable part of existence. On the internet it is generally derogatory for anything considered magical by science minded folks. ex. "that woo woo girl just tried to read my palm". I learned this in a shamanism course in college when we were learning about techno-pagans , I tried to find a source to add here to support what I'm saying but I'm not seeing much
  • Purplebunnysarah
    Purplebunnysarah Posts: 3,252 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    "Woo", "derp" and "broscience" are terms that some people use to say that they believe others to be wrong. They base this on their idea of "science", sometimes correctly, sometimes not.

    I have an 8 year old daughter. When I read "derp" I automatically think of MLP.

    130232443562.gif?1305073704

    I have a brony husband. Same thoughts here.

  • AspenDan
    AspenDan Posts: 703 Member
    Gotcha, thanks all!
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Alternately, it's often seen in the company of "hoo".

    I'll get my coat.
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    Before I changed the channel (I was watching the previous show and didn't change fast enough before his whow started), Dr. Oz said he has a new way to cook rice so that it has only HALF THE CALORIES!

    that's a solid example of woo.
  • AspenDan
    AspenDan Posts: 703 Member
    mccindy72 wrote: »
    Before I changed the channel (I was watching the previous show and didn't change fast enough before his whow started), Dr. Oz said he has a new way to cook rice so that it has only HALF THE CALORIES!

    that's a solid example of woo.

    It's not woo to simply take half of the rice you cooked and throw it away...jeez
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    'Woo' is stricter here than among the folks who study things, keep in mind. I got called out for 'woo' but it was about a heavily studied topic, and I made sure to say 'might' and 'may'. I don't mind being called out for it, btw. I like to read how the studies are going, so I'm not getting it from sources that I hate as well (reporting is so, so bad about studies).

    Full disclosure: I found some great herbal aids for my GERD to go along with my Rx meds by trolling through the studies, and I've had herbs and minerals help with my glucose levels in the past until I got on Rx meds for that. I don't think it's fair to call it 'woo' if it's being taken seriously in the scientific community, although it certainly can't be called proven at that point. Most things have poor results after studies. So I'm half-woo, y'all ;) But I'm happy to explain my reasoning if it comes up.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    AspenDan wrote: »
    Clearly I'm not that MFP savy..explanation??

    Broscience, shenanigans, flim flam, snake oil, anything from Dr Oz. Things with no basis in reality. BS. Lies. Anything from a politician...

    The list, it goes on and on and on and on and on and...

    You read my mind.

  • Redbeard333
    Redbeard333 Posts: 381 Member
    Basically anything "Dr" Oz promotes. What a blowhard.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    Basically anything "Dr" Oz promotes. What a blowhard.

    I refer to him as a 'talking tampon' :#

  • Redbeard333
    Redbeard333 Posts: 381 Member
    Basically anything "Dr" Oz promotes. What a blowhard.

    I refer to him as a 'talking tampon' :#

    HAHAhahahah!!
    Basically anything "Dr" Oz promotes. What a blowhard.
    Which brings in the other aspect, the more money a "concept" has being thrown at it, the better chance it's woo. For example, "ItWorks" and other wraps. The only thing that works is that they are effective at generating a retail transaction.

    I have a former student who posts on Facebook almost every day about how good ItWorks! is. Such junk, and people will willingly throw away hard-earned $$ at it.

    ............secretly I hope her "business" fails
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    mccindy72 wrote: »
    Before I changed the channel (I was watching the previous show and didn't change fast enough before his whow started), Dr. Oz said he has a new way to cook rice so that it has only HALF THE CALORIES!

    that's a solid example of woo.

    I've never watched Dr. Oz, but I do cook, and if you were to get the rice to absorb twice as much water, then yeah, less calories.

    Similarly, I was wondering why the calories of Fit & Trim deli meat was lower than the brands I buy and saw that the second ingredient was chicken stock. Adding low calorie liquid = calorie reduction.
  • Karen_can_do_this
    Karen_can_do_this Posts: 1,150 Member
    Basically anything "Dr" Oz promotes. What a blowhard.

    I refer to him as a 'talking tampon' :#

    Omfg you made me spit out my drink!!!!
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    mrsfitzyv8 wrote: »
    Basically anything "Dr" Oz promotes. What a blowhard.

    I refer to him as a 'talking tampon' :#

    Omfg you made me spit out my drink!!!!

    hahahahah :p

  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    edited November 2015
    A little history lesson here.

    The term "woo" (if I recall correctly ) was originally coined by James Randi as woo-woo.
    "James Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Randi began his career as a magician, but when he retired at age 60, he switched to investigating paranormal, occult, and supernatural claims, which he collectively calls "woo-woo." Although often referred to as a "debunker," Randi rejects that title owing to its perceived bias, instead describing himself as an "investigator". He has written about the paranormal, skepticism, and the history of magic. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and is occasionally featured on the television program Penn & Teller: *kitten*!."

    Randi just recently retired from the organization which bares his name "The James Randi Educational Foundation." A big component of the JREF was to test paranormal claims by offering a million dollars to prove if you indeed possess any supernatural powers. Many tried, all failed.

    His busting of the fraud Yuri Gellar and exposing cold reading for what is classic skepticism in action.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9w7jHYriFo

    Randi is personal hero of mine, right up there with Carl Sagan.
  • Redbeard333
    Redbeard333 Posts: 381 Member

    Randi is personal hero of mine, right up there with Carl Sagan.

    Same here!! I met Randi a few years ago at a lecture he was doing at MIT... what a guy!

  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    This must be the 2015 MFP buzzword.
  • magtart
    magtart Posts: 161 Member
    I love the term "woo" and plan on looking for opportunities to use it frequently.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    mccindy72 wrote: »
    Before I changed the channel (I was watching the previous show and didn't change fast enough before his whow started), Dr. Oz said he has a new way to cook rice so that it has only HALF THE CALORIES!

    that's a solid example of woo.

    Wasn't there a recent study that discussed the effects of coconut oil when mixed with rice?