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Gullible Naive Society or Just down right Lazy?
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nutmegoreo wrote: »People fall for those scams for two reasons:
1) Inherent laziness/wanting a "quick fix"/not wanting to take any initiative to actually learn anything about how the body works.
2) Because the diet/fitness industry is very, very good at understanding the psyche of their target audiences, and is very, very good at marketing their BS in a manner that makes it very appealing to said audiences. They understand 1) above, and prey on it.
The industry also understands that the 'appeal to authority' seems to hold a lot of water with people - hence you have Doctor Oz, Doctor Fung, Doctor Mercola, Doctor Lustig, etc. - and gullible people think "Well, he's a doctor, so he must know what he's talking about". They don't realize that these "doctors" are just snake oil salesmen who are using their titles to sell products. They won't do a half hour of research to vet their sources.
But somebody still has to explain to me why anybody listens to Taubes. He has no education or training in medicine, health or nutrition. He's a freaking journalist. You might as well take nutritional advice from the guy who changes your oil at the local Speedy Lube. Taubes is as credible/reliable a source as Freelee the Banana Girl or David 'Avocado' Wolfe.
I actually had the counter guy at the place where I got my last oil change try to sell me on some quack "health" supplement that he said would help my dad's dementia. It took a lot for me to not smack the crap out of him, considering my dad was in the hospital and very sick at the time.
No jury of your MFP peers would've convicted you. That would be justifiable assault and battery.11 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »People fall for those scams for two reasons:
1) Inherent laziness/wanting a "quick fix"/not wanting to take any initiative to actually learn anything about how the body works.
2) Because the diet/fitness industry is very, very good at understanding the psyche of their target audiences, and is very, very good at marketing their BS in a manner that makes it very appealing to said audiences. They understand 1) above, and prey on it.
The industry also understands that the 'appeal to authority' seems to hold a lot of water with people - hence you have Doctor Oz, Doctor Fung, Doctor Mercola, Doctor Lustig, etc. - and gullible people think "Well, he's a doctor, so he must know what he's talking about". They don't realize that these "doctors" are just snake oil salesmen who are using their titles to sell products. They won't do a half hour of research to vet their sources.
But somebody still has to explain to me why anybody listens to Taubes. He has no education or training in medicine, health or nutrition. He's a freaking journalist. You might as well take nutritional advice from the guy who changes your oil at the local Speedy Lube. Taubes is as credible/reliable a source as Freelee the Banana Girl or David 'Avocado' Wolfe.
I actually had the counter guy at the place where I got my last oil change try to sell me on some quack "health" supplement that he said would help my dad's dementia. It took a lot for me to not smack the crap out of him, considering my dad was in the hospital and very sick at the time.
No jury of your MFP peers would've convicted you. That would be justifiable assault and battery.
Yup. I was getting the oil change done before making the drive to see him. It really just spoke of how people will prey on those they think are weak.6 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »People fall for those scams for two reasons:
1) Inherent laziness/wanting a "quick fix"/not wanting to take any initiative to actually learn anything about how the body works.
2) Because the diet/fitness industry is very, very good at understanding the psyche of their target audiences, and is very, very good at marketing their BS in a manner that makes it very appealing to said audiences. They understand 1) above, and prey on it.
The industry also understands that the 'appeal to authority' seems to hold a lot of water with people - hence you have Doctor Oz, Doctor Fung, Doctor Mercola, Doctor Lustig, etc. - and gullible people think "Well, he's a doctor, so he must know what he's talking about". They don't realize that these "doctors" are just snake oil salesmen who are using their titles to sell products. They won't do a half hour of research to vet their sources.
But somebody still has to explain to me why anybody listens to Taubes. He has no education or training in medicine, health or nutrition. He's a freaking journalist. You might as well take nutritional advice from the guy who changes your oil at the local Speedy Lube. Taubes is as credible/reliable a source as Freelee the Banana Girl or David 'Avocado' Wolfe.
I actually had the counter guy at the place where I got my last oil change try to sell me on some quack "health" supplement that he said would help my dad's dementia. It took a lot for me to not smack the crap out of him, considering my dad was in the hospital and very sick at the time.
No jury of your MFP peers would've convicted you. That would be justifiable assault and battery.
Yup. I was getting the oil change done before making the drive to see him. It really just spoke of how people will prey on those they think are weak.
That's despicable and embodies everything I hate about MLMs
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nutmegoreo wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »People fall for those scams for two reasons:
1) Inherent laziness/wanting a "quick fix"/not wanting to take any initiative to actually learn anything about how the body works.
2) Because the diet/fitness industry is very, very good at understanding the psyche of their target audiences, and is very, very good at marketing their BS in a manner that makes it very appealing to said audiences. They understand 1) above, and prey on it.
The industry also understands that the 'appeal to authority' seems to hold a lot of water with people - hence you have Doctor Oz, Doctor Fung, Doctor Mercola, Doctor Lustig, etc. - and gullible people think "Well, he's a doctor, so he must know what he's talking about". They don't realize that these "doctors" are just snake oil salesmen who are using their titles to sell products. They won't do a half hour of research to vet their sources.
But somebody still has to explain to me why anybody listens to Taubes. He has no education or training in medicine, health or nutrition. He's a freaking journalist. You might as well take nutritional advice from the guy who changes your oil at the local Speedy Lube. Taubes is as credible/reliable a source as Freelee the Banana Girl or David 'Avocado' Wolfe.
I actually had the counter guy at the place where I got my last oil change try to sell me on some quack "health" supplement that he said would help my dad's dementia. It took a lot for me to not smack the crap out of him, considering my dad was in the hospital and very sick at the time.
No jury of your MFP peers would've convicted you. That would be justifiable assault and battery.
Yup. I was getting the oil change done before making the drive to see him. It really just spoke of how people will prey on those they think are weak.
That's despicable and embodies everything I hate about MLMs
It really was deplorable. ☹4 -
I would say lack of education regarding fitness, nutrition, the human body ...2
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To be fair, people being lazy and gullible and not understanding science is nothing new. PT Barnum knew it in the 1800's, and it wasn't new then.
It's just so much easier for every two-bit carnival barker to spread the word and make a fortune now.
And it's sadder now, because almost everyone has access to all the knowledge and truth you could ask for. It's just hiding in plain site amongst all the FB/blog/industry crap, spreading like wildfire and calling to all that lazy, gullibleness.11 -
Not to mention all the crowd-funded quackery the internet has brought us....ie Solar Roadways, Fontus, SciO etc. Plus the popularity contest impractical BS like Hyperloop.4
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Someone mentioned the food. I am very new and learning constantly. My thing is you don't realize how bad the food you eat really is until you look up one day and realize you are overweight or have some kind of health issue. They make the (From my perspective at least) food addictive. The more salt, carbs, fat ... the better it tastes.. it's an addiction. Sometimes not even a conscious choice..just what you are accustomed to eating. I recently quit smoking and getting off the unhealthy food is by far harder than quitting the cigs. I decided I would take control of my body. I have made bad decisions about my 'diet' but at least i am trying. Someone mentioned the soda and chips (I would add tv and video games)..yeah if you don't know better it seems so much more appetizing than broccoli and water and exercise.
Honestly I didn't know any better..So when some healthy looking person would say oh I use this or that..yeah I listened. Who knew there is actual work involved and personal responsibility for every thing you put into your body. Like I said.. learning in progress.16 -
Someone mentioned the food. I am very new and learning constantly. My thing is you don't realize how bad the food you eat really is until you look up one day and realize you are overweight or have some kind of health issue. They make the (From my perspective at least) food addictive. The more salt, carbs, fat ... the better it tastes.. it's an addiction. Sometimes not even a conscious choice..just what you are accustomed to eating. I recently quit smoking and getting off the unhealthy food is by far harder than quitting the cigs. I decided I would take control of my body. I have made bad decisions about my 'diet' but at least i am trying. Someone mentioned the soda and chips (I would add tv and video games)..yeah if you don't know better it seems so much more appetizing than broccoli and water and exercise.
Honestly I didn't know any better..So when some healthy looking person would say oh I use this or that..yeah I listened. Who knew there is actual work involved and personal responsibility for every thing you put into your body. Like I said.. learning in progress.
People make food that tastes good....must be a conspiracy.14 -
Aaron_K123 wrote: »Someone mentioned the food. I am very new and learning constantly. My thing is you don't realize how bad the food you eat really is until you look up one day and realize you are overweight or have some kind of health issue. They make the (From my perspective at least) food addictive. The more salt, carbs, fat ... the better it tastes.. it's an addiction. Sometimes not even a conscious choice..just what you are accustomed to eating. I recently quit smoking and getting off the unhealthy food is by far harder than quitting the cigs. I decided I would take control of my body. I have made bad decisions about my 'diet' but at least i am trying. Someone mentioned the soda and chips (I would add tv and video games)..yeah if you don't know better it seems so much more appetizing than broccoli and water and exercise.
Honestly I didn't know any better..So when some healthy looking person would say oh I use this or that..yeah I listened. Who knew there is actual work involved and personal responsibility for every thing you put into your body. Like I said.. learning in progress.
People make food that tastes good....must be a conspiracy.
It actually is, to be honest. There is such a thing called hyperpalatability. That's why people can eat a whole bag of chips or fries. They figured out the point of natural satiation - the point where you body has figured out it has eaten enough. Then they found out how to make you want to eat past that point. They intentionally make foods that is hard to stop eating, because of it's hyperpalatability, which produces a dopamine response, which is the same chemical that makes it hard to get off your phone or stop playing video games.
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A lot of people drop science, but they don't know the math, because their minds are narrower than the righteous path.4
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IHaveMyActTogether wrote: »Aaron_K123 wrote: »Someone mentioned the food. I am very new and learning constantly. My thing is you don't realize how bad the food you eat really is until you look up one day and realize you are overweight or have some kind of health issue. They make the (From my perspective at least) food addictive. The more salt, carbs, fat ... the better it tastes.. it's an addiction. Sometimes not even a conscious choice..just what you are accustomed to eating. I recently quit smoking and getting off the unhealthy food is by far harder than quitting the cigs. I decided I would take control of my body. I have made bad decisions about my 'diet' but at least i am trying. Someone mentioned the soda and chips (I would add tv and video games)..yeah if you don't know better it seems so much more appetizing than broccoli and water and exercise.
Honestly I didn't know any better..So when some healthy looking person would say oh I use this or that..yeah I listened. Who knew there is actual work involved and personal responsibility for every thing you put into your body. Like I said.. learning in progress.
People make food that tastes good....must be a conspiracy.
It actually is, to be honest. There is such a thing called hyperpalatability. That's why people can eat a whole bag of chips or fries. They figured out the point of natural satiation - the point where you body has figured out it has eaten enough. Then they found out how to make you want to eat past that point. They intentionally make foods that is hard to stop eating, because of it's hyperpalatability, which produces a dopamine response, which is the same chemical that makes it hard to get off your phone or stop playing video games.
Right....because they want people to by their chips....so they make them tasty. Does that count as a conspiracy now?17 -
Aaron_K123 wrote: »IHaveMyActTogether wrote: »Aaron_K123 wrote: »Someone mentioned the food. I am very new and learning constantly. My thing is you don't realize how bad the food you eat really is until you look up one day and realize you are overweight or have some kind of health issue. They make the (From my perspective at least) food addictive. The more salt, carbs, fat ... the better it tastes.. it's an addiction. Sometimes not even a conscious choice..just what you are accustomed to eating. I recently quit smoking and getting off the unhealthy food is by far harder than quitting the cigs. I decided I would take control of my body. I have made bad decisions about my 'diet' but at least i am trying. Someone mentioned the soda and chips (I would add tv and video games)..yeah if you don't know better it seems so much more appetizing than broccoli and water and exercise.
Honestly I didn't know any better..So when some healthy looking person would say oh I use this or that..yeah I listened. Who knew there is actual work involved and personal responsibility for every thing you put into your body. Like I said.. learning in progress.
People make food that tastes good....must be a conspiracy.
It actually is, to be honest. There is such a thing called hyperpalatability. That's why people can eat a whole bag of chips or fries. They figured out the point of natural satiation - the point where you body has figured out it has eaten enough. Then they found out how to make you want to eat past that point. They intentionally make foods that is hard to stop eating, because of it's hyperpalatability, which produces a dopamine response, which is the same chemical that makes it hard to get off your phone or stop playing video games.
Right....because they want people to by their chips....so they make them tasty. Does that count as a conspiracy now?
Facebook employees have quit over what they say is manipulation of the human brain circuitry to make sure you spend as much time as possible on their site.
Food scientists say the same thing about their industry.
Call it whatever you want to call it, but it is not in the favor of the health of the consumer, and that is coming from the industry insiders.
If you don't agree, that's fine.
16 -
I have been hearing (not on here, on other social media) a lot of, 'it's just not that easy!', or, 'some of us just can't lose weight'.
I didn't hear this so much in the past. I think there's this gigantic myth being peddled nowadays that a: when we talk about eating properly and exercising, we're claiming it's easy, and b: that if someone doesn't find it easy, it can't be done! Which is insulting, because I'm sure all of us on here work hard for our results. I've noticed a lot of people think if we're losing weight, we somehow have it easier than them, and because there's something 'special' about them, they just can't do it. I personally think the body positivity movement, while it may not have been it's intention, has created a bunch of, 'it's alright, not everybody CAN!', so a lot of people now won't even try.
And yes, I do think a lot of people believe if it's not easy, it's not worth doing. They won't say it, but their actions prove otherwise, and the things they say about their life in general.
I can tell you honestly, I've got plenty of excuses as to why losing weight is 'too hard', or 'I just can't do it!', but I work around those actual medical problems that make it harder, and I'm still seeing results.
The bottom line is, my body doesn't give a flying *kitten* what my excuses or problems are. If I don't do something about this, I would get fatter and fatter, and my health problems would get worse. THEN it really would get hard! I'm picking this level of hard, because it's easier than the level of hard I would have to deal with, if I put on even more weight.
10 -
I have been hearing (not on here, on other social media) a lot of, 'it's just not that easy!', or, 'some of us just can't lose weight'.
I didn't hear this so much in the past. I think there's this gigantic myth being peddled nowadays that a: when we talk about eating properly and exercising, we're claiming it's easy, and b: that if someone doesn't find it easy, it can't be done! Which is insulting, because I'm sure all of us on here work hard for our results. I've noticed a lot of people think if we're losing weight, we somehow have it easier than them, and because there's something 'special' about them, they just can't do it. I personally think the body positivity movement, while it may not have been it's intention, has created a bunch of, 'it's alright, not everybody CAN!', so a lot of people now won't even try.
And yes, I do think a lot of people believe if it's not easy, it's not worth doing. They won't say it, but their actions prove otherwise, and the things they say about their life in general.
I can tell you honestly, I've got plenty of excuses as to why losing weight is 'too hard', or 'I just can't do it!', but I work around those actual medical problems that make it harder, and I'm still seeing results.
The bottom line is, my body doesn't give a flying *kitten* what my excuses or problems are. If I don't do something about this, I would get fatter and fatter, and my health problems would get worse. THEN it really would get hard! I'm picking this level of hard, because it's easier than the level of hard I would have to deal with, if I put on even more weight.
There is certainly that internal soundtrack for some that tells them they'll fail or that it's too much work. It can be hard to stand up to that voice and/or ignore it, because often times it's so ingrained that we forget it's there.8 -
IHaveMyActTogether wrote: »Aaron_K123 wrote: »IHaveMyActTogether wrote: »Aaron_K123 wrote: »Someone mentioned the food. I am very new and learning constantly. My thing is you don't realize how bad the food you eat really is until you look up one day and realize you are overweight or have some kind of health issue. They make the (From my perspective at least) food addictive. The more salt, carbs, fat ... the better it tastes.. it's an addiction. Sometimes not even a conscious choice..just what you are accustomed to eating. I recently quit smoking and getting off the unhealthy food is by far harder than quitting the cigs. I decided I would take control of my body. I have made bad decisions about my 'diet' but at least i am trying. Someone mentioned the soda and chips (I would add tv and video games)..yeah if you don't know better it seems so much more appetizing than broccoli and water and exercise.
Honestly I didn't know any better..So when some healthy looking person would say oh I use this or that..yeah I listened. Who knew there is actual work involved and personal responsibility for every thing you put into your body. Like I said.. learning in progress.
People make food that tastes good....must be a conspiracy.
It actually is, to be honest. There is such a thing called hyperpalatability. That's why people can eat a whole bag of chips or fries. They figured out the point of natural satiation - the point where you body has figured out it has eaten enough. Then they found out how to make you want to eat past that point. They intentionally make foods that is hard to stop eating, because of it's hyperpalatability, which produces a dopamine response, which is the same chemical that makes it hard to get off your phone or stop playing video games.
Right....because they want people to by their chips....so they make them tasty. Does that count as a conspiracy now?
Facebook employees have quit over what they say is manipulation of the human brain circuitry to make sure you spend as much time as possible on their site.
Food scientists say the same thing about their industry.
Call it whatever you want to call it, but it is not in the favor of the health of the consumer, and that is coming from the industry insiders.
If you don't agree, that's fine.
Yeah, because they are in the business of making money not the buisness of making you healthy. That isn't a conspiracy and it isn't a crime....it is just market economics. It isn't the job of a company to make you healthy, it is your job to make you healthy. If you value health over taste you can choose to purchase other items or moderate as you see fit. You have control of your own decisions. Someone making a particularly entertaining or appealing or tasty product isn't mindcontrolling you, they are just offering you something you like....you of course have the choice to decide to prioritize something else instead.25 -
Gullible Naive Society or Just down right Lazy?
False Dichotomy. Both, and other. So many, many reasons have been stated by millions of observers.
If you want just one reason, it's evolution, then everything stems from that.
Humans evolved to feed themselves in the most efficient manner possible.
We've been too successful. Obesity is now a larger cause of malnutrition than famine.
Most of us can now move as little as possible and eat as much as possible by thinking as little as possible.
We now have to go against evolution and purposely exercise and/or diet so we don't get obese and put ourselves out of the gene pool.
Being born to conserve energy leads to not thinking hard about this and wanting an easy and quick way.
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NorthCascades wrote: »A lot of people drop science, but they don't know the math, because their minds are narrower than the righteous path.
I used to wonder about people who don't believe in themselves...but then i saw the way that they portrayed us to everyone else. That cursed us, then only see the worst in ourselves. Blind to the fact the whole time we were hurting ourselves.1 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »
Yes. And the trouble is, in society, that seems to be growing as an acceptable belief, as though it’s fact, now.
There is certainly that internal soundtrack for some that tells them they'll fail or that it's too much work. It can be hard to stand up to that voice and/or ignore it, because often times it's so ingrained that we forget it's there.
Society’s enabling this attitude and myth breeds the laziness.
Recently, I was on social media discussing CICO and I was met with derision and lots of, ‘you just don’t get it!’ (What don’t I get? I’m safely losing weight!) and, ‘you’d sing a different tune if you had a chronic illness that means you can’t exercise sometimes!’
I pointed out I do, in fact, have a chronic illness and sometimes I can’t exercise and am still losing weight. To which the reply (from many), was, it’s just not that easy!’ But I never said it was easy.
I’d also like to point out I wasn’t fat shaming anyone. But I was made to feel as though talking about the science of CICO was a heartless thing to do.7 -
Sorry, I’m posting from my phone, and messed up my quote0
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