Of course an analytic approach based on well-founded assumptions will avoid most quackeries which is what I interpret you were saying.
However, please read again my first line. Everyone is subject to placebo effects, including cosmologists and psychopaths. It is a matter of which of your expectations are triggered, which is where the "unreliable" part comes in. Estimates are that within any group 15% - 70% of people may be affected in a given test, a huge range, but that is not to do with the individual traits but with the particular effect and expectation and its reinforcement.
Swallowing quackery is one possible predecessor of a placebo effect, but not a necessary one and not what placebo is. I hope that makes the distinction clearer.
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"Super' foods are often nothing of the sort."
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Placebo, nocebo - what's it called if it just gives you a good chuckle? Laugh therapy?Originally posted by beensean View PostPlacebo is a measured effect in a sample, not a trait, relying on your expectations (in a very unreliable way). You are not without expectations of one form or another, although these may lead as much to a nocebo effect.
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You have something against endorphins?Originally posted by Rocky View Post...the group for whom it doesn't.
Placebo is a measured effect in a sample, not a trait, relying on your expectations (in a very unreliable way). You are not without expectations of one form or another, although these may lead as much to a nocebo effect.
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Recent surveys seem to suggest that up to 80% of people believe in sky fairies - placebos in all but name.Originally posted by Rocky View Post...I've not seen any research about how well the Placebo Effect works - what proportion of subjects would respond? 10%? 30%? 50%? At any rate, I'm in the group for whom it doesn't.
Ps I sometimes wish I was one of those 80%. Just follow the rules (laid down by those with a direct link to your chosen sky fairy/fairies) and you'll live forever in eternal bliss. What's not to like about that.
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OCD - They must be more simple-minded than me. I am prepared to give a go to anything that I don't think is blatantly ridiculous. For e.g. a mix of ignorance, myth and symbolism wouldn't persuade me to take powdered Rhinoceros Horn. If you are the sort of person who could persuade yourself that was going to work for you, fine (pity about the Rhinos)
That means doing a bit of due diligence , run it through the BS filter, talk to a couple of sensible people and then give it a try for a while and carefully note any changes.
Its probably my personality but I never start out expecting positive change. Nor do I start out expecting no change. I have no expectations other than that it will work or it won't.
I've not seen any research about how well the Placebo Effect works - what proportion of subjects would respond? 10%? 30%? 50%? At any rate, I'm in the group for whom it doesn't.
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If you want to bag "Super foods" you also have to bag the insanity of the 'vitamin' industry.
In the biggest discount Chemist outlets in town the majority of the shelf space is occupied by the hundreds of vitamin/supplement products.
All expensive - $70. for a kilo of Manuka Honey, similar for a big jar of Fish Oil capsules and on it goes to some of the most oesteric products you could imagine.
And I love the 'male/female' supplements that are going to fix all your problems. As if.
I often wonder who can afford this stuff and what else are they going without to do so.
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Burger, chips, coke...all good because I'm eating a teaspoon of powdered Goji berries. Seriously Big Macs now available at breakfast. The Western world has gone mad. How about we just back right off from meat 3 times a day and hop into things like kale and sweet potatoes...the true superfoods that are cheap.
Cheers
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Dragging back towards the purpose of the forum - don't forget coffee enemas.
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It’s such a ridiculous notion. People just want the easy option.
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I'm with you on this one. Super foods are BS. Chanting, crystals and colonic irrigation are the only way to go.
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