Shelly, I am open minded too, but there is so much crud out there, that skeptical is just second nature at this point. That, and since I am a working scientist, skepticism is the working state. Bring me the proof and I am as happy as anyone to embrace the new product, but ya'know, it actually has to work.
Maybe it comes across as dogmatic or stubborn, but this is the way science works, and I really think that the average person does not understand that. Yes, there are a few scientists out there who will hold on to an old idea even in the face of newer, better ones. Mostly because they have dedicated their life's work to the old idea and they don't want to feel like they wasted their life (not realizing, of course, that they most likely had a lot to do with the evolution to the new idea) But here is how the overwhelming majority of actual scientists work: If you have a better idea that works better, it will be embraced immediately. Most scientists just want to get the answer right, there is very little to no bias. Therefore, you find the proof, or even you do the experiments yourself and prove it, I have nothing against it. But, those experiments have to be done right. This is why there is a scientific method of proving or refuting hypotheses etc., etc.
Look at all the stuff people will buy without proof. I mean, how many weeks was/is "Natural Cures 'They' Don't Want You to Know About" http
/www.amazon.com/gp/product/097559951...8971434-1554404 on the best seller list? Even though the author is has had several fraud indictments in his history, used to be a used car salesman, and has no medical training whatsoever. Did you know that he claims in the book that some doctor out there invented a machine that when you hit the right frequency it drives all the cancer out of the body, but of course, the medical companies are keeping it out of the hospitals. Yeah, right, that guy could charge several billion dollars a machine and every hospital in the world would still buy one, or two, or three. That guy would have so much money he would make Bill Gates and the oil sultans look like the part time cashier at McDonald's. And just how many people believe in homeopathy? Even though when you do the mathematics of the dilutions the homeopathic prepares do, there would only be 1 molecule of the active ingredient in the entire bottle? (Some of them are really bad... some dilutions are a weak as 1 molecule in the equivalent of the ocean, or 1 molecule in the galaxy.)
And, think about this, just how many people really believe in astrology? Far too many. Good page debunking astrology: http/www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/astrology.html
But you know who did used to believe in astrology? The Reagans. Nancy would commonly schedule appointments only after consulting an astrologer. Can you imagine the (arguably) most powerful man in the world using total woo woo to make his decisions? Frightening.
Finally, bringing this back to fish-related topics, there was a product advertised on eBay and elsewhere that claimed to eliminate the need for water changes by 75%. www.ecoaqualizer.com Using "The Earth's Magnetic Field and the Suns Radiating Wavelengths are natural forces which contribute to the missing links in achieving aquarium perfection" which is nothing but scientific buzzword nonsense. I stick by what I wrote in these two threads: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=56953&hl= and http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=59846&hl= I know that this is long and I have posted a lot of links, but I really hope that you will especially read my comments in that second thread. I didn't want to copy and paste them here, but I wrote a fair amount about how people will be duped into believing that the ecoaqualizer may work.
So, when I read on here about something that "From what I am reading its good for every thing" that sends up a huge red flag. There has to be proof before any statement like that can be said. Once that proof is in, great, you'll see the supporters line up -- I'll be the first one. I think you'll find that this exact same argument is still being used for many of the biological filter starters... there is little proof, but lots of anecdote out there.
If you are on fact-finding mission about what grapefruit extract actually does, that is great. But the first few posts seemed like you had it on hand and were waiting to drop it in. And the second poster got all excited about a "natural cure" ... but there is no proof that his is a cure ... yet.
So finally, I guess I just wanted to preach some patience and rational thinking. There are many, many people who will sell you exactly what you want to hear. There have been several miracle cures sold, for people and for your pets. All I am asking for is proof.
Maybe it comes across as dogmatic or stubborn, but this is the way science works, and I really think that the average person does not understand that. Yes, there are a few scientists out there who will hold on to an old idea even in the face of newer, better ones. Mostly because they have dedicated their life's work to the old idea and they don't want to feel like they wasted their life (not realizing, of course, that they most likely had a lot to do with the evolution to the new idea) But here is how the overwhelming majority of actual scientists work: If you have a better idea that works better, it will be embraced immediately. Most scientists just want to get the answer right, there is very little to no bias. Therefore, you find the proof, or even you do the experiments yourself and prove it, I have nothing against it. But, those experiments have to be done right. This is why there is a scientific method of proving or refuting hypotheses etc., etc.
Look at all the stuff people will buy without proof. I mean, how many weeks was/is "Natural Cures 'They' Don't Want You to Know About" http
/www.amazon.com/gp/product/097559951...8971434-1554404 on the best seller list? Even though the author is has had several fraud indictments in his history, used to be a used car salesman, and has no medical training whatsoever. Did you know that he claims in the book that some doctor out there invented a machine that when you hit the right frequency it drives all the cancer out of the body, but of course, the medical companies are keeping it out of the hospitals. Yeah, right, that guy could charge several billion dollars a machine and every hospital in the world would still buy one, or two, or three. That guy would have so much money he would make Bill Gates and the oil sultans look like the part time cashier at McDonald's. And just how many people believe in homeopathy? Even though when you do the mathematics of the dilutions the homeopathic prepares do, there would only be 1 molecule of the active ingredient in the entire bottle? (Some of them are really bad... some dilutions are a weak as 1 molecule in the equivalent of the ocean, or 1 molecule in the galaxy.)And, think about this, just how many people really believe in astrology? Far too many. Good page debunking astrology: http
/www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/astrology.htmlBut you know who did used to believe in astrology? The Reagans. Nancy would commonly schedule appointments only after consulting an astrologer. Can you imagine the (arguably) most powerful man in the world using total woo woo to make his decisions? Frightening.
Finally, bringing this back to fish-related topics, there was a product advertised on eBay and elsewhere that claimed to eliminate the need for water changes by 75%. www.ecoaqualizer.com Using "The Earth's Magnetic Field and the Suns Radiating Wavelengths are natural forces which contribute to the missing links in achieving aquarium perfection" which is nothing but scientific buzzword nonsense. I stick by what I wrote in these two threads: http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=56953&hl= and http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=59846&hl= I know that this is long and I have posted a lot of links, but I really hope that you will especially read my comments in that second thread. I didn't want to copy and paste them here, but I wrote a fair amount about how people will be duped into believing that the ecoaqualizer may work.So, when I read on here about something that "From what I am reading its good for every thing" that sends up a huge red flag. There has to be proof before any statement like that can be said. Once that proof is in, great, you'll see the supporters line up -- I'll be the first one. I think you'll find that this exact same argument is still being used for many of the biological filter starters... there is little proof, but lots of anecdote out there.
If you are on fact-finding mission about what grapefruit extract actually does, that is great. But the first few posts seemed like you had it on hand and were waiting to drop it in. And the second poster got all excited about a "natural cure" ... but there is no proof that his is a cure ... yet.
So finally, I guess I just wanted to preach some patience and rational thinking. There are many, many people who will sell you exactly what you want to hear. There have been several miracle cures sold, for people and for your pets. All I am asking for is proof.
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Don't believe everything you hear, especially when it comes to new medicine without valid scientific study. A good portion of it is either complete crap or not understood enough to be reliable. For as long as people have been around, someone's been trying to sell a quick-fix to them.
