I suppose this is partially related to that. Lately I've found that, at least in my local cluster, health food nuttiness is the prime source of arguments. It's not anti-vaccination, it's not even religion. It seems the counter-culture to that sort of thing has put people into "balanced mode" on those topics around here. But when it comes to food, well, wow.
Arguing about "organic" and such is just painful, because the moment I start in on it it turns into me trying to defend a terrible diet. I'm not, I know that people can eat healthier, and I try to make clear I'm simply debating the finer points of what "eating healthy" actually is. Then it moves onto how cows aren't being fed "right", the corn subsidies, and when I finally get to the evidence, the crux of it all, that's when the conspiracies open up. The people at the FDA are just trying to keep their jobs, or are being paid off, or whatever. I bring up that many of these studies are done outside the US entirely or by completely independant groups with overlapping results, but it's like I didn't even say anything. I mean it's like an online poster ignoring your argument entirely, but in real time. In about 5 seconds after I say that, I'm still being called naive and they're STILL bringing up the FDA being conspiracy mongers.
It doesn't help that this appears to be the one spot where the television greats of Colbert and Stewert falter. Just the other night I sat through Colbert interviewing some nut who thinks that we should live on the "cave man diet" because that's what our species "should" be eating, because, and there's that magic word again, it's "natural". Colbert was taking his side in the sarcastic way he does making anti-business jokes the entire time, like that's basically the two forces in the equation. I just wanted to jump into the TV and remind those two that, hey, cavemen didn't live that long, their diet isn't exactly a model of health.
I do have comment moderation turned on, but he still got to post. I think Mr. Markuze is assuming that moderation means you won't allow his comments through.
I did allow it through, but only because I consider a comment from him as a badge of honor.
I meant to link to this bit of Tom Foss ownage earlier, but better late than never.
6 comments:
I suppose this is partially related to that. Lately I've found that, at least in my local cluster, health food nuttiness is the prime source of arguments. It's not anti-vaccination, it's not even religion. It seems the counter-culture to that sort of thing has put people into "balanced mode" on those topics around here. But when it comes to food, well, wow.
Arguing about "organic" and such is just painful, because the moment I start in on it it turns into me trying to defend a terrible diet. I'm not, I know that people can eat healthier, and I try to make clear I'm simply debating the finer points of what "eating healthy" actually is. Then it moves onto how cows aren't being fed "right", the corn subsidies, and when I finally get to the evidence, the crux of it all, that's when the conspiracies open up. The people at the FDA are just trying to keep their jobs, or are being paid off, or whatever. I bring up that many of these studies are done outside the US entirely or by completely independant groups with overlapping results, but it's like I didn't even say anything. I mean it's like an online poster ignoring your argument entirely, but in real time. In about 5 seconds after I say that, I'm still being called naive and they're STILL bringing up the FDA being conspiracy mongers.
It doesn't help that this appears to be the one spot where the television greats of Colbert and Stewert falter. Just the other night I sat through Colbert interviewing some nut who thinks that we should live on the "cave man diet" because that's what our species "should" be eating, because, and there's that magic word again, it's "natural". Colbert was taking his side in the sarcastic way he does making anti-business jokes the entire time, like that's basically the two forces in the equation. I just wanted to jump into the TV and remind those two that, hey, cavemen didn't live that long, their diet isn't exactly a model of health.
Whoops, meant to put this in the "open thread".
add comment moderation to your blasphemy blog, you little fool...
http://forum.amateurscientist.org/forum/index.php?topic=1413.0
And why would I do that?
So he can say you wouldn't let him post.
I do have comment moderation turned on, but he still got to post. I think Mr. Markuze is assuming that moderation means you won't allow his comments through.
I did allow it through, but only because I consider a comment from him as a badge of honor.
Post a Comment