She Thought » Desiree Schell http://shethought.com women.thinking.critically Thu, 03 May 2012 18:00:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Des Liked: How To Argue With an Alternative Health Proponent, in Twenty One Mind-Numbing Steps http://shethought.com/2010/08/26/des-liked-how-to-argue-with-an-alternative-health-proponent-in-twenty-one-mind-numbing-steps/ http://shethought.com/2010/08/26/des-liked-how-to-argue-with-an-alternative-health-proponent-in-twenty-one-mind-numbing-steps/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:29 +0000 Desiree Schell http://shethought.com/?p=349 Many of us can identify with this situation; you’re arguing with someone online about the efficacy of some alternative health treatment. You could be debating chiropractic, vaccines, or quantum energy healing, but one tactic is often the same; the person you’re chatting politely with suddenly throws down a barrage of links to studies that they

Continue reading Des Liked: How To Argue With an Alternative Health Proponent, in Twenty One Mind-Numbing Steps

]]> Many of us can identify with this situation; you’re arguing with someone online about the efficacy of some alternative health treatment. You could be debating chiropractic, vaccines, or quantum energy healing, but one tactic is often the same; the person you’re chatting politely with suddenly throws down a barrage of links to studies that they claim show that their treatment/product of choice WORKS.

If you’re like me, you sigh, and, if you’re feeling particularly energetic, you post your own list of citations saying exactly the opposite.

Because really, who has the time, or the inclination, or the skills, to look up every single one of those studies and analyze the methodology or the interpretations? Especially when there are not one, not two, but twenty one studies given to support their claim?

Kim Hebert, that’s who. In a serendipitous convergence of the knowledge, tenacity and free time required to research the twenty one papers that Naturopath Bryce Wylde submitted as his favourite studies on homeopathy, Kim has provided a summary of each and every one.

As Mr. Wylde took the time to respond to criticism with a list of citations that are his favourite, I must assume that he intends this list to be persuasive supporting data for homeopathy, if not the best data available. Given that he prides himself on his evidence-based practice and discusses homeopathy in regular media appearances, I expect that if there’s good data to support homeopathy, he would have it. I also expect that Mr. Wylde, in using scientific papers to validate his position, values the scientific method and recognizes that science is not inherently biased against homeopathy or ineffective in evaluating its effects.

Curious about the results? Read the whole post at SkepticNorth.com.

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This post, Des Liked: How To Argue With an Alternative Health Proponent, in Twenty One Mind-Numbing Steps, originally appeared on She Thought on August 26, 2010.
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]]> http://shethought.com/2010/08/26/des-liked-how-to-argue-with-an-alternative-health-proponent-in-twenty-one-mind-numbing-steps/feed/ 8 Des Liked: Zombie Feynman vs The Special Girl Powers http://shethought.com/2010/07/28/des-liked-zombie-feynman-vs-the-special-girl-powers/ http://shethought.com/2010/07/28/des-liked-zombie-feynman-vs-the-special-girl-powers/#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:30:16 +0000 Desiree Schell http://shethought.com/?p=217 For those of you that read Sheril Kirshenbaum’s “Under The Microscope: Feminism, Scientists and Sexiness,” and Alexandra Jellicoe’s response “Is Science Sexist?,” here’s a response to the response.

If there is one lesson from SexyGate (the kerfuffle following Sheril Kirshenbaum’s inclusion on a “sexy scientist” list[1]), it is that actions have consequences, long-range,

Continue reading Des Liked: Zombie Feynman vs The Special Girl Powers

]]> For those of you that read Sheril Kirshenbaum’s “Under The Microscope: Feminism, Scientists and Sexiness,” and Alexandra Jellicoe’s response “Is Science Sexist?,” here’s a response to the response.

If there is one lesson from SexyGate (the kerfuffle following Sheril Kirshenbaum’s inclusion on a “sexy scientist” list[1]), it is that actions have consequences, long-range, important, and potentially ironic consequences, for which you shall be held responsible. Consequences like drawing the attention of the hedonistic proletariat to the “sexy scientist” list and giving many the excuse to consider the potentially related[2] question: “Is science sexist?”

The post discusses the age-old debate about whether there is a rational, masculine way of thinking, and an intuitive, feminine way of thinking, and if so, is the latter inherently incompatible with science?

To read more, head to The Finch and Pea!

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This post, Des Liked: Zombie Feynman vs The Special Girl Powers, originally appeared on She Thought on July 28, 2010.
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