Cornershop Woo
06May. 09
There’s a vast wealth and array of articles, podcasts and videos out there for the discerning skeptic and so much of it seems to take place in other countries and societies. We’ve all seen footage of ranting evangelists and conspiracy theorists in the whacky US, mind-numbing and snooze-worth arguments from C of E bishops in the UK and riots in the Netherlands. And it’s usually at that point that we remember that we’re lucky enough to live in the relaxed and secular Great Southern Land.
Ahhhh.…kick back and enjoy the sunset. Just ignore the undercurrents of racial tension.
So, it comes as something of a shock when you stumble across Woo on your very doorstep. In fact, it’s so strange that all those well-crafted skepictal arguments can leave in you in an instant, leaving only bewildered, silent politeness in its wake. At least, that’s what happened to me recently.
The first time was when I went to get some deep tissue massage — I’d cricked my neck and was also under a lot of stress at work, so the idea of someone paying my battered muscles some attention sounded just the ticket. The therapist was very nice and all was going well until she asked how I felt about crystals. I just couldn’t say the first thing which came to mind, which went something like, “I feel just great about them! We’re both carbon-based lifeforms and I instantly feel the kinship between us. In fact, if you wouldn’t mind also dressing up as a chicken and speaking in Tongues for the rest of the session, I can’t help but feel that my life will be vastly improved.”
What I actually said was, “Um, no thanks”. I couldn’t be rude.…I just couldn’t do it. She was so optimistic and cheerful and trying to help…it would have felt akin to concreting over orchids.
The second time was when I went to the chemist to get something to help break a cycle of bad sleep. The assistant seemed reluctant to give me anything over the counter (although in the end she did) but then she said “Of course, you could look at these homeopathic treatments. My husband uses them and they work for him.”
What the? This, in a normal, everyday chemist packed to the rafters with packets of good ‘ol Western medicine! The offer of homeopathy AND the personal testimonial as evidence! This time, I had the presence of mind to at least ask what the active ingredients were (yeah, right…“active”) — she showed me the box and apparently it contained a wide variety of assorted goodies at concentrations ranging from 4C right to the magical 30C. Again, I didn’t do what I felt obliged to do, which was throw the packet to the ground, grind it into the carpet and laugh maniacally in her face. I didn’t do it because again, she was just trying to help, and it wasn’t her fault that the products were on the shelves. In theory it was the chemist’s fault, but then again homeopathy sells and every business owner wants to stay in business, so can you blame them?
Well, yes I think you can. The therapist and the assistant weren’t actively harming any one, but by taking the approach they did they were just as guilty of promoting ignorance as the most callous and grasping faith healer. But there’s another aspect to the problem, which is that many of us (at least, definitely me) are too polite to say anything. It feels mean-spirited and confrontational, and the last thing you really want when you wander into the chemist is a debate on alternative medicine. But, it’s probably necessary. In a firm but gentle way I should have told the massage therapist that there’s no proof that crystals do anything other than just sit there (actually, she told me herself you “have to believe in them”.…why, are they low in self-esteem?) and I should have told the chemist’s assistance that there’s no scientific proof that homeopathic remedies have any beneficial effect.
It doesn’t have to be confrontational, but it does have to be said. And we all have a responsibility to do so.
May 6th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Too true — I recently heard a story of a massage therapist who was offended by a customer who refused her repeated offers of a palm reading. She had actually spontaneously started palm reading during the massage (“ooh, I can see you have a long life-line etc”), and was upset when the customer closed her hands and sat on them!
May 6th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
So much for the image of Aussies as being rough, tough and rude … to me it seems like there’s actually a taboo on disagreeing with people. Don’t create a scene! If you don’t agree with someone you should have the good grace to make some neutral comment and move on. Who knows, the slightest comment might upset someone, and we can’t have that! You’d look like a freak.
I’ve even seen Skeptics struggle to break out of that taboo. Went to a talk a few years ago and no-one challenged the speaker, but afterwards chatting with people, lots of them disagreed. We’re only human.
I guess it’s the Aussie way — you’re un-Australian if you care about anything too much — unless it’s football or cars. You’re supposed to be all like “whatever…”
I hope it’s just Australians, but I fear it’s part of the tide of neo-political correctness.
“Hey — no-one’s wrong! Everyone’s right! We each have our own Truth”
May 6th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
There’s a CAM shop (woo shop) near me, that has a sign out the front advertising something called “Quantum Biofeedback Digital Health Analysis”. I don’t even want to know what that is.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:46 am
I have no problem telling a quack ‘chemist’ who recommends homeopathic that .…
I’ve always like sympathetic magic for treating health problems, in fact I’m reading Harry potter right now to try to understand how to get my wand to work.
Then walking away. I don’t bother to do so in ‘healthfood stores’ as they have been basic woo masters for some time,
May 7th, 2009 at 9:50 am
What qualification does a chemist need? Apparently it’s not enough. If it’s at the point where the customer needs to tell them what works and what doesn’t, something isn’t right.
May 7th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I remember an article in The Age a couple of years ago about how Chemists were “correcting” perscriptions brought to them — ie deciding that the doctor’s diagnosis was wrong and to give the patient something different. (Not just a “generic” alternative).
May 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am
I have had a recent problem at work where the training office emailed around some courses on Reflexology. I wrote a full page email response and then decided that it was a waste of time.
May 10th, 2009 at 1:59 am
Pseudo-scientific remedies shouldn’t be sold at pharmacies. They should be reserved for crackpot “health” shops. Pharmacists are recognised as trained medical professionals, and we associate the products they sell with that professionalism. For the average consumer, it is very misleading.
On another point, it’s been argued by some that we Australians have been conformists since our convict days, which is part of the reason we’re so scared of tall poppies and anyone who is vaguely different. Then again, people of every country are suspicious of difference.