Back off man, I'm a scientist!
Jan. 30th, 2007 04:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dionysus1999The genesis of an urban myth.
A couple of my friends have posted a link to an alleged "cancer cure". Now, if I was to tell you that you can't believe it because it was published in the "New Scientist", you would be right in accusing me of an Ad Hominem attack. Just because it's published online doesn't mean its not true.
However. If there was a big new cancer cure, do you really think New Scientist would be the one to get the scoop?
Further evidence to consider:
This is a link to a search on snopes.com for articles that reference New Scientist. They turn up 13 times! Snopes, for those of you who have recently upgraded from their Timex/Sinclair, is a wonderful website that is dedicated to debunking urban myths. Turn to this site when you're feeling baffled by bullshit. It won't steer you wrong, unlike the New Scientist.
Ever notice that sometimes when people tack on the word "new", it actually means "not"?
Now, even with all this, I still hope New Scientist got the story right. It would certainly be great if a low cost drug was the cure to cancer. I have a feeling your average oncologist would be giggling by now, though.
A couple of my friends have posted a link to an alleged "cancer cure". Now, if I was to tell you that you can't believe it because it was published in the "New Scientist", you would be right in accusing me of an Ad Hominem attack. Just because it's published online doesn't mean its not true.
However. If there was a big new cancer cure, do you really think New Scientist would be the one to get the scoop?
Further evidence to consider:
This is a link to a search on snopes.com for articles that reference New Scientist. They turn up 13 times! Snopes, for those of you who have recently upgraded from their Timex/Sinclair, is a wonderful website that is dedicated to debunking urban myths. Turn to this site when you're feeling baffled by bullshit. It won't steer you wrong, unlike the New Scientist.
Ever notice that sometimes when people tack on the word "new", it actually means "not"?
Now, even with all this, I still hope New Scientist got the story right. It would certainly be great if a low cost drug was the cure to cancer. I have a feeling your average oncologist would be giggling by now, though.
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no subject
Date: 2007-02-06 03:06 pm (UTC)