BBC digital human podcast on snakeoil -

[desquinn]

BBC digital human podcast on snakeoil - shows the origins of this false information and how it is being used now. - snippet: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p071q...

Stories from debunkers, previous naturopath and the history of snake oil.

A very good read for anyone interested in science and medicine. Should not have been surprised at the explanation of the techniques being used to manipulate you socially or psychologically as well as taking advantage of social media algorithms.

[bobbybobb]

Very enjoyable. It conjured up images of the wild west and the Quack with his rattling potion bottles, one spoon cures all. The scary thing is, we still have them on the internet, hood winking anyone who will listen. It's good that the legitimate stuff is coming up along side the quackery in the search engines. It went into how the internet is used as an echo chamber and the power of persuasion theories. All very interesting stuff.

[Jenny57]

Thanks Des..... having kept many non-venomous snakes for years, I think it is good that this sort of thing is accessible to help combat all the cr*p that is out there on this type of subject.

[Mdaisy in reply to Jenny57]

Just wondered if you understand ‘snakeoil’ Is a term used to describe treatments that offer amazing miraculous cures etc that vulnerable people often believe paying lots of money from product that turns out to be useless. It therefore doesn’t really have anything to do with real snakes as such You may know this already but thought I’d explain for all members reading the thread.

All the best

Emma

[Jenny57 in reply to Mdaisy]

Yes, Emma, I did - but I did actually have someone e-mail me once on a different, un related to snakes forum about getting some 'snake oil' for scars she had after I'd made a comment of having spent the whole afternoon cleaning out 20 of their viv's…. roflmao! I nearly wet myself when I read it.

[RayB]

Even more intresting is the book FREE sheeppee.wordpress.com/2011... Mr mullins wanted his lifes work to be freely available after his death he thought it so important. You will learn alot about the origins and extent of snake oil in that book,, I garuntee you will not put it down!

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to RayB]

sorry RayB , but I do not think this can be considered a good source. The author has some very distasteful views but also the book in question appears to be a promoter of pseudoscience and quackery. Not read it myself I should disclose and don't think I will.

found this: rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eusta...

[RayB]

As you say desquinn, you have not read it yourself!

It is however very enlightening when it comes to snakeoil.

It is sad that many people seem content to get get their information from wiki.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

my rationale for not reading it previously was that I knew he was a holocaust denier, anti semite and generally known for being a conspiracy theorist. rationalwiki is a good source I have used before but there are others. I have also not read "Adolf Hitler: An Appreciation."