Boondock
Senior Member
- Reaction score
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So after rofling pretty hard at the white flour causing male pattern baldness thread, I thought I'd post a few words to comment on these sorts of wild and wacky ideas.
It seems that male pattern baldness is an area where people are willing to put faith in anything, if they think it'll help. Hair loss is such a ball-ache, and current therapies have such problems for so many, that finding an easy solution is a real attraction.
But the lack of scepticism with which people take these theories on-board is just crazy sometimes. So, for the record, here are Boondock's top 5 tips on not being an idiot when it comes to science.
1. Anecdote is not evidence. Humans seem wired to believe stories over dry facts. They're just more compelling to us. Nevertheless, just because "my mate said this works", does not mean there is any validity in their claims.
2. A collection of anecdotes is still not evidence. Most people are able to overcome the above, and yet still seem to fall for the idea that, if they hear "lots of stories" about something working, it must be true. This is how folk remedies used to be spread hundreds of years ago. Needless to say, it didn't make rubbing stinging nettles up your arsehole any more effective for people's piles.
3. Just because you "felt it yourself", does not mean it works. Even if they overcome the first two points, some people believe that if they notice something themselves - with their own eyes! - it must be true. This couldn't be further from the truth. As medical science exposed decades ago, we are our own worst judges when it comes to symptoms. This includres noticing hair fallout, scalp itchiness, or even experiencing side-effects. We have such poor memories, are so subseptible to suggestion and the placebo effect, that "I saw it happen myself" is in effect quite a meaningless statement a lot of the time.
4. "Herbs are good, drugs are bad." There seems to be a perception that the alternative medicine industry is somehow virtuous, while "Big Pharma" is out to get us. Don't get me wrong: pharmaceutical companies are no saints. But neither are a lot of alternative health firms, as numerous cases have exposed. The only difference between the two is that Big Pharma operates in a strict regulatory framework, while alternative medicine doesn't. By all means be sceptical of traditional medications, but for God's sake don't let your guard down when dealing with herbs and potions. Last week I saw someone post in this board about a study claiming Vitamin E worked for hair loss, and considering going out to buy some. The study was written by the Vitamin E manufacturer!
5. "It's worth a try, right?" Believe it or not, not all treatments are "worth a try." Apart from the question of why it's worth trying something with no evidence, you stand to lose a) money, b) time, while you delay stronger treatments, and c) possibly your health, given the unintended knock-on effects certain alternative remedies can have.
Always keep this stuff in mind when you're reading or researching hair loss therapies. If you smell a rat, it's probably time to scarper.
It seems that male pattern baldness is an area where people are willing to put faith in anything, if they think it'll help. Hair loss is such a ball-ache, and current therapies have such problems for so many, that finding an easy solution is a real attraction.
But the lack of scepticism with which people take these theories on-board is just crazy sometimes. So, for the record, here are Boondock's top 5 tips on not being an idiot when it comes to science.
1. Anecdote is not evidence. Humans seem wired to believe stories over dry facts. They're just more compelling to us. Nevertheless, just because "my mate said this works", does not mean there is any validity in their claims.
2. A collection of anecdotes is still not evidence. Most people are able to overcome the above, and yet still seem to fall for the idea that, if they hear "lots of stories" about something working, it must be true. This is how folk remedies used to be spread hundreds of years ago. Needless to say, it didn't make rubbing stinging nettles up your arsehole any more effective for people's piles.
3. Just because you "felt it yourself", does not mean it works. Even if they overcome the first two points, some people believe that if they notice something themselves - with their own eyes! - it must be true. This couldn't be further from the truth. As medical science exposed decades ago, we are our own worst judges when it comes to symptoms. This includres noticing hair fallout, scalp itchiness, or even experiencing side-effects. We have such poor memories, are so subseptible to suggestion and the placebo effect, that "I saw it happen myself" is in effect quite a meaningless statement a lot of the time.
4. "Herbs are good, drugs are bad." There seems to be a perception that the alternative medicine industry is somehow virtuous, while "Big Pharma" is out to get us. Don't get me wrong: pharmaceutical companies are no saints. But neither are a lot of alternative health firms, as numerous cases have exposed. The only difference between the two is that Big Pharma operates in a strict regulatory framework, while alternative medicine doesn't. By all means be sceptical of traditional medications, but for God's sake don't let your guard down when dealing with herbs and potions. Last week I saw someone post in this board about a study claiming Vitamin E worked for hair loss, and considering going out to buy some. The study was written by the Vitamin E manufacturer!
5. "It's worth a try, right?" Believe it or not, not all treatments are "worth a try." Apart from the question of why it's worth trying something with no evidence, you stand to lose a) money, b) time, while you delay stronger treatments, and c) possibly your health, given the unintended knock-on effects certain alternative remedies can have.
Always keep this stuff in mind when you're reading or researching hair loss therapies. If you smell a rat, it's probably time to scarper.