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I'm not sure why it wouldn't be a popular position. There are countless scientific studies demonstrating the efficacy of placebo. The human mind is a powerful t

by warent 7y ago

I'm not sure why it wouldn't be a popular position. There are countless scientific studies demonstrating the efficacy of placebo. The human mind is a powerful thing.

chiefalchemist 7y ago
-3 votes. HN is so predictable sometimes.
- warent 7y ago
  I don't think it's because you're saying placebo is powerful. It's because you're anecdotally suggesting that there's some group of people who think that placebo has no place in science, and then you're connecting that hypothetical group of people to the HN community. The predictability is a good thing I think. If you fart in an elevator, people will predictably be disgusted. It's about social expectations.
  - chiefalchemist 7y ago
    ". It's because you're anecdotally suggesting that there's some group of people who think that placebo has no place in science, " I'm suggesting that __science__ has suggested (to some people) that - despite the science - the placebo has no place in solutions/cures. That science is the only hope. Not only does that subvert placebos, it's self-fulfilling for science. The problem is, science's success rate still comes up shorts. That's not anecdotal.
    - warent 7y ago
      Who exactly are the "people" when you say "to some people?" Specifically what science has suggested that placebo has no place in solutions/cures? Cures for what? Despite what science? What success rate still comes short? Short of what? Success with respect to what? Everything you're saying is completely anecdotal and somewhat difficult to follow, unfortunately. There's nothing wrong with being anecdotal, just acknowledge it and recognize that it's pretty flimsy for any kind of argument, especially generalizations. I often make comments saying "Anecdotally..." And then I provide opinions which are frequently shown to be inaccurate. Nobody downvotes me because I'm not trying to sell my opinions as facts or common sense. If you don't want to be dismissed then provide specific evidence or research.

by warent 7y ago

I'm not sure why it wouldn't be a popular position. There are countless scientific studies demonstrating the efficacy of placebo. The human mind is a powerful thing.

chiefalchemist 7y ago

-3 votes. HN is so predictable sometimes.

warent 7y ago
I don't think it's because you're saying placebo is powerful. It's because you're anecdotally suggesting that there's some group of people who think that placebo has no place in science, and then you're connecting that hypothetical group of people to the HN community. The predictability is a good thing I think. If you fart in an elevator, people will predictably be disgusted. It's about social expectations.
- chiefalchemist 7y ago
  ". It's because you're anecdotally suggesting that there's some group of people who think that placebo has no place in science, " I'm suggesting that __science__ has suggested (to some people) that - despite the science - the placebo has no place in solutions/cures. That science is the only hope. Not only does that subvert placebos, it's self-fulfilling for science. The problem is, science's success rate still comes up shorts. That's not anecdotal.
  - warent 7y ago
    Who exactly are the "people" when you say "to some people?" Specifically what science has suggested that placebo has no place in solutions/cures? Cures for what? Despite what science? What success rate still comes short? Short of what? Success with respect to what? Everything you're saying is completely anecdotal and somewhat difficult to follow, unfortunately. There's nothing wrong with being anecdotal, just acknowledge it and recognize that it's pretty flimsy for any kind of argument, especially generalizations. I often make comments saying "Anecdotally..." And then I provide opinions which are frequently shown to be inaccurate. Nobody downvotes me because I'm not trying to sell my opinions as facts or common sense. If you don't want to be dismissed then provide specific evidence or research.