Fresh off the heels of promoting counterknowledge themselves, the Daily Telegraph today lambasted celebrities for “promoting fads” (i.e., counterknowledge).
Their condemnation followed a report by the charity Sense About Science, who are concerned that “public figures may confuse people with endorsements for products or theories based on poor understanding of the science involved”.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s assertion that eating properly helps you to avoid cancer is perhaps the most objectionable remark made, but plenty of other celebrities came under the microscope.Our old friend “Dr.” Gillian McKeith’s remedy for joint pain was called “totally unjustified” by a professor of nutritional medicine. Dr. Gary Moss, a pharmacologist, condemned Stella McCartney’s crazy ideas about skincare as having “no evidence whatsoever”. Even busty property guru Sarah Beeny was fingered for her suggestion that some make-up is “chemical-free”.
Nintendo’s Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training computer game, despite its numerous celebrity endorsements, was questioned by Dr. Jason Braithwaite, a neuroscientist at the University of Birmingham: ”There is no conclusive evidence that the continued use of these devices is linked to any measurable improvement in cognition.”
But according to Sense About Science, fewer gaffes were made by celebrities this year than last - you can read the report here. Dare we dream the tide is turning?
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3 responses
Paltrow is the celebrity that came to an awards event with circular bruises (hematomas) across her back. She had undergone a “cupping” procedure to “remove toxins from her body.” (Heated glass cups are pressed against the skin causing a suction to form under the glass as it cools, breaking the surface blood vessels) Not only does your body have tons of mechanisms to do this on its own, but this idea was popular around 13-1400 AD. Quackery seems to endure, and even those with more money than common sense (or an understanding of biology) will engage in the stupidest things. If they want to engage in this kind of nonsense, and are that dumb to believe that it is doing anything good, let them toss their money and any appearance of intelligence down the toilet… but we certainly do not need her, or other celebs promoting this nonsense.
“Gwyneth Paltrow’s assertion that eating properly helps you to avoid cancer is perhaps the most objectionable remark made,”
Why? - there is ample scientific evidence that a healthy diet helps prevent around a quarter of cancers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2235192,00.html
‘Sense about Science’ are a Living Marxism spin-off with an axe to grind - sure they point out some celebrity silliness - but they themselves deserve a little critical examination:
http://badscience.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3984
Their allies at Spiked/Marxism are only interested in the aspects of science that are consistent with their political ideology of course.
Dear Dean,
Thanks for giving me the heads up! My endorsement of/agreement with them was limited, of course, to their concern that “public figures may confuse people with endorsements for products or theories based on poor understanding of the science involved”.
Let’s take that statement at face value: I’m sure neither of us would disagree with it. There can be no doubt that celebrities come out with an awful lot of pseudo-scientific claptrap - much of it pernicious, since it undermines the public’s understanding of science and medicine.
As for cancer, here’s the actual text:
Paltrow: “I am challenging these evil genes by natural means. I am convinced that by eating biological foods it is possible to avoid tumours.”
Ursula Arens (dietician): “Diet cannot prevent cancer. The risks of some of them can be reduced with certain diets, but some cancers, alas, show no link to dietary factors.”
The problem - perhaps I didn’t make it clear - is that Paltrow’s remarks imply that ALL cancers can be avoided by eating “biological foods” (whatever the hell they are - does she mean “organic”?).
With best wishes,
Milo