tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post7413000704887512202..comments2023-09-21T04:02:29.457-04:00Comments on Skeptical Scalpel: Squeezing breasts prevents cancer? How the media squeezes sensationalism out of researchSkeptical Scalpelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-26642723533121282822013-10-21T13:53:12.831-04:002013-10-21T13:53:12.831-04:00Good comment. It's all about how many "cl...Good comment. It's all about how many "clicks" one can get on the news outlet's website.Skeptical Scalpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-62129285195709716132013-10-21T13:43:21.903-04:002013-10-21T13:43:21.903-04:00Pseudo science oftentimes seems to trump real scie...Pseudo science oftentimes seems to trump real science with journalists. The criterion for publishing an article is primarily how sensational or controversial it is, not how well the study was done, the study's actual conclusions, how the study ranks versus the other evidence already peer reviewed and published, and the credentials of the research team members. This is pure speculation, no new data was used in the study, or created by the study itself, no empirical evidence is cited to justify the conclusion reached, and no explanation of why the other studies might have been flawed were presented. The public very much needs and is entitled to demand, a corp of qualified, objective, scientist reporters. More often than not, what we see and what we get is someone who happened to take a mid-level science course in college posing as a science reporter. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04026077296763575637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-31161598798641224282013-10-18T09:33:47.200-04:002013-10-18T09:33:47.200-04:00DD, thanks for the comments. The study was interes...DD, thanks for the comments. The study was interesting but not worthy of such extensive media coverage.<br /><br />Anon, I see your point. I wish there was a way we could research this but I don't think it will happen.Skeptical Scalpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-28249491494232087732013-10-17T22:10:09.080-04:002013-10-17T22:10:09.080-04:00I am the one who said that people are not as stupi...I am the one who said that people are not as stupid as they look.<br /><br />I agree that most people are not scientifically literate. However, when presented with headlines that "Squeezing breasts are good" ,or "Swallowing semen is good for women", even the dumbest of the dumb can sense something amiss. People may be stupid, but they do have some vague sense of irony and sarcasm.<br /><br />Yes, you and I are smart. The average IQ is 100 (duh), but since the low ones are sequestered, the average IQ of people on the streets is prob. at least 105. We are commenting on a medical web-site, so we prob have IQ's of 120+.<br /><br />The OP becomes news because it is a joke. Your stupid landscaper isn't going to paw a breast because he convinces a woman that he is preventing breast cancer. Even with his IQ of 100.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-17874451552917783612013-10-17T19:28:38.053-04:002013-10-17T19:28:38.053-04:00Sophomoronic indeed! (<--excellent new word)
Th...Sophomoronic indeed! (<--excellent new word)<br />The downside (to ridiculous headlines) is that a real medical issue (i.e breast cancer) that affects a huge group of people (i.e WOMEN) is made into a joke that objectifies and trivializes female bodies and health. The upside? There isn't one. Just more junk-information floating around and settling in the vapid minds of the chronically, congenitally stupid.<br /><br />And--for the person who said people are NOT as stupid as they look-- Do you not live or work in the USA? Really?<br /><br /> Dr S refers to them as "scientifically challenged" but that is too kind.<br />DDDDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-3253328468217559162013-10-16T08:41:58.113-04:002013-10-16T08:41:58.113-04:00I tend to agree with the commenters who think that...I tend to agree with the commenters who think that some people will take the reports about the research seriously. Many don't even read what's on the Internet. They see the headline and believe it. I have had a number of Twitter followers respond to links I've tweeted with comments that indicate they didn't read the article.Skeptical Scalpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13206922456661320751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-49781361336894586332013-10-16T04:25:15.012-04:002013-10-16T04:25:15.012-04:00I think that is why suckling women and married wom...I think that is why suckling women and married women are more protected than single or those who avoid breast feedings...If we use everything in the way it was made for we will be protected....I think!!!Dr. Naji Abdel Samadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-62916445166625853372013-10-15T12:51:18.663-04:002013-10-15T12:51:18.663-04:00Excellent blog and entry! :DExcellent blog and entry! :DRoberto Pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05802387444712759629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-74994406936710553452013-10-15T11:57:38.848-04:002013-10-15T11:57:38.848-04:00Yes they are!Yes they are!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-11372540313697455382013-10-15T10:48:25.435-04:002013-10-15T10:48:25.435-04:00Anon 2, I disagree. Lots of people don't get t...Anon 2, I disagree. Lots of people don't get the joke and will take it reasonably seriously. <br /><br />Some people actually are just as stupid as they look, or even more so. Many people at every level of intelligence do not critically analyze most of what crosses their path.Hennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06909051603602725365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-22917627582419100452013-10-15T10:45:38.284-04:002013-10-15T10:45:38.284-04:00@Anonymous
Actually, they are. It appears you...@Anonymous<br /><br />Actually, they are. It appears you've been fortunate enough to avoid them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-42423711952254863152013-10-14T23:18:24.345-04:002013-10-14T23:18:24.345-04:00No one (even the mildly retarded denizens of Appal... No one (even the mildly retarded denizens of Appalachia) actually thinks that squeezing breasts does anything for cancer. They all get the joke.<br /><br />This is along the lines of a "study" a few years ago that swallowing semen is good for women. A lot of collegiate-level laughs followed, but no one really believed it. <br /><br />People are not as stupid as they look.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-21961306763056384222013-10-14T22:16:59.222-04:002013-10-14T22:16:59.222-04:00We're going to have to redefine molestation.
...We're going to have to redefine molestation. <br /><br />Randy teen about to be arrested: "No, no, officer, you've got it all wrong. My motive was purely concern over her physical wellbeing."Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05940690276889484399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4968787219619380438.post-77986396302567863082013-10-14T21:13:31.084-04:002013-10-14T21:13:31.084-04:00Don't tell the Boy Scouts: http://www.theonion...Don't tell the Boy Scouts: http://www.theonion.com/video/12yearold-boy-scouts-volunteer-to-give-women-breas,14276/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com