At what point does the scientific community realize that the current surge in patent medicines and nonsense medical devices are seriously eroding the nation's confidence in science? This is not directly related to ecology, but ecology is science and if people misuse science to sell products that are medically irrelevant it certainly must affect all science.
For example, if the average person sees a supposed physician on TV parading products that "absorb fat out of your body" or send "magnetic impulses into your joints" or provide the "healing effects of light", he/she does not necessarily recognize the difference between commercial claims and scientific ones. Further, if that person is suckered in to buy this sucker bait, he/she is certain to find, once any placebo affect passes, that it is shear snake oil. Consequently, these folks see these advertisements with supposed nutritionists, phds, MDs, etc. and learn not to believe what they say. Along comes a scientist claiming extraordinary changes such as climate change, ozone layer issues, problems with pollution, and endangered species...on TV, even in commercials. Why should they believe them? It looks and smells just like that snake oil aunt Martha bought off TV that did nothing but moisten her skin. Does anyone else see that a deeper problem exists here? These products are much more harmful that simply misleading people, they are more than simply false advertising, they really should not be allowed to make the extraordinary claims that they do. Some of the products are harmless, some are dangerous simply in the fact that folks choose to depend on these prior to seeking real medical advice, but all have a serious potential to erode the general public's view of the scientific community. -- Malcolm L. McCallum Associate Professor of Biology Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology Texas A&M University-Texarkana Fall Teaching Schedule: Vertebrate Biology - TR 10-11:40; General Ecology - MW 1-2:40pm; Forensic Science - W 6-9:40pm Office Hourse- TBA 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.