How much Junk Science have you bought in to?

Question

For those who don't know what Junk Science is

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_science

Answer 1

Junk science is like junk food. It's quick and not good for you as a steady diet. Junk science is way more expensive because it costs a lot to kill it. My favorites: Global warming, second-hand smoke and the spotted owl as endangered species if we cut down the old-growth forest.

Unfortunately, if you want to get support for something, just stir up a batch of junk science, tell people that some species, or some people, or the whole human race is in danger of extinction and you can whip up a bunch of support. Things like that tend to have a long shelf life because it takes time and money to refute them.

Have I bought into any? No.

Answer 2

I've bought into junk science like evolution, global warming, that pollution is bad & stem cell research is good. I don't buy into WMD's in Iraq, that Iraq was behind 9-11, creationism, the bible, the Patriot Act or the theory that every nation in the world craves democracy or christianity.

Answer 3

The extreme examples of junk science are creationists, intelligent design proponents, animal rights activists who murder scientists who experiment on animals, anti-abortionists who murder doctors who carry out abortions and that Aum Shinryu cult in Japan which poured Sarin into the Tokyo subway and killed people. Some of these nutters are highly-qualified scientists. I hope, and believe, that I haven't bought into any junk science. But thanks for reminding me that we've all got to be vigilant. The atheist Soviet Union placed high value on scientific education, but Russia was and is full of religious and superstitious nuts, Studying science helps to prevent you becoming a cult member, a religious nut or a victim of quack doctors, but it isn't 100% effective.

Answer 4

I don't quite understand what you mean by "junk science"?

Is this referring to ridiculous theories with very little evidence (alien conspiracy theories) or are you just classifying science in general as "junk"?

If it's the first case, then I can't say that I've bought into any "junk science"

Answer 5

I have not bought into global warming yet, sooooo none.