Unpopular Science 240803
Misinformation and links (for trusted subscribers only)
Here’s my rule of thumb: Don’t accuse a group of people of being deceived or misinformed unless you can explain why you are not fooled. Corollary: don’t trust those who promote a policy intended to combat misinformation unless they advocate that same policy for themselves. There is a fine line between advocacy on behalf of others and the self-deception that comes from arrogantly thinking you’re immune.
A business colleague recently remarked, offhandedly, that he knew a “very smart guy” who was fooled into thinking that a tablespoon of turmeric can prevent colds. He was using this as an example for how sometimes even smart people can be fooled into believing something ridiculous.
I know nothing about turmeric, so I have no way to judge whether the claim is correct or not. I doubt my colleague knows much either. So how do we know that the “very smart guy” is wrong?
I’m sure the “smart guy” has studied the matter far more than any of us. I bet he can easily refute any counter-claims. To get to the bottom of the issue, I’d need to spend more time and energy than I have—and frankly, the whole thing isn’t interesting enough to me to justify the trouble.
Meanwhile, I’ve been involved in enough of these arguments to know that the turmeric believer won’t change his mind. Any “evidence” will meet with further counter-evidence. Even if he caught a cold, despite all his turmeric evidence, he would have an explanation. “The turmeric came from the bottom of the jar and had lost its potency”, “I took it after breakfast instead of first thing in the morning”, etc. etc.
