Making One’s Own Reality – Food Babe Edition ... by Steven Novella, MD

[HuckleB]

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/making-ones-own-reality-food-babe-edition/

The default mode of human activity is to construct our own internal model of reality based upon our desires, biases, flawed perceptions, memories, and reasoning, and received narratives from the culture in which we live. That model of reality is then reinforced by confirmation bias and jealously defended.

But we also have the capacity to transcend this pathway of least resistance. Philosophy is the discipline of thinking carefully and systematically about ideas to see if they at least are internally consistent. Science is the discipline of systematically and carefully comparing our internal models of reality against objective reality, and then changing those models to suit the evidence.

...

The culture war continues. The Food Babe and others are attempting to distort the process of science in order to promote their alternative world view. Part of the strategy is to dismiss and discredit scientists who know enough to level devastating criticism at their particular brand of nonsense.

...

However, we need to engage all the more because of popular nonsense like that peddled by self-proclaimed but entirely incompetent “experts.”

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A very good read on a topic of increasing importance. It's worth digging in to the whole thing, and it's not that long.

[SidDithers]

1. DU rec...

The Food Babe doesn't know her ass from her elbow.

Sid

[HuckleB]

11. Thank you. You are correct.

[MineralMan]

2. Self-appointed food "experts" on the Internet

do a disservice to people. And yet, we see this inaccurate, biased information everywhere. That's not to say that food manufacturers are always completely honest and forthcoming, but the amount of misinformation and food fad promotion on the web is shocking. Figuring out what is correct and what is bullshit is extremely difficult, so most people don't bother and just take whatever they read as factual. Big mistake.

[HuckleB]

6. Unfortunately, many DUers mimic her tactics, as well.

[Orrex]

3. Hey, is this where we're having the shill meeting this month?

My smartphone was damaged by GMO foods, so I haven't been able to check my planner.


k/r!

[NuclearDem]

8. You mean you missed our Monsanto getaway?

It was so much fun too. We got to play around with the Bill Nye Brainwasher 5000, walked around the city kicking poor people and had the freshest cooked babies for lunch (the farmers' tears really add spice!).

[Basic LA]

4. Skeptics Guide to the Universe.

I've enjoyed the SGU podcast with Dr Novella & gang for years, & recommend it to all.

[longship]

7. Yup!

What is amazing is that it has been going for nearly a decade and has not missed a single week in many years. It is also totally unscripted, which would not be so good were it not for Steve's steady hand in moderation and postproduction. The guy is more than astounding.

Plus, then you have Bob, Jay, and Evan -- sadly Rebecca has stepped aside. It is over an hour of delightful geeky entertainment, available every single weekend.

R&K

[PasadenaTrudy]

5. Ugh!

I try to pretend this woman and her ideas don't exist

[HuckleB]

9. Her ugly attacks against good scientists are beyond the pale.

[HuckleB]

10. If I Were a Food Activist ............ By Nurse Loves Farmer

http://www.nurselovesfarmer.com/2014/11/food-activist/

"...

If I were a food activist, I could share statistics and studies without providing accurate sources (or any at all!).

If I were a food activist, I could demand honesty and transparency and not give the same in return.

If I were a food activist, I could not care about a farmer’s right to choose how they farm and petition to take away their choices.

If I were a food activist, I could act like an expert but have no actual experience or knowledge in agriculture, nutrition or biotechnology.

..."