https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j Paranormal and Pseudoscience Padlet for Assignment 1 en-us 2023-05-04 22:46:11 UTC 2023-05-12 23:03:37 UTC hello@padlet.com chrissy_pseudoscience https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578888367 Christina Jackson and Christian Weersink]]> 2023-05-04 22:50:26 UTC https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578888367 chrissy_pseudoscience https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578897537 Definition:
A Red Herring is an attempt at a distraction where an irrelevant point is wedged into the details of a topic being talked about. This draws attention away from the intended subject, and may be either intentional or unintentional.

Connection:
In this video former US President, Donald Trump is arguing with a reporter about immigration. The reporter asks a question about a caravan and asks why Trump is demonizing them. Trump then instantly deflects the question by talking about proper immigration rules and saying "we need immigrants to come in legally" when that was not the focus of the reporters question. Donald Trump effectively uses a red herring so he doesn't have to directly answer the question about demonizing the small caravan in question. He continuously interrupts the reporter with diversions from the questions being asked.

]]> 2023-05-04 23:10:58 UTC https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578897537 chrissy_pseudoscience https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578897766 Definition:
The All Natural red flag appeals to people by convincing them that having only naturally occurring ingredients is better for them when in reality, some naturally occurring things can be dangerous.

Connection:
In this article, a man claims that drinking urine is a natural 'cure-all'. This is an extreme example of an "all natural" red flag. The man in the article says that he uses urine to soak his feet and even his eyes in. Anyone using critical thinking could see how this is not true, not to mention disgusting. Just because this solution is "all natural" does not mean it is healthy or even has any positive benefits. The article also mentions that this man is selling a course on his urine therapy which is another red flag, involving money. Some people might fall for this because of the appeal to an all natural solution which is easy for them to access.]]> 2023-05-04 23:11:26 UTC https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578897766 chrissy_pseudoscience https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578898161 Definition:
When someone actively seeks out evidence that matches up with a claim they made or strongly believe in. Information can be skewed and manipulated to align better with their views and opinions.

Connection:
In this article, there are several examples of confirmation bias. The writer seems to think that just because people have made correct predictions in the past, their astrology beliefs are true. In the first example, Nikola Tesla predicted that it will soon be possible to transmit wireless messages all around the world. This prediction was made in 1909, so it is quite a stretch to say that his prediction came true within the designated timeframe of "soon". The user was clearly trying to use this example to confirm their beliefs in astrology without applying critical thinking. Their reason for belief may be their inquisitive nature since they are looking for connections where none exist.]]> 2023-05-04 23:12:22 UTC https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578898161 chrissy_pseudoscience https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578898516 Definition: 
Appeal to authority is the red flag in which people are more inclined to believe something from an authoritative figure, such as an influencer, or an important looking figure.

Connection:
In this YouTube short, Joe Rogan is advertising his product called AlphaBrain. In this advertisement, he uses at least two red flags. The first flag being proof by verbosity, where he uses technical terms and jargon to make his product sound more impressive. This advertisement also has the appeal to authority red flag and it is used multiple times. Since Joe Rogan hosts one of the largest podcasts in the world, some people may be more inclined to take the things he says at face value, without any critical thought or further research. This can be dangerous when he simply dismisses any claims that this may be snake oil or a bad product. Appeal to authority is also used when Joe cites a test that he funded with the Boston Center for Memory, trying to give his product more appeal even though it is not FDA approved as a memory enhancing supplement.]]> 2023-05-04 23:13:12 UTC https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578898516 chrissy_pseudoscience https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578898948 Definition:
The belief that some people have that they can control "energy fields" to heal people without proper medicine.

Connection:
This website claims that they can use mystical energy to heal physical and emotional ailments. It also claims that energy fields can be used to heal emotional trauma. It says that these energy fields are harmless and have no negative side effects. With any critical thinking or skepticism, it is clear that none of these claims are backed up by science and are not really effective. It can also be noted that the website claims these healing techniques are harmless, but they also charge for the service that essentially does nothing and therefore is harmful to the client's finances.]]> 2023-05-04 23:14:10 UTC https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578898948 chrissy_pseudoscience https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578905560 Definition:
We tend to believe what we hear even if it may not be true because the unexplained is more interesting and enticing than what we already have the answers for. 

Connection:
This article describes thirteen very common superstitions that many people believe in. These superstitions, such as crossing paths with a black cat being bad luck, are things that are so commonly believed that we wouldn't think twice about someone changing their route just because of a cat. The reason so many people believe in these superstitions is that these offer solutions for any "bad luck" someone may encounter. There is also the fear of the unknown for some superstitions, such as walking under a ladder. The fear of "something bad" happening is enough for most people to avoid a path with a ladder without a proper explanation of what might happen to them. People also like to believe in things that may bring them good luck, like crossing their fingers. Some people think that by crossing their fingers some unknown force will improve their luck. Of course, none of these superstitions actually ever amount to anything, aside from perhaps breaking a mirror which creates a dangerous mess! ]]> 2023-05-04 23:28:13 UTC https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578905560 chrissy_pseudoscience https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578905941 Definition:
Sometimes we are not able to critically think about the situations around us. We believe things that are too good to be true because we cannot analyze them from a non-biased perspective. Sometimes, we distrust experts with real, lived experiences, and turn towards the unknown. If we all took the time to understand the critical thinking process, we could look at the conditions around us without rose-tinted glasses.

Connection:
This website tries to explain what type of crystal is supposed to be able to cure specific ailments. The first crystal, amethyst, claims to be able to heal aches and pains. People who lack the tools for critical thinking are more likely to believe in nonsense like this. Using proper analysis, it may be clear to most people that crystals cannot possibly cure things such as headaches, heart problems, depression, or even skeletal issues like this article claims, but people who are not able to analyze these things properly will believe in this. This article also uses a lot of vague ailments that are not very easy to measure like "energy levels" and motivation which may trick less skeptical people into thinking that these crystal are actually working for them. ]]> 2023-05-04 23:29:03 UTC https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578905941 chrissy_pseudoscience https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578906332 Definition:
Picture this: You are told you have an illness that will stick with you forever. It can be managed, but you need to go for tests every 4 months, take a ton of medication, and you have to cut down on sugars, coffee, and strenuous exercise. That could be a huge lifestyle change, with a lot of added stress. Now, if someone said they could manage your illness with just one "health-conscious" smoothie a day, which would you be more willing to handle?
Probably the simple answer, the smoothie. Sometimes, even without true scientific backing, we look for those "simple" solutions, and believe in them because we want them to be true. 

Connection:
This New York Times article describes the story of a family in Florida selling a "cure-all" to the general public. This family marketed their miracle cure as something that could cure tons of things such as covid-19, Alzheimer's disease and autism. These people sold over a million dollars worth of product, which turned out to be toxic bleach. This family is extremely cruel, preying on people's desire for simple answers. The reason so many people were able to fall for this scam is that when faced with a critical situation, like dealing with a family member who has an incurable disease, it is very easy to believe such a simple product can fix anything. People want a quick fix for complex problems and unfortunately, that is not how the world works.]]> 2023-05-04 23:29:48 UTC https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578906332 chrissy_pseudoscience https://padlet.com/chrissy_pseudoscience/1li2ewkixmafy54j/wish/2578906649 We will be critically examining the Mystical Energy red flag example from earlier in this Padlet.

Problem:
The problems that are claimed to be "fixed" by energy healing are both physical and emotional ailments: chronic pain, emotional pain, sickness.

Gather Information:
The website this is from is a private practice offering this energy healing service. Having and promoting a positive outlook on the service would be beneficial to their business. There is only one viewpoint on energy healing stated and it is overwhelmingly positive.

Evaluate Evidence:
The website claims that the energy healing is based on scientific fact but has no actual evidence pointing to this.
Ironically, in the first sentence, the author notes that energy healing is based in pseudo-science. It doesn't look like the scientific method has been followed, as there is no real proof listed anywhere on the website.

Assumptions, Biases, and Emotions:
The author has a large bias as they are writing the article for a website promoting its services. Emotionally, they seem to be very invested in the practice.

Synthesize Evidence, Identify Alternatives:
The evidence provided is planted in the confirmation bias red flag. There are no scientific articles or studies shown. The author claims that the energy healing is painless, which seems to be true. The alternatives to energy healing are over-the-counter pain relief, such as Advil or Tylenol, seeing a medical doctor for tests, a physiotherapist for rehab, or a psychologist for emotional wounds.

Best Alternative:
Besides hurting their wallet, this energy healing doesn't seem to have any big negative effects. It may not work like a miracle cure, but the placebo effect is a well-known phenomenon. Ideally, if you are dealing with physical or emotional pain, you should see a certified medical doctor, or a therapist. They have the proper, science-backed tools to help you.

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