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The SollyLama
Skeptic Friend
USA
234 Posts |
 Posted - 08/27/2002 : 09:54:45
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I was up early today and got to see an hour long infomercial for the Q-Ray bracelet. It was more entertaining that anyhting else on.
It's not even a magnetic bracelet! Cheap bastards didn't even spring for magnets. No no, it's 'ionized' or some sillyness. In other words- plain metal bracelet selling for $150!!!!!!!!! But if you act now....
Am I in the wrong line of work! Hawking $2 wrist charms for $150 ain't a bad profit margin.
I loved the testimonials. Everyone (but mostly young, attractive people- funny how that happens on TV) had some 'pain'. Not once was the pain defined- arthritis, trauma, etc. Just pain. The closest they came was a testimonial from a guy supposedly in a car wreck who can only walk after he got his Q-Ray (it never mentioned any surgery or medical care he was receiving that might account for his 'miracle') and now swears (well, gets paid to endorse) by it.
They even trotted out some no-name athletes (someone from the LPGA tour as well as former 'strongest man' winner-no one you've ever heard of) to sell the junk.
All the while tiny disclaimers flashed at the bottom of the screen. Including the best one: Claims of product results have not been scientifically proven.
Another admitted that no scientific review of claimed results had even been performed!
But they did take skeptics into account. "Don't let skeptisism keep you from ordering your Q-Ray today!" Wow, what an argument.
Several testimonials claimed total pain relief in MINUTES. You figure that would be an easy thing to debunk. But hour long commercials cost cash, so I don't think the Q-Ray guy (a chinese dude that only popped up once or twice is the actual patent holder) is losing money. Not at $150 a pop.
Several people said they rufuse to remove the things now. One woman claimed she was unable to get out of bed after taking it off to sleep. Sounds like an addiction to me.
I would just laugh it off, but psuedo-medical products like this are dangerous. People may forgo real medical treatment using these products. Doctors can't get a good fix on the effectiveness of medications if the patient attributes everything to stupid braclets. Etc.
But this infomercial was different because it acknowledged skeptics (sort of) instead of ignoring them. Their ploy- testimonials where people admitted they had no idea how it worked---it JUST DID. Very scientific.
Usually taking time in a commercial to acknowledge something means it has an impact. So is a skepitcal mindset starting to affect these sham artists?
And nothing really rocks, And nothing really rolls. And nothing's ever worth the cost.
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PhDreamer
SFN Regular
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2002 : 15:19:32 [Permalink]
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*sigh*
And despite James Randi's best efforts...
I fear it's going to take a significant number of people getting injured or killed by pseudoscientific gadgetry in order to make the credulous take notice.
Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous.
-D. Hume |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2002 : 21:31:47 [Permalink]
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quote:
No no, it's 'ionized' or some sillyness.
Negative ions are all the rage in new age devices that promise health. They can also be used to clean cloths, make dust simply drop from the air and add oxygen to water by causing a restructuring of the water molecules. A negative ion is a good ion. Just ask anyone at a "Whole Life Expo."
quote:
I would just laugh it off, but psuedo-medical products like this are dangerous. People may forgo real medical treatment using these products. Doctors can't get a good fix on the effectiveness of medications if the patient attributes everything to stupid braclets. Etc.
Bingo!
The Evil Skeptic
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous. |
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