Magnetic Glasses?

[omnissient]

Why is it that superstitious stuff is always so obviously false. I mean a magnet drawing iron into your brain? Why not at least pretend that its actual medicine. Like a pill that is supposed to have ingredients and is claimed to be tested where its not.

[fredgwg]

These magnetic glasses are nonsense of course... But talking about glasses, did you start wearing glasses recently?

[Kailoa36]

I'm so glad I'm in academia. I'm mostly cheery anyway but I love cranky to much to be in retail. Do I run into to Woo? I go to a Unitarian Church, I run into a lot of woo. There I'm polite but firm. On the street I'm free to crank up the cranky.

[Desertphile]

Oh good bloody gods. "Magnetic eye glasses." GODS that's funny! Maybe I'll start selling "Strong nuclear interaction" eye glasses.

[ShallowBeThyGames]

I was chatting to a friend of mine the other day, I've always thought her to be reasonably astute.

I was flabbergast when she said I ought make sure I put the lid down on the toilet and plug the bath and basins... Because "you lose money down the drain"

Supposed to be Fung-Shui.

[clay6709]

There is a whole industry based on magnetic products from magnetic underlays for the bed to belts and bracelets and many more. I've given up trying to convince people that these things do nothing as those open to suggestion will swear blind that they work. Some of these people are intelligent in other ways. Go figure...

[laraesque]

(cont'd) vehemence of my warnings. With strangers, I would not give unsolicited advice. Even with friends, it needs to be offered gently and with compassion, since you may be treading on dearly held beliefs. Even when you want to warn them to protect them from harm. My sister is attracted to every new fad in snake oil for physical and mental issues, and I cringe. Nonetheless, carefully meted out education can open doors. Alarms and warnings can close minds.

[laraesque]

You asked how we had handled things like this, and in my opinion, I've handled it badly, even with friends. Many of my friends go to chiropractors, which do a lot of inobtrusive things but also some that have the potential for long term damage, despite apparent short-term relief. I've tried them a few times on recommendation of friends, finding them to be quacks who have hurt me badly with no diagnostic work-up. When warning friends about the quackery, I've offended them because of the. . .

[laraesque]

unobtrusive

[LeopardFrogPilboxhat]

The actual magnetism of the heme group in iron is so weak.

It's one single atom of iron in the middle of a huge two complex protein. It's not even worth mentioning. hemoglobin weights ~17000 daltons. An iron atom weighs ~56 daltons, lol

They've actually exposed living things to magnetic fields hundreds of times stronger than any permanent earth magnet can get and whoops no effect.

[DuckPhup]

Actually, you should be more concerned about how people react to you, when you say things like 'exspecially'.

[wgeorgew]

I was just thinking about scarfs being practical vs fashionable... I just moved to a place where your skin will freeze if you're out for longer then 10 minutes...I hate the cold and that damn scarf reminded me of it.....

[phishphinder23]

u should have handed her a book and said "hey lady, here is a book, knowledge is the way to clear thinking...."

[pb75355]

The lady with the magnetic glasses is such a FOOL but don't worry karma will get her for believing such nonsense

(joke)

[PrincessKLS]

LOL, too bad you can't get paid for telling the truth.

[scottintulsa]

If the glasses really work, and she is able to think more clearly, then it shouldn't be long until she takes them off realizing this for the pseudo science it is.

[jjmblue7]

Crazies are the rule in the store I work in. Normal people are the exception. The cat ladies are by far the worst.

[LabRat4680]

Wow. That sucks for them.

[ADF203]

I've never met anyone with magic magnets but if I do I will be sure to sell them a magic rock or something else I find on the street.

[pikechris1]

yeah... magnetic glasses! thats the real shyte... :)))

[pikechris1]

i mean, how can you not believe in real shyte, healthy? come on! dont spoil the party! :)))

[DragonRomer]

And then proceed to explain all the rea...

[stealthbadger]

Forgot to leave a "what I do" response.

Generally, if there aren't children involved, then I smile and nod and GTFO - True Believers are creepy and unpredictable. If I know that a child is involved, or if there is a genuine health risk, then I assume my most sympathetic, what-a-tragedy-look and explain to them how "yes, I can see how that might work, and I believed it too, but it doesn't, and here's why."

This is generally more effective than "OMFG UR STOOPID," as much fun as the latter is.

[lordcheetah]

Putting a magnet near your brain is as smart as putting one near your harddrive.

[RavenBlaze]

lol you could probably get the same affect by eating raisins daily (high iron), but in floor level retail, like in restaurant server-industry you gotta smile and nod. While hosting I once had a mormon try to tell me the gulf streem currents (which makes trans-atlantic travel faster) were talked about in the bible/book of mormon. weirdo!

[ColoradoMikeyS]

The flying spaghetti monster would not approve of this magnetic sorcery!

[doomsday800]

dont buy for this alternate medicine

[PersonalPariah]

IT'S PEOPLE!!!

[Paxmax]

The only Holistic stuff I push is "Dirk Gently's holistic detective agency" by Douglas Adams.

[uire23]

"nothing beyond a placebo"

And how's that bad? Placebo effects are often quite powerful, as you probably should know.

"you're better off seeking actual medical attention"

What, exactly, was wrong with the person?

[BlueRose241]

I dont know if they really work or not. I havent tried them myself. Maybe they do, maybe not. But I dont think the difference would be that drastic enough to make you think clearer. I mean, come on!.. you can think clearer all of a sudden 'cuz you wore some glasses for a few days.. thats clearly psychological medicine working... not magnetic!

[BlueRose241]

I had attended a conference 2 years back, and among teh speakers was Dr Raymond Damadian (invented MRI) and his fellow colleagues. One of them presented a brief look into how magnetism affects the human physiological processes and how we maybe able to manipulate it to our benefit in the near future. (of course he made no mention of magnetic bracelets or glasses!.. lol)

[BlueRose241]

Alternative medicine (or psuedoscience, as you put it, lol), is actually a very popular and growing branch. Even though science hasnt been able to explain a majority of the details as to how it affects the human physiology or pathophysiology even, there is plenty of statistical evidence that it does help improve patient condition. In the end, isnt that what matters? That the patient feels better.. regardless of the how it works.

[cursingyorick]

NO, in the end the patient needs a cure not relief because of the placebo effect. Whatever is causing the discomfort is not gone because the thought of a magnet makes one feel good.

[BlueRose241]

I thought it was understood.. that when a (sound-minded) doctor prescribes placebo to one of his patients, its because there is no established effective treatment for the patient's condition. So, instead of going - "Sorry there is nothing that can be done, you're done for!", one could opt for alternatives, even if the chances are low.

[cursingyorick]

At this point, the doctor might as well start praying. Just as effective.

[BlueRose241]

Actually its not effective at all. Maybe if the patient was the one doing the praying. The improtance being.. the patient's psyche. The patient has to believe or at least have some faith or hope in whatever treatment he has opted for. Its called the human psychology (it can make you feel better or worse regardless of your physical condition). You'd see it playing a major role in hospice care.

[Mglosk]

Actually there is no evidence that having good thoughts or feeling hopeful or positive will help at all. No study proves it. Actually there was a recent book written about that. A lady was talking about it on the Daily show last Friday.

Interesting actually.

[BlueRose241]

Actually, there have been studies which showed that a small percentage benefitted from it. There is no evidence of demonstrable change in the body, however there was significant symptomatic relief.

Also, from personal experience.. where I worked at we were able to send patients back home symptom-free and happy (after all the work-up comes back normal) with the help of placebo.

[BlueRose241]

The mind is very powerful. It can make you and break you. Conversion disorder is one of awe. And the management is primarily psychological. Simply mind play...

[cursingyorick]

I agree praying is just as effective as doing nothing. Hapy thoughts don't cure anything.

[AncientAtheist]

Why was this so short? It seemed cut off and I'm sure there is quite a bit more that could have been said - maybe about how we think it's not only ok to lie in business situations, but actually that it is demanded of us.

[Olphus]

Magneto agrees!

[takotheoktopus]

My last job I was working as the warehouse manager for a small organic grocery home delivery service. The owner wanted me to put fliers in with the customer's orders that promoted homeopathic vaccines. I held back on making an emotionally charged response and instead photocopied an article from Skeptic magazine (Vol. 15 No. 1) on Homeopathy by Harriet Hall and gave that to my boss to read. He never got back to me but never insisted that I promote such B.S. either.

[fiusux12]

wow, how unbelievably facepalming! I love the Penn and Teller B.S. on the whole holistic thing. Good for you for staying in character, LOL!

[KingHeathen]

If you are going to make bullshit magnetic glasses...I suppose that you should make them "stylish."

(the video cuts off, so assuming the ending with the text in the description now....)

I don't think I could have stopped myself. I would have HAD to have AT LEAST asked her if she's noticed any differences in the things they claimed the glasses would do.

Assuming "yes", I'd point out "Really? All the other cases of 'magnets' ended up just proving to be placebos...well, good luck with that."

[region1111]

I would have run with it. When you're trying to get laid it's best to agree with every lame idea they come up with.

[CognosSquare]

You should have put a fridge to her face! Take that magnet glasses woman.

[kirke420]

I would say whatever I thought would make them shut up and go away the quickest without getting me in trouble... I don't bother trying to correct people, too much work... :P

[AncientAtheist]

Uh huh.  Is that your whole comment? Because I have to go pretty quick. :D

[KevJJ888]

I've worked retail and run into this kind of woo--people with wiccan or astrological symbols. Often I laugh and "innocently" ask if they're serious. When they respond affirmatively, I politely "apologize." It gets the point across.

[Northernskeptic]

I would have grinned, said thank you have a nice day and when the person left proceed to bang my head into the counter repeatedly

[joegocal]

31^-1 =/= 13 Ashley :(

inverse Halloween day is 1/31 January, 31.

[KingHeathen]

KILL THE MATH NERD!!!!!!

; )

[joegocal]

im not even that good at math. but alas, I am a nerd

[pete275]

I would have just put a perperclip up the glasses, see if it sticks. As for the iron, it kinda creeps me out that it might actually work (magnets will have some kind of influence over iron, won't they?), and mess with the circulation of the blood or something. I'm sure there's been studies tho, which I'm too lazy to look up and read.

[snackynak]

Putting a magnet next to your brain is not recommended. Magnets are the #1 cause of brain cancer, quantum fusion, and AIDS.

[MastrodiAtheist]

It is just me or does it seem to cut off to soon.

No big deal just saying.

[Eastmanarium]

Yeah it definitely ended abruptly...

[NitaBMe]

I think that there is a tactful way to tell the truth without fear of upsetting the person.

it goes something like this:

Oh, I used to do that, I bought a magnetic bracelet, but then my doctor told me blah, blah, blah... But really I thought there was merit to it just like you did, until my doc set me straight

[HonestDiscussioner]

It does really suck when you can't respond to such things. Nothing is more harmful than misinformation.

[Perlustrate]

The way I see it is that when you're at work you're typically being paid not only to provide a service but also to act. The goal is to put customers in a money-spending mood, not to inform them.

[valvatica]

It's a little-known fact that adding magnets on your car gives it more horsepower. Putting a Type-R sticker gives it another 40 horsepower!

[Transcentity]

Since when does an increase of iron in the brain give an increase in cognition?

[GoblinXXX]

Last time I went to the dentist, the receptionist and one of the dental hygienists were going on about the wonders of those magnetic insoles. Since i didn't want to piss off anyone who might soon have a razor sharp hook in my mouth, I refrained from commenting.

[Cadiohi]

I work retail and I probably would have handled it the same way. I had some folks come in one time asking me about voice recorders, and they proceeded to tell me that they were going to use it to go ghost hunting. They specifically wanted to know how sensitive the microphone was to picking up the ghost sounds. I kid you not. Had it been anyone else I would have explained why ghost hunting BS, but instead I just smiled, nodded, and sold them the most expensive voice recorder we had. lol.

[Panman38]

I have magnets on my fridge. Makes the food taste better.

But seriously your situation sounds like the dilemma venomfangx had as to whether or not to preach his beliefs to his customers. I say leave it alone.

[Yarcofin]

My dad had a really bad shoulder where he couldn't even raise his arm above his head. He tried exercises and all kinds of stuff. Finally someone recommended he try the magnetic bracelet stuff, and even though he was skeptical he is an electrician and the "dissimilar metals" idea didn't sound COMPLETELY implausible. As soon as he put it on he felt better, and it just got better until his shoulder was fine.

Anecdotal? Yes. Placebo? Maybe. But if I have joint pains I'll spend the $5 and try too.

[luptoneous]

I work retail too. It's what made me an atheist. HA! J/K. Some people will believe anything. My old neighbor was convinced he found this juice that cure things like arthritis, diabetes, etc.  I asked where I could get some and he said mail order only. So there's this miracle juice that can only be ordered through the mail? You would think this stuff would be in Walmart, Target, Kmart, etc.

[Kailoa36]

How ironic. I'm mostly happy all the time but I work in academia, a Library assistant in technical services where I have virtually no contact with the public, therefore, no requirement to be happy all the time. I wonder if there is a connection? ;-)

[arwoodk87]

If she really believes it helps her I don't see a problem with her believing it. It's not like the magnetic glasses are hurting her. My aunt swears that this magnetic bracelet she has helps with her arthritis, I don't know if it really helps or is placebo but either way it works for her.

[peterscottfrost]

It's not exactly the same, but when I used to work concessions at a movie theater there would be times where extremely obese people would come in and ask for a large bucket of popcorn with extra butter. "No, even more than that!" It was tempting to ask "Are you sure you really need that?" or "Are you TRYING to kill yourself?" But what can you do?

[bobharris77]

Magnetic glasses??

Man were they ever dumb. Magnetic glasses only work when the moon is aligned with Mars, Venus and the wearers rectum.

[EternalAlert]

I would've looked at her and asked (as if I was actually seeking information, even though I think it's crap) "Oh really? What makes you think they do that?"

[peterscottfrost]

EternalAlert - Good answer. Asking an "innocent" question is a great way to handle it.

[anthonzi]

haha like those magnetic bracelets lololol

[boxant]

While I am highly skeptical of "magnetic glasses", most great breakthroughs happen in a rain of cries of "quackery".

[NumbFaction]

I was never good at retail because i could not control my mouth when other people talked bullshit. Also I was kicked out of Military college because i called out peoples bullshit as well.

[TheOtherSide100]

Calling a potential customer on their BS just means you won't get their business and they will continue to BS themselves.

At least you win a little if you play along.

[fallingstarblues]

Reactions:

"Ah, sounds fascinating! When do you plan to go the next step?"

"Uh..pardon?"

"Oh, you know, the full way! Haven't you heard that now they're selling MAGNETIC chainmail that keeps you thinner, smarter, more protected & dramatically increaseds your sex drive whilst also making your memory two fold, and this season, a USB adaptor is installed so that way you can stay connected to chain emails!"

*Bewildered & confused*

"And rocket-boots. Only... do YOU think they're a scam?"

[dreadpiratedan]

magnetic glasses pull iron into your brain?

i lol'd.

[xlanciferionx]

I say, as long as they aren't using any old new age "medicine" to treat a real health issue, let them have their placebo. It's not hurting anyone. It's when they ignore real medicine for real health issues that is a problem. If she believes it'll help her think better, she's not treating a real health issue. That's a personal issue, and inadvertently helps her.

[freethinker3161]

your so funny. have a good one.

[jsclary]

Hrm, I wear magnets... Not for woo related reasons, though. I'm just fascinated by them and I love how it shocks people that I wear them around computers all day at work. I wear chrome plated neodymium spheres stuck together as a bracelet, though, so most of the field is contained in a loop with very little leakage.

[edgewayround]

These people dont need more Iron in their brain, they need more lead.

Tell them about my south pole charged shoe inserts and my north pole charged hat and see how they feel !!!!! We could be on a winner!

[ctypro96706]

You mean I should take the pyramid off my head?

[tomwash1]

Apparently placebos work in about 50% of cases. If they are to be used though, perhaps they should only be prescribed by doctors, they can then track the results.

[Thereminator101]

My last landlady was a huge "new age" follower and I had to learn how not to roll my eyes when she talked about flying saucer's,amazing medical devices ect...I finally told her what I thought of her after I had to move because her house was under forcloser(starting before my move there),without any warning.The highlight was when I got into a fight with the local "Guru" con-artist she let live there.He stayed away from me when he realized his "magic" didnt work on me.

[CousinoMacul]

I generally try to avoid getting chunks of iron in my brain.

[TruthBeyond]

Really cute glasses huh, were you looking in a mirror? Oh...magnetic... uhuh, thought promoting...ah I see.

[hypothetisch]

The only way we can fight bad ideas like whether it's racism or superstition is to provide with counter arguments when we are confronted with hem.

It's your civil duty to confront these ideas!

If it's your job on the line it gets more difficult of course but I would always at least try to express some modest and polite misgivings.

[VonHelton]

Um, I think I should point out that the Moon can move billions of gallons of ocean water every day without any trouble, so why would it be hard to believe that a magnet could not?

Both the Moon & the magnet are using polarity.

[Scarey2001]

Sorry Von,

the Moon's effect of the oceans is caused by the Moon's gravitational influence and not its poles.

[Scarey2001]

Sorry Von,

the ocean's tides are NOT caused by polarity but the Moon's gravotational influence on the water.

[rednecktrucker1969]

I dated a girl once that slept on a magnetic mattress. She had spent thousands for all kinds of things like that.

I met a guy once that tried to sell me a tachyon collector. I explained to him how big a tachyon is and that they are still just theoretical and he did not miss a beat and still tried to sell it to me. I shoulda just punched him and called it good. :)

[HisManifest]

Inverse Halloween Day eh? Nerd. lulz.

[Disthron]

I have called people out on certain things. Like how alcohol isn't really good for you it's just if you don't overdo it it's not really harmful ether. Or how microwaving food dose not change it's genetic structior. I don't think I've ever called anyone out on the magnet thing. I don't really know much about magnets.

[Skodmunk]

You cut yourself off in the middle of an sentence ^^

But Magnets rule !!! they are so awesome I have a pair strapped around my balls at all time! I kinda walk with a limp, but hey its a small price to pay.

You cant understate the importance of health.

[yetidetective]

i usually just let people's crazy beliefs go as long as they don't affect me. they probably think being rational and believing things because of evidence is crazy. dif'rent strokes, yo.

[onlywhenprovoked]

woo?

you mean like fox "news"?

[screenflicker1]

u're hot fuckin sexy

[mrkurt13]

Or I guess we can just going around laughing at people and "calling them out on silly nonsense" they happen to like.

What ever works.

[gothatfunk]

i'm afraid i would have just smiled and nodded, just like you.

in familiar company though, the following quote from Babylon 5 always applies:

"when someone is about to do something foolish, you should tell them that they are being foolish. they may continue to act that way, but at least the truth is where it needs to be".

[mrkurt13]

If they believe it then it works. Placebo is more powerful than most drugs we've invented. Why not just let her have her glasses....which is what you did, but like you said, had it been a person on the street you would have gladly ruined any help they were giving her if it was placebo . I guess thats a fun way to live... I dunno. Maybe it is pseudoscience bull shit, but maybe it does work. What ever it is, she decided to try it and isnt hurting anyone. If she said it helps her then it does.

[kshackleton]

"If they believe it then it works."

That's just crazy....things don't work simply because we believe they will.

[bamboo4tameshigiri]

Placebo is real, but it doesn't work equally for everyone. For a select few, it can be absolutely as powerful as morphine. That said, it still doesn't make it "real" as placebo can be explained completely by endorphins that are structurally related to compounds like morphine.

[mrkurt13]

If you do some research on it you might not sound like an ass hat. For example, in the 1950's when the research ethics were more slack, they performed mammary-artery ligation to treat angina on one set of patients and just made a useless incision on the other set of patients with out telling them. The real surgery had a 76% success rate and the fake one had a 100% success rate. We have drastically underestimated the minds effect on the body for the past 100 years, Ignoring it as a fluke.

[kshackleton]

If you didn't make such a gross over-generalization, perhaps you wouldn't sound like a moron.

I know that the placebo effect is real, that is one of the reasons that valid studies must be double-blind.

If the effect is real, then research will bear that out, otherwise; it just wishful thinking by gullible people.

[mecher3k]

"Placebo is more powerful than most drugs"

LOL, yet the reason why drugs are released is because they have to been shown to better then placebo.

Are you dumb or something?

[mrkurt13]

Really dumb. I dont know anything about it at all. Looks like you do though. Thanks for the help!

[mrkurt13]

here is how to become your average religious, political or scientific person:

basically the formula appears to be:

1) be shown something new

2)learn it to the best of ones ability

3) deny that anything else can be as legit as what you have learned for the rest of your life(recent examples of topics people have dogmatically repressed would be plate tectonics, standard view of human evolution, microRNA, to name a few)

4) lose interest in learning anything that does not support your viewpoint

[mrkurt13]

that was a sensible comment. Looks like the rational atheist crowd likes to down thumb contrary opinions just like those crazy fundies. I guess we all need our dogma right?

[kshackleton]

Here's the thing....you made a claim, and people called bullshit. Now you are getting upset because you have to support the assertion?

Who's the reall asshat?

[mrkurt13]

I can sit here and type out lots of support in 500 word chunks. It'll be sweet. I was more complaining about the general internet hostility toward any idea thats not theirs. Everyone just has their set view and they go down dying for it. I got into science to escape it but its just as pervasive here. Just sort of venting on the general know it all attitude everyone has in every f'ing segment of society.

So apologies, kshackleton. Carry on.

[mrkurt13]

But You are right...I'm sure everyone that 'called bullshit" on my comment had actually researched the placebo and nocebo effects and various other studies documenting the power the mind has over the body. I'm sure they weren't just reacting from the gut based on their current world view.

[healthyaddict]

Placebos are only effective for so much - it's not going to save your life if you have a serious problem - but when you're spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a false product that could be used towards something that could actually help you... that's my concern....

[mrkurt13]

Really look up how much the placebo effect can do. Its really cool.  Its totally under overlooked by many people/ doctors I'm not going to spell it out but its pretty mind blowing. About 75% of cases that doctors deal with can be completely treated with the mind. Even cancer. Look up the studies on the outlook and attitude of cancer survivors. Some stuff, you are right, normal medicine is the best, but....

[mrkurt13]

even then, when a new drug hits the market, the drug it replaces drastically drops in efficacy. For example if it used to help 90% of patients, it would drop to 50% once a new 'better' drug was out there. If you're going to make fun of this woman, you need to be ridiculing 99% of the people who take vitamins.

[mrkurt13]

there are quite a few papers on this stuff on pub med if you want to look them up.

But seriously, taking a daily multivitamin is just a stupid as wearing magnetic glasses. Probably more so since you just piss it all out and have to keep paying for it year after year. No ones making videos about that. I dunno. Forget I said anything.

[niggtardd]

Yep, these kind of people are all getting financially raped by buying a placebo. I guess if it makes them feel better and they "believe" it is worth it, then you can't really argue with stupid.

[stealthbadger]

It makes me happy to see someone else use the word "woo" in spoken language and not be a college student waving a beer standing in the middle of the street.

The big cheesy grin at the beginning was good, too. ^.^

[kshackleton]

woo?

meaning please?

[bamboo4tameshigiri]

"woo?"

Woo:

Psychobabble, hocus pocus, fake, magic, miraculous, etc.

[kshackleton]

OK, thanks.....I was wondering if it was an acronym for something....

[Nykytyne2]

Occasionally I'll meet someone in a social situation where it would be awkward for me to call them out on their silly nonsense.

Although I once met a girl at a party who claimed to posses ESP. I immediately said "REALLY?? Can you help me invest in stocks? I'd love to make a million dollars overnight."

She just seemed kind of annoyed and said "well not like that...."

[gothatfunk]

i had ESP once. didn't last long though, and the hangover was dreadful.

[flamacue9972]

supposebly? did you really say supposebly?

[omfgitslesley]

Since glasses are usually medal wouldn't that make just about all glasses magnetic?

[ashman165]

i have a couple of medals from my Army days; none of them is magnetic. I can imagine glasses of medals - the right arm is from a Legion of Merit and the left arm is . . .

Not all metals are magnetic. For instance, try to go around picking up loose coinage with a magnet to test your luck.

[onlywhenprovoked]

am i missing a joke somewhere about metals and medals?

[omfgitslesley]

oops I posted that before I watched the video. Made from magnet I get it.

[onlywhenprovoked]

lol. meTal. and no.

[MoreSciFiThanScience]

Loving the harry potter outfit ;)

[REBMike1]

Magic glasses I can get a pair, I would like a pair of X-Ray specs.

[TheUnmaskedMagician]

Magnetic glasses?? what a scam

[KnowledgeInLatin]

It's crazy woo alright, that's for sure.

[FieroRumor]

Inverse Halloween... never heard that one before! Haha.