Comments on: The Science of Quackometrics http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2006/04/science-of-quackometrics.html Experiments and Thoughts on Quackery, Health Beliefs and Pseudoscience Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:47:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2006/04/science-of-quackometrics.html#comment-4958 Anonymous Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:04:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2006/04/the-science-of-quackometrics.html#comment-4958 The description of your quackometer,<br/>using the frequency of keywords <br/>to detect whether a web page is quackery<br/>or not, is reminiscent of the Bayesian<br/>filtering techniques used in some antispam<br/>software such as SpamAssassin (on Unix/Linux systems). These spam filters<br/>using the frequencies of keywords in spam<br/>messages compute (roughly speaking) the probability that a given email is spam<br/>or non-spam and tag the message accordingly. They can be trained, given<br/>a large enough sample of spam and non-spam message to discriminate better<br/>between the two. <br/><br/>Another interesting application would be <br/>a quack medicine generator, similar to the postmodern generator: you simply use the probabilites of keywords to generate<br/>descriptions of new quack medicines. The description of your quackometer,
using the frequency of keywords
to detect whether a web page is quackery
or not, is reminiscent of the Bayesian
filtering techniques used in some antispam
software such as SpamAssassin (on Unix/Linux systems). These spam filters
using the frequencies of keywords in spam
messages compute (roughly speaking) the probability that a given email is spam
or non-spam and tag the message accordingly. They can be trained, given
a large enough sample of spam and non-spam message to discriminate better
between the two.

Another interesting application would be
a quack medicine generator, similar to the postmodern generator: you simply use the probabilites of keywords to generate
descriptions of new quack medicines.

]]> By: Le Canard Noir http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2006/04/science-of-quackometrics.html#comment-4946 Le Canard Noir Sat, 26 May 2007 19:32:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2006/04/the-science-of-quackometrics.html#comment-4946 I really struggle about why so many commenters want to know my qualifications. This site and blog uses basic scientific principles and a smattering of reason to show why certain health claims are extremely suspect. One does not need to be a genius to realise that if, for example, no active ingredient is present in a homeopathic remedy, then it must be just a placebo. If you believe otherwise, then show the evidence, don't ask for my biography.<br/><br/>To all the 'anonymous' posters out there. Please stick to the arguments and stop tying to resort to discussions on my qualifications, motives and so called biases. I will not be tempted into such futile discussions. I really struggle about why so many commenters want to know my qualifications. This site and blog uses basic scientific principles and a smattering of reason to show why certain health claims are extremely suspect. One does not need to be a genius to realise that if, for example, no active ingredient is present in a homeopathic remedy, then it must be just a placebo. If you believe otherwise, then show the evidence, don’t ask for my biography.

To all the ‘anonymous’ posters out there. Please stick to the arguments and stop tying to resort to discussions on my qualifications, motives and so called biases. I will not be tempted into such futile discussions.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2006/04/science-of-quackometrics.html#comment-4944 Anonymous Thu, 24 May 2007 23:09:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2006/04/the-science-of-quackometrics.html#comment-4944 The effort to identify and protect people from being fleeced is a noble one. On your Quackometrics page you begin to share your own perspective, that is, what kinds of medicine you believe to be valid. It would be more honest, however, if you shared your medical training and professional experience in treating patients in detail. <br/><br/>I'm sure readers would also like to know about your personal experience (or lack thereof) being treated by various forms of medicine. That is, be honest and reveal your own biases and basis before you set out to apply them to others. It's easy to sit back and take potshots at other people; it's much harder to roll up your sleeves and sign up for the laboratory of true scientific study and experimentation. The effort to identify and protect people from being fleeced is a noble one. On your Quackometrics page you begin to share your own perspective, that is, what kinds of medicine you believe to be valid. It would be more honest, however, if you shared your medical training and professional experience in treating patients in detail.

I’m sure readers would also like to know about your personal experience (or lack thereof) being treated by various forms of medicine. That is, be honest and reveal your own biases and basis before you set out to apply them to others. It’s easy to sit back and take potshots at other people; it’s much harder to roll up your sleeves and sign up for the laboratory of true scientific study and experimentation.

]]> By: red rabbit http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2006/04/science-of-quackometrics.html#comment-4805 red rabbit Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:15:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2006/04/the-science-of-quackometrics.html#comment-4805 Hearts and flowers to you. A healthy dose of skepticism is a wonderful thing. Hearts and flowers to you. A healthy dose of skepticism is a wonderful thing.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2006/04/science-of-quackometrics.html#comment-4696 Anonymous Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:00:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2006/04/the-science-of-quackometrics.html#comment-4696 Marvellous work. Marvellous work.

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