RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE

"A statement of fact cannot be insolent." The miscellaneous ramblings of a surgeon/scientist on medicine, quackery, science, and pseudoscience (and anything else that interests him).

Medicine Paranormal Quackery Skepticism/critical thinking

Everybody wants to get in on the act

Post author By Orac
Post date April 10, 2007
5 Comments on Everybody wants to get in on the act

I tell ya, ever since I first posted my infamous You Might Be an Altie If…, it seems that everyone wants in on the action. Not that I mind much. I can’t honestly take credit for the idea; so it would be silly of me to get upset if someone else uses it.

This time around, it’s fellow skeptic Skeptico. As I do, he really detests the ridiculous woo that is The Secret. I don’t necessarily like the term that he has come up with for aficionados of The Secret and the truly idiotic and woo-filled Law of Attraction (Secretards). After all, the term “altie,” although meant a bit sarcastically, is not quite as–oh–nasty as “Secretard.” On the other hand, the Law of Attraction is something that even many of the most deluded alties would recognized as so ridiculous as to be laughed at. That quibble aside, he is spot on in his list You Just Might Be A Secretard If…

Tell you what. Why don’t we do the same thing that I’ve done three times before with alties, and see if you can come up with some ideas of your own to add to Skeptico’s list.

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By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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