General Caution to Newbies

Post by **webslave** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 3:24 pm

If you read the sci.med.prostate.prostatitis newsgroup on Usenet, this excellent primer is preparatory reading.

2015 edit: the usenet newsgroup is long dead and buried.

Guys,

Since prostatitis is such a debilitating disease and since your average urologist is unable to shed light on the condition, most sufferers become extremely desperate. This combination of desperation and an environment of inadequate information can create a lot of victims.

People who are in severe pain will try almost anything to stop it and they aren't very discriminating. All you have to do is mention that you think you vaguely remember your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate had prostatitis and he took draino and it cleared him right up, and SOMEBODY will try it. (Note: The former statement was SARCASM. Draino will not cure your prostatitis and will probably kill you. (See what I mean?))

During my 2-year prostatitis tour of duty, I've seen a lot of asinine "cures": gem therapy, light therapy, urine therapy, colloidal silver, colon cleansing, magnet therapy, ancient Chinese nude upside-down toe sucking, et al. This newsgroup is particularly vulnerable to quacks trying to take advantage of other people's torment to make a buck. I find that kind of behavior the hallmark of the diabolic. Personally, I'd like to kill them, violently, but since that's not possible, the next best step is to warn potential marks. Never take somebody's "testimony" at face value and if they're asking for money, throw them into your killfile (if you can) or find some other way to ignore them. And don't be fooled just because something sounds "scientific". Learn how to discriminate good science and evidence from bad. Not every study or experiment is a good one.

The following article is a good first step towards that goal. It discusses some of the more common lapses in critical thinking regarding what constitutes real evidence and how a theory can be flawed. I don't think anyone has posted this before and thought you guys might find it interesting, so here you go.

http://quasar.as.utexas.edu/BillInfo/Quack.html

Thad

bdith · Post by **bdith** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 10:19 pm

This is a good post. I would add that, sadly enough, it is not just people looking to make a buck who are posting misinformation on the unmoderated public newsgroup at news:sci.med.prostate.prostatitis . There are others who are merely disturbed individuals who somehow get their kicks by posting, under various aliases, dangerous and misleading information.

For those who also post to the sci.med.prostatitis newsgroup, be warned that:

Molamus
Fatty Mawson
IQTSTR
Niceshymiamiguy
Jim

..are all the same person, and he has nothing of value to say. Don't be fooled. Unfortunately, new aliases keep popping up and they are sometimes difficult to spot.

bd.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Sat Feb 08, 2003 1:18 am

Boy I'll tell you. I've been reading posts made on the prostatitis newsgroup via google and there are some very questionable posts made by so called doctors. Some of the most unprofessional responses I've ever read. I can only hope that they really are frauds because it's embarrassing.

Post by **webslave** » Sat Feb 08, 2003 1:54 am

I think they are posts made in jest. That newsgroup has lost its relevance to a large extent.

2015 edit: the usenet newsgroup is long dead and buried.

Tod · Post by **Tod** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 2:14 pm

I personally don't even go to that newgroup any more. I find this a much better source of information, comfort and help.

inpain · Post by **inpain** » Wed Jul 23, 2003 9:46 pm

I am new here but this was what I needed thanks guys