Talk:Woo

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Um, is this a neologism of ours? human^{be in} 18:53, 16 July 2007 (CDT)

Strangely enough, no. I've been seeing it on Pharyngula, and followed it around the blogosphere. Apparently, except for us, lots know about it. AKA woo woo.--PalMD^-Goatspeed! 18:56, 16 July 2007 (CDT)

I believe, but it would take a long time to prove, that James Randi was using it as much as 5+ years ago in his column. Though I have to say I'm concerned that this page only covers medical woo -- there's far more than just that under the category. EVDebs 19:04, 16 July 2007 (CDT)

Then let us wiki together and improve it.--PalMD^-Goatspeed! 19:05, 16 July 2007 (CDT)

Hmm, ok. I found the article to be rather empty and useless, despite having a bunch of words. Shouldn't it say "Woo is a generic term used by science bloggers to mean...."? If that's what it is. In other words, if someone reads this, will they learn anything at all? I didn't. I have now, slightly. human^{be in} 19:06, 16 July 2007 (CDT)

"Damn it, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a wooster!"--PalMD^-Goatspeed! 19:07, 16 July 2007 (CDT)

Feel free to ACD it.--PalMD^-Goatspeed! 19:09, 16 July 2007 (CDT)

No, not yet? If there is a term, even if rare or neo, and it can be described so if "I" run into it I'll understand it, and so that I can use it without sounding ignorant, I see no problem with it being here. But right now the article begs the question. Hopefully the Debster will come and help us out, since he is apparently more familiar with it. human^{be in} 19:18, 16 July 2007 (CDT)

Here's one example--PalMD^-Goatspeed! 19:20, 16 July 2007 (CDT)

Post-it note on the Debsters improvements: thank you! I understood that. Nice job. human^{be in} 23:48, 16 July 2007 (CDT)

I first saw the term in the 1980s, in radical environmentalist literature. Earth First! and related groups at the time had a mix of conservation biologists and population ecologists who were strictly science oriented, leftists and anarchists who were mostly interested in direct action protests, and people who were into earth-mother-goddess rituals, lifestyle primitivism and New Age shamanism. Not a compatible mix at all. The biologists didn't like all the "woo-woo" coming from the would-be primitive shamans, and called the earth-goddess rituals "pitching woo". It's not a neologism by a long shot. Secret Squirrel 04:02, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

1980s is neo enough, isn't it? It's not like Dickens used the term... ħuman 04:17, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, that's kinda sorta neo. Secret Squirrel 04:21, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Contents 1 Directly marketing woo 2 A Woo Template 3 Woo in Crete! 4 Early food woo 5 defeat in uk 6 Gaia

[edit] Directly marketing woo

Picked up a thin catalogue in a friend's house, among other things it had :

• Magnatherapy[1] - magnetic 1200 gauss bracelets, necklaces, belts, watches & even spectaclesavers. Dunno what it's supposed to 'cure' but ....

• Cupping (sounds downright diabolical) - "practitioners beleve applying a partial vacuum on the skin ... Lymph ...chi ... Blah blah waffle ... [Love bites (hickeys?) anyone?]

• All manner of hair-loss & baldness cures from pigeon droppings[2] through (actually in the catalogue) 'Nourkrin' tablets (?) to lasering[3] the scalp.

Stangely (not) there was no website for the company viva! direct.

I love cupping...it always fools my med students.User:PalMD

[edit] A Woo Template

Perhaps we could design some sort of template for articles that are in the Woo category. If so, does anybody know of a free picture of that guy who hangs out at Chicago Cubs games, Ronnie Woo Woo or something.Jsonitsac 16:46, 10 February 2008 (EST)

Well, we do have a pseudoscience template or three, which pretty much cover things. Not that we wouldn't use a "woo" one if it was pretty :) human 18:56, 10 February 2008 (EST)

[edit] Woo in Crete!

Bad attack of WooWoo here: http://www.paleochora-woowoo.blogspot.com/

Been going on for a year or more but the lack of tourists in Paleochora this summer has had a major impact on the project. (Un)fortunately, it's rumoured that Ms Demena is now back in the UK and too busy chasing goats to blog any more. Mick McT 05:58, 24 August 2008 (EDT)

[edit] Early food woo

I learned today about James Salisbury, inventor of Salisbury Steak and originator of one of the earliest of the modern fad diets. Bizarre how little things have changed. --Kels 17:30, 24 August 2008 (EDT)

Hehe, what's really alarming is that things haven't changed much since the days of little understanding... ħuman 17:36, 24 August 2008 (EDT)

[edit] defeat in uk

Don't know if this has been noted: about discontinuation of woo courses at University of Central Lancashire (many other links in blog) Marghanita Laski 04:56, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

Who cares, how is Susan? (OK, we care about you, too, but seriously, we want a report!!!) ħuman 05:25, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

OK, that was weird. You edited as Susan, but signed as your girlfriend. I take it you are out of hospital again? ħuman 05:29, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

perhaps they got hitched and are now of One Flesh (amazing how signing a bit of paper can change your DNA). Maybe "Marganita" accidentally forgot to log "Susan" out. But yeah, how is teh Susan? Totnesmartin 06:18, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

Sorry about that.mShe ("Susan")'s still in hospital - out (fingers crossed) Friday. I'm rushing about and using her PDA so don't want to mess up her settings by logging out etc. They won't let her have t'internet or phone at bed. Costing me a fortune in b0oks! This prodding a screen is awful don't know how she managed for as long as she did! Assuming she is out friday, we're going to suny Mandhester for the weeiend to see friends so probably not back on www till m0nda/tuesday. ML 10:11, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

ACk! I didn't know she was sick or in teh hospital. Is it serious, and either way, give her my atheist prayers for what they are worth. HUGS!!!!!!!!--En attendant Godot_{"Such is life."} 11:39, 16 September 2008 (EDT)

Best hippy wishes from Totnes to both of you. 13:08, 16 September 2008 (EDT) Totnesmartin

[edit] Gaia

Hey Goonie, are you sure Gaia hypothesis doesn't belong on this list? It's pretty woo-ey I think. ħuman 19:46, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

Perhaps. I don't actually think we ever reached an agreement on whether or not it is. But, add it back if you so choose. Conservative Punk (talk) 19:48, 15 February 2010 (UTC)

It can be both - while it can be studied sciencishly, there's also the whole "whoa, dude, the planet's alive!!!" approach. ħuman 20:04, 15 February 2010 (UTC)