Skeptoid #200: Buy It!
Don't blindly turn to science when you need answers - instead, seek out those who want to sell you something. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Don't blindly turn to science when you need answers - instead, seek out those who want to sell you something. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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Snake Oil Sales Pitch
00:04:32
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| Another 50th episodes means another lavish musical. | |
| Today we have, well, I'm not even sure what to call it. | |
| It's something of a mishmash of every advertisement you've ever heard for every snake oil product ever made. | |
| It's also quite danceable. | |
| And it's up next on Skeptoid. | |
| A quick reminder for everyone. | |
| You're listening to Skeptoid, revealing the true science and true history behind urban legends every week since 2006. | |
| With over a thousand episodes, we're celebrating 20 years of keeping it focused and keeping it brief. | |
| And we couldn't have done it without your curiosity leading the way. | |
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| If you become a premium member, supporting the show with a monthly micropayment of as little as $5, you get more Skeptoid. | |
| The premium version of the show is not only ad-free, it has extended content. | |
| These episodes are a few minutes longer. | |
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| Come to skeptoid.com and click Go Premium. | |
| You're listening to Skeptoid. | |
| I'm Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com. | |
| So the other day I wasn't feeling too great, and I'm enough of a skeptic that I don't blindly go to a medical doctor to see what big pharma wants to foist onto me. | |
| I'm smart enough to turn to the back pages of magazines and late-night infomercials to get real science information. | |
| Here are a few things one trusted spokesman told me. | |
| Living in this modern world, we're always playing dice. | |
| Eating breathing toxins, it is never very nice. | |
| Luckily, enlightened ones have stepped up to the plate. | |
| We've got products you can buy to save you from this fate. | |
| Take a pill or soak your feet. | |
| Rub this on your skin. | |
| Don't go to a specialist or you'll be taken in. | |
| We offer easy payments and millions can't be wrong. | |
| You know it works because it was invented by a mom. | |
| Buy it, buy it, and you'll save a tree. | |
| Buy it, buy it because it's chemical-free. | |
| Buy it for yourself or for a friend. | |
| Buy it, buy it, doctors recommend. | |
| One thing that is certain is that science minds are closed. | |
| If we listen to them, we'll all be hosed. | |
| Oprah says that you should treat your body, mind, and soul. | |
| You're not the disease, you're a person who is whole. | |
| Our products burn your fat away with space technology. | |
| And best of all, we offer an exclusive guarantee. | |
| Quantum physics baffles all the scientists, it appears. | |
| Chinese have known these secrets for 100,000 years. | |
| Celebrity endorsements prove it scientifically. | |
| If it wasn't true, we couldn't say it on TV. | |
| Buy it! | |
| Buy it if your name is friend. | |
| Buy it! | |
| Buy it even if you're dead. | |
| Buy it! | |
| Buy it! | |
| Buy it straight away! | |
| Buy it! | |
| Buy it if you're straight or gay. | |
| The body's all organic, and so what it really needs is for you to buy and eat these old dry weeds. | |
| Call today, we have our operators standing by. | |
| 100% natural, you can detoxify. | |
| Supplies are strictly limited, so hurry, don't be slow. | |
| Your credit card's the key to what they don't want you to know. | |
| Buy it, buy it, or else it's a sin. | |
| Buy it, buy it, or the terrorists win. | |
| Buy it! | |
| Whether you're a girl or God, buy it! | |
| Buy it, or God will cry! | |
| Life without these products, well, it's certain to be rough. | |
| The only way to save yourself is buy more stuff. | |
| So I got out my card and made a few purchases. | |
| Now I'm not only on the path to healing, I'm also free of the stain of big toxins and those giant corporations who are only interested in profits. | |
| I chose the pure path, and I've shown that I can't be taken advantage of. | |
|
The Sin of Buying Stuff
00:01:16
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| You're listening to Skeptoid. | |
| I'm Brian Dunning from skeptoid.com. | |
| Hello, everyone. | |
| This is Adrian Hill from Skookum Studios in Calgary, Canada, the land of maple syrup and mousse. | |
| And I'm here to ask you to consider becoming a premium member of Skeptoid for as little as five US dollars per month. | |
| And that's only the cost of a couple of Tim Horton's double-doubles. | |
| And that's Canadian for coffee with double cream and sugar. | |
| Why support Skeptoid? | |
| If you are like me and don't like ads, but like extended versions of each episode, Premium is for you. | |
| If you want to support a worthwhile nonprofit that combats pseudoscience, promotes critical thinking, and provides free access to teachers to use the podcast in the classroom via the Teacher's Toolkit, then sign up today. | |
| Remember that skepticism is the best medicine. | |
| Next to giggling, of course. | |
| Until next time, this is Adrian Hill. | |
| From PRX. | |