Now we can all quit running (Read 1832 times)

I was up early preparing for a race, switched on the TV to check the weather, and made an astonishing discovery. It was an infomercial presentation for something called "Shapely Secrets". It's a program revolutionary system that utilizes the amazing new principle of "motionless exercise"! That's right, you don't have to do all that "sweaty, joint-pounding exercise", just stand there and lose weight. Not only that but it takes only 7 minutes per day! Here I was, about to run an ultramarathon in the pouring rain and it was all so unnecessary. Of course I was skeptical--at first. But they had testimonials! Lots and lots of happy customers raving about how they tried and tried to lose weight with diet and exercise, but once they started the secret system of "motionless exercise" for only 7 minutes per day, the pounds just melted off. One woman was in tears because for the first time her son could put his arms all the way around her. It was all so touching, it almost had me in tears too. My last reservations were swept away when I learned that a real doctor had performed "clinical studies" that PROVED that this program revolutionary system is 5 times more effective than lifting weights. A REAL DOCTOR! In a white lab coat! Wow. So, everybody, toss out all your running clothes and shoes, and send in your money TODAY! You even get a free bonus "success chart" (measuring tape). (I have no financial interest in Shapely Secrets) But seriously folks, in the old west "snake oil salesmen" would be tarred and feathered. Now they're internet millionaires.

Interesting - the "shapely secrets" site names it's parent company - http://www.savvier.com/. They seem to cater to the exersizeically desperate (and ignorant) - 6 second abs, and various other crapola. No one ever lost money underestimating in the intelligence of American consumers... did

I hope someday more Americans will realize that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence," but the sad fact is that as a society we are dumb and getting dumber every day.

Amen.

I love it how science "proves" stuff. That must be some kinda old school science. They don't teach that anymore. But it sounds good in ads. It's amazing to me how often the popular media uses the word "proves" to talk about research findings. Any scientist using that word should have their degree revoked!

I wear a, what was at one time white, lab coat when I teach my HS science classes I even have pocket protectors (2 of them). So by wearing the lab coat make me smarter I see the dumbing of people everyday....... I yearly get my classes to believe that the world is flat and the whole moon landing was filmed in Hollywood. I do later tell them the truth at least the popular one going around right now that the world is round. By the way we are studying the scientific method and not science is created equal.

I heard a radio ad the other day that repeatedly said, "Your credit card debt is not your fault!" Yeah, like the credit company held a gun to your head and forced you to purchase all that crapola like Shapley Secrets, etc. Because it was a radio ad, I couldn't tell if the announcer was wearing a white lab coat. Ha!