A Reminder: Your Brain Alone Is Not Reliable

Recently, I have received a great deal of push-back on my Facebook page regarding some topics, for example: chiropractic, acupuncture, corporal punishment, GMOs, and nuclear power. Frankly, their arguments are no different than the Intelligent Design folks. As I frequently say, tell me what other than the consensus of scientists actually working in the discipline under discussion will give you a better understanding of reality regarding such.

Regarding consumer products, including food from GMOs, unfortunately, there is a strong unsupported conspiracy theory that for-profit corporations cannot perform unbiased scientific studies. Should we ignore any research funded by companies or special interest groups? Certainly not. These groups provide invaluable funding for scientific research. Furthermore, science has many safeguards in place to catch instances of bias that affect research outcomes. Ultimately, misleading results will be corrected as science proceeds. (link)(link)

The Latest On Spanking: STILL Don't Do It

The latest research reveals that 80% of parents spank their children, in spite of decades-long research on the subject showing its negative effects. Click on the link below for a *podcast that presents the details of the latest comprehensive study showing that spanking has no redeeming value. (*Warning: the banter between the hosts is too over-the-top for my liking)

Comment: in researching this subject, the only links in support of spanking were religious sites. Think about it.

Science Says Don't Spank Your Kids 

A Quality Study Showing The Negative Effect Of Spanking

"The more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents and to experience increased anti-social behavior, aggression, mental health problems and cognitive difficulties, according to a new meta-analysis of 50 years of research on spanking by experts at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan."

Risks of Harm from Spanking Confirmed by Analysis of Five Decades of Research