Is it better to keep silent or even lie to not ruin people's hope, or to be honest and dispel myths?

[Ambi]

I face a dilemma every time someone brings up faith solutions or alternative medicine. Sometimes I don't know what to do in situations where I can either be honest and possibly ruin the placebo effect and come across as annoying, or to keep quiet or even play along, just for the sake of making people feel better. In cases where alternative treatments can be physically harmful, or where someone I know appears to be joining a dangerous cult because they promise them hope, it's easy to see the right thing to do but it's harder when the lies seem more innocuous.

I believe that society should move on from pseudo-science and dependence on myths because it's just wrong. Their propagation relies on sales pitch/preaching, anecdotal evidence, and/or shoddy journalism, and people lap it all up because their vulnerabilities have been exploited. This type of "thinking" cause unnecessary division and these things can be genuinely dangerous when people take them really seriously. Amongst other things, they can cause people to deny themselves or their families evidence-based medicine in favor of some kind of miracle herbal cure, vote for Family First (aka Australian Censorship Party) solely because they're Christian, speak out against homosexuality and make gay kids want to kill themselves, and generally get people in the habit of thinking it's okay to not critically think about what they believe (not that I always get it right, but I try).

There can be personal benefits to believing in things that are illogical. As Cavan pointed out to me in the "Wait, people actually spend money on this?" thread, alternative medicine can actually have some tangible health benefits. People have ailments they don't really need drugs for, but they're still looking for something to make them feel better, and it's better taking a harmless placebo than unnecessary antibiotics or taking drugs with side effects.

Whenever I have to go to church with my parents and it's that part of the service where everyone who feels like they need prayer from everyone puts their hand up, I always hope no-one near me does. The pastor tells everyone about the power of standing together in faith, and there can be power in that despite whether God exists or not, so I contemplate whether or not I should at least reach out my hand or something to not ruin the whole effect of everyone standing together in a gesture of support, even if I'd just feel fake because the idea of interventionary prayer (aka an almighty all-seeing loving God having to be told who to bless by fickle, limited humans) seems absurd to me. I hold my tongue when some people who are close to me and/or aren't particularly intellectual talk about God sometimes because I feel bad for ruining their hope. When my mother went to buy some homeopathic "melatonin" sleeping pills, I tried to explain how homeopathy is BS, but she got annoyed at me and said she wasn't in the mood and she wasted her money on those pills anyway, am I being a jerk for trying to tell her the truth? I'd already tried to tell her I had my doubts about that ancient health tonic with unrecognisable ingredients earlier that day.

What would you do? In what situations should we speak up?

 

[Pearwood]

Be honest. Alternative medicines can work, most drugs were discovered in plants at first so there's good science to that but stuff like homeopathy is just evil. Not only does it not work but it persuades people who could be quite ill not to receive real medical treatment. Just don't be a jerk about it, if it's only a cold or something then let them have the placebo.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Unless such things are actively harming an individual, just shut up. No one ever got convinced God was wrong by some kid running around a Church, calling everyone ridiculously. Especially since the power of prayer has been shown to work (Though not in the way most prayers would think).

But if someones try to treat bone cancer with herbs and good intentions, well... now the game changes.

 

[Jory]

My mother went to some alternative therapy because she had pain and restricted movement in her arm. She's not a crazy hippy, but the doctors couldn't do anything for it.

But hey, it worked. Whether it was a placebo or not doesn't matter I guess.

My stance is, if they've exhausted the avenues of science, and alternative therapies help them in some way, then leave them too it.

Although I do think it's all a load of hot air.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Be honest. Alternative medicines can work, most drugs were discovered in plants at first so there's good science to that but stuff like homeopathy is just evil.

"What do you call alternative medicine that's been proved to work... Medicine" - Tim Minchin


I'd generally advocate telling the truth. Gently if possible, but firmly when needed.

Medicine is serious business. You don't fuck about with lies and half-truths with medicine. Ok, you shouldn't as a rule anyway, but especially not in this case.

 

[Sam Warrior]

Some alternative medicines do have some effects in some people but homoeopathy is complete bull, things like acupuncture do seem to have genuine medicinal effects we just don't know how they work. In my opinion alternative medicine isn't a bad thing but it shouldn't be used as a replacement for actual medical help. I agree with talking people out of homoeopathy but you shouldn't mess with other peoples faiths, if they believe it good for them, however that doesn't mean you need to take part or encourage them, if you don't believe in it why do you go to church in the first place?

 

[William Beattie]

Be honest is my advice don't go around shoving it down peoples throats but you aren't helping them by letting them give their money and hope to a charalatan with a bottle of basically just water in their hand. My main concern with this thinking is the children fo these people how may be denied proper healthcare in exchange for hocus. It boils down there should be clear govermental regulation on these practices but there isn't anyone can claim to be an homeopathy practitioner or acupuncterist etc these practices aren't controlled and are dangerous.

 

[Flamezdudes]

I faced this question when my girlfriend told me that her neighbour thought the stray cat that visits the residents in the street for food was his dead wife and she told me that she hadn't said anything. I wasn't exactly very happy about it really since I think its wrong to leave people to be delusional when its so obviously wrong, people shouldn't be living lies.

 

[AnkaraTheFallen]

It's not a black or white thing, in some cases I'd feel I need to be honest with people, but with others I'd think it best to not say anything. It comes down to a lot of other circumstances as well.

 

[darth.pixie]

Lie or don't say a thing. Everyone can do whatever they want. If they would have wanted to learn more about things, they would have and unless it harms them, you don't have much of a reason to spoil it for them. You'll just upset them and it's not like they will suddenly see the light.

 

[Ickorus]

Alternative medicine is only alternative until it's discovered through science to work, then it becomes real medicine.

The thing with alternative medicine is that some of it does indeed work but unfortunately there is also a lot of bullcrap as well, science has the fun job of sifting out the real stuff from the fake.

I would say you should ask people why they think it would work and then give your opinion on the matter, none of that "WHAT YOU THINK IS WRONG AND YOU ARE STUPID!" crap, just give your opinion on the matter and leave the person to it.

That is unless what they plan on doing is dangerous to them or others, then tell them to cut that shit out.

 

[jprf]

Alternative medicine is only alternative until it's discovered through science to work, then it becomes real medicine.

The thing with alternative medicine is that some of it does indeed work but unfortunately there is also a lot of bullcrap as well, science has the fun job of sifting out the real stuff from the fake.

I would say you should ask people why they think it would work and then give your opinion on the matter, none of that "WHAT YOU THINK IS WRONG AND YOU ARE STUPID!" crap, just give your opinion on the matter and leave the person to it.

That is unless what they plan on doing is dangerous to them or others, then tell them to cut that shit out.

I agree with this wholeheartedly.

Incidentally, I just nearly pushed my monitor off the desk trying to smush your avatar. Feeling like an absolute genius right now...

 

[Jonluw]

I have a policy of honesty for the most part, so I will normally tell people when I think they're just plain wrong.
However, I have learned that people won't listen to you anyways and will only get pissy about it, so I mostly just ignore it when my friend tells me that his cousin is a proper tarot reader for example.
But that case is a bit special because I know that friend of mine is easily convinced by anecdotal evidence and superstition so I normally ignore a lot of the shit he says.
Ironically he is really critical to religion.

 

[SilentCom]

The problem is actually knowing for certain. Most of what we take in life is on belief. The reason why I say this is that even what we hear of science, we take as a belief or trust. We trust scientists and therefore listen to what they say. Most of us haven't done the actual experiments for everything scientific therefore we cannot say for certain that they are true. Scientists can make mistakes and present biases like anyone else so science can have flaws if not done correctly. We also take modern medicine on trust/ belief that our problems will get better. The truth is that many (if not all) have side-effects and can potentially be as harmful as many non-modern medicines. Ever notice all the medicine commercials with a quick run through of side-effects?

The question here is, do you know for certain that the path they choose will lead them to destruction? and if so, do they know what they are getting themselves into?

 

[Antari]

Honestly is usually the best option, even if a bit of damage is done it will likely be alot less than the alternative. People tend to work better when they have all the information.

 

[ALuckyChance]

I prefer crushing people's hopes only when they ask for my opinion. Don't want to intrude, you understand.

Unless it's life threatening or something. Then I'll definately be on their ass.

 

[staika]

I came in here thinking this was going to be a bash on religion, luckily I was wrong for the most part.

OT: Unless it is harming someone or has the potential to harm someone I don't see why we should tell people that their beliefs are wrong. Medicine is a different thing altogether because of the harm it can do to people and I think if it even has a 1% chance of killing you then they should tell you.

 

[Nudu]

Alternative medicine is dangerous. If someone comes in with just more money then sense looking for expensive Placebo it's no big deal. But if one day someone is actually sick and you perscribe them Aquamarine Quartz and a glass of basically pure water, there's a problem.