What a wonderful forum

[RedShoesBlueState]

I stumbled in here by accident, and have been reading many of the posts here, and the ones linked in other forums. Let me just say "Thank you!" for all you do to debunk the pseudoscience found on this website and elsewhere. Some of the things I've read make me want to pull my hair out and scream. Just one question, to help me understand the slang. What is "woo?" (Besides something my grandmother said my grandfather pitched at her.)

[TZ]

1. Welcome!

Woo is short for woo-woo (crazy sound) usally applied to the paranoid, conspiracy nuts, believers in the paranormal what have you.
Basically people who believe in stuff that has NO scientific evidence or logic.For good examples of woo-woos just read the Health forum. Plenty of good examples there....:rofl: :hi:

[RedShoesBlueState]

2. Thanks -- and I'm a fan

Oh, dear. Does that make me sound like a cyber-stalker? All I mean is....I've read some of your postings in which you try to get the word out to the pseudo crowd, and find myself muttering "Right on."

[varkam]

3. Wilkommen!

I, like you, am very appreciative of this place. There's a lot of crazy shit out there, and the posters here do a fantastic job of debunking it.

:hi:

[RedShoesBlueState]

4. Thanks -- I'm going to try to help

I will try to help, to the extent that I can.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Welcome!

Warning: you will soon be corrupted by all of us Big Pharma shills and worshippers at the altar of reductionist science!

[realisticphish]

6. Howdy-Do

welcome, and don't be shy about posting. Despite what the woos would say, we aren't mean

[TZ]

7. Well, I'm not mean.....

But I DO bite.....:evilgrin:

[Anarcho-Socialist]

8. Big Pharma Central HQ told us they were sending you

Welcome to our operation. Use your NWO Encrypt key for any sensitive information that's inappropriate for public eyes.

The Reptoid masters have been very impressed with your previous work. Now because of you, everyone believes that the Isle of Man exists! Good work.

[salvorhardin]

9. You've got to be careful

This forum beams strange thoughts into your head.
THEQU EENAN DLYND ONLAR OUCHE AREHA VINGA TORRI DAFFA IRXXX :hi:

[NoodleBoy]

10. We need a SS&P Instruction Manual

If it's still done by these guys around here-- I'm not sure-- you'll soon be throwing "Threefer Madness" into threads.

[salvorhardin]

11. These guys?

You're alleging a secret cabal controls SS&P?

You're right of course, but I thought we told you never to talk about that.

[realisticphish]

12. we need to keep a closer eye

on this "Noodle Boy"

[mr blur]

13. Welcome - some stuff here, avatars and things:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=247x13597

and Threefer Madness stuff:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=247&topic_id=11981&mesg_id=11981

[onager]

14. Belated welcome.

:hi:

If you're new to the joy of woo-woo, you might enjoy this site:

http://www.randi.org/

You will probably notice that some (though certainly not all) of us in here are non-religious types. Simply by posting in this group you can get a half-price free membership in the Evil Atheist Conspiracy. You still enjoy all the benefits and privileges of any EAC operative, and get the full New Membership Kit (a Secret Decoder Ring, a rubber chicken, and an Anti-Rapture Helmet).

[mr blur]

16. My Secret Decoder Ring's never worked properly,

I think the Karmic Harmonic Anti-Whackjob Crystals need re-aligning. Or, I dropped it.

[trotsky]

15. Welcome to our happy place. :-)

Orac, who runs a blog called Respectful Insolence (and who is also a FANTASTIC woo-buster) had a great writeup of "What is woo?" awhile back:

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2006/08/reader_mailbag_what_is_woo_1.php

[onager]

19. Hey, thanks Trotsky! I always suspected this.

From the comments to that article. See my gripe in another thread about Amazon's "Recommendations:"

The term woo woo has been used in my industry (publishing/bookselling) for years to describe New Age stuff. Many laughs have been shared over what people will actually buy, but they keep buying it. I guess P.T. Barnum was right, and there is one born every minute. If the woos understood how some authors, and some publishers, are manupulating them, well...it probably wouldn't matter.

I appreciate your point about the double standard used by woos -- skeptical about science -- gullible about anything mystical. Then they accuse skeptics of not being "open".

Personally, I think P.T. Barnum vastly underestimated the birth rate of suckers.

[chicagomd]

17. Welcome,

Please make sure your aura is of appropriate color before posting.

[dropkickpa]

18. Welcome!

Feel free to post pictures of your indigo children if you have them. I have one, see my sig pic.