Question about business ethics as it pertains to pseudoscience

[Orrex]

I sell a small number of jewelry pieces on Etsy, along with an assortment of accessories, etc. Some of the bracelets and necklaces are made--in whole or in part--of copper. So here's my problem:

I don't believe in the famous mystical healing properties of that lovely metal, but does that preclude me from touting those properties as a selling point? What about if I describe these properties as "legendary" or "some people claim..." or the like?

I'm not wholly without scruples, and I decided long ago that I wouldn't pursue a job as a mystical scam artist even though I'm very confident that I could get by as a "psychic reader." But would it be crossing that same line to refer to copper's more fantastical properties?


Incidentally, I have a bridge to sell you.

[SheilaT]

1. It's perfectly ethical, I would think,

to mention that some of the jewelry that contains copper. Those who think that's important, will be very happy to learn about the copper. Those who judge the jewelry on some other basis are also okay.

[Orrex]

2. Well, I typically do list the materials, because I want people to know what they're buying

The question is, more specifically, about the purported healing powers. As a non-believer, would it be wrong for me to refer to these properties, knowing that some shoppers might be drawn in by such a claim?

[laconicsax]

3. "Some people" is a good line.

"This bracelet contains copper, which is highly valued by some people for its healing properties," although that's definitely in a gray area.

You could, however, make reference to copper's antimicrobial properties, which are fairly well documented, though not well understood.

[provis99]

4. as long as you don't lie, it's fine.

Say that "some people believe...". That isn't a lie.

[Dr. Strange]

5. Is the bridge made of copper?

[MineralMan]

6. When I used to sell mineral specimens to collectors,

I began to find myself in a strange situation. I kept getting emails from people asking for minerals for use in "healing." Now, I had the minerals in my stock, but could I sell them to these people? My decision was not to sell them if a person told me they were going to use the specimen in some "metaphysical" way. I arrived at that decision when a woman wrote to me about a botryoidal malachite specimen that was a long domed cylinder. She told me she had uterine cancer and was going to use it in her "healing." I thought about how it might be used, wrote to her, advising her to seek professional medical advice, and refused to sell her the specimen. From that time on, any mention of a metaphysical use for one of my specimens became grounds for refusing to sell it to that person.

My ethics simply wouldn't allow it.