In article <[email hidden]>,
Quoted message said:In most discussions on this board the term "Altie" is thrown around
quite a bit. I have a very simple question, could I please get a
definition here ? Does this term refer to MD's who provide alternative
treatments and methodologies, Acupuncturists, Chiro's,Psychologists,
Psychics, Integrative, Complimentary or some combination of all the
above?
Some, but not most, of them. (See below.)
Quoted message said:Does an ALTIE incude "anyone" who does not perform
scientifically( correction double blind, ranomized model)proven
techniques and treatments?
No. (See below.)
Quoted message said:Are all ALTIES considered quacks?
No, but a distressingly large number of them seem to be.
Quoted message said:Are all
quacks considered ALTIES?
No, but quacks do seem to favor cloaking their snake oil in the mantle
of "alternative" medicine, the better to sell it.
Quoted message said:What if a conventional MD gives a
homeopathic remedy? Is he/she then considered a quack?
Because homeopathy quackery is quackery in my opinion, my answer would
be yes. Others may disagree with me.
Quoted message said:What are the
parameters and limits to this term ? Is it considered unethical to
help someone with an alternative treatment?
It depends on the situation and the specific alternative treatment.
Quoted message said:Is the only truth accepted
here science?
It is the only reliable method of finding out which treatments work and
which don't and for what situations. There are other methods, but they
are not nearly as reliable.
Quoted message said:Who's science ?
Good science is good science. It is irrelevant who does it. If more
"alties" did good science (or any halfway acceptable science at all, in
some cases), they would have a much higher degree of credibility.
Quoted message said:I know my simple question turned into a
slew of questions and I am sorry about that.Or does it come down to
any practice listed on Barretts webite and BAM you are an "ALTIE"
signed, sealed, and delivered. One more question, if an ALTIE method
becomes valid through scientific discovery are you the considered an
"UNALTIE" ? Just wondering and curious as to the answers.....
Although I suspect the above is just another anti-medicine rant (given
the large number of rather hostile questions), I will try to answer.
I used to throw the term around more than I do now. I backed off a bit,
although I still use the term sometimes when it seems appropriate. To me
at least, "alties," as opposed to those who are simply interested in
alternative medicine or practice it, are either alternative medicine
advocates or practitioners who are characterized by their intense (and
all too often irrational) mistrust and demonization of conventional
medicine (often to the point where it seems to me as though they believe
that conventional medicine can do nothing right); a blind faith in any
"alternative" treatments, such that they will almost never speak ill of
any alternative medicine treatment modality or practitioner; and a
reliance on testimonial and anecdote over clinical trials to convince
them what works. Others may have somewhat different definitions.
As for your last question, when an "altie" method (as you put it) is
validated through clinical trials, it usually becomes accepted as
mainstream or "conventional" therapy. Sadly, few alternative medicine
treatments thus far have proven themselves this way.
That's what I generally mean when I refer to "alties."
--
Orac |"A statement of fact cannot be insolent."
|
|"If you cannot listen to the answers, why do you
| inconvenience me with questions?"
