I pressed enter and after an ominous few seconds a notice popped up saying 'post failed, try again later'. Was the content way too long? Is there some kind of DRM embedded? Does Facebook censor any in depth discussion around 911? Are little red lights going off in a low slung building west of the Potomac River? Or, am I a victim of exactly what this blog posting is about.
Title: Watch the Movie, Sod the Facts.
I have always been fascinated by the urge that many people have to buy into conspiracy theories with a zeal that is hyper religious in nature, blind to alternative and inherently lazy. As a documentary maker I have also been interested in how production values in a movie can be mated with dubious pseudo-science and construct an emotional convincing and seemingly true narrative.
This is also a sideways look at the nature of Facebook, the realms that we can enter as parallel engagements with people we know in real life.
So it went with what started as an innocent call to sign a petition against the regulation of so called natural medicinal products by the EU. People on social media love signing petitions and there are plenty around. With the flick of a finger we can save the rain forest or, as in this case, confirm our belief in the evil nature of Big Pharma and corporate capitalism. However, if we pause and consider the actual dictates and purposes of the regulatory laws we should understand that (1) it does not affect my right to pick comfrey tea in my garden and (2) it protects me against the many dangers inherent in untested medication sold by equally profit-based entrepeneurs.
But this post is less about this than where it led to. Read on! This is all about Science V Irrational Belief.
Reprinted from Facebook:
Helge Janssen shared a link
avaaz.org
They take away herbal medicines, next minute they will be banning fruit. Sign the petition!
