How gullible are we?

[The Mad Moderate]

http://www.math.psu.edu/tseng/H2Ojoke.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A student at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26. He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide."
And for plenty of good reasons, since:
it can cause excessive sweating and vomiting
it is a major component in acid rain
it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
accidental inhalation can kill you
it contributes to erosion
it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients
He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical.
Forty-three (43) said yes,
six (6) were undecided,
and only one (1) knew that the chemical was water.
The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?"
He feels the conclusion is obvious.

This scares me for a number of reasons.

[Texas Size 11]

I don't necessarily know if it is gullible or people just do not choose to think anymore. It is a lot easier to just listen and take things at word without taking the time to research what the facts really are and coming up with an educated conclusion.

[Thomas]

While I believe a majority of the population is indeed gullible, I do not believe that joke if true, proves it. I think this just proves that most people can't think critically enough, or has the education to know that "dihydrogen monoxide" means water.

Funny none-the-less however

[Rebel]

This has been circulating on the internet as long as I can remember.

Here is an amusing little Snopes article on it,
http://www.snopes.com/science/dhmo.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The best part by far, is the last paragraph where of course it would be in California. I swear that State never bothers to actually investigate or at least spend 1 minute researching the things it votes on. Its all emotions over there.

[MasterOfNone]

I don't necessarily know if it is gullible or people just do not choose to think anymore. It is a lot easier to just listen and take things at word without taking the time to research what the facts really are and coming up with an educated conclusion.

Isn't that what makes people gullible - just accepting someone else's facts without doing any research to verify them as accurate?

[puma guy]

This has been circulating on the internet as long as I can remember.

Here is an amusing little Snopes article on it,
http://www.snopes.com/science/dhmo.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The best part by far, is the last paragraph where of course it would be in California. I swear that State never bothers to actually investigate or at least spend 1 minute researching the things it votes on. Its all emotions over there.

I once heard California has warning signs on beaches that silica is a carcinogen. Don't breathe the sand!

[rmr1923]

i saw a video online a while back where a young woman carried a petition around some liberal-infested "earth day" festival and tried to get people to sign a petition banning this substance. when she told people what it actually was (water) some of them admitted that they signed it just for the sake of protesting something.

[Texas Size 11]

I don't necessarily know if it is gullible or people just do not choose to think anymore. It is a lot easier to just listen and take things at word without taking the time to research what the facts really are and coming up with an educated conclusion.

Isn't that what makes people gullible - just accepting someone else's facts without doing any research to verify them as accurate?

Yeah, I guess it is. Dictionary.com has this:

"credulous, trusting, naive, innocent, simple, green"

I was thinking it was more like easily fooled, which would be the same thing.

Learned something new today...

[chasfm11]

I don't necessarily know if it is gullible or people just do not choose to think anymore. It is a lot easier to just listen and take things at word without taking the time to research what the facts really are and coming up with an educated conclusion.

Isn't that what makes people gullible - just accepting someone else's facts without doing any research to verify them as accurate?

Yeah, I guess it is. Dictionary.com has this:

"credulous, trusting, naive, innocent, simple, green"

I was thinking it was more like easily fooled, which would be the same thing.

Learned something new today...

I really think that there is another reason. One of the bi-products of our educational system is intolerance for those who question authority. Unfortunately, that pattern carries over into the adult years for many. It is inconceivable to some that organizations be they government or private would knowing lie to them. It isn't as much that they have given up questioning things as the fact that they were conditioned out of doing it.

Then again, there are many for whom the facts are irrelevant. Feelings are more important. "I tot a warm feeling from the young man so I signed his petition."

[JJVP]

Check Penn & Teller video on DHMO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzLs60ZaNW4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[The Annoyed Man]

Check Penn & Teller video on DHMO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzLs60ZaNW4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You beat me to it....
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=yi3erdgVVTw[/youtube]

[steveincowtown]

I have a tshirt that I love to wear to concerts that's says....
"We MUST stop plate tectonics" You would not believe how many people come up and tell me they also support my cause.

[McKnife]

One of the first videos I saw on youtube had a guy going around seeking signatures to "END WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE!!!"

He asked mainly women who related suffrage to suffering... *sigh* it was funny though

Id say less than 5% knew the term.

[steveincowtown]

It was a "Man Show" skit and it was awesome.

[sugar land dave]

A student at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26. He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide."
And for plenty of good reasons, since:
it can cause excessive sweating and vomiting
it is a major component in acid rain
it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
accidental inhalation can kill you
it contributes to erosion
it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients
He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical.
Forty-three (43) said yes,
six (6) were undecided,
and only one (1) knew that the chemical was water.
The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?"

I knew this, but you are right, few did. I sometimes feel shame for our public education system.