Why not pray for self improvement? Placebos work regardless.

Keep It Real · #1 by **Keep It Real** » Feb 12, 2016 5:27 pm

So placebos work even if those taking them know they are placebos. Therefore if you pray for improvements in your character, asking god to strengthen and guide you, this should be effective even if there is no god. I'm going to pray for fortitude tonight, I think.

ScholasticSpastic · #2 by **ScholasticSpastic** » Feb 12, 2016 5:36 pm

Keep It Real wrote:So placebos work even if those taking them know they are placebos. Therefore if you pray for improvements in your character, asking god to strengthen and guide you, this should be effective even if there is no god. I'm going to pray for fortitude tonight, I think.

I suppose you could, but since we're knowingly picking a ritual behavior which we know to be silliness, wouldn't it make more sense to pick one that's more fun?

Ironclad · #3 by **Ironclad** » Feb 12, 2016 5:37 pm

''Therefore..''

BlackBart · #4 by **BlackBart** » Feb 12, 2016 6:06 pm

Keep It Real wrote:So placebos work even if those taking them know they are placebos. Therefore if you pray for improvements in your character, asking god to strengthen and guide you, this should be effective even if there is no god. I'm going to pray for fortitude tonight, I think.

If you want. :coffee:

laklak · #5 by **laklak** » Feb 12, 2016 6:13 pm

Beer works better for me. Real beer, not placebo beer.

BlackBart · #6 by **BlackBart** » Feb 12, 2016 6:15 pm

laklak wrote:Beer works better for me. Real beer, not placebo beer.

Hallelujah brother. :beercheers:

Fallible · #7 by **Fallible** » Feb 12, 2016 6:43 pm

I'm going to pray my arthritis away, because placebos work, even if I know I'm taking a placebo.

Ironclad · #8 by **Ironclad** » Feb 12, 2016 6:45 pm

Can a placebo counteract the placebo I took earlier for botty gas? I feel empty :waah:

Thommo · #9 by **Thommo** » Feb 12, 2016 6:48 pm

ScholasticSpastic wrote:
Keep It Real wrote:So placebos work even if those taking them know they are placebos. Therefore if you pray for improvements in your character, asking god to strengthen and guide you, this should be effective even if there is no god. I'm going to pray for fortitude tonight, I think.

I suppose you could, but since we're knowingly picking a ritual behavior which we know to be silliness, wouldn't it make more sense to pick one that's more fun?

Are you suggesting he should masturbate for fortitude tonight? :ask:

ScholasticSpastic · **#10** by **ScholasticSpastic** » Feb 12, 2016 6:54 pm

Thommo wrote:
ScholasticSpastic wrote:
Keep It Real wrote:So placebos work even if those taking them know they are placebos. Therefore if you pray for improvements in your character, asking god to strengthen and guide you, this should be effective even if there is no god. I'm going to pray for fortitude tonight, I think.

I suppose you could, but since we're knowingly picking a ritual behavior which we know to be silliness, wouldn't it make more sense to pick one that's more fun?

Are you suggesting he should masturbate for fortitude tonight?

Is masturbation a ritualistic behavior? :think:

Thommo · **#11** by **Thommo** » Feb 12, 2016 6:59 pm

ScholasticSpastic wrote:
Thommo wrote:
ScholasticSpastic wrote:
Keep It Real wrote:So placebos work even if those taking them know they are placebos. Therefore if you pray for improvements in your character, asking god to strengthen and guide you, this should be effective even if there is no god. I'm going to pray for fortitude tonight, I think.

I suppose you could, but since we're knowingly picking a ritual behavior which we know to be silliness, wouldn't it make more sense to pick one that's more fun?

Are you suggesting he should masturbate for fortitude tonight?

Is masturbation a ritualistic behavior?

If you do it right. :naughty2:

ScholasticSpastic · **#12** by **ScholasticSpastic** » Feb 12, 2016 7:02 pm

Thommo wrote:
ScholasticSpastic wrote:
Thommo wrote:
ScholasticSpastic wrote:
I suppose you could, but since we're knowingly picking a ritual behavior which we know to be silliness, wouldn't it make more sense to pick one that's more fun?

Are you suggesting he should masturbate for fortitude tonight?

Is masturbation a ritualistic behavior?

If you do it right.

Like in a group? Like Wiccans? :thumbup:

Thomas Eshuis · **#13** by **Thomas Eshuis** » Feb 12, 2016 7:12 pm

Because placebos don't rely on the premise that you're powerless.

Thommo · **#14** by **Thommo** » Feb 12, 2016 7:14 pm

ScholasticSpastic wrote:Like in a group? Like Wiccans?

Absolutely, it's more fun if you bring a friend and maybe some candles. :thumbup:

Thommo · **#15** by **Thommo** » Feb 12, 2016 7:16 pm

Seriously though, you may as well rearrange your furniture as pray, it can have an equally beneficial effect. Just remember that the effect tails off over time, so you'll need to move it back again in a few weeks for further benefits to fortitude.

Weaver · **#16** by **Weaver** » Feb 12, 2016 7:23 pm

One primary reason not to rely upon placebo effect - from any source, whether it's pseudoscience, pseudomedicine, or religion - is that a large portion of "placebo effect" is simply measurement error and various uncontrolled biases. It isn't any sort of effect whatsoever, just random chance appearing as a measurable statistic or bias on the part of the "patient" or "researcher."

I don't know about anyone else, but I"m not going to try to shape my well-being around statistical errors.

The_Metatron · **#17** by **The_Metatron** » Feb 12, 2016 7:27 pm

laklak wrote:Beer works better for me. Real beer, not placebo beer.

The_Metatron · **#18** by **The_Metatron** » Feb 12, 2016 7:28 pm

Weaver wrote:One primary reason not to rely upon placebo effect - from any source, whether it's pseudoscience, pseudomedicine, or religion - is that a large portion of "placebo effect" is simply measurement error and various uncontrolled biases. It isn't any sort of effect whatsoever, just random chance appearing as a measurable statistic or bias on the part of the "patient" or "researcher."

I don't know about anyone else, but I"m not going to try to shape my well-being around statistical errors.

No shit, there. Remove ambiguity, and prayer does nothing. Always.

Ravenloonatikk · **#19** by **Ravenloonatikk** » Feb 12, 2016 7:36 pm

Mmmmmmmm... BEER

:beer:

I'll have an Iron Horse Quilters Irish Death.

Keep It Real · **#20** by **Keep It Real** » Feb 12, 2016 7:56 pm

Thomas Eshuis wrote:Because placebos don't rely on the premise that you're powerless.

Er, yes they do. If an ailment could be cured through self-help no placebo would be recommended...

Why not pray for self improvement? Placebos work regardless.

Why not pray for self improvement? Placebos work regardless.

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