# Aspenglow's Modding In Accupuncture Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 2, 2025, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspenglows-modding-in-accupuncture-thread/1013778 "2025-02-02T20:55:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 26
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspenglows-modding-in-accupuncture-thread/1013778/26 "2025-02-03T19:23:26Z")
I wanted to circle back to this point for a bit. > [@DocCathode](#): > > My posts in tha thread were arguing for evidenced based medicine and against wasting time and money on things never proven to have a beneficial effect beyond placebo. And for context on my views, a quote on myself from upthread as well > [@ParallelLines](#): > > I think the general tone of the thread was concern that rather than jumping to an unproven alternative, that they actually consult with a specialist in the area, rather than a PCP. Which makes perfect sense. And that the symptoms reported did NOT match what most would expect to be the norm for age and usual wear and tear. > > Ulfrieda’s comments, while IMHO not helpful in terms of a verifiable treatment were within the realms of the thread, which did specifically ask for input on Acupuncture, but did not provide any of the evidence the thread asked for. And they were, from the get go, overly aggressive and insulting to “Western Medicine”. I think part of the problem in threads of this nature is the conflict between the board ethos in “fighting ignorance” and the understanding that science isn’t (or shouldn’t be) a _faith_. Science is, at it’s simplest, “Trust but verify”. Or at least trust that the people doing the verification can be trusted! The difficulty in the spawning thread is that the OP did explicitly open the door to acupuncture, which, minor aside, I have no reasons to say anyone can’t try BUT _when other, verifiable options have been exhausted_. And the OP of the original thread was far from that point. Trying to not refight the points in the thread, because that’s not what ATMB is about, instead I want to get to what we as a board _should_ expect in a thread. I do think that in almost any thread on this board, if someone were to bring up anecdotal information without any verifiable support, especially in a situation where health or other serious consequences were to exist, they would be treated… poorly. And, entirely IMHO, this is what happened to Ulfreida. Especially after the line I hinted at upthread, which I will quote in full this time: > [@Acupuncture for lower back pain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acupuncture-for-lower-back-pain/1013690/28): > > Western medicine is shitty for any kind of chronic pain or anything that surgery won’t help. Great for appendicitis, but not for what you describe. Note, this is the _first_ time Ulfreida posted to the thread. That was confrontational, albeit included a qualifier. It’s also the _last_ line of a post that had more helpful (IMHO again) information, of Pilates, or other physical action or therapy that could be helpful. Why do I bring all of this up and risk refighting the old thread? Because since we’re here in ATMB, I wonder if IMHO should include a minor sub-rule similar to the “no political jabs” exception for "Breaking News threads in the otherwise pretty free MPSIMS forum, and often for the same reason. Especially when it comes to medical advice, the board asks for and gets a lot of qualifiers anyway, and it’s an area in modern America where non-proven, and often actively harmful supplements, treatments, and diets are largely unregulated and puts a ton of people at risk. Which is why the Quarantine zone needed to be pretty tightly moderated. Going forward, I really do think the mods, possibly with one of our retired medically informed posters should think about if we should have some _wide_ guidelines about such information. I fully expect this to be an unpopular idea with all, and very possibly considered a non-issue since the number of people visiting is so small, but I personally would be concerned that people like @GailForce from the original OP would come in and see support to skip the steps to rule out a viable existing treatment and jump to an unproven one. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspenglows-modding-in-accupuncture-thread/1013778)._