OK I admit it: I had a Beevis and Butthead moment with this one, too.
As I said, I was asking why** intelligent** people buy it. :rolleyes:
You seriously don’t know what I meant by that? Do I really have to explain?
:rolleyes:
Yes. Please do.
Wait…why do you believe that these overpriced vitamin pills are a type of cold and flu medication?
Unless there have been scientific studies ruling out airborne as effective against any symptoms, it seems like the rational position would be slightly (barely above neutral) on the favorable side given that there have been studies showing some amount of effectiveness for some of the ingredients (although you could probably get these through diet).
For example, here is recent research on antioxidants and the flu (note: airborne does have antioxidants).
http://machineslikeus.com/news/scientists-discover-influenzas-achilles-heel-antioxidants
Okay, just to clarify and reiterate my question: I’m not interested in a debate about whether this scam-pill “works”. The question is also not about why stupid/gullible/ill-educated people buy and use it, that obviously begs the question. 
What baffles me is why SMART, High-IQ, and highly educated people buy it. People who should know better…
Re-read my post. I didn’t say Cold FX (and I’m only talking about Cold FX) is a cold/flu medication, I said it helps to shorten the duration and severity. I actually made a point of making that differentiation.
Vitamin C, D and zinc can help, as can echinacia, and a number of other vitamins and minerals. Rather then taking them all seperately, I take them at once. Doctors recommend the same.
When I say natural, I mean things found in the natural environment that could help with a cold or flu. I obviously don’t mean I’m going to eat lead and arsnic. Don’t be a moron.
Don’t you think that the decision to buy or not by a high-IQ educated person should include information regarding whether the product works?
If it is just the placebo effect, what’s wrong with that?
I mean, let’s say I’m drinking expensive colored water and my belief in its effectiveness boosts my immune response and I avoid the cold despite the total worthlessness of the product. I still had an immune boost and I still avoided the cold!
There is scientific evidence that the placebo effect can do things like boost the immune system, reduce perceived pain and more. As long as the product yielded the effect that I wanted, it doesn’t really bother me that I did it through self-deception rather than verifiable science.
It’s certainly better than taking some “real medicine” that causes a whole list of scientifically proven bad side effects.
You said you take it “rather then regular cold and flu medication”. What do you mean by “regular”?
Benadryl, Tylonol cold and flu, etc., etc. I try not to take that stuff unless I need to, like if I have a fever. If I can feel better drinking ginger tea rather then eating Tums, I do. Same with helping cold and flu symptoms. If I can feel a bit better by taking Cold FX, then I’ll take that rather then doping myself up.
If it doesn’t work as well as regular cold/flu medication, but I can handle it, well, then I’m glad I didn’t have to put that stuff in my body. I realize regular medicine isn’t going to cause too much harm, but neither is smoking a cigarette once a week. It’s the principle.
I re-read my post, and you’re right, I did say I used it as a medication (and I do, by the strict definition of the word). Sorry for the confustion.
I took too much Cold FX this morning and I’m all kinds of fucked up.
(I kid)
Isn’t it true though that a vitamin C boost helps the immune system? I mean that’s essentially all Airborne is… I think most people know there’s no cure for the common cold except their own immune system, and improving its capability is the goal of Airborne I believe.
I still don’t understand why you stuck the word “regular” in there.
If you’d said you take it “rather then cold and flu medication” that would make sense. But by inserting the word “regular” in there, you are indicating that you believe that Airborne/Cold FX/whatever are a type of cold and flu medication, just not the “regular” type.
Sure, I’ll concede that point. I just consider that type of medication ‘regular’ and homeopathic medication as ‘natural’. Different ways of thinking.
Ok, on to the next term. Airborne is just a outrageously overpriced vitamin pill. It is not a “medication”.
Some would say it’s a type of naturopathic medication.
I just looked up the definition of medication, and some sources say ‘something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease’ (Princton U), and some say it is 'A pharmaceutical drug…".
So, I guess that point depends on your definition of medication.