# "We don't subscribe to the germ theory." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 25, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512 "2003-10-25T17:12:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/61 "2003-10-28T00:02:11Z")
No, no, no. Gay is the new Jewish, Latin is the new black, and Asian is new Native American. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/62 "2003-10-28T00:28:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*Looks like sometimes even doctors need adjustments. \*\* Sounds like they need adjusting with a two by four… Are chiropractors really “doctors”, as in M.D.s, or do they just have some degree like “Doctor of Chiropractic” that isn’t any more medical than a PhD or EdD? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/63 "2003-10-28T00:32:10Z")
I think it actually says “Doctor of Luhhrrrv” on the sheepskin. (The sheepskin _what_, you ask…) ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/64 "2003-10-28T00:33:25Z")
They have separate schools, and generally have somewhat lower admissions standards than regular medical school. That’s about all I know, except from what I’ve heard there must be a lot of crap taught at a lot of those schools. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/65 "2003-10-28T00:39:50Z")
The one and only time I went to a chiropractor’s office I made the mistake of asking him if it was for real. Twenty minutes later he was still yelling at me.😃 I think he needed an adjustment… He gave my hubby a nice 10 minute free intro adjustment though. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/66 "2003-10-28T00:47:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bump \* > \*\* Are chiropractors really “doctors”, as in M.D.s, or do they just have some degree like “Doctor of Chiropractic” that isn’t any more medical than a PhD or EdD? \*\* Chiropracters hold a “Doctor of Chiropractic” degree, or DC. They are not Medical Doctors (MD) or Doctors of Osteopathy (DO), both of which constitutute the mainstream in evidence-based medicine (ideally. there’s quite a few MD and DO types out there who need their associations tightened). ---
**Author:** ![Althea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@Althea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Althea)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/67 "2003-10-28T01:28:52Z")
Regarding the feng shui thing: If you leave out all the mysticism, it’s the same basic room layout theories that architects and interior designers apply with some “put your stuff away when you’re not using it” thrown in. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/68 "2003-10-28T01:29:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whiterabbit \* > \*\*They have separate schools, and generally have somewhat lower admissions standards than regular medical school. That’s about all I know, except from what I’ve heard there must be a lot of crap taught at a lot of those schools. \*\* The “accredited” chiropractic schools say they require the equivalent of two years of college credits for admission, and you have to meet the minimum of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for the required courses, and a whopping 2.5 overall. :rolleyes: This doesn’t exactly reel in [the best and the brightest](http://www.chirobase.org/03Edu/adm.html) compared to medical, dental and osteopathic schools (for example). [This site](http://www.chirobase.org) is a good source of skeptical viewpoints on chiropractic. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/69 "2003-10-28T17:12:07Z")
Heh. In highschool, I had a chiropractor as a teacher in my early-morning religion class. He was nice enough, but one day started telling us how he got started as a chiropractor–he had gone to a seminar, and had been told all about the oneness of the universe and holistic whatever and energy essences permeating the universe. He said that he had thought, “yeah, that’s like the gospel, that’s what I believe!” I don’t know what the other kids thought of that (they might have been shellshocked, I dunno), but I was sitting there thinking, “no it’s not, you doofus, it’s total nonsense!”\* Anyway, pretty soon he was telling us how you get started as a chiropractor. Teacher: And so then you ask your satisfied clients to give you a testimonial, like I might ask Mr. Otherguy’sname over here (gestures toward Otherguy): Otherguy: (befuddled) Uh, yeah. Genie: _oh please ask me, please ask me_ Teacher: And then I might ask Miss Genie over here: Genie: I buh-_lieve_! Teacher: (steadfastly ignores genie and quickly moves on to a new topic) It’s not much, but it’s one of the few successful smart-aleck moments in my life, and affords me great emotional satisfaction. \*Yes, I realize that many of you feel that religion is also total nonsense. It is at the least a different and incompatible view of How Things Work than chiropracticy (chiromancy? how do you say that?). Please do not interrupt my semi-funny story. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![brettzwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@brettzwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brettzwo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/70 "2003-12-03T18:09:06Z")
The original Germ Theory said that you get diseases by coming in contact with germs. This is not true since we are in constant contact with germs. Our body is always filled with them. We get diseases because our immune system is weakened or unable to fight off these germs. That is what the Chiropractor meant when he said he didn’t subscribe to germ theory. Modern Medicine doesn’t subscribe to it either! ---
**Author:** ![brettzwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@brettzwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brettzwo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/71 "2003-12-03T18:21:46Z")
The original Germ Theory said that you get diseases by coming in contact with germs. It said that if you come into contact with a germ, you will get the disease it carries without exception. This is not true since we are in constant contact with germs that carry diseases and don’t get the diseases necessarily. I don’t get all of the colds, flus, etc. my children come down with and I know we swap alot of slobber. The Germ Theory says that I should get every disease that I come in contact with as a result of swapping slobber with my kids. We get diseases because our immune system is weakened or unable to fight off these germs. That is what the Chiropractor meant when he said he didn’t subscribe to Germ Theory. Modern Medicine doesn’t subscribe to it either! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/72 "2003-12-03T18:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brettzwo \* > \*\*The original Germ Theory said that you get diseases by coming in contact with germs. It said that if you come into contact with a germ, you will get the disease it carries without exception. This is not true since we are in constant contact with germs that carry diseases and don’t get the diseases necessarily. I don’t get all of the colds, flus, etc. my children come down with and I know we swap alot of slobber. The Germ Theory says that I should get every disease that I come in contact with as a result of swapping slobber with my kids. We get diseases because our immune system is weakened or unable to fight off these germs. > > That is what the Chiropractor meant when he said he didn’t subscribe to Germ Theory. Modern Medicine doesn’t subscribe to it either! \*\* 😕 Where did you come up with this? It sounds like a 3-year-old’s explanation of how you contract diseases. Germ theory is simply a descriptor for the recognition that microbes cause some diseases. There is no requirement that contact with said microbes will cause disease without exception. When a chiropractor says that he does not subscribe to germ theory, he means that he prefers to spread the misinformation that spinal misalignments are the cause of disease, rather than microbes, because he can claim to fix spinal misalignments and get paid for it. ---
**Author:** ![Astra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@Astra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astra)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/73 "2003-12-03T18:42:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Yes, I’m sure that somewhere there is a “legitimate” chiropracter who treats sore necks and backs without resorting to “subluxation” mumbo-jumbo, “Qi” energy, full body x-rays, “auras” or any of the other quackery that has come to define the practice. I have yet to hear of such a person, however, and I tend to think that if such a person exists he is working under the title “physical therapist” instead. > > Barry \*\* You should meet the chiropractors in my local clinic. Not one of them has ever spouted crap like that. If your back hurts, they fix it. My mom has some rib problems and they’ve helped her a great deal. She went in, they took some x-rays, then used a couple of machines (I don’t know what they are called, but they are tables with built-in massage devices) to relax the muscles that were cramping and causing her the most pain. Only parting advice was instructions on how to use ice packs and heating pads to maximum benefit on the area. Mom’s been going there for a couple years now and the frequency and intensity of her back problems has drastically decreased. I feel sorry for the legit doctors who have to deal with their reputations being damaged by all the quacks out there. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Peter\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/74 "2003-12-03T21:13:14Z")
> [@](#): > > “We don’t subscribe to the germ theory.” Wow! I think they’re on to something with this. Let me go on record right now as opting out of the following; •morning breath •Type II diabetes •aging •theory of blunt/penetrating trauma causing injury or death •freeway traffic •AOL disks in the mail and the perfect surreal quote for this brand of head in the sand thinking . . . “Or else Pizza is gonna send out for _you_!” ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/75 "2003-12-03T22:35:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jayjay \* > \*\*I do feel bad for the legitimate chiropractors. It’s kind of like being one of the moderate Southern Baptists…the nuts who share your name get all the press. \*\* Damn, that was kind of a fucked up thing to say. But you know what they say, Opinions are like assholes…everybody has one, and most of them stink. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/76 "2003-12-03T23:05:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jackmannii \* > \*\* > I can understand not “subscribing” to the germ theory. In fact, I have rejected gravity, which is probably why there are dust bunnies on my ceiling. \*\* I just thought that needed repeating. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/77 "2003-12-04T09:22:04Z")
This post got methinking…howon earth could anybody believe in something as crazy as chiropractic? Yet, there are three chiopractors within a mile of where I live! Maybe if insurance companies would stop paying for chiropractic treatment, this bit of 19th century quackery wouldfinally disappear! Seem s like there is no end to human stupidity! ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/78 "2003-12-04T13:40:44Z")
There is a guy in my area who runs a large ad in the local papers entitled “A Confession From an (Area Name) Doctor”. The ‘confession’ is a strange, rambling, non-sensicle essay that talks a little about his family and why he chose his field. I actually read it. It inspires zero confidence from me, and whenever I see the ad I always wonder “What is his point?” I truly cannot figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/79 "2003-12-04T14:09:32Z")
Does MEDICARE pay for chiropractic “treatments”? The government should stop paying for this nonsense-maybe then it would die out -although I am constantly surprised at the level ofpublic ignorance-I actually seehomeopathic “medicines” being advertised! THAT is really snake oil! ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512/80 "2003-12-04T14:32:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > \*\*This post got methinking…howon earth could anybody believe in something as crazy as chiropractic? Yet, there are three chiopractors within a mile of where I live! Maybe if insurance companies would stop paying for chiropractic treatment, this bit of 19th century quackery wouldfinally disappear! > Seem s like there is no end to human stupidity! \*\* Yep, stupidity. That’s what made me seek out a chiropractor because I was suffering headaches nearly EVERY DAY. I guess that’s the same stupidity that makes me believe that I’m better. Oh, and how stupid of me to go to a DC when I had this killer headache for two days (tylenol and aspirin had NO effect on it). Dumb as I am, I _actually_ believed that my headache began to go away within minutes of my adjustment. Oh, and my DH is really stupid–he has his back adjusted when his job as a heavy equipment operator causes it to go out. Of course, he usually has to wait a couple of days till he can get the time to go, and his sleep is all screwed up, but fool that he is, he truly thinks that his pain is reduced and that he is able to sleep better after he gets adjusted. You’ll REALLY love how idiotic my sister is. She had problem ankles from sports injuries as a teen. At 20 years old, she had spells of trouble where she had to shuffle around to keep from hurting when she walked. She heard that you could get your ankles adjusted the same as your back and neck and the dummy actually tried it! What a moron! Her overactive imagination has her thinking that she has no more ankle troubles! And the time her newborn girl had no arm strength–no normal waving of the arms, not even when she startled–they just hung limp. My foolish sister took her innocent baby to a DC for treatment. Probably just a coincidence that she improved _immediately_. You know, I’m surprised that they let people like us breed. :rolleyes: For the record, I don’t go for the feng shui, the Qi, or anything like that. But chiropractic has a valid place in maintaining health. I look at it in the same way as locking your house up at night. It may not prevent every crime, but it certainly ups the odds in your favor! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-dont-subscribe-to-the-germ-theory/209512.md?page=5)