# What to you is the epitome of bullshit? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 15, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890 "2012-02-15T03:16:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/41 "2012-02-15T14:00:43Z")
The first thing that came to mind is homeopathy. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/42 "2012-02-15T14:13:08Z")
I scanned the thread, but didn’t see any references to the infamous little book [On Bullshit](http://www.amazon.com/Bullshit-Harry-G-Frankfurt/dp/0691122946)- worth a read. (amazon link) The author Harry Frankfurt breaks BS down - his basic point is that the premise needs to be put across as sincere, when in fact it is a front, a means to an end, to achieve something else. So, based on that, things like Creationism don’t qualify for the most part because the True Believers truly believe. Now - something like a Neocon argument for invading Iraq based on evidence that collapsed very quickly - and when the Neocon agenda for invading Iraq as a political strategy to transform the region was already established - \*that \*was bullshit. Most (usually Conservative driven, near as I can tell) “wedge issues” - used in elections, e.g., gay marriage, death panels and the like, would qualify since, again, they appear to be used to stir the pot more than anything… ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/43 "2012-02-15T14:27:37Z")
I agree with **ChefGuy**. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/44 "2012-02-15T15:02:38Z")
Alien reptilian ruling overlords: [David Icke](http://www.davidicke.com/) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/45 "2012-02-15T15:45:26Z")
> [@Nancarrow](#): > > :rolleyes: Though that does remind me of the cluster of anti-science ideologies, one or other of which gets rolled out by AGW skeptics, and many of which have been brought up here. Such as the idea that whatever science _I_ can’t understand, no-one else can either. However I refuse to educate myself, thus is the rest of the human race ignorant. If I don’t know how something works, no-one else does, and if they say they do they’re lying. > > (And I’m aware that charge could be levelled at my previous post, but then I would point to all the studies that show average long-term fund manager performance really IS a dart-flinging, entrail reading exercise) Indeed, market technical analysis works about as well as astrology. Maybe worse. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/46 "2012-02-15T15:52:26Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I agree with **ChefGuy**. Wow, a fanbase. What bullshit. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/47 "2012-02-15T16:12:12Z")
“Alternative and Complementary Medicine.” It’s almost all bullshit. [What works became medicine, and the rest is just a nice bowl of soup and some potpourri.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMvMb90hem8) ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/48 "2012-02-15T16:13:18Z")
Ah, most things I can think of have been mentioned 🙂 Lots of bullshit, well done! For venting purposes I still have to say the first thing I thought of was critical theory. Epitome. Of. Bullshit. And the main reason my profile says I hate talking about art. I would like to add just the everyday things you hear people say about health, but not related to homeopathy specifically. Things like catching a cold if you don’t wear a coat, and then taking ridiculous amounts of vit c. I think this to me is often the epitome of bullshit because they are often otherwise intelligent people who say these things. Grrr. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/49 "2012-02-15T16:15:54Z")
Politicians. Politics is the art of bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/50 "2012-02-15T16:37:39Z")
You want me to throw the rust-proofing in for free? We’d lose money on that deal! Tell you what, let me ask my manager. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/51 "2012-02-15T16:44:13Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Indeed, market technical analysis works about as well as astrology. Maybe worse. That’s debatable… ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/52 "2012-02-15T17:09:40Z")
Lots of good BS upthread. For what I deal with on a regular basis, there’s what I call the “Certification-Industrial Complex”. Old rant [post=11174034]here[/post]. I have not become more positive about certifications in the last three years. I’ve had to take a number of “Continuing Professional Education” credits, mostly online. I have yet to apply anything I have “learned” in these online courses. But I’ve gotten as much as 5 hours credit for less than 1 hour of work (i would have put in 1 hour but the registration system gave me 5. Why???). Total scam. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/53 "2012-02-15T17:15:55Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > Lots of good BS upthread. You’re telling [me](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14775798&postcount=24). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/54 "2012-02-15T17:30:15Z")
Lots of good BS upthread. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/55 "2012-02-15T17:46:28Z")
Lots of good BS upthread. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/56 "2012-02-15T17:50:59Z")
Lots of good BS upthread. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/57 "2012-02-15T17:55:55Z")
Ah, it’s 1920’s style bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/58 "2012-02-15T18:05:54Z")
[This.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14775798&postcount=24) ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/59 "2012-02-15T18:12:04Z")
People who deny science in general, especially those who come up with ridiculous theories as to why scientists must be wrong, such as climate change isn’t happening (or claim that global warming was renamed climate change because it isn’t happening) or is due to some natural cycle, and won’t have any negative consequences, or they won’t be that bad. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890/60 "2012-02-15T18:23:28Z")
Has anybody here ever dealt with ISO 9000 certification for management? Hey, it’s international, it’s a standard, it’s a certificate…so it’s _got_ to improve management , right? The biggest crock of BS I’ve ever seen… fill out forms just for the sake of filling out forms, and then fill out more forms to certify that the previous forms were properly filled out. Then keep huge bulky files and show 'em to an external inspector, whose only job is to make sure you filled out all the forms. Never mind that you lost money because of the time wasted filling out forms. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-you-is-the-epitome-of-bullshit/612890.md?page=4)