Resveratrol, the authority fallacy, and marketing
Posted 08-11-2009 at 10:52 AM by freeztar
It was a bit disturbing to read the article about Dr. Sinclair's name being marketed as an authority promoting Resveratrol (an acclaimed anti-aging chemical derived from wine).
Resveratrol: The Hard Sell on Anti-Aging - BusinessWeek
This is a classic example of a technique of influence. Use the logical fallacy of authority (in this case, a scientist from Harvard University) to make an ad campaign that sells. This is made more worrisome by the fact that Dr. Sinclair never endorsed this drug.
The article goes on to explain that all major news networks (and Oprah) have been claimed as supporting this new "anti-aging miracle". Barbara Walters goes so far as to say that it is a battle trying to clear the names these deceptive marketers use.
My only hope is that, upon reading this you are more educated to the deceptive techniques advertisers use in the guise of science. The same goes for acai berries.
Resveratrol: The Hard Sell on Anti-Aging - BusinessWeek
This is a classic example of a technique of influence. Use the logical fallacy of authority (in this case, a scientist from Harvard University) to make an ad campaign that sells. This is made more worrisome by the fact that Dr. Sinclair never endorsed this drug.
The article goes on to explain that all major news networks (and Oprah) have been claimed as supporting this new "anti-aging miracle". Barbara Walters goes so far as to say that it is a battle trying to clear the names these deceptive marketers use.
My only hope is that, upon reading this you are more educated to the deceptive techniques advertisers use in the guise of science. The same goes for acai berries.
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Comments
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I just loved this part of the story you linked to:
Quote:Originally Posted by BusinessWeekHis lab showed that mice fed the chemicals live at least 15% longer than normal mice. But to get such benefits, human beings might have to consume up to 5 grams of resveratrol a day, he says. That's about 80 pills, at doses found in a typical bottle.
Posted 08-13-2009 at 10:39 AM by Tormod
