• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Two new Power Balance tests from skeptics

wardenclyffe

Master Poster
wardenclyffe
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Messages
2,333
We are all probably aware of the beat-down Richard Saunders gave the Power Balance bracelet on Australian TV. If you haven't seen it, it's here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd0Gb9EgkHA

Now we can add two more tests. First, this one from ESPN featuring a test done at The University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse: http://search.espn.go.com/wristband/videos/6

And this one from Yahoo! News, featuring a test conducted by www.iigwest.org. You can see it here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_weekend/20101104/ts_yblog_weekend/do-power-balance-wristbands-work

And yet, they'll still sell millions.

Ward
 
As I remember Power Balance were a major advertiser during radio station SEN's broadcast of the Australian Football League grand final.
 
I just re-watched all three videos that I posted in the OP. The third one, the most recent, has been edited since I originally posted it. In the original version, Lamar Odom and Dominique Dawes do a demonstration of some applied kinesiology nonsense with the Power Balance Bracelet. She completely calls him out on being overly dramatic and he looks like an idiot who's trying to fool everyone because he's a paid endorser of Power Balance. That section has now been cut from the story. I assume Yahoo! News made this edit. I cannot figure out why. It's a story that clearly sides with skeptics, and yet they remove the part where a major endorser of PB is made to look like he doesn't know what he's talking about. I don't know if Odom or the Lakers or the NBA or Power Balance was able to twist arms at Yahoo!, but somehow that part of the story that's embarrassing to both Odom and Power Balance was removed.

This is not good.

Ward
 
So, I don't know what happened, but that Yahoo! News story must have been posted someplace popular. It had been out for a few days and as of yesterday, I think there were 4 comments on the story. In a day, that number is now moving toward 400. Most of the comments support a skeptical viewpoint, though. Who knew?

Ward
 
Being originally from Australia, I am outright embarrassed that people are taking this seriously and that the Australian media is running all of the "does it really work?" articles. Surely there is somewhere that we can complain about retailers that are stocking this product. The ACCC?
 
It's not just Oz, I fear. I saw them in a sport shop in Glasgow, Scotland recently.
I protested, but while agreeing it was pure placebo, the guy in the shop said people want them, so he sells them. It's a hard argument to fault.
 
Soapy Sam said:
I protested, but while agreeing it was pure placebo, the guy in the shop said people want them, so he sells them. It's a hard argument to fault.
Click to expand...
Quite true, especially when even the customers don't care if it's placebo. When on a cruise with my wife she bought a plastic wrist band designed to fight sea-sickness. When I explained it was at best a placebo she said something very close to "Who cares; as long as I think it's working."
 
Zubon said:
Being originally from Australia, I am outright embarrassed that people are taking this seriously and that the Australian media is running all of the "does it really work?" articles. Surely there is somewhere that we can complain about retailers that are stocking this product. The ACCC?
Click to expand...
.
Gals this cute usually only report the weather up here. :(
I guess it is caveat emptor.
But with the general acceptance of woo, any protesting the sales would be a waste of time.
 

Attachments

  • PowerBandsBroad.jpg
    PowerBandsBroad.jpg
    104.8 KB · Views: 21
In a related note, I have been dying to get a patent on my 'Anti Tiger Rocks', Let me ask you; How many times have you tried to have a lovely spring picinic only for it to be ruined by a deadly tiger? Well worry no more my scientifically proven (Read: I wore a lab coat while testing them myself) aura infused rocks repel any and all species of tigers.

I know how important family is, Don't you want your family to be safe too ? Iv'e lived on longisland for nearly 24 years wiithout a single tiger realted attack thanks to my rocks.

The best part of this, is they can be yours for the low low price of just 29.99$ but wait there's more, Order in the next 20 minutes and I'll throw in an extra 'Anti Tiger Rock' FREE!
 
Yesterday, a guy I work with told me had started wearing one of these "holographic wrist band" things. It's called the "8eight Power Band" or something. He said he never believed in them until he tried it, but ever since he started wearing it his knee that he's had pain in for some time hasn't hurt. I didn't feel like getting into a discussion about the placebo effect with him.
The local sports/talk station also has a couple of ex-athletes who have a morning show that advertise "Power Force" bands.
 
I Ratant said:
.
Gals this cute usually only report the weather up here. :(
I guess it is caveat emptor.
But with the general acceptance of woo, any protesting the sales would be a waste of time.
Click to expand...
The backdrop artwork/image almost looks like a brand of washing powder sold in supermarkets....anyone wants to borrow my special pet rock ??? It is a wonder worker..better than that wristband.! I have a garden full of them....;)
 
A close family member is a paid endorser of these things, and also a true believer. I don't have the heart to pluck Dumbo's magic feather from him at this stage in his career, but I always speak about critical thinking when discussing things with him
 
Pluck the feather! Dumbo could fly without his and was a better elephant for it. The same would be true for your family member. Where is he located (roughly)? I'm certain that any local skeptics group would be glad to do the dirty work if you could get them in the same room.

Ward
 
wardenclyffe said:
Pluck the feather! Dumbo could fly without his and was a better elephant for it. The same would be true for your family member. Where is he located (roughly)? I'm certain that any local skeptics group would be glad to do the dirty work if you could get them in the same room.

Ward
Click to expand...
A skeptical intervention? Lure him to Richard Saunders' house with promises of holographic faith healing and homeopathic wrist bands then tie him to a comfy chair with old Cosmos film reels while Dawkins and Randi dance round chanting the lyrics of Minchin's "If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out" but set to the tune of Cohen's "Hallelujah?"

Is that what you mean by dirty work?
 
Accidental Martyr said:
Yesterday, a guy I work with told me had started wearing one of these "holographic wrist band" things. It's called the "8eight Power Band" or something. He said he never believed in them until he tried it, but ever since he started wearing it his knee that he's had pain in for some time hasn't hurt. I didn't feel like getting into a discussion about the placebo effect with him.
The local sports/talk station also has a couple of ex-athletes who have a morning show that advertise "Power Force" bands.
Click to expand...
Get a Placebo Band. Then when he asks "hey, is that a Power(tm) Band?" you can reply:

"Why, no! It's a Placebo Band! It produces exactly the same result for one-thirtieth of the cost! Placebo Band works by the well-documented scientific principles of the Placebo Effect and Confirmation Bias! Would you like a demonstration?"
 
Garrette said:
A skeptical intervention? Lure him to Richard Saunders' house with promises of holographic faith healing and homeopathic wrist bands then tie him to a comfy chair with old Cosmos film reels while Dawkins and Randi dance round chanting the lyrics of Minchin's "If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out" but set to the tune of Cohen's "Hallelujah?"

Is that what you mean by dirty work?
Click to expand...

I can think of dirtier ways, but yeah, that'll work.

Ward
 
Good news. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has ordered Power Balance to withdraw all advertisements and publish a retraction:

http://www.skeptics.com.au/latest/a...r-balance-to-withdraw-claims-and-advertising/

In part the decision says:
In reaching this conclusion, the Panel noted that the claims made in the advertisements were extraordinary to such a degree that no reasonable retailer could publish them on the basis of assurances from the product sponsor, without requesting evidence that such claims could lawfully be made about the product.
​
Click to expand...
A small victory for rationality.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom