Happy Atheist Forum

Somebody tried to sell me one of those "scientific" bracelets like this. (http://biofieldtechnology.net/) They did the whole balancing/strength trick on me similar to those in this video. I stood on one leg with both arms out and she put her weight on the arm above my raised leg. Without the bracelet I lose my balance of course but with it I must be Hercules because lo and behold I didn't fall.  lol

I'd chalk it up to the power of suggestion:
[youtube:afggg8om]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_MzP2MZaOo[/youtube:afggg8om]

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(ramble, complete),
JoeActor

If I remember correctly, this is a combination of factors at play in these demonstrations and none of them have to do with the bracelet.

1) The demonstrator applies less force, supinates the wrist slightly to change actual angle of pull or the like.

2) They do it without the bracelet first then do it with the bracelet - the same move essentially.  The first pull primes the person for the subsequent action where they will naturally resist more to maintain balance - almost like a psychological vestibular maintaining reflex.  Therefore, the person is expecting the pull and will provide more resistance than they did intitially.

3) The possibility of submission to authority.  The demonstrator acts as an authority figure therefore the person is more apt to believe what the demonstrator says about the ability of the bracelet and therefore the person will essentially act accordingly - applying more resistance when the bracelet is on.  Sort of like a placebo effect.

I will note that without any controlled experimentation on this bracelet thing this is merely my educated guess.

In that video, the pulls are noticeably different, when he wants them to fall, he pulls outwards at the same time, not to mention the fact, he is much bigger than most of the people tested, if he wanted them to fall, all he would have to do is pull harder. It's a shame people fall for this stuff. When the same people telling you how great something is, are the same people who stand to make money from selling it, I think it warrants closer investigation.

Ditto, ditto, ditto to the above. And shame on the people marketing that shit. No conscience, whatsoever.

I'd have a field day with one of those assholes in a mall, just like I did when someone tried to sell me magnetic inserts for my shoes in the mall once.  

Quote from: "McQ"Ditto, ditto, ditto to the above. And shame on the people marketing that shit. No conscience, whatsoever.

I'd have a field day with one of those assholes in a mall, just like I did when someone tried to sell me magnetic inserts for my shoes in the mall once.   :pop:

Quote from: "Squid"2) They do it without the bracelet first then do it with the bracelet - the same move essentially.  The first pull primes the person for the subsequent action where they will naturally resist more to maintain balance - almost like a psychological vestibular maintaining reflex.  Therefore, the person is expecting the pull and will provide more resistance than they did intitially.

This makes sense. By giving the person no warning on the first try they'll almost surely lose their balance. The next time, not only do they know what's coming, but the seller puts the braclet on you and asks when you're ready. Sneaky, sneaky.

Quote from: "Sophus"

Quote from: "Squid"2) They do it without the bracelet first then do it with the bracelet - the same move essentially.  The first pull primes the person for the subsequent action where they will naturally resist more to maintain balance - almost like a psychological vestibular maintaining reflex.  Therefore, the person is expecting the pull and will provide more resistance than they did intitially.

This makes sense. By giving the person no warning on the first try they'll almost surely lose their balance. The next time, not only do they know what's coming, but the seller puts the braclet on you and asks when you're ready. Sneaky, sneaky.

Don't you just love these flim-flam merchants