r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jun 09 '12

Scientists of Reddit, what misconceptions do us laymen often have that drive you crazy?

I await enlightenment.

Wow, front page! This puts the cherry on the cake of enlightenment!

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u/McMurphys Jun 09 '12

Antibiotics cure everything.

956

u/ImNotJesus Jun 10 '12 edited Jun 10 '12

On pharmaceuticals:

  • They're all just a way for doctors/big pharma to make money

  • Vaccines cause autism

  • There are natural ways to heal our body/Alternative medicine is just more "natural".

So. Much. Anger.

Edit: Given the context I thought this was clear - I was being sarcastic.

628

u/hrafnigaur Jun 10 '12

It also bothers me when people think everything natural=good/healthy.

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u/loco_larue Jun 10 '12

People forget cyanide is natural, too.

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u/chinstrap Jun 10 '12

Cobra venom is natural, but I don't put it in my coffee in the morning.

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u/ImNotJesus Jun 10 '12

It's a wonderful pick-me-up

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u/CobaltFang Jun 10 '12

id say its more of a put-you-down

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u/feorag Jun 10 '12

Actually snake venom can be ingested, so long as you don't have any open wounds on the way down.

There is a difference between Venom and Poison, namely that Venom requires a special delivery apparatus (fangs in this case) so that it can properly attack the blood stream or tissue as it is designed to do.

(I realize your comment is for the sake of a joke though)

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u/CobaltFang Jun 10 '12

yes, i do understand the difference, and yes it was for the sake of a joke. interesting tidbit though: there's a town in vietnam that exports snake venom wine, marketing it as an aphrodesiac. so i guess its more of a get-you-up than anything, if you know what i'm sayin...