Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Being mildly skeptical is good for your health

I'm not even talking about, you know, doing experiments or taking a course in logic. Just erring on the side of caution, just asking someone who makes a claim, what his or her evidence is.

Doing so could stop you doing something as stupid as this:

At least 50 people in Kottayam district have reportedly lost their vision after gazing at the sun looking for an image of Virgin Mary.

Even with a sign there, they still came:

Though alarmed health authorities have installed a signboard to counter the rumour that a solar image of Virgin Mary appeared to the believers, curious onlookers, including foreign travellers, have been thronging the venue of the 'miracle'.

Despite the injuries:

St Joseph's ENT and Eye Hospital in Kanjirappally alone has recorded 48 cases of vision loss due to photochemical burns on the retina.

It would be funny except it's real life and real people.