Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Feel free to add to these categories - they are in no particular order!

Would you say that 1 or more, or any combo of the following characterize the conventional wisdom crowd (in no particular order):

1) ignorant/unaware - confused and/or clueless about health

2) corrupt- motives tied to power and/or profits

3) ego - don't want to change beliefs because of pride/ego

4) lazy - know certain things are better for them but still refuse to do it

Would you say those most willing to make the most drastic changes in their beliefs (esp. conventional wisdom) might belong to 1 or more of these categories:

1) geeks, nerds, academics, bio-hackers, etc.

2)jocks, athletes, etc.

3) the really ill/sick people because they've tried conventional wisdom and felt the disastrous effects first-hand

flag	asked Jul 13 at 3:20 Lady_Arwen 7,531●12●40

JeJ · Answer 1 · 2012-07-13 04:34:39Z UTC

I think it's largely a lack of motivation and a tendency to be non-critical. I wouldn't go as far to say lazy or ignorant, just trusting and with no reason or tendency to question. The lack of questioning is seen in school systems that no longer foster creativity or skepticism- most people accept "just because".

For example, the kids in my dietetics classes are clearly bright, academically inclined, motivated, and focused. But whenever I bring up some kind of critique it's like "...oh yeah. I never thought about that..." because they are used to learning things by route memorization, whether that be facts or techniques, and I think it takes something significant (losing your health, an influential person in your life, etc) to be able to stop and question.

RaiseFitness · Answer 2 · 2012-07-13 03:53:56Z UTC

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I will be bold and attempt to answer this. Most people don't really know what they believe about conventional wisdom so they just assume it is true and defend it accordingly. They give weak arguments and really don't have their reasonings dialed in. With that I will say most paleo people are THE SAME WAY!. I was introduced to paleo long before I gave it a true look, and the reason was no one could give me good reasons to consider it, so my weak conventional wisdom arguments were just as strong or stronger than their weak paleo arguments. From just a few days on this board, I can tell that is similar for the conventional wisdom crowd and the paleo crowd. Know what you believe and why....that is my suggestion.

answered Jul 13 at 3:53

RaiseFitness
3,317●1●18

Most paleo people? Then my experience has been a lot different than yours. Just how many people did you speak to about Paleo, that you can characterize "them" as "most"? – Chinaeskimo Jul 13 at 6:36

That is partially true. A lot of people take things in the exact opposite direction. Anything that is conventional wisdom they consider wrong and any study showing something negative about their way of eating is flawed and bias. They seem to display a level of critical thinking skills when studies are a bit bias but when Cordain or low-carb studies are funded by the Atkins corporation and skewed in that direction then they're cited as proof. – James Jul 13 at 8:44

1

People are just not trained to think for themselves. They are taught, socially rewarded, for repeating what someone else says, whether thats the news, schools, or some alternative guru. Actually examining things critically, objectively, requires that you are ready to surrender your original position completely when any sufficient evidence comes in, or soften your position. That you are not building a beleif system, but rather utilising a working theory, or at least building a constantly evolving beleif system. That requires that you not invest emotion, identity, or faith. – Jamie Jul 13 at 10:39

Being such an extreme outside thinker, so much that you are willing to question everything, and not as a contrarian, does not earn you as much social points, identity, or status (unless you invent something, or become a leader, explorer or revolutionary, or guru). Plus humans are emotional creatures. We are prone to view the world through a personal lense. The existential nature of existance, and our higher awareness, virtually demands it of us. – Jamie Jul 13 at 10:44

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@chinaeskimo....I have talked with dozens, and if you read enough posts on here you will see people don't have good foundations. @James...True. It doesn't mean that all studies should be held at face value, but always be open to being wrong if science leans that direction. @James...Wow, that was a lot to take in. – RaiseFitness Jul 13 at 12:46

show 8 more comments

Crowlover · Answer 3 · 2012-07-13 04:55:59Z UTC

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In Denial

Complacent

Afraid

edited Jul 13 at 4:55

answered Jul 13 at 4:19

Crowlover
4,443●5●12

1

Yep, that about sums it up! – Chinaeskimo Jul 13 at 5:28

Chinaeskimo · Answer 4 · 2012-07-13 05:37:14Z UTC

Oh, wow, I (used to) work with a bunch of kids (18-24) who smoked and drank and ate whatever. I would broach the subject about things like diet (and the smoking) and I got a general "I don't give a sh*t" attitude. They just don't care.

Then (since I worked at a Chinese restaurant) there was a HUGE crowd that would order everything "low fat, less oil" who really think they are doing the right thing, they just don't know better.

AND...Right next door is a super busy place that sells Glace (think skim milk ice cream). It is touted as "fructose sweetened." People eat enormous quantities of the stuff, thinking it is healthy. Meanwhile, the owner is obese, his two daughters are obese and his wife was obese (she died of cancer).

So, I see people that either 1) Don'e care or 2) Really truly think they are being healthful

MrsD · Answer 5 · 2012-07-14 07:59:05Z UTC

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1) Ignorant. I mean you don't know till you know. I was vegetarian and low fat, quinoa, cottage cheese, flax seeds until I got onto paleo and ' the vegetarian myth'. People just don't know. Nowadays everytime I hear someone ordering a soya latte with a superior attitude I feel like taking them aside and throttling them or educating them.

My husband is a buddhist and I converted him to stat eating meat after 33 years. However he is part of a group that runs buddhist festivals where they only allow vegetarian food and they are all about the soya. He's not going to get them to change the veggie food out of respect but he has been giving them all handouts about the dangers of soya. Especially one woman who has cancer who's Dr told her to start consuming soya. Headbang.

edited Jul 14 at 7:59

answered Jul 13 at 5:03

MrsD
1,779●1●4●14

	I can never find any straight answers about soy (this is the same as soya, right)? Do you have anything I could read that would set my mind straight? – Chinaeskimo Jul 13 at 5:29
	@Chinaeskimo. There is a large chapter in 'The vegetarian myth' about the dangers of soy/soya. There is also ALOT of stuff online such as this: guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2004/nov/07/… although that's a pretty tame article. – MrsD Jul 13 at 20:23
	And the vegans/vegetarians are so pious about it. A couple times a week I go to the wholefoods and get a plate of meat from the smoked bbq counter and a plate of veggies. The veg people at the registers always look at me funny, and manytimes make sort of sarcastic comments about all the meat I am eating. I say it is a perfectly balanced meal. here is a pic of a standard meal for me. 1.bp.blogspot.com/-vwnkDMSjc8I/T_41PlDSaPI/… – RaiseFitness Jul 13 at 22:49
	@MrsD: Thank you! – Chinaeskimo Jul 14 at 4:40
	@Raisefitness. I used to be pious about it. Now I'm pious about paleo.. Whenever you believe in something strongly, you will keep on finding data to support your theory. Hahah. That is one BIG piece of meat! – MrsD Jul 14 at 7:57

Rob · Answer 6 · 2012-07-13 07:44:59Z UTC

Got to be 1) and 3)

But this is kind of a good thing, we exist on meat, but meat is technically hard to grow compared to wheat/corn/other major staples. The world can't all eat meat as a staple, because we don't have the capacity to farm anywhere near enough animals.

In sort, if everyone knew that paleo was the way forward there would be a serious meat shortage and we'd be forced to give up our meaty diets due to the spirally cost of animal products.

Its unfortunate, but the world will have to continue to come up with complex solutions to the simple problem of diet because there are too many of us in this world to all be hunter gathers.

Red Robin · Answer 7 · 2012-07-13 22:36:34Z UTC

Your options don't cover it. My educated adult offspring , two with partners in the health professions, are only just opening up to the idea that conventional wisdom is not always correct. It has taken a lot of perserverance on my part to get them this far. 3 main reasons 1. Friends, family and partners who are health professionals have never questioned their training. 2. They are all extremely focused on other areas in their lives. Building new businesses (not lazy) 3.Until they have health issues of their own, there is little reason to question conventional wisdom. (I have only just persuaded my father, an aging ailing retired M.D., to have his vitamin D levels checked and to take supplements because he has had melanomas removed and avoids the sun.)

CavemanDiet · Answer 8 · 2012-07-14 00:15:29Z UTC

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SCIENTIFICALLY ILLITERATE WEIRDOS AND GULLIBLE MORONS.

answered Jul 14 at 0:15

CavemanDiet
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How do you characterize those who support conventional wisdom about nutrition vs. those that don’t?

8 Answers