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P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
First aired: February 21, 2003. RT 29:46.
Second hand smoke has been a major problem debated by many people. Joe Cherner, the presedent of smoke free educational services, will have his chance to explain his side of the fence. But Penn and Teller will soon be taking over his side as they explain the true reason of how only one report published years ago has caused this "second hand smoke health problem" See why it's all just a bunch of Bullshit! In the second half of this episode, the baby products industry is looked at. Everyday, new parents attend classes that are sometimes full of useless lessons. There are also many products such as the Mozart music program and a "talking baby video" that will "increase" a baby's intelligence and make them smarter in life. Once again, Penn and Teller and professionals will show you it's all a bunch of Bullshit!
Second hand smoke has been a major problem debated by many people. Joe Cherner, the presedent of smoke free educational services, will have his chance to explain his side of the fence. But Penn and Teller will soon be taking over his side as they explain the true reason of how only one report published years ago has caused this "second hand smoke health problem" See why it's all just a bunch of Bullshit! In the second half of this episode, the baby products industry is looked at. Everyday, new parents attend classes that are sometimes full of useless lessons. There are also many products such as the Mozart music program and a "talking baby video" that will "increase" a baby's intelligence and make them smarter in life. Once again, Penn and Teller and professionals will show you it's all a bunch of Bullshit!
Apr 11, 2008 8:17 AM
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
Well... to be fair, the tobacco lobby created junk science first.
By: spongebathe
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
Penn and Teller, themselves, are bullshit.
By: Gemini6Ice
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
Would you care to elaborate? Do you think so just because of your bias against smoking or is it the entire series of shows on Showtime that you find to be offensive?
I expected this particular episode to be attacked. Then again, I expected the one about recycling (not my submission) to be attacked even more. Maybe it was my 5* rating of that one that offset someone else's negative vote. Hmm.
I expected this particular episode to be attacked. Then again, I expected the one about recycling (not my submission) to be attacked even more. Maybe it was my 5* rating of that one that offset someone else's negative vote. Hmm.
By: spam_vigilante
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
That episode was bullshit too. There was a ton of contrivance there, such as the guy that had to sort things into 7 to 10 bins. At most, people have to sort things into 3 bins.
By: Deh_Dude
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
Mind if I fart?
This is bullshit. These guys edit their stuff so heavy-handedly to demonstrate their point. It's usually pretty funny, because I usually mostly agree with them, but this is indeed bullshit.
Their intro with the loud musicians perfectly undermines their position. Why should some jerk or three be allowed to ruin someone else's evening?
No-one should have to prove anything about diseases to be annoyed by smoking in their space. Loud music? Water fights? Stink bombs? Take it outside, jerks!
This is bullshit. These guys edit their stuff so heavy-handedly to demonstrate their point. It's usually pretty funny, because I usually mostly agree with them, but this is indeed bullshit.
Their intro with the loud musicians perfectly undermines their position. Why should some jerk or three be allowed to ruin someone else's evening?
No-one should have to prove anything about diseases to be annoyed by smoking in their space. Loud music? Water fights? Stink bombs? Take it outside, jerks!
By: loqi
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
Okay, they pulled it out of the toilet in the end with the Triangle of Love bit. That was funny as hell.
By: loqi
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
Great job on both sides of the report. I can understand why people might not like 2nd hand smoke but they are absolutely right that it is bullshit that 2nd hand smoke ever was proven to cause cancer. Also, I think that OWNERS of businesses should determine if they want to allow smoking or not in the places where they work: Not the government. We have real problems in life and don't need to be worrying about bogus crap. If someone doesn't like smoking, they should go to a 'smoke free' restaurant. I don't see why there cannot still be smoking permitted restaurants. Next, we should kick babies out of restaurants because everyone knows they are just as annoying as 2nd hand smoke.
Loved the baby side of the issue too. it's so true that parents that actually care about kids can be convinced to do a lot of stupid things. The end of that was the best. People do try to scam parents all the time with info on how to raise kids and in the end we should just be able to research old tried and true methods. Also...parents should stop putting their kids in front of a tv so much and spend some personal time with the child. That is how the child learns most.
Loved the baby side of the issue too. it's so true that parents that actually care about kids can be convinced to do a lot of stupid things. The end of that was the best. People do try to scam parents all the time with info on how to raise kids and in the end we should just be able to research old tried and true methods. Also...parents should stop putting their kids in front of a tv so much and spend some personal time with the child. That is how the child learns most.
By: Zarthus
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
Penn and Teller were wrong in this episode about secondhand smoke, and they have admitted it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrub3dt7R5U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrub3dt7R5U
By: quisph
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
I just did a google search and came up with some reports that second hand smoking's been tied to breast cancer and cervical cancer.
Weird.
And I'd bet there's plenty out there about it causing tobacco addiction, too.
Weird.
And I'd bet there's plenty out there about it causing tobacco addiction, too.
By: Hubrid
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
The scientific method is meant to be cautious about accepting new scientific knowledge, not for keeping us all safe from harm. Why is the burden of proof always put on those who would regulate an activity, not on those who would profit from that activity.
Suppose I come up with a new cheaper dry-cleaning solvent. Why should I be allowed to sell it for decades while the science gradually piles up, until a harm link is eventually exhaustively proved in some court somewhere? The precautionary principle makes much more sense in such situations. The burden of demonstrating safety should be on whoever wants to put others at risk. We're doing it all backward.
Penn and Teller show their naive concept of "freedom" with this closing comment: "Just for the record, neither of us smoke. We both hate second hand smoke. But freedom is more important than our comfort." So they both hate smoke in their presence, but the freedom of those who hate *not* smoking in their presence is more important than their freedom to breathe cleanish air?
Pretty bogus.
According to this view, freedom only applies to the initiator of an action (the lighter-upper of a cigarette), and not to the non-initiator (the air breather who's hoping nobody lights a cigarette). They've got the freedom to do a hatchet job in the edit room. What about the freedom of a slightly neurotic guy to work his ass off to get a local law passed?
Bullshit.
Suppose I come up with a new cheaper dry-cleaning solvent. Why should I be allowed to sell it for decades while the science gradually piles up, until a harm link is eventually exhaustively proved in some court somewhere? The precautionary principle makes much more sense in such situations. The burden of demonstrating safety should be on whoever wants to put others at risk. We're doing it all backward.
Penn and Teller show their naive concept of "freedom" with this closing comment: "Just for the record, neither of us smoke. We both hate second hand smoke. But freedom is more important than our comfort." So they both hate smoke in their presence, but the freedom of those who hate *not* smoking in their presence is more important than their freedom to breathe cleanish air?
Pretty bogus.
According to this view, freedom only applies to the initiator of an action (the lighter-upper of a cigarette), and not to the non-initiator (the air breather who's hoping nobody lights a cigarette). They've got the freedom to do a hatchet job in the edit room. What about the freedom of a slightly neurotic guy to work his ass off to get a local law passed?
Bullshit.
By: loqi
Re: P&T Bullshit: 2nd Hand Smoke/Baby Bullshit
Bullshit is usually an entertaining show. However, they're just bitching. There are a couple good shows and the rest is just them complaining or making fun of the advocates of the opposite side of what the show is about.
If you make the person look dumb, then the idea they believe in must be wrong right.
Its a funny show, but its complete bullshit.
Also, I used to go to clubs when smoking was allowed inside and it had a real, tangible effect on me. Its just hard to breathe. Now smoking is not allowed and I find clubs to be a much cleaner atmosphere.
Smoking inside just doesn't make a lot of sense.
If you make the person look dumb, then the idea they believe in must be wrong right.
Its a funny show, but its complete bullshit.
Also, I used to go to clubs when smoking was allowed inside and it had a real, tangible effect on me. Its just hard to breathe. Now smoking is not allowed and I find clubs to be a much cleaner atmosphere.
Smoking inside just doesn't make a lot of sense.
By: DaveoftheRave
