Sara S
08-29-2012, 03:10 PM
from delancyplace.com:
In today's excerpt - the power of myths and the success of a prophylactic called
Airborne:
"There is a widespread assumption that traveling on planes can be dangerous because
of the recirculated air and the fre*quency of sick passengers on board. Most people
think that air on planes is largely recirculated, enabling germs to flow around
the cabin and infect multiple people. People generally have a notion that when they
travel by plane they run a higher risk of catching a cold than in other contexts
(working in public buildings, traveling by train, etc.). Victoria Knight-McDowell
(a schoolteacher) and her husband, Rider McDowell (a writer), developed a prophylactic
(something you take to avoid catching something else) dietary supplement called
Airborne.
"Airborne's initial packaging and marketing focused on the assumed risk of getting
sick while flying. By 2008 this product was generating over $300 million in sales
and could be found in travelers' pockets across the United States (including my
academic colleagues and even members of my family). The product label implies that
taking it regularly can boost one's immune system and thus prevent or cure colds
(however, it never states that it actually does so). The ingredients include vitamin
C, which has been shown to have limited success at reducing the length of a cold
(largely by reducing the symptoms), and many people in our society think that taking
a lot of vitamin C can help rid them of a cold. None of the other ingredients have
been demonstrated to be effective against colds or specifically beneficial for the
immune system (nor has Airborne itself, which is not regulated by the FDA).
"How is this anecdote relevant to our myths about human nature? It reflects a broader
myth about biology and technology that influences behavior. Even a small myth, when
popular, can affect the way a society thinks, acts, and spends money. How is it
a myth? Well, for one, it is simply not true that air on planes is predominantly
recirculated or germ-laden. Modern airplanes mix some compressed air with air drawn
in from outside and the mix is about 50 percent at any given time. The air is refreshed
throughout the flight with very effective filters and there is a total changeover
in cabin air (that is total cabin air moving through the filters) every three minutes
or so. So the danger from planes and disease (unless one is seated directly next
to someone who is highly contagious) is pretty minimal relative to what one risks
in most large office buildings. Also, what we call the common cold comes from viruses
(mostly a group of rhinoviruses and corona viruses), meaning that one would need
an antiviral drug or compound to prevent them. We do not currently have one. There
is no vaccine for these viruses and the only demonstrated method of avoiding a cold
is to ensure the viruses do not get into your upper respiratory tract (washing hands
regularly and not touching your mouth and nose is probably your best bet).
"What we actually know about technology shows us that planes are not particularly
dangerous places to catch a cold, and biological and medical research shows us that
there is nothing (currently) that we could consume that would help us avoid or prevent
catching a cold. Yet, tens of thousands of people have purchased Airborne prior
to flying in the expectation that they are about to undertake a disease risk (the
plane journey) and that these dietary supplements (Airborne) will protect them from
the disease (a cold). Despite easily available information busting the myths of
plane travel and the effectiveness of Airborne, and what we actually know about
cold viruses and catching colds, this myth set remains present and powerful."
Author: Agustin Fuentes
Title: Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You
Publisher: University of California Press
Date: Copyright 2012 by the Regents of the University of California
Pages: 9-10
Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You: Busting Myths about Human Nature
by Agustin Fuentes by University of California Press
Hardcover
If you wish to read further: Buy Now [https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sohGaV9uV2PbfY-hpSr-08d50TaBxI27C-kq-jmeu7Bt1iWEN9zRn7GTdqjLX_wYy8omcEUN_i7LvQql_Bci_g_ylRgK38t74FzBE3RYq2aWkTmGzr1gE9QWDiScV3e4zHxe86hwRq0v0NHLi5wQ4AtIaUhu1UHlFzlz_hrWpPPRl5r4_lfpeea_Pnl 0j7K1QFMfvXXRitcHbeB2MLtHa07jfF_XVbUWPlrgNjDQs86UlVUeJFsiVpvtTXOFwQDPXVFIl-mdraFnlFH4Xu6Wt2mEKanCctSZYmkctcdJQUFoRtxWL8mm5q60dg7cG9xiCcU44oUJih-aM14uHmrdjxde6xoQw-5t8OxJjAV6bp98ZkzOx5KxmLr09X-HTIvi5wuUGUpmFdQ=]
If you use the above link to purchase a book, delanceyplace proceeds from your purchase
will benefit a children's literacy project. All delanceyplace profits are donated
to charity.
In today's excerpt - the power of myths and the success of a prophylactic called
Airborne:
"There is a widespread assumption that traveling on planes can be dangerous because
of the recirculated air and the fre*quency of sick passengers on board. Most people
think that air on planes is largely recirculated, enabling germs to flow around
the cabin and infect multiple people. People generally have a notion that when they
travel by plane they run a higher risk of catching a cold than in other contexts
(working in public buildings, traveling by train, etc.). Victoria Knight-McDowell
(a schoolteacher) and her husband, Rider McDowell (a writer), developed a prophylactic
(something you take to avoid catching something else) dietary supplement called
Airborne.
"Airborne's initial packaging and marketing focused on the assumed risk of getting
sick while flying. By 2008 this product was generating over $300 million in sales
and could be found in travelers' pockets across the United States (including my
academic colleagues and even members of my family). The product label implies that
taking it regularly can boost one's immune system and thus prevent or cure colds
(however, it never states that it actually does so). The ingredients include vitamin
C, which has been shown to have limited success at reducing the length of a cold
(largely by reducing the symptoms), and many people in our society think that taking
a lot of vitamin C can help rid them of a cold. None of the other ingredients have
been demonstrated to be effective against colds or specifically beneficial for the
immune system (nor has Airborne itself, which is not regulated by the FDA).
"How is this anecdote relevant to our myths about human nature? It reflects a broader
myth about biology and technology that influences behavior. Even a small myth, when
popular, can affect the way a society thinks, acts, and spends money. How is it
a myth? Well, for one, it is simply not true that air on planes is predominantly
recirculated or germ-laden. Modern airplanes mix some compressed air with air drawn
in from outside and the mix is about 50 percent at any given time. The air is refreshed
throughout the flight with very effective filters and there is a total changeover
in cabin air (that is total cabin air moving through the filters) every three minutes
or so. So the danger from planes and disease (unless one is seated directly next
to someone who is highly contagious) is pretty minimal relative to what one risks
in most large office buildings. Also, what we call the common cold comes from viruses
(mostly a group of rhinoviruses and corona viruses), meaning that one would need
an antiviral drug or compound to prevent them. We do not currently have one. There
is no vaccine for these viruses and the only demonstrated method of avoiding a cold
is to ensure the viruses do not get into your upper respiratory tract (washing hands
regularly and not touching your mouth and nose is probably your best bet).
"What we actually know about technology shows us that planes are not particularly
dangerous places to catch a cold, and biological and medical research shows us that
there is nothing (currently) that we could consume that would help us avoid or prevent
catching a cold. Yet, tens of thousands of people have purchased Airborne prior
to flying in the expectation that they are about to undertake a disease risk (the
plane journey) and that these dietary supplements (Airborne) will protect them from
the disease (a cold). Despite easily available information busting the myths of
plane travel and the effectiveness of Airborne, and what we actually know about
cold viruses and catching colds, this myth set remains present and powerful."
Author: Agustin Fuentes
Title: Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You
Publisher: University of California Press
Date: Copyright 2012 by the Regents of the University of California
Pages: 9-10
Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You: Busting Myths about Human Nature
by Agustin Fuentes by University of California Press
Hardcover
If you wish to read further: Buy Now [https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sohGaV9uV2PbfY-hpSr-08d50TaBxI27C-kq-jmeu7Bt1iWEN9zRn7GTdqjLX_wYy8omcEUN_i7LvQql_Bci_g_ylRgK38t74FzBE3RYq2aWkTmGzr1gE9QWDiScV3e4zHxe86hwRq0v0NHLi5wQ4AtIaUhu1UHlFzlz_hrWpPPRl5r4_lfpeea_Pnl 0j7K1QFMfvXXRitcHbeB2MLtHa07jfF_XVbUWPlrgNjDQs86UlVUeJFsiVpvtTXOFwQDPXVFIl-mdraFnlFH4Xu6Wt2mEKanCctSZYmkctcdJQUFoRtxWL8mm5q60dg7cG9xiCcU44oUJih-aM14uHmrdjxde6xoQw-5t8OxJjAV6bp98ZkzOx5KxmLr09X-HTIvi5wuUGUpmFdQ=]
If you use the above link to purchase a book, delanceyplace proceeds from your purchase
will benefit a children's literacy project. All delanceyplace profits are donated
to charity.