Quack Villain
I came across this site a long time ago, which features hundreds of articles about questionable medical practices, supplements, programs, individuals, and devices.
It had the following article:
Titled Seven Warning Signs of Bogus Science by Robert L. Park. The definition emerged when the author was asked by the courts to define terms such as “junk,” “quack,” “dangerous,” “illegitimate,” and “illegal” medical practices. Here are the seven basic warning signs Robert identified:
1) The discoverer pitches the claim directly to the media.
2) The discoverer claims that a powerful establishment is attempting to suppress their work.
3) The scientific effect involved is always at the very limit of detection.
4) Evidence for a discovery is anecdotal.
5) The discoverer says a belief is credible because it has endured for centuries.
6) The discoverer has worked in isolation.
7) The discoverer must propose new laws of nature to explain an observation.
The author identified the two types of people who use these techniques. A fraudster who wants to promote their product or an inventor oblivious to their creation’s ineffective/destructive nature.
Despite an army of lawyers, you can still see these bogus claims on television every day. “Use X, and you will lose ten pounds overnight!” “Pharaoh Cleopatra used X for healthy skin.” “Millions of doctors certify X to be the best method.” “Hospital administrators do not want you to know about X.” “I worked in secret for 50 years to develop X.”
When I first read the article, I saw the same pattern in engineering. “Device X will improve performance by 100%.” This behavior is to be expected because the seven signs are part of human nature.
Alright, that is certainly interesting, but my articles are writing-themed. So, where is the connection? Villains need to be bad, and I have utilized these seven sources of well-defined, unacceptable behavior to enhance my writing.
Let’s create an example. Coworker Jenna does not like Sally. Using identifier #1, Jenna does not take her concerns to her boss and instead posts them on Twitter. Using identifier #2, Jenna complains to her coworkers that the boss prefers Sally over her. Using identifier #3, people noticed that items had gone missing in the group refrigerator. Jenna informs people that she saw Sally engaging in suspicious activities in the break room related to the missing food.
Using identifier #4, Jenna pointed out that Sally does not always work an 8-hour day. Using identifier #5, Jenna also pointed out that Sally only got the job because her family worked at the company for years. Using identifier #6, Jenna told everybody that she needed to work late to cover for Sally. Using identifier #7, Jenna changed the employee handbook to prevent Sally from wearing her favorite shoes.
Wow, it only took five minutes to turn Jenna into a jerk. Did you notice that, technically, Jenna did nothing wrong? For example, she did not hit Sally. Yet readers passionately dislike Jenna.
How do the seven signs enhance the traditional lousy character? They point to insidious behavior as opposed to direct actions. Jenna is intentionally trying to deceive and manipulate the surrounding people. The seven signs provide a high-level crafted approach to creating an undermining character.
The quack doctor would not say, “Take my non-approved medication to cure your pain.” Instead, they would say, “Drink spring water from well X to cure your pain.” Can natural spring water be the tool of a villain? In the right hands, it can.
You’re the best -Bill
November 04, 2020 Updated June 15, 2025
1) The discoverer pitches the claim directly to the media.
2) The discoverer claims that a powerful establishment is attempting to suppress their work.
3) The scientific effect involved is always at the very limit of detection.
4) Evidence for a discovery is anecdotal.
5) The discoverer says a belief is credible because it has endured for centuries.
6) The discoverer has worked in isolation.
7) The discoverer must propose new laws of nature to explain an observation.
The author identified the two types of people who use these techniques. A fraudster who wants to promote their product or an inventor oblivious to their creation’s ineffective/destructive nature.
Despite an army of lawyers, you can still see these bogus claims on television every day. “Use X, and you will lose ten pounds overnight!” “Pharaoh Cleopatra used X for healthy skin.” “Millions of doctors certify X to be the best method.” “Hospital administrators do not want you to know about X.” “I worked in secret for 50 years to develop X.”
When I first read the article, I saw the same pattern in engineering. “Device X will improve performance by 100%.” This behavior is to be expected because the seven signs are part of human nature.
Alright, that is certainly interesting, but my articles are writing-themed. So, where is the connection? Villains need to be bad, and I have utilized these seven sources of well-defined, unacceptable behavior to enhance my writing.
Let’s create an example. Coworker Jenna does not like Sally. Using identifier #1, Jenna does not take her concerns to her boss and instead posts them on Twitter. Using identifier #2, Jenna complains to her coworkers that the boss prefers Sally over her. Using identifier #3, people noticed that items had gone missing in the group refrigerator. Jenna informs people that she saw Sally engaging in suspicious activities in the break room related to the missing food.
Using identifier #4, Jenna pointed out that Sally does not always work an 8-hour day. Using identifier #5, Jenna also pointed out that Sally only got the job because her family worked at the company for years. Using identifier #6, Jenna told everybody that she needed to work late to cover for Sally. Using identifier #7, Jenna changed the employee handbook to prevent Sally from wearing her favorite shoes.
Wow, it only took five minutes to turn Jenna into a jerk. Did you notice that, technically, Jenna did nothing wrong? For example, she did not hit Sally. Yet readers passionately dislike Jenna.
How do the seven signs enhance the traditional lousy character? They point to insidious behavior as opposed to direct actions. Jenna is intentionally trying to deceive and manipulate the surrounding people. The seven signs provide a high-level crafted approach to creating an undermining character.
The quack doctor would not say, “Take my non-approved medication to cure your pain.” Instead, they would say, “Drink spring water from well X to cure your pain.” Can natural spring water be the tool of a villain? In the right hands, it can.
You’re the best -Bill
November 04, 2020 Updated June 15, 2025
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