"Eeyore" wrote in
message ...
The following characteristics have been argued by the cited authors to be
useful
in identifying pseudoscience.

Use of vague, exaggerated or untestable claims
Assertion of scientific claims that are vague rather than precise, and
that lack
specific measurements as a basis [18].
Failure to make use of operational definitions [19]
Failure to adhere to the principle of parsimony, i.e. failing to seek an
explanation that requires the fewest possible additional assumptions when
multiple viable explanations are possible (see: Occam's Razor) [20]
Use of obscurantist language. Many proponents of pseudoscience use
grandiose or
highly technical jargon in an effort to provide their disciplines with the
superficial trappings of science.[21]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudoscience

Also.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo_science
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathological_science
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_science
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiscience

Anti-science is very popular with the devotees of thermionics in
particular
where the proponents often simply dismiss the relevance of the scientific
method
entirely.

Graham

The use of a pair of objects that help to define the quality of the
equipment before purchase.
EARS.
If you can't hear an improvement, don't upgrade.
Some people can't tell an MP3 file from a CD. Some people can't tell a live
brass band from an old shellac 78. If you can't, why waste thousands on
expensive equipment, e.g use bellwire for your speaker cables, etc. etc.
Diminishing returns. The £100 gear sounds a lot better than the £10 lot.
The £1,000 gear sounds quite a bit better than the £100 lot.
The £10,000 a bit better than the £1,000 lot, and so on.
Recently I visited a house where they had an ipod attached to some sort of
mains powered speaker arrangement that all packed into a handbag. They
thought it sounded great. Kept turning it louder and louder and saying how
marvellous that it fitted into the small handbag.
One man's meat is another man's gravy.

--
John the West Ham fan