what do you guys think about the power band energy things. Do they really help?
Hell no.
My cousin’s a Scientologist and he was trying to convince me. The tricks he was using were pretty simple and he might as well have been using a hair ribbon–the results would have been the same.
'course, if you believe that they work, that’s enough to get at least some effect–the placebo effect. Durrhuuurrrrr-da derp dee derp. Power of the mind, bro.
It helps the seller to make money. Sometimes these things may help as a placebo (alter one’s attitude to think it helps).
They work ok for Captain Marvel.
Our local sports arena recently changed its name from Arco Arena (big oil company) to Power Balance Pavilion (small company that makes plastic bracelets with hologram stickers on them). I estimate that the Power Balance company will not last as long as the lease they bought for their name on the stadium.
I submitted to a “demonstration” of the “power” of the bracelet. The seller (this was at the Aloha Flea Market in Honolulu) has you stand with your arms out to the sides. Says to hold your arms up rigidly. Then he pushes down fairly hard on one, causing you to lose balance to that side. Now we repeat the “test”, with the bracelet on. Actually he just had me hold it in my hand. Same pose, but when he pressed down on my arm he did not press as hard, though he used body language to make it look like he was pressing even harder.
That was the sales pitch.
My verdict? Snake oil is alive and well!
Not that it ever went anywhere, it’s always been with us. These days it’s usually found with the word “herbal” or “supplement” in the name. I give the makers of those bracelets props for taking advantage of the stupidity of people. Cha-ching! 
Instead of getting the seller to do his balance and strength test on you, go with a friend and get your friend to do the balance and strength test on you, you’ll notice the seller makes you think your more balanced and makes you think your stronger xD
The same trick works if you go the other way, too. Try the bracelet first. Now take it off, and hold this random piece of cloth instead. See how much more balanced/limber you are?
Wow, this bracelet must be pretty harmful. Better not wear it. 
I rage when someone I know buys such stuff. But I’ve learned to keep quiet now, people don’t like to be wrong.
Sheep. I see this stuff and think what is wrong with you. I had a guy trying to sell me magnets for your mattress “It polarizes the Iron ions in your blood making them work more efficiently”.
WHAT?
Doesn’t the planet polarize my iron just fine on it’s own?!
Wow:p
Tinfoil Hat anyone?
I’m waiting for us to find out that those bracelets can interfere with the avionics of this aircraft…
No they don’t! I know what you mean, but I still don’t keep quiet. I (wrongly) think I owe them a reality check.
Old people. Remember when they had Mood Rings in the 70s? They didn’t actually read your moods, but at least they changed colors. And nobody to tell you a bunch of lies about their supposed qualities.
Oh, I want to believe!
Currently whistling the x-files theme song…and thinking about how Fox Mulder didn’t mind being proved wrong.
Mood Power Bands?!?
MPD.
Could be the next best thing.
John, you up for a joint venture?
And you know what the hologram picture will be, don’t you?
How about a dollar sign?
I think I’ve got it ! Jesus tax boxes !
I’m going to make small gold and rainbow colored boxes with pictures on the sides of wise men giving money to Jesus. You put your money in it and pray after you close the lid. When you open it, Morgan Friedman says " Give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar." Then you use this money to pay your taxes.
The idea is that by praying on your money, you can then put more Jesus in the system, instead of just paying taxes. Obviously, with more Jesus in the system, we could eliminate all socialist spending and get on with what the USA really needs and the Christian right so desires. A bigger war machine and tax cuts for billionaires.
My target American customers are obsessed with their love of money and their love of Jesus. And they all hate taxes, but have to pay them anyway. So a magic box that combines the two loves together (money and Jesus), will sell. Honestly, I know I can sell these. Well OK,… it is debatable if it would be honest to sell them . That wasn’t what I was saying. I’m saying they will sell well, because for my target demographic, the idea that Jesus magic could be vested into money is an accepted truth. It’s not like someone will come up with an FDA test to show my box was doing nothing. If I show them the box and pray with them, they will buy it. I think I will make a junior miss version with Bieber and Gomez on it also.
While on the one hand FTL appears to be buying his drugs from Charlie Sheen, on the other hand I think he has a saleable product there. At first I thought his post was completely off-topic, but it came together at the end. If people will buy an “energy band” with the thought that it might actually do something beyond being plastic, they’ll buy a “Jesus + money” product.
Who’s going to get it to market first?
I have already made some important outlines
1. It must be a great looking box. Not a sad box at all. Say you send me 22 $ and I send you a cardboard box, how do you feel ? Not the feeling I am looking for.
So rule one, I am running a Jesus scam to sell very impressive jewelry boxes. I see myself selling a stainless steel box covered in porcelain. If I sell a few million (pet rocks did better) and I have to pay 8 $/ box, that’s OK. At worst, I want my customers to say it is a very nice box for 22 $. The Jesus- bless the tax money angle, can be very profitable without being unethical. The markup on the average jewelry box is comparable. I need to research jewelry box making.
I mean, boxes that you put money in and pray over before you pay taxes. Jewelry boxes could be reconfigured to serve this niche. I want people to love their box and recommend it to their friends. I want the box to look so cool, atheists will by them to store their pot in.
a fool and his money are soon parted and all he got was a lousy wristband
Atheists have no morals at all, I bet they’ll rip off the Jesus box and come up with Allah box, Buddha Box etc…
ring ring BRB, patent office called about my Allah box patent… 
Not to take this thread further off topic, but obviously you are not an expert on atheists.
Creating a Jesus money box is not a religious thing. Anybody could make, market and sell one. But it would probably sell better if it had been blessed somehow. Then it could come with a certificate of blessing, or whatever’s “appropriate” in such situations…