[johnt]

Placebo effects have ethical consequences for this forum.

The larger the placebo effects are the more careful we need to be when posting information that conflicts with the belief that other people have in the efficacy of their actions.

Taking a wide definition of the words, even a post reporting some research can, itself (i.e. the act of communication), be considered either a placebo or a nocebo. By extension, I would argue, the forum itself acts partly as a placebo.

I'm certainly not suggesting that people only post good news. Not least because the placebo effect is enhanced by credibility, which would be reduced if we followed such a road.

Where do we draw the line?

John