Major Planet Formation Mystery Solved... Maybe

According to this headline, a major discovery has been made in the understanding of planet formation. The article starts off by stating:

Planet formation is a story with a well-known beginning and end, but how its middle plays out has been an enigma to scientists-until now.

​The only problem is they really don’t know. This is all a theory based on computer models.

Now the article does explain this, and makes no attempt to claim that any of this theory is proven fact, but the problem I have with this story is in the way it was packaged.

This featured article from Yahoo’s homepage was worded in such a way as to make you think (believe?), “Hey, these astronomers have figured out something really important.”

Even though the blurb is followed by a link to the full story that says: “New theory”, the way this featured article is laid out really takes your attention away from the word, theory.

By now you’re probably thinking, “Man, aren’t you going a little far here? So you must think this is some kind of conspiracy, or something.”

Well, not exactly, but I do believe there’s something behind this headline that is supposed to make you think a certain way.

What you’re led to believe is that astronomers, through computers and scientific reasoning, have solved a great mystery of the universe. When in reality they really don’t know the truth about planetary formation. It’s only a theory. They’re guessing. It may be an educated guess, but still a guess. However, you have to read the the whole article in order to realize there’s no real solution to this mystery at all.

“So what’s your point, man?” I’m glad you asked.

It’s all a part of marketing.

Brian Vaszily (pronounced “vay zlee”), in his article, The One Real Reason You Are Stressed Out, Overweight, Depressed or Angry, writes about how marketing is all designed to make you believe and act a certain way. And he should know, he’s a marketing professional.

For about a decade, up through most of 2001, I used my marketing skills effectively but also carelessly, helping corporations with little or no conscience build their bottom lines, simply because I wanted to build my own. I especially contributed my marketing, public relations, advertising and editorial expertise to one of the world’s largest shopping malls, to a giant business and leisure travel corporation, and (get ready to gasp) a leading corporation in the prescription drug industry.

After being deeply impacted by the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, Vaszily “vowed never to contribute [his] marketing and editorial skills to organizations that have little or no conscience again.”

He has written several articles exposing the tactics of the marketing industry in his informative How We Get You column at SixWise.com, a website offering information on health and safety.

Vaszily’s foundational message: “You’re being suckered!”

Do yourself a favor, and get the scoop from this industry insider. Remember, always read critically, and don’t accept any story at face value.