This "health company" sells salt water in a bottle.

• How do I convince my father that this so-called "business opportunity" is a complete scam? I live in LA; my dad, San Francisco. He called me today telling me that he was coming down to southern California for a meeting regarding a "business opportunity"; specifically, selling a product called ASEA water. Apparently this water is chock-full of "redox signaling molecules", which offer all sorts of health benefits. I tried googling the term but all the results seemed to be identical ASEA marketing copy. The scientific studies conducted with this product aren't peer-reviewed or discussed anywhere on Google Scholar. Two other points: 1. There is an AskScience question on Reddit http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/fmk1w/is_there_any_real_science_behind_this_reactive/. The consensus is that this is a total scam. 2. My dad insisted that I watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqLJVA75weQ about "redox signaling" technology. I did; I call bullshit. Most of the positive comments are from dummy accounts created just to spout ASEA propaganda. 3. There's even a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redox_signaling on "redox signaling" which has only one section, History, and more of the same marketing jumble as all the other sites. My dad remains convinced of this product's efficacy, and says that I just don't understand the science behind it all. I think he's being swindled. My gut tells me this is a Bad Idea. But how do I convince him that it's total snake oil? It's so difficult to find actual, legitimate information from reputable sources with all the ASEA reps muddying the waters. I really don't want my dad to end up selling bottled salt water. Sorry if this question is a bit jumbled, my head is whirling. I appreciate any and all help from the Hive Mind!

• Answer:

  Do not focus on debunking the validity of the pseudoscientific claims about the water: You can not argue against emotions with logic, or against logic with emotions. Simply be consistent and strong in referring to the water as a "scam" or other similar term, and don't dwell on it, just refer matter-of-factly to the truth that he is being misled. What you should talk to him about is whatever emotional drivers are causing him to seek a get-rich-quick scheme. A few key ideas you can hit to try to persuade him to not be sucked in: * "Dad, I thought you always told me there's no substitute for hard work, and anything that sounds too good to be true like a get rich quick scheme can't be legit. What would you think if I told you I found a magic elixir scam that was going to make me rich if I invested my money in them?" * "If you feel you need to make more money, Dad, would you work with me to help think of our own business that we could invest your money in, instead of strangers who are trying to peddle a scam?" * "Would you go into business with the other people in the room who are being taken in by this scam? Because those are your peers, and none of them seem like ultra-successful business people." * "What did they say to you to convince you to waste your money on this scam? I know they must have been remarkably manipulative to convince you, because you're smart so they have to be pretty effective in pushing some emotional buttons with you." * "I don't want to tell my [kids/future kids] that Grandpa wasted his savings on a water scam by some guys in a hotel conference center. Give me the money you want to waste on this, I'll hold it untouched in a savings account for a year. Get the contact info for one of the other attendees of this scam event, and in one year we'll ask how it's gone for him. If he's rich, you can take the money and go crazy with it, and I'll pay you the difference in whatever earnings you've gone without." Key thing is you want to be empathetic to his emotional state (since that's what these leeches are exploiting) while being absolutely firm and adamant about the dishonesty of the hucksters who are preying on him. It's a tough balance, but you can do it with him. Good luck!