Talk:Wade Davis (anthropologist)

Born, West Vancouver
Really? There's no hospital in West Van (it's in North Vancouver). I don't personally understand why where someone is born is important (as it may not be a place they have any connection to - just the nearest community with a hospital).- but unless we have a source it's pretty unlikely he was born in West Vancouver (although he may well be from there). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 142.161.165.22 (talk) 15:46, 8 March 2017 (UTC)

Link: The Serpent and the Rainbow
The link for the book The Serpent and the Rainbow leads to some Wes Craven horror flick supposedly based on the book. Reading the synopsis alone makes it clear that this is not a film version of the book but a Hollywood rip-off. This is obviously not what was intended for this link and should be changed.
 * It's correct. Despite the book being awesome and the film being awful, they are indeed related.Matttoothman (talk) 18:03, 11 September 2011 (UTC)

Fact?
Very minor issue. The article reads "Davis was born in West Vancouver, British Columbia, ..." Is this true? Most people were born in hospitals in 53 and West Van didn't have one then. 19:31, 7 October 2009 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Shadesofgrey (talk • contribs)

I just read this and thought exactly the same thing - odds are he was born at Lion's Gate in North Van. This is a tricky issue though - where people are born often doesn't indicate where they grew up or ever lived - which in my opinion is the more interesting fact, so often the places without hospitals "lose" their notable people because they weren't born there (because no one is unless it's an emergency delivery). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.183.57.148 (talk) 21:59, 1 July 2011 (UTC)

Im not seeing the line where he was born

I just wanted to note the Biography structure is presently a bit off

the first paragraph is about what he is doing now

its not until the 5th paragraph we learn he's from British Columbia

J Ed — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.250.215.184 (talk) 21:50, 12 October 2011 (UTC)

Wade Davis - update
Wade Davis published a new book in 2009 entitled "The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World" as part of the CBC Massey Lectures Series. The website for further information is here: http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/massey.html 142.205.213.254 (talk) 19:31, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

two stages
The book The serpent and the rainbow mentions if I remember correctly the plant datura inoxia as well as tetrodotoxin, making the case that the process is a two stage one, with tetrodotoxine in the first and datura in the second maintaining the state so to speak. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.89.181.131 (talk) 00:02, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

Born in West Van
West Vancouver doesn't have a hospital - don't think it ever has. Was he born at home, or at Lion's Gate in neighbouring North Van? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.11.77.201 (talk) 02:03, 2 October 2015 (UTC)

The "Biography" section reads like a press release or a puff piece and should be deleted
The section BIography reads like a puff piece written by an advocate for the subject of this article. It also manages to say almost nothing that a reader of Wikipedia can understand about what the subject of this article has actually done, if anything.

Since this violates the rules of Wikipedia, I suggest that this section be deleted immediately in full.

ALSO: The Serpent and the Rainbow has as subtitle "A Harvard Scientist's Astonishing Journey into the Secret Societies of Haitian Voodoo, Zombis, and Magic".

But Wade Davis never was at any time a "Harvard scientist". Based on what is in the Wikipedia article: Harvard is where he got his degrees, but he never worked there after that. According to the standards of academia, he would in no way be called a "Harvard scientist".Daqu (talk) 15:18, 12 November 2015 (UTC)
 * I agree with you. Unfortunately, it IS the subtitle of the reprint editions of the book, and thus an ethical problem for the publishers (Simon & Schuster; Touchstone), not for Wikipedia editors. Valerius Tygart (talk) 21:58, 10 January 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
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"Witchdoctor"
The term "witchdoctor" is used twice in the article, and there are a few issues with it:

· The main problem is that it is considered "pejorative" and "inaccurate" (https://www.britannica.com/topic/witch-doctor). Vodou(n) is a national religion, and so we really want to avoid pejorative terms, just like any other recognized religion.

· Even the use of the term "witch" is not culturally or linguistically accurate, as it does not arise out of the languages and practices of Haiti.

· Wade Davis never used the term "witch doctor."

· Definitionally, "witch doctor" would not even be accurate, because Merriam and Britannica demonstrate that "witch doctors" are regarded as spiritual healers. "Zombie-making" would not qualify.

· "Witchdoctor" is usually spelled "witch doctor" or "witch-doctor."

There are different types of priests/priestesses in Vodou(n). There are Houngans/Mambos (male/female) and Bokors/Caplatas (male/female). Historically, the Bokors/Caplatas have been associated with "zombie-making."

I will update the two places that use "witchdoctor" with the correct terms and cite this source:

Hall, Michael R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Haiti. p. 326. ISBN 978-0810875494. 笔名 (talk) 19:52, 13 March 2024 (UTC)