Self-experimentation is a scientific method used to test and do experiments on oneself. It is a method that has been used since the start of Science. In current times, these self-experimenters are portrayed as mad scientists, trying to give themselves evil super powers. But in reality, they have a great contribution to the scientific world!
Self-experimentation has been long accepted as a form of science. Even famous scientists such as Isaac Newton have used this method. He nearly burned his cornea as he stared at the sun, thinking it was the only way to understanding illusions.
Self-experimentation is also being seen on the internet. Ad hoc scientist would buy the newest pills or any form of products publicized, and then log into forums and compare their findings with other investigators. This would help to let others know of the effectiveness of these products.
Honestly, I find that this is a good way to lead the future. Although one must admit that this self-experimentation is dangerous to the person that is self-experimenting, it is also seen that there are a lot of advantages.
This method is indeed very dangerous. We can see this as Walter Reed, and a few of his junior doctors, tried to prove that yellow fever was transmitted through mosquitoes. They allowed mosquitoes to feast on their bodies, and in the end, 2 of them died in a week, while most of the rest had serious illnesses.
On the other hand, this can have advantages as it could come to prove things that people would not have believed. Using the same example as above, the people then did not believe that mosquitoes were the result of yellow fever, and rejected Dr Reed's idea. Only after the experiment, did the people believed it, which might have led to many saved lives. This method could be used as a form of persuasion, where no scientific evidence is actually present. Sort of like the method of "trial and error" in math.
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