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Mel,
I appriciate your input, but I can't help feeling the word
"pseudosceptisism" popping up when I read your story. I get the feeling you
may discard events, phenomena and therapies before they're proven not to
help or exist.
About astrology I can't say very much. I've known a man who was into this
for more than 25 years and who predicted the death of his father on x date.
He was wrong 3 hours. Makes you think.
CIA used psychic people during the gulf-war who were gifted with so called
"remote viewing". These people claim they can see objects from great
distance/without being there. And there is proof for this.
Research in Holland:
Subjects were shown pictures on a television screen. If the pictures were
extreme (like a person being beaten or whatever) they provoked a physical
reaction (heartrate, temperature, EEG, etc.). It was observed that a certain
physical reaction matched a certain image.
Now... The funny thing was that in many cases the physical reaction occured
a splitsecond BEFORE the picture was shown.
I can't say too much about UFO's either, but if I look at the number of
sightings including pilots of the US airforce, I can't say I'm sure they
don't exist.
This is my opinion, Mel. If I don't see it or I haven't red about it, I
can't say anything about it. I DON'T KNOW is the only thing I can say.
Be a sceptic, Mel, not a pseudosceptic.
-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sendt: 16. april 2001 05:25
Til: [log in to unmask]
Emne: Pseudoscience
Many of us have been wondering why so many myths and fallacies can persist
in
the world of health, fitness, sport and strength training. Why is that so
many people actually believe in so many unproven and often illogical and
idiotic methods and toys proliferated by the fitness and therapeutic gurus
of
the age? Does the evidence of science, medicine and sports performance
really count for nothing? Why does it appear true that most of the people
can be fooled most of the time?
Well, I came across some statistics yesterday that tell us a lot about
faith,
belief and superstition even in the most advanced technological countries.
Surveys show that over two-thirds of all American adults read astrological
reports periodically; 26 million read them often; 66 million believe that
astrology is scientific or provable; and 12 million say that they sometimes
change their plans after reading their horoscope. And 43 percent believe
it
likely that UFOs are really space vehicles from other civilisations. (Art
Hobson "Physics - Concepts & Connections").
Also: "Virtually every major move ... the Reagans made during my time as
White House Chief of Staff was cleared in advance with a woman in San
Francisco who drew up horoscopes to make certain that the planets were in
favorable alignment for the enterprise. Nancy Reagan seemed to have an
absolute faith in ... this woman.. At one point, I kept a color-coded
calendar on my desk - highlighted in green for 'good' days, red for 'bad'
days, yellow' for "iffy" days - as an aid to remembering when it was
propitious to move the President of the United States from one place to
another, or schedule him to speak in public, or commence (foreign)
negotiations. There was no choice but to humor the First Lady in this
matter." (Donald Regan, Chief of Staff to former President Reagan).
There are numerous other examples of the strange thinking and behavioural
patterns of even some of the most educated of people, but this small sample
serves to show that all the education and technology in the world can prove
to be inadequate in instilling some sense of logic, critical thinking and
powers of discernment.
Is it, therefore, surprising that we find so many folk falling for ab
rolling
toys, fitness gimmicks, therapeutic mumbo jumbo and inappropriate exercise
methods? Can you imagine how poverty-stricken all of those marketeers,
public speakers and gurus would be if people used their brains a little more
seriously? Is that ever likely to happen in any fields of endeavour?
LINKS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES
Though not infallible or a paragon of scientific impartiality, the following
websites can be helpful in making us more critically aware. I have not
read through every single site quoted and do not necessarily agree with
anything and everything which may appear on any of the sites below.
However,
I encourage readers to rely on their own powers of critical thinking and
ability to compare the different sources to guide them to a more solid basis
for their beliefs and ideas.
http://www.quackwatch.com/
http://www.csicop.org/si/
Here is a very extensive collection of links to other skeptical and quackery
awareness sites:
<http://www.mtn.org/quack/links/links.htm>
<http://www.amasci.com/weird/wskept.html>
<http://www.seanet.com/~vettf/References.htm>
This web page gives interesting material on why bogus therapies seem to work
- it is essential reading for anyone who would like to understand why so
many
fringe types of guruesque healing and conditioning may work in some cases:
<http://www.csicop.org/si/9709/beyer.html>
How to spot health fraud and critically examine alternative therapies:
<http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1999/699_fraud.html>
<http://www.seanet.com/~vettf/Primer2.htm>
Pseudoscience in psychology and psychiatry:
<http://members.nbci.com/psych_books/>
A skeptical guide to chiropractic and applied kinesiology:
<http://www.chirobase.org/>
Here is an extensive resource on Internet hoaxes and urban legends:
<http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/science/urbanlegends/library/weekly/a
a061699.htm?pid=2733&cob=home>
----------------------------
Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/
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