Arizona Skeptic - Vol 6 No 3 - 1992

Magazine Overview

Title: The Arizona Skeptic
Subtitle: A Journal Promoting Critical Thinking
Issue: Volume 6, Issue 3
Date: November/December 1992
Editor: Jim Lippard

This issue of The Arizona Skeptic, published by the Phoenix Skeptics and the Tucson Skeptics Society (TUSKS), focuses on the 1992 CSICOP conference and other related topics.

Report on the 1992 CSICOP Conference: Part One

"Fairness, Fraud, and Feminism: Culture Confronts Science"

The conference, hosted by the North Texas Skeptics, featured five panel sessions: multicultural approaches to science, gender issues in science and pseudoscience, fraud in science, crashed saucers, and the paranormal in China. CSICOP chairman Paul Kurtz opened the conference, distinguishing between different types of skepticism.

Multicultural Approaches to Science

Moderated by Eugenie Scott, this panel addressed the "Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" of multicultural approaches to science. Scott emphasized her belief in objective reality. Examples were given of materials criticizing textbook multicultural stances, drawing parallels to the critiques of fundamentalists Mel and Norma Gabler. Diana Marinez discussed the importance of multicultural education in making science relevant to students' lives and correcting the underrepresentation of minorities in scientific fields. Joseph Dunbar critiqued "melanin scholars" who claim special abilities for dark-skinned humans based on magical properties of melanin, distinguishing between different types of melanin and melatonin. Bernard Ortiz de Montellano discussed the "African-American Baseline Essays," a curriculum resource that makes controversial claims about the origins of civilization and ancient Egyptian science, which he debunked as pseudoscience.

Unofficial Session on Faith Healing

Ole Anthony, a critic of televangelists, spoke about legal tactics used by Robert Tilton against him. Anthony advocates for FCC rules requiring verifiable claims on broadcasts and argues that fraud is not protected by the First Amendment.

Gender Issues in Science and Pseudoscience

Moderated by James Alcock, this session featured social psychologist Carol Tavris, who discussed gender biases in science and the "Mismeasure of Woman." She argued that research often assumes active males and passive females, and that the concept of "feminist science" versus "normal science" highlights bias. Tavris also discussed studies of sex differences in humans, identifying "chauvinist bias" (women as the problem) and "feminist bias" (women as the solution). She provided examples of how the same study results could be interpreted differently based on these biases. Tavris also pointed out that the concept of "self-defeating personality disorder" is based on chauvinist bias and that men are generally more violent than women, though women's participation in wartime is culturally dependent. She also discussed how studies of love often treat women as the norm and men as deficient.

Susan Blackmore examined the question of why so few women attend CSICOP conferences. She rejected explanations related to general science participation or women's higher belief in the paranormal. She favored the explanation that the type of science CSICOP engages in is not attractive to women. Blackmore contrasted "masculine" and "feminine" science, as defined by Sandra Harding, and criticized parapsychology for its lack of progress, urging a shift towards understanding experiences rather than solely focusing on proving psi.

Keynote Address: "Viruses of the Mind"

Richard Dawkins spoke on "memes," cultural analogues of genes, and how they spread through minds. He compared them to computer viruses and described how humans are prone to replicate ideas and obey them, leading to phenomena like widespread religious belief and fads. Dawkins described "mind viruses" as effective at coexisting and disguising themselves, leading to a deep inner conviction without evidence. He stated that religion is an "infectious disease of the mind."

A Visit to Dinosaur Valley State Park

Richard A. Crowe reported on a trip to Dinosaur Valley State Park, where participants viewed dinosaur tracks. The article details the history of creationist claims that alleged "man-tracks" were found there, which have since been debunked by investigators like Ron Hastings. These "man-tracks" were shown to be erosional features or misinterpretations of dinosaurian prints. The Institute of Creation Research (ICR) has since distanced itself from these claims.

The End of Crop Circles?

Chris Rutkowski discussed the state of crop circle research, noting that 1992 produced numerous fakes and few "genuine" circles. He cited editor Paul Fuller's admission that most modern crop circles are man-made hoaxes and that any genuine phenomenon has been overwhelmed by misinformation. Terence Meaden, a proponent of meteorological explanations, has restricted his theory to simple circles, limiting "genuine circles" to fewer than a dozen a year.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Arizona Skeptic consistently promotes critical thinking and scientific skepticism. The articles in this issue address pseudoscience, the critique of unscientific claims (such as those made by "melanin scholars" and creationists), and the examination of gender bias within scientific discourse. The magazine also highlights the importance of evidence-based reasoning, as seen in the debunking of the Paluxy River "man-tracks" and the skepticism towards crop circle phenomena. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific methodology and rational inquiry, contrasting it with what is perceived as flawed or unscientific reasoning in various fields.