Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 02 No 03 - 1993

Magazine Overview

Title: The Association For Rational Thought News
Issue: Volume 2, No. 3
Date: April, 1993
Publisher: The Association For Rational Thought
Focus: Practicing the art of rational thinking in everyday life, encouraging rational evaluation of fringe science, pseudoscience, and paranormal claims.

Organization Updates and Meetings

The Association for Rational Thought (A.R.T.) is a new organization dedicated to the rational and scientific evaluation of paranormal and fringe science claims. The newsletter announces the organization's second annual election of officers for the upcoming year (May 1993-April 1994). The By-Laws require election of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Investigations Officer, Publicity Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, Meeting Organizer, and Media Resources Coordinator. Several positions have already been filled, including President Keith Brabender and Vice-President Dick McGrath. However, A.R.T. is still seeking a Recording Secretary, a Meeting Organizer, and a Media Resources Coordinator. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact Keith Brabender.

A significant announcement is the relocation of A.R.T.'s meeting place to the Bethesda Blue Ash Medical Building in Blue Ash, north of Cincinnati. This new location, secured through the generosity of Dr. Claudia Harsh, spouse of Membership Secretary Roy Auerbach, offers a well-equipped classroom free of charge, ample parking, and convenient facilities. The James Tavern across the street is available for post-meeting lunches.

Notes from the President

President Keith Brabender discusses the Executive Council's adoption of guidelines for selecting speakers, emphasizing rational thinking and the scientific method. He addresses the organization's dual goals: serving as a meeting ground for like-minded individuals and acting as a platform for educational efforts. While A.R.T. is still building its organizational base, Brabender hopes it can eventually engage in broader public education through schools or seminars. He acknowledges that some members prefer A.R.T. to function solely as a club for discussion, while others desire a more active 'missionary' role. Brabender expresses a hope that A.R.T. can eventually fulfill both roles and encourages active member participation.

He also touches upon the tendency within skeptical groups to disagree on which topics are appropriate for skeptical inquiry, urging members to maintain intellectual curiosity and base disagreements on the scientific method.

Alternative Medicine Research

An article by Natalie Angier in The New York Times is discussed, reporting on the National Institute of Health's plan to establish an Office of Alternative Medicine. While initially dismayed, President Brabender's perspective is tempered by Joe Gastright's point that research attempting to validate unscientific practices may also provide counter-evidence. The hope is that this research, if done appropriately, will either confirm the lack of scientific merit in some alternative therapies or, if it finds merit, will be met with a response from the scientific community.

Dick McGrath on Stigmata

Vice-President Dick McGrath presented a talk on stigmata, defined as morbid marks of unknown origin that bleed spontaneously. These phenomena have been documented since the Middle Ages, with St. Francis of Assisi being a notable early example. Stigmata are described as occurring in various locations on the body and are often associated with fasting, visions, and claims of working miracles. The presentation notes that stigmata are not exclusive to Christianity, appearing in other religions as well.

McGrath explains that while some cases of stigmata may be fraudulent, many are not easily explained. He challenges the interpretation that these wounds are direct replicas of the wounds of Jesus or Mohammed, citing historical evidence that crucifixion wounds were likely not on the palms. Instead, a psychological explanation is favored, involving significant mental, emotional, or physical stress, or even the influence of others' symptoms. Meditation on detailed images of suffering is suggested as a possible mechanism, though the exact process is not understood. The Roman Catholic Church does not consider stigmata to be miracles. The talk mentions that stigmata are more common in Germany and South America, and provides references for further reading.

Misuse of Statistics by Parapsychologists

Joe Gastright, A.R.T. Investigations Officer, delivered a talk on how parapsychologists misuse statistics to support their claims. Gastright outlines five methods: 1) repeating trials until a statistically significant result is found, 2) using extremely large samples where small numbers of supporting cases appear significant, 3) re-analyzing data to find positive results, 4) ignoring the requirement for random trials by starting and stopping data collection based on perceived 'promising' results, and 5) claiming unreplicated evidence as proof. He emphasizes that scientific acceptance requires replication of findings across various settings and methods.

Joe Gastright Reads Minds at the January Meeting!

Gastright's talk also explored the common person's misconception of random numbers, which psychics exploit. Most people avoid repeating numbers, numbers at the ends of a range, and runs. Gastright demonstrated this by asking members to think of a number between 1 and 10. The results showed a nonrandom choice, with numbers like 6, 7, and 8 being disproportionately selected. This tendency allows 'psychics' to claim a 'hit' when they guess a commonly chosen number, creating the illusion of psychic ability. Similar patterns of consistency are observed in choices of geometric shapes.

A table compares the responses of A.R.T. members and a larger sample of 590 people regarding geometric shapes, showing a preference for circle-triangle and circle-square combinations. This consistency is used by mentalists to appear psychic.

Magic for Skeptics II

Information is provided about a seminar sponsored by CSICOP in Lexington, Kentucky, focusing on exposing the secrets of psychics and mediums. The seminar, 'Magic for Skeptics II,' will teach participants how to develop their own mentalist routines and methods for investigating alleged psychics. The cost is $130, including a magic kit, with an optional banquet for $27. Registration details and hotel information are provided.

Books Introduced at the February Meeting

• Joe Gastright presented several books at the February meeting:
• The Write Stuff: Discusses the deceptive use of graphoanalysis in hiring.
• Skeptic (journal): A new quarterly journal from the Skeptics Society, described as well-researched and comprehensive, focusing on science and rational skepticism.
• Mysterious Realms: Probing Paranormal, Historical, and Forensic Enigmas: A case book of investigations by Joe Nickell and John E. Fischer.

Calendar

• Regular Membership Meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month (October-May) at 10:00 A.M. at the Bethesda Blue Ash Medical Building. Executive Council Meetings are usually on the first Saturday of the month at the same location. Upcoming events include:
• April 10: Annual Membership Meeting and Election of Officers, with Roy Auerbach speaking on 'How to Detect Scientific Quackery.'
• May 8: Regular Monthly Meeting, with Keith Brabender speaking on 'The Logics of Argument.'
• June 12: Executive Council Meeting for Old and Incoming Officers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the promotion of rational thinking, scientific skepticism, and critical evaluation of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. The A.R.T. organization actively seeks to educate its members and the public on these matters, providing a platform for discussion and investigation. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and highlights the importance of understanding statistical methods to avoid being misled by pseudoscientific claims. The organization also emphasizes community building among its members and encourages active participation.