Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 03 No 01 - 1993

Magazine Overview

The Association For Rational Thought News, Volume 3, No. 1, published in October 1993, is a newsletter from The Association For Rational Thought (A.R.T.). The organization is dedicated to encouraging rational and well-informed evaluation of fringe science, pseudoscience, and paranormal claims, aiming to distribute the results of these investigations to the public. The newsletter invites readers to become members.

Membership Meeting and Events

The first meeting of the 1993-94 A.R.T. season was scheduled for Saturday, October 9th, at 10:00 A.M. at the Bethesda Blue Ash Medical Building. The program included a videotape presentation by Joe Gastright of a 1992 talk by CSICOP Fellow James Randi, titled "Pseudoscience and the Paranormal in Eastern Europe and the World." Randi, a magician and scientific investigator, was set to challenge fuzzy thinking and discuss the growth of pseudoscience in Eastern Europe. Following the meeting, attendees were invited to lunch and conversation at James Tavern.

A.R.T. Staff and Volunteers

Lance Moody took on the role of Media Resources Coordinator for A.R.T. on June 25th. This position involves chairing a Scientific and Technical Consulting Committee to create a pool of experts available to respond to media inquiries about paranormal topics. Moody planned to develop a file of A.R.T.'s official positions on paranormal topics and a list of experts for media referrals. The newsletter emphasized the importance of maintaining a flow of accurate, scientific information and encouraged readers to volunteer by calling Lance Moody at 733-1332.

The newsletter also highlighted a need for volunteers for two key positions on the Executive Council: Recording Secretary and Meeting Organizer. The current officers are listed as President Keith Brabender, Vice-President Dick McGrath, Corresponding Secretary and Publicity Coordinator Mary Pacinda, Treasurer Peggy Borger, Membership Secretary Roy Auerbach, Investigations Officer Joe Gastright, Newsletter Editor Virginia Jergens, and Media Resources Coordinator Lance Moody. Interested individuals were asked to contact Keith Brabender, with terms extending through April 1994.

Skeptics on the Electronic Superhighway

The issue featured information on two online forums for skeptics:

Productivity Online (POL)

Thanks to Membership Chair Roy Auerbach, Cincinnati area skeptics have access to their own forum on Productivity Online (POL), a local computer service organized by Richard Blumberg. POL aims to "enrich and empower those who are using small computers professionally and creatively" and provides communication and information resources for both Mac and Windows users. Administrators include Richard Blumberg, Rick Dieringer, Lynn Estomin, and Becky Pranger. The Skeptics Forum on POL, founded by Roy, is a free experimental service for exchanging information and opinions among local skeptics. Users can interact with A.R.T. members like Roy, Joe Gastright, Lance Moody, and Virginia Jergens, download text files, and software. Access is available via a general communications program using modem number 723-4444 or through First Class software.

Compuserve's Paranormal Section

For subscribers to the national online service Compuserve, the Paranormal Section of the Issues Forum (GO ISSUES, select Section 10, Paranormal) offers another skeptical forum. This service is part of Compuserve's "extended services" at $8.00 per hour, in addition to the regular monthly charge of $8.95. Here, users can chat with skeptics and believers, exchange messages, and access a library of text documents. UFOs were noted as a popular topic, alongside Big Foot, crop circles, and an "incoming planetoid." The library contains international articles and reports. Requirements for accessing Compuserve include a Macintosh computer with specific system and RAM requirements, or a DOS machine. Compuserve introductory packages are available at local computer stores, including one month of free use.

Virginia Jergens (V. H. Jergens) is available on Productivity Online and on Compuserve (V. H. Jergens, 75210, 3465), checking email daily. The editor encouraged readers to share information about other online forums of interest to skeptics.

Book Reviews

Breaking the Circle of Satanic Ritual Abuse: Recognizing and Recovering from the Hidden Trauma, by Daniel Ryder

This book review, contributed by Peggy Borger, critically examines Daniel Ryder's assertion that many children are sexually and otherwise abused in Satanic rituals, often without conscious memory. Ryder believes demons support these cults and participate in the abuse, with extrasensory perception (ESP) being part of the rituals. He claims that adults who were abused as children but do not remember it suffer from psychological issues. Ryder's proposed therapy involves reassuring patients and providing them with books containing graphic descriptions of "memories" from other patients, and a step-by-step examination of the recovery process. The reviewer expresses concern that this method may lead patients to fabricate memories, a process termed "fabrication" by psychologists. The book is described as including "extremely graphic and often repulsive and nauseating stories." The reviewer notes that Ryder is a licensed social worker and certified chemical dependency counselor, but not a psychologist or psychiatrist, and questions the therapeutic validity of invoking angels. The publisher's disclaimer, stating they do not "endorse any ritual abuse therapies, recovery groups, or organizations," is highlighted.

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors: A Search for Who We Are by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan

This review, written by Keith Brabender, discusses Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan's book, which explores contemporary science's approach to questions of human origins. The authors connect scientific ideas with quotations from mystics, poets, and philosophers. The book emphasizes humanity's close ties to the animal world, paraphrasing the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus" to suggest that "I am an ape, as you are an ape... and we all live together." The narrative covers the creation of the earth and the discovery of evolution, noting that despite scientific scrutiny, the general population has limited understanding of evolution. Brabender concludes that while Sagan and Druyan believe in evolution and the possibility of reconciling it with religious faith, this understanding is not conventional wisdom, and the outcome of its acceptance is doubtful.

Quackery Continued

This section continues a summary of a talk given by Roy Auerbach at the April A.R.T. membership meeting, focusing on quackery in science. Auerbach distinguishes science from pseudoscience, noting that pseudoscience often relies on comprehensive theories rather than incremental ones, and tackles grand origins rather than specific phenomena. Pseudoscientific findings are typically difficult to verify, and pseudoscientists often view themselves as misunderstood geniuses rather than part of a scientific community. Their conclusions are often presented to the public without independent evaluation.

Auerbach categorizes quack scientists into four groups: inventors, outsiders, insiders, and outright frauds.

• Quack Inventors: Tend to repeatedly invent non-functional devices, such as perpetual motion machines. These are divided into those requiring no external energy source (violating thermodynamics) and those tapping unknown energy sources (like the Dean Drive).
• Black Boxes: Secret electrical mechanisms claimed to perform remarkable tasks, such as the E-Meter used by the Church of Scientology or Wilhelm Reich's Orgone Energy Collection Box, which are described as ineffective.
• Outsiders: Would-be scientists not part of legitimate scientific communities, like J.G. Barredo, who developed unsupported electro-chemical ideas, or Immanuel Velikovsky, known for his theories about extraterrestrial influence on ancient history.
• Insiders: Individuals within the scientific community who engage in quackery, such as Pons and Fleischman, the inventors of cold fusion, whose claims were grandiose and potentially fraudulent.

Outright frauds may use plagiarism or data tampering. Their claims might be modest, and their aim is often personal recognition rather than financial gain. The review notes that even figures like Isaac Newton and Gregor Mendel are suspected of such practices due to overly perfect experimental results.

Auerbach compared areas of sound science like superconductivity and the Cretaceous catastrophe hypothesis with pseudoscience like cold fusion and Velikovsky's theories. He stressed the importance of careful attention to research details and the social dynamics within the scientific community. The article notes that scientists typically collaborate and discuss findings with colleagues in other fields, a characteristic that supports sound research and accurate reporting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes a skeptical and rational approach to evaluating claims, particularly those related to paranormal phenomena and pseudoscience. It encourages critical thinking, scientific investigation, and the dissemination of accurate information. The emphasis on online forums suggests an embrace of new communication technologies for sharing skeptical viewpoints. The book reviews critically analyze works that touch upon controversial topics like Satanic ritual abuse and evolution, reflecting a commitment to debunking unsubstantiated claims and promoting scientific understanding. The ongoing discussion on quackery underscores the publication's dedication to identifying and exposing flawed or fraudulent scientific endeavors.