Georgia Skeptics - Vol 06 No 03

Magazine Overview

This document is the Summer 1993 issue of the "ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER OF THE GEORGIA SKEPTICS," Volume 6, Number 3. It serves as a non-profit publication dedicated to investigating pseudoscientific and paranormal claims from a scientific perspective and disseminating findings to the public. The organization shares a philosophy with the Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP).

Upcoming Events and Membership

The newsletter announces upcoming events, including the July meeting and a September picnic. The July meeting features Dr. Keith M. Parsons discussing "Lifestyles of the Huge and Famous: A Skeptical Perspective on Jurassic Summer," focusing on what is known and unknown about dinosaurs. The second annual Georgia Skeptics Picnic is scheduled for September 19, 1993, with entertainment by Anson Kennedy. Membership information is provided, with yearly dues set at $17.50 for individuals, $21.00 for families, and $12.50 for students. Contact information for Becky Long, President, is listed.

Georgia Skeptics Begins Media Watch

A significant initiative launched is the "Georgia Skeptics Media Watch," co-directed by Dr. William Evans. This project aims to monitor Georgia media for paranormal news, assess stories for balance and accuracy, and provide resources to journalists. Media Watch will issue press releases for high-profile stories and publish quarterly "report cards" on media coverage. The goal is to increase awareness of the need for cautious and responsible reporting. Volunteers are sought to submit clippings, particularly from outside metro Atlanta. Dr. Evans is an Assistant Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Media Watch Press Releases

Three press releases detail the Media Watch project's evaluations of local news stories:

• Press Release #1 (June 14, 1993): The Atlanta Journal/Constitution received an "F" for a story titled "80,000 wait as visionary tested" by Richard Whitt. The story covered the Conyers apparition and presented three paranormal claims (apparitions with radiation emissions, angel lights, and rosary beads changing to gold) without any questioning or challenge, and included no skeptical viewpoints.
• Press Release #2 (July 14, 1993): The Atlanta Journal/Constitution received a "D" for a story titled "Vidalia harvests UFO sightings as well as onions" by Paul Kaplan. While the story included some implicit skepticism from the journalist regarding a claim of extraterrestrial travel, it lacked explicit skeptical sources or viewpoints to balance the credulous claims.
• Press Release #3 (July 26, 1993): The Atlanta Journal/Constitution received criticism for a "haunted house story" about a Charleston, South Carolina inn. The story reported paranormal claims of ghosts without critical evaluation, despite the journalist's attempt to include token skepticism at the end.

Skepticism and Falsifiability

Dr. Keith M. Parsons, a philosopher with a Ph.D. from Queens University and pursuing a second Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh, contributes an article titled "Skepticism and Falsifiability." He discusses the concept of falsifiability as a demarcation criterion between science and pseudoscience, popularized by Karl Popper. Parsons argues that while the concept has intuitive appeal, most philosophers of science now reject its strict application. He explains that hypotheses must have empirical content, but the challenge lies in defining falsifiability in a way that is neither too weak nor too strong. He uses examples like the "Mafia blood type O" claim and the idea that personality is determined by hair follicles to illustrate how easily vague or unfalsifiable assertions can be constructed. Parsons suggests that skeptics should focus more on the vagueness or lack of empirical support for claims rather than solely relying on the falsifiability criterion, which he finds problematic and easily circumvented.

The Blood Readers

This section features an excerpt from Robert Steiner's book, "Don't Get Taken!" It critiques the book "You Are Your Blood Type" by Nomi and Besher, which promotes the idea of blood type personality. Steiner highlights the lack of scientific evidence and documentation in the book, pointing out that it relies on anecdotal accounts and vague assertions. He illustrates the non-falsifiable nature of such claims by proposing a survey to determine the blood types of "big Mafiosi." The article also touches upon the claim that Jesus Christ was type AB, based on analysis of the Shroud of Turin, noting the cautious wording used by some experts.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes a skeptical and scientific approach to evaluating claims. It emphasizes critical thinking, the importance of evidence, and the need for responsible journalism. The "Media Watch" project directly addresses the editorial stance on media coverage of paranormal topics, advocating for accuracy and balance. The critique of blood type personality and the discussion on falsifiability reinforce the commitment to distinguishing between scientific inquiry and pseudoscience. The overall tone is informative, critical, and aimed at educating the public about skeptical viewpoints.

This issue of BASIS, a newsletter from the Bay Area Skeptics, published in August 1989, features several articles that critically examine claims of paranormal phenomena and pseudoscience. The content is primarily written from a skeptical perspective, aiming to debunk purported psychic abilities and extraordinary claims through logical reasoning and explanations of trickery.

The Shroud of Turin and Blood Type Statistics

The issue opens with a strong debunking of the Shroud of Turin, stating that no significant portion of the scientific community ever accepted it as the shroud of Jesus Christ. It is described as a "totally discredited" and "elaborate hoax." The author then moves on to question statistical claims made about the blood types of religious leaders. Specifically, it challenges the assertion that founders of major religions like Gautama Buddha, Mohammed, and mystics from St. Francis to Mahatma Gandhi were likely AB types. The author calculates that if four such individuals were assumed to be AB, and given that AB blood types make up only four percent of the American population, the probability of this occurring by chance is less than three in one million. This is presented as an example of "careless and completely unfounded and unsupported assertion," used to question the reliability of other claims made by the same authors.

Robert Steiner Profile

A brief profile introduces Robert Steiner, a CPA and fellow of CSICOP. His credentials include being a Board Member of the National Council Against Health Fraud, a member of the National Association of Bunco Investigators, and founder and past chair of Bay Area Skeptics. He is also a professional magician who uses his skills to expose fraud. A quote from Robert Sheaffer highlights Steiner's integrity: "The only thing standing between you and a million dollars is principle."

MADONNA WOULD MAKE A GREAT PSYCHIC SPOON BENDER!

By Rebecca Long, this article details the author's experience at a "psychic spoon-bending" seminar conducted by Dr. William Roll, a Danish parapsychologist. Dr. Posner of Tampa Bay Skeptics suggested that Madonna would be a good spoon bender, drawing parallels to her book "Sex" and movie "Truth or Dare." Dr. Roll categorized psychic powers into ESP (female component, taking something in) and psychokinesis (PK, male component, thrusting/penetrating). He famously endorsed the "Columbus Poltergeist" case of Tina Resch, despite evidence of her cheating, and authored a book about her abilities. The article notes that Tina Resch (now Boyer) was later indicted for murder.

The seminar involved participants attempting to bend spoons through focused concentration and "excitement." The author describes the process: selecting spoons, holding them, and stroking the handles while Dr. Roll guided them with vocal cues like "We're getting close" and "Yes, yes." The author confesses that she had prepared her own spoon beforehand and successfully broke it, upstaging the demonstration. She explains that James Randi also demonstrated spoon bending on "Good Morning America" by preparing the spoon, making it appear to bend and sag. Dr. Terence Hines' book "Pseudoscience and the Paranormal" is cited, detailing how to prepare a spoon by bending it back and forth under running water until it is weakened at the stem-bowl junction. The trick involves presenting the prepared spoon as if it were ordinary and then, after some apparent effort, causing it to bend or break.

During the workshop, Dr. Roll produced a spoon from his pocket, which he crumpled into a ball, implying superior PK powers. The author notes that many participants bent their spoons by hand, attributing it to psi, and that repeated stroking and testing could weaken the metal, leading to bending. The author concludes that the forces at play were "psychological and metallurgical," not PK or ESP. At a CSICOP Magic Workshop, James Randi humorously demonstrated his own skill by bending a bolt, further illustrating the deceptive nature of such feats.

Rebecca Long is identified as President of Georgia Skeptics and a nuclear engineer, thanking James Randi, Bill Pendarvis, Dr. Robert Baker, and Dr. Joe Nickell for their lessons, and Dr. Gary Posner for inspiration.

AURA-LESS IN ATLANTA

By Kathi Schorr, this article recounts the author's experience attending a workshop hosted by a local "parapsychological" group to investigate "auras." The premise was that auras are visible bands of light surrounding the body, fluctuating with energy, and that seeing and interpreting them is a teachable skill. The author, initially curious about the potential benefits for medical diagnosis and personal well-being, found the workshop to be held in an ordinary office setting with about 30 attendees. The leader, a registered nurse and counselor, apologized for the cancellation of the originally scheduled male leaders.

The workshop involved exercises to prepare participants for aura reading. The first exercise involved forming circles and focusing on directing "inner energy" between partners. The author found no evidence of energy flow, attributing the reported clockwise/counterclockwise sensations to handedness and group agreement rather than genuine phenomena. A subsequent exercise involved directing energy between palms, with participants reporting tingling sensations. The author, despite trying, felt only body heat and no "energy," attributing her failure possibly to icy hands or low concentration.

A more fruitful exercise involved participants trying to see auras in a semi-darkened room. The author perceived a "glowing" and a "faint gray shadow" between her fingers, which she recognized as similar to optical illusion after-images. The instructor assured them this was the beginning of seeing their own auras. The author repeated the experiment with various objects (glass, plastic, metal, rocks) and found similar results, suggesting the phenomenon was not specific to organic matter or "inner energy."

Another exercise involved projecting energy upward against a blank wall. The author's group found no evidence of her aura, and she, in turn, could not see the auras of her male partner or another woman. However, the gentleman claimed to see a "volcano clouding up" from the woman's head, and she concurred, describing it as a mushroom-like spread. The author notes that the gentleman's perception was influenced by the woman's description and that the group discussion then shifted to "psychic" phenomena like UFO abductions, with two attendees claiming experiences (missing time and a son's deduction).

The author's conclusions from the workshop are: human bodies don't necessarily possess auras just because they are claimed to; ordinary people can make extraordinary claims; people who want to believe can convince themselves of things without evidence; psychic ability may not be teachable in one session; and many people are highly suggestible or too polite to question.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue of BASIS is the critical examination of paranormal claims and the promotion of skepticism. The articles consistently aim to debunk phenomena like the Shroud of Turin, psychic spoon bending, and aura reading by exposing the underlying psychological, metallurgical, or conjuring techniques. The editorial stance is clearly that of a skeptical organization, prioritizing evidence-based reasoning and critical analysis over anecdotal accounts and unsubstantiated beliefs. The issue highlights the work of prominent skeptics like Robert Steiner and James Randi, underscoring the importance of questioning extraordinary claims and understanding how belief can be influenced by suggestion and trickery.

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: 3
Volume: 10
Date: September 1993
Publisher: Georgia Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The Skeptic features two main articles: one detailing an alien abduction seminar held in Atlanta and another critiquing anti-science rhetoric, particularly in relation to the environmental movement.

Alien Abduction Seminar Held in Atlanta

This article, written by Anson Kennedy, Vice-President of the Georgia Skeptics, reports on an alien abduction seminar hosted in Atlanta on March 27. The seminar was part of a series of free events aimed at educating therapists on how to handle patients who claim alien abductions. Three "Big Name" alien abduction gurus led the seminar: John Mack, a Harvard psychology professor who has a book deal to document his work with abductees; Budd Hopkins, an artist and author who has popularized the idea of alien abductions; and David Jacobs, a history professor known for his book "Secret Life."

The article notes that only one of the three experts, John Mack, has a background in psychology. Participants reported that the seminar focused more on convincing attendees that alien abductions are "real" rather than on helping patients overcome what many psychologists consider to be fantasies caused by sleep disorders.

The article explains that the "classic" abduction scenario aligns with known sleep disorders. This includes awakening suddenly from sleep with an inability to move (sleep paralysis), which occurs because the brain inhibits muscular control during dreaming. This effect can linger after waking. Hypnopompic hallucinations, which are dream images experienced just after waking, are also frequently associated with sleep paralysis and can account for feelings of floating. The article references medieval stories of "incubi" and "succubi" as potentially being due to hypnopompic hallucinations. It also mentions "out of body experiences" (OBEs) and hypnogogic hallucinations (experienced when falling asleep).

Despite these psychological explanations, the abductionists running the seminar reportedly consider them "non-starters" and are convinced of the objective reality of reported experiences, even without physical evidence. The article points out that no abductee has been reported missing during an abduction event, and David Jacobs himself has acknowledged that some abductees have been seen in their beds during an "abduction event." The abductionists interpret these cases as indicating a "psychic" element, suggesting aliens abduct people's spirits or souls.

The Georgia Skeptics express concern that this focus on the reality of alien abductions is hazardous, reinforcing delusions and encouraging false beliefs that can lead to real trauma. While they do not criticize individuals who feel abducted, they believe these individuals require sympathy and understanding, which they feel is not being provided by the abductionists, who instead reinforce what appear to be false beliefs.

References cited include Robert Baker's "Hidden Memories" (1992) and personal communication with David Jacobs in 1992.

Anson Kennedy is identified as Vice-President of the Georgia Skeptics, Chairman of the UFO Committee, Co-Chairman of the Media Watch Project, and moderator of the Paranet Skeptic computer echo.

Jurassic Park Spurs Anti-Science Rhetoric

This section features a letter to the editor of the Atlanta _Constitution_ by Keith M. Parsons, an electrical engineer, which was not published. Parsons critiques what he calls "irrational scientist-bashing" that he believes was evoked by the movie "Jurassic Park."

He uses Lillian M. Hall's article in the Atlanta _Constitution_ as an example, calling her claims "overblown" and "preposterous." Hall's most remarkable claim, according to Parsons, was that the test of the first atomic bomb at Alamogordo in 1945 was more horrifying than the Holocaust. Hall's reasoning was based on a speculative chance that the explosion could ignite the atmosphere. Parsons argues that the scientists of the Manhattan Project were not "Tom-fool fanatics" and that the project was initiated due to warnings that Hitler might develop such a weapon. He explains that the project continued after Germany's surrender because the war with Japan was projected to last longer and cause millions of casualties, highlighting the "ethos of total war."

Parsons also criticizes Hall's arguments for reaching the level of "supermarket tabloids." He questions claims made by some people in England about pesticides causing babies to be born without eyes and about crop circles being caused by space aliens, asking for the grounds for these claims. He references Joseph Perkins' argument that claims about the evils of pesticides are often overblown.

Parsons expresses sadness that some in the environmental movement have come to show contempt for scientists and scientific argument. He believes this encourages a false stereotype of environmentalists as "tree-hugging fanatics" and "back-to-nature fanatics," harming their own cause.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards extraordinary claims, particularly those related to UFOs and alien abductions, and a defense of scientific reasoning against what is perceived as anti-science rhetoric. The Georgia Skeptics, as represented by the articles, advocate for evidence-based explanations and express concern about the potential harm caused by reinforcing unsubstantiated beliefs. The editorial stance is clearly one of critical inquiry and a promotion of scientific literacy, urging caution against sensationalism and unfounded accusations, especially when they target scientific endeavors and professionals.