North Texas Skeptic - Vol 02 No 03 - 1988

Magazine Overview

Title: The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics
Issue: Volume 2 Number 3
Date: July/August 1988
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics provides a comprehensive look at the organization's activities and addresses various topics related to skepticism, pseudoscience, and critical thinking.

NTS News and Events

The organization has experienced significant media exposure in the past two months, with articles appearing in the Dallas Times Herald and Dallas Morning News. The Chair, John Thomas, also appeared on a local interview show, using the opportunity to challenge psychic claims made by John Catchings. This media coverage is expected to boost membership. The May meeting featured a talk on cults by Hope Evans, while the June meeting included a planetarium show on UFO sightings by member James Rusk. The newsletter also highlights contributions from members, including letters to news organizations and articles on topics like astrology and homeopathy. The NTS is organizing a speaker's program and notes a good rate of membership renewals.

NTS Attitude Problem

Authored by Tony Dousette, this article addresses an accusation from John Catchings, a self-proclaimed psychic, that skeptics have a negative 'attitude problem.' Dousette counters this by explaining that skeptics are 'questioning types' who require clear, unambiguous evidence before accepting claims. He argues that the accusation of negativity is a defense for those making unsubstantiated claims. The article emphasizes that skeptics value truth found through reason and evidence, contrasting this with the unquestioning acceptance seen in cults like Jim Jones's People's Temple.

Meeting Schedule

The newsletter outlines upcoming meetings: July 17 features Dr. Arthur Babick speaking on 'Researching with Psychics.' August 21 will show a videotape of James Randi's investigations of dowsers and psychic surgeons. September 18 will feature Dr. Harold F. Newman discussing medical pseudoscience. All meetings are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Room 101, University Hall, University of Texas at Arlington.

May Meeting Focuses on Cults

John Thomas reports on Hope Evans's presentation about destructive cults. Evans, from the Cult Awareness Council, aims to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of such groups. The article distinguishes between cultic groups with harmless devotion and those that use unethical influence to recruit and maintain members. It notes that these cults can be religious or based on pseudoscience. Evans discussed techniques of social and psychological pressure, often referred to as 'mind control,' including deception, helplessness, and the creation of authoritarian systems. Some members felt no distinction could be made between 'destructive' cults and other organized religions, while others disagreed, focusing on the abusive influence rather than religious doctrine.

Psychic Predicts Own Death

This short piece by Tony Dousette recounts the story of Gerolamo Cardano, a 16th-century thinker who, despite developing a theory of probability, had a pathological belief in astrology. Cardano cast horoscopes with specific predictions, including for himself, but ultimately died by suicide when his self-predicted day of death arrived.

Light Years

This is a book review by Gary Kinder of his own work, summarizing Eduard Meier's claims of contact with an alien named Semjase from the Pleiades constellation. The review critiques the book's scientific explanations, particularly regarding alleged 'magnetic vortices' causing grass to grow horizontally. The reviewer points out that plants are influenced by geotropism and phototropism, not magnetic fields. The review also questions the reporting of radiation levels and an alleged alien metal sample. The reviewer notes that Kinder himself did not witness the evidence firsthand and found Phil Klass and Robert Shaeffer's writings more convoluted than the sightings themselves.

Influence

This is a review of Robert B. Cialdini's book 'Influence,' by John Thomas. The book summarizes scientific knowledge about influence and compliance, detailing six categories of stereotyped behavior: reciprocation, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity. The review highlights that Cialdini explains how these triggers work to our advantage but can be exploited. It suggests the book is a useful complement to critical thinking, helping readers recognize vulnerabilities to techniques that bypass rational thought.

Handwriting Analysis

Authored by John Thomas, this article investigates graphology, the practice of analyzing handwriting to reveal personality traits. Thomas expresses curiosity about its use by American companies and its presence at psychic fairs. He traces the history of handwriting analysis from Camillo Baldi in 1622 to Jean Hippolyte Michon, who coined the term 'graphology.' The article discusses different schools of thought, including the French and German approaches, and the development of 'graphoanalysis' by M. N. Bunker. Thomas notes that graphologists assume handwriting is 'brain writing' and look for features like slant, size, and pressure. He cites claims that graphology can accurately predict behavior and foretell future actions. However, the article critically examines the scientific validity, citing research that found no clear correlation between handwriting and personality. Studies by Rafaeli and Klimoski, and the Netherlands Society of Industrial Psychology, are mentioned as finding inconclusive or negative results. The article concludes that graphology is a pseudoscience with no place in character assessment or employment practice, and that its perceived validity often stems from personal validation and vague statements.

A Visit to the Institute for Creation Research

Richard Neeley recounts his visit to the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) in San Diego. Concerned about the erosion of science education, Neeley aimed to understand ICR's 'scientific' scholarship. He describes the ICR as an evangelistic, educational ministry promoting creationism. Neeley found the museum exhibits to be small and pathetic, with questionable interpretations of scientific data, such as claims that star clusters are breaking up due to gravitational pull, implying a young universe. He critiques exhibits on the moon's dust thickness, the 'Men of Science, Men of God' display, and the Grand Canyon geology display. Neeley also examines exhibits on Noah's Ark, Mt. St. Helens, and 'Evidence for Flood Catastrophe,' questioning the interpretations of sandstone with car keys and limestone with fish impressions. He notes the absence of clear explanations and the reliance on selective evidence. The 'Dinosaurs and Man in Earth History' exhibit is mentioned as being under revision, with a past movie and photos of alleged human footprints at Paluxy River, Texas, now absent. The article also touches on the Laetoli Footprints and ICR's 'Origin of Mankind Exhibit,' which dismisses Australopithecus as ape-like. The issue concludes with a note that Rick will relate his meeting with Dr. Morris in the next issue.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critique of pseudoscience, the promotion of critical thinking and scientific skepticism, and the examination of claims related to the paranormal and creationism. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and scientific methodology, actively debunking claims that lack empirical support. The newsletter serves as a platform for NTS to share its activities, engage in public discourse on controversial topics, and educate its members and the public on the importance of rational inquiry.