North Texas Skeptic - Vol 07 No 08 - 1993

Magazine Overview

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: Volume 7 Number 8
Date: August 1993
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics

This issue of "The Skeptic" delves into various topics, primarily focusing on critical thinking and the debunking of pseudoscience and unsubstantiated claims. It features articles on legal rulings regarding scientific evidence, health-related skepticism, historical and cultural analyses of belief systems, and commentary on contemporary phenomena.

Supreme Court Rules on Junk Science Case

This article by John Thomas discusses the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in *Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.*, which marked a significant shift in the admissibility of scientific evidence in courtrooms. The ruling replaced the long-standing *Frye* rule, which required scientific evidence to be "generally accepted" in its field, with a new standard based on the Federal Rules of Evidence. The *Daubert* case involved claims that the drug Bendectin caused birth defects. The Supreme Court held that trial judges must act as gatekeepers, assessing the scientific validity and reliability of expert testimony, considering factors such as testability, peer review, error rates, and general acceptance. While the decision went against Merrell Dow, the author emphasizes that it is not a defeat for good science but rather a move towards a more rigorous evaluation of evidence, aiming to prevent "junk science" from influencing court decisions. The article notes that while the Federal Rules of Evidence apply to federal courts, many state courts have adopted similar standards, extending the impact of the ruling.

Healthy Skepticism

By Tim Gorski, M.D., this section critiques health-related marketing claims that can mislead consumers. The author points out how margarine is marketed as having "NO CHOLESTEROL" because it's plant-derived, which is technically true but irrelevant to lowering serum cholesterol levels. Similarly, over-the-counter ovulation predictor kits are marketed for "family planning" with claims that "timing is everything." Gorski argues that these kits are largely unnecessary for healthy couples trying to conceive, as sperm can survive for several days, making frequent intercourse around the expected ovulation period sufficient. He highlights that these kits can be unreliable and may even give false positives. The only significant use for these kits, according to the author, is in medical infertility treatments, such as artificial insemination, where precise timing is crucial. The article concludes that the public is being misled about the general usefulness of these products for assuring pregnancy.

Little Green Men from Afar

This excerpt from a speech by L. Sprague de Camp examines the origins and persistence of beliefs in extraterrestrial visitors and ancient alien theories. De Camp recounts an experiment by Francis F. Broman at the University of Denver in 1950, where students evaluated a story by Silas Newton about crashed UFOs and alien occupants. The students correctly identified the story as lacking credible evidence. Despite this, Newton's tale, embellished by Frank Scully in his book *Behind the Flying Saucers*, became a part of folklore. De Camp traces the lineage of such ideas through figures like Helena Blavatsky and her Theosophy movement, Erich von Däniken's theories about ancient monuments, and earlier myths of culture heroes. He argues that the desire to believe in external "enlighteners" stems from a human tendency to avoid admitting that some individuals possess superior intelligence or creativity. The article critiques the pseudoscientific nature of these beliefs, noting their reliance on misstatements and lack of empirical data. De Camp concludes by suggesting that while these beliefs are often absurd, efforts to counter them are worthwhile. He includes a light verse jingle titled "The Little Green Men."

The third eye

By Pat Reeder, this section explores various "half-baked ideas" and strange beliefs. It begins by reporting on a rash of murders and mutilations tied to witch hunts in Kenya, attributing this phenomenon to the stress of a deep recession and a reversion to primitive beliefs. The author then discusses the alleged discovery of Noah's Ark on Mt. Ararat, critiquing a CBS special that presented George Jammal's claims as fact. The Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion protested the program, which was later revealed to be a hoax, with Jammal and his associate admitting to fabricating the story. The article also touches upon the marketing of "four-waller" films and the rise of unresearched documentaries. Finally, it humorously recounts Jay Leno's experience with psychic hotlines, highlighting the unreliability and cost of such services. The section ends with a brief mention of a book on Elvis sightings, comparing them to UFO and Virgin Mary sightings as phenomena requiring psychiatric study rather than investigative reporting.

Up a tree: a skeptical cartoon

A short, single-panel cartoon by Laura Ainsworth depicts two birds. One bird tells its "psychic pal" that it just spoke to them. The psychic bird then predicts "A CLASS-ACTION SUIT," referencing career advice given to celebrities like Erik Estrada, La Toya Jackson, and Jennilee Harrison.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of "The Skeptic" are the critical examination of claims, the debunking of pseudoscience and health fraud, and the promotion of scientific literacy. The North Texas Skeptics, through its publication, consistently advocates for evidence-based reasoning and skepticism towards unsubstantiated beliefs, whether they manifest in legal contexts, health marketing, paranormal claims, or historical interpretations. The editorial stance is clearly one of promoting rational thought and challenging ideas that lack empirical support or rely on logical fallacies. The magazine aims to educate its readers on how to critically evaluate information and to be wary of claims that appeal to emotion or vanity rather than reason.