The Skeptic

Magazine Overview

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: Volume 8 Number 5
Date: May 1994
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics

This issue of The Skeptic, the newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics, delves into several topics through a lens of critical thinking and scientific skepticism. The cover story highlights the brilliance and unique character of physicist Richard Feynman, presenting excerpts that underscore his commitment to intellectual honesty and the importance of doubt in scientific inquiry. The newsletter also features a critical examination of the chiropractic profession's expansionist ambitions, a discussion on UFOlogy and its relation to military testing sites, and broader commentary on the cultural embrace of pseudoscience over rationality.

Richard Feynman – Brilliant Enigma

This section, the second of two parts by Joe Voelkering, focuses on Richard Feynman's philosophy and approach to science. It presents several quotes from Feynman emphasizing the principle of not fooling oneself, the scientist's responsibility to be rigorously honest about evidence, and the idea that reality must take precedence over public relations. Feynman's perspective on the vastness and mystery of the universe is highlighted, along with his belief that scientific knowledge is a body of evidence with varying degrees of certainty, and the importance of embracing doubt and ignorance as essential for progress. The text draws from James Gleick's book 'GENIUS' and an essay by Leon Lederman, 'THE GOD PARTICLE'. Feynman's skepticism is described as a moral pressure on findings, encouraging people to evaluate claims by understanding uncertainty and the many kinds of false knowledge that bombard them, such as claims of mind reading or flying saucers.

Open Forum

This section serves as a platform for readers to contribute news items. It includes several short reports:

• A UFO CALLED JANET: This report discusses an article in 'Popular Science' about the Groom Dry Lake Test Facility (Area 51) in Nevada. It notes that UFOlogists exploit the secrecy surrounding the facility to claim it's involved in UFO testing. The report mentions details like a non-existent runway and 'Janet flights' (shuttle flights on Boeing 737s), suggesting that these could be mistaken for UFOs, especially when combined with the appearance of a regular UFO sighting known as 'old faithful'.
• INVISIBLE PROOF: This piece satirizes UFOlogist arguments, particularly the claim that invisibility explains why UFOs and abductees are not seen by others. It questions the logic behind this claim and the selective use of invisibility.
• A REAL IFO: This report describes an aircraft seen at Groom Lake and Roswell that resembles a scaled-down B-2 with a 'squashed diamond' profile, suggesting it might be misidentified as a UFO.
• JUNK SCIENCE IN THE LEGISLATURE: This brief item critiques the idea of using a specific breathalyzer level as a legally scientific equivalent for blood/alcohol levels, questioning the scientific validity and suggesting it's a way to make legally scientific what isn't scientifically valid.
• MACK ATTACKED?: This report discusses Harvard psychiatrist John Mack, an advocate for UFO abduction proponents, and his new book. It highlights a 'Time' magazine story about Mack being allegedly taken in by a debunker's fabricated story of alien abductions. The report suggests Mack may be misusing hypnosis and improperly coaching clients, with concerns raised by other mental health professionals.

Chiropractic

By Tim Gorski, M.D.

This article, the second part of a series, critically examines the chiropractic profession's trend towards acting as family physicians and pediatricians. Dr. Gorski argues that chiropractors are making unsubstantiated claims, such as that chiropractic adjustments are the 'treatment of choice' for ear infections and that antibiotics weaken the immune system. He notes that some chiropractors advocate regular adjustments for newborns to prevent life-threatening illnesses and that organizations like the International Chiropractors Association promote this view. The article contrasts this with established medical understanding, stating that untreated ear infections can lead to serious complications, while vaccinations are safe and effective. It references a 'Wall Street Journal' report exposing this expansion and the American Chiropractic Association's qualified endorsement of childhood immunizations, driven partly by concerns about the Clinton administration's health-care task force. The piece also highlights the potential harm of manipulating children's joints and the movement within the profession, led by figures like Ron Slaughter, to focus on musculoskeletal disorders and low back pain, renouncing the historical 'subluxation' theory. The author suggests that this reformist approach is the only way for chiropractic to find a legitimate place in scientific medical care.

The third eye

By Pat Reeder

Pat Reeder expresses despair over the state of American culture and the mission of fostering rational, scientific thinking, contrasting the selling of scientific ideas with the popularity of 'junk food for thought'. The author recounts an episode of the Bertice Berry Show where a skeptic, a magician and former police bunko squad member, easily debunked psychic claims, yet the audience reacted negatively, booing the skeptic and embracing the psychics. This is used to illustrate a broader cultural trend where people prefer comforting narratives and 'nice' individuals over cold, hard rationality, even when presented with evidence of deception. The article critiques the media's role in promoting superstition and relativism, and the tendency for people to prioritize perceived caring over truth. Examples are given from political polls where respondents simultaneously believed a president was a liar but didn't care because they liked his promises, and the popularity of New Age books like 'The Celestine Prophecy'. The author concludes that 'niceness' is often prioritized over correctness, leading people to cling to idols even with evidence of their flaws.

Up a tree: a skeptical cartoon by Laura Ainsworth

This section features a single-panel cartoon by Laura Ainsworth. The cartoon depicts two bird-like characters discussing 'false memory syndrome'. One character suggests that false memories were implanted in Roseanne's mind when she was abducted by aliens. The other character questions this theory, asking if that means Roseanne herself is a space alien.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism, the importance of scientific integrity, and the critique of pseudoscience and irrational beliefs. The newsletter consistently adopts a critical stance towards claims lacking scientific evidence, particularly in areas like chiropractic, UFOlogy, and psychic phenomena. There is a strong emphasis on promoting rational thinking, critical evaluation of evidence, and the value of doubt. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science and anti-pseudoscience, advocating for a clear distinction between legitimate scientific inquiry and unsubstantiated claims, while also acknowledging the challenges of communicating these ideas in a culture that often favors comforting myths over difficult truths. The newsletter also touches on media criticism, highlighting how media outlets can sometimes sensationalize or legitimize fringe beliefs.