North Texas Skeptic - Vol 08 No 07 - 1994

Magazine Overview

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: Volume 8 Number 7
Date: July 1994
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The Skeptic, the newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics, covers a range of topics related to skepticism, critical thinking, and the debunking of pseudoscience and questionable claims. The content includes a "readers' forum," discussions on rational skepticism, critiques of media portrayals of science and health, and examinations of various phenomena and claims.

Skeptical News and Views

Open Forum

This section is a "readers' forum" open to all contributions, with items to be signed and submitted to the editor for the next issue.

NTS Meets Mensa (and Vice-Versa)

This article recounts a presentation on rational skepticism given by NTS to the DFW area Mensa group. The discussion focused on defining rational skepticism, emphasizing the need for explicit definitions, consistent logic, and convincing evidence before accepting claims. It highlights that skepticism is a methodology for acquiring knowledge, applicable beyond scientific disciplines, and essential for objective inquiry. The article clarifies that skepticism does not aim for absolute certainty but for the best available information and reevaluation.

What Rational Skepticism Is

This section elaborates on the nature of rational skepticism, stating it produces reliable results and promotes flexible, value-weighted decisions. It asserts that skepticism does not endanger truth; valid contentions are confirmed, and invalid ones offer opportunities for correction. It contrasts this with credulity, which leads to dogmatic and dangerous decisions.

What Rational Skeptics Are Not

This part addresses common misconceptions about skeptics, refuting the idea that they are indecisive, cynical, hyper-critical, or negative. Instead, skeptics are described as realistic and open-minded, evaluating ideas without immediate rejection. It clarifies that objective questioning is not criticism and should not be confused with critical thinking. The article also notes that skeptics are not necessarily atheists, as the existence of a Deity cannot be objectively tested, and they do not automatically advocate for paranormal or fringe subjects, though they may evaluate such claims critically.

Astonishing Psi-Missing

This piece humorously critiques psychics' failure to predict the deaths of prominent figures like Ezra Taft Benson and Rabbi Schneerson, who were elderly and in poor health. The author expresses disappointment that psychics did not foresee these predictable events, contrasting it with the lack of predictions for more complex or surprising events like the O.J. Simpson case or former President Jimmy Carter's actions.

Pseudoscience on Network TV

This article critiques NBC's broadcast of "CURED! Secrets of Alternative Healing," a two-hour program hosted by Olympia Dukakis. The author describes the show as a "schlock-u-drama" filled with "pro-quackery gibberish" that presents anecdotal evidence and dramatized stories as fact. It criticizes the segments on homeopathy, herbalism, and acupuncture, arguing that they lack scientific foundation and are presented as "re-discovered" breakthroughs. The article highlights a case involving a dog treated with belladonna for a herniated disc and another where a woman received advice for bleeding fibroids from a cruise ship cabin steward. The author condemns NBC for promoting pseudoscience, noting that the network relied on a disclaimer and offered the program for sale on videotape.

Skeptical Cogitations

This section presents a collection of quotes from various individuals on the nature of knowledge, skepticism, and science:

• Marilyn vos Savant: Suggests that much "knowledge" is memory, and misconceptions persist because people are schooled in them, with only the most skeptical discovering mistakes.
• Paul Kurtz: Defines a skeptic as someone willing to question claims, seeking clarity, logic, and evidence, essential for objective inquiry and reliable knowledge.
• Carl Sagan: States that science looks skeptically at all claims, promoting debate over blind obedience, which is key to its success.
• Jay von Glieker: Offers a humorous take on optimism and pessimism, suggesting a skeptic wonders if the glass is simply larger than needed.

Healthy Skepticism

Bio-Tech Innovations Unfairly Attacked

By Tim Gorski, M.D.

This article defends innovations in biotechnology against what the author terms "Luddite" opposition, drawing parallels to the historical Luddites who destroyed machinery. The focus is on Calgene's "Flavr Savr" tomato, a genetically-engineered tomato designed to stay fresh longer and ripen on the vine. The author explains the antisense gene technology used, clarifying that it reduces the production of an enzyme responsible for softening. He argues that the process is safe, as the resulting DNA and RNA are harmless and quickly degraded. The article also addresses opposition to Bovine Somatomammotropin (BST), a hormone that increases milk production in cows. It asserts that BST is not a steroid, is naturally present in small amounts in milk, and poses no hazard to humans. The author dismisses concerns about increased mastitis in cows and subsequent antibiotic use, noting that milk from treated cows is discarded and that similar recommendations are made for breastfeeding mothers on antibiotics. The article concludes that BST is a beneficial biotechnological shortcut for increased milk production at lower costs.

The Third Eye

By Pat Reeder

This section covers several disparate topics:

• Recovered Memories: The American Medical Association (AMA) issued a policy statement on recovered memories, acknowledging the difficulty in distinguishing true memories from imagined events and urging therapists to focus on patients' emotional needs. However, some AMA members felt the stance was too weak, with social psychologist Richard J. Ofshe calling the "recovered memory epidemic" a form of "psychological-psychiatric quackery."

• Convention of the Bizarre: A report on London's first "Convention of the Bizarre," sponsored by The Fortean Times, which covered topics like alien abductions, UFOs, and spontaneous human combustion. Merchandise for sale included a "UFO Secrets Of The Third Reich" video and an "Alien Defense Kit."

• Jury Duty and Ouija Boards: A jury convicted Stephen Young of murder, but his attorney sought an appeal based on an anonymous tip that the jury consulted a Ouija board and the "dead groom" to identify the killer.

• Satanic Abuse Claims: A British government investigation found no evidence for claims of Satanic abuse, leading to accusations of a cover-up by "pro-Satanic ritual forces."

• Iranian TV Broadcasts: Iranian television spliced in crowd scenes from a winter game to avoid showing women in revealing clothing during World Cup broadcasts, prompting a comment on freedom of expression.

• Japanese Health Fads: A report on Kazu Tateishi, a self-proclaimed health guru marketing a burdock root soup claimed to cure various ailments. Tateishi was found to be a cab driver, not a doctor, and was charged with illegally practicing medicine. His followers, however, continue to believe in the soup's efficacy.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA prevented San Diego from cleaning up a polluted river with Tijuana, citing the need to protect the "sewage-based ecology" and its "slimy organisms."

• Jay Leno and UFO Conventions: Jay Leno's interviews at a UFO convention are described as "hilarious deadpan," highlighting the perceived "nuts" among UFO proponents.

• Fox Network's 'Encounters': The paranormal TV show "Encounters" is criticized as an "irresponsible waste of good electricity" and a "new low" for the Fox Network.

• Christina Hoff Sommers' Book 'Who Stole Feminism?': The article discusses Sommers' critique of feminist claims, particularly the statistic that "150,000 females die of anorexia nervosa in the U.S. each year." The author contrasts this with the actual figure of 54 deaths in 1991, calling the 150,000 number an estimate of sufferers, not fatalities. The article questions why such erroneous statistics are readily accepted by the media.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of The Skeptic revolve around the promotion of rational skepticism, critical thinking, and the scientific method. The newsletter consistently debunks pseudoscience, quackery, and unsubstantiated claims, whether they appear in media, alternative health practices, or fringe beliefs. There is a strong emphasis on evidence-based reasoning and a critical examination of statistics and media reporting. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science, pro-rationality, and anti-pseudoscience, advocating for clear definitions, logical consistency, and empirical evidence in evaluating claims. The publication aims to educate its readers and encourage them to question assertions that lack a solid foundation, particularly in areas of health, science, and paranormal phenomena.