North Texas Skeptic - Vol 08 No 09 - 1994

Magazine Overview

Title: The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics
Issue: Volume 8 Number 9
Date: September 1994

This issue of The North Texas Skeptics newsletter delves into various topics from a skeptical perspective, including pseudohistory, the science of skepticism, medical claims, political commentary, and UFOs.

July Meeting Review

By Ginny Vaughn, the July meeting's presentation by NTS President Joe Voelkering is reviewed. Voelkering addressed the issue of pseudohistory, emphasizing that the founding fathers based their decisions on natural law, not Christian law, refuting claims made by some right-wing fundamentalists. The presentation used letters from Thomas Jefferson and other thinkers like Aristotle and Locke to support this view. A notable interaction involved a gentleman from a "conservative discussion group" who challenged Voelkering's research, leading to some audience members leaving. Virginia Read Vaughn, a member of NTS, contributed to the review and is noted for her work in cardiac research and medical graphics technology.

Healthy Skepticism: Powerful Placebos

By Tim Gorski, M.D., this article examines the concept of "the power of the mind" in health and disease, focusing on placebo effects. It explains that therapies can appear effective due to actual therapeutic effects, the natural course of illnesses, or nonspecific effects like placebos. The article references a review in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Turner et al. on the importance of placebo effects on pain treatment. It details findings from 204 scientific articles, including that placebo responses vary widely, surgical procedures can generate placebo effects, and side effects can occur. The article suggests that placebo effects may be linked to anxiety reduction and learned responses rather than endorphin levels. It also discusses the challenges in conducting controlled trials, where knowledge of placebo groups can influence outcomes, and the importance of understanding nonspecific effects for medical progress. Ethical concerns regarding placebo use in clinical trials are also mentioned, referencing an editorial in The New England Journal of Medicine.

In other news:

Sugar, Aspartame Fail To Affect Children

A report from The New England Journal of Medicine indicated that a double-blind study found no effects on behavior or cognition in children from consuming sugar or aspartame (NutraSweet®), even at high levels.

False Claims For Natural Products

An investigation published in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy found no scientific evidence to support promotional claims for many natural products marketed for muscle-building and strength enhancement. While some substances had limited evidence, many were found to be marketed misleadingly, and few had documented human trials for their claims.

God Eats Algae?

This section critiques Great Life Products' promotion of Chlorella algae as a supplement with exaggerated claims of detoxification, alcohol desire reduction, immune system enhancement, and pH balance normalization, all without side effects. The article dismisses these claims as outrageous and unsupported by scientific evidence.

Science Education Project Solicits Volunteers

The Science Place in Fair Park is participating in the Science-By-Mail program, funded by the National Science Foundation, seeking volunteers to help children with science challenge packets on topics like Weather, Magic, and Garbage.

Skeptical News & Views

OPEN FORUM

This section is a "readers' forum" for contributions. The editor notes that the July article on pseudohistory by Michael Shermer and Jay Stuart Snelson aimed to expand the use of rational skepticism into social, political, and economic realms. The author's own July lecture on "Rational Skepticism, Natural Law and Our Founding Fathers" is also mentioned, with a review by Virginia Vaughn elsewhere in the issue.

• Key points from the lecture and audience interaction include:
• A significant number of new attendees, including members of The Dallas Philosophers' Forum, some of whom had stopped attending NTS due to recycled pseudoscientific topics.
• A "Christian" conservative attempted to challenge the research on the Declaration of Independence, but the situation was managed with "leading" questions and readily available source data.
• Research revealed that "philosophy" and "science" were synonymous until around 1800, supporting the idea of using "science" broadly.
• Plans for a December program to further explore these themes are underway.
• An audio tape of the "Founding Fathers" presentation is available, and a "Mark II" version is prepared for debates on the "USA was founded as a Christian nation" issue.

THOMAS JEFFERSON: RATIONAL SKEPTIC?

This segment highlights "The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson" as a valuable resource for debating "Christian Nation" proponents. It notes Jefferson's rational skepticism, his correspondence indicating the Declaration of Independence was based on natural law (Aristotle, Locke), and how some biographers have "spun" his words by using partial quotes. The author also mentions "Thomas Jefferson: Scientist" as another useful, though out-of-print, resource.

IS IT NOW REVEREND CLINTON?

This piece critiques President Clinton's statement that passing his crime bill was "the will of God" and that his presidency is "a ministry." The author draws a parallel to the administration denouncing Haitian leaders for invoking a Voodoo god, questioning the justification of political pronouncements based on divine knowledge. It urges skepticism towards powerful individuals claiming special, unverifiable knowledge.

WELCOME ECHO

A brief anecdote about a friend appreciating the newsletter and a discussion about a "scientist" who was offended by objective questioning, suggesting that if claims are true, objective questioning should provide validation.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT

This section discusses the possibility of changing the NTS meeting format to align with the MENSA/Dallas Philosophers' Forum model (dinner followed by a lecture) due to scheduling issues with current Saturday afternoon meetings. Feedback is solicited.

"BUT THE BOOK SAYS IT'S TRUE..."

This offers a skeptical comeback for when someone uses "true word" arguments: ask them to respond to the hypocrisy of trashing "really great" people (like Stalin, Hitler, Hussein, Koresh) while accepting self-authenticating documents as truth. It suggests that acting perplexed and sincere can be effective, and advises fellow skeptics to be prepared for amusement.

The third eye

By Pat Reeder, this section announces the first "YOU BE THE PSYCHIC" contest, challenging readers to predict an "October Surprise" event in 1994. Ground rules are provided, including the event being initiated by the president or Democrats in Congress, and prizes for "Most Accurate" and "Most Creative" predictions. The section also reviews the HBO movie "Roswell," comparing it to Oliver Stone's "J.F.K." and suggesting that by dramatizing UFO conspiracy theories, it highlights their absurdity. The author dismisses poll data on UFO beliefs as a result of watching too many movies. A recent Washington Post/ABC News poll is cited, showing correlations between beliefs in reincarnation, communication with the dead, and political figures, as well as between belief in UFOs and support for Ross Perot. Brief news items include a school teacher suspended for refusing a moment of silence, Hungary's Defense Minister's preparedness for UFO invasions, and a story about a melted Shiva phallus sculpture in India.

Up a tree

A skeptical cartoon by Laura Ainsworth is presented, depicting two birds discussing an alien encounter, which is humorously linked to attending a Ross Perot rally.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes a rational, evidence-based approach to evaluating claims, particularly those related to pseudoscience, pseudohistory, and extraordinary claims like UFOs. It encourages critical thinking and skepticism towards political and religious rhetoric that invokes divine authority or unsubstantiated beliefs. The publication aims to debunk misinformation and provide a platform for skeptical inquiry, often using humor and direct analysis of evidence.