REALL News - Vol 01 No 07 - 1993

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 1, Number 7, published in August 1993, is the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). REALL is a non-profit educational and scientific organization dedicated to promoting rational thinking and the scientific method in examining paranormal and fringe science phenomena. The organization aims to conduct research, convene meetings, publish a newsletter, and disseminate information, primarily serving central Illinois. REALL emphasizes the scientific method as the most reliable system for knowledge acquisition and approaches paranormal claims with objective, critical inquiry.

Editor's Note: The Great Flood and REALL's Mission

In his "From the Editor" section, Bob Ladendorf reflects on the recent Great Flood that impacted the Midwest. He notes the impressive unity and cooperation among farmers, National Guard, Coast Guard, and civilians in responding to the crisis. Ladendorf draws a parallel between this "coming together" and REALL's mission to unite individuals to combat ignorance and superstition with scientific knowledge. He also expresses surprise at the absence of pseudoscientific explanations, such as UFOs, being attributed to the flood, contrasting this with a poll indicating a fifth of Americans believed the floods were a sign from God.

Chairman's Column: Cruise Anecdotes and Alternative Medicine

David Bloomberg, Chairman of REALL, shares personal experiences from a cruise, touching upon his encounters with fringe beliefs. He discusses "Sea Bands," elastic wrist bands marketed for motion sickness relief through acupressure, questioning their scientific validity but noting their sale and use. Bloomberg also recounts his own experience with seasickness, where he took Dramamine and an apple. While acknowledging the placebo effect and coincidence, he highlights how people attributed his recovery to the apple, illustrating what he terms the "essence of alternative medicine: coincidence combined with the urge to believe."

Special Announcements

The newsletter announces a special guest speaker, Robert McGrath, who will present on the photoanalysis of Loch Ness pictures at the August REALL meeting. It also mentions discount book sales for Prometheus Books and a tentative speaker, Ranse Traxler, Executive Director of the Association for the Teaching of Evolution (SLATE), for a September meeting on creationism in Illinois schools.

Exclusive Article: Psychics and Law Enforcement

Steve Egger, a professor of criminology and an expert in serial murder, critically examines the use of psychics by law enforcement agencies. He begins with an anecdote illustrating how easily psychics can deceive, even police officers. Egger cites a survey by Jan Ayers Sweat and Mark W. Durm in the Skeptical Inquirer, which found that 65 percent of urban police departments do not use psychics, while 35 percent acknowledged using them. He discusses Marcello Truzzi's response to the survey's authors, who felt the 35 percent figure was significant. Egger expresses skepticism about the accuracy of such surveys, suggesting that police departments might not be truthful due to political pressures. He argues that the evidence for psychics aiding in investigations, particularly serial murder cases, is often anecdotal and relies on vague predictions that are later interpreted to fit outcomes. He mentions Joseph Kozenszak, a retired police chief and believer in psychics, who used them in the John Wayne Gacy investigation. Egger concludes by emphasizing the need for skeptics to remain open-minded but not to accept unreliable assertions.

Article: 10 Tips for Successful Letter Writing

Mary Lou Mendum provides practical advice for engaging in public discourse through letters to the editor, particularly to counter pseudoscientific claims. She stresses the importance of educating the public on science and using letters to the editor as a platform. Mendum offers ten guidelines for writing effective rebuttals, including criticizing facts over opinions, conducting thorough research, focusing on one or two points per letter, keeping letters concise, using humor, adapting to the newspaper's style, mentioning credentials, and being persistent. She argues that while such efforts may not convince hardcore paranormalists, they can correct factual errors and dishonest scholarship, potentially influencing undecided readers.

REALLity Check: Underhanded Creationist Tactics, Medical Fraud, and False Memory Syndrome

David Bloomberg's "REALLity Check" column addresses several contemporary issues. He discusses Kent Hovind, an evangelist offering a reward for empirical evidence of evolution, and the controversy surrounding Hovind's claim to have challenged paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould to a debate. Bloomberg also reports on the conviction of Albert Miller in Iowa for practicing medicine without a license, highlighting his use of alternative medicine and diagnostic methods. Furthermore, the column delves into the "witch hunt" phenomenon, drawing parallels to the Salem witch trials and McCarthyism, focusing on the Lil Rascals day care trials. Bloomberg discusses the concerns surrounding evidence gathering through repeated questioning of children and the concept of "false memory syndrome," warning against therapists who may implant or encourage the recollection of repressed traumatic memories, potentially leading to false accusations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of The REALL News are skepticism, critical thinking, and the application of the scientific method to evaluate claims, particularly those related to the paranormal and pseudoscience. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and a cautious, objective approach to extraordinary claims. The newsletter actively seeks to debunk misinformation, critique pseudoscientific methodologies, and educate its readership on how to engage in rational discourse. The organization positions itself as a bulwark against ignorance and superstition, advocating for a scientifically informed public.