REALL News - Vol 02 No 02 - 1994

Magazine Overview

Title: The REALL News
Issue: Volume 2, Number 2
Date: February 1994
Publisher: Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL)
Type: Official newsletter, Special Anniversary Issue.

Editorial Content

From the Editor -- Bob Ladendorf

Bob Ladendorf, the editor, introduces the special anniversary issue, noting that it features "usual authors and subject matters." He highlights contributions from Martin Kottmeyer, who examines alien advocates and the nature of evidence; Robert E. McGrath, who profiles the skeptic Ray Hyman; and Chairman David Bloomberg, who provides a "REALLity Check" media watch column and a checklist of media awards. Ladendorf expresses hope that readers will enjoy the "smorgasbord of features" in this 12-page issue.

From the Chairman -- David Bloomberg

David Bloomberg, the chairman, announces the addition of three new Patron members, thanking them and existing patrons for their support, which will enable REALL to send informational letters to subscribers of Skeptical Inquirer and science teachers, and potentially attend the Illinois Science Teachers Association meeting. He also mentions REALL's ongoing efforts to become an official non-profit organization. Bloomberg reminds members to renew their subscriptions, as this is the last issue for some. He notes that survey results from previous newsletters are included and expresses optimism about member agreement with REALL's direction, despite a lower-than-hoped response rate.

"Alien Suckers" by Martin Kottmeyer

Kottmeyer critically examines the argument that similarities in unpublicized details among abduction cases serve as corroboration. He uses the example of "little round suction cups" on alien fingertips, a detail reported in several cases. Kottmeyer questions the significance of this detail, pointing out that a drawing from the UFO Crash at Roswell incident, which predates some of the abduction reports, also depicted circles on alien fingertips, though not explicitly identified as suckers. He notes the lack of detailed drawings and comparative analysis, making it difficult to confirm the similarity. Kottmeyer suggests that the "suction cup" detail may have been culturally borrowed, citing the influence of George Pal's movie "War of the Worlds" and other science fiction works that feature aliens with suckers. He concludes that the argument for abduction reality based on unpublicized details no longer holds.

"Ray Hyman: The Very Model of the Modern Major Skeptic" by Robert E. McGrath

McGrath profiles Ray Hyman, a psychology professor and prominent skeptic. Hyman's work is characterized by a critical examination of paranormal claims using scientific methodology. He is a founding member of CSICOP and has studied phenomena like dowsing, ESP, and psychokinesis. McGrath highlights Hyman's study on dowsing, "Water Witching, USA," which attributes belief in its efficacy to natural psychological biases and "self-validation." The article discusses the "Clever Hans" phenomenon, where subjects unconsciously pick up cues from others. McGrath emphasizes the importance of scientific methods like randomization and blinding to avoid such errors. He also notes Hyman's expertise in magic and deception, and his critical reviews of parapsychological research, particularly the "ganzfeld" experiments. McGrath recommends Hyman's articles "Cold Reading" and "Proper Criticism" as essential reading for skeptics, quoting Hyman on the importance of maintaining scientific rigor in critiques.

"REALLity Check" by David Bloomberg

Bloomberg's column touches on several topics. He discusses State Rep. Mike Curran's claims of witnessing miraculous events in Boznia-Herzegovina, including healings, and criticizes the lack of evidence presented. He then critiques a handwriting analysis of President Clinton by graphologist Roger Rubin, suggesting it resembles "cold reading" and questioning the value of such analyses used by corporations for hiring. Finally, he reports on a study by Adrian Shine suggesting the Loch Ness Monster might be a large sturgeon, not a monster, due to insufficient food sources in the loch.

"The FMS Front"

This section discusses the growing prominence of false memory syndrome (FMS). It mentions a Chicago Tribune article about Steven J. Cook's accusations against Cardinal Bernardin, focusing on the validity of hypnotically recovered memories. It also references an Ann Landers column featuring letters from individuals claiming therapists implanted false memories, and notes the AMA's resolution on the topic.

"REALLity Checklist -- 1993 In Review" by David Bloomberg

Bloomberg reviews the media's coverage of paranormal and pseudoscientific topics in 1993, REALL's first year. He awards "Worst Research" to Sun Pictures and CBS for creationist-biased shows. "Best Expose" goes to Dateline NBC for segments on alternative medicine. The "Worst Idea Award" is given to an amateur alchemist attempting to make gold from mercury in a potato. The "Oddest Piece of Advice Award" is for a wart cure involving pennies. The "Best Local Story Award" is given to the Illinois Times for an article on the evolution/creation controversy. The "We Told You So Award" is given to the media for their coverage of FMS and facilitated communication, noting that skeptics had been aware of these issues for some time.

REALL Survey Results

• The newsletter presents results from a survey of REALL members. Key findings include:
• Membership: 6 regular, 2 subscription, 5 patron, 1 student.
• Suggested Goals for REALL in 1994: Topics to cover included psychic detectives, local psychics, cryptozoology, philosophy of life, natural science, fakery, satanism, creation/evolution, false memory syndrome, and ESP. Activities included establishing a local expert panel, an awards program, increasing membership, public outreach, debunking, and education.
• Meeting Attendance: Most members attend seldom or never, with reasons including inconvenient location and time.
• Meeting Improvements: Suggestions included occasional informal or dinner meetings and meetings in Champaign-Urbana.
• Topics/Speakers Desired: Media representatives, government officials dealing with scams, and alternative medicine experts were suggested.
• Favorite Meeting Night: Monday was the most frequent choice.
• Reading Habits: 13 out of 14 respondents read the entire newsletter.
• Favorite Articles: Martin Kottmeyer's articles were most popular, followed by "REALLity Check" and Sun Pictures exposé-related articles.
• Topics to See: Scientific parapsychology, alternative medicine, and creation/evolution were among the most requested topics.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism, critical thinking, and the application of the scientific method to evaluate claims of the paranormal and pseudoscientific phenomena. The editorial stance, as represented by REALL and its contributors, is one of objective inquiry, a commitment to evidence-based reasoning, and a critical examination of media portrayals of these subjects. There is a strong emphasis on debunking flawed arguments and exposing misinformation, while remaining open to genuine investigation of unexplained phenomena. The newsletter also highlights the importance of clear communication and education within the skeptical community and to the general public.

The REALL News, Volume 2, Number 2, published in 1994, is a newsletter from REALL (an organization focused on critical thinking in Central Illinois). The issue's cover headline highlights "Critiques of Science and an Evaluation of Their Validity" and "Psychohistorical Studies."

Content Summary

The editorial section encourages members to submit articles and ideas, emphasizing that input is always welcome even after survey results are published. It expresses gratitude to patron members, defined as those giving $50 or more, whose generosity supports REALL's mission. A list of patron members is provided, including Alan Burge, Bob Ladendorf, David Bloomberg, John Lockard, David Brown, Robert Smet (Ph.D.), and Wally Hartshorn.

Future issue topics are previewed, including "Predictions for Future Issues," "Creationist Debate," "Looking into the Sun -- and other tabloids," "Psychic Detective Survey," and "The Baby Train."

The "Skeptics Online" section promotes participation in skeptic message areas on computer BBS networks. It specifically mentions "The Temples of Syrinx" in Springfield, Illinois, operated by David Bloomberg, which hosts FidoNet SKEPTIC, EVOLUTION, and UFO conferences, as well as ParaNet conferences for UFO and paranormal topics. This BBS also offers a variety of skeptic, scientific, UFO, evolution/creation, and urban legend text files.

• A "Membership Form" is included, detailing various membership options:
• Regular Membership: $20/Year (includes The REALL News and benefits)
• Student Membership: $15/Year
• Family Membership: $30/Year
• Patron Membership: $50 or more/Year (includes regular benefits plus a listing in The REALL News)
• Subscription Only: $12/Year
• Trial or Gift Subscription: $3 for 3 issues

Members can bring the form to a meeting or mail it to REALL, P.O. Box 20302, Springfield, IL 62708.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter strongly advocates for critical thinking and skepticism, particularly concerning scientific claims, paranormal phenomena, and pseudoscientific topics like creationism and psychic investigations. It actively seeks member contributions and feedback, positioning REALL as a community-driven organization. The promotion of online skeptic forums indicates an embrace of modern communication tools for disseminating skeptical viewpoints and fostering discussion.