REALL News - Vol 02 No 10 - 1994

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 2, Number 10, published in October 1994, is the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). This electronic version aims to inform members and the public about rational thinking and the scientific method, particularly concerning paranormal and fringe science phenomena. The organization is based in central Illinois and is dedicated to objective inquiry.

In This Issue

The issue features several articles and columns:

• From the Editor by Bob Ladendorf
• From the Chairman by David Bloomberg
• What It Means to be a Rational Skeptic by Joe Voelkering (reprinted from The North Texas Skeptics newsletter)
• The New Fall Season by David Bloomberg
• REALLity Check by David Bloomberg
• Organizations of Interest to Skeptics

Purpose of REALL

The Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL) is a non-profit educational and scientific organization focused on developing rational thinking and applying the scientific method to paranormal and fringe science claims. REALL conducts research, convenes meetings, publishes a newsletter, and disseminates information. Its primary geographic region is central Illinois. The organization believes the scientific method is the most reliable system for knowledge acquisition and commits to objective, critical inquiry, without rejecting claims a priori.

Editorial and Board Information

The newsletter is edited by Bob Ladendorf, with David Bloomberg serving as the electronic version editor. The Board of Directors includes Chairman David Bloomberg, Assistant Chairman Prof. Ron Larkin, Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Brown, and At-Large Members Prof. Steve Egger, Wally Hartshorn, and Frank Mazo.

Editor's Note

Bob Ladendorf expresses enthusiasm for the willingness of skeptics to share information and notes that REALL's articles are often reprinted. This month features an article from the North Texas Skeptics on the definition of skepticism and highlights Chairman Bloomberg's regular column, 'REALLity Check,' and a special column on the fall TV season. The editor invites comments and suggestions via mail or email.

Chairman's Message

David Bloomberg thanks attendees of a recent meeting and highlights publicity efforts, including an article in the State Journal-Register and an interview on WMAY news. He encourages members to help increase REALL's exposure and suggests giving three-issue subscriptions to friends for $3. A lunch meeting is announced for Sunday, October 16th, at Shakey's Pizza & Buffet, with no set topic. Members are also reminded to place book orders, with a 20% discount and $1 shipping fee.

Rational Skepticism by Joe Voelkering

This article defines rational skepticism as a methodology for acquiring knowledge, emphasizing the demand for explicit definitions, consistent logic, and convincing evidence. It asserts that skepticism is crucial for objective scientific inquiry and promotes flexible decision-making. Misconceptions about skeptics are addressed, clarifying that they are realistic and open-minded, not cynical or atheistic. The article notes that evaluating paranormal claims does not imply advocacy. It is reprinted with permission from The Skeptic, published by the North Texas Skeptics.

Several quotes on skepticism are included:

• Marilyn vos Savant: "I believe that much 'knowledge' is indeed merely 'memory,' and that this is why so many misconceptions persist for such a long time..."
• Paul Kurtz: "A skeptic is one who is willing to question any claim to truth, asking for clarity in definition, consistency in logic, and adequacy of evidence."
• Carl Sagan: "Science looks skeptically at all claims to knowledge, old and new. It teaches not blind obedience to those in authority but to vigorous debate..."
• Jan von Glieker: "An optimist thinks the glass is half full; a pessimist thinks it is half empty; a rational skeptic wonders if it is simply double the required capacity."

The New Fall Season by David Bloomberg

This column reviews television programming relevant to REALL members, noting the prevalence of paranormal and fringe science themes. It discusses Oprah Winfrey's show on 'womb regression' and false memory syndrome, criticizing the lack of skeptical input. Two new pro-paranormal shows, 'The Other Side' and 'The Extraordinary,' are mentioned. The reincarnation of 'Sightings' and the return of 'Encounters' are also noted. The column critiques the handling of creationism in 'Picket Fences' and praises 'Law and Order' for its portrayal of a case involving an alternative cancer cure, concluding with the conviction of the woman who sold it.

REALLity Check: The Future of Politics by David Bloomberg

This section includes a political commentary on Ellen Schanzle-Haskins, a candidate for state senator, who is promoting pseudoscience by featuring a 'noted parapsychologist' at a fundraiser. Bloomberg criticizes her judgment and states he will not vote for her, viewing her as an opponent of critical thinking.

See No Evil

This section reports on a disturbing incident where two sisters were found guilty of assaulting their sister, believing she was possessed by demons. The report details their flight from perceived demonic attack, their actions including gouging out the victim's eyes, and their subsequent conviction and probation.

Causes of FMS

This segment discusses an article in Newsweek about the formation of false memories, linking them to recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse, satanism, and UFO abductions. It explains how memory fragments can be pieced together, often influenced by suggestion and hypnosis. Two books are mentioned: 'Making Monsters: False Memories, Psychotherapy, and Sexual Hysteria' by Richard Ofshe and Ethan Watters, and 'The Myth of Repressed Memory' by Elizabeth Loftus. The segment also includes a critique of a psychiatrist's view that childhood experiences cannot be independently judged.

Plants are People Too

This brief section discusses a claim by a British botany professor that plants have feelings and make inaudible noises when they need water. The article questions the interpretation of these noises and their evolutionary purpose, humorously comparing them to dead wood cracking.

Supplemental Battle

This section reports on a new law that will require manufacturers of vitamins, minerals, and herbal products to follow strict rules on health claims for four years. The bill aims to set safety standards, requiring manufacturers to demonstrate safety to the FDA and adhere to rules restricting health claims. A presidential commission will study the issue further. The article notes the industry's significant spending to fight the original version of the bill.

Organizations of Interest to Skeptics

A list of organizations is provided with their addresses and phone numbers, including:

• Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP)
• False Memory Syndrome Foundation
• National Center for Science Education (NCSE)
• National Council Against Health Fraud
• St. Louis Association for Teaching and Education (SLATE)
• Skeptics Society

A Nod to Our Patrons

REALL thanks its patron members for their generosity, which supports the organization's mission. Patron members are those who give $50 or more.

Letters to the Editor

The newsletter encourages letters to the editor, stating they may be edited for length and must include name, address, and phone number.

Predictions for Future Issues

Topics planned for future issues include 'Looking into the Sun -- and other tabloids,' 'Cancer Clusters,' 'Bovine Growth Hormone,' and 'Anti-Oxidants.'

Skeptics Online

Information is provided on participating in skeptic message areas on computer BBS networks, specifically mentioning 'The Temples of Syrinx' in Springfield, operated by David Bloomberg, which hosts conferences on SKEPTIC, EVOLUTION, UFO, and FMS topics.

Membership Form

A membership form is included, outlining various membership levels (Regular, Student, Family, Patron) and a subscription-only option, with prices listed for each. Members receive The REALL News and other benefits. The form provides contact information for REALL in Springfield, Illinois.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the promotion of rational thinking and skepticism as essential tools for critical inquiry, the examination of paranormal and fringe science claims through a scientific lens, and media criticism concerning the portrayal of such topics. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and critical evaluation, actively challenging pseudoscience and misinformation. The organization encourages open debate and the rigorous application of the scientific method.