Skeptical Eye - Vol 05 No 4 - 1991

Magazine Overview

Title: National Capital Area SKEPTICAL EYE
Issue: Vol. 5, No. 4
Date: Fall 1991

This issue of the Skeptical Eye delves into various topics through a critical and skeptical lens, featuring articles on medical quackery, artificial intelligence in therapy, the phenomenon of psychic detectives, and the scientific investigation of unusual claims.

Cancer Quackery

Alfred Baer's article, "Cancer Quackery," discusses the nature of cancer as uncontrolled cell growth and the current state of its treatment. While surgical excision is successful for early detection, advanced cases with metastatic tumors are challenging. Baer notes that despite strides in understanding molecular events, no disseminated cancer incurable in 1975 is curable today. He highlights the work at the National Institutes of Health on introducing targeted cancer-destroying cells as a promising biological approach. However, he points out that patients with incurable conditions often turn to unconventional healers who promise more than they can deliver, underscoring the need for evidence-based medicine.

The Doctor is In(teractive)

Grace E. Denman reviews interactive language programs that simulate therapist-patient conversations, such as "Dr. Sbaitso." These programs use AI to pick up on keywords and feed them back as questions, mimicking techniques used by psychics. Denman notes that while these programs can be instructive for skeptics, they ultimately rely on pre-programmed responses and can be recognized with prolonged interaction. She provides a transcript of a conversation with "Dr. Sbaitso," which reveals its limitations and repetitive nature. The article also mentions other similar programs like ELIZA and "Parry," and discusses "Overcoming Depression" by Malibu Artificial Intelligence Works. The author concludes that the success of these programs depends on users projecting more meaning than is actually present, a phenomenon similar to how people interpret cold readings.

Remote Viewing

Elena M. Watson's column, "Remote Viewing," touches upon the rise of "female spirituality" and goddess worship, citing a feature in the Virginian-Pilot. She notes the movement's appeal due to concerns for ecology, dissatisfaction with traditional religions, and validation of feminism. Watson expresses skepticism, viewing the glorification of fertility cults as childish and steeped in magical thinking, potentially leading to a denial of reality. She also discusses Shirley MacLaine's latest autobiography, "Dance While You Can," and MacLaine's continued belief in concepts like "soul memory" and "samskara."

Prez To Do List

Chip Denman's "Prez To Do List" column encourages skeptical activism and highlights the importance of applying skepticism to everyday claims. He mentions Robert Steiner, a CPA who analyzed claims regarding water fluoridation, and Jamy Ian Swiss, who speaks about the fallibility of human perception. Denman also notes Elena Watson's new column and his own practice of looking for skeptical literature in supermarkets. He encourages readers to engage with the "A Skeptic's Response" feature to arm themselves with information.

How Do You Keep Them Down on the Farm?

Steven N. Shore's agricultural report investigates the claims of farmers in Frederick County, Maryland, who alleged that government cloud seeding experiments had caused a drought by stealing their rain. Shore traces the history of cloud seeding, mentioning Irving Langmuir and V. J. Schaeffer, and notes various large-scale experiments. He discusses the farmers' belief that small planes criss-crossing the skies are evidence of weather modification, quoting an extension agent who compared it to UFOs – the absence of evidence doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The article also addresses the phenomenon of crop circles, noting media reports and a proposed explanation involving plasma vortices. However, it highlights the confession of two British artists who admitted to creating crop circles as a hoax, while also noting that some paranormalists remained unconvinced.

Update on the Fairfax School Faintings

This section reports on the findings of an investigation into the mass faintings at West Springfield High School. The consultant, Steven H. Lamm, concluded that the incidents were not caused by sewer gases or mass hysteria, but primarily by physiological reasons such as heat and low blood sugar. Lamm rejected the mass hysteria hypothesis, stating that the medical definition was not met, though he admitted that student stress might have played a role. The investigation also tested for sewer gases, finding only negligible traces, thus refuting the claims of another consultant, Ameritec Environmental Services Inc.

Polygraphers Just Average at Detecting Lies

A brief item discusses a study published in American Psychologist that tested the accuracy of polygraphers and other professionals in detecting lies. Secret Service agents scored highest, correctly identifying deception more than 70% of the time, outperforming judges, psychiatrists, and polygraphers.

A Skeptic's Response: Psychic Detectives

Walter F. Rowe's article critically examines the claims of psychic detectives. He recounts a collaborative study with graduate students to evaluate the purported achievements of psychics who claimed to assist law enforcement. Rowe analyzes cases involving Peter Hurkos, Gerald Croiset, Marinus Dykshorm, Irene F. Hughes, and Beverly C. Jaegers, presenting evidence that contradicts their claims and highlights instances where their information was incorrect or unsubstantiated. He also discusses John Catchings, whose visions are used in conjunction with common-sense investigations, and notes that some law enforcement officers have been investigated for potentially manipulating evidence to match psychic predictions.

Investigation of a Washington-area Psychic

This section details an investigation into psychic Ann Gehman, who claimed to have helped find the body of Festus Harris. Michael Cromwell, the reporter who wrote about Gehman, expressed skepticism and noted that the background information was provided by Gehman herself. The article questions Gehman's claims of working on the Ted Bundy case and finding Kimberly Leach's body, citing Ann Rule's account which does not mention psychic involvement. It also discusses the case of "Lady Wonder," a horse that supposedly helped locate a missing boy, where the police chief ultimately corrected the psychic's vague pronouncements.

Psychic Detectives: A Shaggy-Dog Story

This article summarizes a Washington Post report about Montgomery Police using a psychic to find a missing K-9 dog. Despite the psychic's initial success, the article implies that the police were already close to finding the dog and that the psychic's involvement may have been coincidental or influenced by prior information.

Further Reading

A bibliography of works on psychic detectives is provided, including scholarly and popular accounts, with brief annotations on their quality and content.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The overarching theme of this issue is the promotion of critical thinking and skepticism in the face of extraordinary claims. The articles consistently challenge pseudoscience, quackery, and unsubstantiated beliefs by presenting scientific evidence, logical analysis, and investigative reporting. The editorial stance clearly favors evidence-based reasoning and a cautious approach to claims that lack empirical support, encouraging readers to question and verify information rather than accepting it at face value. The magazine aims to equip its readers with the tools to discern between credible information and unfounded assertions.

Title: NCAS Skeptical Eye
Issue: Fall 1991
Publisher: NCAS
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the NCAS Skeptical Eye, published in Fall 1991, delves into various topics related to skepticism, pseudoscience, and investigative techniques. The cover story, "Protocols for Ghostbusting," details a spring workshop held in Lexington, Kentucky, by CSICOP, featuring investigator Joe Nickell and retired psychology professor Robert A. Baker. The seminar covered techniques for investigating the paranormal, including ghostbusting, hypnosis, and past-life regressions. Guest speakers discussed belief, logic, proof, and dealing with the media. An uneventful trip to the "haunted" Hunt-Morgan House was also part of the workshop.

Protocols for Ghostbusting

Joe Nickell, known for his investigation of the Shroud of Turin, aims to create a handbook for skeptics. He outlined three investigative approaches: eagerness to believe, eagerness to debunk, and interest in investigating and solving problems. Nickell advocates for the third approach, emphasizing that skepticism is necessary for genuine investigation.

Robert A. Baker, in his session on ghostbusting, stressed that strategy is a plan, while tactics are how one gains ground. He suggested that hauntings often have psychological explanations rooted in people's fear of death, and that individuals claiming to see ghosts may be fulfilling a need for reassurance rather than possessing special powers. Baker categorized people into idealists (concerned with the spiritual) and sensationists (concerned with the rational and material), noting that these types rarely bridge the gap between them. He also discussed hypnosis, labeling UFO phenomena as media-created events and suggesting that UFO abductees often have underlying psychological issues.

The final session included presentations on crop circles and exorcism, with the crop circle report demonstrating how young adults could create such phenomena using simple tools. The seminar aimed to provide attendees with a solid understanding of how to approach paranormal investigations.

Continuing Education

The NCAS and Johns Hopkins University School of Continuing Studies offered a series of seminars titled "Science and Pseudoscience: A Rational Inquiry." Due to its success, an expanded seven-part series on "Mysteries of the Mind" was planned for the spring. The advertised topics included "Things That Go BUMP in the Night," "Creationism: Is it Science?", "Extra-Sensory Perception or Expert Sensory Deception?", "Cult Psychology," and "Vampires, Werewolves, and Wildmen." A seventh lecture by James "the Amazing" Randi was also offered separately. These talks were scheduled for Thursday evenings starting in mid-March.

Cancer, from page 1

This section critically examines various unconventional cancer treatments, contrasting them with conventional therapies. The article notes that unconventional treatments often lack rigorous scientific criteria for efficacy, such as placebo-controlled tests and objective verification of tumor growth inhibition. A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) is cited, which evaluated numerous unconventional cancer treatments.

Treatments discussed include psychotherapy and meditation, which may improve a patient's outlook but do not extend life. Dietary therapies, often vegetarian with high vitamin doses and coffee enemas, are mentioned, along with the Gerson diet, which, while wholesome, offered no proven curative value. The macrobiotic diet from Japan is noted, with a warning about potential fatal cases of scurvy and kidney failure. Herbal remedies like Essiac (developed by René Caisse) and Hoxsey's concoction are also presented.

Other treatments examined include Iscador (an anthroposophic treatment), antineoplastons developed by Stanislaw Burzynski, cellular treatments involving animal tissue extracts, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), hydrazine, and Laetrile (amygdalin), which was later found to be worthless and dangerous. Dr. Virginia Livingstone-Wheeler's theory of cancer being caused by a microorganism (Progenitor cryptocides) and her use of an autogenous vaccine are discussed, with a study showing no difference in outcomes compared to conventional treatment. Emanuel Revici's theory linking cancer to lipid imbalance and his array of medications are also mentioned.

Vitamin C therapy, promoted by Ewan Cameron and Linus Pauling, is noted as having controversial results. Immune-Augmentation Therapy (IAT), developed by Lawrence Burton, is described, along with its controversial clinical trial proposal that fizzled due to Burton's lack of cooperation. The article concludes by advising patients to consider conventional treatments based on proven data and realistic promises, and to approach unconventional therapies with caution, especially when genuine help is available.

All Wet: The Gulf War Prophecies of (Paul) Solomon

This article by Elena M. Watson reports on Paul Solomon, a self-proclaimed psychic from Virginia Beach, who claimed to have visions related to the Persian Gulf War. Solomon's prophecies included a warning about potential poisoning of local water supplies and visions of Saddam Hussein's past incarnations. He also predicted that the Hampton Roads area would be a major target for terrorists. The article notes that security was increased at water treatment plants in Hampton Roads during the war, although no acts of terrorism were reported locally. Solomon's congregation at the Fellowship of the Inner Light Church reportedly has 5,000 international members.

Past Life Reporting

Dr. Mark R. Chartrand, former astronomy columnist for Omni magazine and an officer of the National Space Society and NCAS, shared his checklist for recognizing "cranks." Key indicators include being adamant in belief, not self-correcting, ignorance of scientific methodology, fondness for hidden meanings in texts, eagerness to dethrone eminent figures, religious backgrounds influencing ideas, logical reasoning based on false premises, misuse of mathematics, paranoia, and citing historical figures persecuted for their beliefs (like Galileo). Chartrand also noted that crank arguments often rely on flawed analogies and pile up hypotheses. He mentioned that cranks sometimes claim false credentials and are quick to offer "The Solution" to complex problems.

The article also briefly mentions a NCAS "Close Encounter" picnic where attendees participated in a mass UFO toss using black recycled plastic UFOs.

The Beneficial Argument for Pseudoscience

Written by Taner Edis, this article addresses the common counterargument used to justify belief in pseudoscience: the "beneficial argument," often a variation of "Pascal's Wager." Skeptics typically respond by pointing out the lack of supporting evidence. However, proponents of pseudoscience argue that even if a claim is not convincing, accepting it could lead to significant benefits (e.g., miracle cures, eternal bliss). Edis explains that evaluating such claims requires considering all possible outcomes, weighted by their utilities and probabilities. He concludes that discounting extraordinary claims, regardless of their promised benefits, is reasonable because a rational decision-making process would not support jumping into highly improbable scenarios.

The Last Word: Some Stories Never Die

By Lys Ann Shore, this article discusses urban legends and how sensational, even if untrue, stories attract more public interest than debunkings. The author recounts her experience with a rumor about a "mall kidnapping" in Cleveland in 1979. She also details the long-standing rumors surrounding Procter & Gamble (P&G), which have persisted since 1980. These rumors, including claims that the company's logo contains satanic symbols (three sixes) and that the company supports the Church of Satan, have led P&G to pursue legal action against distributors of Amway products. Despite debunking efforts, the rumors continue to circulate, contributing to a climate of fear and suspicion.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of claims that lack scientific evidence, the importance of rigorous investigative techniques, and the debunking of pseudoscience, paranormal phenomena, and urban legends. The NCAS, through its publications and events, consistently promotes a skeptical and rational approach to understanding the world. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and scientific methodology, actively challenging unsubstantiated beliefs and practices, particularly in areas like alternative medicine and paranormal claims. The magazine serves as a platform for educating its members and the public on critical thinking and the scientific method.