Skeptical Eye - Vol 15 No 1 - 2003

Magazine Overview

Title: National Capital Area SKEPTICAL EYE
Issue: Vol. 15, No. 1
Date: 2003
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Country: USA
Language: English
ISSN: 1063-2077

This issue of the Skeptical Eye delves into the psychology behind claims of psychic abilities, critiques pseudoscientific endeavors, and outlines the organizational direction of the NCAS.

The Psychology of "Psychic" Readings

By Helen E. Hester-Ossa

The lead article features Ray Hyman, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at the University of Oregon, who spoke at an NCAS seminar on March 1, 2003, at the University of Maryland, College Park. Hyman, a long-time member of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), discussed the nature of psychic readings. He defined a psychic reading as any context where someone provides another person with a description of themselves, often emphasizing the past, present, or future, attributing the source of information to paranormal or occult means outside of science. Hyman humorously noted his cordial relationship with the psychic community, stemming from his role as a 'good cop' to James Randi's 'bad cop' in debunking claims, and quipped that psychics share information about each other with him.

James Randi: Modern Dowsing

By Helen E. Hester-Ossa

This article reports on James Randi's presentation at the NCAS workshop "Skepticism 2002: Beyond the Basics" held in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, on April 6-7, 2002. Randi, a renowned debunker of paranormal claims, shared his findings on modern dowsing. He highlighted the U.S. Department of Energy's expenditure of $408,000 on testing a dowsing rod, contrasting it with his own tests which could be done for $1.00. Randi defined a dowsing rod as a forked stick used to indicate water or minerals. He believes most dowsers are honest but deluded, citing an instance where a dowser was caught cheating by consulting city plans instead of relying on the rod. Randi's challenge for $1,000,000, administered by the James Randi Educational Foundation, remains unclaimed.

Randi described his testing methods, including open and blind tests, to eliminate excuses. He noted that dowsers often make excuses when tests fail, such as claiming 'something was wrong' or that conditions weren't right. In one test with a dowser named Mike, Randi used ceramic JREF coffee mugs and sacagawea coins. The dowser achieved 100% accuracy in open tests but only one out of ten in blind tests. Randi explained that the 'ideomotor response,' unconscious body movements, likely accounts for the perceived success of dowsing rods, not paranormal ability. He concluded that true believers are rarely convinced otherwise, stating, "You will never disconvince the true believer. They will continue to believe."

The article also touches on 'high-tech dowsing,' specifically the 'Quadro Tracker Rod,' which used chips to supposedly detect drugs. Randi noted that this device failed testing, leading to the arrest of its developers by the FBI. Despite the failures, Quadro is reportedly back in business in England.

Bob Park's Seven Warning Signs of Voodoo Science

By Helen E. Hester-Ossa

Robert L. Park, Professor of Physics and author of "Voodoo Science," presented his views on pseudoscientific claims. Park's mission is to expose 'voodoo science,' particularly perpetual motion machines. He recounted a demonstration by Dennis Lee, whose perpetual motion machine was presented as a way to eliminate energy bills. Park explained that Lee was primarily selling dealerships, not the machines themselves. He described a demonstration where a machine, supposedly based on permanent magnetic motors, failed to work, with the excuse that the room was too warm. Park stated that such devices, if they worked at all, would likely violate the second law of thermodynamics.

Park outlined seven warning signs of voodoo science:
1. The discovery is pitched directly to the news media.
2. A powerful "establishment" is said to be suppressing the discovery.
3. Information is withheld that would allow other scientists to check the results.
4. A scientific claim relies heavily on anecdotal evidence.
5. A discovery is said to be credible because it has endured for centuries.
6. The discovery was made in isolation.
7. No plausible theory at all is offered for a miraculous "discovery."

Park emphasized the responsibility of physicists to speak out and the need for scientifically trained reporters. He criticized instances where media coverage uncritically presented claims of new energy sources, such as that of Dr. Patterson, without proper scientific scrutiny. He also mentioned Joe Newman's perpetual motion machine, which was connected to the local power line, illustrating that even 'experts' can be misled or complicit.

Prez Sez: Past and Present

By Paul Jaffe (Outgoing President)

Paul Jaffe reflects on his tenure as NCAS president since 1998, expressing gratitude to the board and volunteers for their hard work and accomplishments. He notes a decline in NCAS membership from a high of 300 to around 120. Jaffe expresses confidence in Chip Denman, the incoming president, to lead NCAS in its mission of spreading critical thinking and science literacy. He encourages donations and volunteering, emphasizing that NCAS is a 501c(3) non-profit organization.

By Chip Denman (Incoming President)

Chip Denman addresses the decline in NCAS membership and outlines the board's strategic session to enhance the organization's value to members. He reaffirms the formal mission statement of NCAS, which emphasizes critical thinking, the scientific method, and the objective investigation of paranormal claims. Denman also highlights less formal descriptions of NCAS's purpose, including fostering community and providing a resource for extraordinary claims. He discusses the importance of community and fellowship in attracting and retaining members. Denman details plans for improving the Public Lecture Series, enhancing member contact through welcome and renewal letters and financial reports, and upgrading the NCAS website (www.ncas.org) with features like online renewals and video clips. He also discusses the future of the Skeptical Eye newsletter, including potential shifts to online publication and the revival of the "Media Watch" column. Plans for "Friday the 13th" activities and the potential revival of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are also mentioned. Denman calls for member input and participation.

NCAS Activities

The issue lists "Especially Notable NCAS Activities," including judging science fairs, the NCAS-share email discussion group, an online library (e.g., Condon Report), public lecture series, the monthly calendar "Shadow of a Doubt," the Skeptical Eye newsletter, special events (like séances and talks by Penn & Teller and Randi), weekend workshops, and the www.ncas.org website.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The overarching theme of this issue is the promotion of critical thinking and scientific skepticism in the face of extraordinary claims and pseudoscientific endeavors. The NCAS, through its publications and activities, aims to educate the public, debunk misinformation, and foster a community of critical thinkers. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and the scientific method, actively challenging claims that lack empirical support. The articles by Hyman, Randi, and Park collectively underscore the importance of rigorous investigation, the dangers of pseudoscience, and the need for a scientifically literate public.

Title: Skeptical Eye
Issue: Vol. 15, No. 1
Date: 2003
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the Skeptical Eye delves into topics of pseudoscience and critical thinking, featuring an in-depth look at chiropractic practices and the art of psychic readings.

Chiropractic Psychosis and Quackery in Chiropractic

The lead article, by Frederick Kourmadas, DC, CCSP, CSCS, a chiropractor himself, addresses what he terms "Chiropractic Psychosis" and "Quackery in Chiropractic." Kourmadas, a frequent contributor to the Skeptical Eye, aims to educate the public on the actual capabilities and limitations of chiropractic.

• He defines "chiropractic psychosis" as characterized by:
• Delusional paradigms of health (e.g., vitalism, somatovisceralisms).
• Self-referenced, proprietary systems of diagnosis and treatment.
• Subjective reality fallacies, where a doctor's "philosophy" dictates outcomes.
• Lack of self-correction mechanisms.
• Incorporation of other "alt-med" faith-based systems.
• Acknowledgement of only science that supports preconceived biases.
• Equivocation fallacies (using 60,000 definitions).
• Profound intellectual dishonesty.

Kourmadas states that "Chiropractic psychosis is pandemic in the institutions and publications of the chiropractic profession." He recounts an anecdote where a pediatric chiropractor advised a woman not to vaccinate her children, suggesting chiropractic care instead, and also claimed to have eliminated allergies through a course on chiropractic allergy elimination. Kourmadas dismisses the professional website claim that chiropractors are physicians treating and preventing disease as "bogus," asserting that chiropractors primarily treat back pain and are limited musculo-skeletal specialists focused on "subluxations" (misaligned bones).

He criticizes chiropractors for knowing scientific facts but not understanding the scientific process, leading them to claim the nervous system controls every bodily system. Kourmadas also expresses his professional ostracization for calling practices like acupuncture "quackery," noting that chiropractors may label critics as "close-minded" for rejecting such theories.

Kourmadas emphasizes that arguing with a "quack" is futile unless there is an audience to influence. He holds an MS in exercise, fitness, and health promotion and expresses disappointment that after twenty years, the profession's leadership seems to have lost interest in science, embracing pseudoscience. He believes chiropractors possess valuable skills for musculo-skeletal issues but that the pseudo-scientific faction, which claims to treat a broad range of disorders by adjusting the spine, will persist until the public becomes more discerning.

Psychic Readings and Cold Reading

The issue also features an analysis of psychic readings, drawing heavily on the work of Ray Hyman, a leading critic of parapsychology research and an emeritus professor of psychology. Hyman, also an amateur magician, explains the phenomenon of "cold reading."

Kourmadas notes that most people who perform psychic readings are "shut-eyes" – they genuinely believe they are accessing occult sources. However, "cold readers" simulate this by using techniques that do not necessarily involve supernatural belief. Hyman himself earned money by doing palm readings, learning traditional interpretations and using cues from clients' appearance and demeanor. He discovered that accuracy was often perceived even when he gave opposite readings, highlighting the importance of client cooperation.

Ray Hyman's analysis of psychic Christian Dion's radio readings reveals a pattern: Dion would ask callers about recent problems (emotional, career, travel, finances, health) and then make general positive predictions for the future. Hyman also conducted radio readings in Buffalo, using a "wide net" approach, making general statements and then refining them based on caller feedback. The key, Hyman suggests, is to get people into a pattern of saying "yes."

Hyman explains that the meaning derived from a psychic reading is largely determined by the client's beliefs about the psychic's abilities. Even if the psychic's statements are ambiguous, the client's interpretation, influenced by their prior experiences and assumptions, makes the reading seem meaningful. He states that language is inherently ambiguous and that "belief perseverance" causes people to cling to their original beliefs even when presented with contradictory evidence.

Hyman demonstrated how perception can be manipulated, showing how people perceive ambiguity as unambiguous, making them susceptible to exploitation. Psychics, he explains, use the client's comprehension and understanding of words to create an image, saying words that will only have meaning to the client.

Media Notes: Fox News and the Moon Landing

This section reports on an incident where Fox News newsreader Sheapard Smith, while showing footage of the second Apollo moon landing, commented, "Or supposedly they did." NCAS member Gary Stone expressed outrage, calling the remark a deliberate distortion of historical facts and questioning Fox News's reliability as a news source.

About NCAS and Membership

The issue concludes with information about the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS), detailing how to join their mailing lists, visit their website, and make tax-deductible donations. It also includes a membership form for joining or renewing membership, with options for single, double, and student memberships at various price points.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Skeptical Eye consistently promotes critical thinking, scientific skepticism, and the debunking of pseudoscience. This issue highlights the importance of distinguishing between scientific fact and belief systems, particularly in fields like chiropractic and parapsychology. The magazine encourages readers to question extraordinary claims and to seek evidence-based information, as exemplified by the critiques of "chiropractic psychosis" and "cold reading" techniques. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific methodology and against the uncritical acceptance of unsubstantiated claims, as further evidenced by the inclusion of the "media notes" segment challenging a news outlet's reporting on historical events.