Tampa Bay Skeptics Report

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Tampa Bay Skeptics Report, Volume 6, Number 4, from Spring 1994, focuses on skepticism towards paranormal claims and media sensationalism. The cover story, "The Barney Hoax" by Miriam Blake, details how two graduate psychology students, John M. Bunch, Jr. and David J. Bennett, created a fictitious group to complain about the children's television character Barney teaching dangerous lessons. This hoax successfully fooled local media outlets, including WFLA Channel 8, the Tampa Tribune, and the St. Petersburg Times, and was picked up by the Associated Press and CNN.

The Barney Hoax

Miriam Blake recounts how she was introduced to the Barney hoax after hearing that the purple dinosaur conveyed Satanic messages. Bunch and Bennett, who performed as "The Human Kennel," sought publicity and chose Barney as the subject for their prank, considering it "the most innocuous, inane thing ever." Inspired by Don Novello's "The Lazlo Letters," Bunch created the persona of "Luscious M. Bromley," founder of "Citizens Concerned About Barney." Bromley's letters claimed Barney taught that the world is millions of years old, contradicting the biblical six thousand years.

The media initially reported the story humorously, but soon it gained wider traction. "Bromley" claimed Barney promoted a humanist scientific worldview and the evolution theory, potentially undermining children's belief in the Bible. He also warned that Barney's message could lead to moral decay in adulthood, linking it to his own past struggles with drugs and pornography. Bunch admitted that the media's gullibility was surprising, and they continued to feed the story by issuing press releases and adopting different southern drawls for interviews.

The Tampa Bay chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists held a meeting on the hoax, featuring "hoaxed" reporters and Gary Posner, founder of TBS. Bunch explained how the initial interview with Channel 8 led to a wider media frenzy, with no one recognizing them as "The Human Kennel." He cautioned that the media is "ripe for hoaxes."

Michelle Bearden, who interviewed "Bromley" for the Tampa Tribune, felt victimized, as did Bill Duryea of the St. Petersburg Times. Bearden noted that "Bromley" had a shifting persona and that she was the only one who truly investigated the story. The hoax was eventually exposed by Susan Lavery, who used her investigative skills, and by someone who recognized Bunch and Bennett.

Chairman's Corner: "Hidden Memories": False and True

Terry A. Smiljanich discusses the dangers of hypnosis and regression therapy, referencing the McMartin Preschool case and the work of Harvard psychiatrist John Mack, who studies alien abductions. Smiljanich criticizes the reliance on hypnosis to uncover repressed memories, particularly concerning child abuse and past lives. He cites Dr. Robert A. Baker's book, "Hidden Memories: Voices and Visions From Within," which argues that there is no such thing as a "hypnotic trance" and that memories recalled under hypnosis are influenced by the hypnotist and can be confabulated.

The article also touches upon "cryptomnesia," where forgotten memories are recalled and then woven into storylines. Smiljanich warns that this pseudo-psychology can cause harm, citing Philip J. Klass's work on UFO abductions and the False Memory Syndrome Foundation. He notes that while some cases of remembered abuse are legitimate, separating them from false accusations is difficult due to unprincipled therapeutic approaches.

Snippets

This section provides brief news items of skeptical interest:

• Yogi Berra Quote: A humorous take on a comet collision with Jupiter, implying it would solve the "dinosaur population" problem.
• Uri Geller: The alleged psychic claimed to have stopped Big Ben for three hours, but engineers attributed it to a mechanical issue.
• Loch Ness Monster Photo: The famous photograph is revealed to be a hoax, constructed by Christian Spurling using a model.
• New Mexico UFO Crash: Congressman Steven Schiff has requested an investigation into the 1947 ET spaceship crash claim, which has divided the pro-UFO movement.
• John Mack Conference: Triad Research held a conference on UFOs, featuring John Mack, who claims millions of Americans have been abducted by aliens. The event also publicized MUFON.
• The Five Gospels: A book by the "Jesus Seminar" suggests that less than 20% of the purported words of Jesus are legitimate, with biblical passages being embellished by early Christian organizers.

Former St. Petersburg police chief to become MUFON investigator

Curt Curtsinger, who was fired as St. Petersburg's police chief, has joined the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) and applied to be a field investigator. MUFON is described as the country's largest pro-UFO organization.

"Chi Kung has made her a believer"

This article discusses Chi Kung, an ancient Chinese healing technique. A St. Petersburg Times article highlighted how it helped a woman with neck pain after doctors and physical therapy failed. The patient was reimbursed by Nationwide Insurance for the unconventional therapy. The article also mentions a woman with "pre-cancerous growths" who is becoming a "grudging believer" in Chi Kung. The author, Gary Posner, expresses skepticism about the claims, noting that previous investigations by CSICOP in China yielded negative results.

Colorado Board of Nursing's response to "Therapeutic Touch" controversy

The Colorado Board of Nursing has repealed its continuing education requirement for nurses regarding Therapeutic Touch (TT), a technique similar to Chi Kung. This action followed criticism from skeptics and others who felt the Board should have eliminated its endorsement of TT altogether.

Letters • Readers' Forum

Tom Leckrone suggests that skeptics need to be more proactive in investigating "abnormal" events, advocating for on-site investigations and improved interviewing techniques. D'Anele Falcon criticizes a TBS meeting for being boring and lacking vigorous debate, suggesting more engaging speakers and a stronger presentation of factual evidence.

Tampa Bay Skeptics Membership/Subscription/Donation/Back Order Form

Information on how to join the Tampa Bay Skeptics, subscribe to the TBS Report, or make donations.

1994 CSICOP Conference

Details about the upcoming CSICOP conference in Seattle, Washington, with the theme "The Psychology of Belief," covering topics such as alien abductions, memory, and conspiracy theories.

First Annual Tampa UFO Conference

An announcement for a UFO conference in Tampa, featuring lectures and workshops by authors like Budd Hopkins and Stanton Friedman.

National Council Against Health Fraud

An introduction to the National Council Against Health Fraud, a consumer protection agency focused on health fraud and quackery.

Library Journal praises Skeptic magazine

Library Journal has praised "Skeptic" magazine, calling it "one of the top 10 best new magazines of 1993."

Posner on Noreen Renier in new "Psychic Sleuths" book

Gary Posner authored a chapter on "psychic detective" Noreen Renier in the newly published book "Psychic Sleuths: ESP and Sensational Cases" by Joe Nickell. The book investigates various alleged paranormal phenomena.

TBS "$1,000 Challenge"

A reminder of the Tampa Bay Skeptics' offer of $1,000 for verifiable proof of any paranormal phenomenon.

The James Randi Fund and The CSICOP Legal Defense Foundation

Information about these funds, which assist in defending against lawsuits brought by paranormal proponents and provide aid to other skeptics.

Electro-Skeptic Bulletin Board

An invitation to join a computer network for skeptics via modem.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are media criticism, skepticism towards paranormal claims, and the importance of critical thinking and scientific inquiry. The Tampa Bay Skeptics Report consistently advocates for evidence-based reasoning and challenges sensationalized or unsubstantiated claims, as exemplified by the coverage of "The Barney Hoax" and the critiques of hypnosis, Chi Kung, and Therapeutic Touch. The publication also serves as a platform for promoting skeptical organizations and events, encouraging its readers to engage critically with fringe science and paranormal phenomena.