TBS Report Online

Magazine Overview

Title: TBS Report Online
Issue: Vol. 10, No. 2
Date: Fall 1997
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics

This issue of the TBS Report Online features several articles focusing on skepticism, paranormal claims, and their intersection with popular culture and scientific investigation.

Florida's "Dolphin Therapy" to be featured on the BBC

By Miles W. Hardy, Ph.D.

This article details the author's involvement with the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) for a documentary on 'Dolphin Therapy' in Florida. Vanessa Colosi of the BBC contacted CSICOP seeking skeptical input on claims of 'Lourdes-like' physical healings attributed to human-dolphin interactions. Miles W. Hardy, the TBS vice chairman and a clinical psychologist, was interviewed by the BBC in Miami. He met with the BBC crew, who had just interviewed trainers and individuals at the Dolphin Treatment Center in Key Largo, reporting successes with dolphin-human contact, especially with children.

Hardy's role was to provide a skeptical view and alternative explanations, emphasizing the need for proper scientific research and evidence. He discussed psychological explanations for reported healings, such as parental desperation, the novelty of traveling for therapy, the effects of water and sunshine, and the glamour of interacting with exotic animals, alongside suggestibility and the placebo effect. Hardy was impressed by the BBC's professionalism and their open-minded approach, and he requested a videotape of the program, which was expected to air in October.

CHAIRMAN'S CORNER: Science Fiction and Skeptics

By Terry A. Smiljanich

Terry A. Smiljanich, the Chairman, opens the section by expressing his lifelong love for science fiction, citing classic books and films. He observes that many fellow skeptics share this passion, attributing it to a general fascination with science. Smiljanich notes that while skeptics appreciate science fiction, including UFO-themed stories, their healthy skepticism prevents them from accepting actual UFO sightings as fact. He wonders if believers in the paranormal have a 'broken' fact-vs-fiction meter.

The author discusses recent science fiction films, contrasting the fantasy of 'Men In Black' with the more realistic portrayal of extraterrestrial intelligence search in 'Contact,' based on Carl Sagan's book. He praises 'Contact' for capturing the wonder of science and for its positive depiction of a non-religious scientist, played by Jodie Foster, highlighting the film's illustration of the potential silliness surrounding genuine extraterrestrial contact.

Smiljanich then turns to 'The X-Files,' a TV series about FBI investigations into paranormal phenomena. He mentions that CSICOP was invited to discuss the series with its creator, Chris Carter, who defended the show as science fiction, not fact. Despite the show's fantasy elements, Smiljanich admits to being hooked by the exploits of agents Mulder and Scully, accepting it as fiction, even with its themes of channelers, UFO abductions, and Roswell aliens. He concludes that skeptics should not take themselves too seriously and can enjoy good entertainment, even if it's based on current myths, as long as they maintain perspective on the difference between fact and fiction.

"Psychic" Noreen Renier addresses international "crime investigation" seminar in Britain

By Gary Posner

Gary Posner reports on discovering information about Florida 'psychic detective' Noreen Renier through a Yahoo search. Renier was listed as a participant in the British Council's 'second international seminar on advancing the scientific investigation of crime,' held in Durham, England. The seminar aimed to update delegates on new technology for crime scene investigation and forensic analysis, featuring formal presentations and workshops.

The list of speakers included various law enforcement and forensic experts, alongside Ms. Noreen Renier. Posner questions the inclusion of a 'psychic detective' in a seminar dedicated to scientific crime investigation, despite Renier's reputation among some law enforcement figures. He had previously documented Renier in his chapter for 'Psychic Sleuths' (Prometheus Books, 1994). Posner sent an email to the organizers, referring them to his work on Renier, but received no response. He later inquired about Renier's participation after the seminar concluded, again without a reply.

Snippets

This section briefly covers a CIA study concluding that most UFO sightings in the 1950s and '60s were misidentifications of U-2 and SR-71 spy planes. The article notes that UFO skeptics, including Philip J. Klass, have criticized the report. Klass points out that categories like 'Mirages & [Temperature] Inversions' and 'Clouds & Contrails' accounted for only 1% of UFO reports catalogued by the USAF's Project Blue Book. The CIA report can be found online.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the promotion of critical thinking and skepticism towards extraordinary claims. The Tampa Bay Skeptics, through its publications, aims to provide a rational and evidence-based perspective on topics ranging from alleged paranormal healings and psychic phenomena to the interpretation of UFO sightings. The magazine encourages a healthy skepticism that does not preclude enjoyment of science fiction but insists on maintaining a clear distinction between entertainment and factual reality. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific methodology and rigorous investigation, questioning the inclusion of non-scientific elements in fields that claim to be scientific, such as crime investigation.