Tampa Bay Skeptics REPORT ONLINE

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Tampa Bay Skeptics Report Online, Vol. 15, No. 2, from Fall 2002, is a publication of the Tampa Bay Skeptics, a special interest group of the Center for Inquiry. It presents selected articles that critically examine claims of paranormal phenomena and pseudoscientific practices.

Therapeutic Touch, Energy Therapy featured in St. Petersburg Times

This article, written by Gary P. Posner, critiques a "Tampa & State" section article in the St. Petersburg Times titled "Healing with Touch." Posner questions the claim that "patients and doctors in mainstream hospitals are coming to rely on therapeutic touch." He defines Therapeutic Touch (TT) as a "controversial form of faith therapy" that claims to relieve pain by shifting energy, noting that practitioners do not physically touch the patient. Posner quotes Dr. Stephen Barrett, an expert on quackery, who dismisses TT as "delusion" and potentially fraudulent. The article describes a TT session where practitioner Eileen Weber scanned the air above a patient's body. Tampa General Hospital surgeon Cristobal Alvarado is quoted as saying he doesn't know if he believes in TT but feels the need to address patients' psychological and spiritual needs. Hospital spokesman John Dunn suggests that if TT helps patients relax and cope with pain, it is acceptable. Posner also references a 1998 6th-grade science project from Colorado that demonstrated the imaginary nature of "energy fields" associated with TT. The Tampa Bay Skeptics have offered a '$1,000 Challenge' to any local practitioner who can prove TT's genuineness under controlled conditions, acknowledging its potential placebo effect. The article also touches upon Donna Eden and her book "Energy Medicine," which involves physical touch and self-administration of "energy healing" for conditions like multiple sclerosis.

On ghosts and gullibility

Authored by Jack Robinson, this piece reports on a presentation by Sara Stone, who claims to collect scientific data to prove the existence of supernatural energy. The presentation, held at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, was attended by a large, enthusiastic audience. Robinson expresses concern over the library's apparent endorsement of the event and the gullibility of the Tampa Tribune reporter, Jill M. Revelle, who is slated to work with Stone on a future article. Stone presented a history of paranormal beliefs, including unsubstantiated claims about contacting Abraham Lincoln, experiencing ESP, and perceiving ghosts. She believes eyewitness accounts of ghosts are valid and that surveys prove their existence, also expressing belief in reincarnation. Stone cited the Society for Psychical Research (SPR) as using scientific data to validate ghosts, listing criteria for hauntings such as unaccountable movements of objects and feelings of fear. Her investigative toolkit includes a flashlight and extra batteries, as she claims entities can steal energy from them. Robinson notes that Stone presents "orbs" in photographs as evidence for ghosts, a claim disputed by TBS member Guss Wilder, who suggests the orbs are likely photographic artifacts or spills. Robinson concludes that Stone's most insightful remark was that people believe in ghosts because they reinforce the concept of life after death, and that the audience was a "gathering of gullibles."

A phone call to TBS re: Dennis Lee

This brief section details a phone call received by Tampa Bay Skeptics (TBS) from a man seeking advice about purchasing a "dealership" from Dennis Lee. Lee is known for promoting "free energy" devices. The TBS representative referred the caller to a "Skeptic's Dictionary" write-up about Lee, implying that the "dealership" might be a scam, similar to a "woman sawed in half" illusion.

TBS $1,000 Challenger fails to follow through

This short report explains that a previously announced TBS "$1,000 Challenge" to test Arthur Hartman's ability to dowse for brass, through his representative Charles Mueller, did not proceed. As the meeting date approached, Mueller stopped responding to emails, and TBS's subsequent attempts to contact him went unanswered.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Tampa Bay Skeptics Report Online consistently adopts a skeptical and critical stance towards pseudoscientific claims, paranormal phenomena, and unsubstantiated beliefs. The publication aims to debunk or critically examine topics such as "Therapeutic Touch," "Energy Therapy," ghost sightings, and "free energy" devices. The editorial stance emphasizes the importance of scientific evidence, critical thinking, and the potential for deception or self-delusion in these areas. The "$1,000 Challenge" serves as a recurring mechanism to test the validity of extraordinary claims under controlled conditions. The publication also highlights instances of media gullibility and the public's susceptibility to unproven concepts.