Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 18 no 1 - INCOMPLETE

Magazine Overview

Title: TBS Report Online
Issue: Vol. 18, No. 1
Date: Summer 2005
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics and Center For Inquiry Tampa Bay
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the TBS Report Online delves into the principles of skepticism and critical thinking, featuring an in-depth article on the 'Skeptical Inquiry: Method, Principles, and Quotes' by Jack Robinson, a review of Noreen Renier's memoir, and several brief reports debunking or questioning pseudoscientific claims.

Skeptical Inquiry: Method, Principles, and Quotes by Jack Robinson

The main article by Jack Robinson discusses the 'New Skepticism,' tracing its roots to the Scottish philosopher David Hume and its refinement by Paul Kurtz of the Center for Inquiry. Bill Hall, a TBS member and teacher at St. Petersburg College, presented this topic at a quarterly meeting. Hall emphasized that Hume's skepticism was unique because it was based on the nature of evidence, focusing on how beliefs are formed, their justification, and the methods for determining that justification.

Hall's recommended Skeptical Method of Inquiry involves four procedures:
1. Requiring claims to be stated clearly and completely.
2. Examining evidence for and against the claim.
3. Considering alternative hypotheses.
4. Rating hypotheses based on criteria such as testability, fruitfulness, scope, conservatism, and simplicity (including Ockham's razor).

• Eight key principles of skepticism were also presented:
• Open Mind Principle: All knowledge is tentative.
• Dogma Reduction Dictum: Proportion your belief to the evidence.
• Negative Evidence Clause: Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
• Subjective Experience Caveat: Anecdotes are not evidence.
• Believability Threshold: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
• Ockham's Razor: Do not add unnecessary hypotheses.
• Burden of Proof: The burden is always on the claimant, never on the skeptic.
• What's the Harm?: Truth matters; ignorance is often harmful.

The article includes several notable quotes from figures like L. Sprague de Camp, Charles Darwin, John F. Kennedy, and Thomas Paine, highlighting the importance of critical thought and the discomfort of challenging one's own beliefs.

Bill Hall shared his personal approach, describing himself as someone who has spent his life 'pestering people (and myself) with questions' and teaching the 'three Rs: reading, 'riting, and reasoning.' He also identifies as an amateur mentalist/magician, chess player, collector, and lover of arts and literature.

Book Review: A Mind for Murder: The Real-Life Files of a Psychic Investigator

The issue features a book review of Noreen Renier's memoir, 'A Mind for Murder: The Real-Life Files of a Psychic Investigator.' The review is noted as being 'Posted here,' implying it is available online.

Snippets: Debunking and Questioning Claims

This section presents several short reports that critically examine various claims related to the paranormal and pseudoscience:

• Animal Communication: A report from Newark, New Jersey, details an incident where a Rottweiler named Renaissance allegedly provided an eyewitness account of an attack via a professional animal communicator, Colleen Nicholson. The editor expresses skepticism, stating, 'There's not a shred of scientific evidence that any sort of psychic power is genuine person-to-person, much less animal-to-person.'

• Extraterrestrial Exhibit: The Southwest Florida Museum of History in Fort Myers features an 'Area 51' exhibit, including a model of an 'extraterrestrial biological entity' based on eyewitness descriptions. Museum manager Matt Johnson finds the exhibit draws significant attention.

• Psychic Scams: Linda Marks is reported to be back in jail for scamming a woman out of $38,000 for 'cleansing her of evil spirits.' Detective Toby Athol commented on her lack of genuine psychic ability, noting that real psychics wouldn't need to advertise.

• Skunk Ape Legend: David Shealy, who claims to be an expert on Florida's skunk ape, has made proving its existence his life's work. He sells related merchandise, hosts festivals, and even convinced the Collier County Tourist Development Council to fund a hunting expedition. Despite his efforts, some locals, like waitress Debbie Hooks, dismiss the skunk ape as 'a joke. It's one of them in a monkey suit.'

• Psychic Detectives: An episode of Court TV's 'Psychic Detectives' featured John Monti and a Massachusetts murder case. As feared by the report, Monti's involvement was portrayed as an 'unbelievable' success, highlighting the series' tendency to present such claims uncritically.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the promotion of skepticism and critical thinking as essential tools for evaluating claims, particularly those related to the paranormal and pseudoscientific phenomena. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning, as demonstrated by the debunking of various claims in the 'Snippets' section and the detailed explanation of skeptical methodology. The publication aims to educate its readers on how to approach extraordinary claims with a discerning and analytical mindset, emphasizing that 'truth matters -- ignorance is often harmful.'