Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 19 no 4 - INCOMPLETE

Magazine Overview

Title: TBS Report Online
Issue: Vol. 19 - No. 4
Date: Spring 2007

This issue of TBS Report Online features a critical examination of the 9/11 conspiracy movement, alongside discussions on other pseudoscientific beliefs and the role of skepticism.

911: A Conspiracy of Dunces?

This article, written by Bill W. Hall, recounts a meeting of the Tampa Bay Skeptics (TBS) that focused on the 9/11 conspiracy movement. Hall likens the proponents of these theories to Ignatius J. Reilly, the delusional protagonist of John Kennedy Toole's novel 'A Confederacy of Dunces,' for their 'vigorous tilting at windmills.'

The central claim of the 9/11 conspiracy movement, as presented by Mia Hamel, leader of the local '911 Truth' chapter, is that the attacks of September 11, 2001, were not carried out by Muslim terrorists but were a conspiracy orchestrated by the Bush administration to gain public support for military actions in the Middle East. Hamel's presentation touched on various conspiracy theories, including those related to the pharmaceutical industry and the military-industrial complex, before focusing on the 9/11 attacks.

During the meeting, TBS members presented numerous factual errors, interpretive flaws, and logical inconsistencies within the conspiracy theorists' arguments. Despite this, the proponents of the 9/11 Truth movement appeared unfazed by the evidence and rational analysis. Hall highlights the logical absurdity of such a massive conspiracy requiring hundreds or thousands of participants without any leaks, drawing a parallel to the Watergate scandal, which was difficult to keep secret with far fewer people involved.

Hall also questions the motivation behind such a complex conspiracy, suggesting that a simpler plot, like a dirty bomb attack, could have achieved the same political goals with less risk of exposure. He concludes that if the Bush administration were behind 9/11, it would have been a 'conspiracy of dunces' for choosing such an elaborate deception over a simpler one.

The discussion became particularly animated when TBS members challenged Hamel's claims. She reportedly became incensed and even accused TBS founder Gary Posner of being a paid government disinformation agent during a post-meeting lunch. Hall humorously compares this to paying agents to debunk the International Flat Earth Society.

The article concludes by posing a rhetorical question: are the claimed conspirators of 9/11 stupendously competent and evil, or stupendously incompetent dunces? It suggests that only characters like Ignatius J. Reilly could answer.

Escape into Fiction

Written by Valerie Grey, this personal essay reflects on the human tendency to seek refuge in 'alternate realities' when faced with difficult circumstances. Grey shares a personal anecdote about her own experience of wanting to escape into fiction after a difficult relationship ended, describing it as a 'revelation' about the mental consequences of feeling trapped by external forces.

She draws an analogy between her own escapism and the way some people turn to wishful-thinking 'alternate reality' pronouncements from authorities promoting positive thinking, prayer, faith healing, astrology, or life after death. Grey distinguishes between temporary, self-aware escapism (like reading fiction) and a more profound abdication of independent judgment, where individuals 'buy into' unsubstantiated claims of the mystical and paranormal.

Grey suggests that people seeking excitement and a sense of being special, perhaps due to lonely or tiresome lives, may turn to ESP or UFOs. She also shares a brief anecdote about her mother's claim to fame – hosting an engagement party for Elizabeth Taylor – as an example of vicarious living.

Snippets

This section contains several brief news items:

• British Ministry of Defence 'Psychics': Newly declassified documents reveal that in 2002, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) recruited 'psychics' to help find Osama Bin Laden's hiding place. The MoD spent £18,000 ($35,000) testing their ability to 'see' objects in envelopes, hoping to validate 'remote viewing.' However, famous psychics refused testing, leaving only 'novice' volunteers. Nick Pope, former head of the MoD's UFO research program, defended the initiative as the government being willing to 'think outside the box.' The snippet humorously challenges individuals to find Bin Laden's lair for a prize.
• Scientific Knowledge vs. Paranormal Belief: An Associated Press report via the St. Pete. Times notes that while Americans know more about science now than two decades ago, belief in paranormal subjects like UFOs, astrology, and creationism is also growing. The article speculatively suggests that TBS's efforts to promote scientific knowledge might be paradoxically contributing to a rise in pseudoscientific beliefs.
• Psychic Scam: A WTSP-TV report from Tampa details a case where Manuel Lanaverde lost $32,000 to a psychic who promised financial prosperity by 'blessing' his money, only for both the money and the psychic to disappear.

A TBS "$1,000 Challenge" Candidate

TBS has received an inquiry from Carl David Ritchie of Malden, Missouri, who claims he can detect water using a dowsing rod. TBS is negotiating a testing protocol and may conduct a test in the Tampa area later this year, as part of their ongoing engagement with individuals claiming extraordinary abilities.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of TBS Report Online are skepticism towards conspiracy theories and paranormal claims, the importance of rational thinking and evidence-based reasoning, and the critique of pseudoscience. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific inquiry and critical evaluation, actively challenging beliefs that lack empirical support or logical coherence. The publication positions itself as a counterpoint to the spread of misinformation and unsubstantiated claims, particularly those related to UFOs, conspiracy theories like those surrounding 9/11, and psychic phenomena.