Tampa Bay Skeptics Report

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Tampa Bay Skeptics Report, Volume 21, Number 3, from Winter 2008-09, is published by Tampa Bay Skeptics and focuses on critical examination of paranormal claims and fringe science. The cover headline is 'Skeptics', with a subtitle indicating a person who searches for truth through questioning and reasoning.

Articles

Elaine-From-Seinfeld Disorder (EFSD) by Gary P. Posner

This article explores the concept of 'Elaine-From-Seinfeld Disorder' (EFSD), a term coined to describe how individuals can be unfairly labeled as cranks. The author uses the FBI file of his 'skeptics' mentor, Philip J. Klass, as a case study. Klass, a renowned UFO skeptic and former senior avionics editor at Aviation Week & Space Technology, was investigated by the FBI in the late 1950s and 1960s. The file reveals Klass's unauthorized disclosure of information and his critical stance on UFO research, particularly his strong disagreement with Dr. J. Allen Hynek's views on UFOs. Despite Klass's extensive research, the FBI's internal notes characterized him as having 'intemperate criticism and often irrational statements,' leading to the EFSD label. The article also touches upon Klass's inquiries into the FBI's policies regarding 'psychic detectives,' such as Noreen Renier, and the Bureau's responses.

Chairman's Corner: How to Argue With a Believer by Terry A. Smiljanich

This piece addresses the challenge of discussing paranormal topics with true believers. The author suggests that a key question for a skeptic to ask a believer is, 'What would it take for you to change your mind?' Often, believers will state that nothing would change their mind, indicating a closed-mindedness. Smiljanich argues that for skeptics, credible evidence is sufficient to change their minds, citing hypothetical scenarios like a mass vision of Jesus Christ or a repeatable, well-controlled experiment demonstrating ESP. He contrasts this with believers who may dismiss contrary evidence or attribute it to demonic influence. The article emphasizes that open-mindedness involves the admission that better proof could lead to a change in belief, and that early in a discussion, eliciting the 'what would it take' question can reveal the futility of further conversation with those unwilling to reconsider their views.

Book Review: The Undercover Philosopher: A Guide to Detecting Shams, Lies, and Delusions by Michael Philips (Reviewed by Ron Cooper)

Ron Cooper reviews Michael Philips' book, which aims to help readers hone their 'baloney-detecting skills.' The book explores the limits of human experience and reasoning, including the unreliability of memory and the influence of expectations. A central theme is 'knowledge machines' – professions and organizations that produce knowledge but can suffer from amplified individual failings and institutional problems like hierarchical authority and information flow. Philips warns against two extremes: scientism (the belief that science can explain everything) and postmodernism (the belief that all truths are equally valid). The review highlights the book's examination of W. K. Clifford's 'The Ethics of Belief' and William James' 'The Will to Believe.'

Snippets

This section presents a collection of brief news items related to skepticism and paranormal phenomena:

• UFO Files Release: The British Ministry of Defence released UFO-related files, including a March 1990 letter about a spaceship crash-landing during World War II with extraterrestrial occupants.
• Cold War UFO Incident: An American pilot, Milton Torres, was ordered to fire on a UFO in 1957 but did not, with the event later attributed to spurious radar echoes.
• Royal Superstition: Phil Dampier suggests that Queen Elizabeth's superstitious nature and good-luck charms might delay interplanetary wars.
• Religious Fatwa on Astrology: Saudi Arabian clerics issued a fatwa against astrological advice on satellite channels, with severe penalties for sorcerers.
• Ghost Hunters at Vinoy Resort: The Sci Fi Channel's 'Ghost Hunters' featured the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg, known for reported paranormal activity.
• Ig Nobel Prize: Dorian Raymer and Douglas Smith received an Ig Nobel prize for proving that heaps of string or hair will tangle.

"UFO Abduction” vs. “Truman Syndrome” by Gary Posner

This brief item discusses a St. Petersburg Times article about people who believe they are living staged lives, akin to the movie 'The Truman Show.' The author questions whether a similar phenomenon might emerge for 'UFO abductees,' suggesting a potential 'parallel-dimensional explanation.'

Letters / Readers' Forum

• Sid Deutsch writes about the scientific impossibility of interstellar travel due to vast distances and energy requirements.
• Bill Wagner comments on the concept of 'faith' in the market system and questions the nature of morality without religion, recommending James L. Halperin's novel 'The First Immortal.'
• Michael R. Dennett praises the Skeptical Inquirer's article on 'psychic' Noreen Renier, commending Gary Posner's review for exposing self-promotion and disregard for facts.

Tampa Bay Skeptics T-Shirts

Information is provided on purchasing Tampa Bay Skeptics T-shirts.

Other Skeptical Sources on the Paranormal

This section lists various organizations and publications related to skepticism, including Prometheus Books, Skeptical Inquirer, Skeptic magazine, and the James Randi Educational Foundation.

Tampa Bay Skeptics Consultants

A list of consultants with their affiliations is provided.

Announcements

• Quarterly Meetings: Information about upcoming Tampa Bay Skeptics meetings, including the December 27th meeting featuring Jim Peterson and a video on paranormal coverage.
• Website: Encouragement to visit the Tampa Bay Skeptics website for articles, links, and graphics.
• TBS and James Randi "Psychic” Challenges: A reminder of the standing $1,000 Challenge for scientific proof of paranormal phenomena and the James Randi Educational Foundation's $1,000,000 jackpot.
• Center For Inquiry / Tampa: Information about CFI/Tampa's mission, events, and contact details.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Tampa Bay Skeptics Report consistently promotes critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and the objective examination of paranormal and fringe science claims. The publication actively debunks pseudoscience and highlights the importance of skepticism in discerning truth from deception. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific rigor and against unsubstantiated claims, as evidenced by the focus on Philip Klass's critical approach and the critique of media practices that sensationalize or endorse unverified phenomena. The magazine also encourages public engagement through its challenges and events, aiming to foster a more informed and rational society.