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A simple reminder to people who believe:
It's fun to dream of the bizarre and odd. I LOVED "In Search Of" when I was a kid, but as adults we should know better. I continue to find people who are willing to accept any crackpot theory, while dismissing scientific evidence as dishonest and untrustworthy.
Let's perform an experiment. Let's break the wing off a plane and have a psychic surgeon fix it. Now... you have a choice. You can fly on the plane repaired by scientists, or the one repaired by psychics. Who would you trust? Why? Let's put your CHILDREN on that plane, while you get to stay on the ground. Does your answer change?
I know the answer most people would choose. But I find it odd that when it comes to the simple question of whether psychic powers exist or not, those same people who would want a scientist to fix their airplane are willing to doubt the scientist who says he has found no evidence to support any degree of psychic behavior. Either you trust psychics or scientists... there is no evidence to support the claims of both. Choose wisely.
- There has been no repeatable, double-blind test EVER performed that has shown ANY degree of psychic phenomenon exists.
- There is a one million dollar prize for anyone who can demonstrate any paranormal ability to a scientifically improbable margin. This does not mean you have to get everything right... just that you have to beat the odds of doing it randomly. No one has ever gotten close to claiming this prize.
- Charlatans and thieves have commonly used psychic powers and ghosty beliefs to rob people of their income or offer them false comfort during their times of grief.
- Supporting the belief in these kinds of things, while seemingly harmless, provides additional prestige for those who may rob your friends and loved ones. It additionally encourages people who actually want to seek out the esoteric and bizarre. If one crazy thing is accepted by your family, then why can't other crazy things be true.
- Anecdotal evidence, though compelling from a friend or family member, is not guaranteed to be true. For every person close to you who believes something compelling, I'm sure I could find another who believes something you would never accept. You're being hypocritical if you accept one set of beliefs at face value, but put another to scrutiny.
It's fun to dream of the bizarre and odd. I LOVED "In Search Of" when I was a kid, but as adults we should know better. I continue to find people who are willing to accept any crackpot theory, while dismissing scientific evidence as dishonest and untrustworthy.
Let's perform an experiment. Let's break the wing off a plane and have a psychic surgeon fix it. Now... you have a choice. You can fly on the plane repaired by scientists, or the one repaired by psychics. Who would you trust? Why? Let's put your CHILDREN on that plane, while you get to stay on the ground. Does your answer change?
I know the answer most people would choose. But I find it odd that when it comes to the simple question of whether psychic powers exist or not, those same people who would want a scientist to fix their airplane are willing to doubt the scientist who says he has found no evidence to support any degree of psychic behavior. Either you trust psychics or scientists... there is no evidence to support the claims of both. Choose wisely.
