Re: Psychic Phenomenon -- Psychic Research Foundation

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Subject: Re: Psychic Phenomenon

Author:
Mike

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Date Posted: 22:34:37 12/15/03 Mon
In reply to: Sean 's message, "Psychic Phenomenon" on 16:19:31 09/01/03 Mon

Great questions.
Why the deathly silence.????
The response should have been swift,instead........
Not looking good guys. :)

Mike

>My initial enquiry related to the inclusion of Dr
>Susan Blackmore was based on the dismay I feel every
>time a visit a 'psychic phenomena' site and find
>various Professors or Doctors being name-checked
>(often out of context) in order to establish some kind
>of scientific credibility.
>
>However, I found your site very interesting and I am
>all for unbiased scientific research. I must admit, I
>became a little confused in trying to determine the
>aims of your programme. I had assumed that you were
>studying the incidences of reports of psychic
>phenomena close to sources of EMR. (Perhaps to
>establish actual physiological reactions - e.g.
>fits/hallucinations/short term memory loss -caused by
>EMR and perceived by the individual to be a psychic
>phenomena.)
>
>You state that 'we are examining what, if any,
>psychological impact there may be from high levels of
>exposure.' Clearly a psychological impact is very
>different to a parapsychological impact. I don't know
>if it is intentional but the tone of your site
>suggests you are looking to prove that EMR causes
>psychic phenomena - which you regard as an established
>fact (a highly controversial notion in scientific
>circles to say the least). This does not sit well with
>your wish "not to be classed as either sceptical or
>'believing'".
>
>For instance, you state 'phenomena have often
>subsequently been shown to have been caused by
>disguised masts - particularly true in urbanised
>areas.' I would be interested to see any good quality
>data to support this statement as it suggests that a
>phenomena (which has not been scientifically proven to
>actually exist) has not only been recorded but a cause
>established as well.
>
>I am interested in how you will get empirical (and
>presumably qualitative) data from the submissions to
>your site. People who respond are likely to have an
>interest in psychic phenomena or the paranormal (how
>would they have found it otherwise?) and on the
>balance of probabilities will tend to be 'believers'.
>(I note the response to my first post on your forum
>regarding Dr Blackmore was 'She is an unbeliever'. I
>was quite pleased to note that this wasn't followed by
>'burn the heretic'!) The responses I have seen are
>unsubstantiated and often based on hearsay - how do
>you evaluate its usefulness and reliability? Do you
>interview those who respond? Is there a control? Do
>you intend to study the incidences of reported psychic
>phenomena where there is little EMR?
>
>My main point however is the story you quote, the
>'Windwhistle Hill Abduction' which seems, at first
>glance, to suggest a causal link between EMR and UFO
>abductions. The abduction reportedly happened in 1974
>and you state that 'the abduction site today contains
>several telecommunications and microwave radio
>installations. PRF readings show extremely high levels
>of EMR at the site.'
>
>Did these radio installations exist in 1974? Can you
>estimate what the PRF readings would have been at the
>time? Have there been any contemporary reports of
>similar phenomena at the same site? The link you
>provide states that the area has been considered
>'spooky' and has been associated with strange
>happenings for centuries - not ideal evidence to back
>up the EMR theory!
>
>As a scientist, any experiment should be undertaken in
>such a way that the results cannot be skewed,
>consciously or unconsciously, to support a hypothesis.
>An experiment that fails to support a hypothesis
>should not be considered a failure, but a success - an
>avenue of false enquiry has been closed. In my humble
>opinion you have either put the cart before the horse
>(you are trying to establish a cause for something
>that has not been proven to exist) or you have not
>made your objectives sufficiently clear.

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Subject	Author	Date
Re: Psychic Phenomenon	Pat Banon	04:49:51 11/06/04 Sat