The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #25033   Message #291931
Posted By: Escamillo
06-Sep-00 - 03:18 AM
Thread Name: Explaining the Unexplained - Part Two
Subject: RE: Explaining the Unexplained - Part Two
After thinking two days (which is too much for my thinking parts) I've come to these pseudo-conclusions:

1) People that beleive in the paranormal or psychic phenomena will remain in their beleifs, no matter how many scientific demonstrations in the contrary we could bring to the discussion, because they respond to what they FEEL. Moreover, they don't care about scientific analysis.

2) There always be some exceptions, then it is always worthwhile to keep discussing these matters in a friendly fashion.

3) Along with their false premises, fallacies and wrong information, frequently they bring very useful methods and techniques, especially in the terrain of human behaviour, analysis of voice and gesture, diagnosis of mental disorders, and the unknown processes of cure by self-convincement.

4) ***IMHO***, no person who uses unproven or occult techniques or theories should be allowed to charge for their services, no matter wether the client feels satisfied or not, not to mention possible harm to the client, as long as those techniques are not recognized by any University or Technical School, as it is normal for doctors,engineers, physicists, mathematicians, teachers, and all professionals. This is a matter of common sense, in order to protect the innocent :) I would never allow a person to build my house if I don't see which kind of concrete s/he uses, and even less if I see them praying to the gods for the construction to be solid ! The only way I would accept their charge is when they clearly state "I won't tell you anything that you don't already know, I have no responsibility, and there is no guarantee, this is only to make you feel better." (what is the same that psychoanalysts say, isn't it ?)

5) Some day those persons could discover something important. If they are honest people, they will share that discovery with the society, will submit it to scientists, and will accept if they are wrong, one, three, a thousand times, as scientists painfully do in their own research work. (20 years ago, two local doctors announced some spectacular results in the application of Crotoxine - toxine found in snake poisons - to cancer treatment. Not authorized by local Health authorities, against the opinion of crowds who concentrated every day under the slogan "Crotoxine is life", they migrated to USA, tempted by private laboratories who hired them immediately. However, there was no miracle. More then 10 years after, the technique is still under research. USA labs have a good eye for valuable people, but don't put their reputation on risk.) Note: they were not psychics or alchemists, they were graduated physicians and investigators.

As I'm analytical-musical-poetic-humanistic minded, all these pseudo-conclusions (because they don't conclude anything) may be turned upside down as soon as I see my mistake ! So, I would like to read more arguments and keep learning from all participants.

Un abrazo - Andrés