cooper@pbsvax.DEC (Topher Cooper HLO2-3/M08 DTN225-5819) (08/01/85)
Due to the hostility engendered by discussion of positive evidence for psi phenomena, I am not going to post rebuttals to the responses to my previous postings (one exception: I include a minor retraction below). Please don't waste everyone's time by sarcastic cheers. Those who already "know" that the experimental evidence is false and irrelevant, without any particular knowledge of it, can rest content, without fear of their complacency being disrupted. Anyone who is curious may send me mail and I will send them my rebuttals by return mail. I continue to believe, of course, the relevance of some of parapsychology's findings to physics, but really do not want to force anyone to listen who doesn't want to. I know how painful challenges to one's world view are: my intellectual acceptance (I still haven't completely accepted it emotionally) of the scientific legitimacy of parapsychology came only after a long and stressful process of examining the evidence. I reserve the right to correct any fallacious statements or arguments about parapsychology which are posted in the future, but I'll try to keep it short. If people wish to discuss psychic phenomena I suggest they post as follows: substantive evidence: net.sci nature of evidence: net.sci, net.phiolosophy scientific consequences: net.sci, net.phiolosophy spiritualism: net.religion "my aunt's hair stylist, heard that Uri Geller . . .": net.rumor RETRACTION: >> I am aware of the fact that the picture of the evidence for PK is not what the >> Martin Gardner's and the James Randi's of the world would lead you to think it >> is.......... > >This is a "fact" that I am not familar with. > > Ethan Vishniac I should have said: "I am aware that this is not the impression many people have whose only source of information about the field are writers such as James Randi and Martin Gardner." I should not have implied knowledge of a deliberate attempt to mislead on their part. Nor should I have used the "of the fact" rhetorical device, it's a bad habit which I shall try to break. Topher Cooper USENET: ...{allegra,decvax,ihnp4,ucbvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-pbsvax!cooper ARPA/CSNET: cooper%pbsvax.DEC@decwrl Disclaimer: This contains my own opinions, and I am solely responsible for them.