Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Beringia

(4,534 posts)
Mon Aug 26, 2019, 12:32 PM Aug 2019

I find it interesting that so many people who think of themselves


as science belief based and do not believe in UFOs or paranormal experiences, also can like or even love Sci-Fi. I have never been a Sci-Fi fan, but after having some paranormal experiences, now I look at some Sci-Fi and think, jeez these guys are on to something, (the writers and such). Then also there is a tendency for people in the UFO field or paranormal, to point to scientists or doctors to help bolster the believability, the credibility of believing in these things.
13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I find it interesting that so many people who think of themselves (Original Post) Beringia Aug 2019 OP
Science isn't a beleif Thyla Aug 2019 #1
Yes paranormal has been proven Beringia Aug 2019 #3
Seriously? Thyla Aug 2019 #5
no, it hasn't qazplm135 Aug 2019 #6
Why has Randi the magician never paid off on his bet? SCantiGOP Aug 2019 #9
Nope! nt USALiberal Oct 2019 #13
U. Arizona sponsored very many tests of the accuracy of psychics. The results supported Karadeniz Aug 2019 #8
Not true qazplm135 Aug 2019 #10
Laboratory Test Shows Psychics Aren't Psychic (But Here's How You Can Pretend To Be) Read more: http Ptah Aug 2019 #12
why? qazplm135 Aug 2019 #2
Well I just find it curious Beringia Aug 2019 #4
I grew up on Star Trek. Collimator Aug 2019 #7
I believe in the para-normal. I went to the casino yesterday, 3Hotdogs Aug 2019 #11

Thyla

(791 posts)
1. Science isn't a beleif
Mon Aug 26, 2019, 12:40 PM
Aug 2019

It's based on observable and provable facts and last time I checked neither UFO's or paranormal experiences are observable or provable.
If you can do either there is probably a Nobel prize in it but until then ??????

To be fair you can still believe in these things if you like even if one takes a scientific approach but until there is proof they are not ever going to be a fact.

The rest is entertainment.

Beringia

(4,534 posts)
3. Yes paranormal has been proven
Mon Aug 26, 2019, 12:46 PM
Aug 2019

Government programs set up to study psychic abilities showed there was definite evidence of psychic ability, shown statistically.


Here is one:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/122018394


In 1995, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) appointed a panel consisting primarily of Jessica Utts and Ray Hyman to evaluate a project investigating remote viewing for espionage applications, the Stargate Project, which was funded by the Central Intelligence Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency, and carried out initially by Stanford Research Institute and subsequently by SAIC.

qazplm135

(7,484 posts)
6. no, it hasn't
Mon Aug 26, 2019, 01:19 PM
Aug 2019

even if I take all of that at face value (I don't but let's do it for the sake of argument), at best all it shows is an area for further study.

At best.

It most certainly doesn't show proof of the paranormal.

There are plenty of critiques of those studies that show a TINY statistical anomaly barely outside random chance.

SCantiGOP

(14,203 posts)
9. Why has Randi the magician never paid off on his bet?
Mon Aug 26, 2019, 04:10 PM
Aug 2019

He is a well-known magician and sceptic. He has offered anyone $10,000, and will sign a contract to that effect, if they can prove ANY psychic or paranormal act in a setting that he controls.
No one has ever won, and only a few have tried (and looked like fools for their effort).

Karadeniz

(23,373 posts)
8. U. Arizona sponsored very many tests of the accuracy of psychics. The results supported
Mon Aug 26, 2019, 02:43 PM
Aug 2019

The psychics. Many UFO incidents have been observed and corroborated. We just might have a lot to learn still!

Ptah

(33,484 posts)
12. Laboratory Test Shows Psychics Aren't Psychic (But Here's How You Can Pretend To Be) Read more: http
Tue Aug 27, 2019, 02:49 AM
Aug 2019
A controlled trial found that psychics lacked sight, but here are some tricks to help you fake it

The nice thing about science is that if you’re unsure how some aspect of the world works—whether you believe in it or not—you can come up with a way to test your ideas, cut through your initial bias and get a nice, clean answer.

In this vein, researchers at Goldsmiths, University of London set up a blinded study to test whether or not two professional psychics really have the power of sight. (Spoiler: They don’t.)

The two psychics, Patricia Putt and Kim Whitton, were individually sat behind a wall. Five volunteers then sat in turn on the other side of the wall. Putt and Whitton were tasked with writing down characteristics that would describe the volunteers. After all the notes were scrawled, the volunteers had to pick from the pile which list of characteristics best described them—a test of how accurate the psychic’s visions had been. A release from Goldsmiths said:

Upon analysing the results, neither Kim nor Patricia scored more than one hit from the five readings.

Professor French explained: “Kim and Patricia felt they’d have no trouble in passing this test. Despite expressing confidence throughout the experiment, neither were able to gain more than a single correct reading, a result entirely consistent with the operation of chance alone.”



https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/laboratory-test-shows-psychics-arent-psychic-but-heres-how-you-can-pretend-to-be-102638661/

qazplm135

(7,484 posts)
2. why?
Mon Aug 26, 2019, 12:43 PM
Aug 2019

For example, I'm agnostic and don't believe in ghosts, afterlife, demons, angels or any of that paranormal stuff. But I love a good horror story, love the Exorcist (I even watched the Exorcist TV show which was actually pretty good), etc. Love mythology whether it is gods or God-based if it's a good story.

If it's a good, entertaining story, then I don't care what the mythology behind it is.

Same goes with sci-fi. It's about imagining what is possible. One of my top TV shows of all time is Fringe. The science on it was...well, it was barely science...but it was well written, fun, and interesting with great characters and great mythology (and Leonard Nimoy's last TV appearances). I don't believe in woo or fringe science, aliens visiting Earth (while technically possible I'm in the extraordinary claims need extraordinary evidence camp) or whatnot, but I love a good alien invasion story or Star Trek, etc.

A good story is a good story not because it is scrupulously based on reality.

Beringia

(4,534 posts)
4. Well I just find it curious
Mon Aug 26, 2019, 12:48 PM
Aug 2019

I had no interest in Sci-Fi but now believe some of it to be true whereas many Sci-Fi lovers do not believe in any of it, but love the genre.

Yes I guess it comes down to entertainment value instead of what if.

Collimator

(1,866 posts)
7. I grew up on Star Trek.
Mon Aug 26, 2019, 01:39 PM
Aug 2019

And I find myself believing (or maybe hoping) that we can live in that Star Trek world someday.

Mind you, I'm talking about the science--though being able to transport my shopping cart home to my kitchen would be nice--I want to live in that all-races-and-genders-can-be-their-best-and-contribute-equally kind of world.

Right now, I would settle for weapons that can knock someone unconcious without harming them. I don't want police officers to die in the line of duty, but I'm sick of hearing about innocent people or those committing non-violent crimes being killed so easily.

3Hotdogs

(13,369 posts)
11. I believe in the para-normal. I went to the casino yesterday,
Mon Aug 26, 2019, 04:56 PM
Aug 2019

and my money disappeared.

---just like that.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Creative Speculation»I find it interesting tha...