Creative Speculation
Related: About this forumI 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.
Thyla
(791 posts)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)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.
No.
lol.
qazplm135
(7,484 posts)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)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).
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)Karadeniz
(23,373 posts)The psychics. Many UFO incidents have been observed and corroborated. We just might have a lot to learn still!
qazplm135
(7,484 posts)Provide a peer review link.
Ptah
(33,484 posts)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 dont.)
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 thema test of how accurate the psychics 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 theyd 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)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)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)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)and my money disappeared.
---just like that.