Is the parapsychology section about skeptics(answers from skeptics about paranormal events)?

Question

I 'm just trying to figure this out...why there are so many paranormal skeptics on here. Please give sincere,honest answers to this question. Thanks.

Answer 1

I am not a skeptic.  I am a true disbeliever.  I hold a B.S. in Psychology and have investigated several claims of paranormal events.  In not one case was there any evidence of an event occurring as it was claimed.  Furthermore, in some cases there was evidence that the alleged event was a deception.

I only come to this category to see if people are still as gullible now as they have been in the past.  I have found that they are worse.

I usually only read in this category but you seemed sincere in your wanting to know about skeptics.

Answer 2

It's a forum for questions and answers.Parapsychology is a controversial subject.Many,myself included don't think it belongs in a Science section.Most of the questions belong in Mythology and Folklore.I'm sure there are far less skeptics over there.I can't let a discussion of ghosts or psychics go one sided.It's important people know there is no scientific evidence for any of it.Most scientists think it's nonsense.I want to make sure that gets out.

Answer 3

Maybe we resent people asking such silly questions in a forum about science.

Answer 4

"The evidence for PSI Phenomena is high" someone said.

Then why hasn't it ever been proven and the millions of dollars payed out?

As it now stands, it's in the realm of nonsense!

Answer 5

I'd say it's because nobody likes being lied to, and we all want to know what's really going on in the world. It doesn't take much observation to figure out that the vast majority of people who claim to have paranormal powers are just liars who use tricks to separate a fool from his money. From there, you have to wonder if there really are any legitimate paranormal powers, and if so why can't they demonstrate these powers in a way that can be measured and studied so we can figure it out?

I could say the same thing about belief in god. The difference is, it's easier to disbelieve in the paranormal because no one claims you will be punished for your disbelief.

Answer 6

I think that the parapsychology section is for everybody, even they believe in this topic or not. On the other hand, maybe they only want that people know their opinion.

Even, people who study parapsychology in some cases is skeptic.

Greetings..

Answer 7

I believe that psychic phenomena exist. I'm also glad there are skeptics. We need skeptics if we are going to be objective. Besides, there are some con artists out there trying to make money. If the skeptics save a few people from being cheated out of their money or making bad decisions, that's good for people legitimately interested in parapsychology. Overall, they're a pretty good group of people who just see things differently.

On the other hand, I think we can assure them that we are aware of The Amazing Randi Challenge and there is no need for further mention of it!

Answer 8

it's kind of hilarious what you say 'paranormal skeptics',but basically they believe they are qualified to tell us what we should and shouldn't believe, scientifically.

Answer 9

The skeptics are so bothered that they have to keep checking this section all day long and they have to make up excuses to justify their obsession. They don't understand why they are so interested.

Guaranteed, if they moved this section, they would be the first ones to run to the new section and lurk.

The " this is science and math section" is only a big false justification for their obsession.

Answer 10

to everybody. I magine what was once considered crackpot theories have become accepted scientific fact. How many of todays scientific facts were once rediculed as nothing more than wishful thinking, fanciful theories, and insane ideas. think about it. until technologies arrived to push the ideas from dark back rooms to mainstream science almost everything was once considered insanity. A round earth, the earth revolving around the sun, black holes dark matter radio waves, astriods killing off life on earth, and millions of other theories were once laughed at much like your doing right now. so the technology doesnt exist right now to prove ghosts or the afterlife, but can you say it wont exist in ten or twenty years???????

Answer 11

Yes. More about skeptics than anything else.

This is not a true 'spiritual' forum.

Therefore,I can't waste my insights on the skeptics.

It's like casting pearls before swines.

I go to other forums for real discussions.

This place is so elementary.

Answer 12

Skepticism is an important part of science, but true skepticism involves the suspension of belief, not the refusal of belief.   Many of the people you describe on this site are not actually skeptics, but dogmatists.

The experimental evidence for telepathy, clairvoyance, etc, (collectively called psi phenomena, pronounced “sigh”) is overwhelming, with odds against chance - in many cases - of millions to one.  And then of course there are thousands of reports from all cultures throughout history.

There is also nothing in modern science that would be compromised by the existence of psi.  And several surveys have shown that most scientists believe that psi is either an established fact or a likely possibility.

As for returning to the mysticism of the dark ages: remember that chemistry has its roots in alchemy, and astronomy in astrology.  Medicine was also nourished in a hotbed of superstition.  Parapsychology is not so lonely in having its roots in witchcraft and superstition.  It is the scientific study of anomolous mental phenomena.

There is a recent book out, titled Parapsychology and the Skeptics, by Chris Carter that deals with all of this and much more.  The book’s website can be found by entering the title and author into a good search engine.

Addition:

Since I first posted, a few people have posted some questions and insults.  I will ignore the insults and answer the questions.

Regarding surveys of scientists, this is from Carter's book:

"Two surveys of over 500 scientists in one case and over 1,000 in another were made in the 1970’s.  Both surveys found that the majority of respondents considered ESP “an established fact” or “a likely possibility”: 56% in one and 67% in the other." (Sources are listed in back)

Regarding Randi's million dollar challenge:  Carter deals with this in great depth, showing how it is really just a publicity hoax.  Randi has never actually tested anyone, and has backed down or ignored several serious challengers.  It is Randi who acts as policeman, jury, and judge, and given his financial stake in the debunking movement, and his reputation, he is hardly an objective participant.

There is also serious doubt that the money actually exists.  At any rate, this is not how serious science operates, and Randi is not a scientist.

Answer 13

No the parapsychology section is not about skeptics. It is supposed to be about providing answers and information concerning questions that people have about parapsychology.

I attempt to do that with all my answers that frequently are the only answers providing actual information and links and this earns me multiple thumbs down from those that prefer vague answers like "there is no evidence"

I welcome skeptics that are both informative and helpful (I have seen none on here). Ray Hyman for instance is an earlier member if not founder of CSICOP that is a die hard skeptic. However, he helped write the current protocols for the AutoGanzfeld experiments with Charles Honorton (who created the first Ganzfeld experiments for ESP). He offers mostly credible critiques of experiments and has even acknowledged positive results that can't be explained due to bad statistics or poor methodology. Yet he firmly does not believe in ESP. That is a skeptic.

Those that yell that there is no evidence and it should be demonstrated in front of a magician to prove it's real (and yet complain that parapsychology is listed in the science & mathematics section) are debunkers. By which I mean people that blindly defend their faith that certain phenomena (even meeting the criteria of all social/behavioral sciences and medicine) can't be real.

They offer nothing to the advancement of science.

When an answer is both not helpful and insulting I encourage you and others to use the report it button with no apologies or hesitation.

Answer 14

For all of you hard core scientists above, why do you get angry at these questions? WHy don't you just click on "Show me Another" and be done with it? Why do you have to come on here and spew? We cannot help where Yahoo put this category.

Answer 15

I, too, used to be a skeptic until I actually began experiencing paranormal events.  Can I document these events?  No.  Would I even want to?  Absolutely not.  They were meant for me and my family, and we treasure them.

A skeptic in my family said they would never believe unless I got a certain piece of information for him that only my deceased relative had.  When asked, that relative said he would not tell me, that it is about what we believe in our hearts ...

To that, I told my family member that when he dies and tries to communicate with me I will answer him ... just to prove my point ... lol

Best wishes to all

Answer 16

There are millions of skeptics all over the place.  The reason I am an active skeptic here is because I used to be a true believer.  I do not want people who are unsure and don't know any better being convinced (as I once was) that paranormal phenomena exist when there is no reason or evidence that they do.  If we no longer come here then it's just the true believers.  This gives the public impression that paranormal events are fact and that one should just take their existence for granted.  That is just not right.  I want people to embrace science and leave behind all of the Middle Ages superstition and magical thinking.

Answer 17

No, it's not about skeptics or non-skeptics, but it is about questions and answers regarding parapsychology from the scientific perspective. It is from the scientific perspective because Parapsychology has been placed as a sub-category within Science & Math, just like biology or engineering are sub-categories within Science & Math.

I'm here because I was of the habit of clicking on the Science & Mathematics category and answering the questions that come up. Imagine my surprise when I started seeing questions on ghosts and telekinesis right there in the top-level Science & Math category! That's how it works with Yahoo. All the questions appearing in the sub-categories also appear in their parent categories. So anybody browsing Science & Mathematics looking for general scientific questions would also see questions on astral projection and spirit guides. That's pretty silly, you have to admit.

So that piqued my interest, and since I've always been interested in the lore of the supernatural anyway, I decided to participate specifically in the Paranormal/Parapsychology categories to help people. Specifically, I want to help people understand what is science and what is not, and how to think critically and rationally. It would be a shame for kids to poke around and see ghost questions in the Science category and become confused and disillusioned about science. We don't want a return to the scientific illiteracy and mysticism of the Dark Ages. Let's move forward, not back.

Answer 18

The same reason there are so many Atheist, every one has the right to believe what they want!