Psi: How Open Minded are You Really?

[robvalue]

Psimon says J Rand.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I haven't watched the video (nor do I intend to), but I've read one book and several articles by Dean Radin.

I find him to be a remarkably uncritical thinker. His biggest problem with analyzing reports of psychic phenomena seems to be that he is either unaware of or rejected that possibility that some people are deliberate frauds. Additionally, he seems to discount any chance that purported psychic occurrences may have other explanations; honestly mistaken witnesses, faulty reporting or second or third-hand accounts, etc.

By way of example, Radin is fond of the story about Mark Twain having a precognitive dream about his brother Henry's death in a steamboat explosion. According to Twain himself, he dreamt that the boat on which Henry worked exploded, Henry suffered fatal burns and died in great pain. The dream also included details of the funeral - his brother's coffin placed between two chairs and decked with red and white flowers. Dean simply and unjustifiably ignores the following points:

1. Twain knew steamboats were dangerous.

2. He had already (by the time of Henry's death) lost his father and three of his siblings.

3. Twain had gotten his brother the job on the steamboat.

4. The funeral in Twain's dream was a typical one.

In other words, Twain was worried about his favourite brother working in a dangerous profession, but that's not enough for Radin - nothing will do but the explanation that the author had a precognitive experience (to be fair, Twain believed the same thing).

Of course there's a possibility that psychic phenomena are real - as real a possibility as unicorns, leprechauns, and salesmen that don't lie. But the truth or falsity of psi won't be established by boobs like Radin.

Boru

[Pizza]

If (big if) psychic phenomena is real clowns like that aren't helping us discover anything about by being as critical as a head of lettuce.

[watchamadoodle]

I've watched a Dean Radin video - maybe it's this video. IMO, applying statistics to lousy experiments is like "garbage in garbage out". If there was anything in psi, then somebody would use it for something useful. As far as I know, psi is in our imaginations.

(UFOs on the other hand... )

[JuliaL]

(UFOs on the other hand... )

Sheesh

Of course UFOs are real. ALL of the stuff I see going overhead is unidentified to some degree or other.

Alien anal probers OTOH lack much reliable supporting data.

[watchamadoodle]

(UFOs on the other hand... )

Sheesh

Of course UFOs are real. ALL of the stuff I see going overhead is unidentified to some degree or other.

Alien anal probers OTOH lack much reliable supporting data.

I often wonder if that's how my cat feels when he goes to the vet.

[Mudhammam]

My name is ChadWooters and I'm pretty much so fucking open-minded that I filter all claims to truth in the name of Christ.

[Esquilax]

Should I be worried that I couldn't get a simple acknowledgement from Chad that disagreeing with him shouldn't get me automatically labeled as close minded?

[Pizza]

It's like he hates having dialogues with other people.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Like no one else has written a provocative title to generate interest. Please...

Still waiting for your summary. If you think the point is important, you'll provide one. If it isn't important enough for you to summarize, it isn't important enough for anyone here to open.

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If your too lazy to read it there then I cannot help you.

Not a matter of me being lazy (I work 60 hours a weeks, thanks) -- it's a matter of you demonstrating why your post merits attention. If you cannot be bothered to lavish your own attention on it, I sure the fuck ain't gonna waste my time.

You show me why you should merit attention. Earn your screen-space.

Where I stand, you look like a blowhard who hasn't watched his own video, and for that reason cannot compose a succinct summation. Of course, given your proclivity for high-faliutin' words and long-winded explanations of excruciating irrelevance, you might simply be unable to boil down the message.

Feel free to show me wrong. Otherwise, forgive my apathy.

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If the intent of this thread was that you had an actual point to make, I'd say the laziness is all yours.

Hear, hear.

The only difference between Chad and a shit-and-run poster appears to be that Chad is not energetic enough to leave.