From: James Smith <zeus001002.nul>
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 10:38:15 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
Fwd Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 10:45:48 -0500
Subject: Re: Magnetism Does Not Cause Paranormal


>From: Stanton Friedman <fsphys.nul>
>To: <ufoupdates.nul>
>Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 09:25:13 -0400
>Subject: Re: Magnetism Does Not Cause Paranormal Experiences

>Anybody out there speak Swedish? Judging by the abstract, this
>justfiably should make everybody who hasn't already done so
>reject the 'scientific' work of Michael Persinger and bandwagon
>jumping of Susan Blackmore.

>Michael Persinger also drew a nonsensical connection between
>earthquakes and UFO sightings, if they were within hundreds of
>miles and months of each other!

>Sounds like excellent work done by the Swedes.

Mr. Friedman,

As you know, duplicating experiments is dashed difficult in
every field. One contradictory report does not disprove a
positive report. Although it sounds like excellent work, one
cannot judge it without knowledge of the test protocol,
controls, equipment, calibrations, subject profiles, etc. And
then you have the aspects that were not reported (or even
dreamed of) which may be fundamentally different between the two
tests and require a knowledgable outside party to
witness/evaluate.

Given the vast number of tests Dr. Persinger has performed and
published, I would not so readily discount him.

Like cold fusion, we need more attempts at replication.

Also, look at how many parapsyhcological tests have been
replicated many times, with still a difficult time "proving" the
phenomena.

I don't support all of Dr.Persinger's theories, but at least he
is doing hard testing in a very controversial field.


Respectfully,

James