Asking how it works is a bad idea unless you want to listen to a protracted bout of nonsense. Just ask for evidence.Thinking Aloud wrote:"How does that work then?" followed by "How do you know that?" My favourite questions.
Energy Healing (facepalm)
Re: Energy Healing (facepalm)
Outside the ordered universe is that amorphous blight of nethermost confusion which blasphemes and bubbles at the center of all infinity—the boundless daemon sultan Azathoth, whose name no lips dare speak aloud, and who gnaws hungrily in inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond time and space amidst the muffled, maddening beating of vile drums and the thin monotonous whine of accursed flutes.
Code: Select all
// Replaces with spaces the braces in cases where braces in places cause stasis
$str = str_replace(array("\{","\}")," ",$str);
- mistermack
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Re: Energy Healing (facepalm)
Yeh, quite right.Azathoth wrote:Asking how it works is a bad idea unless you want to listen to a protracted bout of nonsense. Just ask for evidence.Thinking Aloud wrote:"How does that work then?" followed by "How do you know that?" My favourite questions.
If someone is making an extraordinary claim, it's up to them to provide the extraordinary evidence.
Not for anyone else to dispute it.
My argument generally is that "you're just another crank, unless you can prove otherwise".
And just quoting your own stories isn't any kind of evidence. That's what the cranks do.
While there is a market for shit, there will be assholes to supply it.
- Thinking Aloud
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Re: Energy Healing (facepalm)
I'm sure you're right about the nonsense, but it's one way to get them to try to justify what they're saying. Eat bit of nonsense presented can have the same question asked of it. People close up if you ask for evidence right at the start - you're testing their faith in whatever it is - asking them how it works means they have to either invent more layers, or dig deeper into the woo they've uncritically accepted, which only invites further questions. You never know, they might just have to think for a moment.mistermack wrote:Azathoth wrote:Asking how it works is a bad idea unless you want to listen to a protracted bout of nonsense. Just ask for evidence.Thinking Aloud wrote:"How does that work then?" followed by "How do you know that?" My favourite questions.
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- apophenia
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Re: Energy Healing (facepalm)
It's generally a bad idea to allow someone to shift the burden of proof, or volunteer to do so for them. Moreover, it passes over an opportunity to demonstrate what good thinking consists of, and why; if you never even get to claims about energy healing, helping this person to see better ways of thinking and the justifications for them is a good step. (Though one which I suspect many self-professed skeptics themselves aren't prepared to do, as few go back to first principles to prove for themselves the skeptical dogmas. You may want to brush up on fundamentals before attempting to clean someone else's clock.)
However, if you want, an excellent counterpoint would be to introduce her to nine year old Emily Rosa's landmark study in which she debunked Therapeutic Touch. Not only is it an excellent come uppance to a form of energy healing, being dealt the dirt by a nine year old has got to be somewhat humbling. Though I'm sure the typical woo addict will rationalize it away without missing a beat. (Access to the original article is here. I suggest a less formal presentation.)
In general, I'd suggest that if you can't quote the literature off the top of your head, your energies might be better placed in studying the skeptical approaches to these questions instead of simply searching about for some pre-digested skepticism to deal with a specific claim. As Feynman said, you are the easiest person to fool. Heal thyself first, then worry about others. Just my two cents. YMMV.

- Xamonas Chegwé
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Re: Energy Healing (facepalm)
Actually, that is very easy to calculate. All you need to know is the mass of his chi and how fast it is travelling - its kinetic energy is then given by 1/2mv2 - obviously, if his chi is warmer than the surrounding area, you will need to factor in its thermal energy and, if the pile of bullshit it is perched on is high enough, potential energy needs to be added as well - using U = mgh.JimC wrote:Ask them how many joules are involved, and watch the face for that "what the fuck is a joule" expression...

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Millefleur
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing

Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
- klr
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Re: Energy Healing (facepalm)
Ask for the peer-reviewed studies with double-blind controls. 

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It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson

It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson



- Clinton Huxley
- 19th century monkeybitch.
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Re: Energy Healing (facepalm)
You could have a look at some of the Quackcast podcasts. They've covered most woo therapies.
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I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled"
AND MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND All!
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- fretmeister
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Re: Energy Healing (facepalm)
klr wrote:Ask for the peer-reviewed studies with double-blind controls.
I did!
Apparently journals that print such things are purposely keeping out honest research...

Clint - thank you. Wasnt aware of them.
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