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From: overlord@nmtvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.physics,net.misc,net.research
Subject: Re: Newman's Energy Machine (actually a talk on deception)
Message-ID: <873@nmtvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-Nov-85 13:26:32 EST
Article-I.D.: nmtvax.873
Posted: Tue Nov 19 13:26:32 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Nov-85 00:19:40 EST
Reply-To: overlord@nmtvax.UUCP (Alan Kerr)
Organization: New Mexico Tech, Socorro
Lines: 54
Xref: watmath net.physics:3613 net.misc:8916 net.research:346


>> > Scientists may be trained to make close observations of nature,
>> > but they don't normally work under the assumption that there's a
>> > deception to be detected. 
>
>Hmmm ..  .  Particle physicists may want  to hear about this.  
>
>             You don't suppose the BIG GUY is deceiving us???
>
>                       Twinkle twinkle little. ... 
>

Actually, what was probably meant by the first article is: scientist
don't expect data to LIE to them.
     One of the things that was taught in a parapsycology class here
at New Mexico Tech (note: a REAL class as opposed to some of the trash
that is taught at some places), is that scientists are VERY easy to
fool.  Most of the time, physicists are the easiest to fool.  If the
deception is presented in a "logical" manner, most knowledgable people
follow right along and will miss some important falacy on which the
deception depends.
     For example, most of you are probably familiar with vonDanagon(sp?)
the author of Chariots of the Gods (CotG) and other such trash.....
     Well, it seems that there was a faculty meeting at a college.  During
a coffee break in the meeting, some of the professors began to discuss CotG.
One of the astronomy/astrophysics professors said that he was rather impressed
by vonDanagon's research in geological dating of events but that his astromony
was all screwed up (he had neglected to account for the shifting of the stars
over the eons) but a geology/paleontology professor said "gee, I always thought
that his astronomy was pretty neat, but his geology is all screwed up." (he
had shifted some geological ages around and moved the time for some prehistoric
animals to different time periods).  Apparently, no one at the meeting thought
vonDanagon knew what he was talking about if it was in his or her field but
most thought that the material that wasn't in their field sounded logical (or
at least until a fellow professor pointed out the falacies.)

So basically what happens is: 
someone says "look, it follows these principles".
a demomstration is performed.
a scientists says "look, the effect seems to be following the principles that
     he said it would....  he must be right."

Remember! When observing "cause and effect", just because the "effect" happened
you must test to prove that it was due to that "cause".  I should know!! As a
semi-professional magician, I get paid to show people just how easy it is to
be deceived.

                                     Alan Kerr
                                     Chemistry/Computer Science/Math major
                                     New Mexico Tech

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