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From: ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac)
Newsgroups: net.sci,net.philosophy
Subject: Re: Parapsychology and sloppiness
Message-ID: <349@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 11:19:06 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.349
Posted: Mon Feb 10 11:19:06 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Feb-86 06:30:46 EST
References: <899@decwrl.DEC.COM> <402@aoa.UUCP> <192@ulowell.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 30
Xref: watmath net.sci:522 net.philosophy:4164
Summary: things that go bump on the net

In article <192@ulowell.UUCP>, dobro@ulowell.UUCP (Chet Dobro) writes:
> In article <402@aoa.UUCP> carl@aoa.UUCP (Carl Witthoft) writes:
> >	This parapsych stuff was run through the wringer 8 months
> >ago in net.physics. [There follows a plea for silence on this topic.]
> 
> I don't know about anyone else, but I was not around 8 months ago, and I am
> interrested in this topic. Parapsychology is getting around to being
> classified as an 'official' science (I think it should have been long ago)
> and thus should be allowed here (net.sci).
> 
Parapsychology has been "getting around" to be classified as an official
science for over a hundred years.  The progress made is not impressive
to my jaundiced eye.  On the other hand, the AAAS, in one of their sillier
decisions, officially recognized it some years at the urging of Margaret
Meade.  Although attempts have been made to rescind that decision I believe
it is still in force.  That being the case I think its supporters have a 
case for discussing it in net.sci (although not in net.physics).  If this
seems too much for some people, then one could always grant it its own
newsgroup i.e. net.para, just like net.astro, net.physics and net.origins
( :-) sort of).

-- 
"These are not the opinions    Ethan Vishniac
 of the administration of      {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
 the University of Texas,      ethan@astro.UTEXAS.EDU
 but they are the opinions     Department of Astronomy
 of your favorite deity, who   University of Texas
 is in daily communication 
 with me on this (and every 
 other) topic.