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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!cca!inmet!nrh
From: nrh@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.news.group
Subject: Re: Parapsychology
Message-ID: <7000086@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 15-Aug-85 10:05:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: inmet.7000086
Posted: Thu Aug 15 10:05:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 19-Aug-85 21:35:01 EDT
References: <594@mmintl.UUCP>
Lines: 37
Nf-ID: #R:mmintl:-59400:inmet:7000086:000:1888
Nf-From: inmet!nrh    Aug 15 10:05:00 1985


>/* Written  6:57 pm  Aug 12, 1985 by mmintl!franka in inmet:net.news.group */
>/* ---------- "Parapsychology" ---------- */
>I had put off suggesting this, because the subject seemed to be dying
>out, but it doesn't seem to want to quit entirely.  There should be
>a net.psi newsgroup for discussion of paranormal phenomena.  It does
>not belong on net.physics.
>
>I have set the followup for this article to net.news.group only.  I
>do not normally read that group, so anyone wishing to reach me should
>use e-mail.
>/* End of text from inmet:net.news.group */
>

NO! Without going into the merits of psi itself, I suggest that the net is
not an appropriate medium.  Such discussions would surely degenerate into
the "I can TOO tell in advance when a phone will ring" and "My Aunt Tillie
could cause cats to barf by staring at them" assertions, followed,
of course, by the "Oh yeah?  Psi is garbage.  Says so right here" from
the skeptical crowd.  

In other groups, such as net.physics, these arguments are replaced
by something else (orthodox physics arguments).  In "net.psi", they'd
play themselves over and over and over again (there being no other
topic to turn to).  

Because there is a lot of dispute whether there's ANY real evidence for
psi, it may not be time to form a newsgroup.  Fortunately, James Randi
has offered a prize of $10k to anyone who can demonstrate psionic
phenomena under good viewing conditions.  I suggest that this is a good
yardstick for whether anything "psionic" is worth talking about IN FRONT
OF UNBELIEVERS.  Let's form net.psi ...  AFTER Randi awards the money.

I do suggest that mmintl!franka form a MAILING LIST for this sort of thing --
I think that those who wish to discuss psionic stuff should be free to
do so, but the resources used would be less, and a certain amount of
moderation could be imposed (something I suspect will be needed).