Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: $Revision: 1.6.2.16 $; site inmet.UUCP 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).