. . SOCIETY

Vol. 34, No 1. March 2014

Religion versus Real Medicine

+Simon Says Dolphins Activism Belief

Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au

Skeptic_Cover_Mar14.indd 1 4/03/14 10:39 AM The Skeptic March 14

Skeptical Groups in Australia

Australian Skeptics Inc – Richard Saunders Gold Coast Skeptics – Lilian Derrick www.skeptics.com.au PO Box 8348, GCMC Bundall, QLD 9726 PO Box 20, Beecroft, NSW 2119 Tel: (07) 5593 1882; Fax: (07) 5593 2776 Tel: 02 8094 1894; Mob: 0432 713 195; Fax: (02) 8088 4735 [email protected] [email protected] Contact Lilian to find out news of more events. Sydney – 6pm first Thursday of each month at the Mezz Bar, Coronation Hotel, Park St in the city (meeting upstairs) Canberra Skeptics – Lauren Cochrane PO Box 555, Civic Square ACT 2608 Dinner meetings are held on a regular basis. http://www.canberraskeptics.org.au Tel: 0408 430 442 March 29 dinner - Ketan Joshi, Technophobia [email protected] (general inquiries), 2014 convention - November 28-30. Details and speakers tba. [email protected] (Canberra Skeptics in the Pub). A free monthly talk, open to the public, usually takes place on the 1st Saturday of each month at the Lecture Theatre, Hunter Skeptics – John Turner CSIRO Discovery Centre, Clunies Ross Rd (check website for Tel: (02) 4959 6286 [email protected] details of the current month’s talk). Skeptics in the Pub gather at 1pm on the third Sunday of each month at King O’Malleys Meetings are held upstairs at The Cricketers Arms Hotel, Cooks Pub in Civic. For up-to-date details : www.meetup.com/ Hill (Newcastle) on the first Monday of each month, excepting SocialSkepticsCanberra/ January, commencing 7.00pm, with a guest speaker or open discussion on a given topic. Visitors welcome. Further information from the secretary at: [email protected] Skeptics SA – Laurie Eddie 52B Miller St Unley, SA 5061 Tel: (08) 8272 5881 [email protected] Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc – Chris Guest GPO Box 5166, Melbourne VIC 3001 Thinking and Drinking - Skeptics in the Pub, on the third Friday Tel: 1 800 666 996 [email protected] of every month. Contact [email protected] www.meetup.com/Thinking-and-Drinking-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/ Skeptics’ Café – Third Monday of every month, with guest calendar/10205558 or http://tinyurl.com/loqdrt speaker. La Notte, 140 Lygon St. Meal from 6pm, speaker at 8pm sharp. More details on our web site www.skeptics.com.au/vic WA Skeptics – Dr John Happs PO Box 466, Subiaco, WA 6904 Tel: (08) 9448 8458 [email protected] Borderline Skeptics Inc – Russell Kelly All meetings start at 7:30 pm at Grace Vaughan House, PO Box 666, Mitta Mitta, Victoria 3701 227 Stubbs Terrace, Shenton Park Tel: (02) 6072 3632 [email protected] Further details of all our meetings and speakers are on our Meetings are held quarterly on second Tuesday at Albury/ website at www.undeceivingourselves.org Wodonga on pre-announced dates and venues. Australian Skeptics in Tasmania – Leyon Parker Queensland Skeptics Association Inc – Bob Bruce PO Box 582, North Hobart TAS 7002 PO Box 3480, Norman Park QLD 4170 Tel: 03 6225 3988 BH, 0418 128713 [email protected] Tel: (07) 3255 0499 Mob: 0419 778 308 [email protected] Skeptics in the Pub - 2nd Monday each month, Meetings with a guest speaker on the last Monday of the month 6.30pm, Ball & Chain restaurant, Salamanca Place from February to November at the Redbrick Hotel, 81 Annerley Road, South Brisbane. Dinner from 6pm, speaker at 7.30pm. Qskeptics eGroup - www.egroups.com/list/qskeptics Darwin Skeptics – Brian de Kretser Skepticamp Brisbane planned for July 2014 - watch for details. Tel: (08) 8927 4533 [email protected] Volume 34 • No 1 March 14 Contents

REPORTS 8 The secret Skeptics 7 Tim Mendham Skepticism in the UK 8 9 School 4 thinking 9 7 Krissy Wilson FEATURES 20 In God we trust 12 Bending the rules 18 Peter Bowditch 12 States of exemption 20 Tim Mendham

ARTICLES 24 Birth of a notion 23 34 French, Kruszelnicki, Hrab Chiropractors Singed 24 Martin Hadley The numbers racket 28 Steve Roberts 28 Taking it to the e 30 Amanda Devaus The mystery tour 33 38 Wanderlust & Tim Mendham 42 Need to believe 34 Paul Berchtold Rush to judgement 38 Brett Christian The dolphin delusion 42 Tim Harding Look into my eyes 48 48 Kevin M McConkey

REGULARS 46 Editorial 4 Around the Traps 5 Them! 10 Puzzles page 17 53 The logical place 29 41 What goes around 46 Book reviews 53 Letters 59 EDITORIAL From the Editor

Get the picture? here are a number of articles in and the acceptance by the public of T this edition of The Skeptic which simplistic and marketing impinge on an issue I have been claims in the face of truth-sayers being mulling over for some time. And this too cautious or scared to respond. is the ‘bigger picture’ of skepticism Ultimately, it leads to a despair of ISSN 0726-9897 when dealing with pseudoscience and getting the skeptical message across and Quarterly Journal of the . people then moving into areas that offer Australian Skeptics Inc It’s one thing to investigate the a faster payoff and higher profile issues (ABN 90 613 095 379) claims regarding specific issues – these (environment, politics, etc). Editor are important and interesting areas The sort of discussion of “why people Tim Mendham to cover. Sightings of the Loch Ness believe weird things” is getting there, monster, the testimonies of alien but an even broader topic is “what Editorial Board abductees, and the spurious claims happens to the world when people Steve Roberts made by the alt-med and anti-vax believe weird things”. Eran Segev crowds are the sorts of areas that are What happens is that we have Martin Hadley the staple of skeptical discussion, creationists in parliament influencing Barry Williams whether over a beer at the pub or political decisions that affect all of Design Services online via Facebook or . us. We have medical authorities such Nova Consulting P/L There is absolutely nothing wrong as the NHMRC tying up valuable with doing this, and it is vitally time and money because they’ve been All correspondence to: important that we do so to continue asked to assess - yet again - totally Australian Skeptics Inc the education of the public, the unsupported medical practices PO Box 20 media and those who are new to the (, reflexology, etc). We Beecroft NSW 2119 field and who might not be aware of have schools teaching non-science Australia the actual facts and the skeptical view. and nonsense in science classes in the But the ‘bigger picture’ is what name of inclusiveness. And we have Contact details affects all of us. a population so lacking in critical Tel: +61 (0)2 8094 1894 We can have much coverage of thinking, as exemplified by their belief Mob: +61 (0)432 713 195 “the lies of anti-vaccination” and not in weird things, that they will be Fax: +61 (0)2 8088 4735 enough on what it all means in the incapable of assessing the claims of any [email protected] bigger picture. In the marketer, lobbyist, abuser of statistics, www.skeptics.com.au case, where he was taken to court merchant over comments on chiropractic, that of doom or politicians. The Skeptic is published four times means anti-science and distrust of Anyone for a march on parliament? per year by Australian Skeptics Inc. science; the legal measures used by . Views and opinions expressed in articles pseudoscientists to maintain their and letters in The Skeptic are those of position; what it means to skeptical - Tim Mendham, editor the authors, and are not necessarily campaigners like Ken Harvey; those of Australian Skeptics Inc. Articles may be reprinted with permission and with due acknowledge- A Correction: Before any brickbats are thrown our way, let us own up to a terrible ment to The Skeptic. way to treat an American university – we moved it. The uni in question is the one where All effort is made to ensure correct Pamela Gay works, Southern Illinois University, which we placed in Edmondsville acknowledgement of all contributions. (page 23 of the last issue). Unfortunately, the campus where Dr Gay works is actually We are happy to update credit when so in Edwardsville. We don’t even know if there is a town called Edmondsville in Illinois, informed. so we may have thrown Pamela into a black hole, which may be familiar territory to an astronomer. She kindly says that “Screwing up the name of my university is a long and Editorial submission deadline honourable tradition. You found a novel way to rename us, so you get points for that.” So for the next issue: there we are; shame-faced, but apparently earning points. And our apologies to the citizens May 1, 2014 of Edmondsville, wherever you are. 4 NEWS The Skeptic March 14

Around the traps ... SYDNEY 2014 Marron wins Order of Australia 30th SKEPTICS AUSTRALIA: Loretta Marron, Her activities have resulted in the NATIONAL three-time winner of Australian withdrawal of many pseudoscientific Skeptics’ Skeptic of the Year award, has products from the market and from CONVENTION been granted a 2014 Medal (OAM) the Australian Register of Therapeutic in the General Division of the Order Goods, and highlighted many November 28-30 of Australia “for service to community dangerous practices in both private ‘care’ health”. and public institutions, particularly the Skeptics Guide to Marron is the only person to have unwarranted treatment of infants with the Universe won the Skeptic of the Year award chiropractic manipulation. more than once, and she has done Kendrick Frazier so three times: in 2007 and 2011 for her individual efforts, and again in Shonky science papers Dick Smith 2012 as part of the Friends of Science Dr Karl in Medicine group that she was UK: Nature’s online news service Peter FitzSimons instrumental in forming at the end of reports that more than 120 conference Bettina Arndt 2011. proceedings have been removed from Robyn Williams Taking on the more dubious aspects subscription databases after it was Sonya Pemberton of the billion-dollar therapeutic goods revealed that they were computer- industry, the government, supermarkets generated. and pharmacies, she is an indefatigable Reporter Richard Van Noorden says ... and more and persistent campaigner for patients’ that over the past two years, computer rights, for common sense and for critical scientist Cyril Labbé of Joseph Fourier TICKETS thinking in the face of ignorance, University in Grenoble has catalogued ON SALE NOW duplicity and computer-generated papers that made it the purveyance into more than 30 published conference skeptics.com.au/ of ineffective, proceedings between 2008 and 2013. convention potentially Sixteen appeared in publications by harmful and Springer, which is headquartered in sometimes fatal Heidelberg, Germany, and more than Van Noorden says that Labbé has products and 100 were published by the Institute developed a way to automatically treatments, of Electrical and Electronic Engineers detect manuscripts composed by a many of which (IEEE), based in New York. Both piece of software called SCIgen, which she has exposed. publishers, which were privately randomly combines strings of words to In 2003, she was herself diagnosed informed by Labbé, say that they are now produce fake computer-science papers. with breast cancer. This gave her first- removing the papers. SCIgen was invented in 2005 hand experience of the scope of medical Among the works were a paper by researchers at the Massachusetts misinformation that contributes to the published as a proceeding from the 2013 Institute of Technology to prove that exploitation of our most vulnerable International Conference on Quality, conferences would accept meaningless Australians. After successful cancer Reliability, Risk, Maintenance, and papers and, as they put it, “to maximise treatment in 2004, she looked for Safety Engineering, held in Chengdu, amusement”. SCIgen is free to opportunities to help other cancer China. (The conference website says that download and use, and it is unclear how patients. As a retired business woman, all manuscripts are “reviewed for merits many people have done so, or for what with a background in science, and and contents”.) One of the authors of purposes. (A related program generates under her initial guise as the ‘Jelly Bean the paper, entitled ‘TIC: a methodology random physics manuscript titles on the Lady’, she has used her considerable for the construction of e-commerce’, satirical website snarxiv.org/vs-arxiv/.) communications skills to alert the media told Nature News that he first learned of SCIgen’s output has occasionally to counter false information about the article when conference organisers popped up at conferences, when health matters, and to persistently lobby notified his university in December, and researchers have submitted nonsense regulators to do their duty of regulating that he did not know why he was a listed papers and then revealed the trick, the dubious claims and treatments. co-author on the paper. Nature report says 5 NEWS

OFFICIAL: NZ PM is not a reptile! And the loser is ...

NEW ZEALAND: Prime Minister RUSSIA: UPI reports that a John Key has consulted a doctor satirical prize to be awarded to the and a vet, and has reported to the top achievements in pseudoscience New Zealand people that he is not a has been established in Russia. The reptile, nor an alien. public can make nominations for the 3News in New Zealand reports award, dubbed the Obscurantis Prize, that Key was responding to an on the obscurantist.ru website, Irina Official Information Act request Levontina, the head of the prize- submitted by an Auckland man, organising committee, told asking for “any evidence to disprove RIA Novosti. the theory that Mr Key is in fact “We’ve long been outraged by a David Icke style shapeshifting various anti-scientific TV shows and reptilian alien ushering humanity articles full of outrageous nonsense towards enslavement”. and messing with people’s heads,” said “I’m certainly not a reptile,” said Levontina, a linguist who works at the Key. “I’ve never been in a spaceship, Russian Academy of . never been in outer space, and my submitted the request, said he did it The academy has its own unofficial tongue’s not overly long either.” as a joke, “alongside some other more commission against pseudoscience Writer musician Shane Warbrooke, serious requests as part of his research and has repeatedly attacked ufology, the “ordinary Kiwi bloke” who into UFOs”. astrology and numerous ‘inventors’ requesting state support of questionable technological projects. “This flood has increased greatly Loch Ness is Nessieless Campbell, who has been logging in recent times,” Levontina said. “We sights for 17 years since his own realised that the scientific community sighting of something in the loch, said must try to counteract it.” SCOTLAND: BBC News reports “It’s very upsetting news, and we don’t UPI reports that “the academic that, for the first time in almost 90 know where she’s gone. community in Russia has become years, there have been “no confirmed “The number of sightings has been increasingly concerned about the rise of sightings” of the . reducing since the turn of the century, pseudoscience since the demise of the Gary Campbell, who keeps a register but this is the first time since 1925 that Soviet Union, when the educational of sightings, said in February that no Nessie wasn’t seen at all.” system began to decline”. one had come forward in 18 months to Campbell said that 1036 reported say they had seen the monster. sightings had been recorded over the Bookmakers William Hill had said years, with some in 2012. Debate helps ark? they had had three entries to its annual “I’m convinced that Nessie has just Nessie spotting contest, but they could taken some time out and will be back be explained as a duck, a wave and a with a vengeance this year.” USA: The high-profile debate picture not even taken on Loch Ness Tourists have been warned to be between evolutionist and (and presumably also not a monster, cautious about approaching a vengeful creationist Ken Ham may have though that was not made clear). monster. helped raise funds for Ham’s Creation Museum and Noah’s Ark project. Associated Press reports that Ham has announced that a municipal bond offering had raised enough money to begin construction on the Ark Encounter project, estimated to cost about US$73 million. Precise figures on the amount raised were not clear. Nye said he was “heartbroken and sickened for the Commonwealth of Kentucky” after learning that the project would move forward. . 6 REPORT Alternative Medicine Research The Skeptic March 14 Harvey, FSM & the Secret Skeptics Tim Mendham reports on some interesting claims arising from the resignation of Ken Harvey from LaTrobe

he fallout from Dr Ken Harvey’s Mark Metherell, a spokesman for CHF, funded organisation, journal or media Tresignation from LaTrobe University said that LaTrobe, in describing Swisse publication or research facility, we because of a proposed deal with Swisse as “Victoria’s leading global wellness strongly encourage this interest be Wellness has had a number of twists and company”, “appears to have fallen for the disclosed as appropriate.” turns since the ‘serial campaigner’ made company’s celebrity-backed marketing The letter does not say why Australian his announcement in early February. pitch. Such a statement exposes the Skeptics is such that anyone associated Harvey objected to LaTrobe’s university as credulous and naive.” with it needs to declare an interest, as if accepting $15 million from Swisse for there were nefarious goings-on. the establishment of a Complementary SKEPTICS CONNECTIONS Another site, Information to Medicine Evidence Centre. But Meanwhile, in response to Harvey’s Pharmacists (I2P), published a piece by apparently at least three other universities resignation and FSM’s support of his Mark Coleman called “Ken Harvey - - Bond, Monash and Sydney - were also action, an open letter was published on His Mission is to be Controversial”. approached by the vitamin company the website of the Australian Integrative Coleman says that “Ken Harvey has during the 18 months before LaTrobe’s Medicine Association (AIMA). The a life in another world where he is a acceptance, and all three had rejected it. letter criticised FSM for “broader member of Skeptics Australia.[sic] ... The “I certainly support more research agendas that need to be clarified if they medical Skeptics have become a powerful into the efficacy of complementary are to be seen as anything other than lobby group and focus on gaining medicines,” Harvey told LaTrobe’s a polarising force directed exclusively executive control within various health vice-chancellor, Prof John Dewar, in his against complementary medicine alone”. organisations. Then these organisations letter of resignation, “but, in my view, It added that FSM was perceived by act in concert ... when some sort of secret it is crucial that the design, assessment many in the community not as friends Skeptic campaign is mounted, giving and funding of such research be at arm’s of science in medicine, but specifically the impression that there is a grass roots length from a particular company and antagonistic to, or enemies of, support for a given activity when it is a overseen by an independent body such as complementary medicine.” very narrow focus indeed. the ARC and/or NHMRC. According to the letter, the AIMA saw Linking universites, FSM, Choice “Swisse is well known for prioritising FSM as “the public face of the Australian and Metherell, Coleman says, “It’s the marketing of its products (especially Skeptics Inc”, which is curious, as we had like everyone hides in plain sight but by the use of celebrities) over their always felt that Australian Skeptics had the actual campaigns are developed scientific assessment,” he added. “Indeed, its own public face. in secrecy. [It’s] more like a counter- many of the claims Swisse have made “It would be appropriate that intelligence underground agency than a about their products have been judged members of FSM publicly declare respected group of people.” to have breached the Therapeutic Goods their association with both FSM and While it might be flattering to Advertising Code.” Australian Skeptics Inc,” the letter think of ourselves as an all-powerful Harvey’s decision has been supported says. “This association should be cabal, Australian Skeptics is not a secret by academics and science-based well understood when FSM or its organisation nor a “counter-intelligence organisations around Australia, including members are making public comments. underground agency”, and it would be the Friends of Science in Medicine Furthermore, if any FSM member a good idea if those making such claims and the Consumers Health Forum of has influence over academic decision take some medication and have a good Australia (CHF). making within a university, government lie down. . 703 REPORT International The Skeptic March 14 Blimey in Blighty

Prof Chris French describes skeptical activity in the UK – overflowing with events and celebrities

n the UK, it’s really very very Ihealthy and active. It’s incredible how things have taken off over recent years. The Skeptics in the Pub has been going for about 15 years and The Skeptic [UK] magazine for longer than that; things have been bubbling along. specifically asked that question, what’s THE KEY ISSUES I started going along to the Skeptics caused this explosion of interest and One of the issues, or features, is the in the Pub meetings in London almost support, what’s been the tipping point. different demographics between the from the time it started. There was one And obviously it’s all speculation but I various groups, even now. When I go branch, and the London one was it. think there are a number of factors that to Humanist meetings they tend to be Typically there’d be thirty people turn have probably at least played a role. older generation; the Skeptics in the up each month, and then suddenly, One is the good old internet. It’s Pub, that does tend to get younger a few years back, the whole thing now so much easier for like-minded people in and it does get women exploded. Not only were two or three people, whatever their belief systems, in. There’s still not enough ethnic hundred people turning up a month, to get together and have meetings etc. minorities, but that’s happening as but there were branches opening up in Also, I think the fact that Richard well. other cities - it may have gone past 50 Dawkins’ God Delusion was a best But having said all that, if we go branches by now. seller, and people who were atheists way back to the beginning, it was One of the most recent will be the and in the past were a bit guarded very much a specific focus on the one I started in Greenwich, because about saying that, suddenly they felt paranormal. That’s still my main area I’m lazy and I wanted a branch just they had the right to speak, that you of interest, but I’m very glad to see it’s around the corner, and that’s been can debate these issues. now gone beyond that. going since April 2013. We’ve always Another factor is that a lot of groups So any kind of controversy in had a full house, and one of the nice that have been going a lot longer, like science, be it climate change, anti- things is that it’s pulling in people the British Humanist Association, vaccination, all of those things are who might not normally be going the National Secular Society, various in there too, including discussion to this sort of event. We do get the other groups, you suddenly realise of religion. You look at some of the card-carrying skeptics travelling across that they all have similar viewpoints variety of topics covered at Skeptics in London to come, but we also get my – maybe not identical viewpoints, but the Pub meetings, it’s almost got to the friends and neighbours whom I’ve very similar. So there’s a lot of mutual point with anyone who has anything known for years. They’re really getting support between those groupings. interesting to talk about. We do need enthusiastic about it as well. I think another thing that helped to have a bit more of a focus than that, We also have the QED convention is the fact that there was quite a lot but it’s still good as it’s getting people in Manchester and the Centre for of celebrities who suddenly made it to think for themselves. . Inquiry UK. I organise a speaker series obvious they saw the world in that way at Goldsmiths College where I work. – , Dara Ó Briain, Tim Chris French is Professor of We couldn’t have more skeptical Minchin, , media scientists at Goldsmiths College, University of events on; we couldn’t cope with it. like Brian Cox, Dawkins, the list goes London, head of their Anomalistic on. And having those people who were Psychology Research Unit, and former ACCOUNTING FOR THE EXPLOSION prepared to stand up and nail their editor-in-chief of The Skeptic (UK) I occasionally write a column for the colours to the mast made it not quite magazine. He was interviewed at Guardian science pages online, and so nerdy ... actually, it is still seen as the Skeptics National Convention in the very first one I did for them I nerdy, but nerdy is alright. Canberra, November 2013 8 REPORT Education The Skeptic March 14 School Thinking

Dr Krissy Wilson describes a have students designing a new undergraduate course on study to demonstrate how not to do science with a at Macquarie University prize (additional marks) for the best, ie the worst piece of pseudoscientific worrying trend appears to be twaddle they can dream developing within academia up. The tutorials will be withA more and more universities a mixture of workshop, offering undergraduate courses on 4 small group discussion and alternative therapies and assorted presentations and illustrative pseudoscientific claptrap. Tim video clips. Mendham, for example, reported Above all, this course is going to in The Skeptic (Vol 31:1), that be fun. The scholarship of teaching 19 of Australia’s universities, not only to their academic and learning consistently harps on including some that are ranked studies but to other areas of about the importance of student among the highest in the country everyday life. engagement. I have no doubt that our for academic excellence, were The course will be delivered on students will be engaged in this subject offering undergraduate courses on campus for the first time in the second thanks to course material and delivery acupuncture, naturopathy, and session of the academic year starting style. As someone who knows all too chiropractic. It is a sad indictment in July. This is a 12-week course that well how painful it can be to teach on our tertiary system that the includes a one-hour lecture and a psychology undergraduates the horrors decision to offer such courses is two-hour tutorial session each week. of statistics and research methods, almost certainly financial and In the final week the subject has been this approach should be refreshingly is a reminder to all of us in the left open as it is our intention to have fun and stress free for both tutor and Skeptical community that there a guest speaker each year to come and student. is still much work to be done. speak directly to the students on a The course is primarily intended for However, today I can offer some related subject. Education students but SPED 102 will good news. From a personal point of view it be open to all participating Faculties. Last year Associate Professor Mark has been both academically satisfying This means that students from both Carter, director of the Macquarie and enormous fun putting together a Arts and Science subjects will be able University Special Education Centre course that includes all the stuff that to enrol and so potentially the cohort (MUSEC) employed me to devise myself and others in the field have could be in excess of 500 participants. a new undergraduate unit, Special been banging on about for years. Some All in all we hope that by the end Education 102 (SPED 102), to of the topics include: the nature of of the 12 weeks our students will be called “Why people believe in knowledge, ie where our knowledge appreciate how fortunate they have weird things”. This is essentially a of the world comes from; how our been to enrol in such a unique course. course on the importance of critical cognitive abilities consistently let us They will learn skills and knowledge thinking, demonstrating to students down; the right and wrong way to that will be useful throughout their the difference between science and ‘do’ science; and how self-deception lives as well as give them an advantage pseudoscience that draws on examples is not prejudiced, even the smartest in their academic studies. from education, medicine and the people can be fooled! The lectures will Further details about the course will paranormal. The principle aims are be mostly theoretical with relevant be available on the SOAP website over to make students understand what examples with the tutorial sessions the coming weeks – www.soap.org.au, constitutes ‘good’ from ‘bad’ science, being the time when students can get or contact Dr Krissy Wilson directly to show how we are all susceptible the chance to discuss the topics in for more information. . to unfounded beliefs regardless of more detail with practical workshops. intelligence, education or background, One session, for example, includes and to equip them with critical a whole two-hour workshop on the art thinking skills that they can apply of . Another session will 9 THEM Readers’ indigestible Tim Mendham looks at those ‘other’ publications, where skepticism is a dirty word.

his issue, we look at two versions of the one thing. Well, almost the one Tthing, and actually more than two, but you’ll get the idea. We’re looking at associations in print and online. The difference will astound you, perplex you, thrill you and make you wonder why they do it at all. Read on.

PSYCHICS DIRECTORY We were very excited to see this international cachet to the venture. on the newsagents stands – the Actually, the International International Directory Psychics Association was originally (A$6.95). Sadly, we soon realised the Australian Psychics Association, her visit to Australia; an interview there were a couple of problems founded in 1983, but it was by Simon Turnbull with a visiting with that title – the publication was “upgraded” to the IPA in July 2013. Brazilian “psychic artist” who neither international, nor was it a Apparently it was “originally set up channels dead painters in oils; an directory. as a public information organization, interview by Simon Turnbull with Touted as “The MOST presenting lectures and workshops visiting psychic Kai Muegge. Two comprehensive list of Accredited on a wide variety of psychic-related non-Simon Turnbull pieces are Clairvoyants, Mediums and subjects”. We’re not sure what an interview with a US tarot card Intuitives available ANYWHERE”, it is set up to do now – there is designer and a report on a psychic this is the 2014 Australian edition, no website for the International competition in the Ukraine (the so presumably “ANYWHERE” Psychics Association, just one for the psychic who represented Australia means they’re referring to old APA. The new IPA is associated came third, met his soul mate there ANYWHERE in Australia. It may with the New Age Supastore, which and is now living in Kiev, hopefully very well be the only psychics sells lots of stuff, so maybe that’s peacefully). directory in Australia, so it probably what it is now set up to do: sell lots That’s it for the international doesn’t have a lot of competition. of stuff. Nothing wrong with that; element; now for the Directory. Still, if it is the most comprehensive Australian Skeptics sell stuff too. We’ve always thought directories list of psychics available But you can see our review of the were something like the phone book ANYWHERE in the world – we Supastore’s site in the story to the or a product guide – organised lists wouldn’t know, we haven’t seen them right, and it’s not pretty. Literally, it’s where you could find what you want all – then we can be pretty proud of not pretty. and where, contact details, etc. The the fact. Go us. The IPA is run by Simon IPDAE is not that; it is actually The IPDAE, for short, Turnbull. The Directory is edited by a series of articles on such diverse is “proudly” published by Simon Turnbull. We assume Simon topics as crystals, tarot, angels, the International Psychics also runs the New Age Supastore, energy, orbs, pets, tasseography Association. Maybe that’s why it’s though it’s not stated who owns it. (reading coffee grounds), etc. As for an international directory - it’s Down to brass tacks on The trying to find a specific psychic or published by an international Directory. We have to admit that someone local, forget it. You have to association ... with headquarters there are some international work your way through every article in suburban Sydney, near to the elements – an interview by Simon and advertisement on the off chance airport, which may add some Turnbull with Sally Morgan during of finding what you want. This is

10 The Skeptic March 14

INTERNATIONAL PSYCHICS There seem to be two International well popular psychic and spiritual Psychics Associations. One is the co- consultation sites as well as the phone publisher of the International Psychics based and traditional brick and Directory Australian Edition (see over mortar establishments to compare there on the left) and the other is notes and create a roadmap for the an American-based International future of the industry.” Psychics Association. You can tell by the spelling that it’s The website for the Australian American. not a directory. International Psychics Association The site has lots of links to What comes closest (but not is actually named for the New interesting articles, like how to close) to being a directory is the Age Supastore (http://www. get X-Men superpowers using a list of winners of the new Psychic newagesupastore.com), co-publisher “living laser” beam. One we were Ambassador Awards, handed out at of the Australian Directory. It really excited to read was “Learn the 30th anniversary celebration of “specialises in holistic and new age how to build a UFO anti-gravity the APA. The awards “acknowledge products and services”, including electrogravitic saucer”. Unfortunately, an outstanding group of people psychic readings, tarot readings, the link to this ground-breaking committed to promoting the books, events competitions, and such. technological development was psychic field in a variety of The readings link to Simon Turnbull’s broken, so that particular bit ways over the years”. There’s no professional services, and the events of technology will have to go indication of who the judges are, are largely things he organises. undeveloped. Pity really, as we were or the criteria applied outside of But we do have to say that the really looking forward to finding being outstanding, but top of the Supastore is one of the worst-designed out more about “electrogravitic”, list is the much-deserving Simon sites we have ever seen. With a garish which until now had passed us by. Turnbull. Second on the list is purple background, the items for sale (Apparently it’s an “unconventional Hiromi Mitsuya, who is credited seem to be scattered higgledy-piggledy type of effect or anti-gravity on the magazine’s publisher’s panel across the page. We can only assume propulsion created by an electric as their “accountant”. Now, you you have to be a psychic to divine field’s effect on a mass”. It’s popular could expect to see the editor, the location on the page of what it is in UFO and conspiracy circles, publisher, designer, production you are after. (One thing we did like which say that major aeronautics manager, even ad sales on that in the books-for-sale section is the companies in the 1950s researched it panel, but accountant is not description of Uri Geller as a “mental and suppressed the results. The writer normally one of the people you’d ”. That probably says it all Byron Preiss said it was “much ado list among the creatives producing about the IPA Oz and the New Age about nothing, started by a bunch of a magazine. But Ms Mitsuya has Supastore.) engineers who didn’t know enough another string to her bow, in that The other International Psychics physics”.) she is also Mrs Simon Turnbull. Association has a Facebook page at The reason the link to build If you’re now getting the idea www.facebook.com/ipaorg. This your own saucer is broken may be that the Australian International IPA – let’s call it IPA Other – “is because all of the links of the IPA Psychics Association and the an independent organization, set Other Facebook page are broken. International Psychics Directory up primarily for the purpose of Look not very closely, and you’ll (Australian Edition) is a bit of a creating and maintaining standards notice that none of the items date family affair, then you’re probably and practices around the business of later than July 2011, so we’re going not that far wide of the mark. spiritual counseling. We endeavor to have to assume that IPA Other no And, using our own psychic to lead by example and establish longer exists. powers, we confidently predict that, a benchmark for ethical behavior, Which leaves the field wide open in 2014, the situation will stay that quality control and truth in to the Australian IPA to rule the way ... unless it doesn’t. . advertising. IPA works with several roost. We hope you like purple. .

11 FEATURE Religious Exemption & Health In God we e have written a lot about Trust people who reject science- basedW medicine and turn to complementary/alternative medicine (CAM), but what about people who reject the very idea of medical treatment? Harriet Hall looks at the horrifying results is widely practiced by Christian Scientists, Pentecostalists, of religious ‘shield’ legislation and faith the Church of the First Born, the Followers of Christ, and myriad healing overriding child protection. smaller sects. Many of these believers reject all medical treatment in favour of prayer, anointing with oils, and sometimes exorcisms. Some even deny CONVERSION TO CRUSADER lives. Rather than taking Matthew the reality of illness. When they reject Rita and Doug Swan were Christian to a doctor, they compromised by medical treatment for their children, Scientists who firmly believed that calling in a second Christian Science they may be guilty of negligence disease was an illusion, and that “the practitioner. The practitioner accused and homicide. Until recently, US most dangerous thing they could do Rita of sabotaging her work with religious shield laws have protected was to show lack of fear, and both them from prosecution; but the laws faith in God by relying The Church fought parents believed are changing, as are public attitudes. on medical treatment”. “ that defects in their Freedom of religion has come into (One wonders just at every step, but the own thoughts were conflict with the duty of society to how strong their belief publicity contributed to responsible for protect children. The right to believe was, since when an Matthew’s illness. does not extend to the right to ovarian cyst caused the ongoing decline in Eventually endanger the lives of children. intractable pain, Rita membrship. they called in a A new book by Cameron Stauth, had surgery to remove ” Christian Science In the Name of God: The True Story it.) When their baby ‘nurse’ (trained of the Fight to Save Children from Matthew developed a fever, they paid a in metaphysics, not medicine). She Faith-Healing Homicide, provides the Christian Science practitioner to come did nothing except talk to Rita. chilling details of the struggle. He is to their home and pray over him. Shortly after she left, Matthew began a master storyteller; the book grabs She told them fever was just fear; and having convulsions. The desperate the reader’s attention like a fictional indeed, Matthew recovered. parents found an escape strategy: thriller and is hard to put down. He is At age 16 months, Matthew they would take Matthew to a doctor sympathetic to both the perpetrators developed a fever again and this with the complaint of a broken bone and the prosecutors of religion- time he didn’t improve with the (something the Church allowed to be motivated child abuse, and he makes practitioner’s prayers. The Swans were treated by a doctor), and would not their personalities and their struggles worried but unwilling to reject the mention the fever. He was quickly come alive. lifelong beliefs that made sense of their diagnosed with bacterial meningitis 12 The Skeptic March 14

and a brain abscess. They had waited decline in Church membership. The too long. Despite intravenous Church doesn’t announce membership antibiotics and surgery to relieve numbers, but since 1971 it is pressure on the brain, Matthew died. estimated that the number of Christian That happened in 1977. The Swans Science churches in the US has fallen promptly resigned from the church. from 1800 to 900, and by one estimate They filed a wrongful death lawsuit, they have fewer than 50,000 members but the case was dismissed. Ever since in the entire world. [Other sources God then, Rita Swan has devoted her life to have said 85,000 – Ed] In preventing the deaths of other children As time passed, Swan turned her from faith healing. attention to similar abuses in other She founded the Matthew Project, religious sects. A one-woman tornado, which developed into a foundation she cut a swath across America. She called CHILD (Children’s Healthcare headed a child advocacy organisation, Is a Legal Duty). She exposed case published a quarterly newsletter, wrote the medical journal Pediatrics entitled we after case of child abuse that would articles, became a media presence, “Child Fatalities from Religion- otherwise have gone unnoticed spoke at conferences on child abuse, motivated Medical Neglect”. They Trust and reported outbreaks of polio lobbied and testified in states where documented 172 faith-healing deaths and measles in Christian Science proposed bills would help or hinder over a 20-year period, involving 23 schools and camps. She documented her cause, and even moved to Oregon different sects in 34 states. The true preventable deaths of Christian Science for a time during the campaign to numbers were undoubtedly much children from meningitis, diabetes, pass effective legislation there. She higher, since these cases were collected diphtheria, measles, kidney infection, was eventually instrumental in getting informally rather than systematically septicemia, cancer and appendicitis. religious shield laws changed in several and some deaths are never reported. The Church fought her at every states. In most of these cases the prognosis step, but the surrounding publicity In 1998, pediatrician Seth Asser would have been excellent with only contributed to the ongoing and Rita Swan published an article in medical care. Asser later characterised some of the cases as babies literally being tortured to death. In one case, a mother died in childbirth after the infant’s head had been at the vaginal opening for more than 16 hours. The infant’s corpse was so foul-smelling that it was inconceivable that anyone attending the delivery could not have noticed. In 1988, the American Academy of Pediatrics had called for elimination of religious exemption laws, and in 1983 the federal government had removed religious exemptions from federal mandate; but at the time of the study there were only five states that had no religious exemptions either to civil abuse and neglect charges or criminal charges. INVESTIGATIONS One of the first non-Christian- Science-related deaths Rita discovered was in Indiana. As Stauth tells the story, 4-year-old Natali Joy Mudd was

Above: 18-month-old Alayna Wyland - a neglected enlarging hemangioma almost made her blind. Her parents got 90 days in jail. 0313 FEATURE Religious Exemption & Health

In God we Trust Continued...

found dead by detectives in her own home, with a tumor in her eye that was almost as big as the rest of her head. At the horrific scene, a police sergeant found horizontal trails of blood along the walls of the house. manslaughter if the person responsible The trails matched the height of the was acting on religious beliefs. girl’s head. Natali had apparently been A TV reporter named Mark leaning against the wall as she Hass was told that there had been a dragged herself from room cluster of preventable deaths among to room, blinded, trying six children. the Followers of Christ in Oregon to find a way to One couple City. He looked into it, but there freedom, before the was prosecuted for were no criminal complaints, tumor killed her. letting their sixteen-year- no police investigations, Natali’s parents old daughter die of untreated and the county DA was belonged to the Faith diabetes, but their sentence was uninterested. When his Assembly Church, only two years’ probation and investigation seemed a Pentecostal offshoot. They didn’t community service at a hospital (and to have reached a dead believe in medical care, and they were the hospital didn’t want them). end, someone suggested he not prosecuted because Indiana had In 1997, 20 years after Matthew’s visit the local cemetery. He strict religious shield laws. Two years death, a six-year-old boy in Oregon counted the graves of 78 children. He later, Natali’s five-year-old died from a necrotic bowel due to launched America’s first major series of sister died from an a hernia that could easily have been TV reports on faith-healing abuse on untreated tumor in treated. The pathologist’s first reaction KATU in Portland. her stomach the size of a basketball. was “Not again!”. He and his associate The Faith Assembly Church had compiled evidence of 18 children THE PSYCHOLOGY OF BELIEVERS was responsible for as many as 100 who had died over the last 10 years Even Rita and Doug Swan found it childhood deaths and for a maternal from curable diseases in a Followers of hard to break away from the seductive childbirth mortality rate that was Christ congregation of 1200 people. premise that the power of belief itself 870 times the usual rate. The most That worked out to 26 times the usual could heal, a create-your-own-reality common cause of infant mortality idea that is echoed by Rhonda Byrne death was infant A six-year-old boy rate. And it wasn’t in The Secret and by a host of other mortality in home “ just children: New Age gurus. births; something died from a necrotic followers’ wives were The faith healing sects truly that is now rare in bowel due to a hernia. dying in childbirth believe they are doing the right thing Christian Science at 900 times the when they let their children die; because it now The pathologist’s usual rate. One they accept it as God’s will. Some supports prenatal care reaction: ‘Not again!’. died of a type of believers even refuse to wear seat belts. and hospital births ” infection that hadn’t Their inconsistent behaviour shows attended by doctors. killed anyone in America since 1910. that they tend not to have thought The Faith Tabernacle Church is Nothing could be done about things through very carefully. They a sect that has been responsible for it, because Oregon had one of the hypocritically accept care from eye deaths from exorcisms in several strongest religious shield laws in the doctors and dentists. Adults often countries. One believer strangled country. It protected parents from clandestinely seek medical care for her five-year-old son to death and allegations of religious intolerance both major and minor medical kept his body for several days hoping and gave them the right to withhold problems while children don’t have for his resurrection. One couple in medical care for their children. In fact, that option. In some cases parents saw Pennsylvania lost six children to the shield had just been beefed up: a a doctor for hangnails or mole removal untreated illness, all under the age of new law to increase the punishment for themselves yet refused to take their two. A measles epidemic involving for murder by spousal or child abuse child to a doctor for a fatal illness. 491 people resulted in the deaths of specifically prohibited prosecution for Their beliefs come from groupthink 14 The Skeptic March 14

of murder and sentenced enlarging hemangioma that obstructed to life in prison plus 30 her left eye. She was rescued just in years. time for pediatric ophthalmologists A mother who beat to save her eyesight, and her parents and smothered her child were tried for first-degree criminal was sentenced to life in mistreatment of their child. They prison for first-degree got 90 days in jail and three years’ murder. She gladly probation. accepted her punishment These are tragic cases. No one likes as part of God’s plan. to see children taken away from their The people who parents, and these parents loved their starved a 16-month-old children and truly believed they were to death for failing to doing the right thing. They were say “Amen” and then victims too. absconded with his corpse and social consensus rather than from in a suitcase were sentenced to 50 years PROGRESS IN LEGISLATION reasoned theology or the Bible. Many each for second-degree murder. The first state to repeal a religious of them have not read the Bible; when In Oregon, a test case was needed, shield law was South Dakota. Then a whistle blower did, he was surprised but District Attorneys were reluctant CHILD won a federal lawsuit in to learn how much it differed from to prosecute, and even church Minnesota, arguing that taxpayers what he had been taught. They have members who no longer approved of should not be required to subsidise a supportive, close-knit community their own churches were too frightened Medicare and Medicaid payments and face overwhelming peer pressure. to provide inside information. Finally for Christian Science nursing. If they resort to medical care, they are Patrick Robbins turned whistle blower Unfortunately, Senator Orrin Hatch shunned by everyone they know and after the death of his newborn baby negated their win by getting a new may never see anyone in their family led him to doubt the teachings of the law passed that provided for Medicare again. Church. His assistance led to several payment for “religious non-medical There has never actually been a prosecutions. health care”. CHILD sued again but single extraordinary healing among In 2008, 15-month-old Ava this time they lost. the Followers, only ordinary recoveries Worthington died with a softball-sized In 1999, a compromise bill from common illnesses; but that’s lump on her neck that obstructed her was passed in Oregon eliminating enough to convince them prayer works, breathing and caused pneumonia. religious shields for murder by abuse, if only their belief is strong enough. Investigation of the case was difficult, murder by neglect, first and second Confirmation bias is a powerful because witnesses denied having degree manslaughter, and criminal thing, and when a child dies the death observed any signs that the child was mistreatment. After this, no Followers is considered unavoidable and is in distress. Her parents were the first died of medical neglect for the next attributed to God’s will. An insider said to be tried under a revised 1999 law he thought that if a few Followers were (see below). The jury was punished, the rest would rationalize sympathetic to the parents. that going to doctors was OK after The father was convicted all and would come up with a new of misdemeanour criminal doctrine. He thought most of them mistreatment, but not of would be happy to change if everybody manslaughter; he spent two else did. When courts have ordered months in jail. The mother was blood transfusions for the children found not guilty. of Jehovah’s Witnesses, they have The Beagleys were convicted sometimes seemed more concerned of criminally negligent about what their co-religionists homicide in the death of would think than about the religious their 16-year-old son Neal for implications of the transfusion itself. complications of a congenital Prosecutions have taken place under urinary tract anomaly that “no shield” legislation; the tragic nature could have easily been repaired. They Top: The Schaibles - Their pastor said their of the cases speak for themselves. each served 16 months (consecutively, two children died because of the parents’ Eight-year-old Josef Smith was so one of them was always home to “spiritual lack” beaten to death during an exorcism in care for their other children). Above: The Beagleys, each given 16 months Tennessee. His parents, members of the 18-month-old Alayna Wyland consecutively so one of them was always Remnant Fellowship, were found guilty nearly went blind from an untreated home to care for their other children 15 FEATURE Religious Exemption & Health

In God we Trust probation. for themselves because of their A few months later, when Oregon religious beliefs, but it does not Continued... members of the Church of the First extend to rejecting medical care for Born were accused of negligent children. Society has a duty to override homicide for the death of their son parents’ wishes when necessary to from a treatable condition, they didn’t protect children from harm. It is not five years, and there were major even try to fight, but pleaded guilty. uncommon for the courts to order modifications in the shield laws in They agreed to provide medical care life-saving blood transfusions for several other states. for their other children the children of But the 1999 bill was not enough: it and were sentenced to Jehovah’s Witnesses, had repealed five of the nine religious probation with close Society has a duty or cancer treatment shield exemptions but left four others monitoring. “ against parents’ in place. After five years without a In , to override parents’ wishes. But 30 US death, three more Followers’ children Herbert and Catherine wishes when states still have died in 2008 and 2009. Schaible were put on necessary to protect religious shield In 2011, after extensive lobbying by 10 years’ probation laws, and every Rita Swan and others, Oregon passed after their two-year- children from harm. state but Mississippi a new law to eliminate religious beliefs old died of untreated ” and West Virginia entirely as a legal defence and allow bacterial pneumonia. The terms of allows religious and/or philosophical prosecutors to seek murder charges their probation required them to exemptions for school vaccination against parents who deny their children purchase medical insurance and put requirements. Those laws should be medical care for religious reasons. their other children under the care of a repealed. The Affordable Care Act There are only five other states in the pediatrician. They callously disregarded (“Obamacare”) requires insurance US with no religious exemptions for the terms of probation and their companies to cover “nonmedical” sick and injured children: Hawaii, eight-month-old son died of untreated health care such as prayers by Christian Nebraska, Massachusetts, Maryland, bacterial pneumonia when they failed Science practitioners. That provision and North Carolina. to seek medical care for him. They should be removed. But Oregon law still allows religious were charged with third-degree murder, It has been argued that most of the exemptions for caregivers of dependent involuntary manslaughter, conspiracy, increase in human lifespan was due adults, and it still allows religious and endangerment. They were jailed to advances in hygiene rather than to exemptions for immunisations, and denied bail because the judge advances in medicine. The estimates of metabolic screening (for conditions feared their co-religionists might hide a 26-fold increase in infant mortality like PKU), newborn hearing screening, them in other parts of the country. and a 900-fold increase in maternal vitamin K and prophylactic eye drops They pleaded “no contest.” Their pastor mortality among the untreated for newborns, and bicycle helmets. said the father “knows he has to obey Followers of Christ demonstrate just Ashland, Oregon has the highest God rather than man”. He said the how valuable modern medical care school vaccine exemption rate of any children died because of the parents’ really is. . US city; and in one school in Eugene, “spiritual lack.” 76 per cent of students had rejected Some members of the Followers Note: The newsletter archives of one or more vaccines for religious sect were starting to accept medical CHILD are available free online reasons. The religious exemption for treatment and even wondering what all (childrenshealthcare.org/). They describe bicycle helmets is particularly puzzling: the fuss had been about. many more tragic cases of children who where in the Bible does it say “Thou Reporter Dan Tilkin covered have been harmed or have died from shalt not wear bicycle helmets” or even the Oregon court cases, and he has religion-motivated child abuse and “Thou shalt take no precautions against reported on 10 more dead children of neglect. injury”? I guess the reasoning is that if the Followers of Christ in Idaho, where God wants a child to die from a head religious shield laws are still in place. Reprinted from Science-Based Medicine, injury, we shouldn’t get in His way. Of the marked graves in the Peaceful November 2013 - http://www. The Oregon law is being enforced. Valley Cemetery, more than a quarter sciencebasedmedicine.org/ Later in 2011, Dale and Shannon are children. Sadly, his report ends by Hickman were found guilty of second saying “No significant move to change degree manslaughter in the death of the laws is underway.” their infant son, prematurely born at home with only unqualified midwives CONCLUSION About the author: in attendance. They were sentenced The medical ethics principle of Harriet Hall to six years and three months in jail, autonomy justifies letting competent is a retired physician and followed by three years supervised adults reject lifesaving medical care author of skepdoc.info 16 PUZZLES The Skeptic March 14

ACROSS Brain testers 1. Logical businessman. (6) CRYPTIC CROSSWORD no 21 4. Wasted feathers on the wrong man. (8) 10. Mental power moves senile kites. (11) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11. Express annoyance with an old king. (3) M 12. 9 Voodoo Baron or Identical Princess. (6) 13. A callous nut. (5) 10 11 16. Excited conjurer? (5) O 18. Might be rough with this young lady with the 12 13 14 timely figure. (9) 15 20. Deep confusion about stunned teacher. (9) 21. Queen carries article through everything. (5) 16 17 18 19 22. Cruel vestiges hold traces of naughty fairies. (5) 24. Doomed to madden sadly. (6) 20 21 27. Zoo education days start on the 26th. (3) 28. So magic isn’t an uncertain belief. (11) 29. Spy a real mess to freeze you. (8) 22 23 24 25 30. Chapeaux exist for renewable energy targets. (6) I 29 26 27 28 DOWN 1. When Catherine has part of a poem, you know it 29 30 can’t be good. (11) E 2. It’s a monster! Head for the lunar excursion module!

Tim Mendham + Steve Roberts (5) 3. Piracy is forbidden - really! (2,7) DR BOB’S QUIZ 5. (all from and Their Mathematical Secrets by Simon Singh) Organisations where tint is thrown at tradies’ cars. (10) 1. What is the volume of a pizza, of thickness A and radius Z? 6. Least version of an inventor. (5) 2. In the opening titles of The Simpsons, the baby gets checked out 7. The spa too agitated for a manipulator. (9) along with the food items at the supermarket; the register rings 8. Crazy to throw up most of the tuna. (3) up $847.63 - why that amount? 9. And back for some genetic material. (1-1-1) 14. 3. Using a calculator, verify that 398712 + 436512 = 447212. (Raise One American prosecutor who gets stuck into crazy the sum to the power of 1/12, and you should get 4472.) But you quack remedies from a crackpot seer. (11) have just contradicted Fermat’s Last Theorem! (a) Explain. (b) 15. The eighth snob to claim connection to your Throw the calculator away and look a bit harder at the numbers kneebones. (10) 3987, 4365 and 4472 - can you suddenly see why the addition 17. can’t be right after all? When broken, divine rod lacks distinction. (2,7) 19. Weapon inserted in cordial. (9) 4. A Simpsons’ playground rhyme goes “Cross my heart 23. Delay the horse home. (5) and hope to die / Here’s the digits that make pi / 25. I am in the middle, physiognomically speaking. 3.1415926535897932384...” Why does the camera then pan away? And it’s loud! (5) 26. Basic interrogation of a small king. (3) 5. Simon Singh prefers line 3 of this rhyme to be 27. Do up and get out! (3) “3.1103755242102643021...”. Explain, with especial reference to the traditional mutation of anthropomorphic attributes in animated iconography.

Answers on page 62 0317 FEATURE Religious Exemption Bending

PeterThe Bowditch looks at conscientious objection, and objection to conscience. Rules

orty-five years ago Australia was (and you had to have a serious medical minister himself. His application for F participating in a war in Vietnam. problem), full-time university study conscientious objection was denied Because the volunteer Army wasn’t big (in a time of expensive university fees, and he spent two years in prison. His enough, conscription was used to build the default option for the sons of the two brothers followed him shortly up the numbers. On their twentieth wealthy), and conscientious objection. afterwards. Because he had chosen birthday (a year before becoming To gain exemption on conscientious conscientious objection as his response eligible to vote) young men had to grounds you had to argue your case to the call-up he could not use his register. Every three months a ballot of before a magistrate, and you had to status as a full-time student as a birthdays in that quarter was held and prove that you were an active member fallback position, so his studies had to men whose birthdays came out of the of a religious faith group that opposed be put on hold until he was released. barrel could look forward to two years war in all its forms. I was opposed The reason that his application was in uniform. If you missed out you were to our involvement in the war and rejected was that he had been in the “deferred”, not “absolved”, and on at to conscription but I couldn’t claim cadets at high school, something that least one occasion the total number conscientious objection because I was as close to compulsory as any non- of men registered in a quarter was less wasn’t a churchgoer and in any case I curricular activity could be, and this than the Army needed, so people who had no objection to war in the abstract, was seen by the magistrate as being had been previously deferred were just to this particular instance. inconsistent with claims of pacifism. give two weeks to get their affairs in You might think that appearing order and get themselves down to the in court with a letter from your RELIGIOUS OBJECTION induction centre. minister, priest or pastor would be Fast forward a few decades and If someone was called up there all you would need, but you would conscientious objection is back in the were three legal ways to avoid doing be wrong. Your entire life could be news, not against military service but the two years’ service. (Hiding in examined for consistency with your against having children vaccinated. Australia or another country was pacifist claims. A friend of mine was Legislation across the various possible, but not legal. Not turning the son of a Methodist minister, and states of Australia has recently made up triggered an automatic two-year the Methodists were at the forefront it mandatory for vaccination status gaol term, suspended until you were of the anti-war movement. He wasn’t to be declared before children can be located.) These ways to avoid service just any old parishioner either – he was accepted into childcare centres and were rejection on medical grounds studying full time to be a Methodist some schools. Unvaccinated children 18 The Skeptic March 14

they come in contact with who might Center advises that Christian not be fully immunised for a variety Science is an organisation “whose of reasons (too young, immune- written tenets include prohibition of compromised, medical exemptions, invasive medical procedures such as etc). vaccination”, but bending the truth is I would also not have a problem what these people do. with conscientious objection if the One claim that surfaces regularly Bending rules now were the same as they were is that Catholics should not use in 1969 – the objector has to support vaccines because the ingredients their objection in a court by reference include parts of aborted foetuses (a to their religious affiliation and lie – some vaccines use a cell line in commitment. But now all someone has manufacture that is derived from a to do is claim that their religion forbids foetus legally aborted in the 1960s). vaccination and get a compliant doctor In the early 2000s the Vatican was to sign the form. Many doctors are asked to rule on this, and after refusing to sign conscientious objection long consideration (a knee-jerk was forms because the religious evidence is expected) they published a statement not made available to them. which allowed Catholics to use these vaccines and which contained one of ANTI-VAX BELIEF the best exhortations to vaccination So which recognised religious I have ever seen: “morally justified Rules groups in Australia are opposed to … due to the necessity to provide for vaccination? It might be surprising, the good of one’s children and of the but the answer is “None of them”. The people who come in contact with the obvious candidates would be Jehovah’s children”. Witnesses and Christian Scientists. Vaccination isn’t just to protect the The Watchtower Society opposed vaccinated, it’s to protect everyone. vaccination in its early years, but The soon to be renamed Australian can only be admitted if they have in 1952 published the following [anti]Vaccination Network reported a legitimate reason for not being statement on the matter: “The matter the Vatican’s statement using the vaccinated. Medical reasons are of vaccination is one for the individual headline “Vatican says, ‘Parents must obviously acceptable, as some children that has to face it to decide for himself. oppose vaccines from human foetal can have allergies to vaccine ingredients ... And our Society cannot afford to be remains’.” Bending the truth. (such as egg in flu vaccines) or have drawn into the affair legally or take the Attempts have been made to suffered reactions in responsibility for the create fake religions which have no the past that cause way the case turns dogma except opposition to vaccines, their doctors to How can you claim out.” but even the most rabid opponent recommend caution. “ So, joining the of vaccines should be embarrassed The other reason religious objection to Witnesses doesn’t by that. If they can experience is conscientious vaccination in Australia? get you out of embarrassment and shame, of course, objection. Again, vaccinating your which is itself problematical. as for objection to It’s simple. You can’t, children. So how can you legitimately claim fighting in a war, the unless you lie, and most What about religious or conscientious objection to objector is supposed religions forbid that . Christian Science? vaccination in Australia? It’s simple. to base their objection ” “Christian You can’t, unless you lie, on religious grounds. Scientists prefer and most religions forbid that ... The parent gets a not to use doctors, while simultaneously allowing form signed by a doctor stating their medicine, or immunisations. vaccination. . objection and this form has the same Christian Science Practitioners are weight as a medical exemption. used to help people through the false I should state at this point that I reality of illness.” have no problem with sincerely-held So, like the Witnesses, the use About the author: religious beliefs, no matter how silly of vaccines is not forbidden but is Peter Bowditch is a past they might appear, unless those beliefs left up to the individual. This again president of Australian cause harm to others. Not vaccinating does not validate the claim that the Skeptics Inc. and a children exposes not only those religion forbids vaccination. The US- self-confessed (and children to harm but also the children based National Vaccine Information titled) ratbag. 19 FEATURE Religious Exemption & Health States of Exemption he US situation re legislated Tim Mendham reports on the status of Australian Texemptions to health treatment (or leniency in the case of legal cases federal and state policy on religious exemption in against poor child treatment) varies dramatically from state to state, ranging health, assuming they have any. from complete lack of exemption to an apparent anything goes attitude. In vaccination under the National immunisation, or if the parents or Australia, there is generally a much less Immunisation Program should not take guardians are reluctant to vaccinate on lenient attitude to religious freedom in place”. This exemption can only be religious or other grounds. this area. Though there are exceptions ... claimed following a consultation with The over-riding impression of these presumably. a health provider who has a Medicare acts is that your children have to be Vaccination is ‘mandatory’ in provider/Australian Childhood immunised, unless they don’t. Australia for many situations – eg some Immunisation Register number, and While medical conditions payments from the Federal Department relevant forms completed by both that preclude vaccination are of Human Services, such as the Family parties. understandable, exemptions based on Tax Benefit Part A supplement, Child In NSW, the state government philosophical, religious or “medical Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate, recently passed the Public Health belief” are easily abused. can only be paid for children who have Amendment (Vaccination of Children The ‘Church of Conscious Living’, been immunised. Attending Child Care Facilities) Bill touted by Meryl Dorey and the However, there are “approved 2013. This states that, as of January Australian [anti]Vaccination Network to immunisation exemptions” based 1, 2014, a child cannot be enrolled at its members, has, as one of the “Earth’s on medical contraindications and a childcare facility unless the parent Sacred Laws”, the “rejection of orthodox “philosophical, religious or medical or guardian provides an official vaccination, for both adults, children belief involving a conviction that immunisation record proving the child and animals”. (Another Sacred Law is is fully immunised. “What you think creates your reality”, Again, however, there are exemptions indicating a tenuous grasp of that based on medical contraindication concept.) to vaccination, or the child is on a That the Church is set up purely to recognised catch-up schedule for claim exemption is obvious from the group’s website, Exemptions to vaccination which contains “ no information based on philosophical, apart from the religious or ‘medical belief’ vague sacred laws, some are easily abused.” equally inane statements about the premise for the church, and an application form to join. The requirements of membership are filling in an application form and supplying an email address. (Membership for an individual or family includes “a certificate, copy of the sacred laws, church cards, a bi-annual newsletter and invitation to the gathering of members”. Despite a field for it, there are no newsletters on the site.) 20 The Skeptic March 14 States of Exemption

It is groups such as this that make a issued December 6, 2013). dismantled and placed within the mockery of the exemption provisions in This says that “Clause 63 of the grave prior to commencement of the various health legislations. Public Health Regulation 2012 provides backfilling. If a re-usable coffin is that unless otherwise approved by the used, at the completion of the burial STATE EXEMPTIONS Director-General of Health the body of the re-usable coffin is to be steam With this in mind, we approached the a deceased person must not be buried cleaned and disinfected. health departments of Australian state or cremated unless their body had been • The name plate on coffin is to be governments* with a query re “the placed in a coffin and the lid of the removed and placed near the body in current state of formal exemption in coffin securely sealed. the grave health treatment on religious/cultural “In some communities or religious • the body of a deceased person who is grounds”. groups, religious beliefs are such that known or is reasonably believed to be As can be seen, most states did not the body of a deceased person needs to infected with a prescribed infection supply any information. There was no be wrapped in a shroud and placed in disease must be buried in a coffin for indication if this was due to lack of direct contact with the earth without health reasons a policy in this area, lack of available the use of a coffin.” • the body must be prepared in a information, or an unwillingness to While exemption on those latter registered mortuary supply information. In any case, a grounds is allowed after specific formal total lack of response does presumably application, there are some provisos: QUEENSLAND indicate that the various health • The cemetery authority has agreed No response. departments (or their media units) are to carry out the burial of a body that either less than enthusiastic to deal with has not been placed in a coffin, in SOUTH AUSTRALIA this issue, or don’t particularly want to particular the handling of bodies on “There are no formal exemptions on talk to the Skeptics, or both. cemetery grounds religious/cultural grounds from legal • the body mist be wrapped in at least requirements regarding health matters in NEW SOUTH WALES four layers of cotton/linen sheeting South Australia. The Consent to Medical No response. “which is able to prevent the leakage Treatment and Palliative Care Act 1995 There is, however, a policy on of any body exudates or substances” provides the legal basis for the provision “Burials – Exemptions from Public • the body must be contained in a of medical treatment in South Australia. Health Regulations 2012 for coffin until the body is placed into a A person over the age of 16 is able to Community and Religious Reasons” grave consent to, or refuse consent to medical (document number PD2013_048, • a non-reusable coffin is to be treatment, including in advance. 0321 FEATURE Religious Exemption & Health

States of a deleterious impact on the child it cannot or will not supply the may become a child protection matter information. Exemption depending on the circumstances of the We have an open invitation to those particular case. states which did not or could not Continued... “In regard to immunisation, under provide information to change that the provisions of the Immunise view. . Australia Program, parents are able to apply for exemption as a conscientious “If emergency medical treatment is objector on a number of grounds *For the record, we did not approach required and the person is incapable of including religion. This is a national the Tasmanian state authorities, as consenting and the medical practitioner program. that state was heading into an election is aware that the person has previously “No formal exemptions apply and government departments are refused the specific treatment, the regarding burial and cremation. unable to comment on policy during treatment cannot be given. These “While there are no formal the election period. We did approach requirements apply to all members of exemptions on religious or cultural South Australia, as an election had the community; there are no provisions grounds, the general policy of SA not been called at that stage. Despite which specify exemptions or exceptions Health is that health services will the imminent approach of the election on the basis of religion or culture. be provided in a culturally sensitive there, the SA Department of Health “In the case of children (ie person manner.” was nonetheless willing to supply under 16) requiring emergency medical information. In fact, as can be seen, treatment section 13 (5) of the Consent VICTORIA more willing than any other state. to Medical Treatment and Palliative No response. Care Act 1995 specifies that consent to treatment must be sought from the WESTERN AUSTRALIA child’s parent or guardian but that “Unfortunately we are unable to assist the child’s health and well-being are on this occasion.” paramount. If the parent or guardian No response to a follow-up query refuses consent, the treatment may as to whether there are no WA About the author: be administered despite the parent/ regulations or policies on religion- Tim Mendham is guardian’s refusal of consent, if it is in based exemptions, or if the WA executive officer and the best interests of the child’s health Department of Health does not have editor with Australian and well-being. This provision enables the information, or if the department Skeptics Inc. emergency medical treatment to be provided to a child in circumstances where a parent/guardian does not consent and may therefore be used to provide necessary treatment in situations where a parent/guardian may object on religious grounds. “In the case of medical treatment which does not constitute emergency medical treatment, a capable adult can refuse consent to any treatment including in advance. A parent/ guardian may refuse consent on behalf of a child, however a child may consent to their own treatment where it is determined that the child is capable of understanding the nature, consequences and risks of the treatment and the treatment is in the best interest of the child’s health and well-being. This opinion must be supported by a second medical practitioner who has examined the child. If a parent/guardian refused to consent to treatment and the lack of treatment was going to have 22 ARTICLE Epiphany The Skeptic March 14 Birth of a Notion rof Chris French, Dr Karl Top to bottom: Chris French, PKruszelnicki and George Hrab, Dr Karl and George Hrab brought into skepticism by reading, mowing and raining. CHRIS FRENCH, ANOMALY RESEARCHER I can remember that moment quite distinctly. Until going to university I was a believer in the paranormal. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I was a believer in the paranormal. When I was doing my PhD, which was on a completely different subject, neuroscience stuff, someone recommended a particular book, and that was – Science or and he did this four times. I couldn’t Magic, by , the Canadian believe what was going on and at the psychologist. It was reading that book age of eight I realised that we humans that made me realise that there was are basically irrational. another way of thinking about all of these things, and it was one that GEORGE HRAB, SKEPTICAL MUSICIAN appealed to me. There are a few watershed moments I looked in the back and there were a for me. As a young boy – I think I was lot of references to this magazine called seven or eight – my dad had promised , which I’d never heard to take me to see a New York Yankees of, so I started to subscribe to that. And baseball game which, as a kid, that is then I read these books by a guy named just the event of all events. But rain was , like Flim Flam; I was forecast for that day. I was raised as a already quite into Martin Gardner but Catholic, and I remember praying very I hadn’t read Fads and Fallacies. All of vehemently, “Please don’t let it rain. those wonderful classic books. And the Please God, don’t let it rain.” rest, as they say, is history. But then, for some reason, I imagined And now, when I actually know another boy somewhere else who was James Alcock and consider him a friend, going to a family reunion or something I can say to him “You bastard, it’s all equally boring and he was praying that it People Believe Weird Things, that was your fault! You got me into this!” would rain. He had just as valid a reason the first time I saw the term ‘skeptic’. But really, I thank him very much. as I had for or against rain. And I said, “That’s me, that’s cool, there I remember thinking, “How does are people like me who have this self- DR KARL, SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR God decide?” I think that was the first identifying thing, who question things, The first time I began thinking time that I thought that this doesn’t who want proof, who want evidence. skeptically was when I was mowing really make much sense, like, what is And I’m not alone.” . the lawn when I was eight years old. God doing here, what’s going on? The neighbour across the road was also Then, reading Inherit the Wind when I Note: Chris French interviewed at mowing his lawn, and with his rotary was in school, I’d seen the word ‘agnostic’ Canberra convention 2013; Dr Karl mower he kept on running into a piece and that was really exciting: “Ooh, we and George Hrab interviewed at TAM of wire, which would go flying. And he’d don’t know, or we’re not supposed to Australia 2010. These latter and other yell at it and shout at it and he picked it know, or we can’t really know.” TAM 2010 interviews and presentations up and threw it into the long grass ahead And then, finishing college and are featured on the TAM Australia DVD, of him where he hadn’t mowed yet ... reading ’s book, Why available from www.skeptics.com.au/shop 23 ARTICLE Singh & The Law Chiropractors Singed Martin Hadley looks at the aftermath of the Simon Singh defamation case and its impact on UK libel laws.

t was bluebell time in Kent1; April “fundamentalists” were making Simon’s article went on to explain I2008. It was also Chiropractic bizarre claims. concisely why the treatments were Awareness Week and the perfect time • The ritishB Chiropractic Association bogus but the words “happily promotes” for science journalist Simon Singh to (BCA) was helping even the proved to be fateful. The essence of the reveal a few truths about chiropractic extremists. ensuing stoush was that the BCA took treatments. “You might think that modern Simon to be accusing them of deliberate He hoped that his short article chiropractors restrict themselves to dishonesty. Simon said he meant might surprise readers of treating back problems,” the article inadvertence. The Guardian offered the newspaper but few of them could have said, “but in fact they still possess some BCA right of reply but they decided foreseen the distance these ripples quite wacky ideas. The fundamentalists that they wanted a decision from a would travel. By the time it was all over, argue that they can cure anything. And judge, not the readers. Instead of open the public’s view of chiropractors had even the more moderate chiropractors debate, the BCA headed for open court. changed. So had the way chiropractors have ideas above their station. The Years later, their president at that perceived themselves; and the law of British Chiropractic Association claims time, Dr Richard Brown, gave a defamation in England and Wales had that their members can help treat revealing speech to chiropractors in received a few ‘manipulations’2. children with colic, sleeping and feeding Melbourne about that decision4. Simon’s article, entitled “Beware the problems, frequent ear infections, “In a move largely unexpected by Spinal Trap”3 made two key points: asthma and prolonged crying, even many, rather than sue the newspaper, • Chiropractic as practised in Britain though there is not a jot of evidence. the BCA sued Simon Singh personally was not confined to a kind of This organisation is the respectable face for libel. In doing so, the BCA began physiotherapy for back problems. of the chiropractic profession and yet it one of the darkest periods in its At the extremes of the profession, happily promotes bogus treatments.” history, one that was ultimately to 24 The Skeptic March 14

Left: Simon Singh, outside the court and fairly pleased with the result in his favour.

The prospect of damages and a costs order – the loser usually pays – made many plaintiffs’ lawyers happy to take on cases on a no-win-no-pay basis. Those lawyers then did a ton of work to ensure that they did win and get that costs order. The libel tourists got to have a lash in court with no money down while the defendant, usually a broadcaster or newspaper, faced the dilemma of caving in early or spending a fortune on their defence case. Simon’s was not a libel tourism case. The BCA was local and the offending article came from a British newspaper. The relevance of the issue was that libel cost it financially, reputationally and LAW REFORM tourism had pushed defence costs up politically.” Simon’s predicament set off a fusillade so high that they had become a real of complaints about how English libel worry for media defendants, let alone A LEGAL SETBACK laws were chilling scientific debates. an individual journalist like Simon. As with the worthy comedy series Up While Simon announced he was The concerns had prompted research. Pompeii, defamation cases often have appealing the preliminary ruling, On December 1, 2008, the Centre for a lot in “The Prologue”. It is common supporters rallied and formed Sense Socio-Legal Studies at the University to see important preliminary points about Science which launched its Libel of Oxford published a report which fought over, months before the final Reform Campaign. concluded that the costs of defending hearing. Simon’s case involved an early Veteran commentator a defamation case in England were 140 skirmish about whether he had been voiced what many were thinking: “In times the European average. expressing a genuine opinion about the healthcare, disagreements over evidence BCA’s promotion of bogus treatments, happen all the time, but it is wholly THE BOGUS TREATMENTS or stating facts. A lot turned on that. inappropriate to resort to personal After its win on the fact/opinion issue, An opinion can be ranked on a scale attacks or the law courts. To resolve the BCA was in a promising legal between reasonable and unreasonable them we must employ open discussions position. However, they were about to but a factual statement is either true or about the scientific facts. If this process meet the spectre of history, carrying a false. Simon’s team wanted to aim for a is bypassed, we jeopardise free speech sign marked “What Did You Expect?”. defence of fair comment rather than the and medical progress.” Dr Richard recalls: “Using a software more difficult defence of truth. The case had a catalytic effect on package to highlight key words in The ruling on that went against a debate that had been seething over chiropractors’ websites, claims were Simon, leaving his team with some other aspects of the uncovered relating challenging facts to establish at the final libel laws. The English to everything from hearing. It helps to understand their system was accused Disagreements over haemorrhoids to situation if you note how Sydneysiders of encouraging “libel “ hair loss, chlamydia are now mired in controversy about tourists”. These were evidence happen to cancer. A total the mental state of thugs who punch plaintiffs who could all the time, but it is of 718 complaints a person from behind, causing them have sued elsewhere inappropriate to resort were made to the to fall unconscious to the ground. but came to London General Chiropractic When the victim dies, is that murder hoping for handsome to the law courts. Council (GCC) or manslaughter? It is not murder damages. If one copy ” alleging that unless the prosecution proves a kind of of the offending work had been sold chiropractors were misleading the intention on the part of the attacker. in England that was enough to give public and exploiting their lack of Proving a person’s intention is often English courts jurisdiction, regardless of knowledge over health matters.” difficult. Simon’s team pondered what where the text had first been published Dr Richard explained that this kind of intention they could prove on or mostly sold. was 15 times the previous level of the part of the people who ran the BCA, The English legal profession had complaints but that, after a lot of work, in relation to the “bogus treatments”. welcomed these optimistic plaintiffs. 91 per cent were eventually dismissed. 0325 ARTICLE Singh & The Law

Chiropractors potential patients to make informed not have that experience. The BCA choices about the possible use of paid most of Simon’s legal costs but, Singed chiropractic. If so, quite apart from as usually happens, there was an any public interest in issues of legal “unrecoverable” amount. It may not Continued... principle which arise in the present seem fair but every winner faces some proceedings, the questions raised by Dr gap between their bills and the amount Singh, which have a direct resonance that the opposition pays by way of I make that 64 upheld compared to for patients, are unresolved. This would reimbursement. In Simon’s case that gap an historical level of 47 complaints be a surprising consequence of laws came to nearly one hundred thousand being made in total (presumably for a designed to protect reputation. pounds. Part of Simon’s deficiency was comparable period). “By proceeding against Dr Singh, eventually made good by donations, and not The Guardian, and by rejecting including from The Guardian. ON APPEAL the offer made by The Guardian to A winner gets no compensation for The tide turned on 1 April 2010 publish an appropriate article refuting the time they had to spend working when Simon won his appeal on the Dr Singh’s contentions, or putting on the case. It is hard to understand preliminary point. them in a proper prospective, the this burden unless you have been It is worth spending a moment in unhappy impression has been created sued. You have to devote countless the shoes of a law student learning how that this is an endeavour by the BCA to hours to working with your lawyers to interpret judgements. Depending silence one of its critics. Again, if that while maintaining some kind of life on whether it is a lower level court, or is where the current law of defamation under a threat of financial disaster if an appeal, there can be a mix of the takes us, we must apply it.”5 you lose. This stress and lost time goes following: The BCA had lost round two but uncounted, as in warfare where the dead • Findings of fact that are necessary to not the whole case. In brief, they and wounded are tallied but there is no decide that particular case. remained entitled to show firstly that measure of the enduring privations of • Reasoning about how existing law they had been defamed, and secondly the common soldier. applies to those facts. (These first to oppose Simon if he argued a defence The individuals behind the BCA two aspects are vital to the parties in that he had a genuine and reasonable did not have as much personal skin in that case but are basically irrelevant opinion that the BCA had been this game, but the outcome for their to litigants in other matters.) promoting bogus treatments. Instead, organisation was a financial disaster. • Statements about how the law must the BCA “discontinued”, which in From sowing this wind, their harvest be extended or changed in order to plain English means surrendering and was to pay about two hundred thousand resolve the present case. Such “dicta” taking on a liability to pay Simon’s pounds towards Simon’s legal costs plus will bind or influence judges in reasonable legal costs. Plus the BCA all of their own. future. had to pay their own. This occurred • Additional statements of important during another Chiropractic Awareness CHANGES TO DEFAMATION LAW principle – “obiter dicta” - not Week, almost exactly two years after The protection of reputations is strictly necessary to resolve the Simon’s article had gone to press. important, but it was time for the law present case, but intended to assist How do we view the outcome, to put serious commentators like Simon lawyers in future. The enduring nearly four more years later? in a better position. The Libel Reform significance of obiter dicta depends Campaign called for: upon the context and the eminence THE BURDEN OF LITIGATION • A public interest defence; of the judge(s). Voltaire said he was financially ruined • Allowing corporations to sue only Sometimes the obiter comes from twice in his life: a court that is not high enough to once when he change the law, however the Judge lost a lawsuit, firmly believes the law is wrong and and another that either Parliament or a higher court time when he should change it. was the winner. In Simon’s case, the three Justices of The usual reason Appeal made that kind of statement. why winners They were giving Simon a win on his find that they preliminary point but they did not are not grinners want to see a repeat of a similar exercise is that the loser in future: has already “This litigation has almost certainly gone broke. had a chilling effect on public debate Fortunately which might otherwise have assisted Simon did 26 The Skeptic March 14

if the writer had been reckless or chiropractor?’ Now they’d be a lot more malicious; wary of doing that, knowing that there • Modernisation of the law of are lots of odd claims associated with About the author: republication, due to the way content chiropractic. Martin Hadley is a barrister gets reposted around the internet. “The complaints procedure that was and treasurer of Australian • Simplification of existing defences, used by the bloggers and skeptics in the Skeptics Inc and the including fair comment, to make UK had a massive effect on the number Australian Skeptics Science & them more accessible to deserving of non-evidence based claims from Education Foundation defendants. chiropractors.” A Defamation Bill containing proposed reforms was read on 26 CONSEQUENCES FOR CHIROPRACTORS REFERENCES May 2010.6 As with any law that We do not know what fee agreement 1. An expression used by Lord Denning in balances competing interests, there is the BCA made with its lawyers or what the decision of Hinz v Berry [1970] 2 QB no right answer and debate ensued.7 advice they received about the damages 40, a case about an accident on 19 April To cut a long story short, reform of the they were likely to recover. It is safe to 1964. defamation law nearly got sidetracked infer that they perceived some risk that 2. Courts in the UK operate under three into the wider ethical issues raised by even victory would not be cash flow systems: one for England and Wales; the Leveson Inquiry – positive, but another for Scotland and a third for an example of trying their reputations Northern Ireland. Legal references in to achieve too many “ Because they sued would be this article are to England and Wales. good things at once. and the case went on for vindicated. The 3. Available at: http://tinyurl.com/ The new resulting mixture k6wwqbd defamation legislation two years, so many people of legal expenses 4. The Chiropractic Report November 2011. became effective on 1 became aware of the article and bad publicity Text available in full at: http://tinyurl. January 2014. Time and the issues at stake. must have com/7mnhkds will tell but it appears ” come as a nasty 5. [2010] EWCA Civ 350 to make a number of surprise. The 6. Explanatory Notes at: http://tinyurl.com/ useful changes. The balance has been work of people like Simon showed the mmd2bkz adjusted in favour of freer speech and public that chiropractors came in many 7. See for example the reaction from Sense libel tourism is less attractive.8 shapes and sizes. “Bogus” was a fair about Science, including Simon’s view: I spoke with Simon when he visited description of some of their ‘treatments’. http://tinyurl.com/k92vmvp Sydney in January 2014. We are starting to see increasing 8. Parliament’s website states that the new “From my point of view it was most division among chiropractors in Act: enlightening to see the toing and froing Australia. The more conventional • Includes a requirement for claimants and I think at the end of the day it is a practitioners do not want to be classed to show that they have suffered great example of how parliament can alongside those who take risks with serious harm before suing for work and how citizens can change the babies’ necks or who make extravagant defamation system.” claims on their websites. In his speech, • Removes the current presumption in The case took from Simon the the chiropractor Dr Richard Brown favour of a jury trial equivalent of a year’s working time but divided his colleagues into “scientists • Introduces a defence of “responsible he is admirably magnanimous. and subluxationists”. I’ll let him publication on matters of public “Had they not done anything, conclude: interest” nobody would have noticed my article “Claims that the vertebral • Provides increased protection to – tomorrow’s fish and chips wrapping – subluxation complex is the cause operators of websites that host user- literally nobody would have cared. But of illness and disease have persisted generated content, providing they because they sued and the case went on despite the three UK educational comply with the procedure to enable for two years, so many people became establishments advising the General the complainant to resolve disputes aware of the article and the issues at Chiropractic Council that no evidence directly with the author of the material stake. It worked at several levels. One, of acceptable quality exists to support concerned it forced chiropractors to look at their such claims. ... The idea that somehow • Introduces new statutory defences own practice and their regulatory bodies achieving a subluxation-free world of truth and honest opinion to and what they should be doing. Two, it will be the panacea for all ills has to be replace the common law defences of made people like doctors aware of what publicly debunked. Moreover, cheap justification, and fair comment. chiropractors do. Before, if a patient public denouncements of standard was coming to them with a long term medical care whilst at the same time difficult back problem they might say: lauding the near-magical effects of the The reaction from the press was ‘Look, why don’t you consider seeing a spinal adjustment must stop.” . favourable, eg: http://tinyurl.com/odnw4jy 27 ARTICLE Singh & Maths The NUM8ER5

hat should we teach to children? W It is surely better to teach scientific method than to merely impart racket scientific facts. Industry has long been crying out for graduates with lively and inquisitive minds, who can pick up and run with ideas, rather than those who have absorbed only facts, which will be Steve Roberts pulls out his largely irrelevant in the real world. And, calculator and checks on since kids spend more time watching TV than attending school, the TV Simon Singh’s pick of the programs ought to bang some education into them, or at least a sense of curiosity. programs on the telly. School should be more fun anyway. I know a fellow Skeptic, a physics teacher who teaches inertia by lying flat with a Besser block on his chest. So far, so inertial, but then the Besser block is smashed with a sledgehammer; concrete and dust fly everywhere and he emerges unscathed. Those kids will never forget that physics lesson. (The hammer is mathematicians, whose not wielded by a student - “sorry Sir I minds tend towards silly and missed”, arghh. Instead, his wife enters illogical jokes; but there is no the room, the students respectfully guarantee that a joke exists for a stand up, wife smiles cutely, students given situation. sit down again, then the wife ruins the Simon Singh points out some of the dignity of the occasion by wielding the hidden mathematical gems in these TV sledgehammer, like mighty Thor. I bet shows in his book The Simpsons and she enjoys that.) Their Mathematical Secrets and expands We celebrate our great novelists, upon them in a readable and amusing painters and musicians, so why not our fashion. mathematicians? Maybe it is because He spoke on the book at recent scientists fear and dislike mathematics, events in Sydney and Melbourne, and where everything is perfect - every line my review also covers a talk he gave at you write, every theorem you prove is Embiggen Books (including the above perfect and correct. The rest of science, concealed nuggets). Clockwise: Spotting the secret maths in The even if it is the best we can do, is fuzzy Everyone watches The Simpsons, Simpsons is not as simple as spotting the bear and imperfect, like the real world. but few see the maths jokes because on a pack of Toblerone (and why not delete the But there are gold nuggets in the mud they tend to be hidden in freeze-frame “tolo”) or finding the appropriate arrow in the of reality: the bear in the Toblerone gags: the bait is on the TV screen for FedEx logo. (+ Simon gets the Groening touch.) symbol; the arrow in Fedex (more less than one second, so you have to obvious in the Arabic version); Easter rewind and pause a recording to see it eggs in every computer game. in detail, then curiosity leads to a rich On television, the animated TV intellectual reward. These jokes increase series The Simpsonsand Futurama the comedic (and nerdic) density, are the best sources of mathematical without interacting with the plot. In education, believe it or not. The writers his book, despite his background in of these shows include highly qualified an incomprehensible field (particle 28 The Skeptic March 14

physics), Simon clearly explains the sized pancakes into order, using a jokes and then delves deeper into the spatula that can be pushed anywhere the Logical Place maths involved, in an entertaining and into the stack to flip over the sub-stack highly readable style: the Klein Bottle, of pancakes above it (for extra fun, the pi, taxicab and Erdos numbers, etc. pancakes can be burnt on one side, The Gambler’s Fallacy For example, can cinema names which must end up facing downwards). he Gambler’s Fallacy (also known be funny? In The Simpsons,the local For 19 pancakes, you need at most Tas the Monte Carlo Fallacy) is the multiscreen cinema is called the 20 flips; for 22 pancakes, nobody has mistaken belief that if an event happens “Googolplex”, a number that not even any idea, not even Bill Gates, who more frequently than normal during a homeopath would understand. And published on this problem in his youth, some period, then it will happen less a thousand years hence, the Futurama his only mathematical paper. frequently in the future (the so-called cinemas have the embiggened moniker The book contains several exams Law of Averages). The fallacy is most “Aleph-Null”. These names don’t of increasing difficulty; bizarrely, both strongly associated with gambling, interrupt the plot, so they can flash by question and answer are given, and where such errors of reasoning are on the screen and there is no need to you score points if you can laugh at common amongst players, and even draw attention to them. They are left them. Examples: Why did 6 fear 7? more common among problem hanging - high-hanging fruit, as it were Because 7 8 9. What goes “pieces of 7, gamblers. - for people to find, reach up to and pieces of 7”? A Parroty Error. What is The most notorious example of this pick. And anyone can appreciate the brown and furry, runs into the sea and fallacy occurred in a Monte Carlo Casino humour. This book opens the way for is equivalent to the axiom of choice? on August 18, 1913. On this occasion, any reader to savour these delicacies. Zorn’s Lemming. black came up a record twenty-six Another example, from the dozens You should rush out and buy times in succession on a roulette wheel. in the book: A plot requires three this book, and while you’re at it, There was a frenzied rush to bet on red, numbers to be displayed on screen; buy Simon’s other books (Fermat’s beginning about the time black had any high 4-digit numbers will do, and Last Theorem, The Code Book, Trick come up a phenomenal fifteen times. we see 8128, 8191, and 8208. Why or Treatment, Big Bang) which are Players doubled and tripled their stakes, choose those? Well, why not. But as it equally readable and equally brilliant at the fallacy leading them to believe after black came up the twentieth time that happens, 8128 is a ‘perfect’ number, explaining their topics. there was not a chance in a million of 8191 is a Mersenne prime, and 8208 is Finally, the book has a beautiful gem another repeat. In the end, the unusual ‘narcissistic’ because having four digits just for the delectation of Skeptics. run enriched the Casino by some millions it is the sum of the fourth powers of its Homer invents a device to relieve back of francs. digits. pain “even though there is not a jot of The reality is that if the roulette And here’s one for you to work out - evidence” to support his claim. The wheel at the Casino was fair, then in a horror story parodying The Shining, local chiropractors want to destroy this the probability of the ball landing on the binary number 0101100101 is rival device, so that they can “happily black was a little less than one-half on written on the wall in blood. This is promote their own bogus treatments”. any given turn of the wheel. Also, the decimal 357, a rather dull number, Hmmmm, let’s see if the chiropractors colours that come up are statistically until it is seen reflected in a mirror. of Springfield take legal action against independent of one another, thus no But not all numbers in The Simpsons Simon, a hero of free speech and critical matter how many times the ball has have mathematical relevance. For thinking. . fallen on black, the probability is still example, the writers admit that the same at every turn of the wheel. the Simpsons’ house number - 742 Disclaimer: Please look up any (Remember that neither the roulette Evergreen Terrace - is “just a number” unexplained terms, and thereby wheel nor the ball has a memory). (even if it is the smallest number that is experience the joy of finding things out, Almost every so-called gambling 1 more than triple its reverse). as well as the elegance and beauty of system is based on this fallacy, or a One writer, with a Harvard PhD in mathematics (well, of some of it). similar error of reasoning. Any gambler applied maths, proved the “Futurama who thinks that he can record the results Theorem” to resolve a plot twist: a of a fair roulette wheel, or lotto numbers machine exchanges any two people’s or a gaming machine, and use this minds, but then it cannot swap the information to predict future outcomes, is probably committing some form of the same two people again. How many About the author: gambler’s fallacy. fresh people must be brought in to Dr Steve Roberts restore all the minds to their proper graduated from Imperial - by Tim Harding bodies? (The answer is two.) Another College London 15 years writer and Harvard graduate has before Simon Singh did, published on the pancake sorting but has not gotten around problem - to sort a stack of different- to writing any books at all. 0329 ARTICLE Activism Taking it to the ‘ ’

Amanda Devaus edons her khaki outfit and heads for the skeptical front.

am tremendously proud to be an nothing wrong with this, but we have extensive media coverage. We need to I Australian Skeptic, because if you a tremendous opportunity to use our match their exposure with our own, to ask anyone you will most likely be told skills, knowledge and contacts to make be there to give the counterpoints. that as Australians we like to get things a difference. done. And we have had some successes, And we are just not doing enough. CAMPAIGNS especially to do with the anti-vaccina- We need to become more of a As part of being a guerilla skeptic, tion crowd and chiropractic practice. movement, not just a community, we can organise campaigns that have However, I also believe that we can do and not just within Australia, but the aim of creating change. Some more. And this was the topic of my to connect internationally so we can campaigns may be short and have talk at the Australian Skeptics National truly kick up some skeptical dust. a specific time frame, and there are Convention in November 2013. We also need to provide information others that are more long term, for I felt privileged to present to people to decision makers, connect with example the ongoing campaign whom I respect and admire, especially government departments and to stop anti vaccination about ‘guerilla skeptics’, a topic that I start campaigns through groups spreading am very passionate about. My mission government channels, misinformation. Every was simple – to promote skeptical the legal system as well campaign should have activism and inspire others to get as public campaigns. a goal, objectives, target involved. The “woo” crowd – the audience and tactics. We are a wonderful community; psychics, the charlatans, Anti-vaccination however we tend to stay within the ‘healers’ – are out groups are an excellent traditional avenues of expression - there in the public, they example of this. skeptics in the pub, conventions and are writing books, setting Australian Skeptics and our own internet forums. There is up expos, getting themselves the Stop the Australian (Anti) 30 The Skeptic March 14

Web Of Trust Vaccination (SAVN) network had Gerbic and , the goal of educating the public on and now I want to keep the Web of Trust (WOT one fact, “vaccination saves lives”. word out there. - www.mywot.com/) The campaign was not to personally is one of the most malign an individual, but to counter Skeptic Action important tools for the harmful propaganda that anti- The Skeptic Action group skeptical activism. It Taking vaccination groups throw out into (skepticaction.blogspot. is simple to use, and the community, and to give real com.au/), with the motto once you sign up and information. The objective may “An action a day keeps the obtain a user name, you include things like media coverage pseudoscience at bay”, was will have the ability to rate with the target audience being the founded by , and any website that you visit. general public. you are able to follow Upwards of 120 Organised skeptical activism it on Twitter, Google million people becomes more effective with the + and Facebook. Once “ Organised skeptical have downloaded involvement of many people with you join, a task will activism becomes the tool, a strong ’ their own specialties and contacts in be posted each day more effective with the indication of the the community. These people should with a request to go to reach of WOT. represent diverse skills sets as well as a the link provided and involvement of people The person shared passion to get the information rate, comment and with specialties. this is aimed out to where it needs to go. There is a review as you deem ” at is someone broad range of tactics available, and it appropriate. The tools who isn’t fully Amanda Devaus is vital to ensure the most appropriate used are mainly WOT (Web of Trust), knowledgeable on topics – those who dons her khaki outfit tactic is implemented for the issue Rbutr and Fishbarrel. It is important to Google and look up subjects on search being addressed. This can be either stress the following: engines, without understanding how and heads for the attracting media attention, good • You do not have to vote if you are truthful or trustworthy webpages can old fashioned email/letter writing not comfortable be. skeptical front. campaigns, or using the internet. • Please take the time to read the WOT displays a coloured ‘traffic The media are also an extremely website you are presented with light’ next to website links to show powerful tool in the skeptical toolbox. • You are not obliged to vote in which sites people trust for safe By developing relationships with every category searching, surfing and shopping various media outlets, it becomes • And we do not tell you how to online: green for good; red for bad; a little easier to be able to get your vote. and yellow as a warning to be cautious. message out to the community. The icons are shown in popular search Two tips on dealing with the media: Do Not Link! engine results, social media, online • Make it personal – the media Skeptics need to be mindful of linking email, shortened URLs, and many aren’t just about the information, to bad information that we want to act other sites. but a way to attract attention. on. Search engines like Google use the When a ‘layperson’ looks up these It is important to inform as number of links to a site to measure sites, they will see the ratings and the well as engage so your story the importance of content. comments that are left. When the red can resonate. By bringing up a As the site Do Not Link (www. dots come up, a warning will show. specific case study, this makes it donotlink.com/) points out, when you personal and has an emotional link to a website — regardless of the Rbutr connection to the audience. reason — this strengthens its position rbutr (rbutr.com/) is an excellent tool, • Make it a real story – a in search engines. This means that a much embraced within the skeptical good story has a simple, bad review of a website makes it more activism community. straightforward narrative that popular. rbutr tells you when the webpage conveys your message and key If you are going to link to websites you are viewing has been disputed, points. You need to make sure in Facebook, Twitter or other social rebutted or contradicted elsewhere on your message is clear and easy to media platforms, it is almost a the internet. It is a community-driven remember. necessity to get into the habit of using app which connects webpages together the DoNotLink tool. It uses three on the basis that one page argues FROM THE HOME FRONT different ways to block search engines against the other. Visit a ‘rbutd’ page The focus of my convention from crawling a link, so you are able and you will be told “There are rbutls presentation was the skeptical tools to post your link on forums, message to this page.” You can then open up that can be used from your own home boards, reddit and other public places the rebutting article(s). in order to be a skeptical activist. My without giving the websites any The rebuttals are posted by the inspiration was , Susan undeserved credibility. community, using a small logo on 31 ARTICLE Activism

Taking it to hundreds of complaints to Trading spokespeople, providing noteworthy Standards and the chiropractors’ own and correct citations and removing the ‘e’ Continued... regulator. This resulted in many online unsourced claims from paranormal claims being retracted. and pseudoscientific pages. Contrary FishBarrel also tracks all text to the current claims, this is not about the subject webpage to indicate that complained about in a central vandalism or furthering a skeptic there are other sites or pages that database. When you turn on agenda. put a different position to that being FishBarrel, any text complained Wikipedia has increasingly become presented on the initial site. about by other users is automatically the ‘go to’ source of information for Install rbutr and it will sit in the highlighted. This prevents you from the general public, and is often at the corner of your browser, out of the submitting duplicate complaints. It top of search engine results. It is for way, waiting for you to browse your also automatically revisits websites to this reason that it has become more way on to one of the thousands of important than ever to ensure the websites in the rbutr system which content is correct, fair and balanced. have been linked to rebuttals. When The GSoW team is dedicated to you visit one of these rebutted pages following the rules of Wikipedia and – whether you got there by a friends to have the content and sources correct recommendation, a Google search, or and to have science featured in place of any other way – rbutr will pop a small unproven woo. They can find notable alert on the page to let you know, Skeptics who have published in and indicate how many rebuttals are secondary sources about the subject of connected to the rebutted page with a the page to provide expert opinion that small number on the icon. The rbutr can be used to improve the Wikipedia logo will fade out after a few seconds, page. They also take well-written pages so it is not particularly intrusive. in one language and try to get them Clicking on the rbutr icon will translated into other languages. reveal the list of rebuttals. Any webpage can be rebutted; even the Wikipedia has become WHAT’S THE POINT? rebutting pages can be counter- “ Being a skeptic can be for the value rebutted. the ‘go to’ source of info of the community, the opportunity These rebuttal pages are worth for the general public. It for self-improvement or as a source of reading, and have a tremendous value academic interest. However, we can to those who would not normally see is important to ensure the also be a movement and use our skills, this information. content is correct. knowledge base and contacts to not ” only expose those who commit scams, FishBarrel fraud or misinformation, but to help FishBarrel was initially started in the check if the claims have been removed. people. This is your call to action. We UK to improve the process of making Relatively in its infancy in need to be active and participate, and complaints about medical products Australia, complaints are made to the we need to work together. Once we do, and claims. Normally a long drawn- Therapeutic Goods Administration we can make a difference. . out and complicated process that turns (TGA) and the Australian Consumer off many would-be complainants, and Competition Commission FishBarrel, a plug-in for Google (ACCC). Chrome, takes screen shots of the The plug-in can be pages in question and manages the downloaded from Perry’s blog, complaint process so that it takes just adventuresinnonsense.blogspot.com. About the author: a few seconds. In the UK, complaints au/ Amanda Devaus works in have been made to the Advertising the public sector, Standards Authority or Trading Guerilla Skepticism on Wikipedia and is vice-president of Standards. Guerilla Skepticism on Canberra Skeptics. It was used effectively in the Wikipedia (GSoW - Simon Singh vs British Chiropractic guerrillaskepticismonwikipedia. Association legal case, where skeptics, blogspot.com.au/) is another led by the developer of FishBarrel, brainchild of Susan Gerbic, and was Simon Perry, scoured chiropractic started as a mission to improve the websites for claims that went beyond skeptical content on Wikipedia by what was legally allowed and filed improving the pages of skeptical 32 ARTICLE Travel The Skeptic March 14 THE mystery

The best places to find a mystery ... tour or solve one.

he travel service Wanderlust has Costa Rica National Museum, some Socotra, Yemen T produced a list of “travel mysteries were blown up by treasure hunters! 9 Not so much a mystery as a to solve in 2014”. While some of these Tours from Costa Ballena take you to fascination – an island 380km we feel have already been solved and a delta where some still remain. off the coast with much unique flora, therefore not that mysterious, the including the dragon’s blood tree (not Top 10 from the firm’s list do make Eye of the Sahara, to be confused with the other dragon’s for an interestingly skeptical itinerary. 5 Mauritania blood tree from the Canary Islands). They are, in order: Looking a little bit like an Herodotus said the island is where the eye, if you squint, this rock formation phoenix came to be reborn; finding Moai, Easter Island is 50km across. The Richat Structure that would be solving a great mystery. 1 The giant heads on Easter (as it is also known) is probably the You need to fly there as the region is Island. “Just who constructed result of a meteor strike ... or the lost home to Somali pirates. these mystifying monuments?” The city of Atlantis. Probably best seen inhabitants, probably. “How did they from space. Marfa lights, USA do it?” They carved them. No great 10 Glowing orbs that appear in mystery, but definitely worth a look, Pyramids of Giza, Egypt the night sky outside of Marfa, if you can get there. A 5.5 hour flight 6 Really! A mystery? Obviously Texas. ‘Mysterious’ lights are found from Santiago, Chile. a huge attraction, in more in quite a few places – Australia has ways than one, but may be a bit dicey several ‘phenomena’, such as the Min Gobi rock art, Mongolia at the moment to go there. Accessible Min lights in the Channel Country – 2 Among the petroglyphs in by bus or taxi from Cairo. and the explanation tends to be vehicle the Havsgait Valley are “some lights shimmering in atmospheric rather stranger scribbles”. “Are they Sailing Stones, USA conditions. humanoid? Are they aliens?” A 90 7 In Death Valley, not far from We’re not sure what else there is to minutes flight from Ulaanbaatar to Area 51, are these stones that do in Marfa outside of heading for the Dalanzadgad, then a 2.5 hour drive. move across the desert floor, really viewing platform, 10km out of town, slowly. Probably propelled by wind and we’re definitely not sure why these Loch Ness monster, while on ice or mud in colder weather, lights rate higher than the (#12 on 3 Scotland Richard Saunders went there (The the list). So maybe the other less-than- One of our favourite places, Skeptic, 32:1) and said it’s freezing. top-10 ‘mysteries’ would be of greater monster or no. A half-hour drive Visit next time you’re at TAM interest, including the Pulemelei from Inverness; several hours to Las Vegas. mound in Samoa; the 1546 standing circumnavigate the loch, lesser- stones in Hintang Archaeological Park travelled south side has great views. Lost City of Ubar, Oman in Laos; Angkor Wat in Cambodia; 8 Can’t be that lost if they found Moeraki boulders on the North Stone spheres, Costa Rica it. But the Atlantis of the Otago coast of New Zealand; Lourdes 4 Ranging in size from a few Sands has attracted such luminaries as in France; the stone figures of the centimetres to over two metres, TE Lawrence, Wilfred Thesiger and San Agustin Archaeological Park most of the 1400-year-old(?) stones Ranulph Fiennes (third cousin of actor in Colombia; and, of course, the have been moved from the original Ralph). There’s a small museum at Tasmanian Tiger. location – some stand outside the Shisr, a two-hour drive from Salalah. Happy travelling. . 0333 ARTICLE Psychology

There are many bizarre claims out there, but Paul Berchtold looks at the psychological underpinnings of belief, and asks if people have an inbuilt drive to control and believe.

hat is it that makes people Wbelieve in the paranormal? Researchers have posited several hypotheses to answer this question. Is it that they are deficient in intelligence or socially awkward, the loners of society? Or are they psychologically unwell, undergoing some psychotic attention, not to mention widespread is good for you and that astrology can episode. Perhaps they have watched belief, and Friday the 13th occurring predict your future. Add to that the too many episodes of the X-Files the greatest number of times possible panoply of religious beliefs and life after and , confusing fiction with for any year. We also had the regular death, , spirits and poltergeists, fact, or have particular personality appearances of UFOs, and the PSI processes including ESP, characteristics that cause them to explosion of paranormal reality (or and telekinesis, and superstitions. believe they had special paranormal unreality) TV such as Ghost Hunters The actual beliefs don’t appear to powers. Or are they just people, and UFO Hunters. It was thus prudent have much in common. For instance, struggling to cope with the day to day that I presented evidence for these belief in alien spacecraft has little in stresses of life, not knowing what the explanations at the 2013 Skeptics common with belief in ghosts, yet future holds. conference in addition to the results of those who do believe have one major In recent years, such as 2012, all new research in the area, and it is now common characteristic - they all believe of these explanations were especially timely to discuss these results. in phenomena which defy the current evident in the general population Paranormal beliefs are a diverse field laws of science. It is this common to some degree. We had the Mayan of interest, from the belief that aliens characteristic which binds them to what apocalypse of December 21 come visit earth, creatures such as Bigfoot Broad (1953) called violations of the and go with widespread media roam the wild, that new age medicine basic limiting principles. 34 The Skeptic March 14

They also can’t be explained paranormal beliefs given what the schizophrenia, but this doesn’t translate by science and if they ever could, person saw as ‘overwhelming” evidence to the other symptoms of schizotypy would require a major shift in the in support the claim. I responded such as disorganised thoughts and basic underpinnings of science by pointing out that whether UFOs antisocial behaviour (Goulding, 2005). (Braude, 1979). This has the rather actually existed was beside the point. Believers in the paranormal share the perverse impact that, sadly, if we ever They couldn’t prove to me that similar bizarre thoughts with people could scientifically study and find they existed and all I could do was high in schizotypy but that’s it. They scientific evidence for a paranormal offer alternative don’t share some phenomenon, all that would occur is explanations to each of the really that it would no longer be classified as phenomenon or “ I can’t help but think negative thought paranormal, meaning the paranormal provide disconfirming that some psychics see patterns and can never really be understood in the evidence. behaviours which first place. Despite this, many people I suggested the themselves as particularly define this mental choose to believe, with some devoting following example. If special people . illness. So we their whole lives to it. By some we were both standing ” can safely say measures, a vast majority of people in a field at night, that paranormal believe in the paranormal to some and saw an unidentified light in the beliefs are probably not a result of degree (Rice, 2003). Explaining why sky, they would most likely label it as a psychopathology, and while the beliefs this is the case has thus become an UFO, and see it as supportive evidence are similar, they aren’t a result of mental There are many bizarre claims out there, but Paul Berchtold important scientific endeavour in the of their belief in UFOs, whereas I illness. In fact, some authors suggest field of psychology. would most likely label it as an aircraft, that paranormal beliefs may have some looks at the psychological underpinnings of belief, and asks As I have outlined, researchers or a star, or simply leave it unexplained protective aspects against mental illness if people have an inbuilt drive to control and believe. have proposed different reasons for and dismiss it. Neither of us could (Goulding, 2005). believing in the paranormal. For a prove what it was, yet we each came to I also asked whether paranormal review, I can suggest readers obtain a different conclusions. beliefs were formed because copy of Harvey J Irwin’s The Psychology Psychological explanations look to believers had particular personality of Paranormal Beliefs (2009) which, examine what internal state caused characteristics which made them in addition to providing a review this person to choose to jump to a vulnerable to developing paranormal of the major explanations, provides paranormal belief. In the case of UFOs, beliefs. Unlike the preceding a comprehensive reference list for it could be that a person has such an psychopathology explanation, the further reading. In general, people inability to tolerate not knowing that evidence here is more supportive. I believe in the paranormal because they would label a light in the sky as a can’t help but think that some psychics, of cognitive, social or psychological UFO rather than leave it unexplained. and other dispensers of paranormal reasons. In the cognitive realm, people Thus the remainder of this article skills, see themselves as particularly believe in the paranormal because they is focused on the psychological, or special people, occupying a special have deficiencies in estimating the the psychodynamic explanation of place in the world. Not many people probabilities of events co-occurring and paranormal beliefs. can predict the future, or heal your thus jump to paranormal conclusions or As I asked previously, is it that sickness with their mind, so of course have difficulties in cognitive reasoning. believers are mentally unwell, this is something they must think. In the social group, people believe undergoing a psychotic episode or This is the classic domain of because they are marginalised from some form of psychopathology? When narcissists, who have a psychological society, making joining paranormal you think of some of the bizarre need to see themselves in grandiose groups an attractive proposition. beliefs people hold, such as demonic terms, above others, uniquely skilled Alternatively, psychodynamic possession, you can’t help but compare and important to the world. In reality researchers have proposed that people these beliefs to the symptoms of my thoughts on this matter are believe in the paranormal, usually psychosis. Take the case of the belief generally supported by the evidence. subconsciously, because they have an in telepathy, believing that one can Paranormal beliefs and narcissistic internal psychological state or need receive and transmit information using personality traits are related, meaning that draws them to the belief. It is these only the mind. This is seen in both those who believe in the paranormal latter psychological reasons which I will paranormal beliefs and unfortunately, tend to score higher on measures of outline. in some sufferers of schizophrenia. So narcissism, particularly those who To outline the basis of the given the symptoms are similar, might invoke a great sense of personal ability psychological hypothesis, I will give paranormal beliefs also be similar to such as ESP and PK (Roe & Morgan, an example of a discussion I had in schizophrenia? The answer is probably 2002). So, in fact, narcissists may seek 2013. I was challenged by a believer no. Yes, many people who believe in the out the paranormal in order to show in UFOs who questioned the validity paranormal score higher on measure the world how special and unique they of the psychological explanation of of schizotypy, a non-clinical level of really are, something to consider next 0335 ARTICLE Psychology

Need to Believe We all probably know the control freaks in life who blow their stack at the Continued... slightest thought of not being in control of a situation or know what’s going to happen in the future. For some of time you decide to challenge a travelling these people, the inability to cope with psychic, given they might just enjoy uncertainty, or a lack of control which, your special attention to them. let’s face it, is a part of everyday life, Researchers have also looked at the leads them to a process of worry and relationship between other personality rumination, often leading to high levels traits and paranormal beliefs. Unlike of anxiety. Believing in the paranormal narcissists, neurotics have a tendency alleviates these feelings. Having to not think much of themselves. They one’s fortune told obviously allows have a tendency to have low self-esteem, us a greater control over our future. suffer from depression and anxiety and Likewise, being able to read others’ also have high levels of irrationality. minds increases our control over our These people tend to be particularly interactions with them. In the case of vulnerable to developing paranormal the previous UFO example, for people beliefs (Tobacyk & Mitchell, 1987; low in the ability to tolerate uncertainty, anxiety. I also proposed that higher Thalbourne, Dunbar & Delin , 1995). labelling an object as a UFO causes levels of intolerance of uncertainty To understand why this is the case them less anxiety then simply leaving it would be positively related to higher we need to delve into the world of as unexplained. levels of paranormal beliefs. This was psychological defence mechanisms. The evidence in this regard has thought because people who can’t Briefly, these operate when our been somewhat mixed, but the most tolerate uncertainty about the future internal psychological states, such as recent research from authors such as use paranormal beliefs to avoid this depression or anxiety, become too Roe & Bell (2007) and Hart, Sullivan- uncertainty. Essentially, the paranormal painful or difficult to cope with. In Sanchez, Packer & Loveless (2013) beliefs give the holder a greater sense of response, our subconscious develops now supports this relationship between control over the future. strategies to deal with these feelings the ability to tolerate uncertainty and In order to measure anxiety and by pushing them out of our conscious paranormal beliefs. So some people will the intolerance of uncertainty, I mind. For neuroticism, believing in the use paranormal beliefs to gain a sense of administered two psychometrically- paranormal, which could be considered control over life. validated measures - the Beck Anxiety a form of dissociation, acts as a defence My own research from 2013 now Inventory Trait (Kantor et al, 2008) mechanism to avoid these negative supports this idea that paranormal and the Intolerance of Uncertainty internal states. Likewise, believing that beliefs, the intolerance of uncertainty Scale (Buhr & Dugas, 2002) - to you are telepathic, and anxiety are 386 people who volunteered online. or have the ability related. This I also administered the Anomalous to foretell the future The evidence doesn’t research explored Experiences Inventory (Gallagher, might help against “ the relationship Kumar & Pekala, 1994) and the subconscious feelings suggest that paranormal between trait Paranormal Beliefs Scale – superstitious of worthlessness beliefs are a sign of anxiety and beliefs subscale (Tobyack & Milford, so often seen in mental illnesss. paranormal beliefs, 1983) - to measure participants’ depression. Indeed, ” but also explored paranormal beliefs. researchers such as a relationship So what were the results? The first Williams, Francis & between a fairly is that a significant moderate positive Robin (2007) have shown evidence for new concept, the intolerance of relationship existed between trait this. uncertainty and paranormal beliefs. anxiety and paranormal beliefs. While The last aspect of the psychological The intolerance of uncertainty is related I can’t necessarily infer that high levels explanation seems particularly tuned to anxiety, but is focussed far more on of trait anxiety cause the paranormal to our highly stressful modern world. the concept of worry about the future. beliefs, these results support the Researchers have questioned whether Essentially it means that the less we previous results in this area and support paranormal beliefs develop in order to can tolerate uncertainty, the more we the theoretical model. Likewise, a small help people cope with the stress of life will worry about it. I hypothesised that significant positive relationship existed in an unpredictable world. The evidence trait anxiety and paranormal beliefs between the intolerance of uncertainty suggests this might indeed be the case. would be positively related because and paranormal beliefs – but only People have different capacities to deal people develop paranormal beliefs for superstitious beliefs and not for with uncertainty in their life. as a coping mechanism against this global paranormal beliefs. I previously 36 The Skeptic March 14

Likewise, pay too much attention Hart, J., Sullivan-Sanchez, C., packer, T., & to a narcissist, and you might be Loveless, J. (2013). Is any explanation encouraging them to express even more better than no explanation? Intolerance outlandish beliefs. of uncertainty and paranormal beliefs. The second ramification of the Social Behaviour and Personality, 41(2), psychological explanation is that 343-344. doi:10.2224/sbp.2013.41.2.343 education and scientific evidence will Irwin, H. J. (2009). The psychology of not always be the answer to challenging paranormal belief. Hatfield Hertfordshire: these beliefs. Sometimes it may feel as University Of Hertfordshire Press. though all paranormal believers need Kohn, P., Kantor, L, D. T., & A., B. (2008). is more evidence. If we consider these The Beck Anxiety Inventory-Trait other reasons why paranormal beliefs (BAIT): a measure of dispositional may develop, we can explore alternative anxiety not contaminated by methods in addition to scientific dispositional depression. Journal of evidence. Personality Assessment, 90(5), 499-506. Finally, we should all consider that, doi:10.1080/00223890802248844 regardless of the belief, the evidence Rice, T. W. (2003). Believe it or not: Religious doesn’t suggest that paranormal and other paranormal beliefs in the outlined that paranormal beliefs beliefs are a sign of mental illness or United States. Journal for the Scientific are diverse, ranging from UFOs to psychopathology, but might be a way Study of Religion, 42(1), 95-106. alternative healing. of coping with the world. Something Roe, C. A., & Bell, C. (2008). Paranormal What this likely means is that the to remember next time we encounter a belief, anxiety and perceived psychological causes of paranormal stubborn true believer. . control over life events. 50th Annual beliefs are also probably diverse. Thus Parapsychological Association Convention narcissists are probably more likely to (pp. 102-112). Halifax, Nova Scotia, believe in aspects of the paranormal Canada: Parapsychological Association. such as ESP which infer in them great Roe, C., & Morgan, C. L. (2002). Narcissism abilities rather than aspects of the and belief in the paranormal. paranormal which do not, such as a About the author: Psychological Reports, 405-411. belief in superstitions. Likewise in the Paul Berchtold is employed doi:10.2466/PR0.90.2.405-411 current research, the ability to tolerate as a social worker in the Thalbourne, M. A., Dunbar, K. A., & Delin, P. uncertainty obviously operates for some disability field. S. (1995). An investigation Into correlates paranormal beliefs such as superstitions of belief in the paranormal. Journal but not others because superstitions of the American Society for Psychical particularly act to enhance one’s control REFERNCES Research, 89, 215-231 over the future (think of that lucky Braude, S. (1979). ESP and psychokinesis: A Tobacyk, J., & Milford, G. (1983). tennis racket which ensures a player philosophical examination. Philadelphia: Belief in paranormal phenomena: success, essentially controlling the Temple University Press Assessment instrument development outcome). Broad, C. (1953). The Relevance of Psychical and implications for personality Psychological explanations of Resarch to Philosophy. In C. D. Broad, functioning. Journal of Personality and paranormal beliefs are relatively new Religion, philosophy and psychical Social Psychology, 44(5), 1029-1037. in the field of psychology. My own research: Selected essays (pp. 7-25). doi:10.1037/0022-3514.44.5.1029 research does tend to support this London: Routledge. Tobacyk, J., & Mitchell, T. P. (1987). The explanation. So what does this mean Buhr, K., & Dugas, M. J. (2002). The out-of-body experience and personality for skepticism and the world of research intolerance of uncertainty scale: adjustment. The Journal of nervous into paranormal beliefs? Psychometric properties of the english and mental disease, 175(6), 367-370. The first implication is that many version. Behaviour Research and Therapy, doi:10.1097/00005053-198706000- people believe in the paranormal for 40(8), 931-945. doi:10.1016/S0005- 00008 psychological reasons, whether it is to 7967(01)00092-4 Williams, E., Francis, L. J., & Robbins, M. cope with the stress of life or as part Gallagher, C., Kumar, V. K., & Pekala, R. J. (2007). Personality and paranormal of their personality traits, and when (1994). The anomalous experiences belief: A study among adolescents. challenging these beliefs we need to inventory: Reliability and validity. Journal Pastoral Psychology, 56(1), 9-14. be cognisant of the reason behind the of Parapsychology, 58(4), 402-428 doi:10.1007/s11089-007-0094-x beliefs. Challenge or dismiss a neurotic, Goulding, A. (2005). Healthy schizotypy in a and you might just reinforce their population of paranormal believers and subconscious feelings of worthlessness experients. Personality and Individual leading for their need to believe more. Differences, 38(5), 1069-1083. 37 ARTICLE Criminality

howbiz types enjoy repeating a to Sconversation that composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is said to have had with Rush Judgement lyricist Alan Jay Lerner: “Alan, why do people always take an instant dislike to Why do cops and courts sometimes me?” Lloyd Webber asked. “It saves time,” replied Lerner. get it wrong? Confirmation bias, Funny as this exchange is, it neatly denial, over-confidence and sums a useful talent we have all inherited from our cave-man ancestors. cognitive traps, says Brett Christian. But it is a talent that harbours many perilous traps. Pure survival was why instant were not driven by malice – most police decision-making evolved - is that other recruits I knew had signed up with Neanderthal approaching me my altruistic motives. It was their intuition enemy? that let them down. And recent proof First one to get that decision right, has emerged that such unthinkable quickest on the draw with the club, mistakes are not a phenomenon just of meant the difference between life and my home town of Perth, or of Australia. death. The survivor lived on to bequeath It happens too frequently anywhere the his quicker-thinking genes to future British justice system has left its mark. generations, and so on down the eons. DNA testing has allowed a torrent of Today, this inherited gift for quick wrongfully-convicted prisoners to get decisions enables us to play sport, ride a out of jail – around 300 each in the UK horse, surf a wave, drive a car, suss out and US; dozens from ‘death row’. a slimeball salesman and decide who to Inevitably, exoneration is an chat up in a bar. Intuition is a speedy, agonisingly slow process, delays driven indispensable tool of modern life. But by the criminal justice system’s stubborn when we get it wrong, in a domain with belief in the guilwt of the person it real consequences such as the criminal has locked up. In Australia and the justice system, it goes badly wrong, rest of world, exoneration has at times looking. The confidence illusion, also cognitive science now tells us. taken up to 30 years. It has cost family, called cognitive conceit, says that we The importance of all this became friends and fortunes, often without think we know more than we do. A fear clear to me while researching a book compensation. of cognitive conceit is familiar to any on wrongful convictions, injustices that To find out what went so wrong, we sleepless parent whose teenager has just result in innocent people languishing in have to go back to square one, to the passed his driving test. jail for crimes they have not committed. initial arrest and charging of the person Just like the misplaced confidence Think Lindy Chamberlain. who first fell under police suspicion. of the teen, a police officer whose Horrific details of Every wrongful conviction gut instinct has proved to be right needlessly ruined lives has started with a bad many times begins to trust it. This always emerged from such decision by a police officer particular brand of cognitive conceit is cases, mostly unseen, but who believed the suspect approvingly labelled “coppers’ instinct”, one nagging question guilty when he was not. an entrenched belief that, with long always remained: why? Thousands of practice, experienced police become experiments by cognitive expert at detecting crooks by observing THE CONFIDENT COPPER scientists over the past and listening to them. Why did the police too 30 years tell us why we Civilians also hold a highly-refined often ping the wrong reach such poor decisions, but flawed belief in copper’s instinct, person? and why our legal system stemming from Charles Dickens’ Long experience as a sustains them. era when the public were told that newspaper reporter taught Over-confidence detectives possessed almost supernatural me that usually these errors is the place to start powers to detect liars and truth-tellers, 38 The Skeptic March 14 Rush to Judgement

just by reading their subjects’ faces. An the temptation can be to emphasise Kennedy, who investigated many army of novelists, crime reporters and evidence that supports the charge and wrongful convictions beginning with screen-writers right up to the present discard that which does not. his book 10 Rillington Place, held a day have reinforced this notion in the Our system allows much evidence jaundiced view of the British-based public mind. to be collected after the accused adversarial court and jury system. But experiments person is charged, a “This is an invitation for police to by cognitive scientists Civilians hold a practice fraught with commit perjury, and they frequently using real police, “ obvious dangers. do,” he wrote. lawyers and judges as highly-refined but Too often this has subjects proved that flawed belief in led to disastrous and UNBUDGEABLE BELIEFS their success rate in copper’s instinct. sometimes dishonest After a trial is over and a conviction detecting liars is a ” evidence being is seriously questioned with new mere 50-50, the same presented to juries, evidence, sometimes many years later, as chance. including faked the appalling prospect that the criminal Mistakes by arresting officers are forensic evidence, perjury and pressured justice system may have convicted and compounded when the legal system, false statements from civilian witnesses. jailed an innocent person appears to which we assume to be almost When the indictment finally make that system withdraw into itself, bulletproof, turns out to be subject to reaches the gladiatorial court arena, the to protect and defend its position. another peril that afflicts hasty police: temptation can be to tailor the evidence Denial, or belief perseverance, confirmation bias. so as to reinforce the case against the is a well-documented cognitive Once an officer’s mind is made up person in the dock. trap very familiar to readers of The that he or she has the right culprit, Celebrated UK writer Ludovic Skeptic: clinging to a belief despite the 0339 ARTICLE Criminality

Rush to instructions, prejudice and even unrecognised perils of our criminal bullying of fellow jurors, all problems justice system is that when the courts Judgement that real life cases and interviews with lock up the wrong person, the real jurors have proved to be more common criminal is still out there, likely Continued... than was once supposed. committing increasingly more serious The jury system is not robust just crimes. because it is ancient. In fact, science Austrian criminal psychologist Dr emergence of evidence to the contrary. has now shown that the consensus Thomas Muller, who has helped capture Ufologists, Loch Ness Monster system used in the jury room since the and has interviewed at length monsters believers, anti-vaxers, water diviners 13th century is the worst possible way such as mass rapists, serial killers and a and psychics share much in common to reach a just decision. cannibal, has a fine take on the perils with those police officers, prosecutors The final nail in the coffin of the of the bad initial police decision that and jurors who refuse to change their jury system must surely be this: we “saves time”. initial impression of guilt. have grafted an ancient decision- The problem is with the police officer At times, the entire criminal justice making process onto a technological who wrongly believes he can divine system and indeed the community age where even a simple Google search guilt or innocence. appears seized with a collective attack can turn a juror into a criminal guilty Says Dr Muller: “The best of belief perseverance. I once received of contempt of court. camouflage of evil people is the a chilling death threat for reporting arrogance of the person who thinks they court evidence that contradicted a SUGGESTED SOLUTION know what evil people look like.” . widespread community belief in guilt I argue that, in serious cases, a panel after a successful appeal against a of three judges, as used successfully in Further discussion of this topic can murder conviction. the appeal process, replace juries. Most be found in the author’s recent book, The interview illusion is another criminal cases are already decided by a Presumed Guilty: When cops get it wrong trap that affects all of us, shared magistrate sitting alone. Unlike juries, and courts seal the deal. between some police officers and those judges must give cogent reasons for employers who congratulate themselves their decisions. on hiring good staff, having divined the Serious investigations could adopt employees’ qualities via the interview the best features of some European process, without bothering to check systems, where each stage of the inquiry references. is supervised by a judge and questions But cognitive science experiments about the evidence resolved between the About the author: now tell us that the interview alone is parties before formal charges are laid. Brett Christian is a journalist the most unreliable way to choose staff. The flip side of the largely- and newspaper proprietor. After a run of good luck - confirmation bias - disaster will follow. Since the 1950s, police and often judges have been trained in the US Reid Technique of recognising verbal and non-verbal signs and gestures to detect lies. Research and real-life cases have shown many of these assumptions to be wrong, yet the techniques are still taught. Untrained jurors have been proved to be susceptible to all the illusions mentioned, where studies have proved jury verdicts can be catastrophically influenced by unreliable intuitive responses, such as to the appearance or demeanour of witnesses, prejudice against the accused persons and even the personalities of opposing lawyers. And once the trial is concluded and the jury room door locked, there is added potential for injustice from an inability to understand the judges’ 40 REGULARS Horoscope The Skeptic March 14 Your Stars: MARCH 2014 With our Astrologer, Dr Duarf Ekaf

Aries: 21 March -19 April Libra: 23 September -22 October Sagittarius: 22 November You have a great need for other You prefer a certain amount of change -21 December people to like and admire you. and variety and become dissatisfied Some of your aspirations tend to be when hemmed in by restrictions and pretty unrealistic. Security is one of limitations. your major goals in life.

Taurus: 20 April - 20 May You have a tendency to be critical of yourself. Capricorn: 22 December - 19 January The stars shine bright, all through the night and all Gemini: 21 May through the day as it - 20 June happens and not only You have a great deal of deep in the heart of unused capacity which Texas. When you wish you have not turned to upon a star, your your advantage. dream may or may not come true.

Cancer: 21 June - 22 July Aquarius: 20 January While you have some - 18 February personality weaknesses, If you believe that all you are generally able to of these apply to you, compensate for them. congratulations, you have passed the Forer effect.

Leo: 23 July - 22 August Disciplined and self-controlled Pisces: 19 February - 20 March outside, you tend to be worrisome If you believe none of these apply to and insecure inside. you, then there must be something Scorpio: 23 October - 21 November wrong with you. See your astrologer You have found it unwise to be too immediately for corrective services. frank in revealing yourself to others. The other sort of corrective services, Virgo: 23 August - 22 September not the one with bars, unless it’s the At times you have serious doubts as drinking sort in which case the bars to whether you have made the right are OK, unless you drink too much, in decision or done the right thing. Ophiuchus: 0 - 0 - sorry which case you will end up behind bars At times you are extroverted, affable, in corrective services. Don’t you now sociable, while at other times you are wish you had chosen the previous star introverted, wary, reserved. sign? .

41 ARTICLE New Age Myth The Dolphin Delusion

me people claim that swimming Tim Harding looks at dolphins in myth and history, Swith dolphins is a mystical or spiritual experience. Irrational beliefs and asks if they can give your life a porpoise. range from dolphins being super- intelligent, to having ESP, to possessing special healing powers and even being is at the ruined Palace of Knossos in worshipped as early as c.1500–1100 aliens from a planet in the Sirius solar Crete, where there is an attractive fresco BCE by the Mycenaean Greeks. system! of some blue dolphins swimming with According to legend, Dionysus was On the other hand, getting up close fish (c.1600BCE). Unfortunately, the once captured by Etruscan pirates who and personal with dolphins can be risky Minoan script known as Linear A has mistook him for a wealthy prince they for both species - especially for the not yet been deciphered, so the back could ransom. After the ship set sail dolphins. These risks are greatest where story of these dolphin frescos remains Dionysus invoked his divine powers, dolphin populations are vulnerable to as mysterious as the frescos of acrobats causing vines to overgrow the ship extinction, such as in Port Phillip Bay, leaping over bulls elsewhere in the where the mast and sails had been. Victoria. palace. One possibility is a connection He turned the oars into serpents, so with the god Dionysus, of which terrifying the sailors that they jumped ANCIENT DOLPHIN MYTHOLOGY archaeological traces have been found overboard. But Dionysus took pity The current mysticism associated with among the Minoan ruins. on them and transformed them into dolphins may well date from ancient In classical Greek mythology, dolphins so that they would spend their mythology, where dolphins were often Dionysus (known as Bacchus by the lives providing help for those in need. depicted as helpers of humans. Ancient Romans) was the god whose spiritual Dolphins were also the messengers of seals, coins and items of pottery often portfolio included the grape harvest, Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, and show a man or boy riding a dolphin. winemaking and wine, ritual madness sometimes did errands for him as well. One of the earliest known images and ecstasy. He may have been Dolphins were sacred to the other gods 42 The Skeptic March 14

Far left: The Palace of Knossos is peppered with paintings of dolphins, thousands of years old.

Left: Man on a horse, boy on a dolphin - common images on Ancient Greek coins.

other creatures from both the sea and land. One of the most bizarre claims about dolphins is that they are aliens from a planet in the Sirius solar system. The Pleiadians decided to bring some of the dolphins with them when they Aphrodite and Apollo. Other claimed services include knew their home world was going In Hindu mythology, the Ganges Dolphin Healing Touch, Chakra to be extinct and they found Earth. River Dolphin is associated with Ganga, Clearing, Channelling Ancient “When I work with Dolphins I find the deity of the river. The dolphin is Atlantean Energy, Creating Flow I have an emotional and uplifting said to be among the creatures which (whatever that means) and Photon experience, similar to the Unicorns, heralded the goddess’ descent from the Light Therapy (is there any other type but in a different vibration. Dolphin heavens and her mount, the Makara, is of light?). healing uses sound as well as the usual sometimes depicted as a dolphin. One specific healing claim that can light vibration we use in Reiki and other The Boto dolphins in the Amazon be tested is the following. forms of healing.” River are believed to be shapeshifters, or During the healing process, dolphins’ Had enough? I think you probably encantados, who are capable of having wounds don’t show signs of infection. have the general drift of this nonsense children with human women. Researchers have discovered that their by now. skin and blubber contain compounds CONTEMPORARY DOLPHIN MYSTICISM with antibacterial properties, which SOME DOLPHIN SCIENCE Today, there exists a range of mystical may help stop infections in the open At risk if disappointing followers of beliefs about dolphins, some of wounds. This claim is demonstrably the Pleiadians, dolphins evolved right which may be a legacy of the ancient false. For instance, dolphins are here on planet Earth. They are marine mythology. These beliefs range from susceptible to the fungal skin infection mammals of the taxonomic order seemingly innocuous brand names Lobomycosis. Cetacea, which includes whales and (such as the Dolphin Health & Wellness At least one dolphin therapist offers porpoises. Cetaceans evolved from Centre at Cessnock, 50km from the “healing at a distance” not only at land mammals and share a common NSW coast), to various manifestations a distance from dolphins, but long ancestor with even-toed ungulates, of New Age nonsense, to some quite distances away from the therapist! such as the hippopotamus and deer. bizarre mystical and spiritual claims. I ‘Anne’ is an attuned channel to transmit Unlike fish, cetacean skeletons contain hesitate to use the term ‘pseudoscience’ dolphin energy to her clients. For a scapulas or shoulder blades and the because these claims rarely even pretend distance session you make a quick bone structure of their flippers is similar to be scientific. I have not found a phone call to Anne and she will give to mammalian forearms. They even single New Age or mystical web site you some simple have a small vestigial that provides any empirical evidence in instructions and help pelvis to which their support of their often outlandish claims. you set an intention I hesitate to use the hind legs were once A common theme seems to be a for the session as well “ attached millions of claim that dolphins have miraculous as help you to open term ‘pseudoscience’, years ago. healing powers, and that swimming with to the frequency of because these claims Today, there are dolphins or ‘channeling their energies’ the dolphins. Then rarely even pretend to almost 40 species through a fee-charging spiritual healer you hang up and of dolphin in 17 will heal the soul if not the body. A sit or lie down to be scientific. genera. Marine typical marketing blurb reads: “We bring receive. You can even ” dolphins are the gifts of the dolphins … from sea to fall asleep during the session! Sessions members of the family Delphinidae land! By spreading Dolphin Love, Joy, generally last about 40 minutes. After which evolved some 10 million years healing, and higher consciousness in the you feel complete, you phone Anne ago. Other families are river dolphins, world, we are co-creating, with Dolphin, again and she will discuss how the of which there are only four species Whale, and other spiritual sources, session went for you and share with you left on the planet. Marine dolphins eat Unity-Community on land among her unique gift of receiving visions and mainly fish and squid, and a group of humanity. This is the New Earth.” messages from the dolphins and many dolphins is called a ‘pod’. 0343 ARTICLE New Age Myth

The Dolphin tour vessels and swimmers may interfere watching. For instance, it is important with the dolphins’ daily routine and for only one tour boat at a time to Delusion may impact on their time and energy approach a dophin pod, and then side- if interactions constantly interrupt on rather than from behind, so that the Continued... feeding, resting or maternal behaviour. dolphins do not feel corralled (which is Dolphins normally have only one calf how sharks attack them). per year, so if the annual birth rate is State and territory governments Worldwide, three species of for any reason lower than the death are responsible for conservation and Bottlenose dolphins are recognised: the rate, the future survival of this dolphin protection of whales and dolphins Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops species will be perilous. in coastal waters (out to the three truncates; the Indo-Pacific bottlenose There is no evidence that the nautical mile limit). These governments dolphin, Tursiops aduncus; and the majority of people who swim with manage most of the human/dolphin Burrunan dolphin, Tursiops australis, a dolphins are doing it for mystical interactions, and whale and dolphin newly discovered separate species that or faith healing reasons. There are watching. They each have their own is found only in Port Phillip Bay in legitimate reasons for people wanting regulations regarding whale and dolphin Victoria. to closely observe or interact with watching in coastal waters, based on the Port Phillip Bay is home to a resident dolphins, as there are for people Australian National Guidelines. These population of Burrunan dolphins wanting to look at animals in zoos. regulations need not only a high level estimated to number between 80 and For this reason, dolphin watching and of compliance, but also strong public 120 individuals. The available evidence swimming with dolphins are activities support. . from records of cetacean strandings that need to be carefully regulated and previous anecdotal observations rather than banned completely. The references for this article may be indicates that the current population is The Australian National Guidelines found on Tim Harding’s blog at of fisheries habitat in recent decades. have been adopted by the Federal The dolphins in Port Phillip Bay use Government and all state and territory About the author: their home range for all aspects of their governments. These guidelines are Tim Harding has worked as a consultant to the ecology, including their main activities, a clearly defined set of standards for Victorian Department of Environment and Primary foraging and feeding, as well as all human activity around cetaceans, Industries (DEPI) assisting socialising, resting, and the protection including maximum approach in the development of and rearing of young. The population distances for boats and aircraft (except regulations to protect of Burranan dolphins in Port Phillip for authorised tour boats). They help dolphins and other marine Bay is vulnerable to extinction due to people to understand that their actions mammals. He is a former its small size, its restricted home range may disturb these wild animals, and Director of Flora and Fauna and the human activities that are likely show them how to minimise any effect in DEPI, with a background in to be having an adverse impact on the they may have while whale or dolphin biological sciences. dolphins. These human activities (in order of decreasing threat) are jet skis, boating, swimming and low- flying aircraft (including sight- seeing helicopters). Research findings from Port Phillip Bay confirm that apart from isolated harassment by jet- skis, the proximity of tour vessels is the key disturbance factor posed by interaction with dolphins. During the tour season, these vessels can spend up to six hours per day interacting with dolphins. Responding to interactions with

Right: New Age beliefs - energies, chakras, vibrations, Atlantis, Pleiadeans, spiritual healing, love, joy and leaping - dolphins have a lot to answer for. 44

REGULARS

The cycle of life THE SHOWMAN Showmen – psych tests – magic – proof. Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) was an American showman, businessman, And so it goes, the almost inevitable politician, publisher, philanthropist who realisation that all knowledge is founded the circus that became the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He described himself connected and connectable. as “a showman by profession ... and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me”. Barnum is often erroneously credited with coining the phrase “There’s a sucker born every minute”, which was most likely spoken by journalist THE SKEPTIC David Hannum in criticism of Barnum and his customers. There have been hoaxes (see An actual quote from Barnum is “We’ve got something www.museumofhoaxes.com/) for everyone”, which lead to the concept of the and hoaxers ever since there were so-called Barnum Effect. gullible people who were prime targets for “confidence men”. The first known use of that term in English was in 1849 by the New York City press, during the trial of watch thief William Thompson. But where there are hoaxers, there are hoax busters. In the world of the paranormal, they include and James Randi, who both were/are involved in offers of prize money for any person who can prove a paranormal feat. Among these is the writer who, in his 1865 book The Humbugs of the World, offered US$500 to any goes around ... medium who could prove power to What communicate with the dead. That writer was PT THE ETYMOLOGIST Barnum. The etymology of the word “abracadabra” is uncertain, with various sources suggesting a first millennium Aramaic background, or a mnemonic for the alphabet. The earliest known use of “Hey presto” was in 1731 (or 1732, depending on your source). “Hocus pocus” is a contraction of the nonsense phrase “Hocus pocus, tontus talontus, vade celeriter jubeo”, mentioned in physician, humanist and skeptic Thomas Ady’s 1656 book A candle in the dark, or a treatise concerning the nature of witches and witchcraft. According to the 19th century philologist Robert Nares, “hocus pocus” is the source of the word “hoax”. Harry Houdini, under attack from

denizens of the spirit world Source: Wikipedia, except where noted

46 The Skeptic March 14

THE PSYCHOLOGIST THE SHOWMAN The Barnum effect is more properly called Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) the Forer Effect, after psychologist Bertram R was an American showman, businessman, Forer (1914-2000). The effect is that individuals will politician, publisher, philanthropist who give high accuracy ratings to descriptions of their personality founded the circus that became the Ringling Bros that are supposedly tailored specifically for them, but are in and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He described himself fact vague and general enough to apply to a wide range of people. as “a showman by profession ... and all the gilding shall Forer tested this in 1948 by giving a personality test to his make nothing else of me”. Barnum is often erroneously students, and subsequently a ‘unique’ personality analysis that credited with coining the phrase “There’s a sucker born was based on the test results. On a scale of 0 (very poor) to 5 every minute”, which was most likely spoken by journalist (excellent) on how well it applied to them, the rating was David Hannum in criticism of Barnum and his customers. 4.26. In reality, each student received the same analysis PT Barnum and General Tom An actual quote from Barnum is “We’ve got something assembled by Forer from various horoscopes. Thumb (Barnum’s half fifth for everyone”, which lead to the concept of the cousin twice removed) so-called Barnum Effect.

THE BELIEVER This effect can provide a partial explanation for the widespread acceptance of some beliefs and practices, such as astrology, fortune telling, graphology, and some types of personality test. It has been suggested that having prior belief in the paranormal correlates with greater influence of the Forer/Barnum Effect. (The same applies to the role of placebo in medicine, where a treatment that supposedly suits the patient’s specific condition What goes around ... can have a beneficial effect, even though it is an inert substance.) Subjects who, for example, believe THE MAGICIAN in the accuracy of horoscopes have a greater tendency and willingness to believe that the The willing suspension of disbelief is a vague generalities of the response apply term coined in 1817 by the poet and aesthetic specifically to them. philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834), who suggested that if a writer could infuse a “human interest and a semblance of truth” into a fantastic tale, the reader would suspend judgment concerning the implausibility of the narrative. Suspension of disbelief is often an essential element of a magic act. The latter is enjoyed as much for its entertainment value and showmanship as for the results of the magic act itself, with such famous (and attention-diverting) catchphrases as “abracadabra”, “hey presto” and “hocus pocus”. How to stand out from the crowd in

Source: Wikipedia, except where noted personality assessments

47 ARTICLE Classic Catches Look into My Eyes

In this Classic Catch article from 1991, Kevin M. McConkey takes a look at the uses of clinical hypnosis in the laboratory. What do you see? Look closer.

he view put forward by many understand that hypnosis is a clinically HYPNOSIS IN THE LAB Tself-styled hypnotists and by useful procedure for some people, some Hypnosis has become an increasingly many media reports about hypnosis is disorders, some times. important technique in the clinical that it is an unquestionably authentic I would like to give a necessarily areas of psychology, medicine and phenomenon in which a deeply selective account of some of the dentistry in the last 60 years or so. entranced individual acts on the almost issues surrounding the clinical use of This increased interest in clinical irresistible suggestions of the hypnotist hypnosis. hypnosis has been paralleled, especially in an automatic and zombie-like way. If you go to the clinical literature, to in the last 50 years, by the interest Clinically, hypnosis is too often presented the popular reports, or the advertising shown in the topic by researchers in as a magic cure for whatever ails you. material of self-styled hypnotists, you the laboratory. As with other areas of This more or less credulous view of will find an amazing range of uses of psychology, however, it has sometimes hypnosis has never hypnosis and an been the case that clinical and had the support amazing array of experimental hypnosis are either ships of the scientific “It would be easy to claimed successes: that pass in the night or hostile ships community. Rather, engage in a debunking from stopping that fire at each other in the day. the scientific fingernail biting This doesn’t have to be so, however. community exercise, and to criticise to curing brain There is a good deal of similarity has adopted a the excessive views and damage; from in the way in which researchers questioning position inappropriate uses. stopping smoking and practitioners should approach that, wittingly ” to allowing major hypnosis, and there is a substantial or unwittingly, surgery without amount of data that speaks to the has sometimes conveyed that there general anaesthesia; from helping to rapprochement that can exist between is something phony or faked about pass exams to helping remember past the theory tested in the laboratory and hypnosis. lives or experiences with aliens. the practice of hypnosis in the clinic. Although I adopt a questioning It would be an easy thing to engage In looking at selected aspects of position on the phenomenon, I do in a debunking exercise, and to criticise clinical hypnosis I want to pay close not consider that hypnosis is an the excessive views and inappropriate attention to the relevance to clinical unreal or insubstantial phenomena. uses of hypnosis in the clinical setting. practice of salient findings from basic Rather, it is a phenomenon that can However, I think it would be more research. I would like to comment be understood through an appeal fruitful to take a positive stance and on theoretical models of hypnosis, to normal psychological processes. attempt to convey an appreciation of individual differences in hypnotic Thus, we neither need to dismiss the the phenomenon that will allow an responsiveness, and selected clinical phenomenon, nor do we need to appropriate view to be formed and the applications of hypnosis: management invoke ‘unusual’ processes or events appropriate clinical uses of hypnosis to of pain, recovery of memory, and to explain it. Moreover, we need to be understood. management of burns. 48 The Skeptic March 14

hypnotised individual brings to bear particular cognitive skills to experience the events suggested by the hypnotist as best as he/she can. From this perspective, researchers such as myself argue the importance of the cognitive skills of the subject, the communications of the hypnotist, and the relationship between hypnotist and subject. From my perspective, the interactionist model is the one that we need to adopt if we are to understand what occurs in the laboratory and in the clinic when hypnosis is involved. Besides these major approaches, which are tied closely to the laboratory, there is another approach to hypnosis that has gained substantial popularity and for this reason among clinical colleagues in the last 30 (among others) the years; this is an approach that typically social perspective has not rejects the relevance of experimental been embraced by those who use analyses of hypnosis. hypnosis clinically. Variously labelled as “Ericksonian THEORETICAL MODELS From the cognitive perspective, hypnosis” or “the new hypnosis”, Let me first comment briefly on the other researchers argue for the this approach is not one that I will major theoretical models of hypnosis, importance of dissociation (among deal with in this paper other than because this can be especially confusing other cognitive processes). This to say that advocates appear to see when one is trying to develop an perspective has been influential in virtually every human interaction as understanding of the clinical use of shaping the ways in which clinicians involving hypnosis, and see hypnosis hypnosis. view and use hypnosis. itself as involving some specific At this point, let me give a The third major model adopts an biological mechanism. For instance, descriptive definition of hypnosis: interactionist perspective that attempts some clinical colleagues argue that Hypnosis occurs when one person to recognise more so than the other “hypnosis is a naturally occurring body (the subject) experiences alterations major models that hypnosis involves a defence mechanism”; “the critically in perception, memory, or mood social interaction between two people ill are already in a state of hypnosis”; in response to suggestions given by that is complex and multifaceted, the “a hypnotic trance can be induced another person (the hypnotist). hypnotised individual is a cognitively by stroking the body”; and “people Although most researchers in active being who is attempting to enter a hypnotic state when they are the field agree that these alterations respond to the many communications remembering any sequence of events”. in experience and accompanying that he/she is receiving, and the Within this un-bounded approach, it behaviour occur, they do not agree on the most appropriate way to explain them. The major models that have emerged from laboratory work in the last 50 years focus on explaining hypnosis in terms of either social processes or cognitive processes, or in terms of the interaction of social and cognitive processes. From the social perspective, some researchers argue for the importance of expectation and compliance (among other social processes) as ways of explaining hypnosis. These researchers can easily be misinterpreted as saying that hypnotised people are simply faking, 0349 ARTICLE Classic Catches

Look into other hypnotically suggested effects. Below Franz Anton Mesmer practices Because a person responds well to a “natural energetic transference” . My Eyes Continued... suggestion for a simple experience such as arm levitation, for instance, does not Right: French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot mean that he/she will respond well to a demonstrates hypnosis on an “hysterical” suggestion for hypnotic analgesia or age Salpêtrière patient (Une leçon clinique à la is not clear to me what hypnosis is; it regression. To make that assumption Salpêtrière - André Brouillet - 1887). is even less clear to me what hypnosis in the clinical setting may lead to is not. Let me simply lay this approach frustration and a sense of failure by the to one side, while also being quietly client. concerned about its popularity among Hypnotisability remains stable clinical colleagues. throughout adulthood, and attempts to enhance or modify hypnotic DIFFERENCES IN RESPONSIVENESS responsiveness appear to have little The most basic laboratory finding impact on the experience of subjects about clinical hypnosis is that of although their behaviour can be individual differences in responsiveness. changed somewhat. This is not to say Variously called hypnotic susceptibility, that hypnotic responsiveness never hypnotic responsiveness or changes or that there is nothing that hypnotisability, the research findings the hypnotist can do to maximise consistently indicate that the a subject’s response to hypnotic distribution of hypnotisability pretty suggestions. much follows the normal distribution. In the laboratory, subjects’ scores Researchers have gathered much on formal measurement scales shift psychometrically sound data on this somewhat over the first few testing issue in the past 50 years, but it is sessions before they stabilise at some appropriate to note that the Abbe di level. In the clinical setting, the lesson Faria made this observation and gave from these laboratory observations is a detailed description of individual clear. Unless the hypnotist allays the lies with the individual, not with the differences around 200 years ago. client’s anxieties and corrects his/her hypnotist. Nevertheless, the development of misconceptions about hypnosis, the The distribution of individual formal measurement scales of hypnotic initial attempts at hypnotic induction differences, the relationships among susceptibility around 50 years ago may not indicate the level of hypnotic particular hypnotic suggestions, and has allowed researchers to document responsiveness that the person is the relative stability of hypnotisability the nature of individual differences capable of. all point to hypnotic responsiveness in hypnotisability. In essence, around Once the person has reached what being a skill of the individual. 10 per cent of the population is is known as plateau hypnotisability, Thus, what happens during hypnosis totally unhypnotisable, around 10 per however, there seems little that the is essentially a function of the subject’s cent can experience very profound hypnotist can do to enhance the hypnotisability, rather than the alterations in experience, and the rest individual’s hypnotic responsiveness. hypnotist’s skill in inducing trance or of us can experience some but not The ability to experience hypnosis administering suggestions. For the clinician who wants to use hypnosis effectively, then, this finding indicates that the hypnotisability of the individual client should be assessed before hypnosis is used. Of course, some degree of Left A statue in Goa, hypnotisability can be assumed India, of Abbe di to be present because only a small Faria (José Custódio de percentage of the population is entirely Faria, 1756–1819), a unhypnotisable, but many techniques Goan Catholic monk of clinical hypnosis (such as hypnotic who pioneered the analgesia) are effective only with scientific study of individuals of high hypnotisability. hypnosis and Given this, it seems a waste of time introduced “oriental and a frustrating experience for all hypnosis” to Europe. concerned for the clinician to try to The Skeptic March 14

effect have a greater impact than do suggestions for relaxation and reverie; this tells us that hypnotic analgesia acts more like an analgesic agent than like a general tranquilliser. Just what is the psychological mechanism responsible for this remains a question open to theoretical debate and empirical resolution. The fact, however, that hypnosis can be used to relieve pain in hypnotisable individuals has been established firmly in both the laboratory and the clinical setting. Recovery of memory A very different use of clinical hypnosis is as a tool for the uncovering of memories thought to be associated with particular symptoms. One common therapeutic technique, for instance, involves giving suggestions for enhanced recall or for regression to a prior age to recover forgotten memories develop and use these phenomena in pain, routine dental work, and of events or experiences. individuals who simply do not have the discomforting medical procedures. Hypnosis is a fine technique for this ability to experience them. Excellent clinical research, for example, clinical purpose, as long as it is kept in The best procedure for assessing has demonstrated that hypnotisable mind that the reported memories are hypnotisability in the clinical setting children who were undergoing not necessarily valid. is through one of the formal scales of chemotherapy for cancer showed The use of hypnotic age regression hypnotic susceptibility that have been significantly more pain reduction to recover memories of events that developed specifically for use in the during bone-marrow aspirations occurred in the past does not provide a clinic, and that are suitable for adults than did their unhypnotisable reproduction of the original events, but and children. counterparts when involves an active given suggestions for reconstruction of CLINICAL APPLICATIONS analgesia. In such “It is likely that less a story about the Let me comment in summary fashion situations, careful than five per cent of the individual’s past. on some selected applications of case series reports In essence, the clinical hypnosis. have indicated that as population could tolerate events focused on high as 50 per cent of major surgery with during hypnotic Management of pain clients can profit from age regression in Following appropriate suggestions, the use of hypnosis hypnosis alone.” the clinical setting many hypnotised individuals report and self-hypnosis to are probably more that they experience a significant relieve pain. narrative than historical truth, in the reduction in their experience of In the laboratory a substantial sense that they have subjective meaning pain. In the clinical literature there amount of work on hypnotic analgesia for the individual but may not have are many case reports of hypnotic has been conducted in recent years. occurred in an objective sense. suggestion as the sole analgesic agent The big question, of course, is how The work from the laboratory in appendectomies, caesarean sections, does hypnosis lead to a reduction in on hypnotic age regression clearly and other instances of major surgery. experienced pain. indicates that the recovered events are These cases can be quite dramatic, Various studies in the laboratory reconstructions of the original events. but it is likely that less than five per have told us that, for hypnotisable This is not to say that the information cent of the population could tolerate individuals, hypnotic analgesia has a is necessarily inaccurate. such procedures with hypnosis greater impact than either morphine, Rather, it seems that hypnosis may alone. For most of the rest of the diazepam, aspirin, placebo or lead to an increase in the amount of population, hypnotic analgesia is acupuncture. Other studies have told correct and incorrect information that more effective when used with minor us that, for hypnotisable individuals, is reported as memory. In the clinical surgical procedures, postoperative suggestions for a specific analgesic setting, this probably does not matter 51 ARTICLE Classic Catches

Look into abnormal psychological functioning. not, by showing who can experience During hypnosis we are able to suggestions and who cannot, My Eyes Continued... produce anomalies and disruptions in researchers hope that clinicians can be perception and memory processes that helped to use hypnosis more effectively, lead to hallucinations and delusions, and more creatively, in their practices. amnesias and paramnesias. By Finally, looking from the laboratory, all that much since the incorrect analysing these particular phenomena the prospects for the use of clinical information probably has some degree in the laboratory, we may come to a hypnosis are very good indeed, as long of narrative truth, in the sense of its better understanding of them when as excessive credulity is kept at bay. . emotional importance to the client. they occur as clinical symptoms. This mixture of correct and incorrect I hope that I’ve conveyed that Note: This article is based on a information does matter, however, in laboratory research has helped presentation at the 7th Annual situations in which there is a likelihood to lay down a scientific basis for Convention of the Australian Skeptics, of treating the recovered material as clinical practice by documenting June 1991. The elapsed time periods either entirely accurate or entirely the effectiveness of some hypnotic referred to have been adapted to relate to inaccurate; the forensic situation techniques commonly used in the the current date. is one that comes to mind, but the clinical setting and questioning the complexities of that situation could be impact of other techniques. the topic of another article. By far, however, the most important About the author: contribution of the laboratory has been At the time of writing, Kevin Management of burns to impress upon us the importance of McConkey was Associate I would like to make a brief comment individual differences in responsiveness Professor of Psychology at on what I consider to be one of to hypnosis. Hypnotic response is Macquarie University. He the most clinically exciting and a matter of subject ability, not of is now emeritus Professor theoretically challenging uses of hypnotist technique. By showing what in the UNSW School of clinical hypnosis. This use reflects the hypnosis is good for and what it’s Psychology increasingly important application of hypnosis in behavioural medicine, where hypnotic suggestions are employed to alter physiological functioning indirectly. NOW AVAILABLE In this respect, hypnosis is being used increasingly with burn victims not only to help in pain management but ! also to help in the healing process itself. THE AMAZ NG Dramatic and provocative case studies TAM OZ DVD! have been reported of more rapid healing, less blistering, and less scarring Thefun , frolic and fascination when hypnosis is used with burn victims soon after they have received the of TAM Australia 2010 burn. The exact nature of the impact of hypnosis and the precise mechanism the largest Skeptical event ever responsible for that impact needs to be held in Australia analysed in much more detail. Nevertheless, this is one application Available now from the Skeptics shop of hypnosis that I think we are going

to see a lot more of. And it is one that priced + $7p+h raises intriguing questions for us to $80 take into the laboratory. There is more that I could say about ... plus a stunning array of skeptical T-shirts the ways in which laboratory research – all available through the Skeptics shop on hypnosis can benefit those who are engaged in clinical practice. Note: Unfortunately, for copyright reasons, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki’s One major area that I haven’t presentation could not be included on the DVD. discussed in this article, for instance, is the relevance of basic hypnosis research to our understanding of normal and 52 www.skeptics.com.au/shop REVIEWS Miracles The Skeptic March 14

Could it be, the thinkers at the time wondered, I feel dead people that people who went to a particular saint’s shrine, in which the body or bits thereof were preserved, were more likely to get positive results from their Why Can the Dead Do Such Great Things? supplications at the site itself? If this were indeed By Robert Bartlett the case, would it thus mean that the remains were more powerful than the ubiquitous ethereal Princeton University Press , A$39.95 presence of the saint incorporeal? Paradoxically, some said that the miracles worked by saints at a distance from the remains were actually greater, in t Augustine pondered the miracles order to impress weak minds who, according to Sthat the saints could do (this Pope Gregory I, “may doubt whether [the saints] was before he became a saint and are present to hear them in places where they do presumably dabbled in miracles not lie in their bodies.” himself) and asked a question that the People also tried to figure out why prayers were medievalist scholar Robert Bartlett has not answered. One abbot was supervising transport taken for the title of his new book, of timber by sea, and expected St Columba to the full version running to Why Can help, but was thwarted by a contrary wind. “We the Dead Do Such Great Things? Saints complained about how unwelcome it was that the and Worshippers from the Martyrs to the wind was against us in this way, and we began to Reformation. make a kind of accusation against our Columba, The book is an academic saying, ‘Does this set-back that we are suffering doorstopper, over 600 pages of small- please you, O saint?’” print text, not to mention notes and This sort of complaint against saints who were a voluminous bibliography. It is a dozing or not fulfilling their duties was common. treat, though, to see such erudition Bartlett writes, “It was unquestionably the amassed this way; it is hard to imagine worshipper’s right to reproach saints who failed any aspect of the cult of the saints to help.” This particular reproach to Columba that Bartlett has left out in this extraordinarily implied that he was not in high honour with God. comprehensive text. It worked, and the winds turned favourable. If Yet there is enormous entertainment here as well. relics of a saint were not producing the requested The times were far different from our own, and if results, they could be placed into the ritual called miracles are happening now, they are not the same “humiliation of the relics”, in which they were sorts of miracles that so astonished and inspired literally humiliated (placed on the ground) or the men and women described in these pages. surrounded with thorns in the hope that the Nowadays, dead people do not do such great things, embarrassed saint would wake up and get to work. for instance, as did St Edmund of East Anglia who, The church had to make rules about who could even though dead, got so angry with King Sweyn become a saint and who could not (although this Forkbeard for pillaging his abbey that he ran him did not keep people from worshipping saintly locals through with a spear. Bartlett does such a splendid who had died but were not officially recognised). job of sympathetic understanding and neutrality, it Originally, martyrs were the saints whose relics is hard to figure out his own views of such miracles. were venerated and whose shrines were visited. Those of us who take a skeptical view of the Bartlett writes of the problem this caused: “The end supernatural will find much to condemn here, but of persecution in the early fourth century meant readers among the millions who believe in saintly that new martyrs were no longer being created on a miracles will find no reason to leave off believing. regular basis within the Roman Empire.” Holy men and women doing wondrous things Certainly the church could have sealed the are part of many religious traditions. The early numbers of approved saints to those historic Christian church took this a few steps further. martyrs and taken in no more, but this did not Not only was death no barrier for saints who happen. Martyrs might still be dropping now and wanted to continue working miracles, but their then, but the church decided to accept as saints corpses, or bits and pieces of them, possessed “confessors” who did not die for the faith but had wonder-working capacities. lived for it in a saintly or heroic way. The adoption Bartlett devotes many pages to the ways that of confessors coincided with the movement of people tried to understand this. Even in such asceticism, and plenty of the new saints came from superstitious times, there must have been some the monks and hermits. But not all. intellectual discomfort over accepting these miracles. Particularly extraordinary was St Michael, who 53 REVIEWS Miracles +

I feel dead people overnight to Jesus Christ to give a sign as to which church would get the body, and the next morning, Continued... there were three identical bodies of St Teilo, and everyone went back home happy. Of course, come the reformation, there was was neither martyr nor confessor nor even human; plenty to say against the saintly cults. Luther he was not a dead man who went to heaven, but wrote, “They have no Scriptural argument that one he had been there all along, an angel created before should invoke saints and have them as mediators, people were created. Not only this, but he was a but Scripture makes Christ alone mediator and warrior who had been in battle within Heaven intercessor.” Calvin mocked the slipper of St Peter (according to Revelation), and saintly or not, he was which was preserved at Poitiers, a slipper of satin often depicted with arms and armour emphasising and gold: “See how they make him stylish after his his military role. death as a compensation for the poverty which he There was another extraordinary saint, a martyr had during his lifetime.” who was neither human nor angel, but a dog. These saints violated physical laws by such Now, the church did not accept this greyhound things as levitation, and some turned water into as St Guinefort, but the locals near Lyons did, wine as Jesus had done, though Bartlett explains and the dog’s burial place became a shrine, with that “in the cooler northern and western parts of pilgrims coming to seek the canine saint’s help. A Europe, other beverages might be more suitable”. Dominican with no sense of humour dug up the He gives as an example St Arnulf of Metz, who dog’s bones and had them burned. The church miraculously provided beer for all the entourage worked hard to suppress this saint’s cult from the carrying his body to burial. thirteenth century, and succeeded, although the The chief miracles worked by saints, however, cult was still in existence in the twentieth century. were cures attested by many grateful petitioners. It is It is fun to read the words of contemporaries a surprise, then, to read that saints were not always who thought there might be something wrong in healing in their saintly way. Sometimes they caused worshipping dead people rather than the supreme rather than cured illness. A woman who swore a being they followed. The canon Henry Knighton false oath to St Bertrand that she was innocent of wrote in the fourteenth century about those who adultery “saw her hand wither and dry up”. A man believed “that the feasts of the saints ... should not who falsely swore to St Cuthbert immediately went be observed or celebrated, because no one knows blind. Around 840, men claiming to be monks whether they are damned or not, nor should any brought some bones to Lyons, saying they had belief be placed in the canonisation and approval forgotten which saint they belonged to; perhaps of the saints by the Roman curia”. objecting to this neglect, the relics “did not heal, but The theologian John Wycliffe, who would be knocked women about the church, striking them posthumously declared a heretic, also thought to the ground”. St Etheldreda took her staff and that papal canonisation was liable to error, and stabbed a man in the heart with it for oppressing that those who pray should do so directly to Jesus her believers. Simon de Montfort, who died in and not to the “multiplicity of saints”. Wycliffe’s battle in 1265, was regarded as a saint, but when followers, the Lollards, “were not all theologians, some skeptic derided him, the skeptic “lost the and their views about religious practices could power of speech and was unable to move a hand or be expressed in an earthier way than was possible foot but sat like a dead person”. in Wycliffe’s Oxford Latin”. A hostile chronicler This huge mass of scholarship never gets around reported at the time that a couple of Lollards to answering the question of its title; only believers, chopped up a wooden statue of St Catherine to it seems, can understand why the dead can do such use as firewood to cook their dinner, exclaiming, great things (and maybe how, as well). Perhaps this “This holy image will certainly be holy firewood for is as it should be; Bartlett summarises that “the us.” In the twelfth century, a critic confronted the cult of the saints met needs, in particular the need problem that there were competing revered heads for the hope of a cure in a sick and suffering world of John the Baptist, one in Constantinople and one without effective medicine, but it also suffused the in Saint-Jean-d’Angélyin France: “There were not imagination of worshippers”. That may have to do two John the Baptists, nor one with two heads!” for a “why”. But who, and when, and where - this Perhaps some celestial someone had thought of the enormous and humane reference work gives all that, solution applied to the Welsh saint Teilo, who died along with stories that are appalling and ghoulish around 560. He had been associated with three and mysterious and funny. churches, each of which claimed the body to be its particular relic. It was decided to leave the question - Reviewed by Rob Hardy 54 The Skeptic March 14

what they were seeing with what they were expecting to see, or had memories influenced See creatures by things they have seen on TV. It is perfectly possible that people can remember things that did Abominable Science : Origins of the Yeti, Nessie and not at all happen. A claim that there is a monster out there somewhere asserts that something Other Famous Cryptids spectacular is different from the world as we know By and Donald R Prothero it; such a grand claim needs more than eyewitness Columbia University Press , A$42.95 testimony. More than once the authors quote the science historian Frank Sulloway: “Anecdotes do not make a science. Ten anecdotes are no better than one, and a hundred anecdotes are no better ryptozoology” is a word that than ten.” Someone who says he has seen Bigfoot “Cwas coined in the 1950s to has an anecdote. It might be true, and it might be mean literally the study of hidden a spur to hunt for evidence, but it isn’t evidence. animals. One could make a case for There are plenty of ‘investigators’ covered in these any newly discovered species to have pages who think that anecdotes mean something, been hidden until it was revealed and when scientifically they do not. named; the famous coelacanth was Besides the effects of anecdotes promoting well hidden in the deeps until it was cryptozoological claims, the authors pay close caught in 1938, proving it was not attention to the effect of mainstream media. They extinct as its fossils may have implied. find a disturbing attitude among media presenters The fish is an inspiration for who have “long tended to approach ‘silly season’ cryptozoologists, whose interest paranormal stories and monster yarns with a is not just in hidden animals but looser standard than that applied in other news especially in big, scary, and legendary items”. A legend or regional folklore inspires an creatures that they are sure are out initial story, and the broadcasters cover the story there but whose existence has yet to without skepticism, causing a snowball effect, be proved by, say, capturing or killing generating new sightings and new anecdotes. The a specimen. Instead, they deal in authors think that things are worse in the days of “muddy footprints, blurry photographs, grainy 24 hour cable and unfillable programming time; videos, and anecdotes about strange things that go it is easier to run the story without comment than bump in the night”. to make an effort to track down the truth. Not That description of what cryptozoologists only that, but cable stations that do run genuine study is in the foreword to Abominable Science, science programs (or that used to) also feature and though the description is written by Michael ‘documentaries’ on cryptozoological topics (not to Shermer, it is a good reflection of the views of mention UFOs, Nostradamus, and plenty more). the book’s authors, staff writer for the US Skeptic It is not hard to understand the reason that they magazine Daniel Loxton and palaeontologist do so; such topics are perennially popular and Donald R Prothero. Although the book has people do have fun with them, but the programs academic chops and plenty of footnotes, it has do not come with a warning label that they are jaunty, amusing illustrations by Loxton and, not science. although the authors must cast doubt on each There is a fine chapter here on Bigfoot, also of the monsters they take up in the individual known as the Sasquatch. Oddly, as I write this, chapters, they do so with good humour. there are news stories that a fellow named Rick Abominable Science tells of dubious tales, duplicity, Dyer has hunted and shot the Bigfoot, and has and hoaxes, but also reflects on the nature of put him on display, and the hundred or so people deserved doubt and how basic science is done. who have seen the display are, according to Dyer’s Cryptozoology, the authors explain, “is built on own report, convinced that he has the real thing. openness to first-person testimony”. The monsters Maybe he does, but he said he had the real thing here have been sighted, sometimes repeatedly, by back in 2008 and then had to admit it was a hoax. observers who are often sincere. There is a review Possibly because Bigfoot is supposed to reside in of just how unreliable eyewitness testimony is, as relatively remote mountainous areas, hoaxing of some courts of law are now admitting. Everyone this particular cryptid is especially common, and knows that memories are imperfect, but those the rest of the evidence consists of bad movie who say they have seen a big monster may have footage, blurry photos and faked footprints. There misperceived in the first place, or have coloured are no bones or carcasses, the hard evidence that 55 REVIEWS Cryptozoology + Pseudoscience

See creatures What it also has is creationists who are among its most fervid supporters and who help finance Continued... expeditions to track down the beast. Somehow they think that if they find a prehistoric animal science needs. Combine this with the necessity that was previously known just from fossils it that just one Bigfoot cannot be out there, there will prove that Darwin was wrong, evolution is has to be a population of them, and none of the bosh, the world is 6000 years old, and scripture loggers or campers in the increasingly-traversed is inerrant. Such ideas simply prove the lack of area are finding any evidence. Also, if there is understanding of science that creationists have some strange primate out there, where is the fossil repeatedly displayed; discovering the coelacanth evidence of its forebears? We have plenty of such caused no such revelations, for instance. The evidence for other mammals of North America. authors describe expeditions by people with There is another chapter on sea serpents, degrees in religion, not biology, who explain that which unlike all the other monsters here have an they have not seen Mokele Mbembe because of ancient heritage and did not show up only in the the wily creature’s habit of burrowing quickly into twentieth century. Similar to the sea serpents is the mud of the riverbanks; this might make one the Loch Ness Monster, whose lineage is quite wonder why one expedition after another fails to modern. There is a medieval biography that says bring good digging equipment, or maybe it does St Columba had some encounter with a loch not make one wonder at all. beast, but that book is packed with magic and Loxton and Prothero have done a fine job of other monsters, and is far from a reliable source describing monsters which have an entertainment of biological information. What is fascinating is value for everyone, and without reducing the that whatever beasties were in the loch, no one entertainment in any degree, they have taken each fussed much about them until 1933, the year that monster to illustrate how science is used (or ought the film King Kong was released. The film includes to be used) to look at claims of monster sightings. an episode where a raft is attacked by There are many good laughs within the book, as a water monster, a Diplodocus, and we are introduced to an odd crew of believers sure enough, the report of the first and hoaxers, certainly the strangest of all the canonical sighting of Nessie was a peculiar creatures described herein. replay of this cinematic episode. It became the template for subsequent sightings and hoaxes, as part of a pattern - Reviewed by Rob Hardy encountered in all the chapters here: popular entertainment, media, and paranormal belief, in a Right: Euphelopus or sustained and stable feedback loop. Mokele Mbembe Similar to Nessie in many ways, but less Credit: DiBgd at the English famous, is Mokele Mbembe, the dinosaur of the language Wikipedia Congo. It is less famous than its Scottish cousin, at least to most people, but has attracted its share of expensive trips by eccentrics, interviews with natives who enjoy impressing or playing with the visitors from the west, false footprints, and so on.

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56 The Skeptic March 14

the teros, and both groups had been deposited Science friction by aliens thousands of years ago. The deros had prospered, and were responsible for almost all the calamities people War Over Lemuria experienced. They used rays from sophisticated By Richard Toronto electronic machinery to make the evils happen. Shaver had first-hand knowledge of their McFarland & Co, US$40.50 caverns, and had been taken prisoner by them for several years. It was an elaborate belief system, and given that his first wife died early hen malevolent underground in an electrocution accident and that his in-laws W beings called “deros” were took away his daughter and arranged for his controlling humans on the surface forced hospitalisation, he must have thought by means of electronic rays, only that the deros were doing an efficient job. Richard Shaver could perceive the He would expose them by revealing their plot. His 1943 letter to Ray Palmer, activities to Ray Palmer. editor of Amazing Stories, was almost Palmer had his own tough life, for when he discarded, but Palmer sensed that was seven in 1917, his spine was damaged in this was big news, and rewrote an accident with a passing truck, leaving him a the letter into the sort of story his diminutive hunchback and in considerable pain science fiction magazine usually for the rest of his life. He was raised Catholic, published. but began to practice what we would now call He maintained, though, that ‘new age’ beliefs, relishing the imagination and Shaver had hit upon the truth. And a sense of wonder. He could never do anything thus was born the “Shaver Mystery”, about his back injury, but when in 1930 a publishing phenomenon that was he was diagnosed as having terminal spinal big news at the time. It all blew tuberculosis, he turned it around by mental over, and we didn’t hear from those visualisation of healing activities. underground ogres again, but in its facts the His appetite for marvels was fed by a new Shaver Mystery is itself an Amazing Story, and brand of science fiction, as in Amazing Stories is recounted in full within War over Lemuria: which was launched in 1926. He wasn’t the only Richard Shaver, Ray Palmer and the Strangest one; SF at the time became a way of life for Chapter of 1940s Science Fiction by Richard enthusiastic fans who relished the intoxicating Toronto. “what if” outlook to the future. Palmer insisted The author is a journalist and edits an in the early 1930s that SF must be based on e-zine devoted to the subjects of this book, a scientific facts and theories. He became editor funny, bizarre, and largely sympathetic tale of of Amazing Stories in 1938, and he pushed odd characters. It is so sympathetic that what these ideas, as well as promoting sensational and Toronto claims in his preface is true: “This book thrilling stories that would boost subscriptions does nothing to confirm or deny the reality from a juvenile audience. of Shaver’s deros - an evil race of beings living Thus, in 1943, when Shaver, who had written inside the Earth - or the existence of flying some science fiction, sent the magazine his saucers and whether Richard Shaver and Ray letter in which he told the true story of the Palmer invented them.” Invented them? Even deros, and included notes about their language now, it is hard to say. and alphabet and their powerful rays, it wasn’t Shaver, you see, had a history of being surprising that a subeditor read the letter aloud hospitalised for hallucinations and for delusions to members of the staff, crumpled it, and of persecution. He grew up in a poor family that dropped it into the waste basket. What was moved around searching for work during the surprising was that Palmer walked over, rescued depression. He liked working for a landscaping the letter, smoothed it out, and admonished, company, but eventually wound up working “And you call yourself an editor? Run the entire in an auto factory in Detroit. In the welding thing in next issue’s letter column.” machines there, Shaver started to hear voices It isn’t clear if he was pursuing a emanating from the underworld. The evil deros Barnumesque folly to boost circulation, but were projecting unwanted thoughts into his circulation grew mightily when the letter, head, but he had the gumption to learn more; and subsequent diverse exciting stories on the there were benevolent beings to counter them, dero theme became a monthly feature of the 57 REVIEWS Pseudoscience

Science fiction like that because when people insisted upon the reality of deros-via-saucers, Uncle Sam was Continued... having to waste his time investigating UFOs rather than fighting Commies. Palmer was magazine. Readers wrote in to say that Shaver’s forced to print an editorial that the magazine experiences confirmed their own experiences of would in the future stick to fiction. hearing voices or to blame various misfortunes Palmer would go on to other publications on the deros. and independent publishing. For three years, the magazine devoted to He maintained a friendship with Shaver, science fiction became a centre of what was one that was strained by money issues and supposed to be some sort of spiritual fact. There attribution of credit. Shaver found new evidence were Shaver clubs of true believers, and of of underground civilisations in rocks on his course there were the naysayers. These were the farm, and developed a technique of making organised fans of science fiction, and they were pictures from the patterns he saw within them; outraged that their magazine had been hijacked; he got some recognition for his artistic work, they wrote vicious letters and yelled excited but sadly it was mostly posthumous. protest speeches at science fiction conventions. People are still seeing flying saucers, piloted Harper’s Magazine and Life publicised the by deros or not, and Shaver and Palmer deserve controversy. Naturally, none of this hurt credit (or blame) for at least some of the UFO circulation. enthusiasm. Richard Toronto has told a true The remarkable thing is that it did not tale full of odd characters and events; if Shaver’s all come crashing down because of the Lemuria does not exist, this account has almost outlandishness of the stories or the accusations as much strangeness. of hoaxing. What really happened must have warmed - Reviewed by Rob Hardy the heart of any dero, if deros have hearts. In 1948, his publishers insisted that Palmer lay off Skeptic_ad_Article summaries 27/02/2014the Shaver 5:02 pm controversy. Page 1 It had branched into flying saucers, and the federal government didn’t

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58 LETTERS To the Editor The Skeptic March 14

played in this geophysical dynamic. I understand the frustration of the What you think ... editorial staff with the depths to which the debate had at times descended and their desire to shift our association’s • The subject matter might be so focus towards more fruitful targets for Peerless peers? specific that the identity of the skepticism. author is obvious. Only one person However, I think it should be our editorial comments on peer could have had access to the data. noted that in all areas of scientific Yreview [The Skeptic, 33:4, p4] are This can be a source of bias (or of a discourse, withdrawal from a debate timely and your and The Economist’s competitor’s jealous comment). allows opposing forces to fill the descriptions of some of the problems • The subject matter might be so vacuum with assertions, aspirations germane. specific that the field of possible and gross misrepresentations. While Having been a peer reviewer for reviewers is so small that the identity many masquerade as facts, they would the Medical Journal of Australia for of the reviewer is obvious to the more conventionally be seen as hopes more years that I can remember, I author. or even lies, often with little scientific can (with the editor’s permission) • The time pressure on journals credibility. A classic example would divulge to readers of The Skeptic a few is enormous. The (unpaid) be any withdrawal from the debate inside details of this journal’s peer reviewers, likewise, are usually busy over vaccination, which would leave review system, and some personal practitioners volunteering their the field open to assertions completely observations. precious off-duty time. This does not lacking in scientific foundation. • The names of authors are not made bode well for thoughtful and detailed We have recently seen a cabinet known to the reviewers – to avoid analysis of papers. minister, a former prime minister and bias. On the other side of the coin, I have a range of government spokespersons • The names of the reviewers are not found some peer reviewers’ comments giving, at least, equal weight to made known to the authors – to on my articles extremely valuable, intuition, Wikipedia-based research avoid bias. opening my eyes to aspects of my and shock-jock-style anecdotal-style • The Journal usually sends the articles papers which I had not realised could evidence as they do to long-term, to three reviewers. Where relevant, be misinterpreted, or to areas which extensive, peer-reviewed data, giving one is a statistician experienced in could benefit by some expansion. a degree of respectability to what we handling medical data. I should add that some journals have should regard as scientific nonsense. • The reviewers’ comments are placed abandoned anonymity of author and There are now numbers of senior on the editorial website, password reviewers, but ask reviewers if there is figures in both the public and private protected so that each reviewer any possibility of a perception of bias sectors using their influence and may see the comments of the other with respect to the author(s), just as private intuitions to determine science reviewers, but not know who they are. they ask authors if there are any areas policy and we hear budgetary pressures • No word limits are placed on the of possible or perceived conflict of used as a justification to remove any reviewers. interest. scientific research that has the potential • Reviewers are asked: Does the paper Are there any reasonable, practical to produce findings with which they adequately focus on the issue? What alternatives to peer review? I think not. might disagree. are its strengths and weaknesses? Could it be improved? Of course, but We could be forgiven for observing How can the content be improved? how? That is the question. that by withdrawing our moderating and the statistician is asked some role in the debate we have not closed quite specific questions. Dr Peter Arnold it down, we’ve merely allowed the There are, of course, no perfect Edgecliff NSW inmates to take over the asylum. solutions to the problems raised in Given the nature of the scientific your editorial. I, too, have experienced method, the language used by scientists some: must retain a level of equivocation • Some reviewers submit a Defending necessary to accommodate the small short comment, approving or science levels of doubt that remain. Rational disapproving, recommending or skepticism accepts the reality of doubt not recommending publication. and uncertainty. But those seeking to Few make positive suggestions for bout 12 months ago the throw doubt on such findings then improvement. AAustralian Skeptic put a hold on choose to berate the lack of definitive • A few make caustic, hurtful printing articles and letters related to proof and evidence of an occurrence comments. This is, in my opinion, the climate change debate and within that is yet to happen. As PR it’s been quite unhelpful. it the role that humans may have very effective, but is it credible science, 59 LETTERS

Science Turn of the tides Response Continued... to Catalyst greatly enjoy the classical articles and does anybody still care? Ifrom Barry Williams, in particular Science, and the credibility of the “Full Moons and Empty Heads” [The s a practising community scientific method, needs every friend Skeptic 33:4, p32]. I can imagine a A pharmacist, enthusiastic skeptic it can muster if it is to be allowed to parallel universe where the cookie and supporter of evidence-based ask difficult questions and certainly crumbled differently and he became a medicine, I feel that your magazine’s publish findings and hypotheses that scientist, or at least a professional science articles rebutting the ABC’s Catalyst are not tainted by their acceptability. communicator. “Heart of the Matter” programs were As skeptics we embrace the scientific His considerations of the orbits and sadly deficient about the current method and should not stand idly by influences of the earth and the moon science of this controversial topic. when we witness a concerted strategy are illuminating. But the tidal effects Your correspondents Justin Coleman, to portray attempts to trash science as need some correction. It is true that the Rachael Dunlop and Media Watch exercises in legitimate skepticism. gravitational attraction between two very reasonably dissected the program’s If the Australian Skeptics can’t stand bodies is inversely proportional to the up for science when public figures are distance between them, but this would able to utter unsupported assertions only “be” the tidal effect if one body masquerading as scientific facts we (the earth) was nailed down and unable have reached a crisis point. Although to move, so to speak. Then the direct the responsibility for this kind of ‘fact gravitational pull would cause very high checking’ has begun to move to some tides once per day. media organisations, I fear that their But the earth is constantly falling independence to continue in this toward the moon, and the rock and the role will soon be curtailed. I think water are affected equally. Only with a skepticism is the core attribute of a fact deeper analysis do we find the near side checker and so the natural home of of the water is attracted more strongly ‘Fact Checking’ lies within the organs than rocky earth, due to being closer to of the Australian Skeptic. the moon, and the far side of the water, less strongly. This in effect elevates the Ian Foster water at both the 0 and 180 degree sensationalist approach and rightly Nicholls, ACT points. criticised its obvious bias. Further, at the 90 degree points the However all writers devoted much force vectors are not parallel but are of their columns to ad hominem Editor’s note: Mr Foster refers to an angled in a bit (since they all point to attacks, rather than presenting any earlier decision to put a halt to discussion the moon), thus lowering the water here. robust defence of the science. Dr of the evidence (or lack of it) for and Thus the moon’s gravitational field in Dunlop writes: “Elsewhere in this against climate change in these pages. the vicinity of the earth can be broken issue … the scientific claims made by That discussion had become akin to into two parts: a uniform field (which Catalyst have been challenged.” Beg counting angels on pin-heads, and prone has no observable effect as the earth falls pardon, but I found no such challenge to ad hominem attack and conspiracy as a whole), plus a gravitational gradient. in my copy. claims – all areas that are endemic to the Mathematically the latter is a dipole Just as Dr Coleman’s sceptometer proponents of , and should term, and varies as the inverse cube of twitched at Jonny Bowden’s “100 per not be part of discussion between skeptics. the distance. Newton guessed the cube cent wrong”, mine was engaged by I stick by that earlier decision. With that law from tidal measurements (Principia), Media Watch’s appeal to the authority in mind, I thank Mr Foster for allowing but never gave an explanation. of “the mainstream”. Remember that some editing of his letter to focus on issues Finally, the sun also provides a great science story of Marshall and of scientific debate generally, though it gravitational gradient, about half that of Warren’s discovery of the connection was obvious that he holds very strong the moon. When these two effects add between Helicobacter and gastric views on that same debate as it applies up we have king tides, and when they ulcers? According to their 2005 to climate change. I would prefer it if subtract we have neap tides. Nobel Prize citation, they “challenged the publication of his letter were not seen prevailing dogmas”. This, I thought, is as an invitation to revisit the climate Ian Bryce what we skeptics do. We must ensure debate. Rozelle, NSW that we do not unwittingly become 60 The Skeptic March 14

part of an information cascade based concocted elaborate health campaigns on nothing more than authority or prematurely from incomplete evidence. Cause or effect? mistaken consensus. The drug, food and marketing sectors More than half a century has passed have had a field day. For the year since Dr Ancel Keys commenced his to June 2012, our Pharmaceutical e: The article on ‘Lunarcy’ (The anti-cholesterol campaign. During this Benefits Scheme spent $1.3 billion on RSkeptic, 33:4). Are we overlooking time, ‘expert’ dietary advice has turned lipid modifying agents. something? over more times than a saturated-fat I can’t help feeling that in The Lunar Society of Birmingham laden rotisserie chicken. Remember the multifactorial puzzle that is met monthly in the 1780s. The heart of “don’t eat cholesterol-rich foods”? Little cardiovascular disease, we could the Society was Matthew Boulton, the if any impact on cholesterol levels, but have invested our efforts and health industrialist who built Watt’s engines. this advice brought the egg industry resources more wisely. Other members included Erasmus to its knees and deprived many of a Darwin, famous physician, writer cheap, nutritious food. Then, for years, Ian J Carr and Charles Darwin’s grandfather; the theme was “polyunsaturates”. Pure, Taree, NSW Joseph Priestly, the rebellious cleric and farm-fresh butter was replaced by the scientist famous for isolating oxygen; artificial cocktail that is margarine. In Josiah Wedgwood known for his fine the 1970s we had to replace fats in the tableware; the astronomer William diet with carbohydrates. And so on… Jewish Herschel, who discovered the planet I have just had a quick skim Uranus; and John Smeaton, designer round some respected recent research differentiators of the Eddystone lighthouse; among summaries. others. These men (they seemed to Research collator NNT (for be all men) and other similar groups Number Needed to Treat) concurs n the last issue of The Skeptic [33:4, charted the development of the with the worthy Cochrane reviewers Ip6], there was a short summary about Industrial Revolution. on statin drugs: No overall benefit in my talk at the National Convention It was called the Lunar Society primary prevention. (http://tinyurl. in Canberra, titled “How Jews Rule because it met during the full moon com/m23faoc) the World” (and not as printed). when roads were better lit for members If there has been one consistent Unfortunately, the summary got a key who had to travel at night. message from the diet boffins in the fact wrong, and missed what I consider It is clear, therefore, that the moon last half century (and the food industry to be the most important aspect of does have an influence on human marketing machine) it has been “Eat Jewish history in this context. behaviour. less fat!” Permit me therefore to shout The summary states that I “suggested this one. Cochrane 2012: “There are that there might even be a genetic Ian Kirby no clear health benefits of replacing condition – however slight – that is Nightcliff, NT saturated fats with starchy foods intrinsic to ‘Jewishness’”. I do not (reducing the amount of fat we eat)”! believe I have said anything of the sort. (See more at http://tinyurl. It runs contrary to my assessment of the com/867f68k) evidence and I have spent quite a bit of And a paper which will bring joy to time showing why genetics cannot be the hearts of cheese eaters everywhere, the reason for the overall success of Jews. and may be part of the explanation for In addition, I highlighted the fact (and the French Paradox: “(Dairy fat intake) reasons) that Jews have been an almost was inversely associated with incident fully literate community for about 1900 cardiovascular disease and coronary years and that for most of that time this heart disease”, J Am Heart Assoc. put them on par only with royalty and 2013; 2: e000092. clergy, with the rest of the population If Dr Keys has not yet been mostly illiterate. I feel this is a key declared the emperor sans clothes, differentiator that should make it into his metaphorical trousers are by now any summary of the talk. hovering around his ankles. I am disappointed that I haven’t The great issue here is not the conveyed those two messages strongly minutiae of lipid biochemistry, which enough. will be argued in the journals ad infinitum. With the best of intentions, Eran Segev our benevolent technocrats have Lane Cove, NSW 61 REGULARS

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CRYPTIC CROSSWORD SOLUTION DR BOB’S QUIZ SOLUTIONS

S T E R E B E E S Y A R A P

L 1. pi.Z.Z.A

U S K E L E I

N 2. $847.63 was the monthly cost of raising a baby in 1989.

M S I C I T S O N G A D E Z

A 3a. They actually add to 4472.000000007112 but most

A O D A O T I

I calculators will round off numbers to about 10 decimal

D E N M A D T Q B B S E V L

E places, so the 4472 looks like a whole number.

A T N S H A I H 3b. 3987 and 4365 are both divisible by 9, their digits add to a

multiple of 9, so their 12th powers must also be divisible by R E H T E V E U G G A D E P

O 9, but 4472 and any of its powers are not thus divisible.

T T R T I N O

O 4. The expansion of pi goes on forever, so the kids’ song would

S S A L G R U O H R I D A R

N also never end. Even Andrei Tarkovsky’s camera would have

O P Y T T D H

T to pan away eventually.

N R O C A N I F S D E M A S

I 5. Like Mickey Mouse and all other cartoon humanoids, all

O E L T A I E

A Simpsons characters have a thumb but only three fingers on

T U T A S S E N I K E L E T I each hand and would surely, therefore, count in octal and

thus express pi in base-8. (Except for one character: God,

U S E N D O O

A who is drawn with a thumb and four fingers on each hand.)

N W O D L I P M T N E G O C T You can see more like this, every month and going back some years, at www.skeptics.com.au/features/dr-bobs-quiz/ 62 The Skeptic March 14

Local Skeptical Groups

VICTORIA TASMANIA Ballarat Skeptics Launceston Skeptics https://www.facebook.com/groups/39781220309544 Contact: Jin-oh Choi, 0408 271 800 [email protected] Citizens for Science – Mornington Peninsula www.launcestonskeptics.com (formerly Peninsula Skeptics, aka The Celestial Teapot) Contacts: Graeme Hanigan 0438 359 600 or Tina Hunt 0416 156 Launceston: Skeptics in the Pub 945 or [email protected] 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month http://www.meetup.com/Teapot-Mornington-Peninsula/ 5.30pm @ The Royal Oak Hotel

Gippsland Skeptics – (formerly Sale Skeptics In The Pub) Launceston: Skeptical Sunday Meets at 6:30pm twice a month: Ryan’s Hotel, Taralgon, on the 2nd Sunday of each month second Friday, and Relish, Sale on the fourth Friday. 2.00pm @ Cube Cafe [email protected] or 0424 376 153 Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gippsland- Skeptics/172376579482915 QUEENSLAND Brisbane Skeptics Great Ocean Road Skeptics – (Geelong) Meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 6:30pm at the Meets on the last Wednesday of each month from 6pm, City Plough Inn, Southbank Quarter, Cunningham Pier East Geelong http://Brisbanesitp.wordpress.com - Contact: Carolyn Coulson [email protected] follow links for Facebook, Twitter and email list Melbourne Eastern Hills Skeptics in the Pub Meets second Monday of each month at The Knox Club, Wantirna South. Contact: Lucas Randall 0423141453 [email protected] http://mehsitp.codenix.org

Melbourne Skeptics in the Pub Meets on the fourth Monday of every month from 6 pm at the Mt View Hotel in Richmond. http://www.melbourneskeptics.com.au/skeptics-in-the-pub/

Mordi Skeptics in The Pub Meets at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of each month at the Mordi Sporting Club. ($2 to cover website costs) http://www.meetup.com/Mordi-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/

NOTE: LISTINGS WELCOME We invite listings for any Skeptical groups based on local rather than regional areas. Email us at editor@ skeptics.com.au with details of your organisation’s name, contact details and any regular functions, eg Skeptics in the Pub, with time, day of the month, location etc. Because this is a quarterly journal and most local groups meet monthly, it is unlikely we will be able to include references to specific speakers or events. together it all bringing

Australian Skeptics National Convention NOVEMBER 28-30

For more details go to skeptics.com.au/convention

Skeptic_New BackCover_Mar14.indd 64 17/03/14 4:38 PM