People want to believe

[Lullaby Chainer]

Three years ago, I found myself awed by my unusual ability to predict cards. I couldn't help but think I had something special, or that I was in some way clairvoyant.

In reality, I was ignorantly following in the footsteps of other psychic believers by making key mistakes in my reasoning.

If you believe -- aren't completely skeptical -- or have hopes of any of the following, please explain why and I will gladly reply with my own arguments.


-Miracles
-Akashic record
-anomalous cognition
-anomalous perturbation
-apport
-astral body
-astral projection
-aura
-aura therapy
-Backster effect
-Bermuda Triangle
-bio-ching
-"blue sense"
-Bridey Murphy
-cartomancy
-Carlos Castaneda
-Edgar Cayce
-charm
-clairaudience
-clairvoyance
-Aleister Crowley
-crystal power
-crystal skull
-deport
-dermo-optical perception
-decline effect
-displacement
-divination
-Jeane Dixon
-dowsing
-ectoplasm
-ehf (extraordinary human function)
-ESP
-evil eye
-experimenter effect
-ganzfeld experiment
-Geller, Uri
-hundredth monkey phenomenon
-hypnagogic state
-hypnopompic state
-instrumental communication
-intuitive
-Kabbalarian Philosophy
-Kirlian photography
-levitation
-ley lines
-magical thinking
-medium
-mentalist
-Raymond Moody
-Nostradamus
-numerology
-occult & occultism
-Ouija board
-optional starting and stopping
-palmistry
-paranormal
-parapsychology
-past life regression
-philosopher’s stone
-plant perception
-precognition
-Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR)
-psi
-psi assumption
-psi-conducive state
-psi-focus assumption
-psi-missing
-psychic
-psychic detective
-psychic drift
-psychic photography
-psychic surgery
-psychokinesis
-psychometry
-The Randi Paranormal Challenge
-remote viewing
-retroactive clairvoyance
-retrocognition
-runes
-Scallion, Gordon-Michael
-scrying
-séance
-sensory leakage
-shotgunning
-stichomancy
-sympathetic magic
-talisman
-tarot
-Charles Tart
-telekinesis
-telepathy
-true-believer syndrome
-Van Praagh, James
-vitalism
-Zener ESP cards

[CoffeeSaint]

Depending on what you mean by them, I may be accepting of intuitives; I don't think that telekinesis and levitation are quite as impossible as telepathy, though I don't believe those abilities have evolved yet, just that they could in future, whereas clairvoyance, say, can't. And I really want to know what the Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon is -- I think you just gave me the name for my next band. Or maybe the Backster Effect; has a nice hip-hop flava.

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: CoffeeSaint Depending on what you mean by them, I may be accepting of intuitives; I don't think that telekinesis and levitation are quite as impossible as telepathy, though I don't believe those abilities have evolved yet, just that they could in future, whereas clairvoyance, say, can't. And I really want to know what the Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon is -- I think you just gave me the name for my next band. Or maybe the Backster Effect; has a nice hip-hop flava.

lol ^^

the hundredth monkey phenomenom

Most the list is compliments of skepdic.com

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: CoffeeSaint Depending on what you mean by them, I may be accepting of intuitives; I don't think that telekinesis and levitation are quite as impossible as telepathy, though I don't believe those abilities have evolved yet, just that they could in future, whereas clairvoyance, say, can't

In what way could these things appear in our future?

[ladyphoenix]

I guess my question would be could something like genetic memory happen? I mean, could certain instincts be characterized as genetic memory? If that's the case, is there something locked up in our brains that we don't know about? We have huge parts of our brains that don't really seem to be doing very much... What would our brains be capable of if we tapped into those parts of our brains?

And I have NO answers to these questions. Just something to think about.

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: ladyphoenix I guess my question would be could something like genetic memory happen? I mean, could certain instincts be characterized as genetic memory? If that's the case, is there something locked up in our brains that we don't know about? We have huge parts of our brains that don't really seem to be doing very much... What would our brains be capable of if we tapped into those parts of our brains? And I have NO answers to these questions. Just something to think about.

In regards to "hugs parts of our brains being untapped", are you referring to the whole "we only use 10% of our brain" deal?

If so, that's a misconception. We use nearly 100% of our brain.

[ladyphoenix]

:) Really? I'd like to read about that, any links? I mean, if that is truly a myth, it's been widely propagated for, geez, well, at least a couple of decades (my whole life).

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: ladyphoenix :) Really? I'd like to read about that, any links? I mean, if that is truly a myth, it's been widely propagated for, geez, well, at least a couple of decades (my whole life).

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Science (The Ten-Percent Myth)

[CoffeeSaint]

Quote by: Lullaby Chainer In what way could these things appear in our future?

That was probably a bad way to put that. What I meant was, I think it's conceivable that we could evolve -- or an animal could evolve -- the ability to manipulate energy fields, and thus to make objects move and potentially move themselves, hence levitation. I don't believe these things exist now (Though David Blaine still freaks me out, but I know that's my own willing suspension of disbelief. At least I think it is . . .). I don't believe telepathy or clairvoyance could ever exist, because the human brain is too individual in its connections and patterns for any other brain to make sense out of it directly without interpretation by means of speech. And clairvoyance implies that the future is set and thus knowable, and I think that's crap, too.

[Jack]

To add to Coffee Saint's explanation, I think it's conceivable that in time we may discover that things like telekinesis and telepathy are natural in origin, simply requiring a higher brain function than most of us can currently access. Or they may be the result of brain damage and while still natural, not common.
I agree with CS about anything that claims to allow visions of the future, it's always going to be bogus. The future doesn't exist. "The future" is what we call the present before it happens. With a near infinite number of factors affecting the outcome of any present event, accurately predicting "the future" is nonsensical. Broad guesses and generalizations, sure. But that's about it.

[underbear1]

Seems like an awfully long list of stuff you think is bunk.
May I ask, why bother spending so much time and effort on it?
Maybe it just gets on your last nerve if someone believes something you don't?

[5010]

I stay away from that stuff. I've had bad experiences and regardless of whether it was real or psychological, it was freaky.

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: underbear1 Seems like an awfully long list of stuff you think is bunk. May I ask, why bother spending so much time and effort on it? Maybe it just gets on your last nerve if someone believes something you don't?

The list, as I mentioned, is from the skeptic's dictionary.

I also find it odd that you would ask such questions in a debate site. :]

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: Isherwood To add to Coffee Saint's explanation, I think it's conceivable that in time we may discover that things like telekinesis and telepathy are natural in origin, simply requiring a higher brain function than most of us can currently access. Or they may be the result of brain damage and while still natural, not common. I agree with CS about anything that claims to allow visions of the future, it's always going to be bogus. The future doesn't exist. "The future" is what we call the present before it happens. With a near infinite number of factors affecting the outcome of any present event, accurately predicting "the future" is nonsensical. Broad guesses and generalizations, sure. But that's about it.

If you think this is a possibility of the future, you should be able to explain what you mean by this.

What would be moving an object under telekinesis. I've never seen any data or research that even comes close to describing brain waves that strong. Why would we evolve this incredible power in brain waves? Is there a genetic growth or need that would help evolve this?

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: 5010 I stay away from that stuff. I've had bad experiences and regardless of whether it was real or psychological, it was freaky.

What was freaky?

[-=Darkstar=-]

ectoplasm -ehf (extraordinary human function) -ESP -evil eye -experimenter effect

what no evolution? lol *is in big trouble* is there an unwritten rule that threads have to stay on topic? cause i would love to into a "matter cannot come from non matter" tangent but if that's frowned upon


telekinesis- what the heck? is there even any feasible explanation for this? have our brains ever in the history of the world been able to physically manipulate objects through...through what? there is no "brain power"

lullaby chainer you are so right! there is an enormous "gullibility factor" among us humans. its scary! so many conspiracy theories, loch ness monsters and the like

it just goes to show..lol i don't know! we're stupid?

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: -=Darkstar=- telekinesis- what the heck? is there even any feasible explanation for this? have our brains ever in the history of the world been able to physically manipulate objects through...through what? there is no "brain power"

I would agree, but to correct you, there are brain waves and they do have an effect on our physical world.

BUT

They are not NEARLY strong enough to do anything like that. To say we will evolve this ability is wishful x-man thinking. There is no genetic reason to produce greater brainwaves. Even with enough energy, channeling these waves to specifically move an object would defy laws of physics. Our minds can't consciously control what our brain waves do. They're just that.. waves. They are invisible hands, they are like a ripple in water. If you want to argue that we can control what our brain waves do, you better be able to explain it with more than "It COULD happen".

Yes, the future holds many things none of us can predict. I would be a fool to cancel out the possibility, but as of now, telekinesis is not possible.

[5010]

Quote by: Lullaby Chainer What was freaky?

I don't really like talking about personal experiences, but I'll offer this one.

One example is when my ex wife and I were together and she started to get into "new age". I thought it was all a bunch of crap, but wasn't going to tell her what to believe. Anyway one night I woke up and opened my eyes and hovering above me was a hideous apparition. It was extremely ugly, looked fairly decayed, and its long dirty hair and pieces of skin floated as if it was underwater. I screamed out loud and it seemed startled and ducked out of my field of vision extremely fast. My ex was startled too, of course, and wondered why I did that and I told her. She said at that moment she had been practicing astral travel and was trying to project herself onto me in a sexual way. I made her promise not to do that anymore.

That's the freakiest thing I've experienced in 40 years.

[McAiden]

I don't know about all that stuff either but I used to read about most of it. I do "feel" people's vibes, and that's the only way I'll describe that. When younger I thought people were feeling this way about me but, no, it's just what they are feeling about themselves that day or time. I've had to learn how to use this little "gift" to possibly help someone, rather than getting tripped up myself. So, I can sorta just know why people are doing the odd thing or another, and understand. What else?

[-=Darkstar=-]

I would agree, but to correct you, there are brain waves and they do have an effect on our physical world.

woah really? sweet! tell me more

I don't know about all that stuff either but I used to read about most of it. I do "feel" people's vibes, and that's the only way I'll describe that. When younger I thought people were feeling this way about me but, no, it's just what they are feeling about themselves that day or time. I've had to learn how to use this little "gift" to possibly help someone, rather than getting tripped up myself. So, I can sorta just know why people are doing the odd thing or another, and understand. What else?

and this is 100% accurate? how would you say you're able to do this scientifically