"MY theory of dowsing? I have none, have stated none."
Do you not believe dowsing is nothing more then a mind trick? The rods turn inwards subconsciously because the "dowser" wants them to, right? What I'm saying is that yes, the mind affects dowsing...I've stated this before. If you tell yourself it is a joke, that it will not work, if you don't have an open mind about the subject THEN IT WILL NOT WORK! I can place a penny on a map and then map dowse for water. I can tell myself it is water and then dowse on the penny and it will react to water. This is something the dowser must make sure he is not doing, or he can easily fool himself. I've done it before and to dowse correctly one must not try to hard, one must remain relaxed and neutral on the subject...in a sense one must not care about the reaction. If you have an inclination where gold is and you dowse there, your inclination might affect the dowsing. YOU, being a strong, and apparently by your posts very closed minded, will never get a reaction.
"How can we take you seriously when in one post you say something, then in the next say 'I didn't say that.' After all, once it's posted, we can see 'No, you did, and here's the quote.'"
If my memory serves me correctly, you are lying. If you are not I dare you to show me where I've said this.
"Dowsing is science? What actual scientific principles does it use? (Answer: none.) Since it does not rely on any previously stated scientific principle, it qualifies, at least as 'paranormal.'"
I say dowsing is completely scientific, because there is nothing super natural about it. There is no magik concerning it. Science may not be able to explain it at the moment, but that doesn't make it witch craft or any other means like this. As I've stated before, dreams are not explained by science, but do you call them paranormal? Do you not believe in them because of this?
"'Randi's conditions?'"
You see Randi does have some conditions, for instance that this is a test to prove that one can dowse.
How many times must I say this? "And the third most important thing to remember about the psychology of becoming aware of subliminal stimuli, is not to invest too much ego in the task: if it means too much to you, if you have to prove yourself, then you are bound to fail."
I can dowse while people are watching. But others can affect the dowsing. A strong, close minded disbeliever like yourself can affect the dowsing, I could not dowse around you, such negativity, I don't believe I ever could...at least not at this time.
"we skeptics keep our stories straight."
Show me where I haven't.
"Another is that we don't apply our interpretations to the facts -- we let the facts talk for themselves."
No you don't, dowsing doesn't fit into your "realm of reality" because science can't at the moment explain it (just like the dreams you have every night). So you are "skeptical" of it, but you are no longer. You do not believe in dowsing and nothing I say can change that, the definition of a closed mind.
I have not stated my interpretations as facts, I can say dowsing works, that's a fact. Facts have proven that. I've used dowsing, I have found different artifacts that were unknown to me. I've deliberately tested myself dating coins. Different Viking artifacts other dowsers have dated before and kept records of, I have dated those same artifacts and then compared our findings and they are the same. Dowsing has introduced me to a lot of Viking evidence that I would not have known otherwise.
I've used it successfully and have benefited from it. These are facts. Through these I have proved to myself and a few other open minded people that dowsing works. These are also facts. My conclusion concerning dowsing is not founded off mere skepticism and a few baited challenges. This is a fact.
I stand by facts, you do not. You say that I can't find artifacts like petrified wood from Viking ships through dowsing and yet I have (this is also a fact), therefore I can conclude that you are lying. (which is a fact)
I can not dowse under the conditions of a test conducted by someone as negative and closed minded as you, this is a fact. If you (and to anyone that wishes to learn about dowsing or see it in action) cares to be more open minded I will gladly have a few lessons with you. I will teach you dowsing if you promise to perhaps listen and perhaps give something you don't believe in a chance.
So...if the conditions of Randi's or Carl's test could be that I could teach them dowsing and they see it work...then sure I'll fill out an application, but I doubt they would be willing to do this truthfully.
Captain, don't attack dowsers and say we don't stand by facts. If dowsing didn't work, if we have not benefited from it by success then we would not use it!
"Sansted, do you believe Art's claim, that playing a CD in a boombox will result in the signal being transmitted out through the radio antenna? A simple yes-or-no will suffice."
I can not say I understand much about electricity or radio theory, so I must stand at a neutral position as it would be unwise to make a conclusion on a subject I don't understand. But even in this lack of understanding and even if I had evidence to say it doesn't work...I do have evidence to say that it would work...Art's word. Art has never lied to me, I owe him that respect and trust. I would remain open minded and do the experiment instead of arguing over how it could or could not work. If it doesn't work (as you say) then it won't work in the experiment...it's that simple. If you are wrong it would work.
But I don't understand the subject and don't have a CD boombox so can not look into it. I remain neutral on the subject.
