Official Outer Limits/Debunking Thread

[Concerto]

Originally Posted by uDevil

There's no way to do that if you refuse to reconsider an idea. Some ideas (e.g. the cosmological constant, heliocentrism) have come back after being 'discredited'.

I don't know if cold fusion belongs in the same category with n-rays, but anything labeled 'fringe' isn't going to get serious discussion. No wonder progress comes one funeral at a time.

Free cold fusion, imo.

A forum that includes discussion on speculative topics does not need a containment thread for subjects in which widespread research by professionals is ongoing, even if marginalized by the mainstream.

[DDNK]

The belief that self-deception is avoidable is a conspiracy of the subconscious, whose goal is to convince the consciousness that it somehow isn't completely flawed...

...and controlled by the Illuminati.

[donniccolo]

Originally Posted by Concerto

Free cold fusion, imo.

A forum that includes discussion on speculative topics does not need a containment thread for subjects in which widespread research by professionals is ongoing, even if marginalized by the mainstream.

this is a problem in lots of areas of life: people believe that mainstream/widespread belief in an idea (or disbelief in this case) makes it fact. just look at any religion for example. a billion christians couldn't be wrong, could they? no way a billion people are wrong...

for the small % of us living in the real world (not Narnia) we understand that widespread belief in something does not necessarily make it fact.

[plaaynde]

Originally Posted by donniccolo

for the small % of us living in the real world (not Narnia) we understand that widespread belief in something does not necessarily make it fact.

+1
But wide spread "believes" MAY be right, especially if they are based on science. The tricky thing is to estimate the importance of different evidence. It´s a real challenge to do it correctly, in a way to free yourself from the rest of the world (and from yourself!).

[chezlaw]

Originally Posted by donniccolo

for the small % of us living in the real world (not Narnia) we understand that widespread belief in something does not necessarily make it fact.

In Narnia many believed the winter would never end.

[donniccolo]

^^^^^ 11,111

[Akileos]

in Narnia they believed that the moon landing had been faked.

[lastcardcharlie]

Originally Posted by donniccolo

^^^^^ 11,111

I think it's something to do with getting Nelsoned.

[atakdog]

I agree that discussion of cold fusion and discussion of whether the moon landing was a hoax seem qualitatively different. The latter belongs in a thread about zombies and crop circles, but the former can at least be discussed, more than trivially, in a scientific way.

[Nootka]

Originally Posted by vhawk01

True story:

I really like zombies. I like books about zombies, zombie movies, you name it. For some reason, they are just the most interesting and badass of all the classic horror villains, imo. I dont want to hear your vampire nonsense, vampires are just basically emo zombies. I particularly enjoy the recent trend in the zombie genre of playing up the viral, medical possibilities of zombies, based in some part probably on Haitian "zombies" and other medical oddities. With this in mind, while on my neurology rotation last year, me and a like-minded classmate spent probably a good 4 hours each day, for 2 weeks, discussing the medical intricacies and minutae of zombies. We would pimp our residents on zombie questions, we would present patients in the morning as "Not presently showing signs of zombification" and we would discuss the steps the hospital was prepared to take in the event of (inevitable in our opinion) zombie uprising and epidemic.

This was probably more amusing to the two of us than to those around us, but as we were not officially disciplined, we continued to build up steam. Now, a quick aside is in order: the logistics of medical services are essentially this. At the bottom you have between 1 and 3 third year medical students (M3s). Above them you have an optional M4. Above that is the residents, from intern (PGY1) to the chief of the service (PGY3 to PGY5). Above that you will have an attending who is ultimately responsible for the decisions the team makes, but who in general plays more of an advisory role. He is somewhat responsible for educating the M3, but as you can see in the hierarchy, we are enough steps below him that interaction is generally minimal. In rare instances you are able to build a rapport though, and this was just such an attending. After a week or so of this zombie discussion, we finally decided to broach the subject with him. But we, perhaps unwisely, didnt exactly build up to it. He made the mistake of asking us if we had any questions or anything we wanted to learn about, so I asked him, absolutely deadpan, "Dr. XXXXXX....do you think that zombism crosses the placental barrier? I mean, some viruses are capable, but I wasnt able to find any reliable literature on the subject, so I was just wondering." To his credit (as an educator, if not as an expert on zombies) he paused, considered, and responded "Female zombies are sterile, they cannot get pregnant." Well, the first and really only rule of med student rounds is that you do not, under any circumstances, correct the attending, no matter how obviously wrong he is. So, my classmate and I accepted this answer and continued on with rounds.

Moral of the story: Can you believe they grant medical licenses to people who dont even realize that you get pregnant FIRST, and are then BITTEN by a zombie, and thus it is ABSOLUTELY potentially a concern whether zombism crosses the placental barrier?

This reminds me of an npr halloween story on some psychiatrist's theory of the zombie brain. Docs with keys to the medicine cabinet imo.

[Zeno]

Smithsonian article on crop circle hoax:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-c...-the-Hoax.html


Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_circle


But then there is a conference for those with an open mind:

http://www.earthspiritconferences.co...hopsApr10.html

From the conference link:




Michael Glickman & Karen Alexander
CROP CIRCLES: NUMBER, GEOMETRY & PHILOSOPHY

Geometry, number and proportion are the language with which the crop circles have chosen to open their conversation with us. To understand basic geometrical form is to begin to speak the language of the circles and to commence the work of unraveling their meaning. This hands-on workshop will show you how to set about drawing the crop circles and how to begin to understand the implications of their number, form and proportion.

Drawing a simple circle and other basic geometric shapes can itself be a point of entry into mystical and transcendental experience. For many, this is the first step towards an understanding of the nature and origin of the material world and its implicit structure.

Michael Glickman & Karen Alexander will lead you through a series of geometric forms and discuss their appearance in crop circle designs over many years. They will set you on a path, that should you continue, promises many revelations about not just the crop circles but about the entirety of creation. They will discuss number, philosophy and fundamental questions such as the nature of form. This amazing opportunity to work firsthand with two veteran researchers should not be missed.



Dr. Jude Currivan
In-To-Great!


As we approach 2012, our greatest opportunity is to integrate all aspects of ourselves into an empowered wholeness that enables us to embody our highest purpose. In this experiential, inspirational workshop with cosmologist and planetary healer Dr Jude Currivan you will energetically connect with your Higher Self through the universal heart of the 8th chakra to experience accessible, practical and above all achievable ways to attune to your highest guidance for insight and healing at the deepest level. And in so doing to In-To-Great your heart, mind and purpose and awaken and embody the divine awareness that is your heritage and destiny.




Zacciah Blackburn
The Grand Star Tetrahedron of New England: Sacred Lakes, Sacred Mountains; Activating the Personal and Planetary MerKaBa


Geometric templates of the Divine Union of Heaven and Earth compose all life forms, as all life arises in harmony to Divine Proportions. New England has a unique landscape composed of 3 major mountains and lakes forming a nearly perfect Star Tetrahedron, the geometric representation of the Divine Union within All Life This same relationship is perceived within the human form, and critical to activation of one's personal MerKaBa, an aspect of our light body of consciousness. We will learn about and activate our personal MerKaBa, enter relationship with creative forces working with esoteric understandings of its principals, and seek to establish right relationship with these elements of the Earth where we live. Entering Right Relationship with the Earth is seen as paramount to our coming into our power as Co-creators.

************************************************** ***************

-Zeno, Into the Mystic

[plaaynde]

[bluesbassman]

Originally Posted by vhawk01

Moral of the story: Can you believe they grant medical licenses to people who dont even realize that you get pregnant FIRST, and are then BITTEN by a zombie, and thus it is ABSOLUTELY potentially a concern whether zombism crosses the placental barrier?

But doesn't zombification occur in all the dead tissue simultaneously, including the fetus? I ain't no doc and I don't know nuthin bout no zombies, but I'm just sayin.

[plaaynde]

Originally Posted by bluesbassman

But doesn't zombification occur in all the dead tissue simultaneously, including the fetus? I ain't no doc and I don't know nuthin bout no zombies, but I'm just sayin.

Makes sense to me.

[MelchyBeau]

Originally Posted by bluesbassman

But doesn't zombification occur in all the dead tissue simultaneously, including the fetus? I ain't no doc and I don't know nuthin bout no zombies, but I'm just sayin.

But the fetus isn't dead the instant the mother is necessarily right?