Intelligent Life on the Net
and
 Sense - Honesty - Civility
This page is under construction
 

SECTION 1 of 4 SECTIONS

SECTION 2 of 4

SECTION 3 of 4

THIS IS SECTION 4 of 4 SECTIONS
 


Here, in part 14, we report the results of our attempt,
and, as we find so seldom, in that geographical region known as USENET, that most scarce...

           Intelligent Life On the Net 


As we enter into this realm that is sometimes called "cyberspace," we look at the life forms in this part of space, and then descending in our spacecraft and operating our sensors, we search and note that, though often the search is vain, through the many life forms with abundant insanity, illogic, falsity, and hostility, now and then we find...

"Intelligent Life On the Net"

Now and then, there is such life, and we will report it when we find it, and then, also, as we report what we come across in our attempt, showing the UN-intelligent life.

Yes, folks, anyone, and I do mean anyone, can post to USENET, or put writing up on the WEB and in the search engines.

There's no screening process, as the sickest, most stupid, immature, and fanatical liars write, and most of it is garbage.

You have to learn to sift through it, wipe off the filth and get rid of the stink, and find what is...

HONEST
CIVIL
and
MAKES SENSE
It's difficult, and there is value on the INTERNET, but one must search with caution.

Here in part 14, we have an example of obvious UN-intelligent life, with Phil Harrrison's repeated attempts to rewrite irrelevant details and, somehow, "clarify," but no, the details did not make his points clearer. One added detail did help to make a point of mine, that "conversion" is on his mind.

=======================================================================

Subject: Re: Unrealistic psychic challenges.
Date: Tue. 14, Oct. 1997 19:47:27 -0700
From: Bruce Daniel Kettler 

Phil Harrison wrote:

/snip\

> /snip\ why should it [the existence of PSI] be
> believed?

I, BDK, replied:

Does anyone of any worth or substance care what you, CSICOP, or others like you, believe? /snip\
Wed, 15 Oct 1997 19:14:40 +0100
From: Phil Harrison 

Phil wrote:

Since I have had discussions of my beliefs with other people who subscribe to this newsgroup (both sceptics and believers) then I guess some people must take an interest. I'm sure that several of the people who responded to my articles here would not be happy that you consider them to be of no worth or substance.

"...some people must take an interest."
Does "taking an interest" equal, to you, caring "what you believe"?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Intelligent Life On The Net? [pt 14]
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 10:05:00 +0100
From: Phil Harrison 

/snip\

PHIL WROTE:

 

Here Bruce complains that I equate "taking an interest in beliefs" with "caring about beliefs". Then he equates "caring about beliefs" with "converting an opponents beliefs".
Later on, in this dialogue, you wrote of others intent to "convert an opponents beliefs," so from that one can see conversion is on your mind. From my other explanation, one can see my interpretation of your writing is correct. This is what you wrote, in response to my writing about people not wanting to convert others:
Isn't the reason behind these experiments to come up with convincing evidence of paranormal phenomena so that the more sceptical scientists will be convinced?
Isn't that the mentality of cults, generally, to convert people? It's not the paranormal investigator who wants to convert, but rather the cultist, so-called "skeptic."

PHIL CONTINUES:

Note that he [BDK] originally said:

> Does anyone of any worth or substance care
> what you, CSICOP, or others like you, believe?

I, BDK, REPLY:

NOTE WHAT PHIL SAID, ORIGINALLY:
> /snip\ why should it [the existence of PSI] be
> believed?
When I write that people don't care whether you, or others like you, believe, the meaning, obviously, is that they don't care to convert them. The dialogue, taken in context, shows that.

The intelligent reader can see, quite readily, that my response does not mean that people will not discuss or take an interest in a person's beliefs, but that they will not care, so as to attempt to convince or convert the opponent as to why it "should be believed." After all, the question was not, "what proof do you have"? Rather, it was "...why should it be believed," and who else is asking the question but so-called "skeptics"?

The general population does not go through a hypothetical "CSICOP clearing house" to decide what to believe, so the meaning, logically, is "lead us, the 'skeptics,' to believe." Generally, and quite obviously, we don't CARE what you people believe.

-------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Unrealistic psychic challenges.
Date: Mon. 20 Oct 1997 00:45:47 GMT
From: johnf@melbpc.org.au (John Fitzsimons)

Phil had written to John Fitzsimons:

> /snip\ why should it [existence of ESP] be
> believed?

John Fitzsimons answered:
/snip\ I am certainly not bothered whether you, or anyone else, disbelieves.

/snip\

http://www.vicnet.net.au/~johnf/welcome.htm
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~johnf/

Obviously, John "takes an interest," (your words) but does not "care whether you or others believe," (my words). The intelligent reader can readily notice that he is not one of those referred to, by me, as [not of] "any worth or substance," lending even more weight to my point that your...

...some people must take an interest. I'm sure that several of the people who responded to my articles here would not be happy that you consider them to be of no worth or substance. [BDK - emphasis mine]
...is ridiculous, with the illogical supposition that people like John Fitzsimons had been referred to, by me, as without "any worth or substance."

Subject: Re: Intelligent Life On The Net? [pt 14}
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 13:58:12 +0100
From: Phil Harrison 

Relentlessly, Phil continued, with yet another posting:

...I was referring to what the scientific community in general thinks about psychic phenomena, not just my own opinions.
You could have been referring to what CSICOP or James Randi interprets the "scientific community," as saying from what you wrote. My extensive experience reading so-called "skeptics," reveals a tendency for them to do just that, relay what they have read or heard from their cult sources.

Whether it was about the scientific community's thoughts of psychic phenomena, about your cult's interpretation of them, your own opinion, or a combination, it is totally irrelevant to the point of this part 14, and the thread of posts between us.

THE point is that your interpretation of my statement, that I, supposedly, had been referring to those who have exchanged ideas with you, on USENET, to be of "no worth or substance" is ridiculous, and makes no sense. All your continued posting about the subject does not change the fact.

Phil continues:

I was referring to the majority of scientists in my original post. Does Bruce claim to not care about the opinions of scientists?
Yes, I take an interest in the opinions of scientists, and I do quote about research into the paranormal. DEJA
Does Bruce only care about the scientists that seem to support his views, and not the ones that disagree?
I have quoted those who disagree. When I quoted Jessical Utts, and when I quoted Brian Zeiler, they had quoted the opposition and their own replies to that opposition. DEJA

Their debate is not for the purpose of convincing the opposition, but to make both sides of the issues public.

And why would research institutions bother to do experiments involving paranormal phenomena?

Isn't the reason behind these experiments to come up with convincing evidence of paranormal phenomena so that the more sceptical scientists will be convinced?

If they are scientists, they are skeptical. That is what science is about. Those checking evidence for paranormal phenomena are skeptical of every possible flaw in the controls, or they are not scientists, whatever the findings may happen to be.

You say the "purpose" is to convince the more skeptical scientists. No, the purpose of scientific investigation is not to convince ANYONE. It is to find the truth. Then the findings are reported.

Are the people who research the paranormal regarded as not being "of any worth or substance"?
You go from point "a" about researchers finding "convincing evidence" to me, supposedly, not considering them to be "of worth or substance," point "f" (shall we say) without covering "b," "c," "d," or "e" carefully and accurately.

Researchers are not CSICOP. Researchers investigate paranormal phenomena, what the "I" in CSICOP is supposed to mean. They do not fanatically condemn it like religious zealots. True scientific researchers are skeptical, as any good scientist should be. They are not pseudo-skeptics.

YAHOO (www.yahoo.com) SEARCH ENGINE
TYPE: skeptics what they do and why
or click here
Remember, my reference in my statement was to..
...worth or substance care what you,
CSICOP or others like you, believe?
and not to your...
I was referring to the majority of
scientists in my original post.
and my reference, if logic were utilized, would be where your continuation of the dialogue would proceed.

Even if we consider your original reference, is it reasonable to assume you asked ONLY why scientists should be believing it? It could be why you should believe it, having heard from the filtered-through CSICOP or Randi reports of scientists. You do mention Randi quite often in your posts.

I had no way of knowing which scientists you were referring to. I could readily recognize that you were in a dialogue with John Fitzsimons, asking why "should it be believed." It did not matter what you were referring to, your cult literature, the scientists, your own opinions, or a combination.

NOTE: all past postings may be referenced from DEJANEWS http://www.dejanews.com

--------------------------------------------------------

The interpretation you have above, that I, supposedly, consider those in dialogue with you about the paranormal to be of no worth or substance, makes absolutely no sense.

Public debate about politics, religion, the paranormal and many other subjects has been going on for a long time. The predominant aim is to expose the merits of certain points to the public, not to the opponent. It is hardly ever considered, as a goal, to convert the opponent (ie. "care" what they "believe").


PART 15

========================================================================

Subject: Re: Unrealistic psychic challenges.
Date: Wed. Oct 1997 19:14:40 +0100
From: Phil Harrison 

>Phil Harrison wrote:

>> If something /snip\ would require a rewrite of known scientific laws
>> /snip\ why should it be believed?

I, BDK, replied:

>It does not require a rewrite of known scientific laws...

Phil answered:

Indeed, the fact that Randi could pay the $1.1 million does not require a rewrite of scientific laws.
Additionally, he wrote:
... [PSI] demonstrations in laboratory conditions has not convinced many scientists. Presumably this is why the known scientific laws have not been changed to accommodate such phenomena.
==================================================================

Leaving aside the issues of whether a rewrite of scientific laws would be necessary for ESP to exist, or if Randi could pay the $1.1 million, the way Phil Harrison presents his points does not make sense, and they do not lend any weight to his arguments.

BDK

===================================================================

Phil wrote:

...what you mean by "anyone of any worth or substance". I suspect that you really mean "anyone who agrees with Bruce Daniel Kettler" which is a rather narrow definition.
The above was written with absolutely nothing to substantiate the suspicion of my meaning, as I've been most cordial to those who have been civil to me, and have not expressed the idea that people who disagree with me in a civil, honest, and sensible manner, have no worth.

Again, we have writing that makes absolutely no sense from Phil Harrison.

=======================================================================

PART 16 

Subject: Re: Intelligent Life On AFAB?
Date: Wed. 15, Oct 1997 19:28:36 +0100
From: Phil Harrison 

Bruce Daniel Kettler writes

/snip\

Phil, the "skeptic" of ESP has taken up mind reading. Most peculiar, yes?

Phil writes:

Bruce has begun to realize...
[Yes, he seems to know what I "realize"]
...that the sceptics posting to alt.paranormal are not being ignored by some of the non-sceptics. He is starting to get concerned that he has nothing to rant about here. He knows that by cross posting to both alt.fan.art-bell and alt.paranormal, he will be inviting some angry responses.
Do we have a conspiracy theory brewing here, perhaps?

The illogical part of your reference to their potential "angry" responses, Phil, is that people from afa-b have been initiating angry and nasty remarks about me in alt.paranormal for the months I was silent in afa-b. All I had written, which brought your response, is noted in this post:

Intelligent Life On AFAB?
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 20:50:36 -0700

...as a comment upon the writing of Ray Karczewski :

> /snip\ lack of true intelligent
> life to be found amongst the denizems of the AFAB newsgroup.

...and the post you referenced made the point that one may find my "Intelligent Life On The Net" series at my WEB SITE (which discusses "intelligent" life from "skeptics," and unintelligent life from non-skeptics, so it is not ABOUT "skeptics"). I also wrote that people can learn of alt.fan.art-bell (no friends of Art Bell) at that site:
YAHOO (www.yahoo.com) SEARCH ENGINE
TYPE: skeptics what they do and why
or click here

Phil, you just don't make it for my category of "Intelligent Life On The Net." You definately fit the "UN-Intelligent" life slot.

Phil writes:

In effect he is out looking for trouble. When this trouble arrives, he will start his usual series of rants about sceptics in alt.paranormal again.
So-called "skeptics" have been bothering people in paranormal type newsgroups for years, long before I came on the NET. Even the founder of alt.paranormal wrote of this problem. His writing is on the first of my WEB PAGES referenced above. His name is Steve Reiser, sir@srv.net.

Of all you have written, this is the most nonsensical:

Bruce wants you to think that all sceptics are bad so that you will not be dissuaded from paying for the sort of psychic services that he offers.
Your writing is far from reality, and these assumptions are quite illogical. You are assuming that USENET is some major source of advertising for me, and that my discussions on USENET are for the purpose of convincing people to purchase services from me. This is, obviously, not the fact.

Additionally, you convey the idea that I am, supposedly, in some struggle for the belief of people in the paranormal to bring business to my web site for psychic readings. This is absolutely ridiculous. People believe what they want to, and my business is not affected by the childish ego struggles on USENET.

Also, my business at my web site is separated from USENET. There are no references from my site, http://www.psicounsel.com, to USENET, "Skeptics," or any of the petty struggles going on in the USENET environment. To access USENET references, one must add "/news" to the address.

My activity on USENET has a near ZERO affect on my business, which is WEB based, and the overwhelming majority of advertising is on the WEB.

Your idea that my getting people to think all skeptics are bad would be a method, of mine, to persuade people to do business with me, is ludicrous.

---
Phil Harrison
SKEP-TI-CULT(R)
Member #64-53649-969


As if Phil Harrison had not dug his own grave deep enough, 6 months later after seeing the repeat of this post on USENET, he decided to get out his shovel, and dig even deeper.

The grave he digs is the for the ultimate death and burial of any image he may have created through his pompous flaunting of a veneer of high intellect on USENET.

>From: Phil Harrison /pharrison@ramtop.demon.co.uk\
>Newsgroups: alt.paranormal, alt.paranet.paranormal, alt.paranet.psi
>Subject: Re: Intelligent Life On The Net? [pt 16]
>Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 23:35:47 +0000

>DanKettler
> writes

>/snip usual introductory preamble\

>Subject: Re: Intelligent Life On AFAB?
>Date: Wed. 15, Oct 1997 19:28:36 +0100
>From: Phil Harrison /pharrison@ramtop.demon.co.uk\

>Bruce Daniel Kettler writes

>/snip\

>Phil, the "skeptic" of ESP has taken up mind reading. Most
>peculiar, yes?

>Phil writes:
>

 Bruce has begun to realize...

> [Yes, he seems to know what I "realize"]

> ...that the sceptics posting to alt.paranormal
> are not being ignored by some of the non-sceptics.
> He is starting to get concerned that he has nothing
> to rant about here. He knows that by cross posting
> to both alt.fan.art-bell and alt.paranormal, he
> will be inviting some angry responses.

I, BDK, reply:

>>Do we have a conspiracy theory brewing here, perhaps?

...and Phil Harrison says:

>No, a conspiracy theory would imply that there were more than one
>person involved. Mine is more of a lone kook theory.

Interesting. So, you think there's only one person, and that I'm the only one
ever to have had problems with pseudo-skeptics in alt.paranormal.

From your recent posts, it seems you have been looking around alt.paranormal lately, and probably noticed the fact that Earl Curley is being attacked and defending himself, and likewise John McGowan.

Then, again, from your recent posts I can see you also have been stirring up trouble, placing snide remarks in a host of varying subject threads.

Perhaps you think I conspired with Earl Curley and John McGowan to start a flame war between them and the pseudo-skeptics.

It would also seem that the reference I supplied to you in these posts months ago, a quote from the founder of alt.paranormal, Steve Reiser, would indicate to you that this problem of hostility and deception from pseudo-skeptics was going on in alt.paranormal years before I entered USENET:

Click here for Steve Reiser's statement

Oh, I see. Perhaps you believe that 8 years ago, about 6 years before I started on the NET, I knew Steve Reiser and conspired with him to start alt.paranormal so he could have begun, what you suppose is, the only newsgroup that pseudo-skeptics converge upon to attack those who would like to discuss something the the "skeptics" don't approve of.

>>The illogical part of your reference to their potential "angry"
>>responses, Phil, is that people from afa-b have been initiating
>>angry and nasty remarks about me in alt.paranormal for the months
>>I was silent )n afa-b. All I had written, which brought your
>>response, is noted in this post:

>You were not silent about them in alt.paranormal during that time though
>were you?

My non-silence consisted of responses to attacks. The point, something you repeatedly slipped from, in I.L.O.T.N. 14 and 15 above, is my innocent remark that brought your angry response to my posting about intelligent life on the net, accusing me of making trouble. The other factors are irrelevant.

> Intelligent Life On AFAB?
> Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 20:50:36 -0700

>>/snip Bruce promoting his website\

The above is deception. My references are to portions of a website that concern the dialogue.

>Phil, you just don't make it for my category of "Intelligent Life

 >On The Net." You definately fit the "UN-Intelligent" life slot.

>Phil writes:

> In effect he is out looking for trouble. When this
> trouble arrives, he will start his usual series
> of rants about sceptics in alt.paranormal
> again.

I replied:

>>So-called "skeptics" have been bothering people in paranormal
>>type newsgroups for years, long before I came on the NET. Even
>>the founder of alt.paranormal wrote of this problem. His writing
>>is on the first of my WEB PAGES referenced above. His name is
>>Steve Reiser, sir@srv.net.

Phil rants on:

>>Thankyou for doing exactly what I predicted. Perhaps my mind reading
>>skills are better than I thought. Or are you just too predictable?

You actually mean a so-called "promotion" of my WEB SITE by pointing to a quote from Steve Reiser on a certain WEB PAGE?

Are you dealing with reality here?

Your sarcasm does not come off with effect when exposed to the light of facts, Phil. My reference to WEB PAGES has nothing to do with commercial promotion, as you attempt to, deceptively, convey.

>You may read his quote from here:

> click here for reference to Steve Reiser's writing.

Are you so fearful of the exposure of the mentality of pseudo-skeptics? Here is the entire page:

Click here for More on the mentality and actions of pseudo-skeptics

>Of all you have written, this is the most nonsensical:

Bruce wants you to think that all sceptics
are bad so that you will not be dissuaded
from paying for the sort of psychic services
that he offers.
>Your writing is far from reality, and these assumptions are quite
>illogical. You are assuming that USENET is some major source of
>advertising for me, and that my discussions on USENET are for the
>purpose of convincing people to purchase services from me. This
>is, obviously, not the fact.

>Additionally, you convey the idea that I am, supposedly, in some
>struggle for the belief of people in the paranormal to bring
>business to my web site for psychic readings. This is absolutely
>ridiculous. People believe what they want to, and my business is
>not affected by the childish ego struggles on USENET.

>Also, my business at my web site is separated from USENET. There
>are no references from my site, http://www.psicounsel.com, to
>USENET, "Skeptics," or any of the petty struggles going on in the
>USENET environment. To access USENET references, one must add
>"/news" to the address.

Phil replies:

>>There are plenty of references to your site from your USENT posts

Lately, the only two kinds of "promotion" that any business interest of mine gets on Usenet is from you, and some others like you referencing it continually on Usenet in a deceptively derogatory manner. The other is in my signature file which references the WEB SITE that is normally placed in postings. What I have done is in accordance with the present-day standards of Netiquette.

>though. I said that you use your USENET posts to promote your website,
>not that your website promotes your USENET posts.

I do not depend upon Usenet to promote my business, nor do I refer to Usenet from my business oriented page. I keep USENET and my business interests separate. My point was that, except for some brief test ads some time ago on Usenet, I have refrained from references from both directions.

The POINT (Do you ever follow a train of thought?) was that I do not depend upon Usenet for business promotion. This is obvious to intelligent people.

The other point, (It's a point, remember) another obvious fact to intelligent people, is that my references to portions of a web site in my posts with you were not commercial promotions.

Another point, which I had not brought up previously, is that even if they were commercial promotions, they would not be considered SPAM by USENET rules, nor would they be breaches of netiquette.

>My activity on USENET has a near ZERO affect on my business,
>which is WEB based, and the overwhelming majority of advertising
>is on the WEB.

>Your idea that my getting people to think all skeptics are bad
>would be a method, of mine, to persuade people to do business
>with me, is ludicrous.

This is why it is so laughable. Anyone in the position you are, as having read the majority of my posts lately, can see that they are, for the most part, individually written -- not repeated. The time consumed in writing these posts can only far exceed the monetary effectiveness.

If, indeed, my sole purpose in writing about so-called "skeptics" were monetary, as you write, the posts would all have the same wording.

Phil wrote:

>OK, Bruce, then please tell us why you do it? Why do you post references
>to your business website in your USENET if it is not to attract
>business?

The obvious answer to your question, which is about the references you are writing about and snipping from your responses is not only written above, but is quite plain to the intelligent observer without even asking. My references (which are the ONLY one's you have referred to ) are to certain parts of my WEB SITE, such as a page of links to sites that report scientific research about psychic phenomena. The other, in an example above, was to the writing of Steve Reiser, and then often enough I referred to the writings of those who are quite dismayed at the hostility that is generated from pseudo-skeptics in alt.paranormal. A reference to their writing follows:

For small sample of the writing of those truly bothered
by the hostility from pseudo-skeptics on USENET
click here

Quoting all of these pages, along with links that are available at each of the pages, would be, as any reasonable person must see, ridiculous.

Phil wrote:

>/snip more web page promotion\

 Another joke, right?

--
Phil Harrison




 
PART 17
 

Here in "cyberspace," we search, and there are times when...

              "Intelligent Life On the Net"

...is noted.  We always tell of such life when we find it.
 
 

It is useful to know of the UN-intelligent life, however.

Read our series, and learn how to see what is, and is not
 

               HONEST

               CIVIL
 

...and what does, and does not

               MAKES SENSE
 

There _is_ valuable information and many useful ideas on the INTERNET, but one must search with caution.

====================================================================

Here we have the writing of Del R. Mulroy,
neykomi@winternet.com

This is a partial copy of the entire text which
may be found at:

               http://www.psicounsel.com/mulroy.html
 

This is what Del R. Mulroy wrote:
 
          Bruce [Dan Kettler] has mentioned in his own
          words in a post that he was going to continue
          attacking the skeptics because that would
          make the pro-paranormal people want to
          leave here and not post.

 
Del R. Mulroy <neykomi@winternet.com> wrote in article
<35152CBD.97B6026C@winternet.com>
Mar. 22, 1998 at 8:22 AM

Quoting BDK's [Dan Kettler's] 350c39e6.162096567 numbered
message of Mar. 15, 1998 in the DEJANEWS archives:
http://www.dejanews.com

...and referring, directly, to the above quote of
his.

            We were helping the "skeptics" by
            fighting them. The more we answer,
            the worse the newsgroup looks,
            and the less paranormalists come back
            to read or post.

Even out of context, the above cannot mean that I,
Dan Kettler, was "going to continue attacking the
skeptics because that would make the pro-paranormal
people want to leave here and not post."  The point,
which one may easily see, was that fighting "skeptics"
helps them.  Our answers make the newsgroup look
"worse" and "less paranormalists come back to read or
post."  There is not even a hint that I, Dan Kettler,
_wanted_ the paranormalists to leave and not post.

=========================================================

Our series is about, _Sense_, _Honesty_, and _Civility_.

Which of the 3 does this cover?

                   Sense

Why not honesty?  Well, I believe that few people can be
this obviously dishonest, consciously and deliberately.
 
Other posts in this series, or parts of the web site
will show lack of honesty and civility regarding Del
R. Mulroy and others.

This example concerns only an example of a lack of...

                   Sense

=============================================================

John.Mcgowan@ghostrdr.wierius.com (John Mcgowan)
on Mar. 16, replied to my statement:

        Da> We were helping the "skeptics" by fighting
        Da> them.  The more we answer, the worse the
        Da> newsgroup looks, and the less
        Da> paranormalists come back to read or post.

              ...by first quoting me with "Da>" for "Dan."

              ...and he replied this way:

   ...the believer gave rational, logical answers
   to the Pseudo-Skeptic and then refused to argue.
   :) That, I would think, is good for appearance.
   The arguing and hassling looks bad, I admit
   that. :)

He acknowledged my meaning, that "hassling looks bad."  He seems to have understood what I wrote.

              Further on in his message, John wrote:

   True, in fact the idea of rebutting once,
   in a civil and reasonable manner, then let
   them rant themselves into exhaustion has a
   lot of merit. :)

================================================================

See the entire text of

                    sense-honesty-civility

                            and

                    Intelligent Life On the Net?

           at:

                    http://www.psicounsel.com/news


PART 18

Here in "cyberspace," we search, and there are times when...

              "Intelligent Life On the Net"

...is noted.  We always tell of such life when we find it.
 
 

It is useful to know of the UN-intelligent life, however.

Read our series, and learn how to see what is, and is not
 

               HONEST

               CIVIL
 

...and what does, and does not

               MAKES SENSE 
 

There _is_ valuable information and many useful ideas on the INTERNET, but one must search with caution.

============================================================

In article <356412a9.6398315@news.melbpc.org.au>,
  johnf@melbpc.org.au (John Fitzsimons) wrote:
>
> On Tue, 19 May 1998 04:16:03 -0600, Dan Kettler
> <dan@psicounselSPAM_YOT.com> wrote:
>
> < snip >
>
> >         The proponents of the paranormal, seeing
> >         two FAQS and 1 so-called "charter" placed
> >         by pseudo-skeptics, will mostly, in my
> >         opinion, opt to honor the one FAQ and
> >         CHARTER documented by a proponent
> >         of the paranormal, myself.

            http://www.psicounsel.com/altparfaq.html

> Incorrect. As a proponent of the paranormal myself I much
> prefer the FAQ written by the pseudo-skeptics.

If you read the text, above your comment, you will find that your
reply makes absolutely no sense, John Fitzsimons.

You wrote that your preference was a contradiction of my statement.

You are writing of one person, yourself.

For your statement to make sense, I would have had to write
that _all_ "in my opinion, [will] opt to honor the one FAQ and CHARTER documented by a proponent of the paranormal, myself."

        http://www.psicounsel.com/fitzsimons.html

<snip>

================================================================

See the entire text of

                    sense-honesty-civility

                            and

                    Intelligent Life On the Net?

           at:

                    http://www.psicounsel.com/news



 
 PART 19
 

Here in "cyberspace," we search, and there are times when...

              "Intelligent Life On the Net"

...is noted.  We always tell of such life when we find it.
 
 

It is useful to know of the UN-intelligent life, however.

Read our series, and learn how to see what is, and is not
 

               HONEST

               CIVIL
 

...and what does, and does not

               MAKES SENSE
 

There _is_ valuable information and many useful ideas on the INTERNET, but one must search with caution.

============================================================

This is Del R. Mulroy's discussion on USENET, in the newsgroup alt.paranormal, during the Spring of 1998.  All statements may be verified through the USENET archives: http://www.dejanews.com

See more details of Del Mulroy's writing at:

              http://www.psicounsel.com/mulroy.html

was: Del Mulroy <neykomi@winternet.com>

later: Del Mulroy Neykomi@willinet.net

It shows a definate lack of intelligent life on the net when people lie.  This is an example of a lack of honesty.

=============================================================

I, Dan Kettler, wrote:

> ...How do you get that my tits background was
> for teens to solve their problems in life?

Del Mulroy replied:

>> you admitted you have a "tits" background...

           http://www.psicounsel.com/tits.html

Del Mulroy wrote:

>> You admit in your own statement that you had
>> tits background for teens on your web site.

Dan Kettler writes:

I have never written that I had a "tits background for teens"
at my web site.

What makes a statement a lie, and what shows it is a mistake?

Lies are told when the facts are evident, and when in spite of those facts being contrary to the statement, the evident facts are not referenced, or they are known to be different than stated.  A lie is told when a definate statement is made, and it is contrary to the truth.

Mistakes are made when a person writes that either in their own opinion a certain thing is a fact, or that to the best of their memory, it is a fact, or that one has heard something, and is not sure since the evidence is hearsay.

================================================================

See the entire text of

                    sense-honesty-civility

                            and

                    Intelligent Life On the Net?

           at:

                    http://www.psicounsel.com/news 


PART 20

Here in "cyberspace," we search, and there are times when...

              "Intelligent Life On the Net"

...is noted.  We always tell of such life when we find it.
 
 

It is useful to know of the UN-intelligent life, however.

Read our series, and learn how to see what is, and is not
 

               HONEST

               CIVIL
 

...and what does, and does not

               MAKES SENSE
 

There _is_ valuable information and many useful ideas on the INTERNET, but one must search with caution.

============================================================

This example shows a definate lack of intelligent life on the net when people like Sherilyn (AKA Tony Sidaway) lie.  This number 20 in the series is an example of a lack of honesty and civility.

aka <Sherilyn@sidaway.demon.co.uk>sideaway@demon.co.uk

aka Sherilyn@my-dejanews.com

=============================================================

From: Admin <admin@theasi.net>
Subject: Who is Mulroy? a NUT
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 21:26:51 GMT

Here's what the web is saying about Mulroy the nut

  http://www.psicounsel.com/mulroy.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------

      ...and here is Sherilyn's response:

               Subject: Re: Who is Mulroy? a NUT
               Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 23:56:13 +0100

               That page belongs to Bruce Dan Kettler,
               the notorious spamming kook of
               alt.fan.art-bell and alt.paranormal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

,,, and supposedly, the word "kook" as agreed by no more than 40 people (out of many thousands who are on USENET) who object to my exposure of their obvious lack of character and intelligence on USENET, is supposed to be some "proof" of me as a kook.

Their taken out of context quotes of me, and misquotes, are supposed to show me a "kook" also.

"spam" is a much misunderstood, and much misused word on USENET.
I have examined and reported the details of the "spam" FAQ, and
Sherilyn often distorts the meanings, both on USENET, and to
Internet Service Providers when he/she complains.

BDK

_________________________________________________________________

          BDK won Kook of the Year earlier this year.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

You, Sherilyn, use the kotM "award" (alt.usenet.kooks) as a method of discrediting people.  It's an attempt to make what I, and others, write either seem untrue or lack sense, because the writer supposedly has something wrong with him/her.

BDK

-----------------------------------------------------------------

          More recently, he got himself slung out of his
          own caucus that was trying to turn alt.paranormal
          into a moderated newsgroup.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

You, and I, know that the above statement is a lie.  I wrote the circumstances of my leaving the group in a number of postings.  You acknowledged one posting.  Nothing written by myself, or anyone of that group on USENET, indicates I'd been "slung out."  The fact
is that I was asked not to leave by 3 of the people.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

         <snip>

         --
         Sherilyn
         Dan Kettler's Page-o-Spam: LATEST: BDK loses 3 accounts.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Above, another lie.  I did not lose 3 accounts.  I have quit ISP accounts for a number of reasons.  The infamous Compuserve account is still retained by me.  After careful investigation by the proper executives, my account was promptly reinstated.

<snip>

------------------------------------------------------------------

What makes a statement a lie, and what shows it is a mistake?

Lies are told when the facts are evident, and when in spite of those facts being contrary to the statement, the evident facts are not referenced, or they are known to be different than stated.  A lie is told when a definate statement is made, and it is contrary to the truth.

Commonly accepted meanings make lies, not necessarily exact words.  A lie is defined according to the commonly accepted meaning.  "Slung out" commonly means _FORCED OUT_.

Mistakes are made when a person writes that either in their own opinion a certain thing is a fact, or that to the best of their memory, it is a fact, or that one has heard something, and is not sure since the evidence is hearsay.

================================================================
 



 

Here in "cyberspace," we search, and there are times when...

              "Intelligent Life On the Net"

...is noted.  We always tell of such life when we find it.
 
 

It is useful to know of the UN-intelligent life, however.

Read our series, and learn how to see what is, and is not...
 

               HONEST

               CIVIL
 

...and what does, and does not

               MAKES SENSE
 

There _is_ valuable information and many useful ideas on the INTERNET, but one must search with caution.
 

Here we find intelligent life from Phil Harrison, pseudo-skeptic.

============================================================

From: Phil Harrison <pharrison@ramtop.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Atheism vs Theism vs Divine Anarchy
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 22:54:12 +0100
Message-ID: <f66A5eAEArm1Ewt5@ramtop.demon.co.uk>
 
>> In article Dan Kettler
>> <dan@psicounselSPAM_YOT.com> writes

>> >...what is rational, and what is
>> >irrational thought _are_ constants.

Phil wrote:

>> Are you of the belief that it is foolish to make an assertion of
>> something when you have no proof?

I replied:

>It is foolish to declare that one has absolute, and positive, knowledge
>of anything, whether the existence of god, the non-existence of god,
>the existence of PSI, or whatever, without some form of proof.

Phil writes:

          Yes, I agree with this.

>However, to state one can show evidence of something, such as life
>after death through the experiences of people's NDE's, and the
>reincarnational memories that have been verfified, is a statement
>of evidence, not absolute proof.  <snip>

====================================================================
********************************************************************
********************************************************************

Dan Kettler note:

Note how intelligently, how sensibly, Phil Harrison notes the difference between conclusive proof, and evidence:

Phil writes:

         OK. You should be aware of the unreliability
         of eye-witness testimony though. There have
         been many studies by psychologists in this area,
         and it is important to know how beliefs and
         cultural background can affect how a witness
         recalls a previous event. <snip>

That is a sensible reply.

********************************************************************
********************************************************************
====================================================================

>The pseudo-skeptic mind-set, in my experience, grasps for certainty.
>It is not content to explore probabilities.  It wants _proof_ and
>does not have an urge to look at degrees of probability, according
>to progress made with certain types of evidence.

Phil replied:

        Surely the point of research is to strive for
        certainty. After all, it is not possible to
        assess degrees of probability unless a mathematical
        value can be assigned to le likelyhood of a
        particular  explanation.

====================================================================
********************************************************************
********************************************************************

Dan Kettler note:

Though I disagree with Phil regarding the possibility of assessing degrees of probability, the logic of his reply makes sense.

********************************************************************
********************************************************************
====================================================================

I, Dan Kettler, had written:

>There is the _either-or_ fixation.  This either can be proven
>conclusively, or it cannot.  If it can, they believe.  If it cannot,
>they will not.  The pseudo-skeptic grasps for quick answers, and
>will not entertain the in-between.  That is why statistics do not
>satisfy pseudo-skeptics, since they want more conclusive evidence.

Phil replied:

         Well statistics are important, and a
         statistically  significant experiment is
         an indication that something anomalous may
         be occurring. It is also important to assess
         the controls that are used in the experiment
         to ensure that all possible mundane explanations
         are accounted for.

=====================================================================
*********************************************************************
*********************************************************************

Dan Kettler note:

The above reply regarding the importance of statistics and controls, definately makes sense.

*********************************************************************
*********************************************************************
=====================================================================

<snip>

I, Dan Kettler, had written:

I find that there is a difference, however, between people who are skeptical, investigating, open-minded, and those who are materialist fundamentalists, who's capacity for imagination
of possibilities beyond what they have learned is severly limited.

These are the pseudo-skeptics, who _call themselves_ skeptics, but who are not skeptical at all.  For the most part, they are sure that all of the fundamentals of science have been discovered, and that any further delving into new scientific theory must be false.

Phil replied:

         There are many things that we do not know about
         our universe, and it would be foolish to suggest
         that there is no point in scientific enquiry. <snip>

=================================================================
*****************************************************************
*****************************************************************

Dan Kettler note:

There was disagreement, as other portions of the dialogue in DEJANEWS will show, (http://www.dejanews.com) but:

          1. Phil did not misrepresent my writing, he was honest.

          2. He did not misinterpret my writing, he made sense

          3. Though he disagreed, he did not ridicule, so he was
             civil.

****************************************************************
****************************************************************
================================================================

--
Phil Harrison


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