X-Message-Number: 5792
Subject: TeleWHAT?
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 09:37:25 -0500
From: "Perry E. Metzger" <>

> From: N E U R O M A N C E R <>
> Subject: Telekinesis and Gene Structure             (Mac Tonnies)
> 
> I believe any worthwhile philosophy of transhumanism must be ready
> to cope with the potential of latent "psychic" phenomena.

I believe any worthwhile philosophy of transhumanism must be ready to
cope with cranks plugging Telekinesis.

> Telekinesis, for example, has been firmly established as an
> empirical truth

Oh, yeah? If you can reproduce the phenomenon, go up to James Randi
and he'll pay you a big sum of money.

No one has ever reproduceably demonstrated any psychic phenomenon
under controlled lab conditions. Those that have produced the best
results have almost uniformly demonstrated to have committed frauds
with simple magic tricks.

> Carl Sagan is quick to denounce it, of course, but virtually any
> competent clinical experimentor with experience will admit (however
> grudgingly) that there is "something to it."

1) It makes no difference who thinks there is something to it. There
   are lots of "competant clinical experimenters" who believe in god,
   too.
2) The litmus test is evidence. Present ANY.

I think you have made a big mistake here. Just because cryonicists are
interested in a topic that isn't mainstream doesn't mean we are
believers in "paranormal" phenomena, or other junk science.

Perry


Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=5792