HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: davidb@inmet.inmet (David Barton)
Subject: Re: Parapsychology
Organization: Intermetrics, Inc.
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 16:37:08 GMT

In article <2804@sol.deakin.OZ.AU> andrea@cm.deakin.OZ.AU (Andrea
Todkill) writes:

   In article <1992Mar27.210145.4617@cs.ubc.ca>
   mgobbi@ruddles.cs.ubc.ca (Michael Gobbi) writes:

   >This is probably not the correct venue for this question, but what the  
   >heck... I've got three questions.
   >
   >Is parapsychology a "recognized" science?  I don't know myself what I mean
   >by "recognized" but I guess holding annual conferences and recieving  
   >government funding would be a good start.

   Absolutely not. No scientifically verifiable evidence of the "paranormal"
   has ever been discovered.

Without a definition of your terms, I do not know if you are
ill-informed or simply an intellectual bigot.  Is the work done at the
Princeton Engineering Anomoly Research center not "paranormal", or not
"scientifically verifiable"?  If you assert either, intelligent people
will disagree with you.

The best summary book is "Margins of Reality" by Jahn and Dunne.
There is still some discussion concerning their methods and the
interpretation of their results.  This discussion is not conclusive at
this time (except by dint of close-mindedness).  The results have been
replicated in part, by Dean Radin among others.

   >Is there a newsgroup other than alt.magick that discusses the paranormal?

   sci.skeptic would probably do you a _power_ of good here  ;)

Probably as close as you can come.  Alt.paranormal also discusses
these issues,  The signal to noise ratio on these groups is very low,
but somewhat lower on the latter.  Roger Nelson of the PEAR project
sometimes posts on sci.skeptic, with varying levels of success.

   >What universities are performing research into the paranormal?  (and what  
   >kind of results have they reported)

   Some research conducted years ago at Duke University tends to be widely
   quoted by those on a psy-kick (sorry  ;) Unfortunately, those quoting it
   always manage to conveniently ignore the major methodological 
   statistical flaws in the work.

Not all those who quote the work, just those you wish to denigrate.
Methodological issues are still actively discussed among serious
parapsychological investigators, and the issues are not simple at all.

I hope that responses such as that given by Ms. Todkill will not
discourage you from a serious look at this field.  Keep your
skepticism level very high, however; this field has been plagued by
bad methods and questionable investigators.  It does not take many of
these to ruin the overall credibility of an entire body of serious
researchers.

					Dave Barton
					dlb@hudson.wash.inmet.com
From: zorrilla@cattell.psych.upenn.edu (Eric Zorrilla)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: Re: weather-behavior correlations?
Date: 15 Apr 92 03:57:36 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <16063@bunny.GTE.COM> dir2@gte.com (Dean Radin) writes:
>Can someone please point me towards some references on correlations
>between weather and human behavior, both psychological and physical, 
>including sports and other types of skilled performance?  


Well, there is one study that's pretty well-known in the cognitive literature
of the affect of current weather conditions on ratings of current life
satisfaction, and I believe maybe even happiness.  Ah, here it is...

Schwarz and Clore (1983), _JPSP_, 45 (3), 513-523.

Roughly, it was found that people rated their personal well-being higher
on sunny days than on overcast days.  However, when they were cued to these
weather conditions by the interviewer, the effects vanished.  It was interpre-
ted as meaning that subjects were in a positive or negative affective state,
possibly induced by the weather, and in the absence of an obvious attribution
(such as the weather) which would explain why they might feel the way they
did, they would attribute their mood to their current-state of well-being and
, hence, rate their current-well being accordingly.

One could speculate endlessly on how this could map onto performance....

W/regards to Seasonal Affective Disorder...one of the primary suspects in
SAD is the retino-hypothalamic tract (a tract leading from the retina to the
hypothalamus which does not carry visual information but is sensitive to
light).  While it appears to have input to the SCN of the hypothalamus and
the pineal gland (obviously affecting circadian rhythms and a host of neuro-
endocrine functions through here), it is unclear what the shorter-range
effects of discrete changes in sunlight and lux exposure might be.  This
type of stuff, I think, is still currently being researched.

Sorry that's all I know.

Eric


Newsgroups: sci.psychology,alt.politics.homosexuality,alt.sex
From: twpierce@amhux1.amherst.edu (Tim Pierce)
Subject: Re: Human sexuality
Organization: Amherst College, Amherst, MA
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 22:28:51 GMT

[Blank lines inserted for the sake of legibility]

In article <1992Apr9.023852.24288@cs.uow.edu.au> g8801935@cs.uow.edu.au (The Jester) writes:

>jakec@ralvmm.vnet.ibm.com (Jake Coughlin) writes:
>
>>jake is mean to stein.
>>stein gets mad.
>>(1) stein doesn't support homosexuals.
>
>stein is wary of openly voicing his support since jake is hostile rather
>than critical.
>
>>lisa is nice to stein.
>>stein is happy.
>>(2) stein supports homosexuals.
>
>stein reacts in a positive manner to positive feedback.

How trivial.  Stein doesn't have to like Jake, he doesn't have to like
me.  Basing your support of gay rights on whether or not gay people
_like_ you is rather tokenistic and insulting to the very concept of
civil rights, by reducing it to a popularity contest.  "Oh, pleeeease
support civil rights!  I'll be real NICE!"

-- 
____ Tim Pierce                / "Someone here suggested blue square badges for
\  / twpierce@amherst.edu      /  straights.  Maybe we should try mauve
 \/ (BITnet: TWPIERCE@AMHERST) /  heptagons?" - Damian Cugley, on soc.bi
From: JHARTLEY@cmsa.gmr.com
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: Re: Want references on this expt.
Date: 9 Apr 92 12:13:06 GMT
Organization: GM Research Labs

In article <1992Apr8.212103.15617@massey.ac.nz>
A.Raman@massey.ac.nz (Anand) writes:

>
>A few years ago, I was told by someone of an experiment carried out
>on rats.  I'm not sure if it is true.  But if it is, I'd like some
>references to it.
>
>The experiment was about a rat/mouse given a choice between electrical
>stimulation of it's brain's pleasure centre and real food.  The
>observations apparently indicated that the rat preferred stimulation of
>it's pleasure centre (via electrodes implanted in its brain) to the
>point of near death through starvation.
>
>Is this true?  Can someone please point me at references in journals
>etc?
>
 You want to look for James Olds and Peter Milner in Psych Abstracts
probably in the middle 1950's.  I think they did a Scientific American
article in addition to standard psych journals.
Xref: sparky sci.psychology:2317 alt.politics.homosexuality:1781 alt.sex:13626
From: amitchell@mac.cc.macalstr.edu
Newsgroups: sci.psychology,alt.politics.homosexuality,alt.sex
Subject: Re: Human sexuality
Date: 6 Apr 92 17:42:49 GMT
Organization: Macalester College

In article <P.ifi.16@mac2325.uow.edu.au>, sik@cs.uow.edu.au (Stein I. Krav) writes:
>>I wrote:
> 
>>Should we keep it up for another month ?-/
> 
> Well, no takers ... ?-( ... ?-( ... ?-(
> 
> Ok, I'll try another one... (I hope Tim reads this... )
> 
> Say you got four kids like me...
> 
> one of them does not like onion...
> another one does not like mushrom...
> another one does not like beef...
> another one does not like ham...
> 
> SO...
> 
> WHAT DO YOU PUT ON THE PIZZA ???
> 
> just curious... :-) < AND SERIOUS... :-| >

Why not make a cheese pizza with green peppers, tomatoes and chicken (YUM!).
One question: what does this have to do with ANYTHING?
Allison
amitchell@macalstr.edu
amitchel@math.macalstr.edu

"Where's the damn pig?" -Jamie
From: storrs@milton.u.washington.edu (Storrs Albertson)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: WANTED: Reference Book on Fetishism
Summary: WANTED: Reference Book on Fetishism
Keywords: WANTED: Reference Book on Fetishism
Date: 6 Apr 92 06:37:12 GMT
Organization: University of Washington

If you know of a good book (or article) on the subject
of Fetishism, please send me E-Mail (or post).

Thanks in advance,

storrs@milton.acs.washington.edu
From: aafloy@cs.hw.ac.uk (Hans Aafloy)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: Re: Want references on this expt.
Date: 10 Apr 92 12:22:02 GMT
Organization: Dept of Computer Science, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland

In article <1992Apr8.212103.15617@massey.ac.nz> A.Raman@massey.ac.nz (Anand) writes:
>A few years ago, I was told by someone of an experiment carried out
>on rats.  I'm not sure if it is true.  But if it is, I'd like some
>references to it.
>
>The experiment was about a rat/mouse given a choice between electrical
>stimulation of it's brain's pleasure centre and real food.  The
>observations apparently indicated that the rat preferred stimulation of
>it's pleasure centre (via electrodes implanted in its brain) to the
>point of near death through starvation.
>
>Is this true?  

Yep. It pressed the happy-button ca 7000 times during a one hour session.
Similar experiments have also been done on ( voulenteering ) humans under open
brain surgery.

I'm looking in my books for references....

Hans
From: zoelen@rulfsw.leidenuniv.nl
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: re:parapsychology
Date: 6 Apr 92 15:21:44 GMT
Organization: Leiden University Faculty of Social Sciences

there is a chair in UTRECHT, holland in parapsychology. It's been there
for at least twenty five years, but i haven't seen any results confirming
any phenomena at all. In GRONINGEN, holland, some researches were done, 
especially in the field of magnetism(is this the right word in english??..
it is in dutch -> curing people with some power in the hands etc) but
no results of any kind were found. Here in Leiden we had some freak who
tried to prove astrological effects in terms of personality traits ...
he knows better now :-)
ad van zoelen
leiden university
From: jacek@edstar.ucsb.edu (Jacek Smits)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: Parapsychology in Utrecht, The Netherlands
Date: 12 Apr 92 20:58:37 GMT
Organization: UCSB Graduate School of Education

zoelen@rulfsw.leidenuniv.nl writes:

>there is a chair in UTRECHT, holland in parapsychology. It's been there
>for at least twenty five years, but i haven't seen any results confirming
>any phenomena at all. In GRONINGEN, holland, some researches were done, 
>especially in the field of magnetism(is this the right word in english??..
>it is in dutch -> curing people with some power in the hands etc) but
>no results of any kind were found. Here in Leiden we had some freak who
>tried to prove astrological effects in terms of personality traits ...
>he knows better now :-)
>ad van zoelen
>leiden university

There is not a chair in Utrecht, The Netherlands, anymore and hasn't
been there for about 20 years or so.  That chair changed into the
'Parapsychologisch Instituut' (no need to translate that one) after
Prof. Van Praag (the original chair) passed away and the State
University of Utrecht wanted to get rid of this research program.

The Parapsychologisch Instituut still exist in Utrecht and continues
to work on research into the paranormal.  Allthough I don't think
that their research methodology is very convincing, they do organize
a sort of a summerschool every year.  I attended one a couple of
years ago and it was very interesting.  Lots of discussion going
on.  Speakers were a psychiatrist on the topic of consciousness
and a 'religion-psychologist' (for the lack of a better term) on
the topic of religious beliefs, superstition and the paranormal,
and plenty of other lectures, discussion etc.  Really worthwhile!

Their research may be sloppy, but as far as their educational
branch goes, I think that this institute should continu to do
what they are doing.

Whether you believe any of it or not, it sure provides enough
for some very interesting discussion, also regarding yourself!

Jacek
jacek@edstar.gse.ucsb.edu
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
From: tjj@thumper..bellcore.com (J Tim Jordan)
Subject: Re: The Golden Section & Perception
Reply-To: tjj@thumper.UUCP (J Tim Jordan)
Organization: Bellcore MRE
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 92 18:49:23 GMT

In article <1992Apr15.170025.14195@cs.hw.ac.uk> aafloy@cs.hw.ac.uk (Hans Aafloy) writes:
:In article <1992Apr14.174320.1@cc.newcastle.edu.au> c9102929@cc.newcastle.edu.au writes:
:>I am trying to locate any studies done on "The Golden Section" or Fibonacci
:>Series and perception.
:
:This seems like some kind of quasi sience.
:I have degrees in both maths and psychology, and have never
:encountered claims like this.
:
:Beware that many "scientists" are very fond of connecting brain- and
:neural functions to maths and computer science ( eg "neural network" and
:"artificial intelligence" ), probably in order to enhance funding prospects
:by a "mystic" and "futuristic" sci-fi like terminology.
:
:Any paper linking perception to the Fibonacci series, should be read
:extremely carefully.

You've got to be a moron. These type of things do occur naturally and 
because of evolution as it is, there is definitely a possibility 
of a real connection here.
	Tim

Newsgroups: sci.psychology
From: ng548@dsom_op.pnl.gov (KM ALWAN)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: Re: Alice Miller
Date: 16 Apr 92 22:42:19 GMT
Article-I.D.: oracle.1992Apr16.224219.4499
Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs, Richland, WA

In article <1992Mar24.223954.17673@cbfsb.cb.att.com> kja@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (krista.j.anderson) writes:
>
>I'm not sure how we should define abuse, but I think it's clear
>that there's a world of difference between parents who tried their
>best despite their imperfections and parents who continually did
>things to their kids that they knew darn well were wrong.

MOST PEOPLE THAT ABUSE CHILDREN HAVE NO CLUE THAT WHAT
THEY ARE DOING IS WRONG.  IN FACT MOST THINK IT IS GOOD
FOR THEIR CHILDREN.  SO TO DEFINE CHILD ABUSE TO BE
ONLY THOSE ACTIONS PEOPLE KNOW ARE WRONG, WOULD BE TO
EXCLUDE MOST FORMS OF ABUSE.


-Karla
From: dir2@gte.com (Dean Radin)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: weather-behavior correlations?
Date: 14 Apr 92 22:15:59 GMT
Organization: GTE Laboratories

Can someone please point me towards some references on correlations
between weather and human behavior, both psychological and physical, 
including sports and other types of skilled performance?  

I'm particularly interested in weather variables like hours of sunlight, 
barometric pressure, humidity, and ambiant temperature.  I know there are 
syndromes like seasonal affect disorder, but are there others?  
Have they been systematically studied by anyone?

Thanks,
Dean Radin
GTE Labs, Waltham, MA, USA
dir2@gte.com
From: JHARTLEY@cmsa.gmr.com
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: pleasure centers
Date: 9 Apr 92 12:12:17 GMT
Organization: GM Research Labs

In article <1992Apr8.212103.15617@massey.ac.nz>
A.Raman@massey.ac.nz (Anand) writes:

>
>A few years ago, I was told by someone of an experiment carried out
>on rats.  I'm not sure if it is true.  But if it is, I'd like some
>references to it.
>
>The experiment was about a rat/mouse given a choice between electrical
>stimulation of it's brain's pleasure centre and real food.  The
>observations apparently indicated that the rat preferred stimulation of
>it's pleasure centre (via electrodes implanted in its brain) to the
>point of near death through starvation.
>
>Is this true?  Can someone please point me at references in journals
>etc?
>
>Thanks
>
>- & (anand)
>
The work you are speaking of was done by James Olds and Peter Milner at Harvard
in the early fifties.  I'm not sure of the reference but I think they
published a Scientific American article around 1956.  If you look in Psych
Abstracts for James Olds, you should find it.
Xref: sparky sci.psychology:2339 alt.politics.homosexuality:1874 alt.sex:13850
From: sik@cs.uow.edu.au (Stein I. Krav)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology,alt.politics.homosexuality,alt.sex
Subject: Re: Human sexuality
Date: 8 Apr 92 20:36:08 GMT
Organization: SikSW, Dept-Comp-Sci, Uni-Of-W'gong, NSW 2500, AUSTRALIA

In article <1992Apr08.173612.58221@watson.ibm.com>
    jakec@ralvmm.vnet.ibm.com (Jake Coughlin) wrote:

>sik@cs.uow.edu.au (The 24hr man):
>> I probably
>> support you more than the homophobes (The 'probably' is there because some of
>> you (homosexuals) decided to abuse me...

>god, you just. don't. get. it.  do you stein?

Maybe, maybe not...

>some of us (me in particular) abused you because you make such stupid
>statements, worthy of homophobes

I was not worried about you (if this makes you feel any better).  I have
had to deal with people a lot more abusive than you.

> -- here's a wonderful example.  you
>base your support of homosexuals on your own convenience.  if they're
>nice to you, you support them.  if they "abuse" you, you don't support
>them.  DUH!  sexuality, and in particular, sexual freeedom, has nothing
>to do with the issue of your support and vice versa.  is this clear?
>or should i revert to simple sentences, worthy of t-shirts:

This is not true.  Some other people on the net who I have been talking
(e-mail/post) to could possibly back this up (if they care to).

>see stein.
>see jake.
>see lisa.
>jake is gay.
>lisa is a lesbian.
>stein says something stupid.
>jake is mean to stein.

So far, good example - mostly true...

>stein gets mad.

Well, Stein gets annoyed is a better way to put it.

>(1) stein doesn't support homosexuals.

Not true...

>lisa is nice to stein.

Again, mostly true...

>stein is happy.

Well, Stein is pleased is a better way to put it.

>(2) stein supports homosexuals.

Not true...

>(1) should read "stein doesn't like jake" and (2) should read "stein
>likes lisa."

Are you trying to imply that I like females?  If this is the case,
most of the people out there already know this, I've said so before.

Are you asking for reasons?  Well, I haven't had one of them tell me
to F. off yet.  The might say 'Pleaseeee gooooooo awaaaaaay'.  This
actually makes a difference to me.  But I still talk to people who
tell me to F. off.

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

Your article <1992Apr08.173612.58221@watson.ibm.com> is yet another 
example on a reply to an article I wrote to try to make a point, where
a sidenote I wrote (even in (...)) has been taken out and made the major
issue.

>-- 
>Jason Coughlin ( jakec@ralvmm.vnet.ibm.com )
>Queer Without A Cause!
>"I find myself suddenly in the world, and I recognize that I have one
>right alone: that of demanding human behavior of the other." -- Fanon

Stein - sik@cs.uow.edu.au
'I'm not smoking, just keeping the insects away' - sik@cs.uow.edu.au
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: Re: Parapsychology
From: repalmer@oread.cc.ukans.edu
Date: 8 Apr 92 11:32:52 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Serces

In article <2855@sol.deakin.OZ.AU>, andrea@cm.deakin.OZ.AU (Andrea Todkill) writes:
> In article <1992Mar31.231443.1956@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> ffujita@s.psych.uiuc.edu (Frank Fujita) writes:
>>There is lots of scientifically verifiable evidence of paranormal activity. 
>>Unfortunately, it isn't easily replicable under scientific scrutiny.  
> 
> One of the crucial criteria for scientific verification is replicability.
> And any 'phenomenon' that can't stand up to scientific scrutiny of any kind
> looks more than mildly suspect.

I think that there are certain non-linear processes that are verifiable but not
reproducable...say the weather...or maybe psychology that is specific to one
person.
Rick
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
From: ses3n@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Sharon Elizabeth Silverman)
Subject: grad school
Organization: University of Virginia
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 17:45:14 GMT


I am embarking on that dreaded quest - the Grad School Hunt. Can anyone 
recommend a school with a quality PhD or PsyD program in counseling? 
My career goal is couple counseling. 

A school with a reasonable queer community would be great (I am bi).

As far as location, anything except Florida is fine. 
						Thanks a lot!!
							Sharon


Xref: sparky sci.psychology:2325 alt.politics.homosexuality:1841 alt.sex:13728 soc.motss:19547
From: sik@cs.uow.edu.au (The 24hr man)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology,alt.politics.homosexuality,alt.sex,soc.motss
Subject: Re: Human sexuality
Date: 8 Apr 92 03:21:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: troll.P.ifi.6
Organization: SikSW, Dept-Comp-Sci, Uni-Of-W'gong, NSW 2500, AUSTRALIA

In article <1992Apr6.114652.2374@mac.cc.macalstr.edu>
    amitchell@mac.cc.macalstr.edu wrote:

>Not paying attention to YOU all the time.....I have better things to do, like
>my homework and my job....
>Allison

Allison,

did you see the article from Mari (Black panter) Sepp} in alt.sex under
the subject: What to call a XX person ? And the few followups?

I have work to do as well, but I for one stood up and acknowledged that I made
a mistake with this girl vs woman business.  Quite a few people noticed this and
said - Hey, the guy stood up and said he made a mistake - listen...
But the discussion went on and on and on and on.

I think you men/women of the net owe it to youself to read Mari's article, and
make constructive comments on it.

As far as the pizza thing goes, Bacon and Egg are dangerous toppings, (for me
at least) it's like... something happens...

Sorry to bother you people in soc.motss again, but you too should read Mari's
article.  I'll pull soc.motss out of the header in future followups to this
thread.  I just want you to know that I'm not a homophobe.  I probably
support you more than the homophobes (The 'probably' is there because some of
you (homosexuals) decided to abuse me...

Stein - sik@cs.uow.edu.au
'Smoking causes heart disease' - Health Authority Warning
From: houle@nmt.edu (Paul Houle)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: Re: NLP and non-statistical inferential research
Date: 14 Apr 92 02:08:12 GMT
Organization: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology


	I have experimented with the Fast Phobia Cure on three other people.
One time it didn't work -- but that was because I tried to use it in a content-
free fashion because I'd read a description of Bandler&Grinder doing it,  and
I didn't ask him enough questions to show that his problem wasn't really
a phobia.  In another case,  I did use it with appearant success on a person
who was afraid of dogs.  I found out about his dog phobia when I called to
a big red friendly dog that hangs around on campus and my friend got all
scared and could only say,  "That's a really big dog!" --- After doing it,
he has run into dogs and not responded in any obviously severe manner.

	Another interesting case was when I was experimenting with different
techniques and told another friend about the Fast Phobia cure,  except his
problem was strong jealousy towards his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend.  He
started using it to remove the emotional valence from his memories of her,
and he believes it has helped him overcome his jealousy.  The interesting
tidbit that I got out of his case is that he thought of the Phobia Cure
process whenever he started getting jealous and effectively re-ran it in his
head to abort attacks.  I've had similar experiences using NLP techniques
on myself...  That is,  I remember running a process on myself when it is
supposed to cue a behavior.

	From reading NLP books,  I have gotten a number of interesting
perspectives on how the mind operates,  and a good number of them do seem to
check with the internal experiences of myself and my friends.  I would
probably be interested in attending seminars on NLP if I lived in a place
where they are availible.  And I quite possibly will in two years.

	I can't prove or disprove much about NLP,  but NLP seems to be
a somewhat rational and useful approach to understanding and working with
the human mind.


-- 
Newsgroups: sci.psychology