Parapsychology

6th

Ok well i've found this article written by Eric Dingwall. For anyone who hasn't heard of him:

British anthropologist, Director of the Department of Physical Phenomena at the ASPR from 1921-22, Research Officer of the SPR from 1922-27. Author of Revelations of a Spirit Medium (with Harry Price), 1922, How to go to a Medium, 1927, Ghosts and Spirits in the Ancient World, 1930, The Haunting of Borley Rectory - A Critical Survey of the Evidence (with Kathleen Goldney and Trevor Hall), 1956, Some Human Oddities, 1962. After sixty years of active psychical research he eventually gave up in exasperation with the low standards of evidence and the disreputable conduct of parapsychologists.

The article is this mans opinion and I'm just putting it out their for people to read. Have a good read before commenting.

http://www.survivalafterdeath.org/articles/dingwall/responsibility.htm

CodeMonkey

He had a lot of access to the paranormal research and a lot of dealings with believers to draw his conclusions but one can probably argue that research today are of much higher standards and the conduct of most parapsychologists are impeccable with no agenda other than seeking the truth. I'd guess the standards of a lot of the tests have improved but most people won't have the access or time to find out if any research results are indeed as meaningful as the parapsychologists who conducted them says.

The article seems to be quite insightful on paranormal activities, the research and believers even for today but I'd say that cause I'm a sceptic. I am surprised no believers to care to comment. Is it just an unworthy article of an overly sceptical man written close to 40 years ago and so is irrelevant? What are your thoughts 6th?

6th

I found it an excellent article. As you say research has come along way since his time but to be honest I dont think people put as much effort into now as they did then. Sure they have better tools and a better understanding of science in general, but with much more exciting areas to study now people just dont seem to be concentrating on the paranormal in the same way.

Parapsychology is a very worthwhile study but I feel it needs more attention, maybe if and when it gets the light it deserves we will see alot of spoofers shown up for what they are. At the moment its alot of guess work, half baked theories and egos.

To be honest as a stronge believer I think we need another few Mr. Dingwalls, I'm sure they'd make good use of technology and attack the subject with the gusto it deserves. I want answers but for now i think i'll have to go with what i know and what i discover for myself.

btw nice to see someone else took the time to read it

6th

To speak bluntly, I no longer believe the stories I read or that are reported to me. They may or may not be true, but I have no longer any inclination to test their accuracy myself.

The guy was just a little p*ssed at all the sh*t out there and was having a rant, a very well thought out rant though.

People may think he's not playing for the same side as me, but I as much as him want to cut through the rubbish. Hopefully i get 60 years at it before I throw my hands in the air and give up.