can we ignore the astrology just because we can't prove it scientifically. [Moderator: Yes. Just like "alternative medicine" is an umbrella term describing various unassociated quasi-medical practices which have not been proven both safe and effective, so mystical, numerological and new age divination methods have not been proven effective ways to know things. While, usually the person just loses money and time, in medicine even minor drains on ones resources may be unnecessarily life-threatening and in San Jose is the Winchester Mystery House which stands as a monument to the damage done to one woman's life by divination. While scientific demonstration of effectiveness is not as strong as what mathematicians call "proof" it should be a minimum bar for someone expending money or effort on a product intended to help themselves.] There are so many thing in this world that we can't prove but they are real.such as there is some truth in the astrology as well. [Moderator: The "truths" of astrology belong to science, and everything else is stage dressing, hand-holding and lies used to extract money from the gullible. Also, you have simply asserted your position, without specific citation of any "truths" or "real" things (we call them "facts"), which tends to support the idea that you cannot support your position with reasoned argument. It's possible that you don't understand science well enough to understand why scientific demonstration of value is the only conceivable manner to demonstrate effectivity while personal anecdote or citation of popularity fail to to move people acquainted by the law of truly large numbers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhGuXCuDb1U ]
QUOTE (Radhika12+Apr 29 2011, 06:47 AM)
can we ignore the astrology just because we can't prove it scientifically.
Yes. That, and it has no plausible scientific basis. There are things that we don't understand completely, but we usually have some idea what the mechanism is.
Astrology has no viable mechanism and no statistical evidence.
Yes. That, and it has no plausible scientific basis. There are things that we don't understand completely, but we usually have some idea what the mechanism is.
Astrology has no viable mechanism and no statistical evidence.
Astrology is more easily understood as a purely coincidental relationship between astronomical observations and the variety of prevailing social dynamics in operation at any given time of year. So if you drop the purely coincidental, there are already "sciences" studying the social dynamics and behavior.
Astrology is from ancient times.When an human being is born he is associated with kundali based on planetary positions. youtube.com/user/astrobixweb There is no harm in believing it.Astrology is from ancient times.When an human being is born he is associated with kundali based on planetary positions. There is no harm in believing it.
[Moderator: It is true that some astrological practices are ancient. So what? Kundali is a man-made system for classifying birth times and locations. The central hypothesis of astrology is that this classification is correlated with something, yet no study demonstrates this. The harm of believing untrue things is bounded below in paying for unnecessary things, and bounded above by unnecessary death.]
[Moderator: It is true that some astrological practices are ancient. So what? Kundali is a man-made system for classifying birth times and locations. The central hypothesis of astrology is that this classification is correlated with something, yet no study demonstrates this. The harm of believing untrue things is bounded below in paying for unnecessary things, and bounded above by unnecessary death.]
Astrology might be good for generating a placebo effect (but be careful of the nocebo effect) as well as increasing certain types of cognitive biases. Biases = bad, but I think that placebo has its place for reducing human suffering.
Agree, and it demonstrates the power of the mind in very curious and intangible ways. Placebo effect warrants continuing research. I believe feng shui is a producer of placebo effect, and ideomotor reaction provides for, in certain people, demonstrably higher than chance results for dowsing, which is why corporations and military around the world, including American, have for many years provided employment for dowsers and feng shui architectural designers.
Well, placebo is a medical effect and is widely investigated and factored in research. Using the pubmed database and including search terms for 'placebo', and some more clever search terms, can really unwrap some cool studies.
Dowsing just doesn't compare, scientifically.
PUBMED central has a detailed article called "Harnessing the placebo effect: the need for translational research".
Dowsing just doesn't compare, scientifically.
PUBMED central has a detailed article called "Harnessing the placebo effect: the need for translational research".
There's some compelling info on dowsing. There are some people out there that could pass Randi's challenge. Corporations and military don't spend funds on it for nothing. It doesn't compare to medical placebo effect in sheer numbers, but there's enough scientific evidence that keeps dowsing out of the loony bin. Placebo effect is most often seen in medical situations, but it's not relegated specifically to that. People don't believe in hypnosis either, until it's proven to them directly. But hypnosis is real. Ideomotor reaction is real, and placebo effect is real.
QUOTE (Radhika12+Apr 29 2011, 06:47 AM)
There are so many thing in this world that we can't prove but they are real.
Umm, if a thing cannot be proven to be real, it is not real, by definition.
(And don't even try to suggest that abstract concepts cannot be proven, because they can, by one method or another.)
Umm, if a thing cannot be proven to be real, it is not real, by definition.
(And don't even try to suggest that abstract concepts cannot be proven, because they can, by one method or another.)
Knowing both, that humans are social creatures, whereby individual differences play a vital role in our success (i.e;- bees have queens, drones etc) and that we each utilize but a small fraction of our overall gene complement (even twins can be measurably different, due to slight variations via cascade gene activation.
What if .... it's not planets, but some unknown type of seasonal biorhythmic mechanism that determines this cascade affect?
ps;- I'm an Aquarian, and fit the profile 100% spot-on (eccentric, nutjob type with weak ankles)
What if .... it's not planets, but some unknown type of seasonal biorhythmic mechanism that determines this cascade affect?
ps;- I'm an Aquarian, and fit the profile 100% spot-on (eccentric, nutjob type with weak ankles)
QUOTE
What if .... it's not planets, but some unknown type of seasonal biorhythmic mechanism that determines this cascade affect?
In Japan, workers (at least used to) have a day off when they had a triple critical in their biorhythm chart.It's got to be something; that's for sure. I simply cannot believe in uber-coincidence. On December 1 last year, I fell from just the second rung of a ladder and yet came a bit too close to tearing my hand from my wrist, landing the thing on an upturned corner of a slate square. Messy injury, and the worst I've ever had. Over Christmas, my sisters were having fun with their new Kindles/iPhones/ apps, and decided to do biorhythm charts. It so happened that on December 1, I not only had a triple critical, but it was a rare special case where each sine wave was less than 5 points from it's nadir. Pretty spooky. There's no science to be found to back this sort of thing up, just statistics. It's statistics that made Japanese authorities give their workers mandatory days off. I'll say it again: nothing can happen outside the realm of science; but we don't know all that science has to say yet either. Not even close. Certainly keeps my mind open. (but i still don't believe Mercury seeded the Cosmos)
QUOTE (flyingbuttressman+Apr 29 2011, 01:17 PM)
Yes. That, and it has no plausible scientific basis. There are things that we don't understand completely, but we usually have some idea what the mechanism is.
Astrology has no viable mechanism and no statistical evidence.
But the topic "Why so many people take astrology seriously" is serious and interesting, in my opinion.
Ludwik Kowalski (see Wikipedia)
Astrology has no viable mechanism and no statistical evidence.
But the topic "Why so many people take astrology seriously" is serious and interesting, in my opinion.
Ludwik Kowalski (see Wikipedia)
QUOTE (soundhertz+May 13 2012, 04:10 AM)
There's some compelling info on dowsing. There are some people out there that could pass Randi's challenge. Corporations and military don't spend funds on it for nothing.
Here's some compelling info on how corporations and military line their pockets implementing such "technology."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oA8qtt6wCA
Here's some compelling info on how corporations and military line their pockets implementing such "technology."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oA8qtt6wCA
Oh come on. That's almost a red herring; you may as well disbelieve in placebo effect and hypnosis. It takes nothing away from oil and water companies, not to mention many other fields, using dowsing. You do not have to believe in it; they will continue to use it effectively nevertheless. It's not beyond science; the science is presently beyond us, even though it works. There is a scientific explanation for everything real. We are not at any pinnacle of knowledge by a substantial degree. The fact that this is true really and truly means a lot. Charlatans should never be elevated so that they can discredit what others have shown to be valid.
QUOTE (soundhertz+May 17 2012, 11:45 PM)
Oh come on. That's almost a red herring; you may as well disbelieve in placebo effect and hypnosis. It takes nothing away from oil and water companies, not to mention many other fields, using dowsing. You do not have to believe in it; they will continue to use it effectively nevertheless. It's not beyond science; the science is presently beyond us, even though it works.
I don’t deny that psychological conditioning can influence human physiology, but there are limits to a given physiological response and its associated outcomes. A placebo cannot replace antivenin in the case of a Black Mamba bite. The use of hypnosis will not double the length of an erect penis. The ideomotor effect may guide the spelling of answers on an Ouija Board, but there’s no compelling evidence that it turns dowsers into effective substance detectors. Whatever notable success attributed to ritual practices such dowsing is more likely due to subconscious deductive abilities that have become traditionally linked to these rituals, and that may lead some to erroneously conclude that the ritual itself is a form of extrasensory ability.
I don’t deny that psychological conditioning can influence human physiology, but there are limits to a given physiological response and its associated outcomes. A placebo cannot replace antivenin in the case of a Black Mamba bite. The use of hypnosis will not double the length of an erect penis. The ideomotor effect may guide the spelling of answers on an Ouija Board, but there’s no compelling evidence that it turns dowsers into effective substance detectors. Whatever notable success attributed to ritual practices such dowsing is more likely due to subconscious deductive abilities that have become traditionally linked to these rituals, and that may lead some to erroneously conclude that the ritual itself is a form of extrasensory ability.
It's really pointless to claim that certain unspecified third parties could be able to win the James Randi challenge when the challenge has been around for years and the value of winning the challenge is quite valuable personally and to the net total of human knowledge.
"Most dowsers claim 100% accuracy. Very few claim anything less than 90%."
But in testing, the accuracy above chance is zero.
http://www.randi.org/library/dowsing/
"Most dowsers claim 100% accuracy. Very few claim anything less than 90%."
But in testing, the accuracy above chance is zero.
QUOTE
Each dowser goes away from any trial of their powers, dismayed by their failure, puzzled at the reasons for the failure, but always capable of coming up with a reasonable to them excuse. That excuse may be any one of many. It may be an unfortunate arrangement of the planets, improper temperature or humidity, a problem of indigestion, too much ambient noise or too much silence or a poor attitude on the part of the observers. These are not invented excuses; they are all drawn from my personal experience in testing these folks.
I must say that of all those who have ever tried to win the Pigasus Prize, and of those who I have otherwise tested in every part of the world, no claimants even approach the dowsers for honesty. These are persons who are genuinely, thoroughly, self-deceived. In only two instances one in Australia and the other in the U.K. did I ever encounter any cheating being tried by dowsers. And those cases were easily solved and immediately terminated.
I must say that of all those who have ever tried to win the Pigasus Prize, and of those who I have otherwise tested in every part of the world, no claimants even approach the dowsers for honesty. These are persons who are genuinely, thoroughly, self-deceived. In only two instances one in Australia and the other in the U.K. did I ever encounter any cheating being tried by dowsers. And those cases were easily solved and immediately terminated.
http://www.randi.org/library/dowsing/
They're not unspecified. I read the report you quoted. There are many more. Some are scientist-involved. The fact that corporations have been using dowsing and feng shui for years because of statistically positive outcomes speaks for itself. Statistics are powerful, as precedence is in courts of law. Precedent trumps law; even becomes law. Statistics trump personal disbelief. It's not magic, but it is something, and it has been shown to work. Not every time, not by a long shot, but with certain people, high above chance level. There's no getting around it; only explaining away to suit. Same with placebo effect. It comes down to what i've championed in the past, aspects of mind ability not understood yet. It's not magic, it remains science, science we haven't held concretely yet, but we will.
QUOTE (Lady Elizabeth+May 13 2012, 10:17 AM)
Knowing both, that humans are social creatures, whereby individual differences play a vital role in our success (i.e;- bees have queens, drones etc) and that we each utilize but a small fraction of our overall gene complement (even twins can be measurably different, due to slight variations via cascade gene activation.
What if .... it's not planets, but some unknown type of seasonal biorhythmic mechanism that determines this cascade affect?
ps;- I'm an Aquarian, and fit the profile 100% spot-on (eccentric, nutjob type with weak ankles)
does that mean you don't have cankles ? Nice !
Placebo .!! All the way . Now tarot cards are a different story . Them evil cards will cut you if someone throws them right . You could be bleed like the old days of bleeding and such . Medical quackery. I tell yeah .
Actually I am beginning to think a lot of ailments are suggested . Like the latest thing about wheat intolerance. Oh wheat makes Me sick because some doctor told Me wheat is now bad for you . Lot of people falling for that one and paying big bucks not to eat wheat anymore .
O.K. true story of the hidden language the way I heard it .
I was in hospital with my son . When his finger was broken in a chain of events that started with S.A.M. from sciforum. Thats not it . It was me sitting there waiting for a practitioner and I start to get this little cough . I am testing my whisper theory of comprehension and everyone is responding to the language as they do ( There bigger selves are communicating and the reading is matching the language I am using instantaneously. Just like tested so much before . Then this cough starts . It is little at first then it gets increasingly more disruptive . I then say to my son . I think I am getting a cough ( Hack Hack , I am not one to get sick ) Well instantaneously the gal in the lobby yells out Great. I believe if I was not aware of her call out I would of come down with something . It was spot on ( I seem to have a cough / great ) If I didn't know about the language I would think it was coincident. So my cough left just as soon as I heard her say Great . Coincident ? I should say not . Selfish to her profession is more like it . She wanted Me sick so the hospital could get the business on a slow day at the hospital. You should have seen the bill for his thumb .
O.k. who has heard of the 75% rule . Doctors know about this . It is a relatively new study that shows your odds are increased do to placebo or even better than placebo if you tell the patient they have a 75% chance of recovery . 75% is the magic number is the thing . It only works with that percentage . Something about the brain telling you you having a fighting chance at that specific number . Any less and the patient feels there is not enough hope . Anymore and the patient feels they got it in the bag and have no worries. Complacent about recovery .
So now the Doctors face a moral judgement . Should they lie and tell the patient they all have a 75% chance even if they feel they don't . Knowing it will increase there odds of survival ?
What if .... it's not planets, but some unknown type of seasonal biorhythmic mechanism that determines this cascade affect?
ps;- I'm an Aquarian, and fit the profile 100% spot-on (eccentric, nutjob type with weak ankles)
does that mean you don't have cankles ? Nice !
Placebo .!! All the way . Now tarot cards are a different story . Them evil cards will cut you if someone throws them right . You could be bleed like the old days of bleeding and such . Medical quackery. I tell yeah .
Actually I am beginning to think a lot of ailments are suggested . Like the latest thing about wheat intolerance. Oh wheat makes Me sick because some doctor told Me wheat is now bad for you . Lot of people falling for that one and paying big bucks not to eat wheat anymore .
O.K. true story of the hidden language the way I heard it .
I was in hospital with my son . When his finger was broken in a chain of events that started with S.A.M. from sciforum. Thats not it . It was me sitting there waiting for a practitioner and I start to get this little cough . I am testing my whisper theory of comprehension and everyone is responding to the language as they do ( There bigger selves are communicating and the reading is matching the language I am using instantaneously. Just like tested so much before . Then this cough starts . It is little at first then it gets increasingly more disruptive . I then say to my son . I think I am getting a cough ( Hack Hack , I am not one to get sick ) Well instantaneously the gal in the lobby yells out Great. I believe if I was not aware of her call out I would of come down with something . It was spot on ( I seem to have a cough / great ) If I didn't know about the language I would think it was coincident. So my cough left just as soon as I heard her say Great . Coincident ? I should say not . Selfish to her profession is more like it . She wanted Me sick so the hospital could get the business on a slow day at the hospital. You should have seen the bill for his thumb .
O.k. who has heard of the 75% rule . Doctors know about this . It is a relatively new study that shows your odds are increased do to placebo or even better than placebo if you tell the patient they have a 75% chance of recovery . 75% is the magic number is the thing . It only works with that percentage . Something about the brain telling you you having a fighting chance at that specific number . Any less and the patient feels there is not enough hope . Anymore and the patient feels they got it in the bag and have no worries. Complacent about recovery .
So now the Doctors face a moral judgement . Should they lie and tell the patient they all have a 75% chance even if they feel they don't . Knowing it will increase there odds of survival ?
QUOTE (soundhertz+May 20 2012, 02:53 AM)
The fact that corporations have been using dowsing and feng shui for years because of statistically positive outcomes speaks for itself.
Because successful individuals and groups incorporate superstitious beliefs and behaviors into their professional activity, that legitimizes the superstition? The acceptance of that form of statistical interpretation is the stuff of marketing executive’s wet dreams. Captains of industry smoke Marlboros, heads of state drink Coca Cola, the most interesting man in the world drinks Dos Equis. Statistics show that success can be had using these products, therefore they are an essential ingredient for success.
Because successful individuals and groups incorporate superstitious beliefs and behaviors into their professional activity, that legitimizes the superstition? The acceptance of that form of statistical interpretation is the stuff of marketing executive’s wet dreams. Captains of industry smoke Marlboros, heads of state drink Coca Cola, the most interesting man in the world drinks Dos Equis. Statistics show that success can be had using these products, therefore they are an essential ingredient for success.
Why would a corporation use dowsing?
Because they find water and oil deep under ground. Statistically, it has a positive result. Corporations like to make money, and they don't care about the means to get it, good or bad. They care about the results. It's curious that so many people don't know dowsing is still fairly wisely employed. I've never tried it myself; have no interest. But the info is there. Police even use psychics. I won't go so far as to put that in the same frame, but dowsing, hypnosis, and placebo effect seem related.
afa successful psychic use, perhaps Derek could provide any interesting testimonial to it; he's had a long career and perhaps there was a time or two that it was employed - successfully or unsuccessfully.
afa successful psychic use, perhaps Derek could provide any interesting testimonial to it; he's had a long career and perhaps there was a time or two that it was employed - successfully or unsuccessfully.
O.K. my well driller says it is bogus . We check the wells in the area and determine by that about were the aquifer is . The depth . If you good average of the surrounding area you can tell much better than dowsing . I had one customer who believed in dowsing and they hired an expert dowser . More of a hope for better results . So he said right there is water at x amount depth . You can't move off of that mark by more than 5 feet any direction . Well the well driller moved about 10 ft for ease of his equipment . So the well driller did hit about what the dowser said and it was consistent with the surrounding wells. The thing is the dowser can pull well logs with the best of them . Now the well driller had practical experience by drilling a good percentage of the surrounding wells. So he knew at what the depth water was . The ten ft made no difference.
My step father was a dowser . He did a good job at making it look real . Mainly he located electrical , phone and gas lines . I think that was more builder experience based on typical direction of services and what he would do if he was planning services . He held 2 bent copper wires about the thickness of coat hangers and when he would come to the ditch he would twang em out to the side. Course you usually have city records to help out with that and if again you know the typical of building practices from digging up old lines in the area . If your real good like Me then you can see old depressions of ditches . Disturbed soils and such . Or like septic lines you can see greener patches of grass . It can be hit and miss still but ditch depressions go a long ways in locating things like services .
Now water features it is hard to tell unless you have geological mapping of soil profiles. Then Geo-engineers can differentiate by layering . I would say if it is critical Geo-engineers are your best bang for the buck. They appear to be the experts on such matters
Wow back from Google of the Paddler Gods . 2 Stingray and i forgot the other . Lots of bone talk and bloodletting . The occurrence of the Bone meme is starting to creep me out a little . Something about bones right now! One more bone written and I am going to scream. Unless it is me calling out bones
Oh that is funny . I looked at older writings . Your not going to believe this . It talked about cutting up bones . Cut you down by calling you bones . Oh that is funny as can be . Any you check that out . Tikal stuff .
Is it Me ? Is it just Me . Can anyone else read the hidden language yet ? God i look for the day I am not alone . I am thinking I am not alone , but the ones that can see it have kept it a secret. I tell you what ? The power of knowing how to speak it is overwhelming . I don't know how Jesus coped with it. Oh yeah forgot . He didn't . He was a quitter . He gave into the language . Did what it told him to do like a good little boy/son/ not a father. Not Me . I am not going that way and if anybody gets the bright idea i need to be cut up into little pieces good look with that . It will not be an easy job . Pack a lunch cause it will take you all day .
My step father was a dowser . He did a good job at making it look real . Mainly he located electrical , phone and gas lines . I think that was more builder experience based on typical direction of services and what he would do if he was planning services . He held 2 bent copper wires about the thickness of coat hangers and when he would come to the ditch he would twang em out to the side. Course you usually have city records to help out with that and if again you know the typical of building practices from digging up old lines in the area . If your real good like Me then you can see old depressions of ditches . Disturbed soils and such . Or like septic lines you can see greener patches of grass . It can be hit and miss still but ditch depressions go a long ways in locating things like services .
Now water features it is hard to tell unless you have geological mapping of soil profiles. Then Geo-engineers can differentiate by layering . I would say if it is critical Geo-engineers are your best bang for the buck. They appear to be the experts on such matters
Wow back from Google of the Paddler Gods . 2 Stingray and i forgot the other . Lots of bone talk and bloodletting . The occurrence of the Bone meme is starting to creep me out a little . Something about bones right now! One more bone written and I am going to scream. Unless it is me calling out bones
Oh that is funny . I looked at older writings . Your not going to believe this . It talked about cutting up bones . Cut you down by calling you bones . Oh that is funny as can be . Any you check that out . Tikal stuff .
Is it Me ? Is it just Me . Can anyone else read the hidden language yet ? God i look for the day I am not alone . I am thinking I am not alone , but the ones that can see it have kept it a secret. I tell you what ? The power of knowing how to speak it is overwhelming . I don't know how Jesus coped with it. Oh yeah forgot . He didn't . He was a quitter . He gave into the language . Did what it told him to do like a good little boy/son/ not a father. Not Me . I am not going that way and if anybody gets the bright idea i need to be cut up into little pieces good look with that . It will not be an easy job . Pack a lunch cause it will take you all day .
I made a typo back there. 'widely', not 'wisely' 
My stance is neutral; I would never say it was done wisely. I'm merely trying to give the bird's eye view. They use it, they have for a long time, it has yielded results that inspire them to continue, that's all. Not trying to be a pr man; just reporting the facts.
My stance is neutral; I would never say it was done wisely. I'm merely trying to give the bird's eye view. They use it, they have for a long time, it has yielded results that inspire them to continue, that's all. Not trying to be a pr man; just reporting the facts.
QUOTE (El_Machinae+May 20 2012, 03:08 PM)
Why would a corporation use dowsing?
I’m not aware of any that do. I’d be interested in an example of a corporation that does.
At least one oilman has sense enough to know its limitations
If there are successful companies that engage in superstitious activity such as dowsing, it’s because ultimately their success isn’t dependent on it. They achieve success in spite of their superstitions.
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/81/mgoldsmith.html
Apparently professional dowsing is so lucrative that its practitioners don’t need Randi’s million dollar prize. So here’s a humanitarian alternative to prove the merit of their skills.
Detecting Landmines
http://mypage.direct.ca/j/jliving/landmine.htm
I’m not aware of any that do. I’d be interested in an example of a corporation that does.
At least one oilman has sense enough to know its limitations
QUOTE
George Starozik leads a double life, one conventional and the other distinctly less so. The 81-year-old founder of Camaro Drilling Ltd., has piloted his firm since 1978 without posting a single annual loss, he still manages its daily affairs and he's the second-longest serving director of the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors. As a sideline, Starozik (shown here) has also been quietly dowsing for oil and gas almost as long as he's drilled for it.
Starozik is no fanatic. He hasn't gambled his corporate or personal finances on what he recognizes as a technique that's still largely unproven.
http://www.oilandgasinquirer.com/article.a...008_MO0001.html
Starozik is no fanatic. He hasn't gambled his corporate or personal finances on what he recognizes as a technique that's still largely unproven.
http://www.oilandgasinquirer.com/article.a...008_MO0001.html
If there are successful companies that engage in superstitious activity such as dowsing, it’s because ultimately their success isn’t dependent on it. They achieve success in spite of their superstitions.
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/81/mgoldsmith.html
Apparently professional dowsing is so lucrative that its practitioners don’t need Randi’s million dollar prize. So here’s a humanitarian alternative to prove the merit of their skills.
Detecting Landmines
http://mypage.direct.ca/j/jliving/landmine.htm
Anecdotes aren't data. Opinions shaped by confirmation bias aren't data. Advertising pitches aren't data.
Dowsing doesn't work reliably because trying a guess without data doesn't work reliably.
Gordon Ramsey's television show Kitchen Nightmares typically visits "failing"* restaurants where the owners/managers have no prior experience and are deep in debt. These people have dowsed their way to being business failures -- they don't know what they are doing and are just performing a "magic ritual" of going to work without a reliable theory of how showing up at work translates into business profit. They have bought into the lie that hard work equals success even when it is obvious that all the hard work in the world won't save a business when they aren't giving customers what they want.
* "Failing" here is in scare quotes, because the situation is not akin to an average student failing a test in a classroom setting; rather, typically the owners show no history of business or restaurant knowledge at all. It would like me being asked to take an entrance exam for a Thai traditional art school.
Dowsing is a similar magic ritual that based on the same human motor system glitches as the Ouiji board. Typically the field is prospecting, not restaurant success. If you prospect for common things like water or oil in places where geology favors oil pockets, you will have a certain measure of success no matter your technique. If you want to demonstrate the success of dowsing, you need scientific papers demonstrating that this methodology is not just successful, but more successful than chance and regional geography alone account for.
That is what is claimed, but that is not what the magazine and web articles show.
Dowsing doesn't work reliably because trying a guess without data doesn't work reliably.
Gordon Ramsey's television show Kitchen Nightmares typically visits "failing"* restaurants where the owners/managers have no prior experience and are deep in debt. These people have dowsed their way to being business failures -- they don't know what they are doing and are just performing a "magic ritual" of going to work without a reliable theory of how showing up at work translates into business profit. They have bought into the lie that hard work equals success even when it is obvious that all the hard work in the world won't save a business when they aren't giving customers what they want.
* "Failing" here is in scare quotes, because the situation is not akin to an average student failing a test in a classroom setting; rather, typically the owners show no history of business or restaurant knowledge at all. It would like me being asked to take an entrance exam for a Thai traditional art school.
Dowsing is a similar magic ritual that based on the same human motor system glitches as the Ouiji board. Typically the field is prospecting, not restaurant success. If you prospect for common things like water or oil in places where geology favors oil pockets, you will have a certain measure of success no matter your technique. If you want to demonstrate the success of dowsing, you need scientific papers demonstrating that this methodology is not just successful, but more successful than chance and regional geography alone account for.
That is what is claimed, but that is not what the magazine and web articles show.
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