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Dowsing by a Skeptic

I only want to report what I experienced and say this may not be repeatable which is mandatory for scientific experimenting but nonetheless: I worked with an old guy who located water pipes, using dowsing wires. The wires were those that used to be coat hangers which were straightened and then bent into L shapes. He walked in the suspected area with one part of either wire parallel to the ground. He thought they worked as a result of subtle changes in the earth's magnetic field or the like. He wasn't trained in science but he didn't make claims based on some paranormal BS. I, having some background in science ( College Physics etc.); scoffed at the idea and in reaction he challenged me to carry one wire in each hand over a known buried City water pipe and see for myself. I was amazed because I could feel the wires rotate and cross each other. To this day I can't really make sense of it. Some people have suggested that he secretly twisted the wires walking behind me but I don't think so.
 
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SaskMick said:
I think that's partly why many dowser don't charge for anything but their expenses. I would not charge either.
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So dowsing for water for a well, given people expect success, is no better than random chance as a result? Why would I even pay expenses under the circumstances?
 
SaskMick said:
I don't have the time to answer everyone's posts, sorry about that.:(
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Seems I've heard this before by others. It also seems to me that many us have expressed the same points, so one answer will do. How about telling us why finding water for a well in real life is any different in mind set or approach from a proper double blind test?
 
Fellow Traveler said:
I was amazed because I could feel the wires rotate and cross each other. To this day I can't really make sense of it. Some people have suggested that he secretly twisted the wires walking behind me but I don't think so.
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I have heard the exact same thing expressed by first time dowsers on several occasions. It's the unexplained that makes it interesting:)
 
Giordano said:
Seems I've heard this before by others. It also seems to me that many us have expressed the same points, so one answer will do. How about telling us why finding water for a well in real life is any different in mind set or approach from a proper double blind test?
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Because it's real dowsing for a valuable resource. Tests are petty at best.
 
SaskMick said:
I have heard the exact same thing expressed by first time dowsers on several occasions. It's the unexplained that makes it interesting:)
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I'd say in your case it's the lack of properly applying critical thinking that makes it amusing.
 
Giordano said:
So dowsing for water for a well, given people expect success, is no better than random chance as a result? Why would I even pay expenses under the circumstances?
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Not at all, the fact that it works is proven by dowsers who guarantee to find water or no fee. I would guarantee to find it as it is my pleasure. Which is best ?
 
SaskMick said:
I'm not interested in scientific method, I'm only interested in meaningful results.
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Sure you are, Mr. Skeptic. :rolleyes: :D

Why don't you admit you've been dishonest from post one in this thread?
 
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SaskMick said:
Not at all, the fact that it works is proven by dowsers who guarantee to find water or no fee. I would guarantee to find it as it is my pleasure. Which is best ?
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Ah yes, one of those utterly invisible and unverifiable 'facts' :rolleyes:
 
SaskMick said:
The thing that disappoints me at the BSD forum is the lack of responses sometimes. I asked about the "remote" dowsing a couple of times but got no reply. I am left with the conclusion that they have never heard of it, and have not thought of trying it.

It's the remote dowsing that really interests me. I have tried it over the phone, and it works like I was standing watching. No attempt at an explanation from anyone at the BSD,

I will be convinced that dowsing is BS when the ideomotor effect is a proven fact rather than just a theory.:)
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Given your infelicity with data-handling, and your demonstrated aversion to honest testing, I wonder if you would explain what you mean by "proven fact as opposed to theory". The IMR itself has been demonstrated; here is a relatively accessible paper about some investigations:
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/ideomotor.html

Enjoy.
 
SaskMick said:
Because it's real dowsing for a valuable resource. Tests are petty at best.
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Right. Because "real dowsing" produces results (finds "valuable resources") nearly as often as predicted by random chance; whereas petty testing, honestly designed, could support (or disprove) a dowser's claims of "abilities".
 
SaskMick said:
Not at all, the fact that it works is proven by dowsers who guarantee to find water or no fee. I would guarantee to find it as it is my pleasure. Which is best ?
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Do you understand the problem of confirmation bias? What kinds of records have you gathered, indicating just how often a "dowser" making such a guarantee does not, in fact, get to charge a fee?
 
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