Chi energy

[popsy]

I had a conversation with a woman on another board that was saying that a ceramic leg wrap blocked the chi energy from escaping her injured knee and would therefore speed healing. I questioned her, asking for her supporting evidence for the existence of chi. She asked why she should have to prove anything. Telling her I didn't ask for proof, only evidence, got anecdotes. Someone else asked if I expected proof for everything, that science couldn't say it didn't exist so it was only opinion that it didn't. I said science doesn't set out to disprove, only to find evidence. It was so discouraging that people don't read, they read 'into' what they want to see. Another that they seem to have little idea of how science works.

BTW I only started the conversation because she made a point that the ceramic in the wrap was the kind that NASA used on the space shuttle. I was curious what that might have to do with any energy but heat.

I'm just complaining. I did what I could to suggest a little critical thinking might be useful but I don't feel as if I accomplished much. :-(

 

[BillC]

Unfortunately, 'not much' is often the most that can be achieved. Some people need their beliefs, as much as they need food and water. I don't engage the intransient ones in debate, as I find the process painful.

 

[casebro]

Is she talking about ceramic magnets? Double WOO if she is....

 

[Dragonrock]

I thought the tiles on the space shuttle were spun glass, not ceramic.

 

[popsy]

Is she talking about ceramic magnets? Double WOO if she is....

I think the wrap is made by Nikken, of magnet fame, but I don't think it has magnets. She says you have to be very careful of using magnets because they can cause severe problems for some people. She's an enthusiastic advocate of acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal remedies, and probably homeopathy, though that one I don't definitely remember so I might be maligning her. (HA)

 

[c4ts]

BTW I only started the conversation because she made a point that the ceramic in the wrap was the kind that NASA used on the space shuttle. I was curious what that might have to do with any energy but heat.

I'm just complaining. I did what I could to suggest a little critical thinking might be useful but I don't feel as if I accomplished much. :-(

I hope she didn't mean the thermal tiles! Those are actually foam glass, not ceramic. Or at least the ones on the old shuttles were, I don't know if they've changed materials by now. Anyway, foam glass is actually pretty delicate. It's full of sharp, microscopic bits that irritate the skin like it's rubbing against fiberglass insulation, and foam glass can break off in thin layers. If that cast were made of thermal tile material, her leg would burn like HELLFIRE!

Maybe the ceramic wrap had some other use, space suit insulation or something.

 

[popsy]

I hope she didn't mean the thermal tiles! Those are actually foam glass, not ceramic. Or at least the ones on the old shuttles were, I don't know if they've changed materials by now. Anyway, foam glass is actually pretty delicate. It's full of sharp, microscopic bits that irritate the skin like it's rubbing against fiberglass insulation, and foam glass can break off in thin layers. If that cast were made of thermal tile material, her leg would burn like HELLFIRE!

Maybe the ceramic wrap had some other use, space suit insulation or something.

I mentioned ceramic being used as a heat shield on the Shuttle and she didn't correct me. Here is Nikken's webpage that discusses it. Oops, I see it isn't their webpage but one talking about compelling evidence that it works.
http://www.irhappy.com/photo.htm
BTW it wasn't a cast but a flexible wrap. Sure enough, Nikken says they retain heat in the body which is what I asked her if it did. She said I could think of it that way if I wanted to, but it was really energy such as soul or chi. I didn't see a thing about chi. ;-)

 

[CurtC]

She says you have to be very careful of using magnets because they can cause severe problems for some people.

Maybe she's a technician in an MRI lab?

By the way, I would point out to her that her belief in this thing called "chi" has no more evidence than if you said that her leg wrap keeps the fairies in, and the fairies help it heal. If her complaint was that you can't prove that chi doesn't exist, the problem is that there are an infinite number of false things that can't be proved not to exist. How can one separate which of those to believe and not to believe? That's what evidence is for.

 

[popsy]

Maybe she's a technician in an MRI lab?

By the way, I would point out to her that her belief in this thing called "chi" has no more evidence than if you said that her leg wrap keeps the fairies in, and the fairies help it heal. If her complaint was that you can't prove that chi doesn't exist, the problem is that there are an infinite number of false things that can't be proved not to exist. How can one separate which of those to believe and not to believe? That's what evidence is for.

To that group, any evidence, even anecdotal, is PROOF for what they believe! They figure if I can't PROVE scientifically that chi energy does NOT exist, and they say it does, well then it does. They don't see that carrying that even one step further would blow up their argument, but they don't carry it further. They just stop with what they think is true, and put on the blindfolds and congratulate themselves for having open minds. Not narrow and closed minded like those who would use reason and logic.

This same person posts on horse conformation boards that I visit and she's quite good at comformation and biomechanics of horses, except where her preferred breeds are concerned, and then she sees what she wants to see. She's fairly well practiced at selective thinking.

 

[JLam]

Popsy,

Here's what you do. Tell this person that there is an invisible monkey floating above her head at all hours of the day. When she insists that there isn't, mention to her that science can't prove that there isn't, so to say that there isn't is just an opinion. Then remind her that this was her best argument for the evidence of Chi.

If the lightbulb doesn't go off for her at that point, then I'm afraid nothing will ever set it off, and you're probably better off to let her wallow in her delusions.

 

[c4ts]

Tell her she'd better cover herself entirely in this airtight material, because chi is a fluid, and placing a wrap on her leg will just force it out the sides.

Oh, and she can't use airholes. Chi could leak out of those.