Dowsing by a Skeptic

[Reno]

The flakes over at BSD have obviously told Mick that the JREFfers are a close-minded bunch of sheeple who will never allow themselves to be convinced that dowsing works no matter how much overwhelming evidence they have is presented. He's probably been told to just have fun with us as we are all just clowns anyway.

Fair enough Mick, have a good old belly laugh. But before you finally disappear from this forum forever (which you will be doing very shortly, trust me), do tell us what you intend to do with your dowsing ability, other than talk about it on the BSD forum?

 

[zooterkin]

If I ask is this a good time and I get a negative response and still go ahead, I would expect a complete failure.

Exactly what are you asking, and how (not to mention, why)? How did you arrive at this procedure?

 

[Mojo]

If I ask is this a good time and I get a negative response and still go ahead, I would expect a complete failure.

You dowse to find out if dowsing will work?

 

[steenkh]

You dowse to find out if dowsing will work?

Yep. He asks his gut feelings if the test will succeed, or if it is too tightly controlled ...

 

[Olowkow]

I was checking out some of the videos on the BSD channel of YouTube and found this.
I hesitate recommending anyone watch it all, but starting around 13:00 or so, there is an excellent example of why dowsing seems to work. They are asking where a restaurant is, and the young lady is actually mistaken in fact, but the rods point in the erroneous direction, until she realizes her error.

Of course, the "experts" have an explanation for this.



I don't think there is any way to reason with dowsers of a certain personality type, once they are convinced that they are on to something that the naysayers are merely unschooled in. They seem to mistake our requests for properly conducted tests as nothing more than ignorance. The suggestions of blinded tests are viewed as taunts, and it seems as if there is some communication boundary that cannot be bridged between anyone who doubts dowsing and the practitioner.

Just a cursory look at the threads at the BSD forum shows how many other woo beliefs are rampant among the members, "The mysterious Hum, grounding/earthing, UFOs, Deepak Chopra, and probably homeopathy etc."

Geoff Stuttaford: My dowsing indicates that this flight [MH370]entered a portal and is now in another dimension. Anyone agree ?

Re: Hastings conference hears of alien abductions

by Mick » Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:53 am
I have a friend who says he was probed by aliens

In many ways, dowsing is like a belief system based on gods. Once the need for evidence is bypassed, just about anything goes.

 

[Blue Mountain]

SaskMick, did you read my posts (and Dubious Dick's post) relating to the fake ADE651 bomb detector? What's your opinion on the detector?

 

[poblob14]

You know, I enjoy the threads started by the True Believers most of all. There's a tiny little part of me that always says, "Maybe this time . . . ." and another, somewhat less tiny, part that says, "Let's see what excuses/evasions/outright poo flinging/whatever will happen this time."

But when someone goes on another forum and outright says that they're going to troll us ("rub their noses in it"), and then admits that acting like a flying buttress is a hobby for him ("If I see a door which a no entry sign on it, that will be the door through which I will enter every time"), then it's clear that we have no honest delusion here, but a person who enjoys making other people angry and then laughing at them.

To all those continuing to engage this individual: Remember that cop in The Dark Knight? The one who told the Joker that he knew Joker was going to enjoy the beating, and he'd just have to enjoy it more?

The Joker still enjoyed it more. And the collateral damage was huge.

Have fun, Mick.

 

[Recovering Agnostic]

Geoff Stuttaford: My dowsing indicates that this flight [MH370]entered a portal and is now in another dimension. Anyone agree ?

I'm dying to know how he thinks you can indicate this by dowsing. In fact, that whole thread makes for very disturbing reading.

Maybe this shows the differences in thinking - and I've engaged in some serious magical thinking in the past, way back when. Geoff thinks his dowsing indicates that the plane is in another dimension, and my first thoughts are:

1. How can this claim be tested?
2. How does dowsing indicate such a thing?
3. How do you know?

I see a claim, think about the potential implications and want to test the everliving **** out of it. Geoff, on the other hand, just seems happy to accept it. Oh, a plane disappeared through a portal into another dimension? No, I've no idea why people don't notice it happening all the time. Complete revolution in Physics? Nobel Prize? Nah, I'm just happy finding underground streams.

 

[Nay_Sayer]

I guess we'll never get to see sasmick's nose rubbing evidence he apparently had.

Mick the people here are not trying to be wet blankets nor covert agents determined to conceal your might dousing from the public' s eye; They are earnestly trying to help you avoid a long and exit less road of self delusion.

 

[Giordano]

I'm dying to know how he thinks you can indicate this by dowsing. In fact, that whole thread makes for very disturbing reading.

Maybe this shows the differences in thinking - and I've engaged in some serious magical thinking in the past, way back when. Geoff thinks his dowsing indicates that the plane is in another dimension, and my first thoughts are:

1. How can this claim be tested?
2. How does dowsing indicate such a thing?
3. How do you know?

I see a claim, think about the potential implications and want to test the everliving **** out of it. Geoff, on the other hand, just seems happy to accept it. Oh, a plane disappeared through a portal into another dimension? No, I've no idea why people don't notice it happening all the time. Complete revolution in Physics? Nobel Prize? Nah, I'm just happy finding underground streams.

I think it is interesting that the ultimate proof of the error of the plane being in another dimension would be that it is ultimately found here, at the bottom of the ocean. But prior experience has convinced me that even if this happens, the dowsers will simply state that the plane was indeed in another dimension, but was passed through yet another portal back into our dimension before discovery. Magic can always be explained by invoking more (not previously mentioned) magic to account for any failed prediction. That's why the best scientific theories make predictions that can be tested, and the theory is changed if the predictions are wrong until the predictions are usually correct.

 

[Jim_MDP]

I was checking out some of the videos on the BSD channel of YouTube and found this.
I hesitate recommending anyone watch it all, but starting around 13:00 or so, there is an excellent example of why dowsing seems to work. They are asking where a restaurant is, and the young lady is actually mistaken in fact, but the rods point in the erroneous direction, until she realizes her error.

Of course, the "experts" have an explanation for this.

I only managed about 3 minutes just to see the section you pointed out and had to stop. Watching these vids of credulous delusional groupthink gives me the same squick-y feeling as watching that crazy character Lysa on Game of Thrones breastfeeding her 12 year old son.

It's just disturbing, and doubly so to see how quickly they buy into any explanation and excuse.

 

[tsig]

Yep. He asks his gut feelings if the test will succeed, or if it is too tightly controlled ...

Sounds like he needs an Alka Seltzer to quiet his gut.

 

[bluesjnr]

Saskmick, you do understand that every one of us wants you to be able to dowse, don't you? We'd love you to be the first person to prove dowsing works - seriously!

You seem to believe that we are working against you but this is not the case, we are trying to help you test your skills in a controlled fashion that would eradicate any interference and claims of skullduggery and we'd all be very excited if you were to do better than chance. You must try to understand - we sincerely hope you can prove dousing works.

 

[steenkh]

Saskmick, you do understand that every one of us wants you to be able to dowse, don't you? We'd love you to be the first person to prove dowsing works - seriously!

You seem to believe that we are working against you but this is not the case, we are trying to help you test your skills in a controlled fashion that would eradicate any interference and claims of skullduggery and we'd all be very excited if you were to do better than chance. You must try to understand - we sincerely hope you can prove dousing works.

Exactly! I would be proud of having participated in the discussions that led on the recognition of the science of dowsing.

Just think of the medical advances! And the bomb testers that would actually work!

 

[pakeha]

SaskMick, did you read my posts (and Dubious Dick's post) relating to the fake ADE651 bomb detector? What's your opinion on the detector?

Yes.
It's important dowsers see this and think about the implications of what happens when dowsing meets the real world.

 

[Foolmewunz]

Yes.
It's important dowsers see this and think about the implications of what happens when dowsing meets the real world.

Tell me about it! I live in one of the countries that's bought into the Dowsing For Dynamite scam. And because of face, they stood by it. Let's remember we have actual armed combatants here - the red shirts vs the yellow shirts and an Islamic separatist offshoot in the south.

They pulled the GT200 after tests in 2010, (largely brought about by a skeptic running a social media campaign, by the way) but our current Dear Leader, Gen. Prayuth was a vocal defender of the device as late as last year. I often wonder if he'd consent to speak in an opposition district if they only thing used to scan for bombs was a damned dowsing rod. He's not actually on record as believing in the thing, but said that the public should stop haranguing the military about wasting a million dollars on the things because "some officers report good results, and we have nothing else to use". (Yes, this is a leader of a country!!!)

 

[Olowkow]

The following posts are from the BSD thread on Flight MH370. Assuming they are not just having a laugh, this organization is simply a group sharing their delusions of magical powers, grandeur and persecution while enabling each other. It's honestly very disturbing to read much of it.

Re: What happened to Flight MH 370 ?

by Geoff Stuttaford » Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:21 pm
I acknowledge that a warning not to dowse a subject should be heeded.
I have had emails disappear completely from my computer before they can be sent because (I find later) that they had contained information that should not be passed on so there is also a foem of censorship that sometimes is applied.

Re: What happened to Flight MH 370 ?

by Mick » Fri Jun 27, 2014 5:13 am [AKA SaskMick]

simonwheeler wrote:My dowsing protocol told me this is something not to be dowsed.
​

I got a positive go ahead. All the people are dead. There were nasty people involved, but there was no bomb.

Mick Posts: 60Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 9:09 pmLocation: Saskatchewan Canada Top

Re: What happened to Flight MH 370 ?

by Geoff Stuttaford » Fri Jun 27, 2014 9:33 am
I also have dowsed that all are NOW dead.
Geoff

 

[pakeha]

Tell me about it! I live in one of the countries that's bought into the Dowsing For Dynamite scam. And because of face, they stood by it. Let's remember we have actual armed combatants here - the red shirts vs the yellow shirts and an Islamic separatist offshoot in the south.

They pulled the GT200 after tests in 2010, (largely brought about by a skeptic running a social media campaign, by the way) but our current Dear Leader, Gen. Prayuth was a vocal defender of the device as late as last year. I often wonder if he'd consent to speak in an opposition district if they only thing used to scan for bombs was a damned dowsing rod. He's not actually on record as believing in the thing, but said that the public should stop haranguing the military about wasting a million dollars on the things because "some officers report good results, and we have nothing else to use". (Yes, this is a leader of a country!!!)

Thanks for showing us just how real the danger of these delusions can get.

 

[Nay_Sayer]

we live in 2014 people get with the times.....

http://m.img.brothersoft.com/iphone/1074/519549074_screen1360x480.png

Edited by LashL: 

Changed hotlinked image to regular link. Please see Rule 5.

Download the Dowsing app and find that missing item asap!
*not responsible for accidental discoveries of Indian burial grounds.

 

[Olowkow]

From the BSD forum on May 29th:

Re: How did you discover dowsing?

by Mick » Thu May 29, 2014 8:57 am
I discovered dowsing years ago when I lived in Aberdeenshire. I got a dowser to find a well for me. He used a forked hazel stick. It was entertaining watching him dowse, he would do a little dance while he was fighting with the stick which would the hit him in the chest with real force. For some reason it worked back to front with him, but it worked really well. I asked to have a go with the stick, and he reluctantly let me try it but with strict instructions not the break it. It did nothing for me whatsoever. I could not do it then but I can do it now, so it must be something that can be acquired. I think I know how I acquired it but am not going to say right now as you will probably think I have totally lost it.

From JREF OP on June 10:

Until recently I considered dowsing to be complete and utter BS.
Please let me explain. I am getting a new house built on an acreage where the previous house burnt down. I have had to get quotes from various contractors one of whom was a plumber. He asked me to show him the well, and we walked down the hill to where it was, He then proceeded to walk about with his dowsing rods which seemed to act as I had seen demonstrated before on TV.

I asked him if I could have a go. I walked towards the area and the rods crossed and remained crossed for five or six paces before swinging wide open. I asked him which direction the water came from, and as I asked him the rods swung to my right ! I was gobsmacked, and I think he was too. He quickly took the rods back again. I asked him what they were made of and he said that they were made of a special metal......

More to come

Is this something you care to explain?