If PSI becomes proven/accepted by science to be real what would be your reaction?

[Open Mind]

 

[richardm]

No Planet X option

I'd be shocked, excited and disappointed. The latter because I'd love to have Psychic powers but don't have any. Right now it doesn't bother me because nobody else has them either.

 

[Psiload]

Imagine there are no hypothetical situations.

 

[Ashles]

Let me be immediately point out how utterly biased your post is.

My reaction would firstly be surprise and I would want to read the evidence in a lot of detail.

Then I would be delighted and would read all the research in great detail and follow the development of this entirely new field of science with great interest (much as I used to ollow these sort of things when I was younger and less discerning about actual evidence).

Also I would feel it was a great day for science and the scientific process. This wouldn't be 'saving face' and that's a really cheap shot of you Open Mind by your implication.

And why would it cause any problems to the sceptical movement? Do you think that if PSI were proved that human deception and self-delusion would disappear overnight? There are many, many paranormal claims - proof of one would not affect doubt about others.
Would alien visitation suddenly become more likely? Dowsing? Homeopathy?
All seperate issues, all requiring a sceptical approach.

So until you add "This poll is rather stupid and has multiple different aspects that would be part of my reactions" then there is no logical answer. 'I refuse to vote' isn't even an adequate option as it doesn't convey the opinion behind someone not wishing to vote who might actually agree with aspects of other options.

This poll says far more about you and your opinions Open Mind than it could possibly say about anyone who voted in it.

 

[CFLarsen]

Let me be immediately point out how utterly biased your post is.

My reaction would firstly be surprise and I would want to read the evidence in a lot of detail.

Then I would be delighted and would read all the research in great detail and follow the development of this entirely new field of science with great interest (much as I used to ollow these sort of things when I was younger and less discerning about actual evidence).

Also I would feel it was a great day for science and the scientific process. This wouldn't be 'saving face' and that's a really cheap shot of you Open Mind by your implication.

And why would it cause any problems to the sceptical movement? Do you think that if PSI were proved that human deception and self-delusion would disappear overnight? There are many, many paranormal claims - proof of one would not affect doubt about others.
Would alien visitation suddenly become more likely? Dowsing? Homeopathy?
All seperate issues, all requiring a sceptical approach.

So until you add "This poll is rather stupid and has multiple different aspects that would be part of my reactions" then there is no logical answer. 'I refuse to vote' isn't even an adequate option as it doesn't convey the opinion behind someone not wishing to vote who might actually agree with aspects of other options.

This poll says far more about you and your opinions Open Mind than it could possibly say about anyone who voted in it.

Remind me, but hasn't Open Mind argued that it was wrong to scorn the other side?

Apparently, it is only wrong to scorn believers. It is quite alright to scorn skeptics.

Whattahypocrite...

 

[Tricky]

Oh, sheer joy for me. I could save a fortune on phone bills.

 

[rppa]

Well, let's take a look at the options you've offered us:

First, for the sake of argument I'm assuming that "confirmed by science" actually means a valid scientific test, as opposed to a con man managing once again to do close-up magic in front of an inattentive scientist.

Sheer joy and excitement

No. It would be very interesting, would open up lots of new possibilities. But this is a little strong.

Shock!

Also too strong. Is "somewhat surprised" or "pleasantly surprised" an option? No, I see it isn't.

No real surprise, earlier research indicated it

So if I'm not ecstatic, my only option is to believe in previous faulty research? But the earlier research was faulty, I don't think it indicated a positive result.

I still wouldn’t believe it, it would be some error or organized fraud

So if I'm not ecstatic, then I have to be pathologically disbelieving? Since we're accepting as a premise that the research was sound, why is this the only option to "ecstatic"?

Feelings of guilt for misguiding others

No, definitely not, since the earlier research was flawed. There was no misguiding or misinforming. Statements about failure to demonstrate psi have been justified.

Concern over organized skeptic movement possible collapse

That's just silly.

Continue with skepticism towards any link made from psi to ghosts, souls or life after death

If none of this was part of the experiment, why should I suddenly decide all woo-woo theories were correct based on... what exactly? What are we hypothesizing to have occurred in this experiment?
Too little information to say what I would or wouldn't accept as a conclusion. I can safely say that I wouldn't suddenly say "everything I disbelieved in, I now believe in." That would be silly. So I guess this is the closest to a response I'd agree with.

Save face … ‘It’s a victory for the scientific method, I have been discussing those matters for some time’

There seems to be some dishonesty or spin-doctoring implied here. Are we or aren't we saying that this hypothetical experiment represents good science? If it does, then I'd have to accept it. What is slimy about that?

I don’t like this poll

Well, I don't. It seems to be limited in the options and full of editorial opinion on most of the choices that come closest to honestly reasoned.

I refuse to vote

Ah, at last I find a position I can agree with.

 

[jmercer]

What Ashles said.

 

[Open Mind]

Re: Re: If PSI becomes proven/accepted by science to be real what would be your reaction?

Imagine there are no hypothetical situations.

I like that.

Ashles, the poll clearly wasn't that serious man. I'm not really surpised at the reaction though.

 

[CFLarsen]

Re: Re: Re: If PSI becomes proven/accepted by science to be real what would be your reaction?

I like that.

Ashles, the poll clearly wasn't that serious man. I'm not really surpised at the reaction though.

Could you, in the future, inform us beforehand whether or not to take you seriously?

Or should we just dismiss you out of hand?

 

[Ashles]

Re: Re: Re: If PSI becomes proven/accepted by science to be real what would be your reaction?

I like that.

Ashles, the poll clearly wasn't that serious man. I'm not really surpised at the reaction though.

Well what's the point of posting a poll if you don't seriously think you have given options that people will choose?

Stop being disingenuous Open Mind. It was yet another of your not-so-subtle digs at sceptics and all the smiley faces in the world won't disguise that.

You aren't surprised at the reaction because you knew full well you were wording a poll in a way that was reasonably insulting to the majority of the people here.

I just wish you would be more honest about your intentions.

 

[Yaotl]

Re: Re: Re: Re: If PSI becomes proven/accepted by science to be real what would be yo

Could you, in the future, inform us beforehand whether or not to take you seriously?

Or should we just dismiss you out of hand?

Just go for the latter and save yourself the trouble.

 

[Ashles]

If PSI becomes proven/accepted by science to be real what would be your reaction?

If 'ifs' and 'ands' were pots and pans we'd have lots of things to cook with.

 

[CFLarsen]

Re: Re: Re: Re: If PSI becomes proven/accepted by science to be real what would be your reaction?

I just wish you would be more honest about your intentions.

Once you start down the road of deception, it becomes increasingly more difficult to stay honest.

 

[The Mighty Thor]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: If PSI becomes proven/accepted by science to be real what would b

Once you start down the road of deception, it becomes increasingly more difficult to stay honest.

Looks like it. See my sig

 

[Open Mind]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: If PSI becomes proven/accepted by science to be real what would be your reaction

Once you start down the road of deception, it becomes increasingly more difficult to stay honest.

Geez

Claus, it is a hypothetical poll

Care to give any example when I have been dishonest? No I don't mean a joke (unless we call nearly all comedians liars) it is not the same thing.

Well what's the point of posting a poll if you don't seriously think you have given options that people will choose?

Hold on a minute..... the options are indeed there .... unless someone wants nitpick wording I even offered 'I don't like this poll' , what was I supposed to do, offer various options on why they didn't like the poll?

Stop being disingenuous Open Mind. It was yet another of your not-so-subtle digs at sceptics and all the smiley faces in the world won't disguise that.

Of course the ‘dig’ options were for fun …. which skeptics can ignore or can comment upon .... as some have done, no problem

You have taken it personally? I'm not sure why, I do not belong to any club of belief, skeptical or otherwise ….. I'd prefer people thought as individuals.

You aren't surprised at the reaction because you knew full well you were wording a poll in a way that was reasonably insulting to the majority of the people here.

I wasn’t aware skeptics had a group mind, is the skeptic movement a new faith to be defended as beyond question?

 

[Interesting Ian]

Re: Re: Re: Re: If PSI becomes proven/accepted by science to be real what would be yo

Well what's the point of posting a poll if you don't seriously think you have given options that people will choose?

Stop being disingenuous Open Mind. It was yet another of your not-so-subtle digs at sceptics and all the smiley faces in the world won't disguise that.

You aren't surprised at the reaction because you knew full well you were wording a poll in a way that was reasonably insulting to the majority of the people here.

I just wish you would be more honest about your intentions.

This idea that "Open Mind" insults people is utterly absurd. Open Mind is one of the most civil people here and extremely intelligent to boot.

The poll is absolutely fine, although I notice people are not being completely honest.

 

[CFLarsen]

Open Mind

Can you explain the wording of the poll?

You are the one who uses options such as "I still wouldn’t believe it, it would be some error or organized fraud", "Concern over organized skeptic movement possible collapse", "Continue with skepticism towards any link made from psi to ghosts, souls or life after death" and "Save face".

What did you mean by this? You go from posting a poll, to "it wasn't that serious" to "hypothetical poll". You seem to be on a wild retreat here.

Do you think it is OK to scorn skeptics?

Could you, in the future, inform us beforehand whether or not to take you seriously?

Or should we just dismiss you out of hand?

 

[Ashles]

Hold on a minute..... the options are indeed there .... unless someone wants nitpick wording I even offered 'I don't like this poll' , what was I supposed to do, offer various options on why they didn't like the poll?

No you could have had had options that might have genuinely reflected what sceptics might think instead of your rather pointless 'digs'. But then that wasn't really the point of the poll was it.

You have taken it personally? I'm not sure why, I do not belong to any club of belief, skeptical or otherwise ….. I'd prefer people thought as individuals.

I haven't taken it personally and the implication someone might have is an oft-used believer red-herring. It usually means you can't defend the criticisms made against you.

Equally ludicrous is the "I'd prefer people thought as individuals", as though there were a single person posting on any forum in the world who would think otherwise.

I wasn’t aware skeptics had a group mind, is the skeptic movement a new faith to be defended as beyond question?

How curious - you seem to have responded to some comment not made by anyone here. In fact it's hard to tell what that statement could even be a response to.

You really are enjoying your little 'group mind' fantasy. Whereas as my criticism was that many of your options were quite insulting to sceptics. You know most of the people here are sceptics.
This doesn't in any way imply a 'group mind' or a 'faith' - that's merely what most people here have in common.

I'm starting to get a sense of real bitterness from you, coated in smileys and mock-fun polls.

I don't think you are being honest with us about your intentions or opinions.


And thank you for your input Ian. We'll be sure to give your opinion the weight it deserves.

 

[Interesting Ian]

And thank you for your input Ian. We'll be sure to give your opinion the weight it deserves.

Hmmmm . . . you don't seem to be