Sure, there are a lot fakes out there, but there really are people who have psychic ability. Agree or Disagree? Why or Why not? Base all responses on information from the Internet. If you're feeling especially creative, you can upload text and images.
Disclaimer: the views expressed here do not reflect those actually held by this contributor. Here’s to a great discussion!
ReplyDeleteListen, I found this great site. I ask a lot of questions to Google and this site always comes up with an answer: http://paranormal.about.com/od/espandtelepathy/a/develop-psychic.htm
So, a great point they make is that many of us have had some type of psychic feeling. We feel the hair on our neck stand up and feel like something will happen as it does then actually happen! Myself- just yesterday I felt that the doorbell was about to ring with my order from UPS and WOW! There was the bell!
Also, with such feelings so common to many of us humans there must be a reason for it!
ESP does not exist. The element of coincidence is often misinterpreted as ESP. In your example, you mentioned thinking about your UPS order, and then it appeared. This is what is called a confirming event. Because that coincidence is so surprising, it is interpreted as noncoincidental.
ReplyDeleteThere are several reasons this could happen. The first is that people often underestimate the odds of a particular situation occurring. In this article (http://www.rit.org/essays/think/esp.htm), the author states that the odds of a specific coincidence happening are low, but the odds of experiencing an equally remarkable coincidence are quite high. This example is given:
"The probability of meeting your old high school teacher may be next to zero, but the probabily of meeting anyone from your past is much greater."
Second is the idea of recalling something to mind. Basically, the events we consider most likely to occur seem more real, so they are easily brought to mind. Because of this, more coincidences are likely to occur. In your case, the idea of a package arriving was a very likely event. Therefore it was easily recalled in your mind.
Finally, people are more likely to believe confirming events than nonconfirming events. It is easier to remember when our thoughts and events did align than when they did not. Hence, we tend to remember the presence of coincidences more than the absence of them.
(P.S. Your disclaimer made me laugh!)
~Jennifer N.
View this video:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6M1V2vAe0U
The human eye responds to beta waves produced by the brain. Are we able to see these beta wave and through ESP comprehension this "electric information"?
The research for this theory is backed by the Rhine organization. Joseph and Louisa Rhine were among the first to scientifically test ESP. More information can be found here:
http://www.rhine.org/history.htm
James Randi began as a magician and escape artist himself, but is now the world’s most tireless investigator and demystifier of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. Watch this short PBS video clip where he clearly shows the lies and trickery behind one of the world’s most “physic” men.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJQBljC5RIo
Interesting posts!
ReplyDeleteI think the YouTube video brings to light the cases where good science has been applied to this question of do humans have psychic abilities. For more information on this please go to: http://psychic-abilities.suite101.com/article.cfm/are_there_real_psychics
I found the reference to Randi also interesting. He admits to his own bias! I am not sure how impartial his research was on this subject. In exposing the “tricks” of psychic ability does he really prove that tricks were actually played (which he admits to)? Perhaps his own bias leads him to his conclusions of trickery?
But here he also brings up an issue for this debate. Are the psychic powers we are referring to less spectacular and like those explained at this site:
Your whole life is directed according to your psychic ability and perceptions of your psychic ability; every day you make decisions based on information you get psychically.
…….. The information comes from a source outside of the person's intellect, and is distinct from learned knowledge and experience. The insights and knowledge derived, comes directly from the universal mind and from other people themselves.
http://www.whispy.com/psychic-ability.htm
Maybe science finds the everyday too boring to consider? Maybe it is all more than a matter of coincidence?
(may science forgive me)
I'm also interested in the videos and articles!
ReplyDeleteThe article mentioned from Suite 101 says that those people who have tried to verify their psychic methods in a scientific setting have failed. This concept has never been able to be proven, despite the fact that ESP has been talked about for many years. The term ESP was actually used as early as 1870. (http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/e/esp_extrasensory_perception.html) Wouldn't it seem that somewhere in a span of 140 years someone, somewhere would have been able to demonstrate psychic ability in a controlled setting?
I think this ties into the video about Randi debunking Uri Geller. Randi does say he can't for sure prove ESP does not exist, but he does make a case for trickery. It is interesting that he could duplicate all of the talents Uri claimed to have. What was most curious was the fact that Uri could not replicate his talents on The Tonight Show. Again, if it not a trick, why couldn't it be replicated on the show?