Forum

- 1 November 1991

Cold Fusion Fiction

On the National Programme recently, Vicki Hyde mentioned a claim that a bird had changed one element to another inside one of its vital organs.

That is lifted straight out of a story “Pate de Foie Gras” by Isaac Asimov, first published in 1956. When re-publishing it in Asimov’s Mysteries, he described it as “a good-natured satire on scientific research.”

AA K Grant, Wellington

Skepticism Challenged

In “Food Fads — Food Follies” in Skeptic No 20, Pamela Williams is quoted as saying “True dairy allergies affect about 2% of the population, with milder tolerances often occurring for short durations”.

Unorthodox health practitioners would consider the figure to be much greater than that, and would dispute the notion that intolerances can disappear by themselves.

A true skeptic would not accept the orthodox view given by Williams, unless she could quote a definitive large-scale study into the subject. Without that, the matter is unproven, and unsuitable for the Skeptic without comment.

This affair is typical of the Skeptic, that seems to believe everything said by the orthodox medical profession as if it were the one true religion, the others being heretics.

In a recent controversial TV documentary, the Hoxsey cancer treatment was shown to be more successful than orthodox medicine. But the AMA ran it out of town, over the border to Mexico. They also tried to ditch chiropractic, but lost their case, with the physiotherapists settling out of court.

George Pirie, Auckland

There have been a large number of international studies on allergies, and general consensus amongst immunologists supports the 2% proportion mentioned, not as a matter of faith, but as a matter of fact. There have also been studies into the psychological factors involved, with people claiming reactions to distilled water when told it was a substance to which they believed themselves allergic. The recent well-publicised additive study in the UK has also cast doubts on the physiological role in allergic reactions.

What Was That?

First prize for a monumental collection of confusions must go to radio host Jan Isaacs, who recently said something to the effect:

“Yesterday we told you it was Bob Dylan’s birthday, but it’s actually today. It was his birthday yesterday in the northern hemisphere, and that’s because of the date line.”

Bill Keir, Hokianga

Psychic Computer?

I’ve noticed a couple of interesting things in my computer’s spell-checker.

Its comprehensive vocabulary doesn’t include naturopathy, homeopathy or biodynamic, and it comes up a blank in trying to match them with anything sensible. I admit to a certain amount of malicious glee when it tries to match creationism with cretinism.

It gets the last laugh though. If I misspell skeptic, it’ll cheerfully offer septic. Do you think it’s trying to tell me something?

Vicki Hyde, Christchurch

Chairman’s Report

The chairman’s report — a six-page summary of activity around the country over the last year — is available from the secretary.

In it, Chairman Warwick Don notes that membership has increased to 260, describes the various issues which have involved skeptics this year, and mentions the TV3-sponsored firewalk held to raise funds for James Randi’s legal defense.

Truth Kits now available include:

• Strieber — UFO Abduction (Denis Dutton)
• Naturopathy, Iridology, Homeopathy (Bill Morris)
• Scientific Creationism (Warwick Don)
• Astrology and Acupuncture (in preparation)

Christchurch Meeting

The next Christchurch meeting is on Wednesday October 23rd, at 7.00 pm, in the University Staff Club. Check with Bernard Howard for confirmation (Tel: 332-0521).

There will be an address by Dr Charlie Eason of the Forest Research Institute on their biodynamic possum pepper tests.