Page 38 - 201001 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - January 2010

January 2010_june_july_2009.qxd 02/02/2010 8:33 AM Page 38 38 Burden of Proof and Fraud Burden of Proof and Fraud People who Make Paranormal Claims Must Prove Those Claims By Austin Cline, About.com Guide One problem with the claims made by parapsychologists is that many fail to understand the nature of the burden of proof. There are those who assert that the real burden lies with skeptics — those who disbelieve in psychic phenomena are obligated to prove that they do not or cannot exist. This, however, is establishing safeguards and which has had Charles Zarb who would eventually co-author backwards. frauds fool them before — there seems little the book with her, she was struck by his interest It is the claimant who has the burden of question but that this genuine psychic would be in documenting the content of her programmes proof — the person who asserts that certain dismissed as well. in book form, namely the great number of psychic phenomena are real is the one who When faced with an alleged psychic, exhaustive interviews she had made with a should be presenting the primary evidence and researchers should ask themselves and the myriad of people. Ruth took his suggestion to arguments in support of what they allege. If they claimant a number of serious and probing heart. do not, then there is no rational reason to believe questions. They should ask, for example, under But what is the book about? 16 chapters them. what circumstances these psychic powers are span a wide variety of topics most of which are James Randi has offered an illuminating used — does the person make a living from tackled through first hand experiences of people example which illustrates how and why it is the their claims? If so, then they have a financial who have had some sort of paranormal event or claimants of psychic phenomena who must interest in a seal of approval from the happening in their life. Be it a weird yet self- make the first step with regards to evidence. He researchers, thus providing an incentive for fulfilling dream, a psychic experience, a black presents a thought experiment in which we cheating. magic experience, the vision of a ghost, or the imagine that we test to see if reindeer can fly, This leads to the question of why the sighting of an unidentified flying object….. thus perhaps disproving the possible reality of claimant wants to be tested at all: are they these are documented word for word. The Santa Claus as traditionally portrayed. We can looking for some sort of official approval for authors do not try to convince the reader of take one thousand reindeer up atop a tall their powers? In many cases, participating in anything. Each chapter, however, tempts the building and begin pushing them off, one by research can provide people with an added reader to re-think an own perception of things - one, to see if any of them fly. They would, ability to market themselves to the public. Thus do you believe in ghosts, in the evil eye, in the presumably, all fail — does this then disprove the honest researcher may unwittingly be pulled work of mediums, in vampires, in deja-vu'? the possibility of flying reindeer? According to into a fraud perpetuated on unsuspecting These are strange things indeed yet since so Randi: people. many people claim to have experienced them on “What have we proven with this It should be clear that the only way to a personal level, perhaps they are not all telling experiment? Have we proven that reindeer make a credible case for a particular person fibs. cannot fly? No, of course not. We have only being psychic is if the controls to prevent fraud Some of the stories are beyond shown that on this occasion, under these are rigorous and if those doing the testing have comprehension, others are beyond belief. Ruth conditions of atmospheric pressure, a reputation for not being fooled. Absent such Frendo not only interviewed several well known temperature, radiation, at this position conditions, parapsychological researchers seem personalities but also members of the general geographically, at this season, that these 1000 doomed to be the subject of jokes and derision public who approached her with their own reindeer either could not or chose not to fly. (If among those who do real science. peculiar stories to tell. the second is the case, then we certainly know As stated above, the burden of poof lies It comes as a surprise to find this sort of something of the intelligence of the average with those who claim to have psychic powers; publication on our bookshelves because some of reindeer.) However, we have not, and can not, anyone involved in parapsychological research its ingredients border on the superstitious, prove the negative that reindeer cannot fly, is obviously involved with helping sustain that others on the utterly bizarre. Yet, Ruth Frendo technically, rationally, and philosophically burden, but should only do so under the strictest has used her programme to document things, speaking.” conditions. Those claiming psychic powers much like a journalist. Being 'strange' things, it Similarly, experiments on alleged must be able to state exactly what they can do, is hard to gauge whether they are true or made- psychics, if they fail, would not disprove that what they intend to do, and be able to up. But if you have ever heard a ghost story told the alleged psychic powers do not or cannot demonstrate their abilities under controlled, by somebody who claims it is true, then you exist — there are always possible or even repeatable conditions. [] probably find it quite easy to take things with a reasonable excuses. Thus, it is up to believers to pinch of salt. As Ruth herself had admitted in a establish the reality or the liklihood of such Chilly Tales - Truth or fiction? previous interview, "I am a very curious person powers by performing experiments and coming and am constantly fascinated by subjects such up with good results. As Harry Houdini put it in by Marika Azzopardi as the paranormal, drawing on the experiences 1924: of various individuals to understand more. “It is not for us to prove that mediums You may not have seen the TV series Through these programmes I am trying to share are dishonest, it is for them to prove that they Pandora perhaps because you never found the whatever I discover with the viewers who are are honest.” time, never knew about it or were simply not probably as curious as myself. At least that is This is important because the prevalence interested. But if you're the kind of person who how it seems to me from the positive reactions I of cheats and frauds is simply beyond argument. loves to cuddle up in bed with a blood-curdling have had so far." One would think that those who study book, then you should opt to read Pandora the Definitely not a book to be read by parapsychology would be on the forefront of book and this is the right time of the year to do everybody and not a light read at all, Pandora unmasking frauds — after all, they pose a so. does what it promises to do - document greater threat to the researchers than to This book is literally a verbatim version interviews and document a TV programme and outsiders. Imagine if there were a person with of the varied ingredients in the documentary TV its ingredients. Whether it convinces you of genuine psychic powers and they are tested in a programme presented by Ruth Frendo on One anything else is a totally different matter. [] laboratory that doesn’t take sufficient care in TV since 2008. When she was approached by