MythBusters Need to Test Dowsing Rods Already!

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Why haven’t the MythBusters done a segment on divining/dowsing rods? I have seen it suggested years ago on their website. Originally I thought it is just obvious that dowsing is complete bs. But since then I have come across a lot of people who think dowsing work and is a full proof way for finding wells. I even remember seeing articles by Randi talking about states spending tons of money on them. Also, if I remember right a high amount the applicants for the ‘1 Million dollar challenge” are people with divining/dowsing rods. It seems to me that this is a myth worth busting. Mythbusters is watched by a lot of people, so I think they could help spread the message of dowsing being completely false. In my mind they could do a whole episode on the mater considering all the types of rods and all the claims people make about what they can do. I think this myth is WAY more worth busting then the myth of unlocking a car door by having its remote unlock frequency transmitted though a cell phone call. But maybe that is just me.

-Kyle

[BillC]

Adam Savage has publicly stated that he does not wish to pursue this kind of myth on the show, and that he regrets, for example, covering Pyramid Power in one episode. I guess it's possible, but it doesn't seem a very likely candidate topic now.

[ObscureReferenceMan]

I hadn't thought of this before. But I wonder... Maybe the Mythbusters stay away from paranormal / new age topics in an effort to not alienate viewers. It seems, most people believe some pretty wacky stuff.

[ObscureReferenceMan]

BillC - Has he explained why the "regret"? I'd definitely like to know more about that!

[BillC]

Wells, incidentally, are usually easy to find without the need for dowsing apparatus:

Spot-the-Well Competition (http://www.pittjug.org/b2b/pics/Garden_Decoration__Well_.jpg). When you have found the well in this photograph, draw a ring round it with a pen and send your entry in.

[BillC]

BillC - Has he explained why the "regret"? I'd definitely like to know more about that!
I'm calling it a night here, but try searching YouTube. I think he was being interviewed at TAM6.

[ObscureReferenceMan]

Gotcha. Thanks!

[Earthborn]

Considering how they handled other myths that involve psychology and are susceptible to (self)deception -- like the polygraph and hypnosis -- I'd rather they'd stay away from dowsing. I don't want to see another of Adam's "Wow, I didn't think it would work!" in an episode about pseudoscientific claptrap.

[Gravy]

Dowsing is also boring to watch, constructing dowsing rods takes no skill, and blowing up dowsing rods isn't as dramatic as blowing up many other things. Remember, it's TV.

[CptColumbo]

It might also involve having to pay a "dowser" to demonstrate how it works. I know I wouldn't want them to have any of my money.

[Gravy]

It might also involve having to pay a "dowser" to demonstrate how it works. I know I wouldn't want them to have any of my money.I would have no problem with that if it involved demonstrating that it doesn't work better than chance. More along the Mythbusters line would be testing (and and examining the contents of) the various bogus electronic dowsing and people-finding devices...and seeing if they can build one that works. Here I am testing one at the JREF. Turns out it works just as well upside-down with no batteries as right side-up with batteries!

http://wtc7lies.googlepages.com/Dowsing.jpg/Dowsing-full.jpg

[AbleSugar]

. Maybe the Mythbusters stay away from paranormal / new age topics in an effort to not alienate viewers. I think you nailed it. My inlaws love Mythbusters but if they started bashing ghosts and other woo-woo stuff they would stop watching the show.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

I get it. They would rather prove that a video about popping open a car door lock with a tennis ball from the internet was stage then do something that really matters. And I used to have so much more respect for them then I do this second (not that they would care). I guess the promise of money can make all of us do stupid things.

I got a question. I remember sometime back seeing a system that was built to test dowsing and was wondering if anyone had anymore info on that? No not five buckets filled with water. It was like an underground system with a random switch to send water down one of so many paths. It was then up to the dowser to pick what path the water went down. I would like to share that test with a friend who claims dowsing is real.

-Kyle

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Here I am testing one at the JREF. Turns out it works just as well upside-down with no batteries as right side-up with batteries!


Now that is funny! Not only have you proven it doesn’t work, but also proven it works the same no matter if it is used properly or not. Good stuff man.

-Kyle

[alfaniner]

It seems that dowsing would be the best of the woo topics for Mythbusters to address. Easily testable, no need for subjective conclusions (like the pyramid power one). However, I can see the need for a more visually exciting myth to bust.

Maybe if they dowsed for a ticking time bomb?

[Garrette]

I get it. They would rather prove that a video about popping open a car door lock with a tennis ball from the internet was stage then do something that really matters. And I used to have so much more respect for them then I do this second (not that they would care). I guess the promise of money can make all of us do stupid things.They do what they do and it ain't woo. While I would personally like to see more woo attacked head on, I'm not complaining that one non-woo outfit isn't bending to my wishes.


I got a question. I remember sometime back seeing a system that was built to test dowsing and was wondering if anyone had anymore info on that? No not five buckets filled with water. It was like an underground system with a random switch to send water down one of so many paths. It was then up to the dowser to pick what path the water went down. I would like to share that test with a friend who claims dowsing is real.You're thinking of a test done for (by?) the JREF, in Europe, I think. I imagine you can find it with a little searching.

There are other similar tests done which I found by using the search function on the JREF homepage and typing in "dowsing test"

[Mercutio]

It seems that dowsing would be the best of the woo topics for Mythbusters to address. Easily testable, no need for subjective conclusions (like the pyramid power one). However, I can see the need for a more visually exciting myth to bust.

Maybe if they dowsed for a ticking time bomb?

There are sites that advocate using dowsing to locate landmines. That might have a sufficient level of danger for the lads.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

There are other similar tests done which I found by using the search function on the JREF homepage and typing in "dowsing test"

Thanks, I’ll see if I can find it. Oh and I am not sure on the details of it. I just remember the “random underground tunnel” part about it. Not sure on country or who was behind it. But I will see what I can find. So thanks again.

-Kyle

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

There are sites that advocate using dowsing to locate landmines.

Really? WOW! No matter how stupid I know people are, I’m always surprised how much stupider they are then I previously thought.

-Kyle

[FramerDave]

... blowing up dowsing rods isn't as dramatic as blowing up many other things. Remember, it's TV.

Maybe not, but how about they blow up dowsers? Now that's must-see TV.

[Toke]

I think the testing ground is somevere in germany.

Dowsing for landmines sound like a great idea, let sniffex go first.

[Toke]

At Kassel, north of Frankfurt, Germany, the scientific group Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften (GWUP) in 1992 set up a very efficient and effective site for testing dowsing in cooperation with a local television station. A plastic pipe of suitable size was buried fifty centimeters beneath a level section of field, through which a very large flow of water could be directed from a switching valve. The test area was protected by a large tent, and the position of the buried pipe was prominently marked by a broad red and white stripe. The challenge for the dowsers was not to find the pipe, but only to say whether water was flowing in it or not.


From jref encyclopedia

[ponderingturtle]

I think you nailed it. My inlaws love Mythbusters but if they started bashing ghosts and other woo-woo stuff they would stop watching the show.

The other thing is that a ghost is not something that is as clearly defined by a specific myth. As they look for pretty specificly described situation to look at, ghosts would not seem to fit.

But there are so many gray areas. They did propetual motion after all.

[JoeEllison]

They aren't "Woo Busters", and I feel like the general spirit of the show kind of keeps them away from the woo. The way the show is set up, there has to be something that can actually happen within the laws of physics. They usually build some gadgets to test the myths, and try to come as close as possible to the claimed conditions. If the actual myth fails, they can always try to replicate the claimed outcome. Usually, that involved blowing something up real good.

Dowsing just doesn't seem to fit the show, based on the fact that they want to really make something happen. Dowsing just doesn't work, and how exciting would it be for them to walk around with sticks instead of making things go boom or taunting vicious animals?

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Thanks Toke. Before I have even had a chance to do my research you gave me the answers. Thank you.

JoeEllison, I like your explanation on why MythBusters don’t test dowsing. It is true on all aspects. The MythBusters have my respect again. Based on what you said Penn & Teller’s ************ would be a more proper place for the testing of dowsing (If they haven’t done it already, I am not sure). I just wish MythBusters would do it because so many people would see it. But what can I do, make my own show on cable TV committed to just busting woo? Yea right. I’d have better luck getting a show on cable TV shoveling woo down the throat of all the sucker out there.

-Kyle

[Zax63]

I got a question. I remember sometime back seeing a system that was built to test dowsing and was wondering if anyone had anymore info on that? No not five buckets filled with water. It was like an underground system with a random switch to send water down one of so many paths. It was then up to the dowser to pick what path the water went down. I would like to share that test with a friend who claims dowsing is real.

-Kyle

It's on Google video. Search for "James Randi in Australia"

[Toke]

Ok, they do technical woo, not supernatural.

[Cuddles]

Based on what you said Penn & Teller’s ************ would be a more proper place for the testing of dowsing (If they haven’t done it already, I am not sure).

If anything, I think Penn and Teller would be even less appropriate than Mythbusters. They'd just spend the whole time shouting insults at people for believing stupid things. Fun to watch, but hardly a scientific rebutal.

[EHocking]

I think the testing ground is somevere in germany.What a delightful typo :D

[Bikewer]

Although the Mythbusters have stated they'll avoid "oogie boogie" stuff, they do have a section on the forum. "Adam's Oogie Boogie Board". This is where questions about dowsing, the Bermuda triangle, crop circles, and the like may be discussed.
I and a few other skeptics try manfully....

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Thanks Bikewer, I did not know about that part of their website. I’ll have to check that out.

-Kyle

[TX50]

Plus there's far less potential for those annoying kids to fall down, trip
over, or hit their head. Sometimes the only entertaining part of that show
is when "Tory" gets twatted on the head or falls off his bike.

[freeradical]

I don't blame them from staying away from subjects such as dowsing. If you start destroying thing people hold dear you are bound to lose viewers and therefore money. So how about a spin-off show? Ghost Hunters has one. Why not Mythbusters? Mythbusters Paranormal or something like that, and while I'm fairly sure that it won't have near the same viewership as the original (spin-offs seldom do, well maybe Fraiser), it will have an audience. If Jamie and Adam wanted to further insulate themselves from the fallout a show like this would produce then they wouldn't have to host it themselves.

[Third Eye Open]

Kyle, if you're still looking for a video to show your friend, there is a bit about dowsing in the first part of Richard Dawkins' 'Enemies of Reason'

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=enemies+of+reason&emb=0#

ETA: The bit about dowsing starts about 28 min in.

[Bikewer]

Oops.... They've reconfigured the forum again, and the "oogie boogie" section has been removed.
I guess those questions will end up in the "everything else" thread.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Mythbusters Paranormal or something like that

I agree with your point that they are trying not to alienate fans in exchange of making money. And to be honest I’d be willing to do the same if I was in their shoes. Anyways I would call a spin off is “WooBusters.” Then of course stick to subjects like Randi and others have worked on. Everywhere from “Dowsing Rods” to “Counterfeit Money Detecting Pens” to “Penis Enlargement Pills.” Maybe move threw subjects a lot quicker then MythBusters do, but on every episode have one thing you go into great dept about. To me that sounds like a great show.

So anyone of you people out there into television production? I have some experience in video editing, project brain storming, and would even be willing to participate in any way I can to help make a pilot for a show like that.

-Kyle

[pchams]

I was disappointed at first when Les Stroud (http://www.lesstroudonline.com/tv.php) used dowsing on his show "Off the Grid".
However, when the dowser completely failed to find water, Les did state that
the dowsing was a complete failure.

[AbleSugar]

Dowsing for landmines sound like a great idea, let sniffex go first.

Toke Thats brilliant.