The-crystal-chamber.net

[DrMatt]

I thought it was pretty darned good. And I had no trouble finding the disclaimer.... :cool:

[dbowden]

Is someone taking bets on how long it will be before some homeopathic "practicioner" thinks this is a great idea and actually starts marketing "homeopathic crystals"?

After all, there appears to be a pre-existing demand.

[dbowden]

I googled "homeopathic crystal" just to see if anyone else had picked up on this yet and started offering them for sale.

I didn't find any homeopathic crystals, but I did find a recipe for making your own "homeopathic crystal water" (http://www2.bitstream.net/~bunlion/bpi/HcwTech.html), by dunking crystals in water, and then using that as a homeopathic solution.

One can assume that the standard rules of homeopathy apply, and that the healing powers of the water without a crystal in it are hundreds of times more powerful than the healing powers of the crystal itself!

On the same site, there were also directions for capturing an eclipse in a crystal. There were however no disclaimers on how many people would be able to capture any given eclipse, or what particularly, a captive eclipse was good for.

[Scorpy]

Originally posted by dbowden
Is someone taking bets on how long it will be before some homeopathic "practicioner" thinks this is a great idea and actually starts marketing "homeopathic crystals"?

After all, there appears to be a pre-existing demand.


That's the problem with this kind of approach. Once you establish the belief you may not be able to destroy it even when you confess it was a hoax from the very beginning.

[Dub]

Got to admit, that guy had a great idea. I wonder how all the people who believed him felt? Im guessing that many people still believe in it though.

[corplinx]

Originally posted by dbowden
Is someone taking bets on how long it will be before some homeopathic "practicioner" thinks this is a great idea and actually starts marketing "homeopathic crystals"?

After all, there appears to be a pre-existing demand.

Hmmm..... I think I just found my new business.

In Randi's commentary, he says that there was a long battle in some kind of discussion format over the efficacy of these crystals. I can't find that discussion. Does anyone know where it is? I think it would be fun reading.

From the site, there are two things which caught my eye:

LIFE CRYSTALS
availability severely limited

and

Should any recipient of a Life Crystal fail to be satisifed with their acquisition, refunds will be given at the discretion of the Company Management.

:D

[Watcher]

Originally posted by LukeT
In Randi's commentary, he says that there was a long battle in some kind of discussion format over the efficacy of these crystals. I can't find that discussion. Does anyone know where it is? I think it would be fun reading.

It's linked in the disclaimer. Here. (http://www.ukpagan.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&action=viewtopic&topic=5492&152)

[Kess]

I see the folks at ukpagan are now treating it as just a silly joke, claiming they realised it was a hoax/scam all along - there's a great thread going on at http://www.ukpagan.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&action=viewtopic&topic=6094&103, which includes some guest appearances by "disturber", the originator of the experiment (oops, hang on, they've just disabled his account). Most amusingly, some of them are knocking the validity of the "experiment":
I ... would be ashamed to call his 'experiment' true research, it wasn't and never could be accepted as such anywhere. By refering it to his letter in New Scientist he has belitted the work of proper scientists everywhere. Good to know they're true scientists who value proper research. So, guys, how about now applying some of that scientific rigour to those beliefs in witchcraft/magic/crystals/homeopathy/etc...

[thatguywhojuggles]

Originally posted by Kess
...the originator of the experiment (oops, hang on, they've just disabled his account)....


However, after this post I ask that db cancels my membership, for my investigation into the stranger side of the internet is at an end. Written by Disturber Here: (http://www.ukpagan.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&action=viewtopic&mode=viewtopic&topic=6094&start=75)

[thatguywhojuggles]

A snippet from a typical post on ukpagan.com:


Most energies that science recognises and names (ie have proved) were once just 'there' - felt, seen, experienced - but not labelled - not measured - not defined. So was there no proof for them until then ? Of course there was proof - the moon affects the tides, peoples mental state, womens mentrual cycles often match the moons phases - we now know this is a gravitational pull - but before science it was seen as magic.


The truth... (http://skepdic.com/fullmoon.html)

[DrMatt]

Originally posted by Scorpy



That's the problem with this kind of approach. Once you establish the belief you may not be able to destroy it even when you confess it was a hoax from the very beginning.

Have you heard the magical chant from Thailand?

Before you go to bed for the night, you chant 100 times over:
"Owa taygu Siam". Enlightenment will surely follow.