Evidence of human credulity

[hallq]

I want it. I know this sounds like an invitation to repeat everything you've ever said on this website, but I'm looking for the gems, the things so big you can take one or two of them and have all the evidence you need of human credulity.

There's one that sticks in my mind, even though I'm not sure where I heard it. The deal was some experimenters dressed a college student up in robes and had him going around doing magic tricks, and half the college students who saw him believed he had supernatural powers even when he was presented as a magician. I'm not sure where I heard this, though, if someone could provide the source I'd be greatful.

Anything equally good would also be appreciated.

[Wowbagger]

Read "Darwin's Black Box", by Michael Behe. It's one big example of human credulity in the form of a book!


Or, you could read "Why People Believe Weird Things" by Michael Shermer. It not only gives lots of examples of human credulity, but explains why people fall for such nonsense.

[westphalia]

Shermer's book is quite good.

There are many reasons why people lend credence to fantastical ideas and practices. Personally, while I scrupulously try to weed the ridiculous and silly out of my daily life, I still vicariously enjoy being fooled, scared, etc. - particularly by things that I logically know don't exist and can't harm me.

I love horror and sci-fi films, and have a personal collection of a couple of thousand from around the world, all dating from before 1968 (I had to pick a cutoff somewhere). None of that stuff - UFOs, zombies, vampires, werewolves, sorcerers - exists, but I love to marvel at it. I very much enjoy watching illusionists and mentalists, even though I know (usually) how they do what they do. I always hit the haunted houses at Halloween, and dress up like a ghoul when I go to Halloween parties. I recently started practicing my own card, coin and cold-reading tricks. It's simple fun, though; there's no paranormal basis for it at all.

Folks cross the line when they start believing that these fun, enjoyable recreations are in fact real, and can impact their daily lives. Most folks live lives of (to borrow the phrase) "quiet desperation," and need to believe that there is more out there than the daily grind of work, debt, sickness and death. There is more out there - family, friends, the beauty of nature, the wonders of science, the glories of history - but critically-handicapped people consume paranormal nonsense like some junkies use drugs: the more robust and hard-hitting, the better. Some can't stop, and end up like the Alex Joneses, George Noorys, Art Bells and Jeff Renses of the world: believing almost anything, anytime, particulary when there is a buck to be made.

[Strider1974]

I just finished the "Brightonomicon" by Robert Rankin. In it he mentions Katherine Maltwood and her Glastonbury Zodiac. He tells the reader that it is "real" and suggests you look it up on the net.
Now Robert Rankin's books are some of the weirdest around and I thought he was just being his normal mad self but I 'googled' it as suggested and I was amazed to find he was not having me on. Have a look http://www.isleofavalon.co.uk/avalon-zodiac1.html
That anyone coulds believe this says at lot about human credulity

[Strider1974]

Have a look at this thread also http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=54930

It is hard to believe that anyone could take this seriously but unfortunately it appears they do