Suicide by dowsing

Camillus · 9th March 2008, 02:17 PM

I am willing to bet that this chap has never actually tried this. If he had I suspect he would be a shoo in for a Darwin award. The fact that he suggests that others might like to try it is particularly scary.

Olowkow · 9th March 2008, 04:04 PM

1. This guy needs a "disclaimer" stating he is not responsible for deaths due to malfunction of his pendulums, or a good lawyer.
2. It is certainly one way to prove that dowsing does not work, once and for all.

Gravy · 9th March 2008, 04:16 PM

The jackass is an engineer.

"Only in the last resort should life and limb be risked by dowsing for mines."

Do drunken bets count as last resorts? Or when bobbing for bear traps is no longer fun at parties?

Father Dagon · 9th March 2008, 04:32 PM

I really liked the "(or finding lost coins, etc)".

Mojo · 9th March 2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

To find mines that are close to you can be most dangerous

He got that bit right.

technoextreme · 9th March 2008, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Camillus

I am willing to bet that this chap has never actually tried this. If he had I suspect he would be a shoo in for a Darwin award. The fact that he suggests that others might like to try it is particularly scary.

Actually there is a show that freatures James Randi himself that has a guy who was hired by the army to show how to douse for traps during Vietnam.

PixyMisa · 9th March 2008, 05:22 PM

I love it!

Quote:

By moving only 1 foot forward at a time, and using a 1 foot search pattern, you have at least 3 chances of covering the ground before you step on a possible mine.

When the Lead Dowser has gone about 20 yards (20 metres) the next dowser starts; this is so that if a mine is exploded by one dowser, the next dowser will not be seriously injured.

He seems so... confident.

LordoftheLeftHand · 9th March 2008, 05:24 PM

I've "dowsed" for landmines before with a stick.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...98-6_sec6c.gif

LLH

LordoftheLeftHand · 9th March 2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

By moving only 1 foot forward at a time, and using a 1 foot search pattern, you have at least 3 chances of covering the ground before you step on a possible mine.

Even better is that many land mines have trip wires. So even IF it worked you could easily be with 1 foot of the trip wire but still be several feet away from the mine.

LLH

Nursefoxfire · 10th March 2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

When the Lead Dowser has gone about 20 yards (20 metres) the next dowser starts; this is so that if a mine is exploded by one dowser, the next dowser will not be seriously injured.

So you're the Second Dowser; you wait the "safe" 20 yard head start, then proceed after the Lead Dowser. He explodes in a red mist in front of you, but luckily you've taken precautions and are not seriously injured, so you can continue dowsing (hey, at least you'll know that the smear that used to be his body is now a "safe location")!

Blackwell · 10th March 2008, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Gravy

The jackass is an engineer.

and this:

He was commissioned as an officer in the Corps of Royal Engineers, and was taught dowsing at the School of Military Engineering, Chatham - reported to have the world's largest collection of material on dowsing.

Scary. Wonder what year this was, and if they still teach dowsing there. Gonna go Google it now....

X · 10th March 2008, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by PixyMisa

I love it!

Quote:

By moving only 1 foot forward at a time, and using a 1 foot search pattern, you have at least 3 chances of covering the ground before you step on a possible mine.

When the Lead Dowser has gone about 20 yards (20 metres) the next dowser starts; this is so that if a mine is exploded by one dowser, the next dowser will not be seriously injured.

He seems so... confident.

It could work.
With enough gullible dowsers, you will eventually "find" all the mines.

Juustin · 12th March 2008, 07:53 AM

Maybe when the Million Dollage Challenge is gone, another group can offer this guy the "Congratulations, you get to keep your legs!" Challenge to do this in a controlled setting.

If you lose, you have to admit you're full of crap. If you win, Congratulations! You get to keep your legs!

9th March 2008, 02:17 PM	#1
Camillus Critical Thinker Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 298	Suicide by dowsing I am willing to bet that this chap has never actually tried this. If he had I suspect he would be a shoo in for a Darwin award. The fact that he suggests that others might like to try it is particularly scary.
Camillus Critical Thinker Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 298	__________________ Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem

9th March 2008, 04:04 PM	#2
Olowkow Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,789	1. This guy needs a "disclaimer" stating he is not responsible for deaths due to malfunction of his pendulums, or a good lawyer. 2. It is certainly one way to prove that dowsing does not work, once and for all.
Olowkow Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,789	__________________ Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to heaven. --Shakespeare

9th March 2008, 04:16 PM	#3
Gravy Downsitting Citizen Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the argyle Posts: 17,136	The jackass is an engineer. "Only in the last resort should life and limb be risked by dowsing for mines." Do drunken bets count as last resorts? Or when bobbing for bear traps is no longer fun at parties?
	__________________ "Please, keep your chops cool and don’t overblow.” –Freddie Hubbard What's the Harm?........Stop Sylvia Browne........My 9/11 links Last edited by Gravy; 9th March 2008 at 04:18 PM.

9th March 2008, 04:32 PM	#4
Father Dagon Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Stockholm, Sweden, Mater Evropa, Sol-III Posts: 1,193	I really liked the "(or finding lost coins, etc)".
	__________________ "Eh-ya-ya-ya-yahaah - e'yayayayaaaa... nhg'aaaaa... ngh'aaaa... h'yuh... h'yuh... HELP! HELP!... ff-ff-ff-FATHER! FATHER! YOG-SOTHOTH" Last edited by Father Dagon; 9th March 2008 at 04:39 PM.

9th March 2008, 04:48 PM	#5
Mojo Mostly harmless Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Nor Flanden Posts: 22,059	Quote: To find mines that are close to you can be most dangerous He got that bit right.
	__________________ "You got to use your brain." - McKinley Morganfield "The poor mystic homeopaths feel like petted house-cats thrown at high flood on the breaking ice." - Leon Trotsky

9th March 2008, 04:52 PM	#6
technoextreme Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,786	Originally Posted by Camillus I am willing to bet that this chap has never actually tried this. If he had I suspect he would be a shoo in for a Darwin award. The fact that he suggests that others might like to try it is particularly scary. Actually there is a show that freatures James Randi himself that has a guy who was hired by the army to show how to douse for traps during Vietnam.

9th March 2008, 05:22 PM	#7
PixyMisa Persnickety Insect Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sunny Munuvia Posts: 14,904	I love it! Quote: By moving only 1 foot forward at a time, and using a 1 foot search pattern, you have at least 3 chances of covering the ground before you step on a possible mine. When the Lead Dowser has gone about 20 yards (20 metres) the next dowser starts; this is so that if a mine is exploded by one dowser, the next dowser will not be seriously injured. He seems so... confident.
	__________________ Free blogs for skeptics... And everyone else. mee.nu What, in the Holy Name of Gzortch, are you people doing?!?!!? - TGHO Last edited by PixyMisa; 9th March 2008 at 05:23 PM.

9th March 2008, 05:24 PM	#8
LordoftheLeftHand Dominus Sinistrae Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,186	I've "dowsed" for landmines before with a stick. http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...98-6_sec6c.gif LLH
	__________________ What though the field be lost? All is not lost—the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield - Milton, Paradise Lost

9th March 2008, 05:27 PM	#9
LordoftheLeftHand Dominus Sinistrae Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,186	Quote: By moving only 1 foot forward at a time, and using a 1 foot search pattern, you have at least 3 chances of covering the ground before you step on a possible mine. Even better is that many land mines have trip wires. So even IF it worked you could easily be with 1 foot of the trip wire but still be several feet away from the mine. LLH
	__________________ What though the field be lost? All is not lost—the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield - Milton, Paradise Lost

10th March 2008, 11:09 AM	#10
Nursefoxfire Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,197	Quote: When the Lead Dowser has gone about 20 yards (20 metres) the next dowser starts; this is so that if a mine is exploded by one dowser, the next dowser will not be seriously injured. So you're the Second Dowser; you wait the "safe" 20 yard head start, then proceed after the Lead Dowser. He explodes in a red mist in front of you, but luckily you've taken precautions and are not seriously injured, so you can continue dowsing (hey, at least you'll know that the smear that used to be his body is now a "safe location")!

10th March 2008, 11:23 AM	#11
Blackwell Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,304	Originally Posted by Gravy The jackass is an engineer. and this: He was commissioned as an officer in the Corps of Royal Engineers, and was taught dowsing at the School of Military Engineering, Chatham - reported to have the world's largest collection of material on dowsing. Scary. Wonder what year this was, and if they still teach dowsing there. Gonna go Google it now....
	__________________ One can't break the laws of physics, but you can be civilly disobedient towards them. - Dr. Tiki And yea, the Lord did text unto the Philistines... U guys have to stop s1nnig. I totaly <3 U guys 4ever but I will pwn U when I CUL8ER and U will be all OMG! and WTF! and I be LOL!!! - Psiload Last edited by Blackwell; 10th March 2008 at 11:24 AM.

10th March 2008, 02:58 PM	#12
X Slide Rulez 4 Life Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Launching the army, waiting for Hok to commit her forces (then the moles strike...) Posts: 4,080	Originally Posted by PixyMisa I love it! Quote: By moving only 1 foot forward at a time, and using a 1 foot search pattern, you have at least 3 chances of covering the ground before you step on a possible mine. When the Lead Dowser has gone about 20 yards (20 metres) the next dowser starts; this is so that if a mine is exploded by one dowser, the next dowser will not be seriously injured. He seems so... confident. It could work. With enough gullible dowsers, you will eventually "find" all the mines.
	__________________ It is sad that this is necessary: Argumentum Ad Hominem: "You are wrong because you are ugly." Not Ad-Hom: "You are wrong and you are ugly." [X's posts are] ...as good as having 24 hours of Justin Bieber piped into your ears! - kmortis

12th March 2008, 07:53 AM	#13
Juustin Muse Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 503	Maybe when the Million Dollage Challenge is gone, another group can offer this guy the "Congratulations, you get to keep your legs!" Challenge to do this in a controlled setting. If you lose, you have to admit you're full of crap. If you win, Congratulations! You get to keep your legs!
	__________________ Science has all the answers. We just don't have all the science. - James Morrow