Randi (mentioned) on the Radio

zooterkin · 8th November 2007, 07:36 AM

I was just listening to BBC Radio 4, and the programme "Questions, questions" had a follow up to a piece they'd done before (which I'd missed) about dowsing. Several people had written in to say that contrary to the prior report there was no evidence for dowsing working. Several apparently mentioned Randi and the MDC; I can't remember if the JREF or the forums were mentioned.

There was also an interview with Christopher French who did the double-blind dowsing experiment for Richard Dawkin's "Enemies of Reason" programme, which fairly conclusively proved no effect to be explained (or rather, only a psychological effect, since there was no dowsing effect if the subject did not know what was under the box being tested).

So, it was good to hear the facts being given in a slot where some woo had obviously been reported before.

You can listen again to the show (for the next week) from here

walthrup48 · 8th November 2007, 12:26 PM

Thanks zoo, I would've missed that if you hadn't have posted.

Dave_46 · 8th November 2007, 01:44 PM

zooterkin

I don't recall the JREF or forums being mentioned, but as you say, "it was good to hear the facts being given".

Off topic, but also on Radio 4 today in You and Yours was an item about alternative treatments for ME. The item is available on this page http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/yyhealth/

Dave

The Don · 9th November 2007, 07:58 AM

Randi was also recently name checked by Stephen Fry on QI in conjunction with Houdini's work debunking psychics

8th November 2007, 07:36 AM	#1
zooterkin Nitpicking dilettante Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Berkshire, mostly Posts: 25,013	Randi (mentioned) on the Radio I was just listening to BBC Radio 4, and the programme "Questions, questions" had a follow up to a piece they'd done before (which I'd missed) about dowsing. Several people had written in to say that contrary to the prior report there was no evidence for dowsing working. Several apparently mentioned Randi and the MDC; I can't remember if the JREF or the forums were mentioned. There was also an interview with Christopher French who did the double-blind dowsing experiment for Richard Dawkin's "Enemies of Reason" programme, which fairly conclusively proved no effect to be explained (or rather, only a psychological effect, since there was no dowsing effect if the subject did not know what was under the box being tested). So, it was good to hear the facts being given in a slot where some woo had obviously been reported before. You can listen again to the show (for the next week) from here
	Last edited by zooterkin; 8th November 2007 at 07:37 AM.

8th November 2007, 12:26 PM	#2
walthrup48 Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,079	Thanks zoo, I would've missed that if you hadn't have posted.

8th November 2007, 01:44 PM	#3
Dave_46 Muse Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: UK (south Bucks) Posts: 943	zooterkin I don't recall the JREF or forums being mentioned, but as you say, "it was good to hear the facts being given". Off topic, but also on Radio 4 today in You and Yours was an item about alternative treatments for ME. The item is available on this page http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/yyhealth/ Dave

9th November 2007, 07:58 AM	#4
The Don Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cymru Posts: 8,507	Randi was also recently name checked by Stephen Fry on QI in conjunction with Houdini's work debunking psychics