Something interesting

[parsa]

As most of you might know or guess befor a scientific paper gets published
a couple of referees read it. Now this one Prof. was talking about an interesting
experience they had with a referee.

The first time the paper was submitted the referee argued that what they had
done was impossible and wrote in a length of 8 pages why it was impossible.

So paper submitters answered each of his arguments one by one and resubmitted the paper.

This time the referee argued that what they had done was trivial and not worth publishing:) .

From impossible to trivial...

The guys were lucky that they got the paper published anyway.

[Terry (existing)]

Well, as far as hypnosis is concerned, even proper investigations and submitted papers being accepted seems to be insufficient for some. Do you know that in 1892, the BMA, (British Medical Association) had a team of eleven doctors examine hypnosis, and confirm it as a valid treatment. This was confirmed in 1955, and then followed a confirmation in 1958 by the AMA also. Now this in no way supports the rights of lay practitioners, but note that in all this time, our medical people have not used hypnosis as a valid techniqe to any degree, yet there is a move to stop lay persons from using it in a valid manner. I wonder why, don't you?

[Simple Guy]

Parsa,

Looks like egocentricity may have got in the way of this referee's
better judgement.

[parsa]

Terry,

Hypnosis looks like a too powerful tool. It looks like a tool that gives you a control over your own life that is not comparable to anything we know.
There are many professionals that feel they are dependent on people not being in control of a lot of things.
I would think that if hypnosis or any other change work that gives you self reliance gains more and more ground, physicians will not be the only ones that will start a crusade.

Simple guy,
Egocentric? Probably, or there is another possibility.

Students come in two big catergories (I'm over generalizing, I know). One will say, 'Now that you've explained it, it sounds so easy'. The other goes like, 'No no no' and argues on and on and then suddenly goes, 'But that's nothing that's just what I said'. And they really believe it. And you just want to bang your head on the wall. Oh well... Both groups might be future Profs.

Actually the guy telling the story was saying that they joked around about how if there was a third time the referee would have probably have said, 'That's what I said.'

[Simple Guy]

Parsa,

You ask if there is a possibility besides egocentricity at play here. I
can think of different kinds of motivations that could have led the
professor to act as he/she did. They all, though, would be colored by
egocentricity; there might only be variance in the amount that
it comes into play.

By the way, in your first group of students who come to say that
something is easy after explanation has been given -- some may
honestly be responding to "ah ha moments" (Fitz Perl, of gestalt
therapy's term for moments of realization).

[DrTadJames]

You know the problem is that in any setting where there is an investment to learn what you have learned (as in Medicine for 8 years, or so), something which runs against the direction of current thought on the subject cannot be tolerated.

This is especially true in Archeology today, where they have a phenomenon called "oparts". This is where there is something that could not possibly be. For example, in Mexico they discovered a stone carving of an elephant well before the "discovery" of the Americas by the Europeans. Now, we know that the Indians in Mexico could not have known about elephants. So where did it come from?

Archeology says it cannot exist...so it was taken from the museum and is not talked about today. Just because it does not fit into current thinking.

Hmmmm. Since Archeology only began around 1850, I wonder how much history we really DO know?

[Merlin]

Hi Dr.TadJames,

It's nice to see you here posting :)

>Archeology says it cannot exist...

Wouldn't it be fun to gain access to all of the *forbidden Archeology*

[skip]

Like the Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland completed in the early 1400's.

It has clear bas relief's of maize and aloe plants. These are plants unknown in Europe before the 'discovery' of the 'New World', by Columbus in 1492. Unknown plants depicted 100 years prior to their possible discovery.

Current 'explanation' is that the Knights Templar used their fleet to reach the new world in fleeing the Inquisition. Thats why they were in Scotland as well.

[DrTadJames]

Thanks Merlin.

Yeah....no kidding. Just imagine what treasures lie within the vaults of the Vatican!

Say, it is Easter today. Woah. Now, that is a coincidence. Did you all eat your chocolate easter bunny today??? Yum!

Above all, have fun.

[TaffyE]

[QUOTE=DrTadJames]
Say, it is Easter today. Woah. Now, that is a coincidence. Did you all eat your chocolate easter bunny today??? Yum!QUOTE]

Just heard on the radio that, Australians eat an average of 10 Easter eggs.

Hmmmm, some bugger has had a big slice of my share. :(

[Simple Guy]

Dr. Tad James,

For me to say that I'm pleased to see you participating at this forum,
would be an understatement.

Your point is well taken that "something which runs against the direction
of current thought on the subject cannot be tolerated." In an ideal
world, attainment of knowledge would be highly correllated to intellectual
honesty and a desire to let go of current thinking when new information
is presented to warrant this.