Hi all

Parapsychological community is so small that peer review process does not
function very well in my opinion. At least also Carlos S. Alvarado has this
opinion in his paper 'Thoughts on the study of spontaneous cases' (
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2320/is_2_66/ai_90532943/pg_1 ).
There is needed a skeptic, or a layman and outsider like me who is
interested in parapsychology, to make critical remarks. Of course there is a
danger to be in error in criticizing heavy-weight parapsychologists.

I think I have found too much badly founded speculation in parapsychological
literature. One instance is Dean Radin, also in his book 'The Conscious
Universe' (1997). The book is too optimistic and contains much speculation.
Radin has ignored the uncontrollability of psi. I have not seen any
criticisms by parapsycologists or interested laymen in that respect. But the
skeptic Robert Todd Carroll gives enough criticism in his article 'What if
Dean Radin is right?' ( http://skepdic.com/essays/radin.html ).

Radin is certainly mostly right, but Carroll is able to ridicule the whole
book because of the speculations in it. When skeptics read his article, they
do not feel any interest to read more texts written by Radin. Case closed,
they certainly think.

Speculating future is one type of speculation and speculating without or
even against known scientific facts is another type. Such is easy to find in
the article by Persinger and Koren, 'Predicting the Characteristics of Haunt
Phenomena from Geomagnetic Factors and Brain Sensitivity: Evidence from
Field and Experimental Studies' in 'Hauntings and Poltergeists -
Multidisciplinary Perspectives' edited by Houran and Lange (2001).
Fortunately the parapsychological community has given an answer by Jason J.
Braithwaite, 'Putting Magnetism in its Place: A Critical Examination of the
Weak-Intensity Magnetic Field Account'.

In my opinion parapsychologists ought to be extra careful not to leave
without criticism such work that can be easily and effectively attacked from
outside. By the way, I have nothing against "magnetic" hauntings if their
existence is convincingly established.


- Olavi