Of course, those who insist that telepathy is preposterous might be mistaken.  The idea is not inherently absurd.  However, in the attempt to demonstrate it, I would protest at the expenditure of any public money.  It is simply not worth it and not cost effective.   

But it seems by this argument, we could eliminate a lot of stuff - such as the space program - that isn't likely to give us immediate improvement in our lives.

I'm guessing if put to public referendum people might be more interested in Psi than space, linguistics, and probably a few other areas that receive public funding.

Quote from: sciborg2 on September 06, 2013, 06:50:45 pm

I don't think anecdotes, however compelling, can serve as evidence in these cases.

Evidence, surely not. Unlike the court of law, eye witness is the lowest form of proof. The brain is terrible at remembering things, thats just how it is.

But to say everyone that believes/experiences something like this is crazy/deluded... seems lazy. Similarly, saying they are all sane and clear headed is equally as silly. You'll get your crazies in any sample.

I agree with you there. And I'm happy to see money allocated to some of this Psi stuff given the variety of subjects the sciences cover.

Something is happening to a lot of these people. What that something is...well that still seems up for grabs. And I'd say a mundane explanation does not negate the interesting psychological/ethnographic components to all paranormal topics.

I'll take a look at Sheldrake's data. I just wanted to point out that there are people researching Psi, and people trying to replicate those results without success.

As to whether people who have paranormal experiences are deluded...I'll admit that's a hard one when people talk about clairvoyant/precognitive dreams. Is everyone who makes such a claim a liar?

What about people who seem to have genuine trauma about an abduction event?

I don't think anecdotes, however compelling, can serve as evidence in these cases. I do think that there is a lot there that is worth studying, if only from a psychological/sociological perspective.

The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts

Ever read something that in ordinary circumstances you could dismiss as superstition but somehow the particular case still scares you.

The happened to me with this story of "ghosts" pretending to be helpful. My rational mind asks me how such beings could exist in realms undetectable to any instrument, how ghosts would imply dualism with all its philsophical weaknesses, and so on.

But it's still hard to fall asleep thinking about it. :-P

Quote from: sciborg2 on August 31, 2013, 12:45:47 am

Otherwise wouldn't the Inchies and Consult just let the No-God devour them.

Possible answer: No-God is some kind of trapped ciphrang/god trapped into earwa time/space. Being consumed by the No-God would effectivley be the same experience of dying and having your soul eaten by one of the 100.

Ah, good point. The No-God might not grant the souls he consumes oblivion. The process of consumption might be the endless torment of always approaching the singularity, having your soul smeared across the even horizon, but never actually getting there.

I thought the circle amputees were all previous members of the Menggecca. I don't think the Consult are breeding humans, but thats not the main issue. All their experiments in the Pit of Obscenity would certainly create a topos. Did they know this would happen? Is it part of creating the No-God?

 I don't know, but its an interesting idea that a race so terrified of death/hell would make a topos out of their home.

I don't think that would be the case, as there weren't enough human Menggecca to begin with. According to False Sun they only had 30 sorcerers of rank - compared to the Sohonc having 50.

Also, AFAIK the way the circuit works is you have to have people close to dying but not dead, just too weak to resist Shae latching on.

So it's possible being part of the circuit makes the amputees immortal, but I doubt that's the case as the advanced age of these victims was mentioned as being a factor.

Just seems to me that they have to be breeding humans, as the amputees have be ensouled for the circuit to work.

I'd say "a" God, rather than "the" God. Maybe not all of the 100 are hellish soul-eating torturers. Though we haven't heard about any of those...

I feel like Onkis should be more good than evil?

It's also weird to think every god wants to torture people for eternity. But then the Outside's nature is hard to pin down so perhaps they feel like they are torturing for half-an-hour with long breaks but you feel like it's unending.

It's like them hitting pause of a game. You don't feel time passing while they have it paused.