Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions - James Randi [111]
Mr. Wiberg asked me to stand and assume several different postures while he waved his rods about. He read off to a witness a series of numbers, said to represent the strength of the "aura" about my body. This is a supposed, normally invisible envelope of energy that surrounds the body, and which is said to show up via Kirlian photography (discussed in chapter 1).
When it was all over, he gave his diagnosis. The problem, he told me, was in my right ear, or thereabouts. I did not react in any way but asked him if there were any other indications. He had gently probed me with questions during the dowsing process, and had made several suggestions, but I had not reacted at all. Now I asked if the diagnosis was complete and told him that he would not be allowed to add anything after the envelope was opened. He agreed.
The actual ailment was an almost-healed fracture in my left wrist. It was still quite painful and had given me much trouble that day. Zero for this diagnosis, but Vince did mention that it was difficult tofind almost-healed problems. I did not allow him this rationalization.
One of the Sandia gentlemen, who had expressed deep convictions about paranormal matters, had brought with him a young woman I'd not met before. We were told that she had an ailment (which was known to her companion), and, unseen by me, she wrote it down and sealed it up. Vince went to work on her. It was all I could do to prevent her and the Sandia man from answering queries and suggesting areas to be tested. I'd have liked to have the man out of the room, but the woman preferred to have him there. The reason soon became obvious.
Wiberg told us that the young woman was in good health and that there was only "perhaps some trouble here in the lower back." Nothing could have been further from the facts: She was in an advanced stage of lung cancer. Vince Wiberg rationalized that this type of illness is not localized and is thus hard to find. This I would not allow him either, and besides that it is quite untrue.
The dowser left, having failed to earn either my reward or the validation of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. He was quite subdued, and his parting remark was that he was seeking funds to "perfect" his methods. I suggested that he find a phenomenon first, then work on perfecting the study of it. This fell, I expect, on deaf ears. He seemed not to be dissuaded at all but merely set back momentarily and eager to correct his methods. The test was definitive, though only two test subjects were used. I'm willing to test a hundred, if need be. But Vince Wiberg will go on believing, changing his beliefs only to the extent necessary to accommodate the failures. When faced with facts, throw out the evidence but never the theory—that's the philosophy of the players in this game. *
The Metromedia news department, to its considerable credit, decided to do an in-depth study of the paranormal in the spring of 1978. I was called in as a consultant, and since some "psychics" were visiting me at the time for testing, I asked them if they would mind being filmed. They agreed, and we met at my New York office with a film crew. Here I will relate only one of the test procedures with one of the performers; the rest belong in another section.
The subject was a statuesque blond ex-dancer whose calling card advertised her as Sue Wallace, Doctor of Magneto-Therapy. I had encountered Miss Wallace at a "Psychic Fair" in Bricktown, New Jersey, the week before; she'd been the only person to respond to my