(Non) Response to Skeptics

Via my Google alerts for Adam the DreamHealer, I found this post on the HealthWatcher blog, entitled “Response to Skeptics”. It is supposed to be a response to skeptics (like me) who doubt Adam’s healing claims, and point out the fallacies employed by proponents of this kind of (so-called) healing. I jumped on it in interest, wondering what he would have to say – what his “response” to us skeptics would be.

Unfortunately, it was no response at all. Get this:

Over the last 4 years Adam has shared his experiences and abilities with thousands of people. He has spent many dedicated hours talking to each individual at the workshops. His teachings of healing techniques have helped many around the world as is evidenced by the hundreds of testimonials posted on his website and the overwhelming positive response at his workshops.

This is a standard, lame appeal to popularity – but nothing to counter anything skeptics would have written. He continues:

… as Adam’s popularity continues to increase, so will [skeptics’] uninformed voices.

Fighting talk. Except the writer doesn’t give one example of where skeptics are uninformed. The whole post is just one long whine about how the mean skeptics oppose Adam – but not one reason why we shouldn’t.

I’d leave a comment on his blog except you have to register and log in before you can comment. Still, read the post and consider this is the best “response” to skeptics that Adam’s fans can come up with.

Comments

[John]

Adam is right .... you people are uninformed voices. I am very pleased that Adam is smart enough not to engage with those who do not want to know the truth. You seem to live in a world of denial. Do some reading and become informed instead of attacking stuff you know absolutely nothing about.

[Infophile]

So, your counter to Skeptico's argument that Adam is whining about skeptics being uninformed without presenting evidence is to whine yourself that skeptics are uninformed without presenting evidence? You're going to have to reimburse me for that broken ironometer.

[Big Al]

So what are we in a state of denial about, John? A few self-serving anecdotes without detail or substance?

You say we are denying things we know nothing about, so why don't you enlighten us, rather than engaging in empty polemic?

[Bronze Dog]

I am very pleased that Adam is smart enough not to engage with those who do not want to know the truth.

Yawn.

So, John, what would it take to convince you that you're wrong if you're wrong?

You seem to live in a world of denial.

You've never had a real conversation with a skeptic, have you? It's the evidence that's denying your tiny little pet things. Besides, we live in a world of solid confirmation: Evolution, dark matter, etcetera. We're constantly finding firm evidence in favor of a lot of scientific hypotheses. The only way woos find confirmation involves having abysmally low standards for their heroes and themselves.

Do some reading and become informed instead of attacking stuff you know absolutely nothing about.

Prove to us that there's a reason to bother. Most woos just ramble without content like you do. Give us something worthwhile, like a double-blind control study or something.

Hint: Anecdotes are NOT worthwhile. It should be obvious why anecdotes are worthless.

[John]

"You've never had a real conversation with a skeptic, have you?"

Yawn.... Do skeptics have real conversations...thanks for the joke. A conversation with a skeptic would involve a lot of cursing and libelous comments towards others. I guess they react that way because they know they are loosing the battle. Come out of your cave and enter the New Quantum World.

[Skeptico]

John:

All you’ve given us so far are unsupported claims, insults and fallacious appeals to quantum mechanics. Can you name a single thing skeptics are “uninformed” about, regarding Adam, or any reason (apart from anecdotes) why we should believe he really can do what he claims? Are you going to come out of your cave and face reality?

[Bronze Dog]

Here's something that may be shocking and horrifying to you, John: "Quantum" does not mean "magic."

So please stop lying about Quantum Mechanics.

I notice that you addressed precisely zero points made. Did you even read any of it? Or did you predictably pretend that we said something the imaginary Hollywood skeptic in your head would, and respond to the figment, rather than the living, breathing people visiting this blog?

Here's a phrase you should learn well, John:

Pot.

Kettle.

Black.

[Skeptico]

Bronze Dog:

I guess believers like John react that way because they know they are losing (correct spelling) the battle.

[Rockstar]

Ooooh, can I play?

Wow John - you really got us now! What a stunning point you make! I'm sure you won't be back after dropping that stunning bomb on us, but may I retort?

A conversation with a skeptic would involve a lot of cursing and libelous comments towards others.

A conversation with a woo-woo involves a lot of fallacious reasoning and claims with zero evidence to back them up. And please provide evidence for A conversation with a skeptic would involve...libelous comments towards others or withdraw that claim. And you're an asshole. Hey, you were partly right!

I guess they react that way because they know they are loosing the battle.

I don't know. I think that the number of people who believe in magic and bullshit for absolutely no reason outnumber those of us who don't buy anything anyone says as fact; but our numbers are rapidly growing. As far as a loose battle, it's pretty one-sided; we have evidence to back up our claims, you don't. (I know you meant "losing battle". I'm ridiculing you.)

Come out of your cave and enter the New Quantum World.

Come out the Middle Ages and enter the 21st century. What the hell is the New Quantum World? Do you have any evidence it exists? Or did you make that up?

[Davis]

Come out of your cave and enter the New Quantum World.

So you know quantum mechanics? Care to demonstrate the solutions to some wave equations?

[John]

I believe skeptics will be convinced "One funeral at a time."