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immoderate

(20,885 posts)

56. Metal detectors work -- dowsing rods do not.

Tue Mar 12, 2013, 12:30 PM

Mar 2013

Metal detectors are based on well known scientific theory. Dowsing is not based an any know theory. It has never been shown to work under controlled conditions.

BTW, I am in Ft Lauderdale and I see Randi fairly frequently at JREF and other events and meetups. The million dollars is available to anyone who can demonstrate dowsing works. But I have sympathy for Randi, as the main scam artists never show up for the tests. Usually it's the most deluded that show up. They always fail, but they have great rationalizations as to why.

--imm

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Did you know our troops and the Iraqi Army have been using dowsing rods to search for IEDs? [View all] backscatter712 Mar 2013 OP

Randi (R) needs a freaking Brain Enema Berlum Mar 2013 #1

*Smirk*... SidDithers Mar 2013 #2

so what do you have to say about the facts he presented in this case? cali Mar 2013 #3

I have nothing to say except... backscatter712 Mar 2013 #5

Oh, and James Randi is awesome! backscatter712 Mar 2013 #6

So how do the swiveling rods work? sibelian Mar 2013 #11

Really??? zappaman Mar 2013 #12

Apparently, the bad guy in this story isn't the guy selling fucking dowsing rods as bomb detectors.. SidDithers Mar 2013 #22

Someone must hate James Randi for bursting their woo bubble. zappaman Mar 2013 #24

Randi has mistakenly been called a Republican before, by a now banned poster... SidDithers Mar 2013 #25

Coincidence? zappaman Mar 2013 #26

You win the thread... SidDithers Mar 2013 #27

And he threw the term "scientific materialist" around as if we're supposed to be insulted. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #41

He posted that using a computer that was designed by scientific materialists. Jim Lane Mar 2013 #44

His usage of facts is terrible! Who does that? Dash87 Mar 2013 #28

Wow. I am actually flabbergasted MattBaggins Mar 2013 #45

Project much? Taverner Mar 2013 #54

Never Berlum Mar 2013 #64

When you approach people do they roll their eyes? MattBaggins Mar 2013 #66

Oh FFS... SidDithers Mar 2013 #4

I read about this nonsense here on DU a couple of years ago, they used them to "scan" vehicles arcane1 Mar 2013 #7

Marines used dowsing techniques for mines in Vietnam too. Jackpine Radical Mar 2013 #8

The US army did not use these devices. hack89 Mar 2013 #9

That's right, but from Wiki, those who did use it - OMG. freshwest Mar 2013 #21

Got to do a better job than our weapons inspectors did in Iraq, and plenty believed in them (nt) The Straight Story Mar 2013 #10

Similar thread from 2011... SidDithers Mar 2013 #13

I use a dowsing rod to find my scotch. zappaman Mar 2013 #14

Thank you. Iggo Mar 2013 #23

That's not a dowsing rod. It's a straw. name not needed Mar 2013 #58

Wiki article with lots of interesting links... SidDithers Mar 2013 #15

Footnote 7 link: Iraq Swears by Bomb Detector U.S. Sees as Useless (NYT) pinboy3niner Mar 2013 #18

Yup. Makes your head hurt, doesn't it... SidDithers Mar 2013 #19

Well they work... Kalidurga Mar 2013 #16

ROFL Jamastiene Mar 2013 #29

K&R idwiyo Mar 2013 #17

They also pray to the sky god to help them prevail in battle. Iggo Mar 2013 #20

We use welding rods to find old irrigation lines in our vineyard. DollarBillHines Mar 2013 #30

... SidDithers Mar 2013 #31

Try the Real World, sometimes, sid DollarBillHines Mar 2013 #33

Ok, you've convinced me... SidDithers Mar 2013 #34

I watched guys from the gas company in houston TexasProgresive Mar 2013 #35

lol MattBaggins Mar 2013 #47

And scientists are able to reproduce this under controlled conditions? n/t backscatter712 Mar 2013 #38

You've not heard of Randi's Million Dollar Challenge? SwissTony Mar 2013 #43

Interesting you should offer a wager MattBaggins Mar 2013 #46

You could also go to Afghanistan with your dowsing rods... backscatter712 Mar 2013 #51

Not everyone can be a dowser jmowreader Mar 2013 #60

It might be necessary to post the Woo Woo Credo here... SidDithers Mar 2013 #32

The best part of woo-woo is when you get to go all Geordi Laforge! backscatter712 Mar 2013 #37

... SidDithers Mar 2013 #39

Dowsing rods seem crazy to me, but so many people have claimed to have found ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #36

You could try this smartphone app out... backscatter712 Mar 2013 #40

Chances are that you will be unsuccessful. However I knew a man who had the "skill." ... spin Mar 2013 #42

Oh fer fuck sakes MattBaggins Mar 2013 #48

Which I mentioned ... spin Mar 2013 #63

Torsion MattBaggins Mar 2013 #65

I can not believe some posters here MattBaggins Mar 2013 #49

There are mineral prospecting tools similar to dowsing rods PufPuf23 Mar 2013 #50

The difference is that we know how magnetometers work. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #53

My Dad (1910-1996) was a popular local dowser for wells (and mineral propector too). PufPuf23 Mar 2013 #55

Metal detectors work -- dowsing rods do not. immoderate Mar 2013 #56

Read my post #55, We agree there is nothing paranormal. nt PufPuf23 Mar 2013 #57

Yeah. I got it. immoderate Mar 2013 #59

Caught in a personal guilty pleasure (ambiguous in woo) at DU. lol. nt PufPuf23 Mar 2013 #61

News flash Crusaders make faith based folly. Exultant Democracy Mar 2013 #52

I have always wondered... jmowreader Mar 2013 #62

History of the fake detectors/dowsing fraud Dubious Dick Mar 2013 #67