Thinking Outside The Box...
Hawkeye
Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1855Members
Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1855Members
in Discussions
<div class="IPBDescription">Literally</div> Yes, I mean literally thinking outside the box.
We are 3-dimensional creatures. We live in a space that is 4-dimensions (if not more), but we are only capable of viewing things in 3-dimensions. We see a piece of fruit ripen and then mature and then go bad, and in our modest brains, we are not capable of seeing the "story" as it were in its entirety.
This is only an example, but it goes much deeper than this.
What do computers, calculators, electronics, or basically any science have in common? Often the answer is one absolute thing. For this equation and this input, you get this result. This sort of mentality has been going on for so long! However, as we're starting to realize in quantum mechanics, undecidability largely governs how things work, not decidability. Our brains do not work like computers, because if they did, we'd be able to do complicated math within a fraction of a second.
Our brains are too undecidable. We will not always get the right answer or do the same thing under the same circumstances. Why is it so important that we box everything into thinking that everything has a single right answer when we should be thinking outside the box.
For those of you that have taken a class on Automaton and Turing Machines, you'd know there are plenty of functions that we don't have equations for. In fact, the things we have equations for seem to be finite and the things we don't have equations for seem INFINITE! (ignore that if you don't know what I'm talking about)
I believe there is a new way of thinking that would revolutionize everything. In this way, a straight definite answer is out of the question. You cannot place feelings and emotions into numbers and definite answers. In this way, I also believe we'd be 4-dimensional thinkers.
I don't think I'm crazy. We only use 4% of our brains. If there is room for improvement, then what?
We are 3-dimensional creatures. We live in a space that is 4-dimensions (if not more), but we are only capable of viewing things in 3-dimensions. We see a piece of fruit ripen and then mature and then go bad, and in our modest brains, we are not capable of seeing the "story" as it were in its entirety.
This is only an example, but it goes much deeper than this.
What do computers, calculators, electronics, or basically any science have in common? Often the answer is one absolute thing. For this equation and this input, you get this result. This sort of mentality has been going on for so long! However, as we're starting to realize in quantum mechanics, undecidability largely governs how things work, not decidability. Our brains do not work like computers, because if they did, we'd be able to do complicated math within a fraction of a second.
Our brains are too undecidable. We will not always get the right answer or do the same thing under the same circumstances. Why is it so important that we box everything into thinking that everything has a single right answer when we should be thinking outside the box.
For those of you that have taken a class on Automaton and Turing Machines, you'd know there are plenty of functions that we don't have equations for. In fact, the things we have equations for seem to be finite and the things we don't have equations for seem INFINITE! (ignore that if you don't know what I'm talking about)
I believe there is a new way of thinking that would revolutionize everything. In this way, a straight definite answer is out of the question. You cannot place feelings and emotions into numbers and definite answers. In this way, I also believe we'd be 4-dimensional thinkers.
I don't think I'm crazy. We only use 4% of our brains. If there is room for improvement, then what?
Comments
But we don't...<a href='http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/10percnt.htm' target='_blank'>Snopes</a>
Sorry but that myth just annoys me...carry on.
Original poster: we do not live in a world of three dimensions. We are not polygonal beings. We live in a world of 5 dimensions, according to Chaos Theorists. Check out the idea of the hypercube, etc. Fascinating stuff that might set that brain your not using much of into a higher state <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->.
Original poster: we do not live in a world of three dimensions. We are not polygonal beings. We live in a world of 5 dimensions, according to Chaos Theorists. Check out the idea of the hypercube, etc. Fascinating stuff that might set that brain your not using much of into a higher state <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
If your brain was being used to it's full capacity, it probably means you are in a life threatening situation or extreamlly stressful one. I cannot think of a reason as to why you'd need to think that hard.
In fact, it is my personal opinion that the mind/spirit connection is extremely powerful, and largely untapped. Studies done on Buddhist monks and Catholic nuns that meditated for hours on end used very different parts of the brain than what are normally used at much greater capacity. I don't personally follow either theology, but it seems to point out that our minds are certainly capable of far more than we can ever imagine.
But we don't...<a href='http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/10percnt.htm' target='_blank'>Snopes</a>
Sorry but that myth just annoys me...carry on. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Agreed.
The myth is saying that we only use up to 10% of the same area of our brain at any time and that the other 90% of it is somehow better and is responsible for psychic powers. This article isn't saying it has any merit at all; the people that think we could use the other 90% to turn into Matrix superheroes or something really bug me. Just because I only use maybe 5-10% of my processor for normal tasks doesn't mean that objects will start levitating off of my desk when I start up Doom 3. There is absolutely no evidence to support the idea that human beings have spirits either...I could write a long rant on that but I won't...we don't possess a 'spirit', we're the result of a complex series of biological interactions and when we die it's all over; we don't move onto a higher plane or anything.
What I hate most of all is when people bring up examples of civilizations that were/are behind the times and cite 'evidence' that they are spiritually/intellectually more advanced than we are. So what if fanatics can make themselves spontaneously bleed at the wrists or change their body temperatures? Most of those civilizations just sat there while the world passed them by. Look at the Indians for example, you always hear about how in-tune with nature they are and all the great philosophies/medical knowledge they had, but to what end? Europeans were doing far more; guns were developed, they were beginning to explore the world and advance their understanding of the universe, yet to this day the "accomplishments" of the Indians garner all the attention. What's the point of having these astounding powers of the mind if you can't use them for anything? The bottom line is Europeans were far more advanced than any other culture you may have heard of and thats why they basically ended up conquering the world. They (as well as any culture that has split off from them) may have lost most of their influence but that is because most people have turned to a more peaceable philosophy. If Europe/America/etc decided to try to conquer the world again I guarantee you they would succeed and these Buddhist mindpowers would be powerless to stop them. The only thing that would make it any more difficult than the last time is that many of the primitive countries of old have benefited from our discoveries/advances.
Anyway, why shouldn't we be able to use 100% of our brain?
Seriously, I know you have to have heard at least one person comment on how Indians were deeply spiritual, we shouldn't have wiped them out etc. etc. and some people think those Buddhist guys who can mess around with their body temperature are just the most advanced human beings ever. There are many different cases where people believe this to be true...Indians were an example that seemed appropriate since I'm American and so are most of the people on this board.
I wouldn't have gotten into a debate over the existence of spirits (not necessarily religious) if it wasn't for illuminex talking about mind/spirit connections and how 'spiritual gurus' are better than normal people. Some people may be "spiritual gurus" that are able to perform little tricks with their body (like the Indians), but in the end it only took one European with a gun. Boom, you're dead... now tell me who holds the real power. Explain to me how all this spiritual greatness that surrounds certain people makes them better than anyone else. When you get right down to it, so-called "normal people" are the only reason the human race is advancing, they're the ones out their discovering and learning.
The europeans were just better at it.
If we use 100% of our brains, then how is it possible to expand our knowledge and learn new things?
I believe 100% of our brains are ALLOCATED for some purpose, although we don't nessesarily use it all (or use it all at once). I seem to remember someone measuring a guy's brain activities during a scientific experiment, and there were different "hotspots" depending on the stimulus
Not going to happen, obviously.
Have you ever actually seen pictures of the human brain on infrared, etc? Much of the brain is not all active. Much of it is passively being used. So yeah, we do use 100 % of our brain at any given time, but we don't use it to capacity. Basically the brain is capable of far more than what we use it for everyday.
There were deeply religious Europeans (I already talked about nuns in deep prayer). I don't think that anyone would doubt that European culture has been more advanced technologically than other cultures. We come from Roman culture, which essentially stole all of its art/philosophy from the Greeks it conquered.
Basically, don't disregard the strong point of another culture because we conquered them by brute force. And why not make the culture stronger by adding those stronger ideals into our own? If indeed these other cultures were hitting on a spiritual component on life that we don't have, why incorporate it into our culture?
Oh yes, no one said that those people are "better" than anyone else. If someone is at a higher point than you spiritually, why would you be angry about it, or jealous for that matter? Why not learn from him, and teach him something that you know. If someone is really at a more mature point than you, than they will understand that they are only more mature than you. I'm not the man, I'm not the "guru," ut if I encounter someone who has experienced more than me in something like this, I'm going to pay attention to what they have to say.
And by the way: <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->When you get right down to it, so-called "normal people" are the only reason the human race is advancing, they're the ones out their discovering and learning. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Simply untrue. The average person is too busy working to further their knowledge or discover something new. It's always someone willing to invest the time/energy into something he's interested in that furthers human advancement, and no matter what socio-economic class that individual was born into, he has just distinguised himself from the masses and become something other than average, or normal. Normal people don't seek a different path, or try something new. If they did, we'd already be far beyond this solar system, all disease would not exist, and we would never war with each other.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Have you ever actually seen pictures of the human brain on infrared, etc? Much of the brain is not all active. Much of it is passively being used. So yeah, we do use 100 % of our brain at any given time, but we don't use it to capacity. Basically the brain is capable of far more than what we use it for everyday. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That is because of the way neurons work, and it's not particularly complicated (unless you talk about mechanisms). At any given time, some neurons are busy while others are pretty much doing nothing at all. For example, where there aren't any noises around (like music), neurons associated with memory (Have I heard that before?) and other functions simply aren't doing anything- they aren't being stimulated. When however you are reading and writing, different neurons are being stimulated at different times, including the growth of new neural connections (IE increased synapses).
What this boils down to is that we all use our brains 'to capacity', because that is what the damn thing has evolved to do. It doesn't have 'useless' unused bits because it DOES use all of it at DIFFERENT times. The question though is in how someone chooses to stimulate it. Those that dedicate themselves to sports have great amounts of hand eye co-ordination and often fast reactions. This is because they use those regions of the their brain (and in this case other areas of the CNS) often so the neural connections are very strong. In the same fashion, those that study and read a lot stimulate the parts of the brain that involve themselves in doing that. Predictably, these neurons get stimulated and grow, allowing better recollection of facts and the like.
Unless you are implying that many people don't bother doing things like sufficient study or similar to 'train' their brain, then that really is only the individual and nothing else that is at fault.
Now compare that to what we don't know... the meaning of life, the purpose of the universe, life on other planets, creator of the world, etc.
If I had to compare what we know with what we don't know, for starters, lets just say what we know to be a grain of sand. What we don't know would be the beaches of all the world. That doesn't even put it properly in perspective, in fact. I think it is much grander than this. The fact is what we know and understand with respect to what we don't know and understand is very very very little.
So can anyone doubt that there is more to know and understand? I think as far as the capacity for thinking is concerned, there is PLENTY of room for improvement.
I hate people who think we have hidden mystical powers or whatever that we never use; we do use our brains to capacity. We understand more every day -- do you really think there will come a time in the future that humans will have learned everything or will have met a barrier that prevents them from knowing more? Of course not....once we expand beyond our planet it would probably be virtually impossible for all of us to be wiped out at once, and then we would have eternity to figure everything out. You explain everything away because you don't understand it -- yet. There is a lot out there to learn but look how far we've come in the last couple hundred years... things some people thought we could never do.
Who says life or the universe has a meaning/purpose? It could have all just developed randomly. You think you're so clever saying that there is a god out there who created everything because everything we've seen in the world is unbelievably complex and hard to understand. If it's so hard for you to accept that all of this is random and there is no higher being that created/controls this universe then how do you explain how God was created? If he is real his origins are just as mysterious as the origins of the universe. I don't understand why so many people find it so much easier to believe in a being who has always existed and has the power to create/destroy universes or basically do ANYTHING he wants, than it is to believe that the universe was just randomly created and that we were too.
Did you <i>read</i> the Snopes article?
Theres no debate about it! We absolutly use 100% of our brain.
And we don't have a firm grasp of time. We can observe it, but that doesn't mean we understand it. I can watch a microwave, that doesn't mean I understand it (ignore for the sake of arguement that we all know how a microwave works).
In my opinion, it is like looking at the incredible progress done with computers up until now and then saying "Well, we can't think of any new ways to make it faster, therefore we cannot build a better computer," when in fact it's the ATTEMPTS that make it happen (despite the attitude that says it cannot be done).
People who do not try to look outside the box are never going to look outside the box. This is all the reason to search for something more.
laughing out loud? Science is not a system of belief. It's a system of theories that are based on facts that are gathered from a specific methodology (viz. the scientific method). This is like saying philosophy is a religion. Philosophy is just a system of theories, any one of which can contradict any other freely and with no compromise, just like science. The scientific method is how we resolve those contradictions in science.
If the spirit/soul were confirmed by science, it would only validate the scientific method, you realize.
Maybe the reason you didn't understand things that I said is because you didn't read what I said. I said nothing about psychic powers for starters.
My point was to say that surely there is a state of reasoning that is beyond the human potential now. There is much that we don't understand out there. This should be obvious, because if we knew everything we'd be gods. So, there is room for improvement, is there not?
My point is to ask the question, "Why don't we try to improve?" It's one thing if it isn't possible, but to not try is to ignore the possibility is to bury your head in the dirt.
As for psychic powers, how do you know it isn't possible? It's a bit like saying aliens don't exist, when in fact there is no way to know. This is the point at which half the people reading will stop regarding this post as legitimate, because they have already convinced themselves that psychic powers are not a possibility. The other half will hopefully be at least open to the POSSIBILITY. I am not speaking to those that have already closed their ideas to one path, because they would never accept anything other than what they believe is true.
If someone walked up to me and said "hey, ive finally got proof that God exists' I would be all ears...instead all I hear are the same people coming up and saying 'I KNOW God is real...he talks to me, he helps me with the problems I'm having in my life' but when I point out any inconsistencies they bury THEIR heads in the sand and continue to stubbornly believe. Out of the millions of estimated years that the human race has existed, why would God decide it was a good idea to contact us only ONCE 2000 years ago and never again? If he wanted to influence our entire existence like that why doesn't he do it again? The damage is done, he's convinced billions of people to believe he is real and probably millions have died for him/because of his fanatical supporters and he hasn't ONCE demonstrated any proof of his existence since then.
If God wanted the Bible to be written why didn't he write it instantly and distribute it all over the world so there would be no confusion instead of getting some flawed humans to do it? If Jesus and his followers performed all these miracles like healing the blind, walking on water, and all the tons of crazy other **** he's done, why would any ruler dare to resist him? Who in their right mind would crucify someone who claims to be the son of God and has an arsenal of miracles that people have been witness to? I think we've pretty much conclusively proven that evolution is a reality...if we evolved from primates how do you explain Adam and Eve? Where did God come from, why does a God exist? Why is it easier for so many to believe that God has always existed but they can't accept the idea that maybe he doesn't exist and the universe has always been? There are SO MANY illogical ideas associated with Christianity that I can't believe that anyone believes in it. I could write another paragraph or two about the same problems with irrational people who believe in aliens or spirits/psychic powers but I trust my point is clear.
If someone walked up to me and said "hey, ive finally got proof that God exists' I would be all ears...instead all I hear are the same people coming up and saying 'I KNOW God is real...he talks to me, he helps me with the problems I'm having in my life' but when I point out any inconsistencies they bury THEIR heads in the sand and continue to stubbornly believe. Out of the millions of estimated years that the human race has existed, why would God decide it was a good idea to contact us only ONCE 2000 years ago and never again? If he wanted to influence our entire existence like that why doesn't he do it again? The damage is done, he's convinced billions of people to believe he is real and probably millions have died for him/because of his fanatical supporters and he hasn't ONCE demonstrated any proof of his existence since then.
If God wanted the Bible to be written why didn't he write it instantly and distribute it all over the world so there would be no confusion instead of getting some flawed humans to do it? If Jesus and his followers performed all these miracles like healing the blind, walking on water, and all the tons of crazy other **** he's done, why would any ruler dare to resist him? Who in their right mind would crucify someone who claims to be the son of God and has an arsenal of miracles that people have been witness to? I think we've pretty much conclusively proven that evolution is a reality...if we evolved from primates how do you explain Adam and Eve? Where did God come from, why does a God exist? Why is it easier for so many to believe that God has always existed but they can't accept the idea that maybe he doesn't exist and the universe has always been? There are SO MANY illogical ideas associated with Christianity that I can't believe that anyone believes in it. I could write another paragraph or two about the same problems with irrational people who believe in aliens or spirits/psychic powers but I trust my point is clear. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, in order to stay away from a religion thread, perhaps it isn't a good idea to head that direction. Besides, the God analogy isn't exactly the same as psychic ability or aliens analogies.
However, it is not you to say whether something is extremely likely or extremely unlikely. We haven't the foggiest what our chances are that there will be life on other planets. We have one reference point, and that is ourselves. Likewise, we know there is much about the brain we do not know, so it is premature and a little naive to presume we know enough to say it is unlikely that psychic powers are not a possibility.
God is a whole 'nother issue entirely. I won't even get into that.
Though, I'd be willing to bet that in 1900, the idea of humans flying in the air was absolutely absurd and considered to be something which will never happen. It's easy to be on that side of things to presume something can never happen, but how often does a person dream of what could happen?
What I hate most of all is when people bring up examples of civilizations that were/are behind the times and cite 'evidence' that they are spiritually/intellectually more advanced than we are. So what if fanatics can make themselves spontaneously bleed at the wrists or change their body temperatures? Most of those civilizations just sat there while the world passed them by. Look at the Indians for example, you always hear about how in-tune with nature they are and all the great philosophies/medical knowledge they had, but to what end? Europeans were doing far more; guns were developed, they were beginning to explore the world and advance their understanding of the universe, yet to this day the "accomplishments" of the Indians garner all the attention. What's the point of having these astounding powers of the mind if you can't use them for anything? The bottom line is Europeans were far more advanced than any other culture you may have heard of and thats why they basically ended up conquering the world. They (as well as any culture that has split off from them) may have lost most of their influence but that is because most people have turned to a more peaceable philosophy. If Europe/America/etc decided to try to conquer the world again I guarantee you they would succeed and these Buddhist mindpowers would be powerless to stop them. The only thing that would make it any more difficult than the last time is that many of the primitive countries of old have benefited from our discoveries/advances. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Dealing with the Indian thing, the part that their philosophies/medical knowledge was greater seems like a misunderstanding. While some medical knowledge the Indians had may have say kept them from getting back pain or whatever and the europians couldnt do it isnt saying their medical knowledge is greater. Its just different, it just has different methods based on what is available to either side (Indian/european). Indians get uh, say wierd fish corn. Europens get bacterialized water or something. The wierd fish corn doesnt make the Indians better, just different medicines.
Quite frankly their philosophies could be the best in the world and it wouldn't change anything for how their empire is getting along.
Read that and couldnt help myself but to say somethign about it.
Every human has an equal good sense, only that it is interpreted in different ways. If something falsely sounding as psychics crosses my mind, I only use that sense to determine what is true and false through objective means. But just because you can't see a God doesn't mean He isn't there, also meaning the possibilities. Since I am an imperfect being, it logically follows intuitively that something greater meaning perfect must be in existence. I can say this because all that follows from God can be observed and therefore He isn't essence.
I think it is agreeable that if you look at the greater picture, everything all the way down to the roots has a design. Perhaps, the cause is in itself, but that doesn't denote that something else must have caused it into existence much like a carpenter who makes a cabinet.
The problem I think is that many people don't understand why such a God who claims to hold all perfection would have caused a world such as ours into existence. I agree, it makes more sense to believe something if it is known for sure. With that, I think moreover that we can agree again that if such a God were existant then why all the imperfections?
See, the thing is we are here to solve the unknown - to become more whole - and everyone here is trying to accomplish that in some way. If not, then your life is meaningless because you are useless to anyone. In a more metaphysical point of view, if you believe there is nothing after death then it is the same as the latter.
Life is a mystery and what would be the point if it were not?
"Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the wind the stronger the tree."
-Probably from some so called "inferior" Native American you have emphasized above.
I don't follow any subjective order through means of religious dogma...
I hope that clears up several things about what some of us might be trying to say.
your neurons aren't magical things that, when activated or stimulated, suddenly produce thought and cognitive power... it's how they're used that matters... you may as well say "I have 10 tools, so when I bang this nail with just my hammer and not my screwdriver and wrench too, I'm only using 10% of my capacity to build"...
We can't say we don't have untapped psychic ability. There's no proof against that theory (nor for it).
You could say God doesn't exist for that matter, but there's absolutely no evidence to support that theory. Lack of evidence is not evidence in itself.
Okay, now that your point is established, it becomes necessary to define "psychic powers"
psychic - 1. Of, relating to, affecting, or influenced by the human mind or psyche; mental.
Well here's an idea, what if we already have psychic powers? I mean, I could consider remembering images, sounds, events, etc a "power". What about doing a math problem? Why can you immediately know just by looking at the equation 2x = 4 that x = 2, without consciously dividing 4/2? I could call shortcuts that don't abide by the laws of mathematics a "power". Deja vu? What the hell is that anyway? Why can I dream something, forget it, then remember the dream after the event happens in real life? Is that a "power"?
But then again, no one as of yet has really come up with a new "power", as in something concrete, like levitation or telekinesis or telepathy. Go back to my first statement; that with time and learning[....]humans will discover that they have untapped psychic powers. Well, I have to say that time has done pretty much nothing to demonstrate that we have psychic powers, so we're just going to have to fall back on learning. And learning equates science. Science equates technology. So yes, in the future eventually maybe possibly there is a remote chance that humans will discover that they have untapped psychic powers.
The only problem is, if we use technology to reach these "powers", can you still call them "psychic"?
Of course you can, because it relates to what your mind can perform.
But then again, it's still a technology. A very potent biotechnology indeed, but still something that was created out of an idea.
An idea.....
THAT is our ultimate psychic "power": creativity, ingenuity, the ability to use information, an intangible, and wield it in a way that affects the physical world that we can understand. You are searching for earth-shattering Hollywood-style abilities that are impossible simply because <i>our minds don't work in that way, period</i>. Oh sure, we are creative enough to come up with the <u>idea</u> of telekinesis, but to say that eventually maybe possibly there is a remote chance that humans will discover that they have untapped psychic powers is as silly as to say that eventually maybe possibly there is a remote chance that dogs will start to think and talk like a human. Our brains are hard-wired in a way that evolution has proved to be the most efficient means possible for dealing with our 3-dimensional world, for solving physical problems, not for moving matter with our minds.
So think outside <u>your</u> box for a second - recognize the arguments of your opponents - and realize the difference between creative thinking and plausibility. And don't confuse the issue by bringing in examples like the Wright brother's aircraft. Everyone at the time knew that the problem was just creating enough lift to get someone off the ground; hell, they even had hot-air balloons lifting people in the air. Actually, the Chinese lifted people into the air on kites centuries before the Wright brother's aircraft. The only obstacle, and the one thing that gave the plane its mythos, was the fact that no one had stumbled upon the proper design yet; but everyone knew it was possible!
You are locked into thinking that anything is possible with time and effort, but you are merely dreaming, which ironically is something our brains were designed to do. I can't say the same for telepathy.
In case any of you are lost by my rather convoluted rhetoric, I disagree with the possibility of psychic powers <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I think the Wright brothers is a fitting example on the contrary. Perhaps the scientific community was keeping a keen eye on what the Wright brothers were doing, but the majority of people had never even see a hot air balloon, much less a plane fly. There is the quote "If man was meant to fly, we would have had wings" to prove the ignorance of the people at the time. It is obvious we now can fly, perhaps with the assistance of machines, but nonetheless.
There are people that exist that can tell you your life story and they don't even know you. Granted, many are frauds, but this has been tested time and time again. The scientific community thinks it is a joke, because they believe it isn't possible. Likewise, 5, you think it is a joke, thus evidence to the contrary is rather an irritation to your otherwise flawless theory that psychic ability is a hoax.
I invite you to think outside the box and accept the other possibility that it might be possible. I don't think by me grounding myself to the thought that it is not possible is by any means thinking outside the box. The obvious answer is that it is not possible to the average person. I'm asking you to accept the not so obvious of something which is far from understood, much less proven. Not believe it to be true, mind you, but at least acknowledging the possibility.
Up until now in mankind's history, an idea of man has only been an idea for as long as it takes for time, sooner or later, to make it a reality. Thus things that are not possible now might be possible later. Where would the world be without dreamers? The dark ages, I'm sure.
I think the Wright brothers is a fitting example on the contrary. Perhaps the scientific community was keeping a keen eye on what the Wright brothers were doing, but the majority of people had never even see a hot air balloon, much less a plane fly. There is the quote "If man was meant to fly, we would have had wings" to prove the ignorance of the people at the time. It is obvious we now can fly, perhaps with the assistance of machines, but nonetheless.
There are people that exist that can tell you your life story and they don't even know you. Granted, many are frauds, but this has been tested time and time again. The scientific community thinks it is a joke, because they believe it isn't possible. Likewise, 5, you think it is a joke, thus evidence to the contrary is rather an irritation to your otherwise flawless theory that psychic ability is a hoax. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
My point with the Wright Brothers was that we had physical proof that it was possible, and despite your pleas to try and change, humans really need physical data in order to understand something. I mean look at religion. Anyone who's religious believes in the idea of God, but no one really understands all the facets of the relationship, simply because it's not physical.
I have yet to encounter a story of a psychic that I believed wholeheartedly. I'll tell you what psychics are - very perceptive people who can infer many things from small amounts of data, and more importantly they understand intricacies of psychology. Maybe they've never formally studied the field, but through trial and error (or maybe it <u>is</u> some innate gift...) they know their subject's brain better than the subject. I'd like to see a psychic predict something completely random, for instance, "Describe the last person I talked to outside" or something along those lines. But no, the only readings we ever see talk about personal information, because those have the strongest, "OMG how did you know that" factor, but because it is <u>personal</u> information there are many more clues for the psychic to use.
Furthermore, the human mind is very predictable. I'm sure if you just look around the internet for a little while you'll discover plenty of "mind games" that play off of the hard-wiring in our brains. Example: that game where you do a whole bunch of math problems where the answer is 6, then you say 6 out loud for a little while, then you are asked to name a vegetable. 98% of all humans pick carrot (just for the record, I picked celery.... <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/nerd-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> ). So as you can see, most average people are very similar in their thinking patterns. Have you ever seen outtakes from psychic readings on TV? I have, and it's quite funny watching the subject stare blankly at the unlucky psychic who has met an "unreadable" person, who really just thinks slightly differently from the rest of us.
I admire your trust in the ideal. Undoubtedly eventually in the future we will be able to use our brains on another level, possibly tapping into neurons that aren't currently firing in order to power body modifications. Maybe we will develop a drug or chemical that stimulates the creation of new synapses, increasing memory, focus, and cerebral abilities. But all these things will be developed as we learn more about our brain, and in turn use what we learn about the abstract and turn it into something physical, something the average person can (excuse the pun) wrap his mind around. Unassisted, I don't believe there is any possiblity for someone to develop psychic powers.
In any case, I can't (yet) really argue my side without sounding like a hard-assed skeptic (which I'm not; I believe in aliens <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> ). And you can't (yet) argue your side without sounding like a hopeless dreamer, at best. So, I'll let my brain rest for a while, and if I come upon a stirring flash of inspiration I'll be sure to enlighten you <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> .
I mean leaning on the side of psychic ability sounds a little winded and flaky of an argument, but the lack of proof makes it still in the realm of possibility. I do believe there are true psychics. I have seen interviews with this one particular psychic "trained" by officers formerly funded by the US government to try to train people to spy by using psychic ability.
He claimed to have needed a person to reference. A photograph was given to him, and he needed to figure out the location and place and distance from where he was at simply by looking at the picture (picture was not taken at the location).
After about an hour, he had drawn what looked like planes and bars and restaurants and conveyer belts leading him to believe that the person was located at an airport. The people conducting this experiment happened to be the news, so I'm fairly sure it is unbiased.
I mean I'm sure it could have been a hoax, or perhaps maybe there were some subtle clues the psychic could derive from the picture, but I doubt it.
I can't remember what the picture looked like, but it was basically an exact likeness of where the person was location (as if he were there sketching himself).
Maybe we don't understand how psychic ability works, but it is there I believe. Perhaps it lies in the realm of vagueness and indecisability. The human brain can't be simplified into numbers.