oh dear…I’ve never listened to Art Bell, but I have read PJ O’Rourke…does this mean I should set up a java shop near Area 54 with telescopes?
PS - David B, a suggestion on what to do with the books…Ebay.com.
The idiot’s guide to be a Physic sounds very entertaining. I’ll pay S&H…
Bigamy is having one wife to many. Monogamy is the same. - Oscar Wilde
I can’t speak to the rest of the list, although I have my suspicions, but the authors of this book (which is around 30 years old) have backed off of the claims made in it, since they performed no control experiments, did not have proper controls in the experiments they did perform, fudged all the data and were never able to replicate their results (nor was anyone else). It’s a load of crap.
Posted 6/4/99 7:46 AM The Voice
Why don’t you offer them to you local Hospital? Most have lounges where the patients can sit and read, or play cards to break up the monotony…usually long-term and or terminal. You would be shocked at how many bibliophiles are in hospital, with few (or no) visitors. For some The books in these lounges are generally very old. If these books are as stupid as you say, some folks might get a moments respite from their worries…as to “Reaching to Heaven”…well, it might even comfort some. (Don’t forget any teen or children’s books you might come across)
Remember: physically ill people aren’t stupid, nor do they lack a sense of humor. But very often, they are quite lonely and frightened
The Voice
Shirley Ujest said:
Ok, but I have to warn you – it’s a BIG book. I’ll try to remember to bring it to the post office so I can see how much it would cost (as 1st Class or 4th Class) on Monday. You can e-mail me your address and I’ll let you know how much it is.
Luckily (?) this was one of the publishers who sent me two copies of the books, so if Drain Bead is still interested also, I still have another copy.
As for entertaining – well, some of the things the authors say are exceedingly funny and ridiculous. Unfortunately, they were being serious!
“Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand.”
– Neil Peart, RUSH, “Witch Hunt”
David;
As to donating books to your charity, it’s only a problem if you claim the write off. I also chair a non-profit and I’m always donating things for raffles, our library, etc. It only gets hinky if you claim a charitable contribution on your tax form. On the flip side, hinky as it may look, it is not illegal for you to donate and take the write off. It just has a tendency to raise eyebrows at the IRS as there is obvious potential for abuse.
“I think it would be a great idea” Mohandas Ghandi’s answer when asked what he thought of Western civilization
Contestant #3 said:
Most of them look like a list of books you’d have to be crazy to actually believe. None of these was on my list of ones to get rid of, though I do have Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! on my bookshelves (just picked it up at a used book store, but haven’t had time to read it), and The Dilbert Future, most of which was okay, but the last chapter of which was purely ridiculous (you can find my review of it at http://www.reall.org/newsletter/v05/n10/cartoon-metaphysics.html and Scott Adams’ reply at http://www.reall.org/newsletter/v05/n12/index.html ). From what I know of most of these other books, it somewhat annoys me that the Feynman book would be included in a list like this. It’s like including a fine wine with a list of vinegars.
“Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand.”
– Neil Peart, RUSH, “Witch Hunt”
The Voice said:
Well, my answer is really the same as for the suggestions of donating them to book sales. I don’t want to encourage people to believe this nonsense.
What I think is stupid and what others think is stupid may be different. 
After all, Reaching to Heaven was on the bestseller list, for pete’s sake!
It might, but is that something that should be encouraged? This is a discussion that could take up a whole thread in and of itself, but I do not believe we should lie to people just to make them feel better, unless telling the truth would be even worse. I do not believe this is a case where telling the truth would be worse, and I certainly don’t want to encourage sick people – who should be fighting with every ounce of energy to stay alive – to just decide to give up because there’s a better world waiting for them and/or they’ll be reincarnated.
Which can put them in a very vulnerable situation. I think that is one reason that alternative medicine thrives – because people want to believe in something when they are sick and regular medicine cannot do anything for them. I know that’s tangential, at best, to this, but I do believe the situations are similar.
(If we want to expand on any of these things, we probably ought to take it to Great Debates.)
“Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand.”
– Neil Peart, RUSH, “Witch Hunt”
Lucky said:
Well of course I’d want to write them off!
Precisely. I know it wouldn’t actually be doing anything wrong, but I want to even avoid the appearance of impropriety. I mean, I already am going to write off the membership dues for that group, but that is provable by records and a check. This would seem to be a bit more open to attack, even though nothing wrong would actually have occurred.
“Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand.”
– Neil Peart, RUSH, “Witch Hunt”
Well, my answer is really the same as for the suggestions of donating them to book sales. I don’t want to encourage people to believe this nonsense.
What I think is stupid and what others think is stupid may be different. After all, Reaching to Heaven was on the bestseller list, for pete’s sake!
It might, but is that something that should be encouraged? This is a discussion that could take up a whole thread in and of itself, but I do not believe we should lie to people just to make them feel better, unless telling the truth would be even worse. I do not believe this is a case where telling the truth would be worse, and I certainly don’t want to encourage sick people – who should be fighting with every ounce of energy to stay alive – to just decide to give up because there’s a better world waiting for them and/or they’ll be reincarnated.
Which can put them in a very vulnerable situation. I think that is one reason that alternative medicine thrives – because people want to believe in something when they are sick and regular medicine cannot do anything for them. I know that’s tangential, at best, to this, but I do believe the situations are similar.
(If we want to expand on any of these things, we probably ought to take it to Great Debates.)
Hey, David. Lighten up. I thought that YOU were asking a legitimate question. I offered an idea. Here`s another one:
Why dont you stick them in your ear? Clearly, theres more than enough room between your ears to store the Library of Congress…God.
Throw them out. Burn them. Shred them. Keep the bloody things. Who cares? But why would you ask if you didn`t want suggestions?
Must you be so damn dog in the manger about it?
Check with your local Habitat for Humanity, they should have a place for you to contact that will take old books/newspapers/etc and shread them up finely for use as insulation in low cost houses, such as the ones built by HfH.
>>while contemplating the navel of the universe, I wondered, is it an innie or outie?<<
—The dragon observes
OK, here’s an idea. I don’t know the legal ramifications, but it might be something to work with:
Work out a fund raiser with your publisher, perhaps the newspaper you work for. Print a list of the books available and auction them off. Send the proceeds to your local library or some other literary organization. Play it up with your tongue firmly in your cheek, and maybe you can get some folks with a lot of money and a good sense of humor to make some charitable bids. What do you think?
“The day after tomorrow is the third day of the rest of your life.” -George Carlin
Pathunt;
Brilliant idea! You’re not a professional fund-raiser, are you? Would you like to be? I’ve got a great position for you. The pay bites (that is to say, there isn’t any), but I promise it’ll be rewarding ; )
“I think it would be a great idea” Mohandas Ghandi’s answer when asked what he thought of Western civilization
Never destroy a book, even if you do not agree with what is in it. Books, even foolish ones are the single best symbol of a civilized society. Consider contacting the library at your Alma Mater. Offer to help them create a special collection of books for researching modern superstitions and urban myths. This would enable you to avoid an act that is obviously distasteful to you [destroying books] and help create a more skeptical and rational society.
I’ve read Tarot since I was 14, and have actually made money off of it in a pinch. I’m curious to see the “Dummies” book for it.
Saw a clip from some talk show on Talk Soup the other day…some chick was hawking a book she’d written–“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Amazing Sex.” Be afraid. Be very afraid.
–elm
No, I’m not a fund-raiser. Like most other aspects of my life, I get great ideas but lack the resolve to act on them. (However, if some of the funds worked their way into my pocket…)
“The day after tomorrow is the third day of the rest of your life.” -George Carlin
Drain Bead, did you ever see the commercial for “Sex for Dummies”?
pitch black screen.
Dumb-sounding Man: “I think I got it!”
Match lights.
Dumb-sounding Woman: “That’s not mine, that’s yours.”
Man: “Oh.”
shot of “Sex for Dummies” book and voiceover.
I never laughed so hard in my life.
Cave Diem! Carpe Canem!
To deal with men by force is as impractical as to deal with nature by persuasion.
The Voice said:
My goodness. Considering the rest of your message, I think it’s you who needs to lighten up. I did ask a legitimate question, and I’ve gotten a number of good answers. I’m sorry that I didn’t like yours, but if you’d read the whole thread before responding, you would have already known how I felt about that. Even so, it wasn’t like I jumped on you or anything – I just told you why I didn’t like the idea.
Hmmm. I don’t believe in irrational things and don’t want to promote them, so therefore I am brainless? That’s very logical, Voice, thanks. I’ll remember to call upon you whenever I need a rational, logical, calm answer to something.
Because (I’ll type slowly so you understand), I did want suggestions, and as I said, I’ve gotten some good ones (not to mention a few people asking for me to send them copies). Get it? Not a tough concept.
“Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand.”
– Neil Peart, RUSH, “Witch Hunt”
Narile suggested:
Interesting! Not a bad idea. I’ll check it out. Thanks! (At least this way the books would be doing somebody some good.)
Pathunt suggested:
Another good idea that I’ll have to check out. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I don’t think I have enough such books right now to do this, but if I end up with some more, I think that’s a pretty good suggestion. Thanks!
“Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand.”
– Neil Peart, RUSH, “Witch Hunt”
Drain Bead said:
I have to warn you – it’s pretty bad. I had a friend of mine who also does Tarot reading (he doesn’t believe in it – he used to do it in college bars to get free beer) go through it, and he gave it a BIG thumbs-down even from the standpoint of what it says compared to what other Tarot books say. But like I said, if you want to pay the postage, it’s yours.
On a cross-topic that we should probably move elsewhere if we’re going to actually discuss it at length – you said you’ve made money reading Tarot. Do you believe in “the power of Tarot,” or are you more like my friend, who just did it because he could?
“Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand.”
– Neil Peart, RUSH, “Witch Hunt”