Human static electricity generators: Can a person’s body generate static electricity?

Well several comments:
First, you can not measure static charge with a multimeter. You need a surface voltmeter. Simply stated the energy is insufficient to activate a multimeter, ignoring that a digital MM will fry.

I think that the European equipment is generally more sophisticated than the US one. And thus, a kettle may contain electronics that tells it when to turn on or off, a vacuum cleaner may have variable speed, etc. Static charges can kill such devices.

As for the house wiring – while possible, I note that it is the United Kingdom. Their electrical standards are several orders of magnitude ahead of the US electrical standards. They use generally excellent wiring, and had significant electrical inspections for a long time, at a level that simply does not exist in US homes. I am not certain how that such fault would work. Clearly, lack of grounding can not – by itself – kill a purely motorized or resistive device. If one assume bad contacts, 1) wouldn’t it be visible elsewhere?, and 2) by now, that bad contact would have burned itself to crisp over the years.

So I suspect that it is her clothing, and possibly super dry skin.

A humidifier is an expensive solution – you need to drive the relative humidity to about 40%. To do so to a whole house you need a BIG humidifier.

However, I wanted to introduce another solution: The StaticOff device shown in http://www.staticoff.com will allow a person to discharge painlessly just by touching any touch- point. After such discharge, I am certain that it will take even Ms. Price some time to recharge, during which she will be able to do what she needs to do without killing her devices. This device is unique in the market.

Full disclosure: I am the inventor and CEO of StaticOff.

Shalom Wertsberger

I know exactly what Ms. Price is talking about. Both myself and my sister do this and more. I turn off street lights at night – in other words the main lamp thinks its daylight. I’ve crashed the operating system in computers 1/2 a dozen times in a year or 2 and crashed the computer thousands of times. I’ve taken out hard drives, rams, etc. in printers, computers (including lap tops), brand new computerized tills, debit machines, etc. A friend of mine is a psychologist and he used his galvanic skin resistance test machine on me and had never seen anything like what I made that machine do. So for all of you who think that humans don’t emit “special energy” that is not necessarily static (cause I’ve rarely been shocked myself – although I have shot out flairs that have been many inches in length). My sister kills more machinery than I have – I do more computers (although I have killed my vacuum) – she kills household appliances. No Ms. Price – you’re not nuts. There was a teacher in a special computer college who knew exactly about this issue. Some people emit a strong opposite polarity to others. Those of us that emit this opposite polarity cause this issue. When I took my daughter to the college because she wanted to take training in computer graphics, I walked by a young man doing a program (and almost completed) that set up a complete football stadium. I eliminated the entire thing off his computer when I walked by it. He freaked. The teacher looked at me and very casually walked by the computer in the opposite direction and it magically reappeared. No this is not BS. He and I discussed the issue at great length afterward. I knew I’ve been able to do this for many years but no one had ever been able to give me an explanation. He says he’s come across about 10% or less of the population that deals with computers had this to very degrees. So mine has been varified by electronic equipment (I do create significant energy charge), we do kills computers, programs, etc., and any type of equipment that is electrically driven.

Sorry for my bad English.
I have same problem. It’s much stronger on spring. For example,Yesterday when I was at McDonalds. 1. On exit I was shocked by the door of my car. When I was paying for meal I shoked employee with my hand. It was so strong that she recoiled. Then I went on exit door and door handle shoked me. Later at home light bulb burnout when I tryed to turn lihts on… Coincidence???
It is just one day of my life with static electricity. I am thing of wearing rubber gloves but people would say that I’m out of my mind so I suffer every single day. It’s painfull to open doors with metal handle, car doors and so on. When I dischardge it lasts for about 3 or 5 minutes maximum.

All claims and no proof. Nice try, but it’s not that simple…

I concur.

Searching the internet I was trying to find out what to do about all my *episodes. I too have not been able to wear watches for as long as I know. However, I started noticing the big/ costly problems start 6 or so years ago. Numerous appliances, Tons of light bulbs have popped, blow-dryer, flat iron, a couple alarm clocks, a few cell phones, I tried a watch (waste of money, at least the time was right twice a day!) Surround sound player, TV,… I could go on. Today I went to lunch and found out three of my credit cards were declined; knowingly having the money on there I insisted they try and try and try again, still declined. Came home and checked balances online and sure enough they were fine. Called one of the companies, they stated I demagnetized them, question for the ones who know about this stuff, is this static related too?

I am interested in the steps for testing to make sure I reduce the amount of static I endure.

1. How would I encounter a multimeter/ voltmeter?
2. I am constantly wearing this grubby pair of slippers; however, they are Victoria Secrets Pink COTTON slippers
3. My legs do not rub together; however, when it is cold and I am at home I tend to wear baggy clothing. I’ll be more cautious about that
4. We have a couple humidifiers already “cranked up”, not related to static, but coinciding
5. As far as wiring, I have moved three times, currently unpacking from the last move from April 1st. Location does not matter, this occurs at other environments, parents homes, friends homes, however, mine is the worst, maybe it is because I am here the most too!

Basically, I know I am not a super woman. I am just trying to seek advice being a single mom of a 6 year old is hard enough, now I have to deal with all these cost of replacements. I try keeping these under warranty or extended warranty, but this should somehow be resolvable. I am afraid to do my hair. I recently fried my cell phone and Verizon said they had not seen anything like it, had to go w/o a phone for 3 days. These are all inconvenience.

Help needed!

I hope this is not just some creative deception to simply waste our time. Some people get the kick watching skeptics crack their heads to figure out made up stuffs like this while laughing at us…

Kathleen,

You still haven’t answered any of the questions I raised above, just gave more examples of your powers and how they affect your life.

>To those non-believers, go to the University library
>and read up a bit on physics that deals in energy.

What kind of energy are you referring to here? There’s many different kinds. You seem to indicate your power isn’t with static electricity. What energy type do you claim you have? Kinetic? Heat? Mechanical? Photosynthesis? Gravitational? Sound? Chemical?

You’re giving a lot of symptoms without any scientific detail, assuming we should just “read up a bit” on some vague, undefined form of energy that you say you have, others have supposedly measured, but no one can define. Again, I stand by the last paragraph I wrote to you, Phaeton and Achein above.

Ok you people don’t kow the half of it! I have been living with this problem for years and it just gets worse and stronger. First stuff would short out lights would flash dim or burn out completly (and home school and work) there was a street light on the way to work whenever i walk by it it would shut down when i was about 10 ft passed it, it would turn back on…every day for 3 years! Others have witnessed this..there was a time where the lights in my car all went nuts for a few minutes until i got out of the car my friends were with me…needles to say they were a lil freaked. But these days it worse metal shocks me, other people, plastic yes plastic..cloth…wood…i am freakin afraid to touch anything…i mean these are mean crackling visible shocks mini blue bolts or electricity…don’t get me wrong if i could control it would be cool but i can’t…i mean i could probably light a cigerette with some of the electricity i produce or absorb whichever…ive changed shoes clothes fabric softners, static guards, you name it …. i can stand on a wooden surface touch something and get shocked not move then touch something else and get shocked again….to tell you the truth it really pisses me off. Im not claiming to have powers or anything just living proof that the human body is capable of carry a powerful electic charge or atleast manipulating it involinatry or not.

Yet, more claims and no proof… doesn’t anyone read Andy’s requests and the questions put out?

I guess not…

People with lots of static charge in their body.. you may not know this but your diet has a lot to do with the energy levels in your body too. The food’s you eat could make you more prone to static charge. I highly suggest you people with the same phenomenon get together and figure out the simularitys of your diet. When the entire family households have the same problem, it is usualy because they eat the same food.

In reply again!!! For all of you non-believers, put your money where your mouth is. I’m in no financial position to pay the kind of dollars that a research study of this nature costs. Either put up or shut up. There are a lot of us, as I’ve already mentioned about 10% of the population, that has this issue. All humans have energy – its what supports our life. Some of us however seem to “leak” it more than others for reasons that are presently “yes” not well understood or documented but they are documented. I am a scientist. But I do not have the time nor the money to waste trying to get skeptics to believe something that they obviously don’t suffer from. Its not my shoes nor the lack thereof, its not my clothing or the lack thereof. Rubber gloves, static guards, etc. do not aleviate the issue. If you skeptics need so bad to see the evidence then bloody well pay for it or shut the heck up. Those of us that suffer from this have too much going on to waste out time with the likes of you. Again – pay up (for a research study which will cost a minimum of $100K) or shut up. This is the last I have to say on the issue. And, if you read my last replies, my issue was scientifically documented by a psychologist on a special meter. No I do not have this information to supply to the general public. It was for his study purposes.

Hi Kathleen,

I think you’re confusing healthy skepticism with accusations. You’re also misrepresenting the burden of proof: if you’re going to claim something, we have no obligation to believe you or pay for your $100K research study – it’s up to you to prove your claim.

Also note that there are plenty of organizations who will validate/invalidate your claims for low cost or free. The New England Skeptical Society and the CSICOP and (if you’ve already been in the media) the JREF come to mind.

If, as you insinuate, you have a power beyond the known laws of physics, fine. But don’t expect to be taken seriously unless you can prove it.

I have a partner in my business who can crash a certain computer application just by standing near it,He can go to each terminal in turn and they all crash or hang.The computer screen has certain sections that fade and comeback when he stands near.We have both touch screens and lcd and all do the same.Windows operating system is still working in the back ground,just the application that is running.We thought bluetooth on mobile phone, but other staff (10 of us)have got it but don’t affect the computer.We put earth strip by computer for him to touch but it made no difference.Doesn’t do it with his laptop or his computer at home.Either he has these energy powers or he has something in his pocket which we know not of.Perhaps the sceptics can inform me of a device that can do these things as mischief can’t be completely ruled out.

Stan,

Your coworker doesn’t have any magical electro-static charge. The computers are crashing because the moron wears magnets, you know, the ones dippy hippies think will balance their Chi or some such nonsense. They’re just strong enough to interfere with computer operation at close range. I’ll bet he doesn’t wear the magnets at home, which is why his laptop is OK.

Then again, you could just be an idiot looking for patterns where there aren’t any. It could just be that the application is unstable and you happen to notice the coworker around when it crashes. The times it crashes without him around are mentally written off or ignored.

Definately not imagination, we are in a shop and and we have no problems whatsoever with any of the staff using the computers as they are used as a point of sale retail system.Only get problems with the one person.The earth strip was a length of aluminium foil attached in front of the till draw with a wire to ground(earth) so he put his hand on it before using keyboard or touch screen and the pos application froze.We use one computer as the server with 4 others hard wired (networked together) If he crashes the application on the server we can still use the other teminals to do transactions.So the network still works as does SQL on the server.Sometimes the pos application program just shuts off to leave the desktop when he is near.
how many magnets and at what distance would cause an effect

problems above all caused by mischief with car remote immobiliser/alarm key fob

I have LYME disease and have developed this static electricity thing. I zap my dog all the time and I can see the spark fly out of my fingers. I get a shock when I touch water from the faucet. I can not touch my mouse as it shorts out . I watch it fly across the screen then I have to reboot. Somewhere I read that lyme people get this problem. It is getting very disturbing. I can touch anything without a spark or zap. I work in a recording studio as well and try to ground myself so I don’t burn up my equiptment.
I had a dream that I was moving stuff around with my electricity. Pointing my fingers and moving stuff at will.. that was pretty cool.
Maybe it is a new thing that will benefit us later when the world gets worse than it is now..

That’s a better explanation… I also wonder why all these people are not appearing in TV or in some “New Discovery” program of some kind? Where are all you guys hiding?

Yes, of course. It’s not a matter whether someone believes in it or not. It’s not a matter whether it’s real or not. The matter is, there is no clear and concrete evidence that such things exist…

Nick

Ok, lets bump the conversation up a node or two. I am 37 yrs. old and have a curse involving much of what has been said above. I do however believe there is documentation, it walks and talks and is me. 5 other people in my family suffer from a similar curse, and I will describe it more fully. I am 37, and have purchased 26 VCR/DVD players in the last 48 months, I have shocked people on the other end of a phone line, and in the dark if I get close to a light switch you can visably see the arc from my finger tip to the lightswitch before I touch it. I dim streetlights when I walk below them, and haven’t been able to wear a watch since I was 13. For awhile pocket watches worked, but as I get older, the effects are more severe. It is real, it is financially cumbersome, and it freaks people out. Imagine walking down the street with a friend and with each streetlight the power dims temporarily and once the distance is great enough it comes back on, until you reach the next light… I worked in a government building several years ago, and in conversation it came up with some friends, a representative from Emergency Services was there and over heard, the next day he brought a seizmograph(sp?) because he didn’t believe me, and it went off. I also can’t use wall testers to find studs, or eletric testers to find live wires because the signal is constant. Yes, I am using a computer to type this message, I’ve learned first to ground myself before touching any electrical equipment, and second it doesn’t happen all of the time, it seems more common when I am angry, or deep in thought etc. I just wanted to respond because there are many people that are different in the world, this is just another (dis)ability.

every time i go to open the car door i get shocked,and i too have crashed computers.i also give other people shocks which can be annoying.i do have dry skin although i doubt that is soley the cause,also i have shot arcs of electricity between my fingers and metal objects several inches away.

richard yes ur right i guess its only matter of condactors or not
but still i have a question can we raise our voltage i mean
we have a very evry small voltage in our bopdyu can we rais it??

““I went on an IT course, but it was a nightmare because every time I touched the computer it would either freeze or shut down.””

Sounds like some clients that I work with!

This is interesting. I found this site by trying to figure out why I mess up the TV reception every time I walk into the room. Perhaps that is the reason I don’t like to watch TV very much. It drives my husband nuts, so usually he just watches alone.

Can anyone give me a reasonable explanation for this happening?

As for other symptoms of some sort of “energy” that many have spoke of, I do sometimes shock other people or myself when touching metal, usually, and occasionally some other minor things that I haven’t even considered until reading through all these claims above. I am skeptical as well and think there is some explanation to it but haven’t figured it out yet. I think diet might play into it somehow, and definitely (probably in most cases) shoes, rubbing feet/legs together, carpet, etc. At the moment though I am wearing rubber sandals on a wood floor. However, I don’t shut off any computers or anything that drastic either. Mostly for me it is just the occasional shock (sometimes really bad but nothing major) and messing up the TV/antenna reception. It is usually just for certain channels. If there is a way to correct this problem, I would love to hear how! Or I can figure it out on my own if I just knew what caused it. Help?

All this is ok..tell me how to get rid of it ????I don’t have this problem upto this degree..I gets mild shock once is a while and its really really annoying.

Every vehicle that I’ve ever owned has ended up having major electrical problems. I had bought a brand new car and within months I couldn’t drive it at night because the lights would just quit working randomly. I sold it to my cousin and it never once did this to her. The truck I’m driving now has always had electrical issues as well, but not before I owned it, my husbands buddy owned it prior to me. I get zapped by things all the time, doesn’t matter what I’m wearing for clothes and/or shoes, although I do have a few pair of shoes that I won’t even wear because I get zapped beyond belief when I try to wear them. None of my cell phones that I’ve owned have worked right. And I also get zapped by water. I don’t have any issues with computers though.

Hi all,
After reading all of this artical I see my problem is somewhat minor. I have never in my life been able to wear cheap watches because they stop working after I put them on. (Trash) I thought that was my only problem with this issue until recently.
My sister moved in with me a year ago. My computer was not working properly so she did a system restore that fixed it for awhile. Note: another sister had done about the same thing a year before that. Now, again it happened. This time nothing she did fixed it so we took it to be repaired. It worked in the computer store but when we got it home it started freezing up within 1 hour. We had also bought the 5th mouse in 3 years to see if that was the problem. It went back to the computer store (where it is now) In the meantime my sister knew about the static in my body and what it did to watches, so she started asking me lots of questions. It just did’nt make sense that I never had anything break at my workplace. Where I work on a computer also. I have carpet at home and at work but at work I have one of those mats or carpet savers? It was removed from my desk 2 weeks ago and my computer at work is acting up????? Go figure! I will be getting back to all of you after I get it back and see if buying a mat helps.

This has had to be one of the most entertaining reads I happened across in a long time. Rubbish from both sides. I think the only sincere answer was from the person who claimed diet as the culprit, although I don’t agree fully, I do know from studies at my university that water content in the human body has an affect on static electricity production, as does a million other factors (most mentioned here). I would guess that most of the authors have something in common and my next guess would be that they consume alchohol. It’s been known for years that alchohol dehydrates the human body thus causing the strong likelyhood of excess static production (Claimed earlier as dry skin). My suggestion. “Cut down on the bubbly” :-)

Jason,

I’ll respond to you in the same way I’ve responded to people above:

“What testing have you performed to verify your body is generating this static electricity, and your environment is not? For example, my own car has bad static shielding – It shocks me all the time. I have a streetlight outside my house that flickers and turns off whenever I walk underneath it. My home television antenna reception quality decreases greatly when I walk towards our TV. All attributable to my environment and faulty electronics.”

Andy

I don’t know how many times I have to say this – what is being emitted from our bodies and causing this electrical mess up, IS NOT STATIC electricity!!! It’s normal body energy!!! All living organisms have an electrical field/energy which is and has been measured scientifically. Alterations to this field can be caused by changes in body pH, some have an altered field due to body injuries, and some have the ability to alter the field via “mind” forces. Some alter this field via “mind” forces (thought/meditation) unknowingly. In Chinese medicine the energy is called Chi; in Indian medicine they too have a name for it and use the Chakra centres to gain access to specific regions for the purpose of healing, going to higher states of consciousness (Yogi’s),… Those of us who can alter our energy field but have not been trained in controlling it, can do some pretty weird and annoying things – crashing electronic systems such as computers, ATM’s, street lights, radio’s, watches, cell phones – the list is endless. I repeat – this is not static electricity! It is the natural energy that every living organism emits. I shut off street lights, and crash computerized cash registers and computer systems (typically the CPU-I fry it); my sister crashes ATM’s and computerized cash registers; my mother crashes digital watches and makes programs on her computer disappear. I have met many people who talk of the same issues as I – and as I’ve said before in a comment in this blog, a specially trained computer expert, has indicated to me that he has knowledge that it is a polarity issue. I’m not too sure how he came across this deduction, however when I crashed a computer at his college (he is the head professor) during a highly technical program a student was developing, he walked the opposite direction across the front of the computer that I had done, and the program was returned exactly where it had left off. He explained to me later that 10% of the population (scientifically documented) has a reverse polarity to their energy field which affects all electronic equipment (since all electronic equipment is based on the same polarity base). Now unless you’re a physicist or electronics specialist, you likely have no idea what it is I’m talking about, but instead of all those skeptics out there being lazy idiots, why not do some research at your local university before coming across constantly with your ignoramis uneducated statements. Its not voodoo or magic that creates this phenomenon and its not static electricity. Its simple body energy and some of us are better at controlling it than others.

Andy,
You obviously didn’t read my entire blog and obviously aren’t willing and possibly incapable of conducting your own reading at the University library. The energy of the human body is well documented in scientific journals – go do your homework!!! A few good places to start are journals on Yoga and Chi and then you can carry forward from that. I’m sure you will find it an interesting read if you can pull yourself away from your computer long enough. The energy has nothing to do with mysticism or fantasy or someones special powers. We ALL have this energy IF we have a pulse and brain wave activity. I am a scientist and I go off facts and I do suffer from excess energy drainage (as I call it). I use the word “suffer” because its a proverbial pain in the backside when you’re trying to do statistical analysis, thesis work, etc. on your computer and your CPU gives ‘way for the 2nd or 3rd time). Do your homework Andy, and when you’ve actually read up on the subject, then come back and discuss it like an educated adult.

Kathleen wrote:
“He explained to me later that 10% of the population (scientifically documented) has a reverse polarity to their energy field which affects all electronic equipment (since all electronic equipment is based on the same polarity base). Now unless you’re a physicist or electronics specialist…”
 

While “electronics specialist” is not exactly a formal title, I think that I qualify. I understand electronic components to the level of electron and hole flow in doped semiconductors.
 

Can you refer me to a specific scientific reference for the 10% reverse polarity number? I understand that I may not have the background information necessary to fully understand the paper – but that’s my job to sort out.
 
I’m sure that I will have other questions in the future, but I’d like to stick to the 10% reverse polarity question for now.

i always pass by street lights and they just turn off.When i touch stuff theres a spark whats Up with That?

Thank you for the info,so i take it this can happen away from the house? like driving down the street in my car,stoping at a stop sign,and seeing the street lights go off,or my car just dieing? Oh well i guess thats life full of shocking surprizes!

I have experienced both static electricity and the energy Kathleen calls chi. However, the extent that I have experienced the latter has been a much smaller magnitude. They are not one in the same.

Chi energy seems to be more body generated and is studied a lot in the eastern medicine. I would not be surprised if an eastern scientist has figured out how to measure it. As for western physics the scientists have already figured out all there is to know. Another form of energy would not be possible even if the entire world provided evidence supporting its existence. I have known too many “experts” in the scientific fields that will not expand their knowledge beyond the printed books. This frustrates me as I am an electronics engineer by trade and seeing others’ inability to learn or imagine new concepts make me sad. You don’t have to have evidence to explore the “why” or the “what if”.

On the anecdotal side I work with a gal that claimed to affect electronics in a strange way. I accepted her belief but was skeptical. A few months later I had a workstation with a video card that was starting to fail. I had other cards on order until I could replace it. The video card was functioning mostly normal. Then this gal walked past the workstation and the video went screwy big time. It remained that way until she left the area. Me and another coworker tried walking past the workstation several times. We stomped on the floor, shuffled our feet, etc. We could not repeat what had just happened when this gal walked past. The workstation itself is encased in metal and any static buildup could not do what we saw. Neither could a magnet. The distance would have been too great and fields too weak. She does not shock people when she shakes hands with them. There is something I cannot observe going on here. She wears all cotton clothes as required by her job, and she wears standard leather boots issued to everyone at work. We go to great lengths here to make sure we do not wear clothes that buildup static. Otherwise we get Alpha particles attached to our clothing and set off alpha radiation alarms.

After replacing the video card in the workstation the phenomenon disappeared. There is definitely something strange going on as this woman will cause other systems to go awry according to her experiences.

I fully expect an ignorant response from a number of people here. However, the fact remains that not everything can be easily explained away with our current accepted understanding of the universe.

Kathleen,
Don’t take any comments here personally. People go through life with differing experiences and will believe what they want to believe. Always questioning and always exploring new possibilities as to “how things are” is better than being lead down a path of accepted/printed possibilities. It is the people who dare to think differently that are the most ridiculed in this world. You are in good company, as those who dared are those who are remembered.

Some things that may be considered is things that act as antennas or frequencies that interfere. Even harmonics could come into play. However it would take a strong field to get through the shielding around most computers. This leads me to believe it is not what I would term hertzien at all. I would guess it is something more like Tesla discovered which is a longitudinally aligned wave. Some people call these scalar waves. This is where the magnetic field is not perpendicular to the flow of current but aligned along the flow. Kind of hard to visualize, but the best explanation I have heard. Others have theorized that it is a fluctuation of time and space thus could penetrate shielding easily. The circuit it would affect would effectively need to be a able to capture a scalar wave using either traces or silicon that resembles an inductor that is not polarized. Basically and coil wound so that if it were energized it would not create a magnetic field. You can search the web and since you are unusually strong in your “energy” you may be able to construct such a coil or inductor and connect it to a meter and see if you can get some reading from it. I think I have seen some called “caduceus” coils. They are simple to build.

All of this is theory, but it may be fun to play around with. You may need to amplify the signal from the coil and there are probably dozens of circuits on the web that you could choose from. Best best would be an instrumentation op-amp to reduce noise from other sources.

Another device could be a unijunction transistor wired with an led and a 9V battery with the base unconnected. This has been used to detect static electricity and could be a “flawed” circuit to play with.

Whatever you do have fun with it. Trying to understand that nature of the universe is half the reason we went to school anyway. I love exploring things and seeing what happens. Ooh, get a crystal ear phone from Radio Shack and use that with the caduceus coil. Those things are extremely sensitive and will allow you to “hear” any energy that may be being produced.

I wired up some coils one time to create an array of coils and was able to walk around the house listening to electrical noise with the crystal ear phone. I could even hear the battery powered clocks on the wall. Fun stuff.

Get some foam balls that people use for packing and tie them to strings. Then attach them to a stick near each other. If you bring a part of your body close to both of them your static charge will cause them to take on the charge and repel each other. You know, like charges repel.

When people give you crap, just tell them you have an electric personality and smile. :) People say all sorts of things, but it is our job to “love them anyway”.

Oh, here is a taste of what I am talking about in case you think this is crack talk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7akUQ9luhw&feature=channel_page

Damien,

I said this multiple times above, but it also pertains to you:

What testing have you performed to verify your body is generating this static electricity, and your environment is not? For example, my own car has bad static shielding – It shocks me all the time. I have a streetlight outside my house that flickers and turns off whenever I walk underneath it. My home television antenna reception quality decreases greatly when I walk towards our TV. All attributable to my environment and faulty electronics.

Andy

DB_Skeptic,
Your response to Damien confuses me. How is “I personally cannot wear a watch, because they become out of sync immediately.” any different than “testing” with a testing device? As long as the experiment is repeatable then it IS “testing” to verify a result. Obviously there is no way to baseline other than placing the watch on someone else which would prove that yes the watch stays in sync as it was designed to do.

Further, if every watch Damien puts on goes out of sync I can suppose a few things: 1. Damien does not know how to use a watch, 2. Every watch he has ever put on has been defective, 3. There is something about Damien that keeps the watches he dons from working properly, or 4. Damien is on crack and everything he says or thinks is suspsect.

Now lest look at the likely hood of each:
1. Using a computer, sending email, or surfing the web are somewhat technical endeavors. Using a watch would more than likely be easier than those activities. However, he could be a Mac user… (That is intended as silly humor not be taken seriously by sensitive Mac users. :)
2. This is highly unlikely, however a baseline of a watch on a “non-force sensitive” would provide sufficient evidence to throw this out.
3. This would be the elusive mystical magical body chi energy or just freaky static build up to account for this.
4. While this is possible he is not talking about purple polka dotted elephants and does not claim ants are crawling all over his body. So I would have to throw that one out.

The confusion is that he provides some anecdotal evidence with a hint of experimental evidence when talking about the watch. With a little further experimentation by baselining that would be sufficient to qualify as “testing”.

Hi Demolishun,

As long as the experiment is repeatable then it IS “testing” to verify a result

Absolutely. But I’m not interested in verifying the results. We’re interested in causes. My comments are intended to spark an interest in the root cause of this issue.

If I have a flashlight that always burns out its batteries when I use it, your logic allows me to state, “I have a power that causes flashlights to die when I use them”, when it’s more likely that there may be something wrong with the batteries, the flashlight, or even the environment in which I use the flashlight.

To go back to your point: putting on a watch that soon goes out of sync does *not* mean your body affected the watch. It may have. It may not have – it may have been something else entirely. We just don’t have enough information to determine that. What I’m asking is that people research to find out.

With a little further experimentation by baselining that would be sufficient to qualify as “testing”.

I agree with this statement, but your four points above are not the only possibilities. What about faulty electronics in the house or the computer he uses (which comes in contact with the watch)? What if he keeps purchasing the same type of cheap, low-quality watches? What if his day job is physically stressful, and watches get knocked about a lot?

I’m not even saying my examples are the answer, but this is part of what I mean when I say “environment”. There are a lot of potential factors here besides a person’s body. It often seems that people would rather jump to a conclusion than to do the work and invalidate other possibilities.

Andy

I see what you are saying. I think having someone else use the same watches that he has trouble with would help shed some light. Without a way to isolate the environment there is no way to rule out everything. Yes, buying junky stuff did occur to me, but like you said we don’t have enough info.

It may be a little too much to ask the average net surfer to research this though. Most people don’t think in the scientific process at all. In addition many often rely on feelings when there is no known way to measure things that do not fit with established theory. This would include experiences (good and bad) that there is no way to determine where to start to figure them out. I have had experiences that I do not believe can be explained with experimentation and certainly are not repeatable in the scientific sense. These have been paranormal/spiritual in nature rather than body energy in nature. Of which I cannot rule out as I have observed manipulation of electronic devices by seemingly intelligent unseen forces. No, no mind altering substances were involved and multiple people witnessed the event.

It might help to suggest simple testing that can be done rather than just say “do testing”. This will not completely control the environmental problem, but it could get better data. It might even create some “eureka, that is what is causing that” events. Of course there are those who will cling to “this makes me special” no matter what.

Yes, I think suggesting a simple testing scheme per the individual for the un-science initiated could be very productive. However, suggesting buying a meter or scope would probably be overkill. People, just hire a research scientist and figure this out, okay! Haha! Hey, maybe somebody could create a body energy phenomenon group. It would be similar to the ghost research groups people are forming.

Anyway, I see your point in trying to better quantify what is happening and isolating the environment.

Matt,
I just realized you claimed something I didn’t say:
“Your attempt to claim anecdotal evidence should be given the weight of a proper test is, to be blunt, naive and uninformed.”

His evidence is not anecdotal:
“I personally cannot wear a watch, because they become out of sync immediately.”

Unless the word “immediately” can be imprecise. Perhaps that word needs to be refined. I would assume “out of sync” means, it doesn’t keep proper time and is unusable. If it drifted a few seconds in a day it would hardly be immediately or noticeable. Most cheap watches keep better time than that. Unless they are sun dials and when he walks around they become out of sync…

As to being “naive and uninformed” is to believe an untrained person would put forth the same rigor and thought into testing for a phenomenon as a trained scientist. Asking the question: “Can a person’s body generate static electricity?” of the internet masses knowing full well the majority of responses would be anecdotal in nature. Then telling them they are stupid because they aren’t scientists is either really “naive and uninformed” or designed to boost an overinflated ego.

Of course, it could just be a plate in someone’s head causing this. However, without further testing I cannot logically come to that conclusion. So, could everyone please put a magnet to their heads that responded to posts saying, “we need more testing”. This will only test for ferric based metals and won’t find stainless or plastic based plates… Ahhh, the madness never ends!

Smile, it is a day after April fools!
Cheers!

I have lot of hair on my body. Could that be the possiblity of generating static charges of my body?

I try to avoid ad hominems, but I’m afraid Kathleen seems to be about fifty-one cards short of a full deck. I’m Indian and I’ve never seen *any* evidence confirming the existence of mystical energies such as chi, kundalini, reiki etc. I’m more than a little surprised to see so many supposedly educated westerners fall for such rubbish.

I too have symptoms described above (streetlights, computers, cell, watches, etc.), so can be called a quack by scientists who can only explain in terms of my immediate environment. Have I tested to ensure it’s me and not the environment? I have changed diet, clothing, flooring, housing, yet it exists in my environment and outside of my environment. I began having seizures as an adult, which seem to be triggered by EMF. Here’s a synergistic hypothesis for careful consideration and possible ridicule (ok my name’s not Electra):

The metal in my mouth builds static in my body. The elevated metal in my body (confirmed by unprovoked 24 hr. urinalysis) sticks to organs/tissue when I’m charged. Pulsed EMF field causes spark (like tinfoil in microwave) and I seize.
Low constant EMF field mobilizes metal, which can change (alleviate or worsen- musical chairs) symptoms.

Metals in the body exist in trace amounts via diet and higher amounts via dental devices or surgical implants. We used to see houses with many tv antennaes to get more channels. With the increase in EMF’s in the environment, antennaes on the body may represent new harm… even seemingly harmless items such as jewelry, belt buckles and bra underwire. If you swallow a penny and swallow a nickel, does that make you a battery?

Vee, read the above comments to find the answer to your question. It’s been covered many times.

If you’re honestly doing research (and I assume testing) on this, I’d be very interested to hear the results. Please post them here, or contact me using the “Contact” link at the very top of this page.

Andy

Why did this conversation go silent?

I guess not, although I was waiting for someone to ask about my first statement; I do not need to tell you, because I believe you know where I was going.

Electra, you fail to understand how science works.

In the real world, where real scientists who actually accomplish things work, a hypothesis has to be tested and proven. The people who propose a hypothesis have to provide test cases to evaluate the hypothesis. You are the one making extraordinary claims. Like it or not, it’s up to you to prove it. You have failed to provide any proof or even a scenario for a reliable test case to evaluate the claims. Anecdotes are not data, in part because they do not account for all the other possible explanations for the claimed phenomena, are not blinded or double blind and are not objective.

What’s more, you’re asking science to prove a negative. I could claim that I can float 4 feet above the ground and shoot lasers out of my eyes, and then ridicule YOU for failing to disprove me. An actual scientist will simply tell me that, in the absence of proof of my claims of levitation and ocular weaponry, they must accept what’s known as the “null hypothesis” that I do NOT posses the absurd powers I claim.

In short Electra, I am forced to consider you a closed minded skeptic who is afraid to face reality and consider science that’s outside the box because you refuse to accept that I can levitate 4 feet above the ground and shoot lasers out of my eyes.

You cannot disprove the hypothesis and/or do not feel qualified to comment on and/or explore electromagnetics, metallurgy or the synergistic effects of anti gravity and biological laser generation with the same.

“So what you’re saying is a real scientist cannot comment on the scientific basis of a hypothesis until someone else tests it?”

That was a cute attempt at twisting my words. I was talking about what’s needed for a theory to be accepted as plausible, not what’s needed for people to discuss it. Discussion is needed to construct a theory and to test that theory. It’s a precursor.

You’ve made extraordinary claims about the human body and magnetism. The default position, the null hypothesis, is that your claims are either untrue or your interpretation of them is flawed. There have been a number of discussions here about similar claims and as of yet, no one has proposed anything that does not have a conventional explanation.

You seem to think scientists should expend considerable energy testing every crackpot theory some nutjob cooks up. There just isn’t enough money or scientists to do that kind of exhaustive and futile research. Scientists LOVE a challenge and every scientists would LOVE to see their name connected to a new discovery. The problem for this discussion is that this field is full of people making wild claims, but unable to provide any evidence. The rants and claims of the marginally sane are not of much interest to physicists. They’re the realm of psychiatric medicine and psychology.

1. What claims are you actually making? What are YOU claiming, so we can separate you from the other folks in this thread? You made some vague references to having an effect on streetlights. What exactly have you experienced?

2. Are your claims extraordinary in any way? That is, are you claiming anything that’s outside the realm of conventional science or that requires an exotic theory of biology? Are there conventional explanations for your claims? Most of the folks posting here have claims that amount to little more than mundane static shock. You’ve been too vague with your actual claims to make any judgments.

3. What tests can be constructed to evaluate your claims?

On a side note, I recommend taking anything on tetrawatch.net with the proverbial grain of salt. I recommend checking out Skeptoid episode #72 “Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: Real or Imagined?”
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4072#

Skeptoid also has episodes dealing with some of the other EM Radiation fears, and does a nice job of highlighting the difference between some of the crackpoots spouting pseudo-scientific nonsense and the real science.

The way I read your post, all you’re really claiming is that electricity and magnetic fields can impact the human body and that excess metallic content in the body can influence the degree and scope of that impact. If this really is the extent of your claims than I appear to have very unfairly lumped you in with some of the more, shall we say, entertaining claims made in this thread.

Is that an accurate summary, or am I missing something?

The term “electric symptoms” also covers a wide range of topics, from well documented and tested phenomena such as electric shock at one extreme to the modern day equivalent of “hysterical fits” known as “Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity” at the other.

It sounds like it would be worthwhile to discuss the specific electric symptoms you have in mind.

If a person could create enough static electricity on their body, to produce the current needed to take out a standard vacuum cleaner, that person would most likely kill the person (and most likely himself/herself) he/she came in contact with, if discharged at the same rate; I mentioned nothing of computers in that statement. Static electricity has been known to cause running (on, not off) equipment to go awry, by effecting the memory ICs (changing the data,) and in computers, this situation may force a person to have to reboot that computer. In one instance at a manufacturing plant, I recall the problem was solved when the employees were required to start practicing safe ESD practices.

In the above I say running, because damaged to components usually comes about when current, above the reverse handling current of the active (transistors, diodes, etc.) components, avalanches the active components inside/on the chip; this is less likely when there is bias to the active components on the IC, and bias will usually be there when the equipment is running. CMOS technology is a good example, and power must always be applied to ICs using this technology before applying input data; I have done this more than once while testing, and ended up rebuilding the darn thing (high voltage equipment are real fun, because things explode and parts fly out.)

Robert, I mentioned computers rather than vacuums only because mainstream science accepts that they can be “taken out” by static electricity. As I understand it, my quadcore will take 6-10A and each video card will take approx. 12A. While a single processor/video card system would take less, it would still exceed the .5A quoted to “take out” a heart?

P.S. Agreed… the “ocular weaponry” comment was good!

Why is the vacuum analogy assuming the current will travel through the heart? Although 100mA is sufficient to stop the heart, there are many survivors of higher currents (electric shock, lightning strike, etc.).

Mainstream science seems to agree that current doesn’t always travel through the heart, as it is not usually in the path of least resistance. According to the National Weather Service, “Only about 10% of people who are struck by lightning are killed, leaving 90% with various degrees of disability.” Does this not suggest that the body can conduct very high levels of electricity without “taking out” the heart in some cases? Don’t the survivors with various degrees of disability suggest the current can affect bodily systems (e.g. neurological) without “taking out” the heart in some cases?

In the case of lightning, it “is often conducted over the skin and does not enter the body. This phenomenon, called “flashover” is responsible for the relatively low mortality of lightning injuries.”
Andrew D. Mason, MD; R. Kemp Crockett, MD- “When Lighting Strikes . . .A Case Report and Review of the Literature”

Sidenote: The same source indicates a possible synergistic effect of external “body metal”:
“Objects on the skin surface such as sweat or jewelry may disrupt the flashover and cause an internal flow, producing greater injury. When flashover occurs the victim is subjected to a large electromagnetic field, which can disrupt neurosynaptic transmission”

Although body metal and EMF may not be proven to be related to the static electricity potential of humans and/or its “symptoms,” the potential synergistic relationship seems more probable based on principles of mainstream science than
“occular weaponry” (recognizing that neither hypothesis is proven).

Unless I’m missing something, this discussion is about the symptoms of excessive static electricity in the body, whether they exist, and if they do, “prove it” -or how could they be explained in mainstream science? A hypothesis in this regard, synergistic or otherwise, seems relevant to the topic.

Survivors of high voltage shock and/or lightning seem to be living examples of high voltage conductors. Do the survivors in these cases suggest that a human may be able to conduct rather than generate high charge in their bodies without “taking out” the heart? Among all the variables of high voltage shock lethality (including resistance), current pathway seems to be a vital factor in survival.

If the current pathway in these cases were to always go through the heart, survivors would likely only be cartoon characters. Mainstream science seems to agree that if the current passes through the chest or head there is an increased chance of death, but this is not always the case.

Many of the symptoms in this discussion have not been proven to exist; however, “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence” (Carl Sagon). While it’s possible that reported symptoms outside of mainstream science, such as many in this discussion, may actually be psychiatric symptoms, it’s also possible an explanation exists within the realm of mainstream science, which has yet to be identified. Psychiatry itself seems to base many conclusions solely on symptom reports and
hypotheses in the absence of scientific proof.

With regard to SLI (street light interference), I agree that it could be faulty equipment coupled with an observant human, but could it be a “Relativistic Doppler effect” within the realm of Quantum Field Theory? (causing a hps street to increase/decrease current and temporarily extinguish?). If not, please explain.

While I agree that it does not seem probable that humans themselves can generate the current required to disable major appliances, it does seem possible that as electrical conductors with a static charge that they may influence/be influenced by a magnetic field via induction and more so with antennas (body metal) in or on their bodies.?

Body metal can whisker and whiskers can carry high current (sources in previous post) and therefore are potential antennas in the synergistic hypothesis. “Even detached whiskers can drift (or be propelled by air handling systems) into connected areas and affect circuitry in a different physical location” (Stephanie Barr, “MITIGATING AND PREVENTING THE GROWTH OF TIN AND OTHER METAL WHISKERS ON CRITICAL HARDWARE”).

“Tin whiskers can be prevented by including >3% lead to the tin alloy. Metal whiskers are not a new phenomena, but new restrictions precluding the use of lead for electronics have made pure tin plating more prevalent.” (http://nepp.nasa.gov/WHISKER/reference/tech_papers/2007-barr-presentation-mitigating-whiskers.pdf)

Technology based on “whiskering” has been developed that converts the kinetic energy of walking into electrical energy. “Their results confirm a theory: zinc oxide nanowires will show a powerful piezoelectric effect, which is the production of electricity in response to mechanical pressure.” “Our goal is to one day put these into people’s shoes so you can generate electricity when you’re walking.” (published in the journal Science by Zhong Lin Wang).

“The growth mechanism of ZnO nanowires may be attributed to a vapor–solid (VS) whisker growth mechanism based on Sears’ law.” (Cai-Ling Xua, Dong-Huan Qina, Hua Lia, Yun Guoa, Tao Xub and Hu-Lin Li-”Low-temperature growth and optical properties of radial ZnO nanowires”).

The level of anions and cations in whiskering components was 2.3x higher than for good components which did not whisker after assembly. The main contaminants were chloride, fluoride, sodium and calcium. (Polina Snugovsky, Zohreh Bagheri, Marianne Romansky- “WHISKER GROWTH ON SAC SOLDER JOINTS: MICROSTRUCTURE ANALYSIS”)

“Wet bone [also] behaves as a piezoelectric material.”Fukada, E., and Yasuda, I., J. phys. Soc. Japan, 12, 1158–1162 (1957) “Because bone is piezoelectric and electrokinetic, it generates an electrical signal in response to the applied force. That electrical signal then effects bone formation.” (Bassett, “Effect of Force on Skeletal Tissues,” Physiological Basis of Rehabilitation Medicine, Downey and Darling eds., 1st ed., W. B. Saunders Co.)

Would you expect the level of static electricity in a human with body metal tested in isolation may differ from the same human walking in an electromagnetic field (recognizing other variables such as humidity, footwear, clothing, etc.)?

With respect to street light interference, how many people have reported such symptoms? At what level are reports counted instead of discounted? (it’s a serious question- I really don’t know). It would seem that ridiculing reported symptoms would offend the reporter, deter exploration and/or further reports, but no worries… again, none taken. :)

If I understand you correctly, you are saying that a human can not be a conductor of a high current and survive? How do you explain electrical workers who have received high voltage shocks and survived? Were those shocks really not high voltage as well? I appreciate the provided lightning information; however, there are still many unanswered questions in this regard, some of which are within previous posts.

If “the Doppler shift, as it is also known, applies to electromagnetic waves in all portions of the spectrum,” (Eleni Adrian, NCSA- The National Center for Supercomputing Applications) why would it not apply in this case?

Do the streetlight and the moving object emit electromagnetic radiation and together form an electromagnetic field? As the moving object approaches the streetlight wouldn’t the waves compress and the intervals between the waves diminish, which would translate into an increase in frequency? As the moving object recedes, wouldn’t the electromagnetic waves stretch?

Studies indicate that “when specific molecules were placed anywhere in the close vicinity of the path of a light beam (laser), their molecular information, as well as information on electrical & magnetic fields, is transmitted bi-directionally along the path of this light beam” (Omura Y, Losco M, Omura AK, Takeshige C, Hisamitsu T, Nakajima H, Soejima K, Yamamoto S, Ishikawa H, Kagoshima T, et al, “Bi-directional transmission of molecular information by photon or electron beams passing in the close vicinity of specific molecules, and its clinical and basic research applications”)

“Current evolution of wireless personal communications has necessitated a comprehensive understanding of electromagnetic (EM) interactions between handset antennas and the nearby human body. These human-antenna interactions influence the electromagnetic performance of the antenna by altering antenna input impedence, modifying the antenna radiation patterns and polarization state, absorbing antenna-delivered power and so on.” “An important factor in determining power absorption is the proximity of the “hot” current spots near the head and hand” (Kyōhei Fujimoto, James R. James, “Mobile antenna systems handbook”)

“In some case, poorly designed audio equipment, decaying dental amalgams, or copper plumbing with deteriorated joints has effectively demodulated high-power shortwave transmissions” (Leo Finkelstein, “Pocket Book of Technical Writing for Engineers and Scientists”)

Those who make those comments do not have the many degrees in electrical/electronic theory, such as myself, so it appears they try to glue together pieces of real science, with what they are eager to believe, when they do not even have the foundation to understand (it is like a student asking questions on how to multiply, when that student has not learned to add;) these fabrications becomes humorous to people, such as myself, who understand, and make their living in these sciences. You are the one asking the questions…not me.

I too suffer from this problem(?) That is how I came to this page. I turn off/reset electrical appliances. Recently I had a curling iron explode on me. My brain races out of control when an electrical storm is approaching. I have also had the street lights go out on me. Once I was knocked to the ground simply changing a light bulb. I now change light bulbs with rubber gloves on. This has happened everywhere I’ve lived/worked. In the incident of the light bulb I had the electrical wiring checked. It is a very scary and painful thing to live with. But at the same time pretty darn cool. My theory is that people (like myself) who think more and faster then the average person experience this due to them generating a stronger EMP then the average human brain. I don’t have the resources to test this but it does give me some comfort.

Jim,

What testing have you performed to verify your body is generating this static electricity, and your environment is not?

Andy

>For instance, what makes anyone on this thread
>so certain we are not dealing with something like spintronics?

Because we’re dealing with organic matter for the supposed generation of current (a person’s body). My understanding is that this is outside of the application of spintronics.

>So far I have heard only standard electrical theory.

The claimants seem to all state that standard electrical theory applies! That is, all their symptoms are testable, physical symptoms. We therefore respond with answers dealing with standard electrical theory.

> Especially considering that Schrodinger discovered that experimental
> results are affected by the expectations of the outcome for quantum manipulations.

I don’t think Schrodinger discovered this. Or rather, I don’t know if he did or not, but would like to know. Can you give a reference?

Regardless of that above answer, though, it doesn’t apply to this conversation, because of the next point:

>What testing have you science experts done to rule out spintronics, quantum,
>or God forbid, something as of yet identified by modern physics

I believe you’re misunderstanding how the scientific method works, and you’re also performing inefficient analysis.

For the first point, it’s not up to the science experts to rule out anything – It’s up to the claimants to show that their theory holds water.

Second, why look at extreme answers before ruling out “normal” ones?

Andy

Because we’re dealing with organic matter for the supposed generation of current (a person’s body). My understanding is that this is outside of the application of spintronics.
Spintronics deals with materials that display very different properties.  This is NOT limited to ferromagnetic materials commonly used in with regular magnetism.  Spintronics is something that exist in nature is various forms and we barely just discovered it and in less than 10 years will be using it for more advanced computers.  It is already used in hard drives.  To say that it is not applicable to the human body is like saying gravity is not applicable.  It is a physical phenomenon that cannot be ruled out.
I don’t think Schrodinger discovered this. Or rather, I don’t know if he did or not, but would like to know. Can you give a reference?
Maybe you should do your homework before rendering an opinion.  If you want to know about Schoedinger and quantum mechanics then search the internet or read a book.
you’re also performing inefficient analysis.

For what?  Rendering ideas of other possible explanations.  You are the one assuming it can ONLY be explained by electromagnetic theory as it exists, but you claim anyone who experiences fantastic things is a crackpot.  How did you get to be so obtuse?
Second, why look at extreme answers before ruling out “normal” ones?
It is obvious that other explanations are needed since nobody has been able to find a working theory that might reach a concensus of understanding for all participants.
 
Explain this event with any scientific theory:
I have on two separate occasions felt the Holy Spirit enter my body and give me a sense of peace and love by a blessing from a holy man.  It did not feel like electricity as I know what that feels like.  There is no explanable source of power by physical means.  In addition this same experience has been felt by thousands of participants at every event this holy man holds.
You will have to accept at some point in your life that some things cannot be explained based upon the existing knowledge we now have.  Especially when it comes to things that border supernatural.  It is no accident that I am now having this conversation with you now.
Ask yourself these questions:
Do you have trouble accepting any form of authority?
Did you rebel against your parents?
Are you suffering from a deep pain in your past either self inflicted or externally inflicted?
If you are honest with yourself and if you answer yes to those questions you are in need to examine what you believe because it isn’t working.  I invite you to really search your soul and see why you attack everyone who holds a different opinion from you.

If you’re just going to insult me, we’re done here. This is your only warning.
I apologize as I see all sorts of demeaning comments on this thread to those who do not have the background to defend themselves.  That may have colored my response and I unfairly singled you out. 

The word obtuse is a way to describe someone who does not allow additional information to enter their thinking or is one sided.  It is another word for ignorant to new ideas.  It could be an insult or it could be a signal that we need to broaden our horizons.  I will freely admit that there are many areas of my life that I am obtuse about.  I am fairly certain that you can easily see some of those areas based upon our conversation.  Basically we are flawed and sometimes we need someone to gently point it out where we can grow.
Back to subject: until we can absolutely rule out other physical phenomena out we have to consider it could be a previously unidentified effect or a combination of effects.  At this point I cannot completely explain machine disruptions with standard electrical theory.  There is no physical contact other than sharing a common ground plane.  The magnetism needed to cause the problems would be very high and stuff would be sticking to the person.  So I have to consider something that is at the outset is just “spooky” though in 20 years could be completely explained.  However, several observers saw the exact same thing and could not reproduce it using their own body.  Same environment, same conditions, etc.
So, go look up the other topics and lets see where it takes us.

Demolishun,

until we can absolutely rule out other physical phenomena out we have to consider it could be a previously unidentified effect or a combination of effects

If the effects you mention are physical (non-supernatural), I agree.

At this point I cannot completely explain machine disruptions with standard electrical theory.

Neither can I, in all cases. However, I’d argue it’s because we don’t have enough evidence. We simply need more information before we can come to a decision one way or another. My problem is that people are saying “we don’t know, therefore it must be supernatural”. I’m not ruling out the supernatural, but I think that moving to that conclusion, when so few facts are known, and so little testing has been done, is jumping the gun.

Back to your earlier questions:

Explain this event with any scientific theory:
I have on two separate occasions felt the Holy Spirit enter my body and give me a sense of peace and love by a blessing from a holy man.  It did not feel like electricity as I know what that feels like.  There is no explanable source of power by physical means.  In addition this same experience has been felt by thousands of participants at every event this holy man holds.

First, you can’t equate electricity to human emotion. They’re not the same thing. Second, the description you give can be described by emotional manipulation of a subject. And I don’t mean that in a bad way, either: I’ve felt similar emotions, though I don’t ascribe it to something outside of my own brain. When I get the right triggers, I behave a certain way. I love my daughter, and when I look at her sleeping – all cute and clearly NOT up to mischief :) – I get a wave of parental love. It’s peaceful, loving, and has also been felt by countless other parents. That’s close to your description above about the Holy Spirit. I felt that way because I love my daughter. I don’t have someone else telling me to love her, telling me I should feel a certain way. No one’s coming up to me and injecting “spiritual electricity” into my head. I love her because of our emotional connection, because I’m her father, because I’ve invested so much effort into her, and am thrilled to see her grow into a beautiful, intelligent person. This is special to me, of course, but these feelings floating in my brain aren’t unique. And they’re powerful. This is what drives the human species, and (to paint in very broad strokes) prevents us all from killing each other.

It is no accident that I am now having this conversation with you now.

What do you mean by this? Did someone ask you to comment here on this article?

Ask yourself these questions:
Do you have trouble accepting any form of authority?

“Any” form of authority? Yes. “Some” authority, I’m okay with. For me (and I assume most people), authority must be earned and respected. There are a lot of authorities in my life (from personal to public) that I respect and defer to.

Did you rebel against your parents?

Yes. That’s part of growing out of childhood and establishing independance as an adult.

Are you suffering from a deep pain in your past either self inflicted or externally inflicted?

Yes. Most anyone who’s lived any amount of time will have suffered. That’s how life works.

If you are honest with yourself and if you answer yes to those questions you are in need to examine what you believe because it isn’t working.

I don’t understand what those questions have to do with the original concept of not accepting a claim (human-created electricity generation) without proper evidence. I’m not being intentionally “obtuse”, I really just don’t see the connection. How do these questions relate to critical thought? Or is this a topic change to something else?

I invite you to really search your soul and see why you attack everyone who holds a different opinion from you.

That statement is incorrect. That’s not what I do.

For what I do, here’s my original purpose in creating Digital Bits Skeptic. The second paragraph applies closely to this discussion:

“Digital Bits Skeptic is about promoting critical thinking and skepticism. This site was created as a response to the frustratingly large amount of credulity and scientific ignorance in today’s society.

A skeptical outlook in life is healthy. At the very least, it prevents you from wasting your time or money. At the most, it can save lives. Much of what we see reported in today’s media is overly credulous. Impressive claims are often accepted as fact, without question. Those that are questioned are often not tested scientifically to prove the claim.”

Andy

First, you can’t equate electricity to human emotion. They’re not the same thing. Second, the description you give can be described by emotional manipulation of a subject.
That was not the case.  You have to actually experience what I experienced to understand.  It was a deviation from the original topic and is not intended to explain the phenomenon of electrical malfunction.  It was an attempt to get you to understand that there are phenomena that can’t be explained by a wholly scientific point of view.  Of course some people believe physical reality is all there is so cannot fully grasp things that cannot be explained physically.  With a proper perspective faith and science are partners is uncovering the truth of existence no matter how strange it ends up being.  Notice I did not say religion, as when science and religion meet it is often unyielding when obvious truths are discovered.  This leads to misunderstanding and a departure from a pure truth finding journey.  People become polarized and distant with no further growth.  Having said that, science needs to be careful to also be open to change when truths about existence are discovered which science is no longer an expert.  Two way street.  There was a scientist that did a study about theories and he found that it takes 30 years for new theories to take hold.  You have to wait for the old scientists to die before advances can be “accepted” by the experts. 

So, this is a long winded offer to be open and understand that a non-scientific point of view is not without merit.  Besides, breakthroughs are usually discovered when someone from another field comes in and does not know that something is impossible when everyone in that field says it is.
For instance, the natural gas liquefaction experts did not believe a small scale liquefaction plant could be built.  The experts had tried for years some 40 – 5o years ago to build one and could not make it work.  The technical barriers were too great and costly.  Consequently natural gas liquefaction plants take acres to build.  That was until a group of people I am lucky to associate with theorized, designed, and built a small scale liquefaction plant that fits on the bed of a semi truck trailer.  It works, and according to experts, could not be built.  It was faith in self that made it possible and there were plenty of skeptics.  Lesson: you don’t know what you don’t know.  Most breakthroughs depend on some form of faith.
Skepticism has its place, but if all you do is maintain existing thinking, then no progress will take place.  A great example where it has harmed us is Ponz and Fleischman (not sure on spelling).  I examined their theory, it is sound.  The experts in high energy physics however, did not extend them the same courtesy and made public statements designed to discredit them.  Why would they do that?  Over a billion dollars in threatened research dollars is why.  Where is Ponz and Fleischman?  They have a 50K square foot research facility in France.
If you are not an expert in spiritual things then leave it be.  That way you will not alienate a large portion of those who would take part in this fascinating discussion.  Also, back to the idea that I was manipulated, I don’ think it was the case.  I have been to many hypnotist shows and I have never been able to be hypnotised.  There is something in my brain that just won’t allow it, at least in a public setting like that.  Not sure if a therapist could, that would be an interesting experiment!
Much of what we see reported in today’s media is overly credulous.

I would change that statement to: Most of what we see reported in today’s media is wholly fabricated and a perversion of the truth whether it be scientific or a supposed unbiased view of events.  Lets not go down that line of discussion.  That would be productive. :)  To much emotion in me on that one.
To the media’s defense on reporting, I would ask, do we really want to subject everyone to testing their claims as we already know it takes 30 years for new theories to be accepted?  This would allow experts to effectively monopolize innovation and stop progress.  Hmmm, sounds like what we get mad at oil companies for doing…  Time and is the ultimate skeptic and is cruel in judgment to charlatans and deceivers. 

What’s wrong with being able to back up what you say?
I don’t want the media telling me what is true and is not true.  I would rather use my judgement and experience to determine if something will do what it says.  We are scammed because we do not think as a culture.  There are already a plethora of rules that do make companies back up what they say.  The FDA being a huge one. 

I deal with this problem every day as I directly deal with a product that is considered a food product.  You have to walk a fine line when saying certain things or you walk into the realm of making drug claims.  Most of the issue deals with educating people about their health.  Because people are ignorant of their own health and have never taken the time to learn they fall for every fad diet.  They never develop self discipline and think nothing works after a while. 

A good example is science is learning that most disease are prevented by proper nutrition.  Practically nobody has proper nutrition.  Our product provides the proper nutrition.  It does NOT cure diseases even though proper nutrition prevents most diseases.  Messy isn’t it?  Otherwise you are making a drug claim…
Protection is good in most cases, but it can make explaining a product difficult.

I too have  this very cool power. Ever since I was little I have been able to shoot out electricity out of my hands. Some times I would be walking by an object and before I even get a foot close to it I would shoot out a bolt of electricity. The first time I actually did this I ended up getting very weak, as if someone drained me of my energy. I recently been working on suppressing the energy and then releasing it out. If possible I want to learn how to shoot it out across a room.

Rudy,

When you are ready, you will know; and remember, most will not except you, so you must keep it a secret.