Comments on: A shocking lesson in human nature http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/ Skepticism. Critical thinking. Podcast. Community. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:46:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Hoomom http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-5032 Hoomom Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:02:59 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-5032 When people run for cover when you enter a room, you begin to think it might not just be in your head. When people run for cover when you enter a room, you begin to think it might not just be in your head.

]]> By: TechSkeptic http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-5031 TechSkeptic Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:53:15 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-5031 Actually that would be a perfectly good test....for the people who claim to have higher than normal static discharge. If you did that, do you think there would be any detectable difference between one person and the next, or do you think we are talking about a simple matter of perception? Actually that would be a perfectly good test….for the people who claim to have higher than normal static discharge. If you did that, do you think there would be any detectable difference between one person and the next, or do you think we are talking about a simple matter of perception?

]]> By: Hoomom http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-5030 Hoomom Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:52:07 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-5030 I only seem to have trouble when it is really dry and cold, which rarely happens here in Portland.  It is dry here now, that's why I finally googled a search to see if anybody else suffers from this.  It's not nearly as serious as other people who have commented.  But when I stick a key in my car door, a visible blue spark flashes.  If I touch the refrigerator, I get a painful static shock.  My children run away from me during this time, because I always shock them.  My husband won't kiss me.  I wear regular New Balance shoes, just like my kids do, and I do not shuffle my feet.  My husband shuffles his feet in wool shocks and HE does not shock everybody!  It is certainly not so serious I would see a doctor, or an electrician ( our house is new, exactly like all the others here, and nobody else has this problem).  I'm simply adding my two bits here. I do not see how it could be so far fetched that some people, for whatever perfectly rational scientific reason which does not include how they dress or whether or not they are angry, simply shock and get shocked more than others.  I think you need to be open to the possibility that you can put a thousand people in the same dry environment, wearing the same clothes and whatever, and while all may occasionally give a zap, one just might be a super-shock person. I only seem to have trouble when it is really dry and cold, which rarely happens here in Portland.  It is dry here now, that’s why I finally googled a search to see if anybody else suffers from this.  It’s not nearly as serious as other people who have commented.  But when I stick a key in my car door, a visible blue spark flashes.  If I touch the refrigerator, I get a painful static shock.  My children run away from me during this time, because I always shock them.  My husband won’t kiss me.  I wear regular New Balance shoes, just like my kids do, and I do not shuffle my feet.  My husband shuffles his feet in wool shocks and HE does not shock everybody!  It is certainly not so serious I would see a doctor, or an electrician ( our house is new, exactly like all the others here, and nobody else has this problem).  I’m simply adding my two bits here.
I do not see how it could be so far fetched that some people, for whatever perfectly rational scientific reason which does not include how they dress or whether or not they are angry, simply shock and get shocked more than others.  I think you need to be open to the possibility that you can put a thousand people in the same dry environment, wearing the same clothes and whatever, and while all may occasionally give a zap, one just might be a super-shock person.

]]> By: TheThomas http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-2234 TheThomas Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:29:07 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-2234 I had a door at my workplace that I opened with my elbow because the pain of the shock wasn't noticeable on my elbow. I thought the too-reliable shocks were because the air was dry and I constantly moved, but now I know it's my own innate statoelectric [sic] aura. Thx for the info. Streetlights go off around me too, and no it's not confirmation bias... (<--sarcasm) On a serious note, people do have different levels of skin conductivity; psychopaths are notorious for low skin conductivity. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2242355 Particular people could conduct unusually high levels of electricity. I had a door at my workplace that I opened with my elbow because the pain of the shock wasn’t noticeable on my elbow. I thought the too-reliable shocks were because the air was dry and I constantly moved, but now I know it’s my own innate statoelectric [sic] aura. Thx for the info.

Streetlights go off around me too, and no it’s not confirmation bias… (<–sarcasm)

On a serious note, people do have different levels of skin conductivity; psychopaths are notorious for low skin conductivity.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2242355

Particular people could conduct unusually high levels of electricity.

]]> By: cat http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-2227 cat Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:47:38 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-2227 be entertained be entertained

]]> By: TechSkeptic http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-2169 TechSkeptic Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:08:56 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-2169 You must have a different experience with electricians than I have. They know which connector to buy for 20 amp service. But Ohm's law? Understanding how static discharge works? I don't think so. A better test might be that if they don't discharge something after having a pompous physicist berate them for their stupid idea, then I think we can safely say that the power doesn't work? No? I think you are dead on that they haven't bothered to be critical of their own biases and cherry picking. If I did that I would say I can cause rain when I step outside. You must have a different experience with electricians than I have. They know which connector to buy for 20 amp service. But Ohm’s law? Understanding how static discharge works? I don’t think so.

A better test might be that if they don’t discharge something after having a pompous physicist berate them for their stupid idea, then I think we can safely say that the power doesn’t work? No?

I think you are dead on that they haven’t bothered to be critical of their own biases and cherry picking.

If I did that I would say I can cause rain when I step outside.

]]> By: DB Skeptic http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-2149 DB Skeptic Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:29:29 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-2149 Joel, You are correct. Thanks for catching that. Andy Joel,

You are correct. Thanks for catching that.

Andy

]]> By: Joel wheeler http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-2146 Joel wheeler Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:45:42 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-2146 @DB: I'm pretty sure you meant "for all intents and purposes." @DB: I’m pretty sure you meant “for all intents and purposes.”

]]> By: Jen Henson http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-2131 Jen Henson Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:08:44 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-2131 I agree with both of you. Anything is possible, but not everything is probable. I agree with both of you. Anything is possible, but not everything is probable.

]]> By: Jen Henson http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-2130 Jen Henson Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:07:32 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-2130 People want to feel special. That's all the human psychology it takes to figure that out. We are all different. However, we all still live under the laws of physics. Nice article. People want to feel special. That’s all the human psychology it takes to figure that out.

We are all different. However, we all still live under the laws of physics. Nice article.

]]> By: DB Skeptic http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-2127 DB Skeptic Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:17:26 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-2127 Shelly, I disagree with those ads. In the real world we can say, "the chances of <i>X</i> being true are such low probability - with explanations <i>Y</i> and <i>Z</i> being much more probable - that for all intensive purposes <i>X</i> is impossible." Andy Shelly,

I disagree with those ads. In the real world we can say, “the chances of X being true are such low probability – with explanations Y and Z being much more probable – that for all intensive purposes X is impossible.”

Andy

]]> By: shelly http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/03/22/a-shocking-lesson-in-human-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-2122 shelly Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:20:02 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=894#comment-2122 anything maybe true. who knows. nothing is impossible as ads says. anything maybe true. who knows. nothing is impossible as ads says.

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