Table Of ContentRole-Playing Detectives | Beware the Child Rescuers | Paranormal Wild West | Venezuela’s 'COVID Drops’ | Confusing Terms
Vol. 45 No. 4 | July/August 2021
Environmentalism
and the Fringe
David Mountain
Ten Years of Fukushima Disinformation
$5.99 CAN/US Distrust of Science
Top Ten Pro-Science Characters
Lynn Margulis and Our Symbiotic Cells
Why Earth Has to Be Old
Teens, Drugs, and Malarkey
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry | www.skepticalinquirer.org
Robyn E. Blumner,* President and CEO Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow Benjamin Radford, Research Fellow
Barry Karr,* Executive Director Massimo Polidoro, Research Fellow Richard Wiseman, Research Fellow
Fellows
James E. Alcock*, psychologist, York Univ., Toronto Krista Federspiel, medical journalist, author, Jere Lipps, Museum of Paleontology, Univ. of CA, County
Marcia Angell MD, former editor-in-chief, folklorist Berkeley Benjamin Radford, investigator; research fellow,
New England Journal of Medicine Kevin Folta, molecular biologist. Professor and Elizabeth Loftus, professor of psychology, Univ. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
Kimball Atwood IV MD, physician, author, Newton, chairman of the Horticultural Sciences Department of CA, Irvine Amardeo Sarma*, chairman, GWUP, Germany
MA at the University of Florida William M. London, professor of public health, Richard Saunders, Life Member of Australian
Banachek, professional magician/mentalist magic Barbara Forrest, professor of philosophy, California State University, Los Angeles Skeptics; educator; investigator; podcaster;
consultant/producer SE Louisiana Univ. Daniel Loxton, writer, artist, editor, Skeptic Sydney, Australia
Stephen Barrett MD, psychiatrist, author, consumer Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer, U. of San Francisco magazine Joe Schwarcz, director, McGill Office for Science
advocate, Pittsboro, NC Kendrick Frazier*, science writer, editor, SKEPTICAL Michael E. Mann, distinguished Professor of and Society
Robert Bartholomew, sociologist and investigative INQUIRER Atmospheric Sciences and director of the Earth Eugenie C. Scott*, physical anthropologist, former
journalist, Botany College in Auckland, Christopher C. French, professor, department of Systems Sciences Center at the Pennsylvania State executive director (retired), National Center for
New Zealand. psychology, and head of the Anomalistic Psychology University Science Education
Jann Johnson Bellamy, attorney, writer for Science- Research Unit, Goldsmiths College, Univ. of London David Marks, psychologist, City Univ., London Seth Shostak, senior astronomer, SETI Institute,
Based Medicine blog, Tallahassee, FL Julia Galef, writer, podcaster, public speaker Mario Mendez-Acosta, journalist and science Mountain View, CA
Kenny Biddle, investigator, writer, podcaster, public Luigi Garlaschelli, chemist, Università di Pavia writer, Mexico City Simon Singh, science writer; broadcaster; UK
speaker (Italy), research fellow of CICAP, the Italian skeptics Kenneth R. Miller, professor of biology, Brown Univ. Dick Smith, film producer, publisher, Terrey Hills,
Irving Biederman, psychologist, Univ. of Southern group David Morrison, space scientist, NASA Ames N.S.W., Australia
CA Maryanne Garry, professor, School of Psychology, Research Center Keith E. Stanovich, cognitive psychologist;
Sandra Blakeslee, science writer; author; New York Victoria Univ. of Wellington, New Zealand Richard A. Muller, professor of physics, Univ. of professor of human development and applied
Times science correspondent Susan Gerbic, founder and leader of the Guerrilla CA, Berkeley psychology, Univ. of Toronto
Susan Blackmore, visiting lecturer, Univ. of the West Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW) project Joe Nickell, senior research fellow, CSI Karen Stollznow, linguist; skeptical investigator;
of England, Bristol Thomas Gilovich, psychologist, Cornell Univ. Jan Willem Nienhuys, mathematician, Waalre, The writer; podcaster
Mark Boslough, physicist, Sandia National David H. Gorski, cancer surgeon and researcher at Netherlands Jill Cornell Tarter, astronomer, SETI Institute,
Laboratories (retired), Albuquerque, New Mexico Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and chief Lee Nisbet, philosopher, Medaille College Mountain View, CA
Henri Broch, physicist, Univ. of Nice, France of breast surgery section, Wayne State University Matthew C. Nisbet, professor of communication, Carol Tavris, psychologist and author, Los Angeles,
Jan Harold Brunvand, folklorist, professor School of Medicine public policy, and public affairs, Northeastern CA
emeritus of English, Univ. of Utah Wendy M. Grossman, writer; founder and first University, Boston David E. Thomas, physicist and mathematician,
Sean B. Carroll, molecular geneticist, vice editor, The Skeptic magazine (UK) Steven Novella MD, assistant professor of Socorro, NM
president for science education, Howard Hughes Susan Haack, Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts and neurology, Yale Univ. School of Medicine Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and director,
Medical Institute, Madison, WI Sciences, professor of philosophy and professor of Bill Nye, science educator and television host, Hayden Planetarium, New York City
Thomas R. Casten, energy expert; founder and Law, Univ. of Miami Nye Labs James Underdown, writer, investigator, founder
chair, Recycled Energy Development, Westmont, IL Harriet Hall MD, family physician, investigator, James E. Oberg, science writer of Center for Inquiry Investigations Group (CFIIG),
Timothy Caulfield, professor of health law and Puyallup, WA Paul Offit, physician, author, researcher, professor, Los Angeles
policy, University of Alberta, Canada David J. Helfand, professor of astronomy, Columbia Univ. of Pennsylvania Joseph Uscinski, political scientist, University
K.C. Cole, science writer, author, professor, Univ. Univ. Naomi Oreskes, geologist, science historian, of Miami
of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Terence M. Hines, prof. of psychology, Pace Univ., professor, Harvard University Bertha Vazquez, science teacher, director of the
Journalism Pleasantville, NY Loren Pankratz, psychologist, Oregon Health Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES)
John Cook, Center for Climate Change Douglas R. Hofstadter, professor of human Sciences Univ. Indre Viskontas, cognitive neuroscientist, tv and
Communication, George Mason University, Virginia understanding and cognitive science, Indiana Univ. Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of podcast host, and opera singer, San Francisco, CA
Frederick Crews, literary and cultural critic, Gerald Holton, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics Astronomy and director of the Hopkins Observatory, Marilyn vos Savant, Parade magazine contributing
professor emeritus of English, Univ. of CA, Berkeley and professor of history of science, Harvard Univ. Williams College editor
Richard Dawkins, zoologist, Oxford Univ. Deborah Hyde, folklorist, cultural anthropologist, Natalia Pasternak, microbiologist, writer, president, Stuart Vyse*, psychologist, professor, author
Geoffrey Dean, technical editor, Perth, Australia and former editor in chief of the UK-based Instituto Questão de Ciência, São Paulo, Brazil Steven Weinberg, professor of physics and
Cornelis de Jager, professor of astrophysics, Univ. magazine The Skeptic John Paulos, mathematician, Temple Univ. astronomy, Univ. of Texas at Austin; Nobel laureate
of Utrecht, the Netherlands Ray Hyman*, psychologist, Univ. of Oregon Clifford A. Pickover, scientist, author, editor, IBM Mick West, writer, podcaster, investigator, debunker,
Daniel C. Dennett, Univ. professor and Austin B. Stuart D. Jordan, NASA astrophysicist emeritus, T.J. Watson Research Center Folsom, CA
Fletcher Professor of Philosophy, director of Center science advisor to Center for Inquiry Office of Public Massimo Pigliucci, professor of philosophy, City E.O. Wilson, Univ. professor emeritus, organismic
for Cognitive Studies at Tufts Univ. Policy, Washington, D.C. Univ. of New York–Lehman College and evolutionary biology, Harvard Univ.
Ann Druyan, writer and producer; CEO, Cosmos Barry Karr, executive director, Committee for Steven Pinker, cognitive scientist, Harvard Univ. Richard Wiseman, psychologist, Univ. of
Studios, Ithaca, NY Skeptical Inquiry, Amherst, New York Massimo Polidoro, science writer, author, executive Hertfordshire, England
Sanal Edamaruku, president, Indian Rationalist Edwin C. Krupp, astronomer, director, Griffith director of CICAP, Italy Benjamin Wolozin, professor, department of
Association and Rationalist International Observatory, Los Angeles, CA James L Powell, geochemist, author, executive pharmacology, Boston Univ. School of Medicine
Edzard Ernst, professor, Complementary Medicine, Lawrence Kusche, science writer director, National Physical Science Consortium
Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter Stephan Lewandowsky, psychologist, researcher, Anthony R. Pratkanis, professor of psychology,
and Plymouth, Exeter, UK Univ. of Bristol, United Kingdom Univ. of California, Santa Cruz
Kenneth Feder, professor of anthropology, Central Lin Zixin, former editor, Science and Technology Donald R. Prothero, paleontologist, geologist, *Member, CSI Executive Council
Connecticut State Univ. Daily (China) author, National History Museum of Los Angeles (Affiliations given for identification only.)
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Skep ti cal In quir er
July/August 2021 | Volume 45 No. 4
FEATURES COLUMNS
29 FROM THE EDITOR
Environmental Excesses,
Environmentalism and the Fringe UFO Enthusiasms............................................4
It’s time for environmentalism to renounce its NEWS AND COM MENT
long dalliance with the fringe and approach the
Aspen Global Congress on Scientific
climate crisis with a firm footing in rational ism and
scientific thinking. Thinking and Action Brings Science
and Reason to the Fore / Social Media
DAVID MOUNTAIN Abduction Rumors Go Viral / New
Anti–Facilitated Communication Website
34 Launched / Lunacy Again? Two Flawed
23 Papers on Lunar Effects / American
Ten Years of Fukushima Philosophical Society Honors Memory
Disinformation Expert Loftus / Former New Scientist Editor
Bernard Dixon Dies ........................................5
Many still erroneously believe that those who fell
victim to the giant Tōhoku earthquake—the largest INVESTIGATIVE FILES
ever to hit Japan—and subsequent devastating
Role-Playing Detectives and the
tsunami were victims of a ‘nuclear disaster.’ Here
Paranormal
are some facts vs. the myths.
JOE NICKELL .....................................................14
AMARDEO SARMA AND
ANNA VERONIKA WENDLAND REALITY IS THE BEST MEDICINE
Illness, Healing, and Other Terms That
Can Be Confusing
41 HARRIET HALL ...................................................19
' 30
Don’t Trust That Scientist!' BEHAVIOR & BELIEF
Beware the Child Rescuers
Research reveals there are many ad hominem STUART VYSE .....................................................22
attacks on websites covering science issues. The
websites con sistent with mainstream science em- SKEPTICAL INQUIREE
ploy the attacks differently from those that are not.
The Paranormal Wild West
RALPH BARNES AND BENJAMIN RADFORD .........................................26
SAMUEL DRAZNIN-NAGY
LET TERS TO THE ED I TOR...........................65
46
REVIEWS
Top Ten Pro-Science
Superstitionology for People in a
Fictional Characters
Hurry
BRIAN DUNNING WILLIAM M. LONDON.......................................57
34
Superstition: A Very Short Introduction
49 by Stuart Vyse
Creationist Funhouse, Episode 7:
Alleged Mysteries Revisited
Lynn Margulis and the Great MANFRED CUNTZ...........................................59
Convergence That Didn’t Happen
Big—If True: Adventures in Oddity
by Benjamin Radford
STANLEY RICE
52 Government without Facts
PETER HUSTON..............................................60
Teens These Days: Sex, Drugs, and
A Lot of People Are Saying: The New
Malarkey
Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy
by Russell Muirhead
STEPHEN HUPP
and Nancy L. Rosenblum
41
55
Unraveling Unspoken
A Christian Geologist Explains BENJAMIN RADFORD............................................62
SPECIAL REPORT Unspoken
Why the Earth Cannot Be 6,000
Years Old 12 directed by Julia Ngeow, Geneva Peschka,
and Emma Zurcher-Long
LORENCE G. COLLINS The ‘Miraculous Drops of José
Gregorio Hernández’ in Venezuela New and Notable Books
KENDRICK FRAZIER AND BENJAMIN RADFORD........64
GABRIEL ANDRADE
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
“... promotes scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use
of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims.”
[ FROM THE EDITOR Skep ti cal Inq uir er™
THE MAGA ZINE FOR SCI ENCE AND REA SON
Environmental Excesses, UFO Enthusiasms ED I TOR Kend rick Fra zi er
DEPUTY ED I TOR Ben ja min Rad ford
W
MAN A GING ED I TOR Julia Lavarnway
e all want to protect our planet: our land, water, air—all life ASSISTANT EDITOR Nicole Scott
itself. Environmentalists bring passion and dedication to that cause, to ART DIRECTOR Alexander Nicaise
enormous positive effect. But there is another aspect. As David Mountain WEBMASTER Marc Kreidler
writes in our cover article, “Environmentalism has been shaped by a range of fringe PUB LISH ER’S REP RE SENT A TIVE Bar ry Karr
beliefs that have nurtured a tradition of unscientific thinking about the natural ED I TO RI AL BOARD James E. Alc ock, Robyn E. Blumner,
Harriet Hall, Ray Hy man, Barry Karr, Elizabeth Loftus,
world.” He writes from a clearly sympathetic viewpoint about the causes while also Joe Nickell, Am ar deo Sar ma, Eugenie C. Scott, David E.
Thomas, Leonard Tramiel, Stuart Vyse
urging environmentalism to renounce “its long dalliance with the fringe.”
CON TRIB UT ING ED I TORS Harriet Hall, David Morrison, Joe
In a related article, “Ten Years of Fukushima Disinformation,” Amardeo Sarma Nickell, Matthew C. Nisbet, Massimo Polidoro, David E.
Thomas, Stuart Vyse, Mick West, Richa rd Wis e man
and Anna Veronika Wendland report on the many misperceptions about the
events ten years ago when the fourth largest earthquake in recorded history struck Published in association with
the coast of Japan. The resulting tsunami wreaked the havoc we all watched with
horror on television. That in turn triggered the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear
power plant. Most of the deaths and destruction were due to the earthquake and CHAIR Edward Tabash
tsunami, but anti-nuclear activists have been successful in painting it all as a “nu- PRESIDENT AND CEO Robyn E. Blumner
clear disaster.” That has caused grave consequences: to mention just one, Germany CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Barry Karr
COR PO RATE COUN SEL Nicholas J. Little,
announced days later it would shut down its entire nuclear power program. The
Brenton Ver Ploeg
authors examine a variety of myths about the three-part disaster and contrast them SUBSCRIPTION DATA MANAGER Jacalyn Mohr
with the facts. COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Paul Fidalgo
DI RECT OR OF LI BRAR IES Tim o thy S. Binga
* * *
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RICHARD DAWKINS FOUNDATION
Are we returning to normalcy? The worst of the pandemic (at least in the West) FOR REASON & SCIENCE Robyn E. Blumner
seems over. We are being vaccinated at high rates. The political chaos in the United DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Connie Skingel
States has ebbed. So now we can all get back to our normal concerns, right? Main-
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
stream media can concentrate on other serious issues they’ve been neglecting. Like Cameron Popp
what? UFOs, of course. Yes, UFOs are back in the news, now relabeled UAPs DIRECTOR, DIGITAL PRODUCT AND STRATEGY
Marc Kreidler
(unidentified aerial phenomena). The New Yorker—our favorite quality magazine
SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR
of the establishment—carried a fifteen-page (!) article in its May 10 issue titled Cody Hashman
DIRECTOR, TEACHER INSTITUTE
“The U.F.O. Papers.” It was—how should we say it?—highly imperfect. Some of
FOR EVOLUTIONARY SCIENCE
our scientist colleagues called it “awful.” The article was clearly stimulated by a Bertha Vazquez
2017 New York Times article; it covered the same ground and interviewed the same BOARD OF DIRECTORS Edward Tabash (chair), Vinod
Bhardwaj, David Cowan, Richard Dawkins, Brian Engler,
sources. Both were short on skepticism and naive about the human dynamics of Kendrick Frazier, Barry A. Kosmin, Bill Maxwell, Y. Sherry
Sheng, Julia Sweeney, J. Anderson Thomson Jr., Leonard
UFO beliefs. The New Yorker article in turn stimulated widespread media cov- Tramiel. Honorary: Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, Susan
Jacoby
erage in mid-May, including a CBS 60 Minutes report that was better than most
(because it didn’t trot out the usual UFO-promoter people). The five Navy videos STAFF Melissa Braun, Matthew Cravatta, Roe Giambrone,
Aaron Green, Melissa Myers, Paul Paulin, Michael Powell,
in these stories may seem puzzling, but our colleague Mick West has provided Vance Vigrass, Shaun White
plausible earthly explanations for all of them. Coverage in next issue.
Science-minded skeptics hardly need be reminded of the notorious history of
these enthusiasms. Here are a few points I wish the media would remember: One,
stop conflating sightings of something in the sky with extraterrestrials. A UFO (or
UAP) does not mean “aliens.” That’s a leap of illogic of galactic proportions. Two,
there are always going to be some unresolved sightings. Three, there are always
going to be people among the sprawling defense agencies who have to take them
seriously … and others there and in politics who tend to be UFO believers and
promoters. In the meantime, by sometime in June we are promised an official new
government report on the topic. I’m sure that will totally resolve the issue once and
for all. And if you believe that …
Original image provided by chaiyapruek on Adobe
—Kendrick Frazier
Stock. Edited by Alexander Nicaise for cover.
CFI Mission: The Center for Inquiry strives to foster a secular society based on reason, science, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values.
Our Vision: A world where people value evidence and critical thinking, where superstition and prejudice subside, and where science and compassion guide public policy.
Our Values: Integrity, Courage, Innovation, Empathy, Learning, and Wonder.
4 Volume 45 Issue 4 | Skeptical Inquirer
[ NEWS AND COMMENT
Aspen Global Congress on Scientific Thinking and Action Brings Science and Reason
to the Fore
Stuart Vyse
The Aspen Institute Science & Society through Communication; and Food Columbia University, highlighted the
Program (based in New York City) Biotechnology for a Sustainable Future. public’s difficulty understanding uncer-
and the Instituto Questão de Ciência Each of these sessions was conducted as tainty and suggested that scientists must
(Question of Science Institute, based a panel of five experts in conversation do a better job of communicating the
in São Paulo, Brazil) cosponsored the with each other. nature and meaning of uncertainty.
first Global Congress on Scientific Here are a few highlights from the Session III: Alternative Medicine:
Thinking and Action March 17–20, sessions: Narendra Nayak, president of the Fed-
2021. It was originally planned to take Session I: Science Denialism: Philoso- eration of Indian Rationalist Associ-
place in Rome but was conducted over pher Lee McIntyre (Boston University) ations, talked about the wide use of
Zoom due to the pandemic. One hun- discussed his conversations with flat- alternative medicines, including home-
dred scientists, scholars, journalists, and earth believers, the basis of his forth- opathy, in India and said that various
communicators from fifty-five coun- coming book How to Talk to a Science alternative treatments are often claimed
tries gathered to discuss some of the Denier. He stressed the importance of to be Indian in origin. In addition, the
most challenging science policy issues face-to-face conversations and gaining relatively low reported death rate from
facing humanity today. the trust of the people you are trying to COVID-19 in India—which was true
The six primary sessions, which were convince. at the time of the conference but much
recorded and are available on the Aspen Session II: Science Literacy and Pop- less so as the magazine goes to press—
Institute’s YouTube channel, were on ularization: Professor Masataka Wata- was in part falsely attributed to the use
topics relevant to skeptical inquiry: nabe (Tohoku University) described of homeopathic medicines as preventa-
Overcoming Science Denialism; Sci- how manga (Japanese comics and tive. When asked what should be done
ence Literacy and Popularization: Un- graphic novels) are increasingly being about the use of alternative medicines
derstanding How Science Works; Risks used in science education due to their in India, he said flatly: “They should be
and Dangers of Alternative Medicine; wide appeal with young people in Japan. banned.”
Dousing the Fires of Climate Change In addition, Stuart Firestein, chair of the Edzard Ernst, widely considered the
Denial; Defeating Vaccine Hesitancy Department of Biological Sciences at foremost expert on alternative medi-
Skeptical Inquirer | July/August 2021 5
The organizers of the first Global Congress on Scientific Thinking and Action: Aaron Mertz, director, Science and Society Program, The Aspen Institute, and Natália Pasternak, founder and director
of the Question of Science Institute.
cine, described how many universities health messages are more often seen as doing so, raise awareness to the fact that
are developing programs in “integrative coming from in-country rather than we all face common global issues that
medicine,” in part because of large do- from abroad. Vaccines coming from need to be communicated to different
nations that are available to fund them. abroad are often distrusted, so commu- publics, cultures, and backgrounds,” said
Asked what he thought were the biggest nity grounding of health policies is very co-organizer Natalia Pasternak. “I hope
problem areas for alternative medicine important. that in this first event, we learned from
worldwide, he named homeopathy and Session VI: Food Biotechnology: Ken- one another’s challenges and perspec-
chiropractic medicine. ya-based Margaret Karembu, director tives.”
Session IV: Climate Change Denial: of the AfriCenter, International Ser- Plans are underway to have similar
John Cook of Monash University (who vice for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech conferences on an annual or biannual
spoke at Skeptical Inquirer Presents on Applications, indicated seven countries, basis, as well as more frequent small
April 1) discussed his research showing including Kenya, have approved use of group meetings. In addition, Aaron
that an effective way to confront mis- crops with genetically modified organ- Mertz (director, Science and Society
information about climate change is to isms (GMOs). Nigeria has approved Program, The Aspen Institute) and
identify the logical fallacies used to sup- the use of an insect-resistant cowpea. Pasternak indicated that a report was in
port it—for example, pointing out that Echoing the comments by Ndiaye in progress, outlining the major findings
pitting the economy against the envi- the previous session, she said that the and goals for the future.
ronment represents a false dichotomy. voices of African scientists have been It is clear the organizers are not in-
Lina Yassin, a climate activist in overshadowed by those of human rights terested in a merely academic enterprise.
Sudan, discussed the difficulties of activists opposed to GMOs. She urged Their hopes for the Aspen Institute’s
working with an authoritarian govern- that it is important not to over-claim Global Congress for Scientific Think-
ment that is focused only on economic what GMOs can do and choose the ing and Action place great emphasis on
issues. She has devoted much of her ef- right communication platform. In Af- the activism part of their mission. “A key
forts to educating and motivating young rica, WhatsApp is a particularly valu- next step will be to find ways for us to
people, but at the moment, COVID-19 able social media tool. have a global voice, through the future
is an overshadowing issue in Sudan. After each session presentation, the issuing of reports or petitions, when we
She also stressed the need to use stories speakers shuffled off into individual see science mishandled transnationally,”
and concrete examples to communicate Zoom rooms with randomly assembled Mertz said. It seems clear that Mertz
the importance of climate change; for groups of the larger Congress partici- and Pasternak have launched an ambi-
example, creating a narrative about a pants. During this time, participants, tious project that has the potential to be
family and flood is likely to be a more including me, discussed some of the is- a leader in the effort to promote science
effective strategy than discussing more sues raised in presentations. The format and reason around the globe.
abstract arguments. made it possible for people from all over
Session V: Vaccine Hesitancy: Fara the world to meet and discuss important
Ndiaye, deputy executive director of science policy issues in a friendly envi-
Speak Up Africa, based in Dakar, Sen- ronment. Stuart Vyse is a contributing editor and
egal, emphasized the need for commu- The organizers of the event were columnist for Skeptical Inquirer and
nity ownership of health messaging. She quite pleased with the outcome. “Our author of Believing in Magic: The Psychol-
suggested that African scientists should main goal for this first event was to ogy of Superstition, which won the William
be given greater opportunities to speak bring scientists, science advocates, and James Book Award of the American Psy-
directly to the public so that public science communicators together, and in chological Association. He is a CSI fellow.
6 Volume 45 Issue 4 | Skeptical Inquirer
[ NEWS AND COMMENT
Social Media Abduction Rumors Go Viral
B R
In April 2021, dozens of viral videos
circulated on the social media platform
TikTok, shared by young women offer-
ing dire warnings about abductions
at Target stores. The videos, typically
hashtagged with phrases such as #sex-
traffickingawareness, were seen tens of
millions of times.
“If you’re seeing this—stop scrolling,
especially if you’re a female!” one video
began. The woman said that she and her
female friends were shopping at Target
when a man approached them asking
if they were models. They got suspi-
cious and brushed him off, but he kept
watching them and “hid” in the onsite
Starbucks café, at which point she asked
store security to safely escort them to
their cars. The story ends with a warn-
ing, “So ladies, please be careful. It hap-
pens way more often than you think.”
Another woman seemed nearly glee-
ful as she described “Almost potentially
being sex trafficked at Target!” and
states very matter of factly that “Ap-
parently Target is now a sex trafficking
hub.” She described an older woman
and her daughter who approached her
in the store, then started talking to each
other (presumably about her), and then
followed her around the store and then
out to her car.
A third related an incident that she
claimed had happened five years ear-
lier, in which she was approached by a
woman who gave her a business card
she felt was suspicious and suggested
Rolling Stone, E.J. Dickson quotes the no reason to think the stories shared on
they meet for coffee. Becoming alarmed,
executive director of an organization social media are true as described.
she said she ran into a dressing room
fighting sex trafficking, Jean Brugge- The rumors are in some ways simi-
and “Googled [the information on the
man, as saying, “I have never heard of lar to child abduction rumors that cir-
card]—and it wasn’t anywhere! Not a
a case of anyone being abducted from culated in July 2020 when online fur-
real thing. So if this happens, call se-
Target in my twenty years in this field.” nishings retailer Wayfair was accused in
curity and have them walk you to your
Of course with nearly 2,000 stores na- social media posts of trafficking chil-
car.”
While fear spreads on social media, tionwide, by random chance some as- dren through listings of products with
authorities have found no evidence that sault or attempted abduction may hap- inflated prices and common names.
Target stores are a hub for any crimi- pen at a store (or more likely in a shared The bizarre and baseless idea was that
nal rings. In an article on the topic in parking lot) at some point, but there’s seemingly overpriced listings for pillows
Skeptical Inquirer | July/August 2021 7
with their own story (true or not). Per- These rumors are given some mea-
haps the biggest factor is the most obvi- sure of credibility by prominent, real-life
ous and the one that assures that urban accusations of sex trafficking, for exam-
legends will always be repeated: the in- ple by New England Patriots football
centive to tell a sensational and dramatic team owner Robert Kraft (dismissed
story. These viral videos garner attention in 2019); Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine
and sympathy, but even more important, Maxwell; and Florida Representative
they are rewarded in the ultimate social Matt Gaetz. And, of course, there’s
media currency: Likes, Shares, and Fol- the sex trafficking hysteria fomented
lowers. by QAnon (see Stephanie Kemmerer’s
It’s a relatively safe way to get at- recent articles in this magazine). Taken
tention; the stories are typically ge- together and fueled by a latent Stranger
neric, with few identifying characters Danger panic and the enduring appeal
(though occasionally a specific Target of “scarelore,” it’s not surprising that
location is mentioned). There is little these abduction rumors are making the
or no follow-up or investigation. Po- news. As is often the case with these so-
lice are rarely mentioned partly because cial media scares, people share them not
the events described didn’t happen: the only for entertainment value but out of
would-be victims were almost abducted, a sense of altruism. They may in fact be
nearly captured. Instead they were safely skeptical about the truth of the claims
escorted to their vehicles by store secu- but dutifully share them assuming that
rity (though you’d think that protocol it’s better to be safe than sorry.
would require a call to police if anyone Though most of the rumors don’t
involved genuinely believed an abduc- identify any specific person as being an
tion was happening) and rescued. attempted abductor, it does happen—
Because no police report is filed, and there have been many incidents in
and cabinets were somehow evidence
there’s little danger of anyone being ac- which false abduction claims have tar-
of a child trafficking scheme. How-
cused of filing a false report. There are, geted people of color. For example, in
ever, the Wayfair rumors were more of
however, other concerns. One is that December 2020 in Petaluma, Califor-
a factual claim, and the Target stories these rumors create needless fear and nia, a prominent social media influencer
were presented as what folklorists call anxiety, especially among women; there named Katie Sorensen claimed that
memorates, or first-person accounts of are enough genuine threats that people a man and woman tried to abduct her
allegedly true events—along the lines don’t need to manufacture them. These two young children at a craft store. Like
of an urban legend. Target is only the false rumors also distract from real with the TikTok videos, she took to In-
latest of many settings for abduction dangers. Wealthy, mostly white women stagram to tell her harrowing story and
rumors; parking lots have long been in the process named a Hispanic couple
posting on social media are in far less
targeted as well (for more see my News who were Christmas shopping nearby
danger of being abducted and trafficked
and Comment “Zip Tie Abduction Ru- and had no interaction with her. The
than people of color, runaways, addicts,
mors Spread, Lead to Panic and Arrests” couple’s photos, taken from surveillance
and others. People are at far greater
in the November/December 2020 SI). footage, circulated on social media, and
risk of being abducted or assaulted by
So if these stories almost certainly someone they know than some sinister the couple were contacted by police,
didn’t happen, why are people saying stranger lurking in the housewares de- who after an investigation determined
they did? The motivations are mixed. partment at Target. that Sorensen had falsely accused them
Some of the women may sincerely Folklore, and urban legends specifi- (for more on this see “Social Media
have experienced some concerning in- cally, reflect society’s fears and concerns, Maven Mom Falsely Accuses His-
teraction at a Target store. Others may both about women’s safety and more panic Couple of Abduction Attempt”
have reframed previous ambiguous ex- generally. Interestingly, the threat in at https://tinyurl.com/55ahx24m). So-
periences in a new and sinister light, these videos is not clearly gendered; in rensen was charged with two counts of
encouraged and influenced—as well as over half of the videos I saw, a woman false reporting in early May. As always,
critical thinking and media literacy are
psychologically primed—by other simi- was identified as the threat—perhaps
the best antidotes to fearmongering.
lar accounts on social media. Still others making it all the more scary for the au-
may be doing it as part of a copycat or dience, because it’s not a stereotypical
Benjamin Radford is a research fellow at
bandwagon effect, where they see others creepy male lurker but instead a friendly
the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.
getting attention and decide to join in fellow female hiding sinister motives.
8 Volume 45 Issue 4 | Skeptical Inquirer
[ NEWS AND COMMENT
New Anti–Facilitated Communication Lunacy, Again? Two
Website Launched Flawed Papers on Lunar
Effects
S V
Y N
Two recent papers on lunar influence
were recently published in the journal
Science Advances. They made some buzz
but do not really advance science.
Moon and Sleep
Leandro Casiraghi et al. (2021) asked
twenty-five to forty people in each of
three Argentine villages (one rural with-
out access to electricity, one semi-rural,
and another in an urban area) to record
when they went to sleep and when they
awoke during two consecutive months.
The rural people reported that they
went to sleep about twenty-five minutes
later (and their sleep was shortened by
about the same amount of time) just
before the full moon. The effect was
A group of advocates working to oppose cation, including many false claims of
smaller—likely insignificant—for urban
the use of a discredited communication child abuse and actual instances of sex-
people. The obvious explanation, which
technique used with autistic children ual assault. Finally, the site also includes
was confirmed by subsequent inter-
have launched www.facilitatedcommu- a blog where regular authors and guest
views: people in rural areas stayed awake
nication.org. The site provides infor- authors write about new developments
later when there was more (moon)light.
mation about facilitated communica- in this ongoing problem.
The authors claimed to have found a
tion (FC) and resources for parents, “Our goal is to help educate people
similar difference in students from the
educators, and members of the media. about the harms of this pseudoscien-
University of Washington, but details
There are links to the available research tific practice, keep people appraised of
are so scarce that its validity cannot be
on FC and its spin-offs, rapid prompt- current developments, and provide re-
determined. Indeed, several previous
ing method and spelling to communi- sources for individuals who are seeking
studies have failed to find any differ-
cate, as well as a collection of the many to better understand the phenomenon,”
ence in sleep duration with lunar phase
policy statements opposing the use of Janyce Boynton, one of the organizers of
when using representative samples. Fi-
FC released by professional organiza- the website told S I.
nally contradicting their own results, the
tions such as the American Speech- “Many of the contributors—both ac-
Hearing-Language Association and the knowledged on the website and be-
American Psychological Association. hind-the-scenes—have been affected
Because FC claims to unlock the voices personally or professionally by FC and
of previously nonspeaking people, it is bring rich and diverse perspectives to
often the vehicle for miraculous feel- the effort.”
good stories in the media, books, and
films (see Benjamin Radford’s review
of the film Unspoken in this issue). As a
Stuart Vyse is a contributing editor and
result, the new site includes a catalog of
columnist for Skeptical Inquirer and
these media portrayals, complete with
author of Believing in Magic: The Psychol-
skeptical reviews. Importantly, the site
ogy of Superstition, which won the William
is also a repository of cases of serious
James Book Award of the American Psy-
harm caused by facilitated communi-
chological Association. He is a CSI fellow.
Skeptical Inquirer | July/August 2021 9
authors postulated gravity, not light, as their conclusion of “high synchrony,” human biology.
the cause—but gravitational (tidal) ef- and, moreover, the authors’ supporting
fects would be maximal at both full and references were cherry-picked to sup- Acknowledgment
new moons, which occur bimonthly, not port their hypothesis. In the end, a last
The author thanks Dr. Harriet Hall for
monthly. They explained the discrep- claim about the impact of light pollu-
her help in shortening this article and
ancy by saying only the full moon can be tion (used to explain differences with an
her advice on the manuscript.
“above” the sleeper and “pull,” which is older, also problematic, “study”) is not
nonsense (remember tidal bulge geom- backed-up. References
etry!). Finally, that paper ended by saying Casiraghi, L., Ignacio Spiousas, Gideon P.
that the cause for synchronization was Dunster, et al. 2021. Moonstruck sleep:
Moon and Menstruation gravitation—specifically tides. They pro- Synchronization of human sleep with the
moon cycle under field conditions. Science
The other article, by C. Helfrich- pose that humans can sense tidal atmo- Advances 7(5). Available online at https://
Förster et al. (2021), claims to find a spheric pressure changes or oscillation advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/5/
link between menstruation and lunar that electromagnetic fields create by a eabe0465.
Helfrich-Förster, C., S. Monecke, I. Spiousas, et
phases. Its small sample (only twen- perturbed magnetotail. In addition to re- al. 2021. Women temporarily synchronize
ty-two subjects) was unlikely to have peating that women are not lunar clocks, their menstrual cycles with the luminance
enough statistical power to be mean- is it necessary to say that none of those and gravimetric cycles of the Moon. Science
Advances 7(5). Available online at https://
ingful, and in any event the results were detection capabilities were ever found?
advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/5/
actually negative! In ten subjects there These studies in Science Advances eabe1358.
was no correlation, and for the others can be disregarded. The moon was
the correlations were only intermit- once thought to cause madness and
Yaël Nazé is a FNRS Senior Research Asso-
tent. Also, there were many woman-to- many other strange effects. Despite
ciate at the University of Liège, Belgium.
woman differences (e.g., their evolution numerous studies over many years, sci-
She studies stars, teaches critical reason-
with age or the relevant phase—full or ence has found no credible evidence of
ing, and does outreach in various ways.
new moon). Their data failed to support correlation between lunar phases and
American Philosophical Society Honors Memory Expert Loftus
The American Philosophical Society the extended citation from the Soci- cant scholarly fields,” the prize rotating
has awarded its 2020 Patrick Suppes ety says. each year between philosophy of sci-
Prize in Psychology to noted psychol- ence, psychology, and history of science.
She is the world’s authority on the
ogist and CSI Fellow Elizabeth Loftus The Society also noted that “it is
field known as false memory. She
“in recognition of her demonstrations has shown how suggestions after a especially appropriate for Elizabeth
that memories are generally altered, memory has formed can alter that Loftus to receive this Prize because Pat
false memories can be implanted, and memory, research that has produced Suppes was Dr. Loftus’s thesis advi-
growing changes in the way that
the changes in law and therapy this sor. If Pat were living today he would
police interrogations are carried out,
knowledge has caused.” be ecstatic to see Elizabeth receive this
so that initially uncertain memo-
“Of all the world’s cognitive scien- ries are not transformed into certain award.”
tists,” the Society wrote in its honor, ones. Even more startling, she has * * *
“Elizabeth Loftus has carried out re- shown how strong, vivid and com-
search that has had the strongest and pelling memories can be formed In related news, the New Yorker has re-
for personal experiences that never
most important impact upon society.” cently published a lengthy and deeply
happened.
Loftus is Distinguished Professor reported personal profile of Loftus and
and member of Psychological Science, Other research by Loftus has her work and some of the ensuing con-
Criminology Law and Society, Cogni- demonstrated uncertainties and ambi- troversies. Initially titled “How Eliza-
tive Science, and the School of Law at guities inherent in many instances of beth Loftus Changed the Meaning of
the University of California at Irvine. eyewitness testimony, “leading to grad- Memory,” the eleven-page article by
“Her experiments reveal how ual change and reform in the funda- Rachel Aviv appeared online March
memories can be changed by things mental bases of our legal system.” 29, 2021, and then was published in the
that we experience, that we rehearse The Patrick Suppes Prize honors ac- April 5 New Yorker under the title “Past
after the fact, and that we are told,” complishments in “three deeply signifi- Imperfect.”
10 Volume 45 Issue 4 | Skeptical Inquirer
