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-   -   totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense (https://www.radiobanter.com/boatanchors/112370-totally-ot-but-how-can-people-believe-nonsense.html)

L Ron Hubbub December 26th 06 04:22 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=36098

Be sure to read the product manual! Its a real joke - 'magnetic circuitry'
indeed.

And of course one or more of you knuckleheads out there reading this will
swear you are getting great fuel milege because you too have a magnet
strapped to your fuel line......




aalaan December 26th 06 05:46 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
If your experience is true, the chances are that being conscious of the need
for fuel economy is making you drive more economically (eg not accelerating
and braking hard alternately) which has been proven to be the biggest saver
of fuel. If fitting magnets really helped things (as proven by lab tests
with controls) then competition would quickly determine that manufacturers
would fit them and trumpet the appropriate claims, possibly dressing them up
in some way to avoid the suggestion of "common or garden" magnets that you
could fit yourself.

"happy-go-lucky" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:22:08 GMT, "L Ron Hubbub"
wrote:

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=36098

Be sure to read the product manual! Its a real joke - 'magnetic circuitry'
indeed.

And of course one or more of you knuckleheads out there reading this will
swear you are getting great fuel milege because you too have a magnet
strapped to your fuel line......


I use two of these...one on the fuel line right after the gas tank,
and the other up closer to the engine. I have seen about a 15%
increase in fuel mileage. At first, I didn't think it was working too
well until one of the guys at my local Harbor Freight store who works
on cars told me to make sure they are both installed with the same
magnetic polarity. Sure enough, he was right.

Car manufacturers could put these on their vehicles, but don't to save
on production costs. The "Tornado" is another item that is worth its
weight in gold.

So the joke is on you, L Ron. These things really do work.




al goss December 26th 06 09:21 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
B.S.

"happy-go-lucky" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:22:08 GMT, "L Ron Hubbub"
wrote:

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=36098

Be sure to read the product manual! Its a real joke - 'magnetic circuitry'
indeed.

And of course one or more of you knuckleheads out there reading this will
swear you are getting great fuel milege because you too have a magnet
strapped to your fuel line......


I use two of these...one on the fuel line right after the gas tank,
and the other up closer to the engine. I have seen about a 15%
increase in fuel mileage. At first, I didn't think it was working too
well until one of the guys at my local Harbor Freight store who works
on cars told me to make sure they are both installed with the same
magnetic polarity. Sure enough, he was right.

Car manufacturers could put these on their vehicles, but don't to save
on production costs. The "Tornado" is another item that is worth its
weight in gold.

So the joke is on you, L Ron. These things really do work.




JOHN D December 27th 06 12:47 AM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
There are people who believe they've been aboard alien spaceships too.



Dr. Anton T. Squeegee December 27th 06 02:09 AM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
In article ,
(known to some as happy-go-lucky) scribed...

snippety

I use two of these...one on the fuel line right after the gas tank,
and the other up closer to the engine. I have seen about a 15%
increase in fuel mileage. At first, I didn't think it was working too
well until one of the guys at my local Harbor Freight store who works
on cars told me to make sure they are both installed with the same
magnetic polarity. Sure enough, he was right.

Car manufacturers could put these on their vehicles, but don't to save
on production costs. The "Tornado" is another item that is worth its
weight in gold.

So the joke is on you, L Ron. These things really do work.


And your link to a legitimate and peer-reviewed scientific study
proving that magnets on the fuel line really do improve mileage is
where, exactly?

No? Didn't think so.

*PLONK!*

--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, KC7GR)
http://www.bluefeathertech.com -- kyrrin a/t bluefeathertech d-o=t calm
"Salvadore Dali's computer has surreal ports..."

Irv Finkleman December 27th 06 04:21 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
The onus of proof is upon he who asserts
the positive.

Irv VE6BP

happy-go-lucky wrote:

Another clueless narrow-minded person. Or a game show host with those
lame lines. No one ever asked for a link. I just stated facts found
by my own testing. Several thousand miles. "Dr. Squeegee"? Seen you
on Springer last week.

You are the one who gets plonked.


--
--------------------------------------
Visit my HomePage at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv/index.html
Visit my Baby Sofia website at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv4/index.htm
Visit my OLDTIMERS website at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv5/index.htm
--------------------
Irv Finkleman,
Grampa/Ex-Navy/Old Fart/Ham Radio VE6BP
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

L Ron Hubbub December 27th 06 05:17 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
Oh this is too good to pass up!
OK, Ill keep an open mind here.
How about that link to a URL that has real proof of improved gas mileage as
a result of using one of these devices.?




Another clueless narrow-minded person. Or a game show host with those
lame lines. No one ever asked for a link. I just stated facts found
by my own testing. Several thousand miles. "Dr. Squeegee"? Seen you
on Springer last week.

You are the one who gets plonked.




Caveat Lector December 27th 06 05:37 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
My old Navy Chief would have replied to the subject title

BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT

Think about it

Will save you hours of pondering as to "Why do people do _____ ?

Happy Holidays -- CL



JOHN D December 27th 06 08:00 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
May I suggest a magnetic water softener. Same idea, magnets stuck on the
pipes.



Dave December 27th 06 09:06 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
Gee! I used to live in a community that provided water from wells. The water haD
very high iron content. Too bad I didn't think about the MAGIC MAGNET!!

JOHN D wrote:
May I suggest a magnetic water softener. Same idea, magnets stuck on the
pipes.




Dale Parfitt December 28th 06 12:20 AM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 

"Dave" wrote in message
. ..
Gee! I used to live in a community that provided water from wells. The
water haD very high iron content. Too bad I didn't think about the MAGIC
MAGNET!!

JOHN D wrote:
May I suggest a magnetic water softener. Same idea, magnets stuck on the
pipes.

Or perhaps a bed blanket with magnets sewn in.
The amazing thing here is that orientation and flux don't seem to matter.
It's simply magnets.

Dale W4OP



cmdr buzz corey December 28th 06 06:09 AM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 

happy-go-lucky wrote:

So the joke is on you, L Ron. These things really do work.


Yeah right. These things have been around for years and have never
proven to increase milage.
This is as bad as the stuff they sell to the audiophools.


cmdr buzz corey December 28th 06 06:14 AM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 

aalaan wrote:
If your experience is true,


It isn't. He is like the audiophools who spend hundreds of dollars for
a special line cord to hook up to their Hi-Fi to make it sound better.
Someone who is foolish to fall for such snake oil isn't about to
actually admit they got taken, so of course it works.


cmdr buzz corey December 28th 06 06:19 AM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 

JOHN D wrote:
There are people who believe they've been aboard alien spaceships too.


Wonder why it only works on 4 cyl engines? Seems if it works on 4 it
should work on 6 and 8 as well.


aalaan December 28th 06 06:39 AM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
Absolutely. Was that being claimed?

"cmdr buzz corey" wrote in message
ups.com...

JOHN D wrote:
There are people who believe they've been aboard alien spaceships too.


Wonder why it only works on 4 cyl engines? Seems if it works on 4 it
should work on 6 and 8 as well.




Avery W3AVE December 28th 06 12:47 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
When it comes to gas-saving gizmos, it's like religion--you're either a
believer or you're not. And like religion, belief is based on faith,
not evidence. Magnetic fuel-line devices for boosting gas milage have
been around for decades, as have other gizmos claimed to improve MPG
(e.g., using fuel-line heating, fuel-line cooling, ionization, etc.).
The EPA has tested more than 100 gas-saving devices--under controlled
conditions--and hasn't found a single one, including four magnet types
like the one under discussion, that measures up to its claims.

For more info, take a look at a fact sheet recently published by the
Federal Trade Commission on gas-saving devices at
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/gasave.htm. Consumer Reports has
also looked at gas-saving add-ons and found them wanting.

Believe if you want, but these things are pure snake oil. And they
don't all fall into the "well, at least it's not hurting anything and
it might help" category. Some, like additives that get dumped into the
fuel or oil, can damage the car.

Extraordinary claims, as Carl Sagan said, require extraordinary
evidence. It's ain't there.


L Ron Hubbub December 28th 06 03:03 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
Oh yeah, I have seen a lot of that stuff too.
The fact that 'happy-go-lucky' actually believes that he is getting better
fuel ecomony because a magnet is strapped to his fuel line is utterly
amaxing.
And that he comes out swinging to defend his completey undefendable beliefs
is just more testament to how utterly pathetic a human being becomes because
of lack of any science knowledge.
But he offers no rebuttle or debate to defend his claim. Just little
insulting jabs.
Literally a country bumpkin that used to be had at county fairs or now by TV
evangelists and cults like scientogy.
The macaroon that believes something because it is printed.
But I wish I had a whole bunch of 'happy-go-luckies.'
They make great worker slaves.
If you tell them they are doing a good job for the good of the company they
will work until they drop dead - and for mimum wage!! HA HA HA.
They just can't see that they are like the tools they use. Or maybe just as
dumb as the 'box of hammers' we hear so much about...
But wow do they have 'faith' placed in the weirdest things. And I do not
mean religion.




"cmdr buzz corey" wrote in message
ups.com...

happy-go-lucky wrote:

So the joke is on you, L Ron. These things really do work.


Yeah right. These things have been around for years and have never
proven to increase milage.
This is as bad as the stuff they sell to the audiophools.




Avery W3AVE December 28th 06 04:22 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 

L Ron Hubbub wrote:
Oh yeah, I have seen a lot of that stuff too.
The fact that 'happy-go-lucky' actually believes that he is getting better
fuel ecomony because a magnet is strapped to his fuel line is utterly
amaxing.
And that he comes out swinging to defend his completey undefendable beliefs
is just more testament to how utterly pathetic a human being becomes because
of lack of any science knowledge.
But he offers no rebuttle or debate to defend his claim. Just little
insulting jabs.
Literally a country bumpkin that used to be had at county fairs or now by TV
evangelists and cults like scientogy.
The macaroon that believes something because it is printed.
But I wish I had a whole bunch of 'happy-go-luckies.'
They make great worker slaves.
If you tell them they are doing a good job for the good of the company they
will work until they drop dead - and for mimum wage!! HA HA HA.
They just can't see that they are like the tools they use. Or maybe just as
dumb as the 'box of hammers' we hear so much about...
But wow do they have 'faith' placed in the weirdest things. And I do not
mean religion.


Why do you demean him? Some very smart people believe very strange
things. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he of the Sherlock Holmes tales and
obviously a writer who understood logic and reason, believed in fairies
with little wings, like Tinker Bell. It was because of a hoax by two
children who planted fake photos of winged nymphs outdoors where he
could see them, but not close enough to inspect.

World-famous scientists have been taken in by "mindreading," mental
spoonbending, and other stage fakery that is part of any good
magician's trick bag.

Totally rational, intelligent people subscribe to aura therapy, which
involves passing the hands around the "patient's" body without touching
it, even though an experiment by a 9-year-old girl completely disproved
its validity a couple of years ago.

How about we stick to the pros and cons and not make personal attacks?
We're way OT as it is.


Radiosrfun December 28th 06 04:38 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
"Avery W3AVE" wrote in message
ps.com...

L Ron Hubbub wrote:


snipped

Why do you demean him? Some very smart people believe very strange
things. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he of the Sherlock Holmes tales and
obviously a writer who understood logic and reason, believed in fairies
with little wings, like Tinker Bell. It was because of a hoax by two
children who planted fake photos of winged nymphs outdoors where he
could see them, but not close enough to inspect.

World-famous scientists have been taken in by "mindreading," mental
spoonbending, and other stage fakery that is part of any good
magician's trick bag.

Totally rational, intelligent people subscribe to aura therapy, which
involves passing the hands around the "patient's" body without touching
it, even though an experiment by a 9-year-old girl completely disproved
its validity a couple of years ago.

How about we stick to the pros and cons and not make personal attacks?
We're way OT as it is.


Another item I've not seen mentioned - maybe I missed it - are those "Copper
Bands" or "Magnetic Bands" that people wear to improve Arthritis and such. I
think the majority of us know the real truth; however - you're going to be
hard pressed to convince those who believe in said items - of them "not"
working.

So - though "we" may not buy into it - as long as they're willing to spend
their money and if they have what would be deemed "faith" - not tied to any
religion - that the item works - God Bless them! At least to them - they're
getting results for the money they spent. And, that is all that truly
matters!

Many people believe in Psychics too - that they can tell the future. IF they
were so "psychic" - we would have a lot more lottery winners. They would
continue to give the lucky numbers and they themselves would be playing it
as well. Oh but wait - they claim they aren't allowed to do such things!
BULL CRAP. That is an easy out for their explanation of NOT being able to
predict anything. Point is, many still go to these people. There will ALWAYS
be snake oil sales pitches - both real items (copper bands, gas tank
magnets, etc) and the imagined (psychic tales) - and their will always be
those who believe in such things to support the trades as they apply. It has
been that way for centuries, why change now?

Therefore - there is no need or reason to defame or demean any one for their
own beliefs. As the man said - there are many "prominent" people who follow
those paths. If they're happy, who are we to interfere?

Just my 2 cents.

Lou



nonoise December 28th 06 08:54 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
Avery W3AVE wrote:
[snip]
Some very smart people believe very strange
things. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he of the Sherlock Holmes tales and
obviously a writer who understood logic and reason, believed in
fairies with little wings, like Tinker Bell. It was because
of a hoax by two children who planted fake photos of winged
nymphs outdoors where he could see them, but not close enough
to inspect.

World-famous scientists have been taken in by "mindreading," mental
spoonbending, and other stage fakery that is part of any good
magician's trick bag.

Totally rational, intelligent people subscribe to aura therapy, which
involves passing the hands around the "patient's" body without
touching it, even though an experiment by a 9-year-old girl
completely disproved its validity a couple of years ago.

How about we stick to the pros and cons and not make personal attacks?
We're way OT as it is.


One of the co-inventors of the transistor was famous for another reason:
he espoused his opinions about Africans being inferior because he said
their brains were small. World-famous scientists, or authors, or anybody
else with training in a specialized discipline, should be questioned
just like the greenest college student when they speak outside their
area of expertise.

There are, sad to say, cases where ad hominem attacks are warranted, and
this is one of them. The original post is off-topic, but that's a minor
offense on Usenet. However, the claims _ARE_ laughable, and anyone who
champions such nonsense deserves to be offered a discount on a bridge:
if nothing else, it's a chastening reminder that, in the future, those
who were disposed to believe them should drop a gold brick on the ground
before negotiating a purchase.

Paraphrasing Richard Pryor: "Your dignity will heal a lot faster than
your bank account balance".

William
P.S. I would set the followups, but I can't think of a group where this
discussion belongs.

--
A little learning is a dang'rous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring;
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again.
-- Alexander Pope, Essay on Criticism

Beech Creek December 28th 06 08:58 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
Strap one around your privates. You will not believe the improvement in
performance!

"happy-go-lucky" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:22:08 GMT, "L Ron Hubbub"
wrote:

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=36098

Be sure to read the product manual! Its a real joke - 'magnetic circuitry'
indeed.

And of course one or more of you knuckleheads out there reading this will
swear you are getting great fuel milege because you too have a magnet
strapped to your fuel line......


I use two of these...one on the fuel line right after the gas tank,
and the other up closer to the engine. I have seen about a 15%
increase in fuel mileage. At first, I didn't think it was working too
well until one of the guys at my local Harbor Freight store who works
on cars told me to make sure they are both installed with the same
magnetic polarity. Sure enough, he was right.

Car manufacturers could put these on their vehicles, but don't to save
on production costs. The "Tornado" is another item that is worth its
weight in gold.

So the joke is on you, L Ron. These things really do work.




Radiosrfun December 28th 06 09:06 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 

"Beech Creek" wrote in message
om...
Strap one around your privates. You will not believe the improvement in
performance!


LOL.......... Believe it or not - someone probably has already thought of
trying it OR done it.
Some guys (and gals) will try "anything" to make life interesting. NOTHING
surprises me anymore - but it sure makes for some good reading!

Next case please?




shark45 December 28th 06 09:53 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 

"L Ron Hubbub" wrote in message
. net...

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=36098

Be sure to read the product manual! Its a real joke - 'magnetic circuitry'
indeed.


Quite similar to the steam boiler scale control products.

I had on guy come around with a thing you clamped around
the feedwater pipe going into the boiler. He claimed it was ultrasound
or something like that. I asked him if he would replace a $80,000.00
boiler if it was damaged from scale buildup and he left.

Obviously he did not believe in his own product.




And of course one or more of you knuckleheads out there reading this will
swear you are getting great fuel milege because you too have a magnet
strapped to your fuel line......






shark45 December 28th 06 09:57 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 

"Beech Creek" wrote in message
om...
Strap one around your privates. You will not believe the improvement in
performance!



Insertion might be a bit difficult.





"happy-go-lucky" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:22:08 GMT, "L Ron Hubbub"
wrote:


http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...do?itemid=3609

8

Be sure to read the product manual! Its a real joke - 'magnetic

circuitry'
indeed.

And of course one or more of you knuckleheads out there reading this

will
swear you are getting great fuel milege because you too have a magnet
strapped to your fuel line......


I use two of these...one on the fuel line right after the gas tank,
and the other up closer to the engine. I have seen about a 15%
increase in fuel mileage. At first, I didn't think it was working too
well until one of the guys at my local Harbor Freight store who works
on cars told me to make sure they are both installed with the same
magnetic polarity. Sure enough, he was right.

Car manufacturers could put these on their vehicles, but don't to save
on production costs. The "Tornado" is another item that is worth its
weight in gold.

So the joke is on you, L Ron. These things really do work.






Avery W3AVE December 28th 06 10:06 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
nonoise wrote:
[snip]
There are, sad to say, cases where ad hominem attacks are warranted, and
this is one of them. The original post is off-topic, but that's a minor
offense on Usenet. However, the claims _ARE_ laughable, and anyone who
champions such nonsense deserves to be offered a discount on a bridge:
if nothing else, it's a chastening reminder that, in the future, those
who were disposed to believe them should drop a gold brick on the ground
before negotiating a purchase.

William


William, I was with you until this paragraph. Even the most laughable
claims, in my opinion, warrant one of two reactions online: Ignore
them, or explain, using facts and not just assertions, why you believe
them to be nonsensel. I disagree that ad hominem attacks are EVER
appropriate in response to a claim concerning UFOs, fuel line magnets,
political conspiracies--you name it. My usual response is to roll my
eyes and move on. The only reason I posted this time was because the
issue has been researched by responsible parties and I thought it might
be worthwhile to make that known.

Why bother with personal attacks? The faceless, no-consequences
Internet makes that too easy as it is. No way do I believe that some of
the meanspirited garbage that stains too many NGs (spend 15 minutes on
antiques radio/phono or shortwave) would come from somebody's mouth in
a real conversation, even one conducted over the phone and not in
person.


Radiosrfun December 28th 06 11:55 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
"shark45" wrote in message
...

"Beech Creek" wrote in message
om...
Strap one around your privates. You will not believe the improvement in
performance!



Insertion might be a bit difficult.


That too - hasn't stopped some from "trying". When I was doing a stint as a
medic, I heard a doctor talking about a patient who had a "light bulb" of
the conventional type - "attempted" to be stuck up his anal cavity in a feat
of sexual pleasure - and it "busted" leaving shards of glass up in the
rectum.

People do the weirdest things. As I said in a previous post - "nothing"
surprises me - but it sure makes for some interesting reading.





nonoise December 29th 06 12:15 AM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
Avery W3AVE wrote:
nonoise wrote:
[snip]
There are, sad to say, cases where ad hominem attacks are warranted, and
this is one of them. [snip]

William


William, I was with you until this paragraph. Even the most laughable
claims, in my opinion, warrant one of two reactions online: Ignore
them, or explain, using facts and not just assertions, why you believe
them to be nonsensel. I disagree that ad hominem attacks are EVER
appropriate in response to a claim concerning UFOs, fuel line magnets,
political conspiracies--you name it. My usual response is to roll my
eyes and move on. The only reason I posted this time was because the
issue has been researched by responsible parties and I thought it
might be worthwhile to make that known.

Why bother with personal attacks? The faceless, no-consequences
Internet makes that too easy as it is. No way do I believe that
some of the meanspirited garbage that stains too many NGs
(spend 15 minutes on antiques radio/phono or shortwave)
would come from somebody's mouth in a real conversation, even
one conducted over the phone and not in person.


You are correct, in the sense that an "ad hominem" attack is against a
person instead of his/her argument: it's a logical fallacy, and should
be avoided for that reason. However, as you point out, another poster
had already refuted the claim: I though it obvious that no further
evidence was needed.

Someone who asserts that the moon is made of green cheese, or that the
earth is flat, or that magnets affect gasoline - or that Africans are
inferior - should be answered with skepticism. Even the most wild
speculation can attain the status of "fact" when enough people believe
it: my father was fond of saying "A million Frenchmen can't be wrong",
and Joseph McCarthy proved that Americans are never short on
gullibility, so I remain convinced that an appeal to preconceived
notions, either of racial purity or oil company conspiracies, deserves,
if not derision, at least to be received with an extra measure of caution.

In other words, the burden of proof is on the claimant: if someone
believes that magnets can improve gasoline mileage, let him step up and
demonstrate it. If he can't, let him take his lumps.

I'm sorry to crabwalk here, but I believe my concerns are real, and I
have seen otherwise "normal" people hire "Feng shui" "practitioners" to
place magnets in their work cubicle (so as to assure that the stars were
in alignment or the worm had turned or the entrails were favorable, or
whatever it is that convinces "normal" people to open their wallets).
The one constant of the human race is that David Hannum _was_ right:
"There's a sucker born every minute".

Our history has shown that a million suckers _can_ be wrong, but it also
demonstrates, as Galileo would attest, that they can be very vicious
when confronted with the newest version of the truth. I know I make your
argument for you here, but with a point in mind: those with outlandish
ideas had best be ready for a lot of hard stares and possess a lot of
hard facts.

William
P.S. Suggestions as to a more appropriate forum are, of course, welcome.

--
A little learning is a dang'rous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring;
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again.
-- Alexander Pope, Essay on Criticism

Avery W3AVE December 29th 06 12:30 AM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 

nonoise wrote:

You are correct, in the sense that an "ad hominem" attack is against a
person instead of his/her argument: it's a logical fallacy, and should
be avoided for that reason. However, as you point out, another poster
had already refuted the claim: I though it obvious that no further
evidence was needed.

Someone who asserts that the moon is made of green cheese, or that the
earth is flat, or that magnets affect gasoline - or that Africans are
inferior - should be answered with skepticism. Even the most wild
speculation can attain the status of "fact" when enough people believe
it: my father was fond of saying "A million Frenchmen can't be wrong",
and Joseph McCarthy proved that Americans are never short on
gullibility, so I remain convinced that an appeal to preconceived
notions, either of racial purity or oil company conspiracies, deserves,
if not derision, at least to be received with an extra measure of caution.

In other words, the burden of proof is on the claimant: if someone
believes that magnets can improve gasoline mileage, let him step up and
demonstrate it. If he can't, let him take his lumps.

I'm sorry to crabwalk here, but I believe my concerns are real, and I
have seen otherwise "normal" people hire "Feng shui" "practitioners" to
place magnets in their work cubicle (so as to assure that the stars were
in alignment or the worm had turned or the entrails were favorable, or
whatever it is that convinces "normal" people to open their wallets).
The one constant of the human race is that David Hannum _was_ right:
"There's a sucker born every minute".

Our history has shown that a million suckers _can_ be wrong, but it also
demonstrates, as Galileo would attest, that they can be very vicious
when confronted with the newest version of the truth. I know I make your
argument for you here, but with a point in mind: those with outlandish
ideas had best be ready for a lot of hard stares and possess a lot of
hard facts.

William
P.S. Suggestions as to a more appropriate forum are, of course, welcome.


At the risk of repetition and belaboring the obvious, there isn't
anything at all in your response with which I disagree. "An extra
measure of caution"..."answered with skepticism": exactly.

sci.skeptic is one place that someone who is genuinely curious about an
improbable claim
might find help. It is no place for those who believe regardless of the
lack of evidence.


Ken January 2nd 07 03:35 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
Alnico or an electromagnet?


"Beech Creek" wrote in message
om...
Strap one around your privates. You will not believe the improvement in
performance!

"happy-go-lucky" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:22:08 GMT, "L Ron Hubbub"
wrote:


http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...do?itemid=3609

8

Be sure to read the product manual! Its a real joke - 'magnetic

circuitry'
indeed.

And of course one or more of you knuckleheads out there reading this

will
swear you are getting great fuel milege because you too have a magnet
strapped to your fuel line......


I use two of these...one on the fuel line right after the gas tank,
and the other up closer to the engine. I have seen about a 15%
increase in fuel mileage. At first, I didn't think it was working too
well until one of the guys at my local Harbor Freight store who works
on cars told me to make sure they are both installed with the same
magnetic polarity. Sure enough, he was right.

Car manufacturers could put these on their vehicles, but don't to save
on production costs. The "Tornado" is another item that is worth its
weight in gold.

So the joke is on you, L Ron. These things really do work.






aalaan January 4th 07 06:16 AM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
No, not "What was being claimed?" but "was that being claimed"

And a number of groups I frequent have the custom of top posting, which in
my opinion makes new postings easier to read, without scrolling down. I
agree that in some cases of long threads this can be a less advisable idea,
Barry.

God Bless (couldn't resist it!) G

"Barry OGrady" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:39:55 +1100, "aalaan" wrote:

Absolutely. Was that being claimed?


That you top post.


"cmdr buzz corey" wrote in message
roups.com...

JOHN D wrote:
There are people who believe they've been aboard alien spaceships too.

Wonder why it only works on 4 cyl engines? Seems if it works on 4 it
should work on 6 and 8 as well.



Barry
=====
Home page
http://members.iinet.net.au/~barry.og




Avery W3AVE January 4th 07 01:52 PM

totally OT : but how can people believe this nonsense
 
Barry OGrady wrote:

The magnets are for petrol vehicles, not gas powered.

Barry


The reference was to gas as in gasoline. Or were you making a joke?



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