Star-signs!

[Tarbicus]

p.s. Would you have preferred a more "realistic" or typical story about marginal effects, statistically insignificant to a rational observer while too dear to the rigidily irrational one? Would you have preferred a story of shy effects, that do not manifest themselves if the observer is sceptical/hostile?

Actually, yes! And don't change the subject. wink:

Behind my university here in Italy there are a series of unfriendly mountians and valleys, secluded. Someone claims that he discovered by accident a herd of rhinocerous with big yellow stripes. Big sensation! So helicopters fly to the area to try to film them. Nothing. Ah, but that it is because these rhinos heard the noisy helicopters and hid. All rhinos would run. These special rhinos are good at hiding. So an expedition is organized but nothing is found. Ah but this is because the rhinos were previously disturbed and already moved. No manure was found. Ah but that is because the manure of purple rhinos is known to decompose very fast, you can take the word of the by-now-famous discoverer. The expedition just didn't arrive in time. The expedition keeps looking for them but purple rhinos have excellent noses and can smell the hunters way in advance. The hunters then use special outfits, like astronauts, to avoid releasing body odors. But the purple rhinos, especially those with yellow stripes, have excellent hearing....

At what point do you stop looking for the strange herd of rhinos?
At what point do you call into question the credibility of person that claims he saw them. What evidence would you ask him to present? If he claimed that he has no real proof (his camera broke right when he was about to take a picture), but that he is honestly not lying, would you believe him? Maybe he was dreaming or had taken drugs and was hallucinating. Ah but then do you conclude they must certainly be magical rhinos or they live in a parallel universe, because drugs sharpen human senses, don't they?

ROFL! Common sense is now definitely confirmed as not being present among the Press :lol: But most people could have told me that anyway.