🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <C0LwJ6.4K7@cs.uiuc.edu> kadie@cs.uiuc.edu (Carl M. Kadie) writes:
>[A repost from dnelson@icaen.uiowa.edu (David Nelson) in
>alt.sexual.abuse.recovery. I posted a note in
>alt.sexual.abuse.recovery suggesting that sci.skeptic is the best
>place for a debate on this topic.]
>===================================================
>[dnelson@icaen.uiowa.edu (David Nelson) writes:]
>
>Jean Riseman <agape@igc.apc.org> writes:
>
> ...
> I am a ritual abuse survivor. I am 55 years old, and have been miserable all 
> all my life. I had these weird thoughts and reactions and no
> explanations for them. No therapist put thoughts in my head in 
> 1945, I can tell you. Of course, after all thewse years, I have no "proof"
> that the atrocities were committed, exccept for my symptoms and memories.
>
>And that may be all the proof that ever is available, but it *is*
>enough to convince me.  We aren't talking about a court of law here,
>we're talking about validating a fellow survivor's pain.
  
  I think there's something in the first posting about anecdotal evidence.
>
>
>People are afraid to admit (1) that humans are capable of such
>atrocities and (2) that it might happen in their very own hometown.
>Those who are quick to disbelieve ritual abuse survivors are (a)
>sweeping aside the weight of psychological principles, and (b)
>filtering the evidence to support a version of reality that creates
>the least discomfort.
>
>
>I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories, but I *am* certainly jaded
>after having witnessed account after account from friends who had been
>raped by parents, other relatives, husbands, and dates.  Having seen
>that quantity and intensity of pain, I no longer am capable of
>disbelieving in ritual abuse and the like.  And I am keenly aware of
>the human need to deny the dark side of human nature.
>
>
>Infer motivations by observing behavior!  *Why* do people need to
>disbelieve in ritual abuse?  And what purpose is served supposing that
>the survivors *did* concoct the stories?  Think!!
  
   Why do people seem to want to believe in the stories?  Skepticism doesn't
try to serve any purpose except the pursuit of truth.
   People as often look for the bad as the good in people.  Sick things will
be accepted without thought as often as nice things