Do Psuedoscientists Generally Believe Their Own Bullshit?

[Darth Wong]

The funny thing about Chinese medicinal practices such as acupuncture is that the language used to describe them sounds goofy but in many cases, it seems much more reasonable if you simply translate it into western terminology.

For example, if they say that a particular acupressure treatment will improve the flow of your "chi" energy and relieve pain, you might say that's ridiculous and absurd. But if they say that it will improve blood circulation and relieve pain, you would have an entirely different reaction.

[Kuroneko]

The problem isn't so much the question of whether it works or what it ultimately achieves (pain relief, blood circulatation, whatnot)--although it isn't nearly the cure-all treatment the ancient Chinese held it as (this description makes sense in light of the fact that they simply had nothing better), but it still undeniably works in many cases. It's the explaining why it works that's giving the Western mind so much trouble. The concept of chi is really just an invention to explain why, a bit like the introduction of magnetism to explain lodestones and other magnetic phenomena, but lacking quantitative laws [*], not nearly as acceptable scientifically. There are some studies that suggest that the flesh around acupuncture points has different electrical resistance than the norm, and this would possibly account for the anesthetic effects, since the nerve signals are electrochemical in nature (although again, exactly how is disputed), but not all of the effects of acupuncture.

[*] Well, undoubtedly there have been some attempts at this, although I'm personally aware of only one. One of my old mathematics professors made model for the flow of chi in the body, but I'm uncertain as to how seriously he actually took it. Knowing him, it was at least somewhat serious, but I'm uncertain as to what degree (his specialization is in dynamical systems, so it have been just one of those things to relieve boredom).

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

I don't think Li HongZhi (Master of Falame DumbFa) believes in his pseudoscience.

However, I don't believe he knows any science enough to make his pseudoscience at least sound plausible.

examples:

"light years 'ago'"

explaining gravity with technobabble as well as changing it into a rubber band model

[Surlethe]

The person I'm honestly stuck about whether or not he buys his BS is Hovind.

I think he does. In my experience with people along that line, it's all extremely strong belief--facts be damned, that sort of thing. I think Hovind may play up his beliefs to make money, but deep down, he believes it with his whole being, which is how he is able to ignore reality.

Belief is sort of an anasthetic, in regards to ignoring reality, I think.

[Dooey Jo]

I don't know if most of these people really believe their own BS. There's an infamous Swedish creationist (that the other, more stupid, Swedish creationists always quotes (or cuts and pastes rather since a quick google on their arguments always leads to his site and they never cite their sources, but back to the subject)), Krister Renard, who used to be a lecturer at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Special (or perhaps it was General) Relativity. He also wrote at least one text book on Modern Physics. But then something must have happened because in pages at his site (which BTW rarely goes beyond being a translation of generic English creationist sites) he seems to not even have basic knowledge of the Laws of Thermodynamics, as well as lacking understanding of the scientific method. That is so strange, that I cannot believe he seriously believes in what he is writing.

But if he doesn't, then he's been telling lies for quite some years now, so the question is, why would he do that? To gain fame? Actually, that makes some sense. He has become quite famous. I can only hope that someday he's going to announce that for all these years, he was just shitting us. Then I'd laugh at the silly creationists for copying him (which I already do, but for other reasons).

[Lusankya]

I don't think Li HongZhi (Master of Falame DumbFa) believes in his pseudoscience.

I care about his pseudoscience much less than I care about him saying that mixed-race people have no divine roots, and thus can't get into heaven (among other racist crap). For a while I was feeling some sympathy for him, and now I just think that the CCP's heavy-handed approach is just wrong, because the publicity it's giving the cult is increasing its spread throughout the world.