Science Will Win
Following Sean's recent appearance in the public forum, I thought it might be useful to use that and what he said there to clarify my stance on where we are on this strange and fascinating journey. First of all, he informed us all that he had not shown the OS a self-sustaining device and so now it becomes obvious why I remain a sceptic.
When I talk about the marvellous resource behind the wire, I am primarily talking about the people there. I am constantly humbled by the generous spirit of those folks who have been patiently waiting and/or working away on trying to get to the bottom of this thing. Even hardened sceptics are willing to spend countless hours probing and building in order to prove their point in a constructive and cooperative fashion. While I have much sympathy with and understand the predominantly negative stance of those outside who think that this is all BS, I am much more impressed by those behind the wire who use their knowledge and skills to experiment, often taking Steorn to task even as they listen and build.
It is quite reasonable for people to think that Steorn is spouting rubbish and that their claims are bogus. Even their supporters at times found it impossible to support them. Following the London un-demo and the negative jury verdict, it would be a poor reflection on the intellectual state of our society if those giving their claims the benefit of the doubt did not take a giant leap backwards. I have more 'faith' in the scientists and engineers of this world to uncover the truth of things than any other body of people and I despair when members of that body are attacked as though they are all incapable of seeing beyond their own blinkered beliefs. I know it is a hard-won discipline that keeps them grounded even as they reach for the stars. While I do not have the resources, skills or knowledge to join them, it is to that type of person I am naturally inclined to side with in any argument regarding seemingly impossible and unproven claims.
The harsh truth is that if someone tells you they can turn sand into water but will not show you proof, they are probably lying or deluded. And the harsh truth is that after all these years, Steorn has not shown us what they said they would. For that reason, I remain a sceptic and side with any person who feels the same and expresses that sentiment in a level-headed fashion.
Much as all the above is true, as I see it, I am not a scientist. I do not have a reputation to protect and I find it impossible to ignore the human side of this story. I can categorically tell you that there are real engineers behind Steorn's walls. There are clever people there who know the difference between a self-sustaining device and a butter-dish. They understand that it is easy to make a measurement error in complicated, interacting systems and that that is more likely than perpetual motion. They are skilled and demonstratively inventive.
And they say – with no equivocation - that they have a self-sustaining machine and that they are about to change the world.
I was particularly struck by Sean's recent public comments and his apparent confidence. Yes, we have seen it before. We saw it before the demo and we saw it before the jury gave their verdict. The likely result of all of this is that whatever has been going on, we will not be walking hand in hand into a free-energy sunset. But despite all this, I give the possibility some air. True, Sean may be deluded or lying, but I find that hard to reconcile with the person I met or the hard-headed engineer he obviously is. I am aware that this means little against the enormity of the claim. It is more logical to attack the trusting part of my nature and caution it against false hope. But, I refuse to kill the human side that whispers hope against the odds. It costs me nothing.
I wait, fascinated and open to anything.
As I said in my last post. Christmas is coming. One way or the other, we will be able to celebrate. And either way, science wins.
When I talk about the marvellous resource behind the wire, I am primarily talking about the people there. I am constantly humbled by the generous spirit of those folks who have been patiently waiting and/or working away on trying to get to the bottom of this thing. Even hardened sceptics are willing to spend countless hours probing and building in order to prove their point in a constructive and cooperative fashion. While I have much sympathy with and understand the predominantly negative stance of those outside who think that this is all BS, I am much more impressed by those behind the wire who use their knowledge and skills to experiment, often taking Steorn to task even as they listen and build.
It is quite reasonable for people to think that Steorn is spouting rubbish and that their claims are bogus. Even their supporters at times found it impossible to support them. Following the London un-demo and the negative jury verdict, it would be a poor reflection on the intellectual state of our society if those giving their claims the benefit of the doubt did not take a giant leap backwards. I have more 'faith' in the scientists and engineers of this world to uncover the truth of things than any other body of people and I despair when members of that body are attacked as though they are all incapable of seeing beyond their own blinkered beliefs. I know it is a hard-won discipline that keeps them grounded even as they reach for the stars. While I do not have the resources, skills or knowledge to join them, it is to that type of person I am naturally inclined to side with in any argument regarding seemingly impossible and unproven claims.
The harsh truth is that if someone tells you they can turn sand into water but will not show you proof, they are probably lying or deluded. And the harsh truth is that after all these years, Steorn has not shown us what they said they would. For that reason, I remain a sceptic and side with any person who feels the same and expresses that sentiment in a level-headed fashion.
Much as all the above is true, as I see it, I am not a scientist. I do not have a reputation to protect and I find it impossible to ignore the human side of this story. I can categorically tell you that there are real engineers behind Steorn's walls. There are clever people there who know the difference between a self-sustaining device and a butter-dish. They understand that it is easy to make a measurement error in complicated, interacting systems and that that is more likely than perpetual motion. They are skilled and demonstratively inventive.
And they say – with no equivocation - that they have a self-sustaining machine and that they are about to change the world.
I was particularly struck by Sean's recent public comments and his apparent confidence. Yes, we have seen it before. We saw it before the demo and we saw it before the jury gave their verdict. The likely result of all of this is that whatever has been going on, we will not be walking hand in hand into a free-energy sunset. But despite all this, I give the possibility some air. True, Sean may be deluded or lying, but I find that hard to reconcile with the person I met or the hard-headed engineer he obviously is. I am aware that this means little against the enormity of the claim. It is more logical to attack the trusting part of my nature and caution it against false hope. But, I refuse to kill the human side that whispers hope against the odds. It costs me nothing.
I wait, fascinated and open to anything.
As I said in my last post. Christmas is coming. One way or the other, we will be able to celebrate. And either way, science wins.
posted by Paul Story at
10:39
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