Freethought & Rationalism Archive

jess · 12-18-2002, 12:32 PM

If you have a chance, pick up a copy of this week's The New Yorker (Dec 23 & 30, Winter Fiction Issue)

Page 86 is the start of a nine page article about Joe, a local hero and a true investigator (not merely a 'debunker'). He has exposed quite a few scams including John Edwards, and the article really presents his chosen career in a good light.

Joe started off (professionally) as a literature investigator (he has recently proven that Moore DID write "A Visit From St. Nick", in answer to Foster's claim a few years back that Henry Livingston Jr. had), and he has dealt with a great deal of forgeries. He also spent time as a professional magician. He attends/runs an annual seance to try and raise Houdini, and he is a major player in CSICOP. He is also credited with discovering that the 'ghost' in a famous Ontario haunted house was the night cleaning crew of the building next door (the resonance on the stairs in the second building caused the sounds in the first building)

This past summer, my husband and I had the pleasure to attend a guided tour of Lily Dale Assembly with Joe, and the article opens with a recounting of a similar tour (although I fear some creative license was taken, Joe does not hide at Lily Dale, he is quite open about who he is and the spirtualists are unafraid of him. He does have many disguises for other cases, however.)

The article is a mix of biography and critique of the skeptic worldview, of which Joe is a unique subject: he knows that nearly all, if not all, paranormal events are frauds (intentional or not), but he is still looking for that one that may be real. This is his reasoning for exploring each and every event he can, even if his fellows brush it all off out-of-hand. At worst, he figures, "we might learn something interesting as hell."

The Lone Ranger · 12-18-2002, 01:45 PM

I read his articles in Skeptical Inquirer, and enjoy them quite a lot. He strikes me as being as dedicated and brilliant as James Randi, while lacking Randi's somewhat acerbic temperament.

Cheers,

Michael

thebeave · 12-19-2002, 10:37 AM

I like him too. I was watching an old rerun of In Search Of ... (a late '70's TV show hosted by Leonard Nimoy) recently on the Shroud of Turin, and there was a young Joe Nickell demonstrating how it could be a fake. The dude's been around awhile...

Marduk · 12-19-2002, 02:10 PM

He was on last night on the History Channel's show on Fatima. I see him alot on TV, pretty cool guy.

12-18-2002, 12:32 PM	#1
jess Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: rationalpagans.com Posts: 7,400	Joe Nickell, Paranormal Investigator If you have a chance, pick up a copy of this week's The New Yorker (Dec 23 & 30, Winter Fiction Issue) Page 86 is the start of a nine page article about Joe, a local hero and a true investigator (not merely a 'debunker'). He has exposed quite a few scams including John Edwards, and the article really presents his chosen career in a good light. Joe started off (professionally) as a literature investigator (he has recently proven that Moore DID write "A Visit From St. Nick", in answer to Foster's claim a few years back that Henry Livingston Jr. had), and he has dealt with a great deal of forgeries. He also spent time as a professional magician. He attends/runs an annual seance to try and raise Houdini, and he is a major player in CSICOP. He is also credited with discovering that the 'ghost' in a famous Ontario haunted house was the night cleaning crew of the building next door (the resonance on the stairs in the second building caused the sounds in the first building) This past summer, my husband and I had the pleasure to attend a guided tour of Lily Dale Assembly with Joe, and the article opens with a recounting of a similar tour (although I fear some creative license was taken, Joe does not hide at Lily Dale, he is quite open about who he is and the spirtualists are unafraid of him. He does have many disguises for other cases, however.) The article is a mix of biography and critique of the skeptic worldview, of which Joe is a unique subject: he knows that nearly all, if not all, paranormal events are frauds (intentional or not), but he is still looking for that one that may be real. This is his reasoning for exploring each and every event he can, even if his fellows brush it all off out-of-hand. At worst, he figures, "we might learn something interesting as hell."

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12-18-2002, 01:45 PM	#2
The Lone Ranger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Eastern U.S. Posts: 1,230	I read his articles in Skeptical Inquirer, and enjoy them quite a lot. He strikes me as being as dedicated and brilliant as James Randi, while lacking Randi's somewhat acerbic temperament. Cheers, Michael

12-19-2002, 10:37 AM	#3
thebeave Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Posts: 4,183	I like him too. I was watching an old rerun of In Search Of ... (a late '70's TV show hosted by Leonard Nimoy) recently on the Shroud of Turin, and there was a young Joe Nickell demonstrating how it could be a fake. The dude's been around awhile...

12-19-2002, 02:10 PM	#4
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	He was on last night on the History Channel's show on Fatima. I see him alot on TV, pretty cool guy.

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