Re: virus: Newsweek - Science finds God

Eric Boyd (6ceb3@qlink.queensu.ca)
Mon, 03 Aug 1998 13:18:49 -0400


Hi,

"Tim Rhodes" <proftim@speakeasy.org> wrote:
> Hmmm... Sorry, but the doubter in me wonders what control group
> was used to determine that these "consequences" are dependant
> variables of the rate of coercion, rather than a consequence
> of some other factor or factors.

Well, TCS (where the theory originates from) is only about 10 years old,
but I think the primairy source for the theory is

David Deutsch <david.deutsch@QUBIT.ORG>
Sarah Lawrence <sl@ENTERPRISE.NET>

If you want to know how they achieved their results, I suspect the best way
would be to ask them... either that or start reading the TCS list. My own
guess is that the largest component of the theory of coercion damage comes
from the experience of people who have struggled to escape from it --
especially Sarah, as I know that David was lucky enough to avoid most of
the childhood coercion we all experience.

Beyond that, I suspect the largest sample is the current posters to the TCS
list and their experiences -- many of them came to TCS only after it became
obvious that coercion was not working well. Now, they see damaged theories
in their children which they know they themselves caused with their past
coercion.

http://www.eeng.dcu.ie/~tcs/index.html

In terms of positive indication that I am right about teenage rebellion, I
can only site Nick <socrates@ENTERPRISE.NET> -- at 16, he is the oldest
child to be raised predominately under TCS theory. He is a whole hearted
supporter of it as well (and not to mention considerably ahead of his age
mentally!)

ERiC