CSICOP, Randi, Uri Geller, Skeptics, etc, in Champions?

[DataPacRat]

Has there ever been any mention of how the real-world skepticism movement has been altered in the Champions universe (or any other superhero one)?

 

For example, here, The Amazing Randi has a standing million-dollar prize to anyone who can demonstrate the supernatural. In Champions, he'd probably never /have/ made that challenge: "Show me something supernatural and I'll believe in it." "Here you go: " "Okay."

 

I suppose one approach might be for them to debunk /false/ claims of the paranormal... another might be for CSICOP's focus to be, not debunking as in our world, but actual, active scientific /investigation/ (that 'SI' in their acronym) of the paranormal. (Insert various adventure seeds with that as a premise here.)

 

 

What do you think?

[Cancer]

Re: CSICOP, Randi, Uri Geller, Skeptics, etc, in Champions?

 

Well, if paranormal abilities actually existed and could be repeatably and reliably tested, then CSICOP's function would be one of cataloging, data collection, and analysis. Stuff like comparing metabolic intake for folks with super-speed or super-strength, energy use while superpowers were being exercised, studies of the underlying physics etc. of power operation, and so on. It'd resemble Naval Research Laboratory in that case, for obvious reasons.

 

Alternately, they'd be a crackpot group (like, say, flat earthers) for denying something in the face of hard solid evidence.

[Enforcer84]

Re: CSICOP, Randi, Uri Geller, Skeptics, etc, in Champions?

 

or possessed by evil.

[Derek Hiemforth]

Re: CSICOP, Randi, Uri Geller, Skeptics, etc, in Champions?

 

Alternately' date=' they'd be a crackpot group (like, say, flat earthers) for denying something in the face of hard solid evidence.[/quote']I personally think this is more likely, but only because I more or less consider CSICOP a crackpot group in real life too...

[CrosshairCollie]

Re: CSICOP, Randi, Uri Geller, Skeptics, etc, in Champions?

 

One would think that, with the presence of superpowers as an established (para)norm, believing the existence of the supernatural would be easy. Apparently, it isn't, though I suspect that it's largely a case of people not *wanting* to.

 

I'd wager at least part of it is that the supernatural has a mythology or superstition to it, like ghosts being tortured souls and werewolves being contagious, inexplicably, whereas superpowers often have a scientific (or pseudo/rubber-scientific) explanation.

 

It's easier for the typical comic-book-world denizen to wrap his head around genetic alterations, evolutionary mutations, or nanotechnology, even if they don't understand what those are proper, than to accept something like magic which pretty much defies explanation.

[assault]

Re: CSICOP, Randi, Uri Geller, Skeptics, etc, in Champions?

 

Sounds like Dr. Thirteen, the ghost breaker.

 

One explanation for him I have read is that for him the supernatural doesn't exist. That could actually be quite a useful ability.

 

Just imagine him pulling a Scooby Doo on Takofanes.

 

The debunking false claims idea is quite appropriate too, of course.

[SKJAM!]

Re: CSICOP, Randi, Uri Geller, Skeptics, etc, in Champions?

 

It would be to some extent even easier to con people out of their money by false claims of the paranormal in superhero comics worlds. After all, if Mysto Man can verifiably commune with the spirits of the dead, why not Madame Zonga? Darkbird Lass cured Speedy Kid's cancer on live television--certainly Reverend Televangelist could do something similar. And if they seem unduly interested in having you pay for these services, well, clearly their powers aren't quite as strong, and a person's got to eat.

 

Heck, fake superserums alone would be a million-dollar business.

 

So a Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims Of the Paranormal would be a useful and valid organization.

 

 

Dr. Thirteen makes more sense in his original appearances in the Phantom Stranger series, before they were definitely shown to be in the DC universe. The series starts with "real" magic being a rare and hidden thing, not even available to most magical practitioners. Even on the Phantom Stranger's side of things, half the cases he came across were frauds.