[nonrepeating]

I’ve seen one of these as well, in the hands of a state employee, exactly as you describe. There should be a word for the mass-produced normalization of superstition. Ouijification?

[swayvil]

Superstition? I think they're getting results. It works.

[lelanthran]

> Superstition? I think they're getting results. It works.

Compared to what?

I can almost guarantee that they aren't getting results any better than random chance.

I mean, really, if dowsing is every proven to work under rigorous scientific conditions, there'd be a Nobel prize in it for someone, because we'd have a whole new field of scientific study that has never before in the history of mankind produced any evidence of it's existence.

[swayvil]

Unless it's weird. Weird stuff happens.

I mean you're naysaying the testimony of hundreds of field researchers on the weight of, let's face it, mere convention.

And these aren't necessarily dumb people. They value time and money just like we do

It does depend on the sensitivity of the dowser after all. That sounds squishy, like psychology. Certainly less obvious than weights and measures.

Who knows, maybe it takes a certain kind of person to do it.

[lelanthran]

> It does depend on the sensitivity of the dowser after all.

Many hundreds of the most successful dowsers (i.e. the most sensitive) could not beat random chance.

Until they can, I'll remain skeptical.