Are there still people who think dowsing works? It used to be rampant in the UK and US... and lingered on for longer than you'd think (there are two Time Team episodes where they gently debunk it, rather than either ignore or body slam it as I'd expect.)

But I also know it was big in the US.

Are people still creeping around claiming they can find things with bendy sticks?

@futurebird There was a massive scam in 2010ish involving a repackaged set of dowsing rods claiming to be bomb detection devices: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADE_651

Even after the scam was revealed, some organisations kept using it

Are there still people who think dowsing works? It used to be rampant in the UK and US... and lingered on for longer than you'd think (there are two Time Team episodes where they gently debunk it, rather than either ignore or body slam it as I'd expect.)

But I also know it was big in the US.

Are people still creeping around claiming they can find things with bendy sticks?

@FediThing @futurebird I love that this whole thing is practically homemade.

It's amazing how easy it is to trick those that keep getting put in charge of things. It seems like, as a whole, our society enshrines putting the most incompetent into power...

@futurebird Can they help me find my keys?

@thestrangelet

I have a magic ritual to find a lost object.

1. Carefully draw the lost object, every detail, think about it carefully and render it as best you can on paper.
2. Hang up the paper with the words "has anyone seen this? I can't find it."
3. You will soon find the object.

(And it may not be because someone finds it for you. You will be better primed to spot it by doing the drawing exercise.)

magic!

Are there still people who think dowsing works? It used to be rampant in the UK and US... and lingered on for longer than you'd think (there are two Time Team episodes where they gently debunk it, rather than either ignore or body slam it as I'd expect.)

But I also know it was big in the US.

Are people still creeping around claiming they can find things with bendy sticks?

@futurebird as far as I can tell everybody does it before drilling a well here. The debate is over: it’s considered common knowledge that dowsing works and you’re foolish not to hire one, even though no one can offer any scientific basis. Note, dowsers don’t just claim to find the spot to drill, they claim to measure the depth that will be required (which is pretty hyperlocally specific) and the gallons per minute (likewise). I assume it’s a scam but I don’t know how they pull it off.

Are there still people who think dowsing works? It used to be rampant in the UK and US... and lingered on for longer than you'd think (there are two Time Team episodes where they gently debunk it, rather than either ignore or body slam it as I'd expect.)

But I also know it was big in the US.

Are people still creeping around claiming they can find things with bendy sticks?

Are there still people who think dowsing works? It used to be rampant in the UK and US... and lingered on for longer than you'd think (there are two Time Team episodes where they gently debunk it, rather than either ignore or body slam it as I'd expect.)

But I also know it was big in the US.

Are people still creeping around claiming they can find things with bendy sticks?

Are there still people who think dowsing works? It used to be rampant in the UK and US... and lingered on for longer than you'd think (there are two Time Team episodes where they gently debunk it, rather than either ignore or body slam it as I'd expect.)

But I also know it was big in the US.

Are people still creeping around claiming they can find things with bendy sticks?

@futurebird long story short. I saw a guy doing it one day to mark water lines. Thought it must be complete BS. He let me hold the rods and it worked for me. I was blown away.