Full mooners

[rabbitygirl]

My local paper will investigate and keep a tally on behaviour in the town after research appeared to show more trouble about when there is a full moon. If this proves to be so just what are they going to do about it?

[Toureman]

The government will Tax it.

[stokeace]

ahhhoooooooooooooooooooooooo

[Romeo]

I suppose there would be more trouble when people show a 'full moon' in the high street.

(For those who don't get it - 'mooning' is exposing the buttocks).

[WaldoMcFroog]

There have been innumerable studies into precisely this alleged phenomena, and not one shows any conclusive corellation between the moon and behaviour. Unfortunately, the belief that there *is* such an effect is widespread.

http://skepdic.com/fullmoon.html

[ummmm]

I don't care what the research says. I worked in a mental hospital and the full moon definitely effected the patients.

Bunch of lunatics....

[stewey]

I agree with ummmm. Forget the statistics, just ask any bartender, cop, nurse, cab-driver, or anyone whose job involves direct contact with the general public. They will tell you emphatically that the appearance of a full-moon results in some really bizarre behavior. I too worked in a hospital once, although not a 'mental' one, and everyone working in the Emergency Department used to hate the midnight shifts for two or three days around the time of a full-moon.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Neither of you read that link, did you? I'd also suggest you read the comments, as it's full of people claiming as you do, and all of whom are, I'm sorry to say, equally wrong.

[stewey]

No, Waldo, I did not read the link. My response to the original question was based entirely upon my own experiences and observations. I am a great believer in the empirical process. You go out and talk, Waldo, to some of the people who I mentioned in my previous post and ask them for their opinions: real people, not 'links'.

[WaldoMcFroog]

I prefer the double blind scientific method, not confirmation bias, meself.

[stewey]

Seems to me, Waldo, you're a young folk who just discovered some fancy terminology. I noticed that you used the term 'blind'

[Oneeyedvic]

Waldo - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_co unties/6723911.stm

Extra police officers are to patrol the streets of Brighton on nights when there is a full moon.

It follows research by the Sussex force which concluded there was a rise in violent incidents when the moon was full - and also on paydays.

Insp Andy Parr said he compared crime statistics for Brighton and Hove with lunar graphs to discover the trend.



"Past research into the phenomenon includes a study by Professor Michal Zimecki, of the Polish Academy of Sciences, who argued that a full moon could affect criminal activity and health.

In 1998, a three-month psychological study of 1,200 inmates at Armley jail in Leeds discovered a rise in violent incidents during the days either side of a full moon. "

[WaldoMcFroog]

Okay then, let's play along and suppose you're right, that there is an increase in incidents at the full moon; what mechanism do you propose is at work here?

Incidentally, Vic, did the last sentence of the BBC link not make you wonder how serious an article it was?

[Oneeyedvic]

Not convinced that it is true - just giving another point of view.

Bear in mind the word Lunatic which I believe comes from Latin. I think I remember that the Romans thought that the Roman Goddess of the moon (Luna) made men crazy.

As I said, could all just be coincidence.

[bensmum]

Not going into too much detail here but I was in a relationship with someone who was agressive and I could always tell when there was a full moon because his behaviour deteriorated and I could always expect trouble.

[ummmm]

That's why I called them a bunch of lunatics !

[stewey]

Waldo, I, and others, don't know or understand why it happens. I admit I have no theories for the phenomena; i just know from personal observation that it does happen.

[WaldoMcFroog]

So, Stewey, we should believe personal testimony, with the obvious issue of cognitive biases (whoops, there's another of those words I must have just learned, besing as I'm only a teenager or whatever age I'm supposed to be) over and above scientifically rigorous studies and reviews which show that there is no provable corellation between the moon and human behaviour?

Time and time again, people have carried out studies into these alleged effects and they can find no supporting evidence. Not only can you not even propose a mechanism by which the moon is supposed to affect human behaviour, but you're apparently claiming that these lunar effects are so clever that they are able to detect a scientist in the act of investigation and stop working long enough that the results show there is no effect.

[Oneeyedvic]

Sorry Waldo, but there are other scientists who say there is potentially a link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2096988, 00.html

Just because a sceptic site doesn't believe in it doesn't mean it is not true ;-)

As I said, I can't say I believe totally in it, just trying to give a contrary view point.

[WaldoMcFroog]

I wasn't suggesting that merely because something appears on a skeptic's site that it is therefore true either, Vic. However, what that site does report is that a review of scientific papers about lunar effects shows that there is no correllation - i.e. one report may record a relationship between moon and behaviour, yet this is not backed up by other scientific studies looking at the same phenomenon - i.e. these results are not repeatable.

[mibn2cweus]

When it comes to procuring "evidence" that substantiates a cherished belief is it nothing more than coincidence that the exception stands out starkly in contrast to the rule?

What more could the irresponsible wish for than an excuse for irrational behavior. It�s a wonder, with the full moon touted as it has been for centuries as an negative influence, that much more abhorrent behavior is not associated with the �justification� offered by its appearance.

Reason applied to the pursuit of truth looms like a wooden stake over the heart of those who cling desperately to beliefs that like the werewolf can not withstand exposure to the light of day.