Hard Problem of Parapsychology

The field's foundational crisis: The apparent incompatibility of psi phenomena (telepathy, precognition, psychokinesis) with the causal, local, and time-asymmetric framework of known physics. Even if statistical anomalies in experiments exist, the hard problem is constructing a mechanism that doesn't unravel fundamental physics. How does information travel without energy (telepathy)? How does an effect precede its cause (precognition)? How does mind influence matter without force (psychokinesis)? The phenomena, if real, aren't just unexplained; they seem to require a revolution that overthrows locality, causality, or conservation laws.

Example: A precognition experiment where someone's nervous system reacts to a randomly selected emotional image seconds before the computer selects it. The hard problem: The information (the future image) has to travel backwards in time to affect the person's physiology. This isn't a "subtle energy" or "unknown field" problem. It's a violation of temporal causality, the principle that cause comes before effect. Any genuine psi phenomenon presents not just a new force to discover, but a fundamental rewrite of the physics textbook's first chapters. Hard Problem of Parapsychology.

Hard Problem of Parapsychology by Nammugal January 24, 2026

Hard Problem of Parapsychology

The field's core, frustrating dilemma: how to produce statistically significant, repeatable results for phenomena (telepathy, remote viewing) that are purported to be subtle, spontaneous, and influenced by consciousness itself—including the consciousness of the skeptical experimenter. The "hard problem" is designing an experiment that is both rigorously controlled (to prevent fraud) and sufficiently open/non-threatening to allow the purported "psi" effect to occur. It's the science of the maybe, perpetually on the edge of a breakthrough that never solidifies.

Example: "The parapsychology lab's best results came from relaxed, believing participants and experimenters. When skeptical replicators used the same protocol but with an attitude of disdain, the effect vanished. The hard problem: is psi real but 'shy,' or is the data just measuring the experimenter's own bias and the participant's desire to please?" Hard Problem of Parapsychology

Hard Problem of Parapsychology by AbzuInExile January 31, 2026

sans sheriff 

Lawless use of fonts or typography, with no regard to aesthetics or legibility

I'm putting this CV straight in the bin. Written totally sans sheriff.

sans sheriff by Jamarley July 3, 2019

Breadhead 

Someone who is addicted to obtaining money and building wealth. A money addict and fanatic. Breadheads often work more than one full-time job, and some even participate in illicit activities to "obtain the bread".

A breadhead is like a crackhead, but for money instead of crack.

Breadhead by 🅱️ U S 3 4 8 March 30, 2022

Stink lines

As seen in illustrations or cartoons: Wavy, vertical lines rising above a person, place or thing. Denotes a foul odor.

"You didn't put enough stink lines on your picture of the teacher."

Stink lines by Athene Airheart March 14, 2004

schmegegge 

Yiddish slang word meaning bullshit, baloney, hogwash, nonsense, crock of shit or hot air.

I don't buy the schmegegge about Morty sleeping with Moira.
His version of the story was pure schmegegge.
The whole schmegegge was made up to get Liz a little bit of attention.

schmegegge by budsbabe February 1, 2008

eye bleach 

Looking or experiencing something nice after witnessing something horrid like a disgusting gif or a disturbing video. Typically used as eye bleach are nice images of whatever makes the disturbed person happy.

"Bleach my eyes! Why is that woman's face ripped off!?"
*Looks up images of puppies and kittens.*
"That's good eye bleach."

eye bleach by Rini2012 November 29, 2016