Talk:What the Bleep Do We Know!?

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[edit] Can't follow the above discussion

Where are we going on this? The best new proposal was this:

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What t?e #$*! D? ?? (k) ?ow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a 2004 film, followed by an extended 2006 DVD release which combines documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and an narrative which attempts to use ideas extracted from quantum physics to rationalize or support certain new-age beliefs, with particular emphasis on those beliefs that place individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the material world. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

It needs a little work, but not a great deal. It is much closer to what the film is actually claiming (that thought can influence the world in ways that science (aka 'orthodox science' or 'mainstream science') does not accept. The other proposed versions have variations on the vague and meaningless 'connection between science and spirituality'. I like including 'New Age'. Imagine I'm flicking through the world of the internet and I want to find out exactly what this film is, in 5 seconds. The 'New Age' bit gets me right there. It seems to me this is exactly what the film is. Middle-aged hippies with cactus trees in the background, lots of 'Eastern' influence, Magick (Ramtha), mysticism dressed up as science, the absence, mostly, of Christian belief &c &c. The Rationalist (talk) 07:55, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

It's a good track R, but the problem will come in when the next two paragraphs are discussed (or insisted upon). If we'd agree that your proposal could serve as the entire lead, without further embelishment (at least for now), then I think that some very minor tweaks would make most of us very happy. Thanks. WNDL42 (talk) 08:28, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
It's not mine! I think it was by Really2012back. The Rationalist (talk) 11:15, 1 March 2008 (UTC) Re the following bits, I think we agreed to leave it be, bad as it was. The Rationalist (talk) 11:15, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
Exactly. That is a fine replacement for the first paragraph of the lead, not for the entire lead.Kww (talk) 11:28, 1 March 2008 (UaTC)

So thats 4 people in agreement - one against. Shall continue with the rest of the introduction?

Exactly what are the major issues with:

"Bleep was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente all of whom are students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, it was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million.[5][6] The film has been criticized for misrepresenting science[7][8][9][10] and containing pseudoscience[7][8], and has been described as quantum mysticism.[11][12] Really2012back (talk) 12:17, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Really not much. I think it is pretty close to the middle: for every editor that thinks the NPOV is a bit more negative than that, you will find one that thinks the NPOV is a bit more positive. It could use a citation for "unusual, grass-roots marketing methods" and "winning independent film awards".Kww (talk) 12:25, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Putting these together, with footnotes omitted for now, and with a bit of editing to reduce the clunkiness (e.g. 'attempts to use' = use)

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What t?e #$*! D? ?? (k) ?ow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a film made in 2004, followed by an extended DVD release in 2006, combining documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to rationalize or support certain new-age beliefs, particularly beliefs that make individual thought the direct creator or modifier of the physical world. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

The film was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente all of whom are students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, it was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million.

Needs a third paragraph to capture the criticism of the film, but how is it up to here? The Rationalist (talk) 13:12, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Put on the existing final paragraph, and I'm happy enough.Kww (talk) 13:57, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
Looks ok to me, depending on the third paragraph. How about changing "rationalize or support" to "attempt to support"?Rracecarr (talk) 14:03, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

I'm happy also - with the leasd that is. Really2012back (talk) 14:21, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

"Certian New Age beliefs"...Rationalist, you description of New Age is the cliche driven view. Exactly my point. Why should the reader come to this article under the topic New Age rather than as a movie . This skews the information. Note "certain" is a weasel word. Below is a version I could support...slightly copy edited with removal of New Age section.

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What t?e #$*! D? ?? (k) ?ow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a film made in 2004, followed by an extended DVD release in 2006, combining documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to rationalize or support beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.


Its reads well olive but who's beliefs? We need to clarify this and i think that "new age" does this best. Its not an "insult" or a "derogatory" term - to some it would be a positive. It is also accurate. The extreme reality modifying fews of the observer "argued" for in "What the bleep" would only be found in the "New Age" community. The descriptor is, I am afraid, accurate. Really2012back (talk) 14:44, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Edit: certain is a weasel word? In what way? It woul;d either be that or what? Really2012back (talk) 14:47, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

We can't say that only New Age people responded in this way to the movie .... thats a huge assumption on our part. I personally know people who are extremely conservative who found the movie interesting. That may be one of the phenomena connected with this movie . People who normally would not think in this way, rightly or wrongly began to think in slightly alternate ways. I don't think we need to discuss that . In the context of this lead its not important . What is important is that we cannot not make assumptions. Just make it as neutral as possible. If we use "pigeon-hole" type words we are not being accurate and are making assumptions.
Certain is indefinite as are words like many some . I would leave out the whole section as I said.(olive (talk) 16:33, 1 March 2008 (UTC))
The proposed opening is not saying that only New AGe people respond in this way. It is saying that the movie sets out certain New Age beliefs. On the use of 'certain', try leaving it out. Left out, the sentence implies that all or most new age beliefs are in question. With 'certain', only certain or particular ones, which is correct. So 'certain' has to stay - wouldn't make sense without it. The Rationalist (talk) 16:37, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

On the connection between New Age and some of the ideas expressed in the film there's a very good site here which contains the following beautiful quote:

Anyone who really thinks that "beliefs create reality" should be eager to explain how the real motions of all planets in the solar system changed from earth-centered orbits in 1500 (when this was believed by almost everyone) to sun-centered orbits in 1700 (when this was believed by almost all scientists). Did the change in beliefs (from theories of 1500 to theories of 1700) cause a change in reality (with planets beginning to orbit the sun at some time between 1500 and 1700)?

The Rationalist (talk) 16:37, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

PS I just noticed this excellent site mentions the Wikipedia article, quoting the sentence "this film has received widespread criticism from the scientific community; physicists, in particular, claim that the film grossly misrepresents the meaning of various principles of quantum mechanics, and is in fact pseudoscience." Why was that sentence ever removed? It's perfect. Why does it take a year of argument to get back to exactly where we were? Amazing. The Rationalist (talk) 16:41, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Indeed, anyway we know that it is impossible to reach total conciseness and so far only one editor is unhappy with a small part of the lead - which is a vast improvement over previouse versions. The majority are in favor so lets go ahead. Rationalist? Your far better with what WIKI calls HTML then me, would you like to box up the whole opening section here for any last minute edits - grammar, etc - before we have it inserted? Really2012back (talk) 17:42, 1 March 2008 (UTC)


Edit: um..just in case, I would like to point out I'm an agnostic - I'm just hedging my bets incase one of you lot - out there - is right. Thought I would make that position statement clear. Really2012back (talk) 17:54, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

I would request that if this is going to be a formal agreement on the lead suitable enough to ask for a lift in protection that a formal consensus be asked for.This will just make it easier in the future if there are questions about consensus.Thanks(olive (talk) 18:05, 1 March 2008 (UTC))
We also need to agree on the final 'criticism' part, which we haven't discussed. I propose we just stick in the old quantum mysticism bit, awful as it is, and have done with it. then everyone has to agree, i think. The Rationalist (talk) 18:10, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Do you mean a "vote" olive? I'm sure that can be arranged by someone with the wiki HTML knowledge. Really2012back (talk) 18:12, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

I would comment that Wikipedia is not a democracy, and that polling is not a substitute for discussion. I see no "consensus" developing here since between 8pm last night and now, nor would that even be possible. Are we really going to go down this path again? WNDL42 (talk) 18:22, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

I would add that if there is an agreement, then a formal consensus will be necessary to substantiate the agreement(olive (talk) 18:36, 1 March 2008 (UTC))

Alternatively, one could leave it in the rather silly state it is now. :-) Really2012back (talk) 18:41, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, but polling is explicly not a means of establishing consensus, from the first paragraph of WP:PNSD.

"Wikipedia works by building consensus, generally formed on talk pages or central discussion forums. Polling forms an integral part of several processes, e.g. WP:AFD; in other processes, e.g. article editing, polls are generally not used. In both cases, consensus is an inherent part of a wiki process. When conflicts arise, they are resolved through discussion, debate and collaboration. Polling, while not forbidden, should be used with care, if at all, and alternatives should be considered. In addition, even in cases that appear to be "votes", few decisions on Wikipedia are made on a "majority rule" basis, because Wikipedia is not a democracy. Apart from that, on occasion, "higher" bodies (e.g. the Arbitration Committee, Board of Trustees, or Jimbo Wales) can impose decisions regardless of consensus.

Now, may I suggest that if we think that we can move in a consensus direction, that we revert to this, where we had an undisputed consensus of nine in favor and one against. WNDL42 (talk) 18:52, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
That was a general consensus to agree to mediation, not for any particular version of the lead. No one is proposing polling to establish consensus, only to confirm one that many of us sense is there.Kww (talk) 18:59, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

My request for consensus is in the circumstances an effort to really clarify what is going on here, whether the consensus is binding or not, and I agree its not the best. As one editor in this discussion a few minutes ago, I found we were moving very quickly towards an agreement I didn't agree with. Consensus forces clarity in the circumstances . I am also not willing to go to the admin. and ask for a protection to be lifted if we do not have a very clear agreement. I have no need to go to consensus of agreement is clearly reached by all involved editors. I suggest we take a look at Wndl's suggested version and compare it to what we have now.(olive (talk) 19:04, 1 March 2008 (UTC))

The consensus that was developing included the term "new age" to now put up a version that doesn't simply muddies the waters. Heb an article is protected it does not need the agreement of all editors - this is unlikely to happen in any article - just the majority. Really2012back (talk) 04:38, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Formal request for consensus on What the Bleep lead

[edit] Version A:

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What t?e #$*! D? ?? (k) ?ow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a film made in 2004, followed by an extended DVD release in 2006, combining documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to support beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

The film was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente all of whom are students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, it was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million.

The film has been criticized for misrepresenting science[7][8][9][10] and containing pseudoscience[7][8], and has been described as quantum mysticism.[11][12]

[edit] Agree

Not perfect, but close enough.Kww (talk) 19:01, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
Agree with this version(olive (talk) 19:27, 1 March 2008 (UTC))
Agree if the grammar is corrected, and if we can agree to get 'rationalise' back in . The Rationalist (talk) 20:47, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
No complaints here. Dlabtot (talk) 23:23, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
(please consider this comment stricken): As a second choice, I can live with this if the other one is rejected. Woonpton (talk) 04:33, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Disagree

Sorry, we have to have 'New Age'. Can live with no 'rationalise'. The Rationalist (talk) 20:50, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
Comment:I have no strong feeling for or against new age. It is sourceable.Kww (talk) 21:08, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
Could agree with fairly minor changes, but "beliefs that see" would definitely need rewording. Rracecarr (talk) 23:30, 1 March 2008 (UTC)

Disagree: Whos "beliefs". However, as this article has been stalled for so long will agree to it if all else fails. Really2012back (talk) 04:40, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Version A editable version (For minor copy editing)

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What t?e #$*! D? ?? (k) ?ow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a film made in 2004, followed by an extended DVD release in 2006, combining documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative connecting science, particularly Quantum Physics, and New Age spirituality. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

The film was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente, students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, the movie was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million.

The film has been criticized for misrepresenting science[7][8][9][10] and containing pseudoscience[7][8], and has been described as quantum mysticism.[11][12]


Above: i would be happier with either the original version that we had started to get some agreement on apart from Olive - IE: "and a narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to support new age beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world. (Indeed, why was this not the version put up here for discussion anyway.?)

Or if new age is such an issue:"...and a narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to support a set of mystical beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world..."

However, again I think we need to define "who's" beliefs - . it is actually unfair to say this are similar to those of Capra - author of an often contested argument. For example in "The Tao of Physics" while stating he found a link between quantum physics and "eastern" religious thought (if philosophical Taoism can be considered a religion which I actually doubt)he never said that thought defines reality - at least in a physical sense. I have not read the Dancing Wu Wu Masters but belief that this also makes no such claim. So who's beliefs are we talking about. No offense to anyone - seriously - but the closet thing would be TM and even here it is not thought that influences reality but mediation - who's effects could not be be altered by negative intent of the mediators for example - as I understand it. I feel that if we can clear this up we can move forward quickly. However, failing that - and as "new age" is proving so problematic for some, perhaps "mystical" or "paranormal" would be better. Really2012back (talk) 10:51, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Edit: While answering a question elsewhere i think I actually found the answer to my question above - according to Geoff Gilpin's essay critical of quantum mysticism he states that the idea that consciousness creates reality comes from Maharishi Yogi - founder of TM http://www.geoffgilpin.com/pdfs/Quantum-Failure.pdf. It would thus be possible to re-edit the sentence above to say something like:

"... narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to support a set of mystical beliefs, such as those held by the founder of the TM movement that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world..." Seems a bit much but does give the reader a better idea of where this is coming from perhaps.Thoughts? Really2012back (talk) 12:09, 2 March 2008 (UTC) Thanks for that quote, Really; it puts things in perspective for me.Woonpton (talk) 13:19, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

in bold ..... any better?.... minor copy editing that doesn't change meaning.

[edit] Other Version above

[edit] Agree

The changes are fine with me.Kww (talk) 02:07, 2 March 2008 (UTC)
(please consider following comment stricken)I'm okay with this.Woonpton (talk) 04:27, 2 March 2008 (UTC)
Me 3. Rracecarr (talk) 04:32, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Disagree

Disagree. Yes it does try to connect them but to what purpose? Its is clear that the film has only oner agenda: to attempt to "prove" that thought directly influences and creates "reality".

I will repeat that the films "argument" is that thought "creates" or modifies "reality" without any other process in between. This is the entire basis of the movie. This, to me, is the major point and needs to be stated at the beginning. There are many "new age" beliefs - and indeed many of which I personally would agree with. There are equally many forms of "spirituality". Indeed, spirituality may be a mistaken term anyway. Exactly which branch of spirituality states that thought directly affects reality? Non that I know off except for things like Chaos magic, Ceremonial Magick, etc. But even here, "tools" are required - to be simplistic Sigils in the case of Chaos Magick and and intricate ceremonies in Ceremonial Magick - The Golden dawn rituals for example. And even here "thought" would be an incorrect term - it would actually be "Will" ala Crowley and perhaps more "academically" - if stretching a point - Arthur Schopenhauer. Really2012back (talk) 07:46, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Actually, I'm confused why are we all struggling with this. Are there really people here that believe thought directly creates their reality - and not in a psychological sense? Indeed, if there is - and someone wants to confirm this is the case - I personally will leave the article. The matter would then become a religious one for me and thats not an area I like to become involved in. Really2012back (talk) 04:48, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Strongly disagree mostly for the arguments that Really2012 is putting forward. The central idea of the movie is that Amanda can take control of her life not for any fundamentally psychological reasons, but because she can influence reality in an unmediated way. That is the whole point of the claims that by thought we can change the behaviour of sub-atomic processes even when they take place in a locked safe and even when the process took place in the past. That is fundamental, why do we want to miss it out? Why are we going back to the wishy-washy 'connection between science and spirituality' stuff? The Rationalist (talk) 08:28, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Disagree (I've changed my mind) This morning I woke up thinking to myself, why am I participating in a process of making meaningless mush, contributing to yet another mediocre and misleading Wikipedia article? If this is the best we can do, then I don't want any part of it. So I was glad when I came downstairs and read Really's and Rationalist's comments. I can't make my strikeout feature work (in fact none of the editing icons at the top of the editing space work for me, unless they work in an nonintuitive way that I haven't grasped yet) but I would like to withdraw my agreement with both of the comments, in line with Really's and Rationalist's objections. Woonpton (talk) 13:43, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

CommentThe words connecting spirituality and science references the Bleep discussions about itself, and is a general way of introducing this topic. This is a lead. The article itself, could contain multiple clarifications of this general wording and viewpoint. Rather than wishy washy please see this a a general view that will be expanded into more specific details later. Really, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is only one in a long line of thinkers /teachers who discusses consciousness/mind/ thought/ awareness influnces reality. To attribiute this idea to him would be be discredit thousands of years of human thought within certain traditions.

Guys for heaven's sake if you don't like this, please try to fix it/edit it so that once again this process is not stalemated. You have multiple ediotrs who are willing to compromise .... Please in that spirit edit so that we can proceed , and please realize that this is an effort to find agreement between all editors .... My heart begins to fail me in this....(olive (talk) 14:16, 2 March 2008 (UTC)) I think that's what we are trying to do Olive. If you will forgive me for saying so, they only time it seems to get "difficult" is when those ideas do not agree with yours. Agreement was certainly developing - then the re-edit was inserted with-out the major part of the first draft with which that agreement was developing. I have to agree with Woonpton. The major argument of the movie is that thought directly effects reality. This must be mentioned, while making it clear this is not a mainstream scientific idea - as the film seems to suggest - but is coming from elsewhere.

I do not wish to get into the a TM debate but would be keen to hear of these thousands of years of thinkers who believe that thought directly alters reality - at the whim of the thinker? A few names and schools would be nice. The notion that this was unusual to TM comes from one of its own former graduates. I shall now propose a third alternative - and separate it. Lets us see how we develop. Really2012back (talk) 14:36, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Really,the change I made came after concerns other editors had with the initial version which was as you failed to notice, in place in the beginning . Those edits were a direct response to the concerns of those editors. Please, if you are going to accuse be accurate. Note also that I am compromising on any version as are other editors according to their statements. None of these are my versions or versions that I support completely. Second any discussion of TM in this lead is a red herring and no I will not discuss because it has no place in the discussion . This discussion page has been characterized by numerous "side trails" and this is not what the talk page is for. It is for discussion about the article. TM is not mentioned in the movie so we don't need to discuss it, nor is a discussion of philosophical thought that concern reality as a creation of the internal psyche rather than an external world or reality needed to write this lead. Your accusations are misconstrued and offensive because they are so completely inaccurate, and given the number of hours I have spent on this article attempting to bring us to agreement not appreciated.(olive (talk) 17:22, 2 March 2008 (UTC))
TM is mentioned in the film, but only in a fairly narrow way (the Washington D.C. violence study). To portray it as a central theme of the film doesn't seem reasonable to me.Kww (talk) 17:38, 2 March 2008 (UTC)
...and in actuality the DC study was not done on the TM program but on the TM Sidhi program a different meditative technique, but thanks for the clarification Kww.(olive (talk) 18:05, 2 March 2008 (UTC))

Olive: I was not accusing you of anything - I was simply responding. I think you will find that after bringing TM up I then dropped it. However, to clarify, as you are more then well aware, TM is not only mentioned regarding the DC study but one of the few "physicists" that the producers were able to drag out to support their "thory" was Haglin, who is not only a TMer, but professor of physics at MUM university - TMs very own university, head of the natural law party (Tms political wing) former TM presidential candidate (who suggest all candidates should have a "brain scan" to confirm if they were suitable to become president and in a recent interview said that yogic flying was valid with people floating into the air 6000 feet (he went on to say that this was easily possible once you realized that Newtons theory of gravity was "out of date" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHwhGUo90jw ) As to the TM Sidhi program not being TM? Well, i think most people would disagree but would be happy to continue this in the TM article. But as I have decided to leave that - on religious grounds - let us continue to try to get this article moving forward.Really2012back (talk) 18:48, 2 March 2008 (UTC) Yes, Really given the amount of time I've spent on this article, usually at some junction point when agreement is possible because in part I and other editors compromise our or my principles in attempts to establish a collaborative environment this is an insult, and untrue...... "it seems to get difficult is when those ideas do not agree with yours." Normally I would ignore it but today ..... just fed up with being insulted.(olive (talk) 20:27, 2 March 2008 (UTC))

*Sigh* Olive it was not an insult, it was fact. re-read. at least four editors had agreed on the new intro - you then said you did not - which was perfectly reasonable. I then suggested putting it to a vote and asked for someone to do the wiki style thing. This, you did, but instead of putting the version up that had begun to gain agreement, you placed only one - the one without the rather innocent term "new age". This may have been a ginuine mistake - such things happen - but it lead to confusion. When this lead to editors voting against "your" version - without "new age" and those - as people have said a tad "wishy washy" you replied with your comment above regarding being tired and wishing people would co-operate. Thats what people are trying to do olive. Comments such as:"My heart begins to fail me in this" do not help., etc and putting things "in Bold" equally do not help. Prior to this development was taking place. If you and other people are not happy because that development does not clearly state the clear intent of the film that is hardly anyone else's fault. If, using WIKI guidelines - which you are more then familiar - you believe that the movie does not argue a world view that places human thought at the center of direct creation and manipulation of reality and that this idea is not central to the movie then please supply the evidence and argument and we will have no need to discuss it further. If this idea is central to the movie then it most be included in the intro. To exclude it would be like not mentioning, in an introduction to Christianity, or Hinduism, or Taoism for example that they were religions. Or stating that the Cult Of Ramtha - or what ever its called - is not the philosophy of a channeled philosopher from Mu Mu or wherever. If you feel insulted then apologies but knowing that you come from an academic back-round it surprises me. This is the nature of debate - even the most civilized. However, equally note that editors who had been working togeather - and gaining slow agreement may be insulted by an editor coming half way through the process and accusing them of not doing so - simply when they do not immediatly agree with said editor.Really2012back (talk) I will reiterate none of those versions were mine, Really. You may characterize the comments and discussions as you wish. I consider that characterization to absolutely not to be what I was doing, and so inaccurate. I have said all I can on the matter.(olive (talk) 21:36, 2 March 2008 (UTC)) Your nobout right Olive - i think it has simply been "one of those days - this article is exhusting to put it mildly. Apologies.Really2012back (talk) 21:39, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Note that TM is only one part of the movie where these claims are made. Again, see my transcripts of the movie for reference purposes. Stuart Hameroff, Dean Radin, Lynne McTaggart all make different versions of the claim that thought can affect reality in paranormal ways. Note also that the main scientific objection to the movie is NOT the claims themselves. It's the support that science is supposed to give to these claims, and the fact that the 'experts' are all accredited as such in the end titles. So, can we leave TM out of it? It's not to do with mysticism or religion. The problem is when these are rationalised by appeals to bad science that there is a problem. The Rationalist (talk) 18:54, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Other" Version editable version (For minor copy editing)

NB - inserting "the other version" - it seems wise to actually look at it if its been voted on.

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What t?e #$*! D? ?? (k) ?ow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a film made in 2004, followed by an extended DVD release in 2006, combining documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to support new age beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life. The film was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente all of whom are students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, it was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million. The film has been criticized for misrepresenting science[7][8][9][10] and containing pseudoscience[7][8], and has been described as quantum

[edit] Lead: Version C?

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What t?e #$*! D? ?? (k) ?ow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a film made in 2004, followed by an extended DVD release in 2006, combining documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to support paranormal/mystical beliefs that individual thoughts can make changes to the world at will. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

The film was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente, students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, the movie was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million.

The film has been criticized for misrepresenting science[7][8][9][10] and containing pseudoscience[7][8], and has been described as quantum mysticism.[11][12]



[edit] Editing Space

[edit] Agree

Again, no big issues with this one.Kww (talk) 17:39, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

I'm happy Really2012back (talk) 18:35, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Disagree

[edit] Offending section

Olive: before starting yet another section lets see how things go on version c above. lets give people time to respond first please rather then confuse the issue with more choices. I think this is where things have gone undune before. thanks Really2012back (talk) 18:34, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Since this is an article about a MOVIE

why not leave the sources for analysis to the proper field, the movie reviewers. The science reviews shold be included as well, but they are a distinct minority, and should be given the appropriate weight. I'm sure this suggestion will be controversial, since it will undercut the desires to use this article as a POV vehicle, but what the hey....that's Hollywood! Boodlesthecat (talk) 18:54, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

LOL, thats not a bad idea Bood, and indeed one I first had when I first came to it - you will find my comments regarding that somewhere here. But alas no one went with it and to be honest the more I have thought about it i agree with them. However, I do wonder why we are all bothering sometimes. This thing is already fading form peoples memories I would suspect, especially anyone who tried it and still isn't, flying, irrisistable to the opposite/same sex, a multimillionaire despite continued wishing, etc. Mind you, bet the producers and ramtha made a few dollars - although exactly what a 35,000 year old Atlantian would do with it is debatable. :-)Really2012back (talk) 19:01, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Duh that link was not a review it was copied from the press release. 'Artful filmic dance' indeed. Try this for a proper review from the BBC. The Rationalist (talk) 19:05, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

a documentary aimed at the totally gullible [...]

  • Shifting from quantum theory to mystical mumbo jumbo in the blink of an eye, it blends hard science fact with Star Trek visuals, and talking head interviewees with a deadly dull drama about hearing impaired photographer Amanda
  • It's tough to separate the science fact from the science fiction in this attempt to explain life, the universe and everything
  • If you take What The Bleep at face value, you'll believe that it's been scientifically proven that labelling jars of tap water with negative or positive words actually changes the shapes of the water molecules themselves, or that mass meditation can reduce crime rates, or that reality is just a holodeck, or... Well, you get the idea.
  • "LESS STEPHEN HAWKING, MORE OPRAH WINFREY"
  • Eagerly pushing a New Age agenda this is less Stephen Hawking, more Oprah Winfrey: the self-help manual for the multiplex audiences of the 21st century. It feels like an advert for a cult, so it's no surprise to learn that the filmmakers allegedly have ties to the kooky folk at the Ramtha School of Enlightenment. Credulity required.

The Rationalist (talk) 19:05, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Um, perhaps we should leave it to the reviewers after all - i would vote for inclusion of that.Really2012back (talk) 19:07, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

PS [edit conflict] On whether we should just leave this alone, I thought about that too. However 1. If you Google 'What the bleep' you get a whole load of promotional stuff - this movie was sold via the internet. There is nothing credible on the first page of Google hits except this article, which is part of the reason it has become a battleground. There have been accusations that Wikipedia itself has been infiltrated, hence this page is seen as the Checkpoint Charlie of the battle between New Age and Science. The Rationalist (talk) 19:09, 2 March 2008 (UTC)
Indeed I did try in one of my first edits here to write an introduction more in line with the truth. It got shot down in 8 minutes. You have to remember there is a huge amount of money in the new age industry. The film made a lot of money, and Ramtha himself has a large mansion with Cadillacs. It not inconceivable that they are paying people to mess around with this article. The Rationalist (talk) 19:13, 2 March 2008 (UTC)
Rationalist, your example of an intro is precisely the sort of wild POV pushing I was talking about. And the link I provided is a link to DOZENS of reviews, if you would slow down and actually read what someone else posts before dive-bombing in with an opinion you've voiced dozens of times. But in any case, I give up--this talk page is longer than all of last year's film scripts combined, and is a waste of time to participate in. Boodlesthecat (talk) 19:23, 2 March 2008 (UTC)
Where is the 'POV pushing'? Every sentence is true. It HAS provoked a storm of controversy for its misrepresentation of mysticism as science. It DOES mix clips presenting scientific facts in an educational or documentary manner (including interviews with genuine experts), together with philosophical interpretations of these facts by non-experts, as well as claims, presented in the same documentary style, that are not factual at all. And so on. Where exactly are you coming from? The Rationalist (talk) 19:55, 2 March 2008 (UTC) PS if you are going to give up that would be a wonderful thing, because all your contributions to this page have been a complete waste of our time. The Rationalist (talk) 19:56, 2 March 2008 (UTC)
Insults are not productive, Rationalist, and speak for yourself on this matter. Every editor has the right to speak, and all comments shed light no matter how small the light might be. Boodles has a strong awareness of policy which is useful in this discussion(olive (talk) 20:04, 2 March 2008 (UTC))
Edit conflict...I apologize Rationalist if my comment seems harsh . I find the Wikipedia environment right now to be somewhat toxic and I guess I have lost patience . We all need to be more tolerant me included.(olive (talk) 21:06, 2 March 2008 (UTC))
And I apologise for losing my cool for a second. Let's try and get this article right. The Rationalist (talk) 21:20, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

I know that R can respond for her/himself however, that is a tad unfair. After a good start and a polite reply by R, i personally felt that Boodles comment and response was insulting, or at least over-reacting - I quote:

Rationalist, your example of an intro is precisely the sort of wild POV pushing I was talking about. And the link I provided is a link to DOZENS of reviews, if you would slow down and actually read what someone else posts before dive-bombing in with an opinion you've voiced dozens of times. But in any case, I give up--this talk page is longer than all of last year's film scripts combined, and is a waste of time to participate in." 21:01, 2 March 2008 (UTC)Really2012back (talk)

I stand by that description, and in addition, I'm through with "Rationalist"'s insinuations that I am a "paid" "infiltrator" on this page (or any page). Not very rational, not very polite, and certainly not something this article is worth me sticking around for. Seeee ya. Boodlesthecat (talk) 22:44, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Rationalist: Its odd really,having read your introduction, if this was a "real" published encyclopedia your introduction would have been accepted. Odd really.The thing that worries me about WIKI is that undergraduate students refer to it all the time - despite been told not to. This is why i can come across as a tad obsessive about the reflection of accuracy in any article that uses "science" to support its argument. i have no difficulty with "new age" beliefs, far from it, it is only when they miss use science to support their essentially spiritual arguments. This is even more so when they are profiting from it. Really2012back (talk) 23:02, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Comments removed from this page

Yesterday, after olive said that her objection to "new age" was only in response to other editors' objections, I looked back through the discussion and found that the actual evidence pointed otherwise: the proposal was made, several editors quickly agreed with the proposal, one with a minor edit suggestion (that had nothing to do with "new age") and then olive raised her objection. I don't object to olive's objection (in fact in my voting later I tried to accommodate her objection) but I do object to inaccurate descriptions of fact. I wrote out a transcript of the relevant discussion for the record, but before I submitted it, I thought about it, decided I didn't want to add to the rancor on the page even by setting the record straight, and took a break.

Today I came back and found that the inaccurate statement had been repeated at least once, if not twice, and decided that rancor or not, the record needed to be set straight. Unfortunately I hadn't saved my previous transcript, so went back to the discussion to copy it out again, but found that, oddly, yesterday's discussion didn't read the same as it did yesterday. Some of the comments just weren't there any more. My memory is pretty good for things like this, especially after I had copied out these comments in order the day before, so I went to the history page, and just glancing down it, saw an edit summary that read "removed 'edit warring' conversation..."

I didn't go farther and check exact diffs to see which comments were removed; that's not the issue here, nor is the issue whether the removal of comments affects the question of the accuracy or inaccuracy of the statement I was disputing. The issue (and if I could make this sentence bold, or blue, it would be so, because this sentence needs strong emphasis) the issue is that someone removed comments from this page.

The person who removed comments from this page has been told before, on this page and on an administrative action he brought last week, that removing other people's comments is not okay, so I can't see any mitigating circumstance, like ignorance of the rule, that would excuse or justify this behavior. I've reached the end of my rope. I can work with disagreement (and BTW, I really resent comments that don't appreciate that we're all trying to work together here to reach a compromise) but I can't work in a situation where history is altered by removal of comments from the talk page. This not acceptable. Woonpton (talk) 14:31, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

Actually, Woonpton my comments about New Age are my own and my own objections , and I never at anytime said that those concerns were from other editors . I did add this: "connecting science, particularly Quantum Physics, and New Age spirituality." to the version in place in the consensus discussion despite my concerns with this phrase. Please note that I added New Age not edited it out. My comment was that I added these edits as a response because of other editor's concerns . However I'm not surprised this mistake was made; the whole discussion is such a muddle.
If I remember correctly the material removed was done in good faith to prevent escalation of an otherwise already volatile situation . I thought both parties behaved very well given the circumstances and both seemed to agree to the removal of each other's comments . This article is a cesspool of bad feeling and frustration and I if there is going to be progress .... what an interesting idea... it will have to be with the consent of all editors to assume the very best faith they can. If thats the situation you are talking about.(olive (talk) 17:42, 3 March 2008 (UTC))
It was utterly clear to me that Littleolive's removal of her own edit was in 100% good faith and was done at the request of another editor, clear from her edit summary. Woonpton, why the rant? WNDL42 (talk) 17:56, 3 March 2008 (UTC)
and actually that may be another instance .... I'm not sure what you are referencing here Woonptoon so forgive me if I'm being dense . I also removed material I had added at the request of Really who felt it was too soon to continue with that part of the discussion . I don' think there were any personal comments on that removal but maybe. If so I apologize and those comments can be returned.(olive (talk) 18:17, 3 March 2008 (UTC))


All, Olive removed her comments - not really a a comment but a new section which i felt at that time might confuse things - and thanks to Olive for doing so. However, this is not what Woonpton is talking about. Instead, it seems s/he is talking about a series of comments regarding the articles newest edits - these were important to the development of the work here and I have to agree should not have been deleted. It was this in part, that lead to the confusion between me and olive. Comments simply should not be deleted - there is no need to do so. If discussion becomes "heated" on occasion then this is simply part of any debate - no matter the good intentions of those present - it maybe regrettable but as i am assuming we are all adults something that i am sure we can cope with on occasion. Its odd indeed, that in truth the comments deleted were not actually that "heated" and made no sense to be deleted but instead lead to confusion later on. there have been far worse things said on this page - and between individual editors when discussing other editors then anything here. Things such as science "facist", etc, etc. So, can we attempt to get back to the agreement that we had nearly achieved before it went wrong. Really2012back (talk) 18:34, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, I'm trying to get caught up after taking some family time over the weekend, so, Really2012, can you e-mail or post (talk page) me the diff that you think woonpton is talking about? Only thing I can find is this irritated rant, and the editor self reverted (quite nicely, I thought) and left a comment about it's removal.
Meanwhile, perhaps Woonpton will remove or endorse removal of this section...as it does nothing other than accuse someone-who-we-don't-know-who-it-is of something-or-another-which-we-don't-know-what-it-is. Woonpton? WNDL42 (talk) 18:43, 3 March 2008 (UTC)


I don't know Woon personally so can only assume he means this http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:What_the_Bleep_Do_We_Know%21%3F&diff=195201260&oldid=195190869. I was not even aware that even more had been removed :-/. perhaps we should simply leave this here where it is. There is far to much removal of comments as it is it seems. I would however, like to see some progress being made on the article itself - would be nice :-) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Really2012back (talk • contribs) 19:34, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

edit: By the way - due to the way it was removed it completly changes the context of my comment just after. Really2012back (talk) 19:38, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

(3rd edit conflict) I was about to post the very same diff but you got their first. In fairness, I can see why it was removed. And perhaps we should get on with agreeing a suitable lead, yes. The Rationalist (talk) 19:39, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Did we all give up?

Discussion on this page seems to have completely come to a halt. Everyone need a few more days off, or is it time to get started again?Kww (talk) 13:48, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

I'll be around later today KWW.... see if we can give it another chance.(olive (talk) 14:49, 8 March 2008 (UTC))

I gave up - felt that my contributions were heating - rather help resolve - an already heated issue. Good luck :-) Really2012back (talk) 15:22, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Compressing discussion towards agreement

Version A - in place in article now


What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What tнe #$*! Dө ωΣ (k) πow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a 2004 film, followed by an extended 2006 DVD release, which combines documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative to describe a metaphysical connection between science and spirituality.[1][2] The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

Bleep was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente all of whom are students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, it was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million.[5][6]

The film has been criticized for misrepresenting science[7][8][9][10] and containing pseudoscience[7][8], and has been described as quantum mysticism.[11][12]


Version B


What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What t?e #$*! D? ?? (k) ?ow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a film made in 2004, followed by an extended DVD release in 2006, combining documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative connecting science, particularly Quantum Physics, and New Age spirituality. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

The film was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente, students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, the movie was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million.

The film has been criticized for misrepresenting science[7][8][9][10] and containing pseudoscience[7][8], and has been described as quantum mysticism.[11][12]

Just for the record, this version is not the version that's in place in the article now, so I would recommend striking that phrase for accuracy's sake. I'm not advocating bringing back the lead that's in place now for discussion, only for not misrepresenting Version A above as the lead that's in place in the article now. Thanks. Woonpton (talk) 21:16, 8 March 2008 (UTC)
Shoot .... I copied the lead version but changed the heading and changed pages and didn't recopy .... very sorry everyone. I'll add the lead version and thanks Woonpton.....(olive (talk) 21:23, 8 March 2008 (UTC))


Version C


What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What t?e #$*! D? ?? (k) ?ow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a film made in 2004, followed by an extended DVD release in 2006, combining documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to support beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

The film was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente all of whom are students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, it was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million.

The film has been criticized for misrepresenting science[7][8][9][10] and containing pseudoscience[7][8], and has been described as quantum mysticism.[11][12]


Tortured wording. How about replacing the bolded phrase with using ideas extracted from quantum physics to support the new age belief that human thoughts directly create or modify the physical world.? Rracecarr (talk) 17:19, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
Agree - good concise wording, summarises exactly the point of the film, neat, elegant. I go with that. The Rationalist (talk) 17:25, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Comments towards Consensus:

First


Any chance we could deal with this contentious section first first

  • I have placed above two versions of the lead .... (one is in place now in the article), and have highlighted the most contentious section.... these are just examples of different versions.
  • If we could agree on the contentious section and put it in place we could possibly have the article unprotected , and could resume work on the rest of the article.
  • If we could agree to not edit war and perhaps even agree on a 1RR rule we could also continue working on the lead if need be
  • If we could we agree to discuss just the article and not the many side line topics that have come up we could possibly agree on the lead and on the article, and again have protection lifted

Second


Any chance we could deal with this contentious section second

  • I think Pseudoscience and metaphysical have caused some editors concerns . Are there other words or wordings for this


Finally


  • This is an attempt to compress this discussion and hopefully all will realize its not attempt to include or exclude but to compress so we have a workable format
  • If you agree to a version please say so in a few words.If not included a reworded version below
  • Could all suggestions be included below, and include actual rewording, and short comments if needed ... and lets not touch the versions above since the last time we did that disaster.
  • We are trying to get agreement here .... otherwise our hands are really tied in terms of working on the article itself .... we need the article to be unprotected for progress to occur
  • I would think that if we don't come to some consensus soon a mediation will be in order.(olive (talk) 20:32, 8 March 2008 (UTC))
The best way for this to get some consensus would be for you to f-- off. Just stop wasting our time and trying our patience, as you have tried, and exhausted mine. You have no intention of coming to any reasonable agreement about this article, with this persistent trolling. The Rationalist (talk) 15:30, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
What? This article has been the site of numerous discussions that have very little to do with this article and I have attempted to compress the major concerns of the editors involved and to come to some kind of agreement so the article can be unlocked . This is a discussion . You will note that I have compromised my position on the lead multiple times . I have no idea why you feel its appropriate to use foul language to talk about trolling .... what are you talking about? ..... Do you see a agreement on anything in this article . As long as the article is protected we can't move on ..... what are you doing?(olive (talk) 15:39, 9 March 2008 (UTC))

[edit] Comments on contentious section B

  • Could agree to the lead for now, but would prefer more general wording than what is in place such as:
  • Instead of: connecting science, particularly Quantum Physics, and New Age spirituality

would prefer: connecting Science and spirituality(olive (talk) 20:39, 8 March 2008 (UTC))

I hear what you are saying, but I think it's a losing battle. You and I could agree, every editor looking on could agree, and New Age would be back in the article within a week of being unprotected. It's in too many sources too keep out. I won't insist on it keeping it, but some new editor's going to look at the article, and put it right back in.Kww (talk) 20:42, 8 March 2008 (UTC)
Hey, I'm not attached. Write a version of the contentious sentence I guess we just need to agree on something and I will compromise for sure.
  • well how about:

Connecting Science and New Age spirituality.(olive (talk) 21:05, 8 March 2008 (UTC))

I could live with that.Kww (talk) 21:22, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Science is too vague. The movie tries to make the claim that it is particularly quantum physics that is making the connection. By keeping it vague we are misleading the reader into thinking that there is more to the connections than just quantum quackery. ScienceApologist (talk) 15:06, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I agree with SA on this. I'm a little surprised "new age" is acceptable to olive today when it wasn't last week; is it because then the phrase was used to describe the movie, and now it's describing the spirituality described in the movie? I still don't understand why the term is unacceptable when applied to the film, but if it's acceptable in the present usage, how about "a narrative connecting quantum physics and new age spirituality"  ? I could go with that as long as it's pointed out clearly in the lead, either with a qualifier that specifies that the connection is a purported connection or an attempt to make a connection, or/and by leaving the third sentence of the lead as it is as present, making clear that the film's representations of the connection are not well received among scientists.Woonpton (talk) 17:55, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
Anything 'connecting' something with something is a copout, unless you are specific about what the connection is. Specifically, the main theme of the film is that we can improve our lives by using certain occult powers of the mind, supposedly given to us by quantum physics, to change the material world. That is the connection asserted throughout the film that is what should go in the lead. See Racecarr's version above, if you can find it. The Rationalist (talk) 18:34, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Note: I changed the heading of this section from "A" to "B" since the comments above are to the lead that was first called "A" but is now called "B;" I was finding it confusing as labeled. Woonpton (talk) 18:17, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Let me spell this out. "Connecting Science and New Age spirituality" is rubbish, because it is true of a wide range of things which the film is never saying. Be specific. The film is saying (a) that the human mind has all sorts of powers over the material world, such as telekinesis, the power to alter the past &c (b) these powers are commonly regarded as new age/paranormal/occult/supernatural &c (c) that the existence of such powers is supported by science. THESE THREE FACTS NEED TO GO INTO THE LEAD. HAVE I SPELLED THIS OUT ENOUGH?
While not very good, the quote below captures these facts best:

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What t?e #$*! D? ?? (k) ?ow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a film made in 2004, followed by an extended DVD release in 2006, combining documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to support new age beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

The film was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente all of whom are students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, it was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million. The film has been criticized for misrepresenting science[7][8][9][10] and containing pseudoscience[7][8], and has been described as quantum

Why this resistance to the truth going into an encyclopedia? The Rationalist (talk) 15:26, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
Rationalist you do not own this article . If you want to discuss your version and get an agreement from other editors do so. Start making changes and edits and contribute the whats going on please, and stop assuming bad faith . I am amazed at your response to this. Truth is not encyclopedic Verifibaility is. Collaborate and find what is verifiable... get agreement and then we can unprotect What are you doing\? (olive (talk) 15:44, 9 March 2008 (UTC))
This is bullshit. Try looking up 'verifiability' and you will see it has quite a lot to do with truth. Stop wasting my time. The Rationalist (talk) 16:50, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
My suggestion is to find a few reliable sources that contain a phrasing similar to support new age beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world. They won't use the exact words, but you are somewhere in the middle of a number of descriptions. Once you have that, you can modify the sentence to correspond to them very closely, and then cite the description. That way, there isn't an argument about the accuracy of the description.Kww (talk) 16:22, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

OK. First step: a reliable source according to which the film is claiming that thought can modify the world directly

  • Dean Radin's assertions about telekinesis at the end of the film. (I have already mentioned this)
  • Lynne McTaggart's assertions about how the mind can alter what is in the past
  • The claim that thoughts expressed in messages can affect water molecules.

I can get precise references to these, but presumably someone will object that we cannot use parts of the film itself as a reliable source?

If this is acceptable, the next step would be reliable sources that show that these claims are 'New Age'. But one step at a time. The Rationalist (talk) 16:44, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

PS On reaching agreement with other editors, Olive, you are the only one who seems to be disagreeing. Hence my lack of patience with what looks like TROLLING. The Rationalist (talk) 16:46, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I suggest you reread the discussion . Non of these versions are mine, and I have compromised in multiple places during the months of this ongoing discussion, because my first priority is to edit the article, and is not to make or prove any kind of point, or to have "my" version in the article.(olive (talk) 17:29, 9 March 2008 (UTC))
NO you re read the discussion. You came in today with 'Connecting Science and New Age spirituality' as a suggestion which has been much discussed and rejected. This constant ground-shifting, back-tracking and thorough misuse and misreading of Wikipedia policy is TROLLING plain and simple. Got that? The Rationalist (talk) 17:35, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Quotes

These are the quotes I had in mind:

Lynne McTaggart]. We are finding non-locality everywhere. In our bodies, in space, from stars. In regions of the zero point field, everything is connected. And so we have this, this involvement in everything. We are our world. There is no 'out there' out there. There is no place where we and everything else begins. We are all connected.


[Dean Radin]. You take this notion of an entangled universe, and you apply it to human experience, because human experience is part of the universe as well. And you say, well, let's assume that the experience is entangled, and then how would it manifest, and we could start going through ways in which it would manifest. There is connection with another mind - we call it telepathy. There's a connection to some other object somewhere, we would call it clairvoyance. There's a connection that transcends time, we call it precognition. There is a connection in which my intention is expressed in the world in some way, we might call it psychokinesis, or distant healing or something of that sort. So you can go through a list of perhaps 12 kinds of psychic experience - and they've gotten labels over the years, like telepathy - but this really is just the tip of the iceberg.

[Stuart Hameroff] I think entanglement - collapse in one system inducing collapse in another, actually what happens is a parapsychological phenomena. And it's also true that time can go backwards so that they don't even have to be simultaneous. One can occur before or after the other. And you get experiences, particularly when, when patients report leaving their body and floating above them, watching their bodies being worked on, could be do to the fact that consciousness ultimate is a process of fundamental space-time geometry.

The Rationalist (talk) 16:47, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

I'll defend Olive a bit. She comes from a perspective very different from mine or yours, but she shows the ability to compromise, and tends to respect well-sourced statements. Very different from some of our tendentious editors. Compare her to Wndl42, for example, and I think you will see a major difference.
As for your sources, that isn't what I meant. Don't find sources that you would describe as support new age beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world, find sources that say support new age beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world or something similar. The goal is to be able to demonstrate that multiple reliable sources agree with your assessment of the film. Like I said, your description seems pretty middle-of-the-road to me, so finding a few supporting sources that use similar phrasing shouldn't be an overwhelming task.Kww (talk) 17:03, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
Sorry, what are you talking about? First, I said above I was going to move one step at a time. First step, produce reliable sources, in this cases QUOTATIONS FROM THE FILM that are evidence of claims about thought affecting reality in all sorts of unorthodox ways. Two (which I haven't done yet), produce reliable sources that these claims are 'New Age'. I have sources, but I am going one step at a time. I think you are suggesting that we can only cut and paste from reliable sources. Wrong, that isn't policy at all. The Rationalist (talk) 17:09, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
Rationalist:However you decide to approach finding information and sources you must use relaible verifuable sources, WP:Reliable, and WP:Verifiablity, the lead's synatx and construction must comply with WP:Weight, WP:Lead,there can be no WP: OR and there must be agreement from the other editors before the version can be considered viable , and believe me, I am the least of your problems - there are many editors to consider here. Thats the beauty of collaboration. You might want to recheck these policies. I reread them multiple times myself.(olive (talk) 17:46, 9 March 2008 (UTC))
Duh I am using transcripts from the film itself. These are reliable and verifiable. We have already discussed the relevance of WP:Weight. What is your point, other than trying my patience? Take some time to read carefully what I am saying, and stop repeating the bleeding obvious. The Rationalist (talk) 17:55, 9 March 2008

(UTC)

You might want to consider civility.(olive (talk) 18:10, 9 March 2008 (UTC))
I will when you stop trying my patience. The Rationalist (talk) 18:30, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
I'm not suggesting that you can only cut and paste from reliable sources. I am suggesting that it is the single safest way to avoid having people accuse you of violating WP:SYNTH or other variations of WP:OR. This article is a battleground, and unassailable positions are few and far between.Kww (talk) 20:45, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
Rationalist, you are quote farming the film selectively, and your posts here are no more relevant than "Drew's script-o-rama" was. Now, since your attempts at citing transcripts have repeatedly crashed and burned in embarassing flames, Olive's point is well made no matter how much you attack it by repeatedly asserting that (a) your "work" qualifies as a reliable source (it does not), or that (b) your "patience" is being tried. If you lack the patience for civil discourse, then that is your problem, not ours, right? WNDL42 (talk) 20:46, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
THIS IS F--ING UNBELIEVABLE. SO I AM NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE ANY ASSERTION BASED DIRECTLY ON WHAT THE FILM SAYS???? And I am NOT quote-farming. Quite obviously not. The whole point of the film is that she can get out of the mess by using the power of her mind to control reality. Why not watch the film? The Rationalist (talk) 21:07, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
Essentially, no, you aren't. You're right, that's the point of the film. But you drawing that conclusion is original research on your part. Quoting and summarizing others that reached the same conclusion is not. The Hollywood Reporter says "The film offers the theory that you can make your own reality", the Winnipeg Sun says "We like WTBDYK, a film about creating your own reality via thought", What is Enlightenment at wie.org says "In fact, the idea that you create your own reality is the New Age notion lying at the heart of What the Bleep, the fundamental concept upon which all its other ideas thrive." The distributor says "This movie is about individual thinking. Individual control over your future -- and your own reality." Like I said, your desired sentence can be sourced.Kww (talk) 21:23, 9 March 2008 (UTC)
Well I thought someone would say that, but what about WP:DCBO? The Rationalist (talk) 21:37, 9 March 2008 (UTC) [edit] I mean, if something is both true and patently obvious, and when it seems both sides know this, that's when I start to get angry. It seems to me the other side of this debate privately think (and even publicly admit in one or two instances) that the film is a pile of crap. They are obfuscating and ground-shifting just to make short-tempered people like me hopping made and swearing &c. The Rationalist (talk) 21:40, 9 March 2008 (UTC)


A policy best honoured in the breech. What is obvious to you is obviously not obvious to others, or we wouldn't be in the position we are in. This battle has gone on for so long that I'm taking a very mechanical position on things ... whatever is in the lead has to be so well sourced that it is undeniable by a reasonable participant on either side.
On that other part, there is some of that. I can assure you that Olive is not the source. She has been consistent in asking for a few things, and compromises when you can point out that your position is better sourced than hers. MartinPhi can be irritating as all hell, but has been pretty consistent in drawing a few lines that he won't allow to be crossed and being reasonable if you don't try to cross them (essentially, he thinks "tosh", "balderdash", "nonsense", etc. are too loaded for the lead, and won't permit statements along the lines of "WTB is crap"[1][2] as opposed to "WTB is referred to as crap[1][2]""). Even the one that infuriates me the most doesn't jump positions ... he just clings tenaciously to a few untenable ones, and ignores all counters.Kww (talk) 21:59, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Quote farming

What I mean by "quote farming" is that (in this example) Lynne McTaggart's long exposition about the fact that we cannot "control" our destinies (in which she uses the Superbowl competitors as one of a number of examples) is excluded from Rationalist's example, and so the following constructions for the lead are based on an incomplete and out-of-context quotation leading to a faulty conclusion. Also, Joseph Dispenza is quite clear that there is no such "direct control" over the material world, as in Jeffrey Satinover's "kicking a rock" sequence, etc. In fact, I cannot recall a single statement from the film that implies direct and unmitigated personal control or manipulation of material objects. WNDL42 (talk) 02:13, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Modifying reality by thought" (arbitrary break)

Sure, though not all of it is a pile of crap, a lot of it is. Kww does a good job of saying my positions, which is about the first time someone who's on the "other side" has done so, ever. I find that some of the skeptical people on this article are, unusually, not being wikilawyers, but being sincere. We once had a consensus, put it in, and then a certain person, as usual, came in and busted it. I do admire the way Kww has dealt with this thing. I originally thought he was another who couldn't be dealt with. Since Rationalist does in fact seem to be a person of good faith -and I say that based on his tendency to yell but not to slimily wikilawyer his way to his POV-, I'd just say that if you meet the wrong editor, you're gonna get zapped. There is any amount of material up above which could get you blocked bigtime. In addition, you aren't getting much done yelling all over the place. And you really ought to be nice to olive. After all, olive didn't report you, and if she had you'd be blocked right now.
It looks like we're still talking about the lead. I don't have a problem with the current one, except that the mention of the school of enlightenment 1) may not be justified, and 2) is put in a way that it is a non sequitur to the rest of the sentence, and thus comes across as an obvious POV push. I would be better to put it in another place. I have heard that the school is just a Buddhist school with a channeller in charge, and not some sort of cult really? Also, "misrepresenting science" and "containing pseudoscience" are the same thing.... choose one.
Version B above is better. "Quantum physics" ought to be specifically stated. I do however preemptively draw the line at things like "quantum quackery." In the lead at least. Rationalist's version "a narrative using ideas extracted from quantum physics to support new age beliefs that see individual thought as the direct creator or modifier of the physical world." isn't bad either, but probably too detailed. It's true that the film is a good source for the article. If (and I didn't read that....) Rationalist is trying to present some sort of OR, that would be bad.
I rather think that there are several versions which do not raise any real red flags (they aren't derogatory except in an attributed sense, they aren't biased in terms of WEIGHT, they present the facts). I think people should consider settling. The version B looks like the closest to a compromise from a fairly detailed scan of the sections above. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 06:18, 10 March 2008 (UTC)


Hi martinphi, I'm not getting involved in this but for one point - and you make some very good points by the way - if i had to side with any "religion" (which it might argued it isn't by some/many/most anyway)it would be Zen Buddhism and I can assure you that having looked at the ramtha school and its teachings it certainly isn't Buddhism. If you can find some evidence to support this I would be intrigued. But it is no more "Buddhism" then Capras book is about "Taoism". I actually find this "high-jacking" of certain thought by some groups as disagreeable as I do their miss-interpreting of "science" but there you go. Really2012back (talk) 16:25, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

WNDL told me that. Perhaps I misunderstood then. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 05:11, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

Can I also ask (this is direct at everyone not Martin) - just so I can get a better understanding - why certain people dislike a lead that states that the film says you can alter reality directly by thought? It's "obvious" that this is what the film is saying - it makes it clear throughout, yet people want to change it to connect spirituality with science or whatever. Personally, I'm not bothered but curious as why stating the films central thesis - which it doesn't hide and indeed, make implicit - is so "controversial"?Really2012back ([[User talk:Really2012back|talk]]) 16:34, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

From my side I have no concern with the information if its sourced and it is , but concerns with putting specific information in the lead that may belong in the main body of the article . This is just a mechanical, technical point that has to do with writing the introduction to a larger body of information . I suspect that fixations on the lead has also led us to forget there is a whole article here that can include a lot of information and even more than it contains now. I can't speak for anyone else.(olive (talk) 16:49, 10 March 2008 (UTC))
Thank you for the reply Olive - I feel that this might be helpful in gaining agreement. Just my thoughts, but as this is the main "sticking" point, perhaps if we can be clear on everyones "motives" rather then assumed motives, it might generate greater understanding and help move forward. I might be wrong but I suspect that the two sides in this might be thinking - to generalize:
Sorry but I didn't find Olive's reply helpful. Perhaps I didn't understand. Why would stating the film's central thesis, assuming we agreed what it was, belong in in the main body of the article, not the intro? Note we have already been to this place. The Rationalist (talk) 18:50, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

"Pro" movie: They simply want to ridicule the ideas expressed in the movie by concentrating on this aspect - rather then the link between, if any, quantum physics and "eastern" "mysticism" and the scintific data to support it. (Which we can see from your reply Olive is obviously untrue)

"Anti" movie: They want to avoid this issue, as they think it will be used to ridicule the "Scientific data" in the movie.

I'm not convinced that these are conscious thoughts but think, looking back through the discussion, that they do exist. If we can "really" clarify any "motives" then this may help understanding between both "sides".

For my point of view, I have a less then small interest in mysticism - of many kinds, but including "eastern" and western as arising out of Christian/Judaic tradition - so I am far from "anti" mysticism - or at least a discussion of it. To me the films main thesis is that reality is subjective in a direct way and once this is understood can be altered directly by thought alone. From here it uses ideas in "quantum physics" to suggest how this takes place. In general, it is quiet unusual in that it actually doesn't seem to use any branch of mysticism or religious thought to support its argument - excluding rather vague appearances by "Ramtha". For example, Capra believed he found similarities in quantum physics and Taoist and Hindu thought. Wu Wu masters in Taoism, TM in Vedic thought, Ceremonial magic in Cabala/Hebrew mysticisms, etc, etc. Indeed, thinking about it I am not convinced that linking to mysticism, new age thought is correct - its premise is relatively "original" and that is that quantum physics "teaches" that reality is completely controlled by the observer and can be manipulated accordingly.

Thus for me this is very important to include in the heading. Really2012back (talk) 17:59, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

 ?? Not sure of your point here. I just want to see a concise summary of the main theme of the film (the paranormal connection between consciousness and the physical world), and something about why this has proved controversial (because the paranormal claims are supposed to be supported by science). It really is that simple. The Rationalist (talk) 18:54, 10 March 2008 (UTC)
PS I now understand your 'pro' and 'anti' movie points. It would help to include quote marks or something to make it clear that these are the thoughts of the pro and anti about each other, rather than characterising the pro and anti themselves, which absurdly reverses your meaning. The Rationalist (talk) 18:57, 10 March 2008 (UTC)
PPS As to my own motives, I want to remove the 'connection between quantum science and spirituality' bit, because I for one believe there are connections between the two - but not in any way that scientists would want to disagree with. Whereas the movie asserts a connection that I find implausible. And yes, I do think the 'pro' side are resisting this because, when you state the central thesis of the movie in a few plain words, it does make it seem ridiculous. But whereas I am happy to state my motive, you never get a reason from the other side. They blather on about Wiki policy and this and that, and that, incidentally, is what makes me lose my rag. The Rationalist (talk) 19:25, 10 March 2008 (UTC)
My primary concern is identifying this belief as a "new age" belief, as opposed to some other adjective. I'm not sure that you can reliably tie the belief that "people create their own reality" to "new age".Kww (talk) 00:08, 11 March 2008 (UTC)
Well, we can certainly tie it to quantum flapdoodle. ScienceApologist (talk) 00:38, 11 March 2008 (UTC)
We have quantum mysticism in the lead already, and I'm sure you can tie it there. The issue is really one of being able to source the precise semantics of the sentence. There's very strong sourcing for new age, and pretty good sourcing for create your own reality. There just doesn't seem to be a real strong ability to link the two together.Kww (talk) 01:15, 11 March 2008 (UTC)
I share kww's concern about sourcing, though I agree with Rationalist and Really that the central idea of the film really should be in the lead and spelled out clearly rather than buried in generalities like " a connection between science and spirituality." Aside from kww's concern about sourcing the central idea as a "new age" idea, I'm not sure it's a new age idea entirely, since academic poststructuralists, many of whom I assume don't subscribe to a new age spirituality, also hold the belief that findings in quantum mechanics somehow support the belief that there is no reality other than what we each individually create, or construct. And there's a lot of pop-psych blather out there that's not directly connected to new age, that also holds that we "create our own reality." I think the poststructuralists (Rationalist would probably be more knowledgeable in this area than I am) don't go so far as to claim that one can actually alter physical reality by thought processes, but they do go well into quantum "flapdoodle" to support their positions.
On a separate topic, my best friend follows Buddhist practice and I'm sure he wouldn't agree that what Ramtha preaches is a form of Buddhism.Woonpton (talk) 20:40, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

As I understand it the academic post-structuralist would - although with all schools of philosophy/literature there are variations between thinkers - do not take things quiet that literally. I always understood it as a sort of "intellectualizing" of taoist thought, perhaps the litery worlds version of interactionism's extreme ends - ie phenomenology. Might be wrong though, only person with a foot in that school that \i have read directly might be Foucault - and Eco of course but there we're are talking linguistics anyway, I think. Olive will know better I would suspect as literature is her field, Again, agree with the ramtha/Buddhism thing - Even I'm a tad offended - but not by martin of course :-).

So, to the leads, from what I have read, it seems that we are all keenishy on a version that includes the reality manipulation via expalianable via quantum physics, so how to word it?

" and a fictional narrative connecting Quantum Physics and consciousness. The film suggests that consciousness can influence the the world of everyday objects through quantum mechanical means." ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 05:20, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

There's no Buddhism about it, at all, and it's purely New Age (which is characteristically hard to describe because it's a roll-your-own philosophy). Ramtha, JZ Knight, channeling, these are all New Age topics. There's plenty of secondary sources linking this film to New Age, but it's important to remember that hardly anyone self-describes as New Age because it's so often criticized, and yet they still share New Age philosophies. Rejecting labels itself is characteristic of New Age, but that's the umbrella term it's all lumped under. If no one wants to call it New Age (typical when it comes to New Age topics), that's fine, but it's not in any way, shape, or form Buddhism. The film (for those who've seen it) is completely about "you create your own reality and everything is interconnected, oh and btw science proves this". That's part pseudoscience, part psychology, and whole lot of metaphysical philosophy (ie. New Age), but not mysticism. Pinning it down to a wikilink, it's quantum mysticism through and through. That's all you need to call it, because that term umbrellas everything about the film. Quantum mysticism is the idea that there are metaphorical similarities between quantum physics and mystical ideas, but this is only metaphorical and not actual mysticism. If you're trying to pin down what philosophy is expressed in the film, it's "egoic atheistic-pantheism". That's a mouthful, so I don't recommend putting it in the article -- quantum mysticism will do. But that's exactly what it is. Everything is connected [pantheism] replacing the collective god [atheism] with yourself as the creator [egotism]. While pantheism is an actual mystical concept, bending the universe to your will is not. The reason that's not actual mysticism is because the goal of actual mysticism is to achieve nonduality, where there's not a "you" to create anything. Where quantum mysticism seeks to provide a mental basis for mysticism, actual mysticism seeks to transcend the mental altogether. A Buddhist would tell you that by definition, nirvana is liberation from anything quantum physics covers (maya). The film is just New Age (broadly) and quantum mysticism (narrowly). --Nealparr (talk to me) 07:33, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
All points well taken. But I'm afraid I got us off the track by questioning whether the ideas in the film are specific to new age or original to the film, per Really: "its premise is relatively "original" and that is that quantum physics "teaches" that reality is completely controlled by the observer and can be manipulated accordingly." I wasn't intending to broaden the discussion to try to identify the influences on new age thought, since new age thought is a smorgasbord of ideas plucked from dozens of religions and traditions, but only to say that I'm not sure these ideas are original to new age or to the movie.
I put in an arbitrary break because I thought the section was getting too long. Woonpton (talk) 15:07, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
Well, I agree with that. There's no novel ideas in the movie (quantum mysticism has been around since the 1970s). While the film may have been cutting edge on computer graphics (dubious since it "borrowed" shots from The Matrix movie), the metaphysical ideas aren't new at all. --Nealparr (talk to me) 16:54, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
Note: The Rationalist has objected to the word "metaphysical" being used in this way, and I agree with his objection, but I know what you mean by it.Woonpton (talk) 18:23, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
Thank you. Metaphysical = mystical/paranormal/new age &c. 19:56, 12 March 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by The Rationalist (talk • contribs)

Two good articles

that make the connection between New Age, creating your own reality and quantum mysticism. The WP article Pantheism is also very good on the connection. Note there is now substantial agreement on changing the vague 'connection' bit to the 'creating your own reality' bit. I suggest, as a gesture to the other side, that we adopt Martinphi's wording, as discussed on his talk page. The 'New Age' bit I am not so fussed about, for now. The Rationalist (talk) 19:59, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Fine with me, as long as "consciousness" doesn't open up a new can of worms.Woonpton (talk) 20:27, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
If we are referring to .. and a fictional narrative connecting Quantum Physics and consciousness. The film suggests that consciousness can influence the the world of everyday objects through quantum mechanical means , then I have no objection.Kww (talk) 21:00, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
That was what I was referring to, anyway, but maybe we'd better be sure we're all talking about the same wording.Woonpton (talk) 21:09, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
Of course, once I stare at it, I do have an old, long-standing objection. How about .. and a narrative connecting Quantum Physics and consciousness. The film suggests that consciousness can influence the the world of everyday objects through quantum mechanical means instead?Kww (talk) 21:21, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
Good point; I skipped right over that. ("fictional" is redundant, I think we agreed some days ago) Woonpton (talk) 00:37, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

BTW, thanks for those articles, Rationalist.Woonpton (talk) 00:42, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Back to the question

We were working toward consensus on wording to the effect that the film suggests that physical reality can be modified by thought. The present wording, suggested by Martinphi and modified by removing the redundant word "fictional" now reads: .. and a narrative connecting Quantum Physics and consciousness. The film suggests that consciousness can influence the the world of everyday objects through quantum mechanical means.

So far I think Martinphi, The Rationalist, Woonp, and kww are on board with this wording. Have I missed anyone who has already expressed agreement? Really, it seems consistent with what you were suggesting above, but I haven't seen you weigh in on this exact phrasing. Is this okay with you? WNDL? olive? Woonpton (talk) 19:54, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

Sorry Woonpton, thought I had commented - it's fine with me Really2012back (talk) 20:11, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

Woonpton thanks for the help focusing the discussion.

(a) In the context of Orch-OR and my endless viewings of the film, I'm having trouble with "the world of everyday objects". I would be very happy with .. and a narrative that posits a connection between Quantum Physics and consciousness. The film suggests that individual and group consciousness can influence the material world through quantum mechanical means. (b) I'll say again that I need to see an entire lead so I can see it in larger context. WNDL42 (talk) 23:53, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

Sounds like the same thing to me. Assuming no one disagrees with Wnd wording, can we produce the full lead and hopefully get agreement on it? As this is the closist we have got so far to agreement perhaps starting - yet another - section below with just that one lead?

Okay, so far so good. I may have missed a turn somewhere, but my understanding from the past is we had consensus with the lead as it exists now except for replacing that one part, which we have just done with the part we've just finished. So now the lead reads, and please correct me if your understanding is different:

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What tнe #$*! Dө ωΣ (k) πow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a 2004 film, followed by an extended 2006 DVD release, which combines documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative to describe a and a narrative that posits a connection between Quantum Physics and consciousness. The film suggests that individual and group consciousness can influence the material world through quantum mechanical means. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

Bleep was conceived and its production funded by William Arntz, who co-directed the film along with Betsy Chasse and Mark Vicente all of whom are students of Ramtha's School of Enlightenment.[3] A moderately low-budget independent production, it was promoted using unusual, grass-roots marketing methods and opened in art-house theaters in the western United States, winning several independent film awards before being picked up by a major distributor[4] and eventually grossing over $10 million.[5][6]

The film has been criticized for misrepresenting science[7][8][9][10] and containing pseudoscience[7][8], and has been described as quantum mysticism.[11][12]

I don't seem to have the use of the formatting tools, so if someone could put that in a box, it would be great.
The part we added will need to be sourced, maybe to the articles the Rationalist brought up? I didn't notice if they came from reliable sources or not, but if I remember right, someone has already established that the material won't be difficult to source.
So if we're okay with that lead, then maybe we can start working on the article. One thing I don't understand is, if the lead is a summary of the article, why not write the lead last, instead of first? When writing research papers, we don't write the abstract first and then write the paper; you write the paper, and then the abstract is easy. Maybe part of the difficulty is that we've been trying to do it cart before horse?Woonpton (talk) 01:22, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

I agree with you woonpton completely, but it seems for historical reasons it has gone this way. I was also under the impression that the rest of the lead had been a greed but i suppose it does no harm to See it all together.

I am happy with that and i assume everyone else is based on previous discussion? Haven't heard from Olive for a while so perhaps she is busy RL? Anyway, if we now all agree here hopefully we can get our unlock and move forward. :-) Really2012back (talk) 02:07, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, with the full proposal now in view,
(a) Saying that the film has been criticized for "containing pseudoscience" is like saying "Bleep Blankets Inc. is a manufacturer of bedding...it's products have been criticized for containing anthrax". (b) Ever since Keilana was rebuffed here, it has been and remains my opinion that this group cannot reach anything approaching a meaningful consensus outside of mediation. So...there's my vote, call it a "no" if you want. WNDL42 (talk) 13:15, 14 March 2008 (UTC)
One disagreeing editor is not an unusual situation at all. Consensus doesn't require unanimous agreement to text, it only requires an agreement that the defect isn't so serious that an editor will feel compelled to modify the text.Kww (talk) 13:22, 14 March 2008 (UTC)
If the blanket contains anthrax, then there should be a warning on the label that says so. That third sentence has been there for weeks, and has been discussed and discussed and discussed. A couple of weeks ago, we decided, I thought, with olive at the lead, that we could all live with the lead as it is now in place except for that one phrase, which we just fixed. I just brought back the rest of the lead so we could see the new material in context, and I will not be happy if we start fighting over the rest of the lead again. At any rate, I agreed with the wording that says the film posits that physical reality is influenced by thought, as long as there was material somewhere in the lead that made it clear that the idea is without scientific foundation. A lead that described the film on its own terms without proper balance would be POV. Woonpton (talk) 15:49, 14 March 2008 (UTC)
Woonpton, re: "made it clear that the idea is without scientific foundation.", I'm curious is you caught the extensive discussion of the Roger Penrose-Stuart Hameroff "Orch-OR" model of consciousness. Saying "without scientific foundation" is probably too strong a chearcterization. WNDL42 (talk) 19:12, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

I'm a tad bored - this is the first time the pseudoscience objection has been raised and I too thought this had been agreed. However, as it has been said it is impossible to get everyone to agree on all of it - but the majority has. Can we get this put in the lead then and start working on the rest ASAP. Really2012back (talk) 18:46, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

Really2012, every lead I have proposed has used the word "pseudoscience"; I've never, not once, said the word cannot be in the lead. The current construction and framing uses the word inappropriately. I've said so many times, so it shouldn't be the first time you've heard it. WNDL42 (talk) 18:59, 14 March 2008 (UTC)
I'm aware that you've raised the objection multiple times. I'm unaware of anyone agreeing with you.Kww (talk) 19:46, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

So, Wndl, although it seems we have enough consensus to move forward anyway - in the interest of fairness - how would you frame the word pseudoscience? Really2012back (talk) 19:58, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, it's been three days since MartinPhi posted here, and five days since Little olive oil posted here, so my first thought was that they should weigh in. On the other hand, chasing editors off the topic is one way to get a consensus. Going through this talk page history to try to make heads or tails of discussion is hard work. In the process I find that not only was Loo asked to "f--k off, I discover that I have a third invitation from KWW to do likewise. I must admit some of the mentalities in play here leave me unable to comprehend what a "consensus" could possibly look like.
So...KWW, I bow to your will and I'm outta here. Enjoy! WNDL42 (talk) 23:00, 14 March 2008 (UTC)
I cry "foul" on this one. Did I show poor judgement? Yep. Did I retract the comment 4 minutes later without invitation or prodding? Yep.Kww (talk) 00:34, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

Fyi, I took a moment to count up previous lead proposals and there were at least nine (before I quit counting) that used "pseudoscience" in an encyclopedic fashion, i.e. without saying "containing pseudoscience", including two of my own. WNDL42 (talk) 23:00, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

I agree with the lead that I just formatted as a quotation, per Kww: "Consensus doesn't require unanimous agreement to text, it only requires an agreement that the defect isn't so serious that an editor will feel compelled to modify the text." As I said before, I don't like the placement of the Ramtha school thing, and I think you should choose either "misrepresenting science" or "containing pseudoscience." These are mainly just bad writing though, even if the Ramtha thing is something of a POV push as stated- even though having that in the lead seems necessary to me (I saw that it looked like promotion for Ramtha just watching the film). As far as using the word pseudoscience, it doesn't matter whether or not it is right, it only matters whether that is a significant and notable criticism in the sources, and I think that it is significant enough. I haven't read every single word here, so maybe I'm missing something. But basically, we aren't out for perfection. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 06:59, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

I agree with Martin that "misrepresenting science" and "containing pseudoscience" say essentially the same thing and we don't need both. I do remember that objection before, but then the discussion got hijacked somewhere else and we never got to resolve the question. I'm fine with removing "containing pseudoscience" since it seems to be such a problem; as I said when I first came in here, I'd prefer not to use the label anyway in favor of spelling out the instances in which science is misused and misrepresented in the film, but I was told that would make the article too long. I'm fine with expressing that by "misrepresenting science," how do others feel about that? By the way, Martin, thanks for formatting.Woonpton (talk) 15:38, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

Misrepresenting science and containing pseudoscience are different, and that's the reason that the two phrases have overlapping, but distinct, citations. The movie has been accused of misrepresentations and distortions to support a specific religious and philosophical agenda ... that's misrepresenting science in polite phrasing. It has also been accused of containing pseudoscience, which is a much more passive assertion. A filmmaker could, without any ill intent, include pseudoscience in a film because he had failed to detect the poor foundation of the things he had included.Kww (talk) 15:47, 15 March 2008 (UTC)
Your point is well taken. I was trying to accommodate Martin's objection, but I do see the distinction between them and how both apply, and I can think of specific examples of both in the film, as well as quantum mysticism. So I guess maybe we should leave well enough alone, and go with the present lead as it is?Woonpton (talk) 16:17, 15 March 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Bleep/Ramtha/Buddha?

MartinPhi (as you brought it up) wrt Buddhism, no I didn't say RSE was "just a buddhist school with a channeler in charge" nor anything like it.
What I said was that many buddhists study and teach at RSE, and that we don't know whether >>all<< students of RSE believe that JZKnight is channeling "Ramtha". Among the Buddhists who teach there is (was) Khempo Yurmed Tinly Rinpoche, also featured in the film. I previously posted reliable sources that Arntz is a buddhist, here is Time magazine commenting...on "Zen" and "Ramtha", but of course these are just to add support for the main point about Khempo Yurmed Tinly...

"In 2000, Khempo was selected to represent the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism at the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit.".

I think I'd posted about four or five other reliable sources discussing buddhism and bleep back when I first mentioned this, although I must admit I Really2012back (talk) 20:11, 13 March 2008 (UTC)don't have a "best friend who follows Buddhist practice" to speculate upon, and the statement "A Buddhist would tell you that by definition, nirvana is liberation from anything quantum physics covers..." is flatly contradicted by the Dalai Lama himself in his book "The Universe in a Single Atom".
Other relevant sources here and here, and on the Dalai Lama and Quantum physics here, if someone wants to discuss additional sources. WNDL42 (talk) 02:00, 13 March 2008 (UTC)
Just like the Pope isn't Jesus Christ, the Dalai Lama isn't Buddha. "Nirvana is liberation from anything quantum physics covers" is not contradicted at all by the Dalai Lama (who has always had an interest in science) exploring whether science and spirituality can talk the same language. The Dalai Lama has also supported research into neuroplasticity, but that doesn't mean that he believes the brain is the seat of consciousness or that the effects of meditation are purely related to physical changes in the brain. In fact, he "opposes physical explanations for consciousness, invoking instead the existence of some kind of irreducible mind stuff, an idea rejected long ago by mainstream science."[1] The Dalai Lama is somewhat a pioneer when it comes to trying to bridge science and spirituality, but Buddhists will tell you that "nirvana is liberation from anything quantum physics covers". In fact, I quoted them earlier on this talk page but it's been archived. Here it is again:
...even the founding fathers of quantum physics/mechanics—Max Planck, Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schrodinger, Sir Arthur Eddington, et al.—who were all self-proclaimed mystics, strongly rejected the notion that mysticism and physics were describing the same realm. The attempt to unify them is, in the words of Planck, “founded on a misunderstanding, or, more precisely, on a confusion of the images of religion with scientific statements. Needless to say, the result makes no sense at all.” Eddington was even more explicit: “We should suspect an intention to reduce God to a system of differential equations. That fiasco at any rate must be avoided. However much the ramifications of physics may be extended by further scientific discovery, they cannot from their very nature [impinge upon] the background in which they have their being.”
And there's the crux of the confusion. Quantum physics deals with the abstract, symbolic analysis of the physical world—space, time, matter, and energy—even down to the subtlest level, the quantum vacuum. Mysticism deals with the direct apprehension of the transcendent Source of all those things. The former is a mathematical system involving intensive intellectual study, and the latter is a spiritual discipline involving the transcendence of the intellectual mind altogether. It's apparently only a very loose interpretation of physics, and a looser interpretation of mysticism, that allows for their surprising convergence—and opens the door to the even wilder idea that by drinking some of this quantum mystical brew, you'll be able to create your own reality.[2]
That's Buddhists telling you that "nirvana is liberation from anything quantum physics covers". The Dalai Lama believes that science and spirituality can speak the same language, as I'm sure many Buddhists do, but that doesn't make science Buddhism, nor Buddhism science. Buddhists believe in a "Source" beyond a physical level. The Dalai Lama does as well. --Nealparr (talk to me) 06:42, 13 March 2008 (UTC)
Nealparr, I was responding to an incorrect generalization -- "A Buddhist would tell you...", which attempts to speak for Buddhists with a single voice. You have well and fully and at great length refuted an argument I didn't make. I merely said that the statement, now repeated as "Buddhists will tell you that "nirvana is liberation from anything quantum physics covers", is fallacious. Note that you (above) haven't quoted a single Buddhist (the book reviewer from the New York times doesn't count) to support your opinion that "A Buddhist would tell you...". I am not attempting to speak for all Buddhists, I am merely refuting your attempts to do so. WNDL42 (talk) 23:39, 13 March 2008 (UTC)
Perhaps you didn't read what I wrote entirely. I linked directly to an article in What Is Enlightenment? magazine. The NY Times article was just for what the Dalai Lama believes (consciousness isn't physical). You're also mischaracterizing why I wrote it. My first comment above was responding to the questions on this talk page about whether the ideas expressed in the film are Buddhism. I said they're not, and that a Buddhist will tell you that. Then you commented that your source "flatly contradicted" what I was saying, so my second comment was about how your source doesn't, because it doesn't. A Buddhist will tell you that nirvana is liberation from anything quantum physics covers. Buddhists will discuss physics with you because that's the nature of the physical world, but Buddhists believe that the ultimate ground of being is beyond physical and that nirvana is liberation from everything maya, including physical. There is a single voice on that because it's a core Buddhist belief.--Nealparr (talk to me) 05:30, 14 March 2008 (UTC)
I read it fully, complemented you for bringing it, and presented additional refs from the same article -- see below. WNDL42 (talk) 19:07, 14 March 2008 (UTC)
FYI, "Director William Arntz reports that the spiritual influences in his life include metaphysics, Rudolf Steiner, the Theosophists, Carlos Castaneda, Rama, various forms of Buddhism, and Ramtha. Director Betsy Chasse has attended SRF (Self-Realization Fellowship classes - founded by Paramahansa Yogananda). Mark Vicente says he “arrived on the planet as a Christian; performed a brief stint as a New-Ager” - until he realized that the latter was: “a bit like being a Democrat - well intentioned, politically correct but lacking balls.” He then became a student of Ramtha." full review here

Umm, so do you agree or not agree with the sentences under discussion?Woonpton (talk) 05:06, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

Indeed, woopton, we seem to be going off track again with this - although an interesting discussion. By the way, the Dalai Lama doesn't speak for all Buddhists - despite the media's thoughts to the opposite - but hey ho - who cares :-). (comment by Really2012back)

Really2012,
(a) "going off track" happens whenever someone mischaracterizes another editor's comments. This can be done unintentionally (which is why I addressed my comment to start this section (above) to MartinPhi, or it can be done intentionally -- to create a Straw man argument as a diversionary or smoke screen tactic -- as was the case with Orch-OR and the Benjamin Libet - Stuart Hameroff - Roger Penrose "discussion".
(b) Like I said above, I am not saying (nor has anyone here said) that the Dalai Lama or Khempo Yurmed Tinly Rinpoche "speak for all Buddhists". Nor am I saying that the media's thoughts to that effect (if indeed that is what the media thinks) are relevant.
Rather, I made a clear, simple and well supported refutation of some personal opinions expressed here on behalf of all Buddhists, in doing so I cited two notable examples of two notable Buddhists (one of whom is in the film obtw) that quite notably contradict those personal opinions. Is a reliably sourced refutation of an unsourced personal opinion here somehow not appropriate?
Now, may I suggest, as the Dalai Lama's book is titled (in full) "The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science And Spirituality", that we accept that at least SOME notable Buddhists...in addition to Khempo Yurmed Tinly Rinpoche do, in fact, see the connection? Or shall we dig into these sources? I have both Dalai Lama books sitting here on my shelf if we all agree we need to discuss the interviews between the Dalai Lama and his close personal friend David Bohm, if any will find the discussion of other-than-non-buddhist-book-reviewers relevant. (?)
As a final note, I observe that somehow, mysteriously, again the main point I raised about Khempo Yurmed Tinly Rinpoche and his role at RSE and his own opinions expressed in the film have somehow escaped the attention of everyone who commented here, and this section has grown into an incomprensible mess as a direct result. If any are interested, this is why I and others have become so frustrated with the discourse here...endless straw men, smoke screens and personal attacks. If we are going to make a Stone soup, let's at least throw good food in the pot.
Now, may we please circle back to here and talk to the points actually raised? WNDL42 (talk) 23:39, 13 March 2008 (UTC)
Woonpton, I will comment on the sentence in discussion for the lead in the appropriate section... WNDL42 (talk) 23:39, 13 March 2008 (UTC)
Wndl the reason that Khempo Yurmed Tinly Rinpoche has not been discussed is because it is not in the lead and has never been discussed to be in the leads that we have discussed. While this maybe relevant later when we turn to the article at the moment it is irrelevant. I don't think anyone was creating strawmen, smokescreens or committing personal attacks - please assume good faith. I'm a Buddhist and love everyone :-) Really2012back (talk) 02:17, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

NealParr, thanks for posting the link to Tom Huston's movie review of Bleep in "What is Enilghtenment" Magazine. While I don't (as I said) agree with either the argument you describe, nor do I agree that it says anything absolute about what Buddhists (as a group) believe, I do think Huston makes some good points, but also a key mistake:

"“Suppose we ask, Is the moon there when we are not looking at it?” writes Goswami in his 1993 treatise, The Self-Aware Universe: How Consciousness Creates the Material World. “To the extent that the moon is ultimately a quantum object (being composed entirely of quantum objects), we must say no. . . . Between observations, the moon also exists as a possibility form in transcendent potentia.”

So far so good, but had Huston read Goswami in context, and noticed that Goswami says "Is the moon there when we are not looking at it?” and not "Is the moon there when we are I am not looking at it?”, then Huston would have understood Goswami's further comment (also removed from context). This is what I was trying to get at in the earlier discussion on Orch-OR and Gaia theory consciousness...the all-inclusive "we" is the critically important distinction that keeps getting missed...as Huston did. Anyway, I really like Huston's conclusion:

"So maybe the widespread popularity of quantum mysticism, and its latest offspring, What the Bleep, is pointing not just to our cultural propensity to be enamored by the amazing insights and innovations of science but to our innate fear of scientific materialism, which seeks, by definition, to squelch soul or spirit wherever it finds it. That we should even feel the need to overcome the doubt of the scientific materialist worldview indicates how all-pervasive it actually is, and how thoroughly steeped in it most of us are. In fact, the very need to base our belief in the transcendental Divine on the findings of science seems indicative of the strange spiritual desert in which we currently find ourselves, and in which humanity possibly has been lost since modern science first arose to trump religion centuries ago. Having left the world of myth, dogma, and superstition behind, we leapt into the wider embrace of science, logic, and rationality. But the scientific paradigm also has its limits, and despite the insistence of those who claim otherwise, perhaps what humanity needs now is a higher worldview: one that understands the miracles of science to be merely the modern expression of an ever-evolving Mystery, which only reveals—each time it is glimpsed—how little we really do know."

Thanks again Nealparr WNDL42 (talk) 02:54, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

talking of the moon:

Gutei raised his finger whenever he was asked a question about Zen. A boy attendant began to imitate him in this way. When anyone asked the boy what his master had preached about, the boy would raise his finger. Gutei heard about the boy's mischief. He seized him and cut off his finger. The boy cried and ran away. Gutei called and stopped him. When the boy turned his head to Gutei, Gutei raised up his own finger. In that instant the boy was enlightened.

 :-)

So, wndl - are you happy with the revised lead? :-)Really2012back (talk) 03:38, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

I've commented in the relevant section.
I like your post about severing fingers. I lament the lack of a Zen master here, because I am certain that the first raised fingers to be severed would be the middle fingers. WNDL42 (talk) 12:43, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

Really2012, the previous examples I've cited make it increasingly difficult to assume good faith when my arguments and points are repeatedly mischaracterized in this fashion. I will stop pointing it out when it stops happening. Intentional or not, it is a very unhelpful distraction. If those who are doing it are unaware that they are doing it, then my continuing to point it out is meant to correct the problem, irrespective of whether there is good faith involved or not. WNDL42 (talk) 03:01, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Other sources for physical reality is a "thought"

A prime example of this is the juxtaposition of scientists such as Dr. William Tiller, Ph.D. professor emeritus of Stanford, and the channeled assertions of Ramtha, the “35,000 year old warrior” who appeared in the kitchen of JZ Knight in 1977. The musings of Tiller as a scientist who is exploring our understanding of consciousness is woven in such a way that he seems to support the assertions of Ramtha, as channeled by Ms. Knight: that we are all gods, and that there is no such thing as good or bad, right or wrong. This leads to the assertion that it is religion that has harmed humanity with its moral teachings.

But having noted that the film is destructively misleading, it presents some interesting observations by weaving together ancient philosophy, quantum physics and implied spirituality. For example, when it is asserted that the universe and its “matter” really functions more as a “thought,” the film agrees with ancient and Biblical teachings. The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus (535-475 B.C.) said, “The universe is generated not according to time, but according to thought.” Physicist James Jeans (1877-1946) said, “The universe begins to look more like a great thought than a machine.” This observation that all creation resembles a thought agrees with the Biblical explanation that creation was “spoken into existence” by God. It is God’s thought that became physical. The ancient Greeks called this the “Logos” or “word” and it is this concept that the Gospel of John uses to explain that this “Logos” became “Flesh” in Jesus Christ so that we could know God “in the flesh.”

The driving force behind this film is the desire to know the great mystery of our existence: Why are we here? What is our purpose? What is real and how do we know it? Looking at a world that implies a spiritual presence who creates and sustains it, the scientists are left without ultimate answers, and simply say it is a “mystery.” This is a true and humble confession.

But when the filmmakers begin the film by saying, “In the beginning was the void,” that is an assertion that goes beyond scientific evidence or implication. It is also very different from the Bible’s explanation that “In the beginning was the Word [Logos]. And the Word was with God and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) If we begin with nothing, it is easy to end with nothing. But if we begin with God as the Eternal Thought, who spoke everything and everyone into existence, we end in a place of wanting to know this God whose thoughts we inhabit...One of the directors, William Artnz, is a Buddhist."

From "Cinema In Focus" WNDL42 (talk) 02:23, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Time to use "edit protected", I think

It's pretty obvious that this article turns into a whirlwind every time it gets unprotected. I think that there is sufficient agreement on the proposed lead to request an admin to protect the article in it's protected state. I would suggest that we continue this process down the line ... beat on another section until we can get reasonable editors to agree on it, and then request the change. Otherwise, it's just Russian roulette as to which version of the article is in place when the edit warring is halted by protection.

At this time, I would like to request an admin change the lead paragraph to What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What tнe #$*! Dө ωΣ (k) πow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a 2004 film, followed by an extended 2006 DVD release, which combines documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative that posits a connection between Quantum Physics and consciousness. The film suggests that individual and group consciousness can influence the material world through quantum mechanical means. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

Have I got that right? Is there widespread agreement that we should get that changed?Kww (talk) 19:44, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

Agreed Really2012back (talk) 22:11, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

Agreed. (I can't do strikeouts, but I changed my previous answer after considering Kww's comment re distinction between "misrepresenting science" and "containing pseudoscience." Let's go. Woonpton (talk) 15:41, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

Agreed. But I'm not sure that is something an admin will agree to doing, seems to me it isn't kosher. But it's a good idea. Woonpton, just use code <s></s> = strikeout. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 04:51, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Hey what's going on. I thought we were going to make some minor changes to the introduction around the vague 'connection' bit, on the lines of stuff I, MPhi, Really and Woonpton had already agreed upon - possibly but not necessarily including 'New Age'. I reluctantly came to the conclusion that no further progress was possible to the intro. I wanted to put some work into cleaning up the main body of the piece for style, thread &c. This constant war over the introduction is preventing much useful work on the article itself. The Rationalist (talk) 10:04, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
Just lost track of people's positions ... that's why I posted this section. No skullduggery involved. I'd really like to get a lead in place that people stop fussing over, and I thought this was what you, Martin, Really, and Woonpton had agreed on. If this isn't it, what is?Kww (talk) 12:48, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
I don't know that I'm 100% comfortable with the proposal since quantum mysticism doesn't appear in it. That would make me more comfortable and likely to support it. ScienceApologist (talk) 12:59, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
I'm assuming that would still be in the third paragraph. Jefffire (talk) 13:02, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
Yes. Let's be clear ... I was proposing changing the lead paragraph, not the lead. Paragraphs 2 and 3 would remain intact, and paragraph 3 does, indeed, include quantum mysticism.Kww (talk) 13:10, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
Okay. Indeed I was confused by the proposal. I like Jeffire's quote better, though. At the risk of damaging our already shaky attempts at building consensus, could we try that one on for size? ScienceApologist (talk) 13:39, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

I suggest that we change the controversial sentence to a direct quote from the movies website. It describes it as "Exploring the worlds of Quantum Physics, Neurology, and Molecular Biology in relation to the spheres of Spirituality, Metaphysics and Polish weddings", and since that could be attributed as a quote we avoid all policy trouble (we might want to leave out the Polish weddings though...I suspect that's flippancy on the makers part). Jefffire (talk) 13:01, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

That quote is actually really good, including the Polish weddings bit which is actually a major portion of the movie for some reason I have yet to figure out. ScienceApologist (talk) 13:37, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

I could go with the new rewrite you suggest KWW, and have included above. I don't see it as a definitive edit but its better than what was there before, I think. I think a quote weakens the lead and would not support that inclusion.(olive (talk) 15:18, 16 March 2008 (UTC))

Like Olive I'm happy with it and think now re-writing it and adding a quote weakens the lead. I think that also starting a major write of yet another section of this paragraph is just going to slow things down and lead to further argument about this section. Indeed, I ma confused as to where this has come form, like Kww I thought that it was only the "thought effects reality" part that was the issue. This is getting boring to be honest. Really2012back (talk) 16:53, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

I had thought it might be better to use an attributed quote rather than risk OR, but I'm not wedded to the idea enough to think it's essential. Jefffire (talk) 23:45, 16 March 2008 (UTC)
Sorry I've been away. My last edit was a bit confused, a reaction to the section title (implying there was no agreement). I'm fine by the proposed changes, whatever. Sorry again, Olive, for losing it the other day. Really sorry. The Rationalist (talk) 20:30, 19 March 2008 (UTC)
Thank you for the apology Rationalist . We've had a pretty highly charged atmosphere over here so its no wonder things become ultra-sensitive.(olive (talk) 21:19, 19 March 2008 (UTC))

I'm okay with KWW's proposal. ScienceApologist (talk) 20:51, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

Agree, except that I don't think Quantum Physics should be Capitalized. Rracecarr (talk) 21:17, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

Agree, and Racecarr is right about the caps, but Nealparr formatted correctly below. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 05:52, 20 March 2008 (UTC)

I wasn't aware that the phrase "through quantum mechanical means" was being included. I don't think that this is 100% accurate. After all, the film doesn't really say what the "means" really is through which reality is supposed to be altered. Quantum mechanics is the object lesson, but as with all quantum flapdoodle, there is no real connection made between it and the New Age Ramtha-nonsense believed by the New Age woo-woos. I removed the offending phrase. Hope no one objects. ScienceApologist (talk) 14:31, 20 March 2008 (UTC)

It's just not cricket to change it now, after everyone has weighed in. Are you really so against the phrase that we need to go over this again? I'm removing the {{editprotected}} until this is settled.Kww (talk) 14:35, 20 March 2008 (UTC)
Well, I'm sorry for this, but the fact is that quantum mechanics does not deal with consciousness nor "altering reality" so it is very difficult for me to support such wording. What we can say is that the film supports the idea that consciousness alters reality, but the film offers no mechanism for this. ScienceApologist (talk) 14:41, 20 March 2008 (UTC)
But the paragraph simply says the film "suggests" that consciousness alters reality through a quantum mechanical means, which to my mind is an objective view of the film; it goes to great lengths to "suggest" such a mechanism without actually describing the mechanism. The wording was suggested by martinphi, after a long discussion where everyone (6 people by my off-the-top-of-the-head count) who was involved in the discussion at that point had agreed that they wanted some wording to the effect that the film suggests that physical reality can be modified by thought. Rationalist suggested, in a gesture of goodwill, that we adopt Martin's wording. Not everyone weighed in on that, but those who did agreed that it was fine with them, as long as the criticism by scientists also remained intact in the lead, and kww then brought the agreed-upon first paragraph of the lead down to the present section for final approval. I was surprised when people saw that as a "new" proposal by kww; it wasn't a new suggestion by him but simply the end result of considerable discussion (the discussion can be found, if someone hasn't removed it, up above the Ramtha/Buddhist section, which was a sidetrack.) If it needs more discussion by more people, then let's get it done. I'm not crazy about the wording, but since it was something The Rationalist and Martinphi and kww and Really (I think) could all live with, it seemed like it had a chance of getting the job done at last. Woonpton (talk) 16:21, 20 March 2008 (UTC)
What's wrong with excising the offending phrase? ScienceApologist (talk) 19:45, 20 March 2008 (UTC)
Because now everyone that has already agreed to the earlier phrasing has to come back and agree again. It's like herding cats. Or, you can agree to the text that you had already agreed to, and I can reinstate the request for an edit of a protected article.Kww (talk) 19:54, 20 March 2008 (UTC)
Calm down, Kww. The fact is that we'll never get anywhere editing the article like this. We need to start banning problematic users if arguing over a single phrase like this is the nitpicking we're coming too. I'll continue to be as bold as I want, thank you very much, and I don't think you need to go through and try to get everyone else to comment. Common sense says that this change will not be controversial, so just make it. ScienceApologist (talk) 19:57, 20 March 2008 (UTC)
I cannot honestly represent to any admin that we have consensus on that version. If you insist on the change, I will wait until most have weighed in on it, and then go and rouse the rest. Shouldn't take more than another week.Kww (talk) 20:05, 20 March 2008 (UTC)
Then I'll make the edit protection request. Sheesh. ScienceApologist (talk) 20:40, 20 March 2008 (UTC)
Six of one, half a dozen of another. If the point of contention is to make sure that the the wording reflects that the film "suggests that physical reality can be modified by thought", that's already done through "The film suggests that individual and group consciousness can influence the material world." Material world = physical reality. The line right before it says "posits a connection between quantum physics and consciousness," so the suggestion that this is somehow done through quantum mechanics is already covered. A case could be made that "quantum mechanics" in the second line is redundant. Either with or without "quantum mechanics", the points are still covered. I do, however, agree that there was consensus for the other wording, so that should have gone through unmodified. If an objection is raised at the last minute it should seek a new independent consensus instead of just being altered without consensus. --Nealparr (talk to me) 17:24, 20 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Caution: Children at Play

Well, after taking a little wikibreak from this nonsense since my last entry on March 3, with the intention of performing an empirical analysis of the editorial contributions and discourse of the various players here, I note (since the "discussion" resumed on March 8):

(a) User:Really2012back is the latest good editor to be chased from the topic. I now count six.
(b) no less than seven personal attacks and ad hominem references to other editors, including telling a "best of breed" editor to "F--k" off from the article, and a ridiculous reference to the essay at WP:TE which is applied in totally nonsensical context to another editor's entries here on the talk page-- (please actually READ WP:TE, it DOES NOT apply to talk pages),
(c) about a dozen blatant instances of unsupported personal opinion being fallaciously expressed as if it were fact, often with SHOUTING and frequently with derisive language directed ad hominem at individual editors (discrediting attacks)...
(d) all resulting in (big surprise here)...not one tiny inch of progress. IMO, this childishness is no longer funny, except from the sidelines.

Is it time either for (a) an RfC, or (b) a mediation? WNDL42 (talk) 20:15, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Do you then have any positive contribution to make? The Rationalist (talk) 19:26, 10 March 2008 (UTC)
Sure, because I think laughter is a positive thing, I am almost ROFLOL that (as everyone here knows) you are the source of 90% of the childishness described above, which makes your request for a "positive contribution" comment so utterly laughable. The only thing that's almost as funny is that someone else here thinks you are so confused that you don't even know who you are attacking. Thanks for the laugh, wikidudes. WNDL42 (talk) 15:41, 11 March 2008 (UTC)
I already apologised to you for the rudeness. The Rationalist (talk) 19:35, 11 March 2008 (UTC)
Yeah, let's let it go.......... ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 03:11, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
Sorry Rationalist, I must have missed your apology -- can't find it, chalk it up to inability to comprehend and sort out all the noise here on this talk page and...apology accepted. WNDL42 (talk) 23:47, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Protected edit request

{{editprotected}}Defanged macro ... edit completeKww (talk) 22:47, 21 March 2008 (UTC)


After enormous struggles, we have finally gained consensus (documented here) to change the first paragraph of this article to

  • What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What tнe #$*! Dө ωΣ (k) πow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a 2004 film, followed by an extended 2006 DVD release, which combines documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative that posits a connection between quantum physics and consciousness. The film suggests that individual and group consciousness can influence the material world. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.

Please note that all other paragraphs should remain unchanged: this is a one-for-one swap.Kww (talk) 21:04, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

Swap the above paragraph with the current first paragraph. This is renominated by User:ScienceApologist. This is an uncontroversial edit. ScienceApologist (talk) 20:41, 20 March 2008 (UTC)

I am confused,SA. Are you saying that the paragraph in the current protected lead is non-controversial? If so, I am wondering how other editors feel about making this swap since there have been weeks of discussion on a new, or a least revised lead. I cannot agree to go ahead with this move or none move unless there is agreement from the editors who have so diligently worked on this lead in last weeks. I guess we'll have to see how other editors weigh in.(olive (talk) 22:16, 20 March 2008 (UTC))
Summary for any confused admin looking at this section
We have spent weeks (see here)coming to a consensus on a change to the first paragraph of the lead. It is nearly the same as what SA has, with one change: the phrase "through quantum mechanical means", i.e.
  • What the Bleep Do We Know!? (also written What tнe #$*! Dө ωΣ (k) πow!? and What the #$*! Do We Know!?) is a 2004 film, followed by an extended 2006 DVD release, which combines documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative that posits a connection between quantum physics and consciousness through quantum mechanical means. The film suggests that individual and group consciousness can influence the material world. The plot follows the story of a fictional deaf photographer as she struggles with her life.
After having already agreed to that text, SA changed it after all other interested editors had already weighed in. I then removed the {{editprotected}} macro, and said that I would wait until everyone weighed in on his change. He stated that the change is trivial, and has reinstated the {{editprotected}} with his changed text. I agree that the change is trivial, and suggest inserting the text as all other editors had agreed upon, and ignoring SA's last-minute change. After all, consensus does not mean unanimity, and one editor's disagreement shouldn't block what little progress we have managed to make.Kww (talk) 23:47, 20 March 2008 (UTC)
Moreschi, you tacked "through quantum mechanical means" onto the wrong sentence. Corrected. Rracecarr (talk) 22:54, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
Did I? Where's it supposed to go, then? Moreschi (talk) 22:55, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
After material world.Rracecarr (talk) 22:57, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
Don't blame Moreschi ... I screwed it up.Kww (talk) 00:33, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

I'm confused. Did the version we agreed on get into the article without change? It looks the same, but maybe something is different? ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 00:41, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

It was a twisted path, but yes, the version in the article is the version we agreed on.Kww (talk) 00:58, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] A few thoughts

I sort of think there needs to be some kind of resolution to the fighting over this article. This log is beyond absurd: and, more to the point, when I've seen similar protection logs the dispute(s) has/have usually ended up going to ArbCom. That's not something I imagine anyone wants. Arbitrators have limited patience too.

As far as further disputes go, I really can't imagine what there is left to fight over. From the point of view of someone (more or less) on the outside, who's never seen the film, and, in all honesty, doesn't give two flying fucks about it either - this article is not that bad. Ok, so not FA-standard, nor A-class, or whatever, but Wikipedia has far worse trash for you to go out there and fix. Ok, so that "academic reception" stuff is, at least in my opinion, a bit too long, though the film obviously does have some notable critics (Mr Dawkins). But, hey, it's a New Age film - when we write an encyclopaedia article on such a topic, we should probably use a slightly different language-game than we would in an article on mainstream science. And, be realistic - there is no need to explicitly keep on hammering out the fact the science in the film is tosh. Most people will click on those links to the Ramtha School and JZ Knight articles. Those who don't, you won't persuade anyway. Number 44 and all that.

In conclusion: this article is not a perfect model of NPOV. Big deal - not. Wikipedia has far worse articles. This one is, by and large, ok. Maybe at some future stage we can come back and trim a little bit of the criticism, which is, at least in my opinion, excessive. But the unwavering obsession some people appear to have with this article is totally unwarranted. It's reasonably fair, both to fans of the film and to those who hate it. Is there any need to keep on with the quarrels and edit-wars? I warn you - if you do keep going, and this does go to arbitration, I suspect the arbitrators' reactions will be far from pleasant, particularly since some of the names of the chaps fighting here have come up in previous cases. I myself am rather leaning towards a talk page moratorium (enforced by protection) for a month.

With all respect. Moreschi (talk) 22:07, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

^A voice of reason. --Nealparr (talk to me) 22:12, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
What exactly is a "talk page moratorium"? Protecting the talk page so that changes can't even be discussed? Myself, I'm happy to protect the talk page and the article, and then throw away the keys.Kww (talk) 22:39, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
Yeah, just that. Lock up the talk page for a while (say a month, or two) with full protection. Unorthodox, but...Moreschi (talk) 22:41, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
I don't really support locking the talk page. Just ignore the people who aren't constructive completely, acting like their post is invisible. Eventually they'll leave saying "Nobody listens to me, Wikipedia is [biased, censored, run by mob mentality, broken, etc.]!" --Nealparr (talk to me) 02:02, 22 March 2008 (UTC)
Problem is that there isn't even consensus as to who those people are. Some of our most problematic editors have support from some of our regular editors.Kww (talk) 02:18, 22 March 2008 (UTC)


OMG, Moreschi, I thought you were major league SPOV? Maybe I was wrong, seems you're not the average SPOV debunker. Thanks for your input (-: ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 00:38, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Moreschi, hear, hear. End this ridiculous tempest in a teaspoon. Dlabtot (talk) 05:06, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

I agree with much of what has been said except: "...use a slightly different language-game than we would in an article on mainstream science"

The problem is that this new-age/spiritual documentary has used a somewhat eccentric view of science to support it's theories. The moment it did that it put itself in the firing line of many scientists and will thus need to be treated accordingly. Just my thoughts. But yes, some of the semantics delaying a real review of this article here in the talk page are frankly just silly Maras brother Ted (talk) 07:35, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Heh, Moreschi. I read in Number 44 and all that "Everything deep loves a mask". I don't think Nietzsche's safeguard against shallow interpretations is compatible with science's cold desire to peel back every nook and cranny of existence, however deep they may be, and expose them to the shallow light. Plus I think you've inadvertedly stumbled across the crux of the problem in these types of articles with your quote. One-half of the argument here is skepticism. As the article on nihilism points out, "Nihilism differs from skepticism in that skepticism doesn't reject claims to truth outright; it only rejects these claims if there is insufficient empirical evidence to support them. Additionally, skepticism does not necessarily come to any conclusions about the reality of moral concepts nor does it deal so intimately with questions about the meaning of an existence without knowable truth."

In other words, scientific skepticism doesn't seek to interpret. It's cold, calculating, and systematic. Facts, not necessarily truths, and always objective facts where Nietzsche would have opposed any sort of attempt at reaching an objective truth outright. This is directly applicable to the this article and others like it. Whereas fringe likes to speculate and interpret, offering perhaps subjective insight, scientific skepticism doesn't as a matter of philosophical principle. The result of the two opposing views meeting up in an encyclopedia that anyone can edit is nothing short of bloody.

You have a lengthy skepticism section here precisely because scientific skepticism by nature dissects, takes everything apart piece by piece, so that it is no longer deep. Science is psychic surgery, a knife that cuts deeply but ultimately leaves no incision because everything is surfaced in the process. While certainly Everything deep loves a mask, science hates masks and always results in shallow.

Just my nickel minus three pennies : ) --Nealparr (talk to me) 08:00, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Documentary disambiguation

{{editprotected}} I'm working on removing links to the disambiguation page Documentary. The link to that article in the second line of the first paragraph here can be disambiguated as Documentary film via a piped link. Mlaffs (talk) 14:04, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Done. Moreschi (talk) 22:45, 22 March 2008 (UTC)
Thanks much! Mlaffs (talk) 02:32, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Remove problematic wording

{{editprotected}} Please remove the phrase:

"through quantum mechanical means."

from the first paragraph.

Thank you.

ScienceApologist (talk) 19:10, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

We should restore the {{editprotected}} only after you demonstrate that there is no controversy about the change, not before.Kww (talk) 15:12, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
You don't own the talkpage. Perhaps you need to take a break and try to figure out whether this is worth it. In the meantime, stop changing my posts and post your complaints elsewhere, if you please. I demonstrated that there is no controversy below. The only controversy is people who are weirdly obsessed with some invented consensus process which they can't even seem to be able to explain. This obstructionism seems to be an idiosyncratic obsession and nothing more. I repeat: do not place nowiki tags around my edits again. Thank you. If you want to dispute what I'm doing, please consider dispute resolution. ScienceApologist (talk) 19:01, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
  • Looking at the sources (and I have no intention of watching this steaming pile of ordure) it does seem to me that the film does, according to them, suggest that "that individual and group consciousness can influence the material world through quantum mechanical means". The self-evident fatuity of the suggestion does not seem to bother the film-makers, who appear not to give a damn that most of what they say is twaddle of the worst kind. Do feel free to point out what I'm missing in the sources here. Guy (Help!) 20:14, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
JzG, please do not be uncivil on this talk page any more. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 23:03, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Martinphi, please do not insult my intelligence any more. On this talk page or anywhere else. Guy (Help!) 09:52, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
  • The closest I'm seeing are two quotes from the movie:
"And everybody's had that experience... when they've made up their mind that they've wanted something. That's quantum physics in action."

and

And therefore, literally, I create my own reality. It may sound like a tremendous, bombastic claim by some New Agey... without any understanding of physics whatsoever... but really quantum physics is telling us that."

Not quite saying that "individual and group consciousness can influence the material world through quantum mechanical means." Actually, closer to saying something like "quantum mechanics lets us create reality."

I think that the current wording is just incorrect. The film is actually saying something more outrageous about quantum mechanics than that weasly phrasing. So I suggest simply excising it.

ScienceApologist (talk) 20:22, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

Admins should generally avoid making content changes to pages that are protected due to dispute. I'm sorry I didn't check thoroughly for other editprotected requests when I looked at the one below; there's a full explanation down there. — Carl (CBM · talk) 22:08, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

I think the current wording could come directly from the quotes above, and therefore we should keep it. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 23:03, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Arguments

This is a protectd, highly contentious article. I am confused as to how this edit can be added without agreement from any other editor. Am I missing something here.(olive (talk) 19:31, 22 March 2008 (UTC))
No, you aren't confused. There is no consensus for that change in wording. SA is free to try to persuade people that it's a good change (I don't mind it myself), but there isn't consensus for it at this time.Kww (talk) 20:26, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Since we've already been scolded for fighting (unfairly, I thought, since we've been working so hard to get consensus on this wording) I am very much against anyone using editprotect to make a change we haven't agreed on. I figure that's a good way to get the page shut down for good, which I think would be unfortunate since we've put so much effort into this. I'm also unhappy that Moreschi made an edit in the second paragraph of the lead at the same time he made the change we requested in the first paragraph; he added a phrase after the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, something to the effect "an institution whose curriculum is based on the teachings of JZ Knight." We've had discussions over this before, I'm sure. I personally think it's an objective statement and could stay, but then I don't believe in Ramtha. The RSE website stipulates that the teachings aren't JZ Knight's teachings, but Ramtha's teachings, and the movie specified that it wasn't JZ Knight but Ramtha who was being interviewed in the movie, so whenever you bring up one of them you have to introduce the other, and I thought we decided that extra explanation made it too complicated to mention either Ramtha or JZ Knight in the lead. Does anyone have any feelings about that at this point?

I don't particularly mind the change SA is suggesting, but I do mind his going to editprotect unilaterally. We had agreed to use Martin's wording, and that's how the wording went. As I said the other day, if SA has a problem with it, let's talk about it and if there's consensus to remove it, have it removed. But don't just go and change it without talking it about it, that's not an option at this point in our collaboration. Woonpton (talk) 21:11, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

I had a chat with Moreschi about his change (to which I objected on procedural grounds). He has stated that if anyone objects to it on other than procedural grounds, he'll revert himself. As for now, I disabled SA's {{editprotect}}, so no change will happen until there is a consensus to make it.Kww (talk) 21:25, 22 March 2008 (UTC)
I agree with Woonpton, and Kww. I would suggest we stay with Martin's wording for now, and if changes in wording are needed then lets quickly talk about, and do it. I feel we are working in a more collaborative manner right now so lets just stay with that. As for the Ramtha material that was added, I believe it should be removed for the reasons Woonpton is suggesting, but also because it creates WP:Undue Weight in that paragraph.(olive (talk) 21:36, 22 March 2008 (UTC))

Ok, I've removed the material I added to the lead about JZ Knight. Woonpton makes some good points, though I don't agree with Olive about undue weight: I scarcely feel a very passing mention of an obvious fact is undue weight (well, apparently it's not a fact, which is why I've removed it, but you see what I mean). Moreschi (talk) 22:48, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Every reason given in this section is specious. If you have a substantive reason to dispute removing the clause, list it now. Otherwise, stop being obstructionist, all of you. ScienceApologist (talk) 17:29, 23 March 2008 (UTC)
They aren't specious ... just procedural. You attempted to make a change after the last moment, after you had already agreed to another version and the macro had been posted requesting the change. After having that undone, you then proposed the change again, and used a macro where the instructions include the need to either be non-controversial or to have a consensus behind it. Since you had been asked not to do it, you knew that neither applied. Try making an argument for why you believe that the movie isn't suggesting that the linkage between consciousness and reality is based on quantum mechanics. I know there's no such linkage, and you know there's no such linkage, but that doesn't keep the movie from suggesting that there is one. If that would have stopped them, they wouldn't have made the damn thing in the first place.Kww (talk) 17:54, 23 March 2008 (UTC)
It's not about the clause, it's about unilateral action at a time when people are ready to lock this article down forever and throw away the key. Since we have been working in a process where we got consensus for changes and then agreed, together, to ask an administrator to make the changes we agreed on, any unilateral action without consensus is destructive to that delicate collaboration process we have established, and I will continue to resist any such action.
When I read the sentence in question, I like the effect of the clause and I'd actually prefer to leave it in, as I think leaving it in strengthens the point you want to make more than taking it out would, without belaboring it. If you can get the rest to agree that the clause should be deleted, then I won't fight to keep it, in other words I will bow to consensus on this. But you have to get consensus in order to make changes, that's the only way we're going to be able to complete this article. "Stop being obstructionist, all of you" is very funny, if it was intended to be funny. Whether or not, we're at a point where only a collaborative process is going to work. Olive, I think this is the answer to your question: No, the article cannot be opened for general editing, if we can't even work together when the article is protected and we're supposed to get consensus for changes before using editprotect. Woonpton (talk) 18:18, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

The film never explicitly says that the power of intention is caused by quantum mechanical means. It may imply it from time to time, but it never explicitly says it. That's why I'm demanding it be removed. ScienceApologist (talk) 14:46, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

Science Apologist, our sentence reads "The film suggests that individual and group consciousness can influence the material world through quantum mechanical means," which is exactly what the film suggests; it suggests this over and over. It's what the whole blanking film is about. It is the modification of the physical world that the film suggests can be accomplished through quantum mechanical means, mediated by the power of thought. The sentence does not say that the film suggests that the power of intention is caused by quantum mechanical means; your argument for removing the clause seems to be based in a misreading of the sentence. I would prefer that the sentence remain as it is. Woonpton (talk) 15:59, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Woonpton, in point of fact, the film never says anything like this. It implies this from time to time and there are people the film interviews who make claims that sound close to this, but it, in point of fact, NEVER suggests this. If you think differently, find me a quote from the film that says that "individual and group consciousness can influence the material world through quantum mechanical means". I see nothing in the script that comes close to linking the two in a single sentence. Good luck. ScienceApologist (talk) 19:02, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Continuing on

It's been suggested that we just stop, and there may be wisdom in taking that course. Before we do, I would like to ask everyone to look over the article and identify what they think the biggest problem spot is. Then ask yourself ... "If the article has that problem, is that really a problem?" If it is, list out your problem here, and we'll see if we can get a consensus to fix it. If the biggest problem anyone can find isn't big enough to fix, we're done.Kww (talk) 23:17, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Could you clarify what you mean by "just stop", Kww. Have it unprotected... go into the article to edit... open it all up....leave protection in place... not sure. Thanks(olive (talk) 00:00, 23 March 2008 (UTC))
Just stop means to leave the article protected, and in its current state. No more edits.Kww (talk) 02:06, 23 March 2008 (UTC)
To be clear ... I think that is what eventually needs to happen. I don't think this article should ever be unprotected again. I'm undecided as to whether it's time to stop now, or whether there is more work that has to be done.Kww (talk) 03:01, 23 March 2008 (UTC)
Is it possible to protect the lead and not the article?
I understand where you're coming from I think in having the article protected until the end of time or the end of Wikipedia, whichever comes first. However, that seems to defeat the whole purpose of a collaborative encyclopedia. I wonder about implementing some specific guidelines for this article. For example, a 1 revert rule. Articles can always be made better . Then if the same thing happens lock it down , but maybe at least give it a try.(olive (talk) 03:16, 23 March 2008 (UTC))
It isn't possible to protect just the lead (well, technically you could do it by protecting an article that contained a lead, and then using {{filename}} to include an unprotected body, but it's against the rules).
We could get a 1RR rule implemented by creating an Arbcom case. I really don't want to do that. There's always a risk when you do that. I know that there are a few editors that think I have abused them during the course of this controversy, and if they convince Arbcom that they are right, I could wind up in MartinPhi and ScienceApologist's position. I don't want to be there.Kww (talk) 03:40, 23 March 2008 (UTC)
Thanks I understand. What about just opening it up, and then see what happens. If things deteriorate just have an indefinite protect applied, walk away, and that's it. Is it possible that with the possibility of a longterm protection things will be better. Well, yes... just clutching at straws.(olive (talk) 03:49, 23 March 2008 (UTC))
I'm inclined to agree with kww that this article should remain protected. I also like kww's question: are there things that still need fixing, or can we agree with Moreschi's assessment that the article is for all intents and purposes finished? I take it olive wants to work on the article more; I'm curious what she feels needs to be fixed?Woonpton (talk) 04:30, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

I think locking down an article is a sign of a minute loss of control of the encyclopedia's purpose, and is anti-evolutionary. That's all I guess . If I went through the article which I can't do right now, maybe tomorrow, I think there may be things that can be fixed or improved but I guess that's not the issue. I just hate to buckle under to protecting .. Its a kind of failure I guess. Maybe if there are some who want to try working on it and some who don't we could ask for agreement or just open the article to those who do want to work on it and who feel they could collaborate successfully. Just a thought.(olive (talk) 20:26, 23 March 2008 (UTC))

I agree that it's a sign of failure, but few things are 100% successful. I'll continue to work on the article as long as people keep finding things that they feel a need to fix.Kww (talk) 21:20, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

I see a problem involving factual accuracy, not sure how important it is or how to fix it, but the first sentence describes the film as a "2004 film, followed by a 2006 extended DVD release." This doesn't make clear that the 2004 film and the film included in the 2006 DVD release aren't the same film. They share some of the same material, but there is also material in each that's not in the other. Some of the comments in the body of the article refer to material that's in one of the films and not in the other, with no notation as to which version of the film it's in.Woonpton (talk) 00:07, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't think changing the lead is necessary, but could you make a list of material that is specific to one version or the other? Noting those sections should be a fairly mechanical change, and one that consensus can be reached on relatively quickly.Kww (talk) 02:06, 23 March 2008 (UTC)
I don't have time to go through the article and pick out all the instances, besides it's been a few weeks since I forced myself to watch the two versions in two days, so I may not remember them all now. But I do remember that the part about Christopher Columbus's ships was in the first version but not in the second version, and the part about people being able to affect a random number generator backward in time was in the second version but not in the first version. If the material on scientific materialism got into the article (I don't remember seeing it when I skimmed through the article last night, but I remember someone wanting it in there); at any rate, if it did, that discussion forms the opening 20 minutes or so of the second version of the movie but doesn't appear in the first version of the movie. I notice that there's a separate section in the article that describes the extended-DVD version as a sequel, so maybe that takes care of the distinction between the two movies. I agree, let's leave the lead as it is. Woonpton (talk) 21:44, 23 March 2008 (UTC)
Kww, your idea to have an admin edit the article for us seems to be a very good one- though I wish we could get an admin who wouldn't tinker with the text in the process.
It is possible to protect the lead and not the article- is it really against the rules?
I don't think an article can be finished when it has what it does under New Age community reaction. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 06:19, 23 March 2008 (UTC)
That section is pretty funny, though. It does seem that some of the more kooky sources do think of it in those terms, but you're right, it does represent the most completely batshit view as being representative. Guy (Help!) 20:18, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Hi guys I'm taking the pills now so it's OK. (Joke). I left a note on SA's page to persuade him that the quantum mechanical bit is OK, well in my view. Happy Easter. The Rationalist (talk) 19:12, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Roger Ebert

{{editprotected}} This is a film review by critic Roger Ebert on the film. As he is one of the most authoritative film reviewer, I request the administrators to temporarily lift the protection to allow adding the mention of his assessment of the film. The following would be added to the reception section. The administrator who agrees to add it can determine what exact location with discretion:

Prominent film critic Roger Ebert has commented What the Bleep as "a collision in the editing room between talking heads, an impenetrable human parable and a hallucinogenic animated cartoon" but gave the film two and half stars out of possible four, indicating a slightly negative rating.[1]

--Chimeric Glider (talk) 14:40, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

Seems like the quote is out of context, since in that same paragraph Ebert says of the disjointed nature, "This is not a bad thing." And I'd say that the review leans toward the positive and that the rating indicates this. TimidGuy (talk) 19:33, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
I'm waiting for the report I made on WP:ANI to settle down before I strike any more {{editprotected}}s, but I will point out that the change has never been discussed, and thus consensus cannot have been achieved.Kww (talk) 19:50, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
"Consensus" does not need to be achieved in order to request an edit. I don't know where you made up that rule. ScienceApologist (talk) 20:03, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Um actually if you read the template itself. it states "If you believe the proposed edit might be controversial, please discuss it on the protected page's talk page before using this template." Theresa Knott | The otter sank 20:27, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Key words being "if you believe..." not "If you find that someone else believes..." Let's assume good faith and pretend that Chimeric Glider actually believed that this edit had consensus and was uncontroversial, shall we? ScienceApologist (talk) 20:38, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
And on WP:RFPP, it says Provide a good reason for a substantial edit to a protected page. These are only done in exceptional circumstances, or when there is very clear consensus for an edit and continued protection. Please link to the talk page where consensus was reached.Kww (talk) 20:36, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
I don't think this edit is "substantial" in the least. ScienceApologist (talk) 20:38, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

As an admin who has handled many editprotected requests, I avoid using discretion about what to write or where to put it when making edits to protected articles, and I avoid adding new material to articles that are protected due to disputes, even if the addition is insubstantial. This is because the purpose of protection is to halt almost all changes to the article pending discussion. The only changes I would consider making here are corrections of typos, updates due to renamed images, and similar maintenance.

I hope all involved editors will resolve the disputes that led to protection, so that the page can be unprotected, rather than requesting changes while the page is still protected. — Carl (CBM · talk) 20:42, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Proposal

How about trying unprotection and probation of the Talk:Homeopathy/Article probation style? ScienceApologist (talk) 20:39, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

Because this way actually has a chance of succeeding? The wars over the homeopathy articles are incredible, and I don't want to wind up spending my days fighting false reports to Arbitration Enforcement. You know what that feels like. If people use the editprotected macro in good faith, after reaching a consensus about what to put after the macro, it'll work fine.Kww (talk) 20:45, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Protection is a temporary solution, not a permanent one. ScienceApologist (talk) 20:47, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Think of it as "temporary" according to a geologist's dictionary. This article has never settled down. Probably never will. Once we start to make some progress, we get a couple of editors that decide to edit-war it back into oblivion. Last time, we had The Rationalist trying to get one set of changes in that were never discussed, and WNDL42 trying to get another set of changes in that were ludicrous. The article stayed unprotected about 9 hours after that point (and, of course, your reverts were the ones that actually triggered the admins into action). Before that, it was you and WNDL42 again. Before that, it was Michaelbusch and Timidguy. I don't see that anything is going to stop that behaviour.Kww (talk) 20:59, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
I'm with Kww. What we're doing here seems to be working, and considering that, in a brief review of events, even this method seems to be subject to disruption, I think it would be an exceptionally poor idea to do anything else. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 22:13, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
Jeepers, why would a film elicit so much controversy on Wikipedia? Is What the Bleep any more divisive than a Michael Moore film? I do know that science and cinema are very closely related, yet warring over small details of a film often misses the big picture. Chimeric Glider (talk) 22:38, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
There is no rational explanation for what goes on in this article. At the same time we had something in place that was working.If another editor comes into this environment and wants to make progress and to collaborate perhaps he/she could bend a little and go with what has been working . Kww has been able to focus the editors on this article for which I give him a lot of credit. Any chance of just working with that .....(olive (talk) 22:55, 24 March 2008 (UTC))
It elicits controversy because it is abject nonsense masquerading as documentary, and because it misrepresents the few sane people it interviews in order to give the impression that sane people accept the film's ludicrous premise. It it was up-front about being a new-age cult propaganda film, rather than pretending to be something else, there would be less of a problem, I think. Guy (Help!) 09:55, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
This may be a good time for everyone involved to check the article's pageview stats here. Avb 11:25, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
At least spell the name of the article right: [3]. ScienceApologist (talk) 19:16, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
Thanks for the correct link. Same observation though. On a side note, could you be just a little bit less condescending? Avb 20:01, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
Sorry. Didn't mean to condescend. I do, however, monitor that site very closely. It's, in part, how I choose my battles. ScienceApologist (talk) 20:02, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
OK, no problem. Avb 20:04, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
  • What's wrong with the article exactly? All of the views are properly cited statements from thirdparties, which satisfies the Verifiability and Original Research rules, and it decently balances the scientific community and the lay community's responses to the scientific content of the movie.Sockatume (talk) 21:49, 25 March 2008 (UTC)

No idea..... ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 03:21, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

Let's drop all the quarreling and leave the article at status quo. Any documentary with an ideology/philosophy would be both praised and maligned by many people, like Moore's and Wiseman's. Even Roger Ebert doesn't outrightly attack the film as "misrepresenting" "sane people". I'm a liberal, but even I wouldn't use those phrase to describe a conservative documentary I disagree with. There's no need to be vindictive war over minutiae. If some of you really want to bash a film, go do it at Triumph of the Will maybe. Chimeric Glider (talk) 03:39, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Unprotection

Further to a WP:RFPP thread, I am going to raise a proposal to unprotect this article. I think it's time that we started handing out blocks for edit warring, disruptive editing, etc. The protection on here has been on for a month now, and the protection log is astoundingly long, and I think it's time to look at a different approach.

To that end, I would like to unprotect this article. Do any folks here have thoughts on this proposal? Furthermore, does anybody have any thoughts on my intention to start dealing with disruption on What the Bleep Do We Know‽ article with a view to blocking, rather than protecting? Anthøny 00:45, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

Oppose in the strongest of terms. There's not much wrong with the article, and unprotection never, ever ends well for it. It has proven to be a magnet for bad behaviour. Unprotecting it is just making it an absolute crap shoot in terms of what winds up being in the article when it's protected again.Kww (talk) 01:00, 14 April 2008 (UTC)
Oppose, per Kww above. Further, there is an editor here who cannot be blocked- or if he is, it doesn't matter because nothing further happens and he's immediately unblocked. ScienceApologist is protected by admins in such a way that nothing he does against policy means anything. If you don't believe it, send me an email or just ask around- for instance, you could contact User:Rlevse. This is not just me talking. So no, it is much better to leave this article protected. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 01:09, 14 April 2008 (UTC)
Oppose, per kww. Unprotection just seems to lead to edit warring; one suspects that the edit warring is partly spurred by the certain knowledge that the article will be protected again, so everyone wants to try to have their "stuff" in the article at the time it's protected. I don't know that for sure, but that's what it looks like from the outside (the article has been protected for all but a few hours during the two months I've worked on it, so I've not had a chance to participate in actual editing, and wouldn't care to participate in such a situation). I'm not convinced, based on several recent cases, that indiscriminate blocking benefits the encyclopedia, so if you're thinking of a solution like the 9/11 conspiracy arbitration, I think that's a terrible idea. You asked. Woonpton (talk) 02:05, 14 April 2008 (UTC)
Unprotect: I'd be fine with unprotecting, and fairly enforcing blocks for edit warring. Why not? We are just putting off the inevitable.(olive (talk) 13:51, 14 April 2008 (UTC))
Oppose because the idea that admins will suddenly start handing out blocks for edit warring, disruptive editing, is something that just won't happen. It should happen, here, as well as in a myriad of other articles. But it won't happen, as anyone who has followed this must realize. Therefore I oppose this proposal. Dlabtot (talk) 18:48, 16 April 2008 (UTC)
Unprotect Yes, unprotect because the current version is heavily weighted toward criticism of what the film got wrong according to "Scientists who have reviewed" it. This wording is itself a bias because it should read "Some Scientists" and not imply "ALL." The criticism is fine and no doubt much of it well deserved, but there should be another section documenting what the film got right and what the film got partly right, according to other respected authorities. Without this latter contribution, the "Academic reaction" section gives a senses of "Throwing out the baby with the bathwater." Moreover, one would expect the section should be titled "Academic assessments" as the "reaction" wording itself indicates a knee-jerk reactiveness that suggests, presumably inappropriately, something other than objective assessment in a scientific spirit. James (talk) 23:31, 16 April 2008 (UTC)
Very true, and if you commit to stay around and are really able to keep your cool under heavy mortar attack and the threat of firebombing coupled with machine gun, tank, and artillery fire, with a good dose of 5000 lb bombs and a couple of nuclear subs, then maybe we can do something. ——Martinphi ☎ Ψ Φ—— 01:40, 17 April 2008 (UTC)
Opposoe//Semi-protect instead -- i agre with the initial point that unprotecting it would be good since there haven't been any edits at all for a while and the fact that interest has waned in this article might be cooling it down somemuch. however I recommend phasing in by using a semi-protect (banning guests/newly-registered users) at first to avoid startling anyone into starting yet another edit war/vandalism sprie. Smith Jones (talk) 22:23, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Source(s) for inserted material in lead

One thing that's been in the back of my mind as something that needs to be finished, is that while I remember there was agreement that there were plenty of sources for the material we inserted in the lead, we didn't actually specify sources for that material and it remains without citation.Woonpton (talk) 18:09, 15 April 2008 (UTC)

I see it's been over a month on this question. Did the person overseeing the protection issue die? James (talk) 00:35, 23 May 2008 (UTC)