No, I'm not talking about the lady three doors down with the imitation pink flamingos in her yard. :D

I'm being sort of kindhearted and generous in using the word "strange" because I actually mean very strange, weird, and illogical. Things like also sorts of psi activities, ghosts, demons, UFOs, the casting of real magic spells, crop circles - things like that.

And I'm sure several of you know I could easily write between five and ten full pages on the topic. But what I'd really like to see is non-professional people discussing this. There seems to be a pretty large number of people here who believe in some of this in one form or another. Possibly as high as 60% or more of the most active posters.

Is it just because it's "cool"? Or only because it's interesting? What are your thoughts on the matter?

you need to identify what belief is to human consciousness to begin to answer that question seriously.

Because people have not generally been taught any methods with which to judge what is true or not.

Well, love is "...very strange, weird, and illogical...", yet almost everyone on Earth believes in love. They can't touch it, describe it, prove it, or anything else, yet...?

I mean, don't get me wrong, I think I understand your question, but I think it also covers so much ground as to be something that can't even be discussed. Perhaps you should narrow your topic just a bit?

Baron Max

People believe weird things in order to make the world comprehensible and to attempt to control events.

~Raithere

Certainly people are wanting more.

Well, love is "...very strange, weird, and illogical...", yet almost everyone on Earth believes in love. They can't touch it, describe it, prove it, or anything else, yet...?

I mean, don't get me wrong, I think I understand your question, but I think it also covers so much ground as to be something that can't even be discussed. Perhaps you should narrow your topic just a bit?

Baron Max

Yes, I'm sure you get the point, Max. ;) But I'll play along - love is a pretty common thing, so let's restrict it to uncommon things similar to what I listed to start with.

good question light. i have witnessed things i could never explain, maybe even a UFO but i always passed them off as "normal" or "natural".
one must remember the placebo effect.
the power of the mind is awesome.

you need to identify what belief is to human consciousness to begin to answer that question seriously.
you mentioned in "developing telepathy" thread that you had a telepathic experience but do not believe in it. if you experienced it why don't you believe?

Asimov once suggested that belief in nonsense is a conserved quantity like momentum. When the number beliieving in UFO's goes down, the number believing in Cold Fusion or something else goes up.

I think that belief in various forms of nonsense is related to the lack of abilities like critical judgment and logical analysis. I am constantly astonished by well educated and intelligent people who believe in all sorts of weird concepts. When you discuss their views with them, you discover that they use all sorts of fallacious arguments, which they consider valid.

good question light. i have witnessed things i could never explain, maybe even a UFO but i always passed them off as "normal" or "natural".
one must remember the placebo effect.
the power of the mind is awesome.

Agreed. I witnessed two rather unusual events myself that might fall in the UFO category. But they didn't cause me to start believing that ETs were visiting the Earth.

"search lights" in the sky was mine.
reminded me of "ball lightning" but there was no sound.
i still haven't been able to explain it.

"search lights" in the sky was mine.
reminded me of "ball lightning" but there was no sound.
i still haven't been able to explain it.
Mine were immense blue fireballs, perhaps 1/2 mile or more across and seen from 10 - 15 miles away. The events were at least 20 years apart in time and something like 800 miles in distance. I never figured them out or got a satisfactory explanation from anyone either.

... I am constantly astonished by well educated and intelligent people who believe in all sorts of weird concepts. When you discuss their views with them, you discover that they use all sorts of fallacious arguments, which they consider valid.

Sometimes its the humbleness of the person that makes them not to rule out the possibilities of somethings that can exist and are beyond human comprehension.

Serious, do U think u know everything about existence for sure ?

People... Humans,.... are insane.... stupid animals... who can willingly believe just about anything.... hence the need for a long education to prevent... stupidity.!

-MT

Sometimes its the humbleness of the person that makes them not to rule out the possibilities of somethings that can exist and are beyond human comprehension.

Serious, do U think u know everything about existence for sure ?

And seriously right back, I doubt anyone would be so brash. And you would have to be very careful with that first statement. What some might consider "humble" would, in many cases, be more accurately called "naive."

There's no problem with those truly humble people who would honestly answer, "I don't know" but it's quite another thing to attempt to explain something in an irrational way, is it not?

But what I'd really like to see is non-professional people discussing this.

You mean, the little people?

Is it just because it's "cool"? Or only because it's interesting? What are your thoughts on the matter?

Interesting, yes. Cool, I doubt it. I've always had an interest in those things, an interest that it seems very few people I know share. So no, I'm not jumping on any fad-wagon by believing in such things.

There are plenty of them as regards paranormal beliefs and/or New Age religions.

Professional skeptics like James Randi or CSICOP also have their own fad-wagons. And agendas.

You don't have to be a hardcore believer or a hardcore non-believer either. You can exist in the middle. Many people do. I trust them the most.

I don't trust people who believe everything they hear on Art Bell's radio show. I also don't trust people who think they've used science to debunk and disprove every strange phenomenon anyone has ever experienced. Both sides have vested interests in their agendas.
And need I mention that money is involved? Both sides are interested in it. Many people on both sides of the track make their entire livelihood either believing or not believing.

You mean, the little people?

No, not at all. I simply mean those ordinary people who haven't spent 20 (or more) years studying psychology as a profession.


Interesting, yes. Cool, I doubt it. I've always had an interest in those things, an interest that it seems very few people I know share. So no, I'm not jumping on any fad-wagon by believing in such things.

There are plenty of them as regards paranormal beliefs and/or New Age religions.

Professional skeptics like James Randi or CSICOP also have their own fad-wagons. And agendas.

You don't have to be a hardcore believer or a hardcore non-believer either. You can exist in the middle. Many people do. I trust them the most.

I don't trust people who believe everything they hear on Art Bell's radio show. I also don't trust people who think they've used science to debunk and disprove every strange phenomenon anyone has ever experienced. Both sides have vested interests in their agendas.
And need I mention that money is involved? Both sides are interested in it. Many people on both sides of the track make their entire livelihood either believing or not believing.

I suppose I should have asked that we disregard anyone who is paid the "believe" (or is paid to claim to believe). We should exclude all those who make money via seminars, selling books, etc. I'm simply talking about discussing everyday, ordinary people who accept what might be termed outlandish claims. NOT people with vested interests.

And seriously right back, I doubt anyone would be so brash. And you would have to be very careful with that first statement. What some might consider "humble" would, in many cases, be more accurately called "naive."

There's no problem with those truly humble people who would honestly answer, "I don't know" but it's quite another thing to attempt to explain something in an irrational way, is it not?

They are naive but they have instincts that prevent them from admiting this and instincts that tell them to defend what they say, they are mostly unwaware of why they are doing what they do. Unlike U they cant say "I dont know".

I think people sometimes have an emotional motive or agenda to believe bullshit, - an emotional incentive, which is caused by their emotional needs - a way of coping.

to believe in something, like a "god that loves" them for example, when its quite obviously that innocent children are dying all over the world.
People like happeh draw ridiculous conclusions and make sweeping generalisations based on no evidence whatsoever - just feelings - but i believe this may be a product of an emotional need to believe them, say believing that "masturbation damages health" as a way of coping with impotence/guilt/jealousy, or something like that.

if you experienced it why don't you believe?do you believe in the moon?

No, not at all. I simply mean those ordinary people who haven't spent 20 (or more) years studying psychology as a profession.


Some people may say that psychology is a pseudo-science!
But, hey, I don't know nuthin. I'm an ordinary person!

Here is a quote from Huwy, whose avatar looks kind of like Lionel Ritchie
I think people sometimes have an emotional motive or agenda to believe bullshit

It seems to be the recurrent theme here that there is a ready explanation for every mysterious thing that is experienced, and that anyone who believes differently is believing in bullshit. Why?

I suppose I should have asked that we disregard anyone who is paid the "believe" (or is paid to claim to believe). We should exclude all those who make money via seminars, selling books, etc. I'm simply talking about discussing everyday, ordinary people who accept what might be termed outlandish claims. NOT people with vested interests.

You seem to mention above people who are paid to BELIEVE or CLAIM to believe. What about people whose vested interests are in NOT BELIEVING? They exist. And are quite vocal sometimes. Or, do we call these people SCIENTISTS? A little joke there!

Some people believe anything without thought. Some people believe these things because of people they know who have experienced them. And some people believe because they themselves have experienced these phenomena.

Some people have experienced them and are able to explain them adequately with known scientific laws, or at least make reasonable theories.

Some people have never seen or experienced any of them and don't believe.

Some people have never seen them but are sure they know what others have seen, and do not believe they are truly mysterious.

There are many reasons people believe in paranormal or "unexplainable" things.

WHA?!?! You want something deeper than that? I'm afraid I'm just a worker bee.

do you believe in the moon?
i believe there is a satillite that orbits the earth
that object is the moon

if that is what you are asking then yes i believe there is a moon

The Moon? I call her Seline. She's a beautiful woman of the corn, who comes to me while I gently slumber.

It seems to be the recurrent theme here that there is a ready explanation for every mysterious thing that is experienced, and that anyone who believes differently is believing in bullshit. Why?

That's not necesarily accurate. Several people, including myself, have repeatedly stated that we would be willing to change our opinions. The "why" is very simple - we require evidence/proof/confirmation. We cannot just take someone's word for what they claim. Have you ever heard "the check is in the mail"? People are human. They are prone to lying, misintreperations, simple errors in judgement and it's possible that they were originally fooled themselves.

You seem to mention above people who are paid to BELIEVE or CLAIM to believe. What about people whose vested interests are in NOT BELIEVING? They exist. And are quite vocal sometimes. Or, do we call these people SCIENTISTS? A little joke there!

I'm afraid you'll need to explain that one. Exactly who has a vested interest in NOT believing in things like UFOs and telepathy?

Some people believe anything without thought. Some people believe these things because of people they know who have experienced them. And some people believe because they themselves have experienced these phenomena.

Some people have experienced them and are able to explain them adequately with known scientific laws, or at least make reasonable theories.

Some people have never seen or experienced any of them and don't believe.

Some people have never seen them but are sure they know what others have seen, and do not believe they are truly mysterious.

There are many reasons people believe in paranormal or "unexplainable" things.

WHA?!?! You want something deeper than that? I'm afraid I'm just a worker bee.

Those are all very valid reasons, thanks for listing them. And yes - I believe there are still other reasons. Here's just one that's pretty common: many people live ordinary, dull, boring lives and are looking for something exciting/interesting.

I call her Seline. She's a beautiful woman of the corn, who comes to me while I gently slumber.
i believe i know her.

this Seline posses a most remarkable glowing complexion. adorned in flowing gowns of soft shimmering beauty. glittering twinkles of radiant starlight dance around in worship of her mystery. she brings the dream to my soul and stirrs unconsciousnes with the drunkeness of her breast.

could she be the one? ;)

Oh my GOD! I'm sorry! I ATE HER!

I TOLD you she was the woman of the corn. Tasty sweet white corn!

Now about those Children of the Corn...

do you believe in the moon?
Moon is just so ...... so nostalgic, and romantic......and yes there is a rabbit on the moon, I swear!

I remember as a child/ adolescent we used to sleep in the open terrace (in the summers), from where I and my brother/ sisters watched the skies and the innumerable stars and yes the Moon. Aeroplanes flying in the night also fascinated me. And so did shooting stars.

I would keep looking at the vast sky long after everyone else went off to sleep, wondering about them. And kept wondering if that was a rabit in the moon!

I haven't noticed the sky for a long time. And never slept in the open since the last 13 or 14 years.

You see, we now live in multi-storied concrete flats, from where all we can see are other concrete multi-storied flats. And there is no roof, and even if there was one, we would rather sleep in our air-conditioned rooms.

Giambatista:

you could not have eaten all of her, she was HUGE.

i think it might be a different one!

did your lady have a subtle odour of fish?

And kept wondering if that was a rabit in the moon!of course its a rabbit! who else made all them holes?

I'm afraid you'll need to explain that one. Exactly who has a vested interest in NOT believing in things like UFOs and telepathy?


A magazine called Skeptic, for instance, makes a living debunking anything under the sun that calls itself mysterious or paranormal.
You don't call that a vested interest??? And yes, I'm sure they claim to be open-minded. People say alot of things when it serves a purpose.

I was recently reading an article by a person who was a founding member of CSICOP. If you're not familiar with it, though I'm sure you must be, it is the Committe for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.
This person himself still claims to be skeptical, but that as an organization, the Committee is NOT unbiased, though they shroud themselves in a cloak of scientific self-righteousness.
CSICOP members and affiliates can often be seen on television shows that deal with the paranormal. They are there to apparently provide a voice of "reason" or "rationalism" but that is ALL they do. They do it well, yes, but being open-minded is not their business.
They don't sell books and videos by being OPEN to things that supposedly defy scientific explanation, because that ISN'T the position they take 100% of the time.

I guess if that isn't a vested interest, then I've never seen one!

You can read about it here. (http://cura.free.fr/xv/14starbb.html )

Moon is just so ...... so nostalgic, and romantic......and yes there is a rabbit on the moon, I swear!

I remember as a child/ adolescent we used to sleep in the open roof (in the summers), from where I and my brother/ sisters watched the skies and the innumerable stars and yes the Moon. Aeroplanes flying in the night also fascinated me. And so did shooting stars.

I would keep looking at the vast sky long after everyone else went off to sleep, wondering about them. And kept wondering if that was a rabit in the moon!

I haven't noticed the sky for a long time. And never slept in the open since the last 13 or 14 years.

You see, we now live in multi-storied concrete flats, from where all we can see are other concrete multi-storied flats. And there is no roof, and even if there was one, we would rather sleep in our air-conditioners.

Sounds very nice. I used to TRY to lay on my own roof and watch the stars, but our roof was apparently to weak for a young boy to walk on.
No, it didn't collapse! I think it just makes it leak eventually. Or maybe that was just one of those motherly fables?

I got everything except the sleeping the air-conditioner part. Must be some air-conditioner!

pharmaceutical companies would be interested in maintaining current trends in psychiatry too.

Giambatista:

you could not have eaten all of her, she was HUGE.

i think it might be a different one!

did your lady have a subtle odour of fish?

Our Lady of the Subtle Odour of Fish?
Or is it the Subtle Order of Fish?

You're right. I've never eaten anyone in my life. I'm such a liar. I should go back to being a toad.

pharmaceutical companies would be interested in maintaining current trends in psychiatry too.

Is this a reference to VESTED INTEREST groups?

Moon is just so ...... so nostalgic, and romantic......and yes there is a rabbit on the moon, I swear!

I remember as a child/ adolescent we used to sleep in the open roof (in the summers), from where I and my brother/ sisters watched the skies and the innumerable stars and yes the Moon. Aeroplanes flying in the night also fascinated me. And so did shooting stars.

I would keep looking at the vast sky long after everyone else went off to sleep, wondering about them. And kept wondering if that was a rabit in the moon!

I haven't noticed the sky for a long time. And never slept in the open since the last 13 or 14 years.

You see, we now live in multi-storied concrete flats, from where all we can see are other concrete multi-storied flats. And there is no roof, and even if there was one, we would rather sleep in our air-conditioners.
When I was two or three someone used to sing a song about the moon to me --- a song about uncle moon who loved us kids. A couple of years ago, as I was strolling in 'the' park (surrounded by trees and sky touching concrete buildings) holding my one and a half year old nephew in my arms, I suddenly noticed the moon. I asked my nephew where uncle moon was, and he quicky pointed towards it in the sky, shouting something in his own language and getting really excited about it. I just felt like singing that song about uncle moon to him. He brought back all the cherished memories of my childhood. If only we could all be children all our life.

Aeroplanes flying in the night also fascinated me. And so did shooting stars
I always wondered about people who would sit in those aeroplanes and go so far above from earth. The aeroplane looked so tiny from down below. I never thought I'll get to be on one of them.

Sounds very nice. I used to TRY to lay on my own roof and watch the stars, but our roof was apparently to weak for a young boy to walk on.
No, it didn't collapse! I think it just makes it leak eventually. Or maybe that was just one of those motherly fables?

I got everything except the sleeping the air-conditioner part. Must be some air-conditioner!
Oops! it should have been sleeping in our air-conditioned rooms.

Is this a reference to VESTED INTEREST groups?

Yes I Made A Poor Connection Between The Two,

Another Vested Interest

Pharmaceutical Companies Would Be Interested In Maintaining Current Practices In psychiatric Treatment TOO.

Our Lady of the Subtle Odour of Fish?
Or is it the Subtle Order of Fish?

it is quite frightening really but something tells me it was the

The Subtle Order Of The Fishy Rabbit of the Lady Of the White Corn.

although i would not swear to it.

They don't sell books and videos by being OPEN to things that supposedly defy scientific explanation, because that ISN'T the position they take 100% of the time.


And what is the position they take 100% of the time?

it is quite frightening really but something tells me it was the

The Subtle Order Of The Fishy Rabbit of the Lady Of the White Corn.

although i would not swear to it.

Then let us swear ABOUT it! Let us cuss with impunity. Even "cuss" is a cuss word.

I remember as a child/ adolescent we used to sleep in the open roof (in the summers),
Guys, that should have been 'terrace'. We don't have roofs where I live! Someone just pointed it out to me.

Yes I Made A Poor Connection Between The Two,

Another Vested Interest

Pharmaceutical Companies Would Be Interested In Maintaining Current Practices In psychiatric Treatment TOO.

Why do you and Buddha insist on removing a "t" from my name???

On a lighter note, yes, they seem to know how to dispense pills. Surely they do. Love em. It's ALWAYS the answer. Surely it is!

Why do you and Buddha insist on removing a "t" from my name???
You ate my 1!

Guys, that should have been 'terrace'. We don't have roofs where I live! Someone just pointed it out to me.

Did you see the flying monkey man at night? Or the golden spider duck? I hear they can be bothersome!

Sorry. I guess we'll just have to continue to disagree over the exact numbers, then.

Though I can regurgitate, if need be.

i had to restrain myself from joining in here because sometimes i just cannot help myself and i get carried away with the jollies. i did not want to ruin the professors thread as he needs this for his ego. oops! couldnt help that one. sorry professor.
:)

i had to restrain myself from joining in here because sometimes i just cannot help myself and i get carried away with the jollies. i did not want to ruin the professors thread as he needs this for his ego. oops! couldnt help that one. sorry professor.
:)

I don't have to tell you what you can do with that thought, do I Ellion? ;)

No ego involved at all - simply interested in what people think.

i had to restrain myself from joining in here because sometimes i just cannot help myself and i get carried away with the jollies. i did not want to ruin the professors thread as he needs this for his ego. oops! couldnt help that one. sorry professor.
:)
why have you not answered my question ellion?

you smell

Why do people believe in strange things?

It's perfectly simple - what you define as "Strange Beliefs" could equally be described as desires, and we all, each and every living one of us, desire more than what remains tangible.

Forget the UFO's and the psychic abilities for a moment and consider, for an instant, money. Moolah, cold-green-folding, readies... tiny rectangles of paper proffered in exchange of goods and/or services in the belief that the paper represents something actually tangible. Technically, an equivalence in gold.

A scrap of A4 with "IOU £5.00" scrawled on in biro isn't going to cut it on the high street and yet you as an individual remain far more legally culpable than the actual institutions of Banks and Treasury which issue legal tender.

Few, if any of you, have ever actually seen your nations actual gold reserves. Even if you've seen Goldfinger umpteen times, that was actually just a film set - money is a promise we accept and believe implicitly with scant little evidence as to its actual mechanism save that it appears to work therefore we don't generally question it. Instead, we accept.

Belief, in a nut shell. And as mad as a box of badgers on a tuesday...

Life as we live it requires belief of some kind - even atheists need something specific not to believe in - and all belief, no matter how obtuse, provides satisfaction, the very basic of all primal desires.

No different from the infants we were born, we want things not necessarily tangible, but needed - explanation, a sense of purpose, a sense of place, a sense of understanding and the basic underlying problem with knowledge remains that, the more you know for a fact the more you realise there's yet still more that y'simply don't adequately understand - actual knowledge is kind of a void that simply increases in size the more you realise what it is your looking at.

Belief, in the gaps between asking questions and perceiving answers, provide a kind of certainty that allow us to get through the not-actually-knowing-a-damn-thing phase which petty much defines most of every generations tenure of life.

All beliefs are fundamentally strange. But we all believe something....

In this world there is precious little else but belief.

Anomalous: No, I do not think I know everything about existence. Sometimes its the humbleness of the person that makes them not to rule out the possibilities of somethings that can exist and are beyond human comprehension.

Serious, do U think u know everything about existence for sure ?While I have gaps in my knowledge, I do recognize various fallacious arguments: Strawman, Ad Hominem, Begging the question, et cetera.

When a person uses fallacious arguments to support their beliefs, it suggests that their beliefs are also fallacious.

The fallacious argument that particularly annoys me has the following format.In the past somebody believed this stupid idea, which we now know to be invalid. Therefore my silly idea is likely to be valid and you are a jerk with a closed mind.The dumb concepts believed in the past only indicate that in the past people knew less than they do now. It intrigues me that one of the foolish beliefs often quoted is the belief that the world is flat. They always mention a time 500 or 600 years ago (about the time of Columbus).

Oddly enough, the ancient Greeks not only knew the world was round prior to the time of Christ, they actually estimated its circumference within about 5% of our modern estimates. So the dumb belief quoted is often just the dumb belief of one person or a group of people, not necessarily the belief of more knowledgeable people.

It is especially amusing and annoying when the scientific establishment is accused of believing that they know all there is to know. For at least 150 years, the scientific establishment has known of and acknowledged serious problems in their theories. It has been the known problems and inconsistencies in established theories that are most investigated by those on the frontiers of science. It is the technicians and engineers who are applying current theories to practical purposes that tend to be unaware of the problems and inconsistencies.

Because they're true.

All beliefs are fundamentally strange. But we all believe something....

In this world there is precious little else but belief.

OMG!

The man uses a completely different font from the rest of them!

Well, I guess I should say that I found that refreshing.

People are criticized for believing in things they can't see. It's good to put things into perspective.

Anomalous: No, I do not think I know everything about existence.While I have gaps in my knowledge, I do recognize various fallacious arguments: Strawman, Ad Hominem, Begging the question, et cetera.

When a person uses fallacious arguments to support their beliefs, it suggests that their beliefs are also fallacious.

The fallacious argument that particularly annoys me has the following format.In the past somebody believed this stupid idea, which we now know to be invalid. Therefore my silly idea is likely to be valid and you are a jerk with a closed mind.The dumb concepts believed in the past only indicate that in the past people knew less than they do now. It intrigues me that one of the foolish beliefs often quoted is the belief that the world is flat. They always mention a time 500 or 600 years ago (about the time of Columbus).

Oddly enough, the ancient Greeks not only knew the world was round prior to the time of Christ, they actually estimated its circumference within about 5% of our modern estimates. So the dumb belief quoted is often just the dumb belief of one person or a group of people, not necessarily the belief of more knowledgeable people.

It is especially amusing and annoying when the scientific establishment is accused of believing that they know all there is to know. For at least 150 years, the scientific establishment has known of and acknowledged serious problems in their theories. It has been the known problems and inconsistencies in established theories that are most investigated by those on the frontiers of science. It is the technicians and engineers who are applying current theories to practical purposes that tend to be unaware of the problems and inconsistencies.


Thats what they say about man landing on moon, and thats what was thought about before greatest inventions and discoveries were made.

OMG!

The man uses a completely different font from the rest of them!

Well, I guess I should say that I found that refreshing.

People are criticized for believing in things they can't see. It's good to put things into perspective.

Well then, in that case I guess I should say thankyou. I guess....

And yes, the font. Arial Narrow. Been using it consistantly since 2003 or there abouts. I'm all for continuity...

Woops! :eek:

If I've learned anything about human nature, it's that there is little use in telling a man not to do what he wants to do; he's gonna do it anyway.
Many of us are familiar with the poster in Fox Mulder's office:

I WANT TO BELIEVE

So they do. Well, men do, anyway.
As for women..I don't have a clue.

If I've learned anything about human nature, it's that there is little use in telling a man not to do what he wants to do; he's gonna do it anyway.
Many of us are familiar with the poster in Fox Mulder's office:

I WANT TO BELIEVE

So they do. Well, men do, anyway.
As for women..I don't have a clue.

That makes me wonder: are men more attracted to science-fiction and studying the paranormal?
Looking at how many ufologists are men, and how few women there are, it would seem at least THAT field is dominated by men.

However, I am positive that most psychics (or those that claim to be) are women.

I think it's pretty much a given that men are more into the scifi thing overall, since it involves cool gadgets, and blowing stuff up.
Women, on the other hand, are more into 'feelings', which might account for their strong presence in the parapych feild, where gadgets are rare, and the only thing blown up is an occasional cranium...
Then there is that persistant myth about "women's intuition", which has no basis in science, but a strong history in anecdotal records.
While on that thought, I am wondering if pehaps it has been a result of women's traditional role in society to foster communication in an non-verbal manner. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to assert that women have developed better 'body language' skills, due to the manner in which they have been silenced from societal participation thruout history. It seems logical that one adept in interpreting non-verbal clues might build a reputation as being able to 'read minds', and from there it's a small step to telepathic communication, or at least a percieved (imagined?) tendency towards the ability.
Hmm..for someone who claims not to have a clue about women, I sure have a lot of theories..Perhaps I should explore my feelings about that...