Date:   Sat Sep 18 1993  11:12:00
From:   Jim Speiser
To:     All
Subj:   False Memory Syndrome
Attr:
ABDUCT                         -------------------------------

I had an interesting experience today.

This morning I was taping an interview on our Channel 45, but the guest for
the second segment (Mike Stackpole of the Phx Skeptics) hadn't shown up.
They decided to do my segment, then tape the first segment of next week's
show while waiting for Mike to show up.  I asked what the next show was
about, and the interviewer told me it was on False Memory Syndrome.

A most fortuitous happenstance, says I, since this gave me an opportunity to
make contact with an organization that can prehaps reflect some light on our
own subject matter.  Whereupon I proceeded to strike up a conversation with
the head of the local chapter of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation, one
Elizabeth Van Kamp.

This FMS is a most disturbing affliction.  I listened in on the taping, and
heard horror stories of families - good, healthy, functional families -
being torn apart by "memories" dredged up by shoddy "therapists." One lady
described how her daughter somehow recalled her chopping up a pizza delivery
man and cooking him for dinner.  If you could have seen the lady who was
describing all this - meek, terribly soft-spoken, frail - you'd have to
suppress the urge to laugh out loud.

Anyway, I described my concerns to Ms. Van Kamp.  I told her how the
abduction field could benefit from the knowledge base that FMS Foundation
has put together, and how we should compare notes to see if there are any
similarities between the manner in which "ritual child abuse" memories and
"abduction" memories are dredged up by therapists.  In our brief contact at
the station, we were able to do some comparing, and while FMS is always a
danger when dealing with hypnosis, we tentatively agreed that there are
some well-defined differences - mainly in the personality characteristics of
the victims, their reasons for seeking therapy, the therapists' credentials
and in the procedures used.  Still, this is an area that cries out for
formal study, and due diligence requires that we look at all the
possibilities.

She did share one disturbing tid-bit with me.  Apparently the same
"therapists" who create these ritual child abuse memories are starting to
dabble in the abduction field, and are bringing forth abduction memories in
their ritual child abuse clients.  It makes one wonder to what degree our
database is clogged with the victims of these charlatans.

Hike up your pant legs, gang, its starting to get even deeper out there.

Jim


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