I would consider the fact that it works evidence.

@DavidLaDeau naw... you show me evidence that it don't. it's no card trick. lack of scientific proof is no proof of anything.

If you were holding the dowsing rod and it suddenly plunged down, would that be evidence?

@WilliamFleming noway... some unseeable Force like god is trying to trick me. trying to make me think this water in the ground is doing it.

@WilliamFleming not unless the experiment was repeatable with anyone that used it, and it could be proven to work anywhere anytime. That is science. The next great step would be a discovery that explains why it happens.

I've never been around it where they use the forked stick. we clipped a coat hanger and bent it. made 2 L shaped parts. maybe 9x4 long and short sides. while Loosely holding the shorter leg... while walking across slowly the land the two longer legs lineup when above a water line or stream.

I have heard a relative did so with consistant success. This being said until it can be proven that it does work in a controlled study I remain skeptical, even when I see appearant "hits".

@DavidLaDeau sometimes I get a bit skeptical about skepticisms.

@hankster IMO all these ardent professional skeptics are unscientific. The true spirit of science is to have an open mind.

@WilliamFleming an unhealthy skepticism.

@WilliamFleming Not so open It your brain falls out. Open mindedness does not mean one should accept anything one is told.

@DavidLaDeau It means you should be willing to look at the evidence and to change your beliefs. I think if you had experienced dowsing in the way I did your belief would be shaken, as mine was. Protecting your world view against encroachment is not science.

I’m still not totally convinced about the subject—just mystified.

@WilliamFleming I agree, I was very impressed by what I saw with a fellow finding graves. It would be easy to write his skill off to magic. I was mystifed. I just like to keep myself honest and make sure what appears to be real is.