The Bent Spoon

History

Nicholas Callis and Bobby Nelson launched The Bent Spoon in April 2011 with a mission statement that deliberately set it apart from both the paranormal press and the existing sceptical community. "The Bent Spoon is a skeptical magazine for the true believer," they wrote. "Within its pages you will find Q&A between those with opposing viewpoints, interviews with leading investigators and thinkers, as well as articles which will not only provide in-depth analysis, but also be critical of both believers and skeptics alike."

The publication ran for two volumes (fourteen issues including a special No. 7.5) through approximately early 2013. Callis handled graphics, layout, and contributed articles. Nelson served as co-founder and primary editorial voice, writing the recurring editorial column. Jason Korbus contributed the "Soupernatural" column. Kenny Biddle wrote the "Skeptical Investigation" series examining specific paranormal claims and ghost hunting methodology.

Content balanced serious analytical pieces with lighter fare: "Pareidolia of the Month" invited readers to spot faces in random patterns, "Skeptic vs Believer" staged direct debates, and book reviews covered both sceptical and paranormal titles. Feature articles ranged from debunking specific apocalypse predictions (Harold Camping's May 21, 2011 rapture claim) to examining whether animals could be psychic (responding to Nick Redfern's claims) to analysis of the FBI's declassified UFO memo.

The magazine drew on established sceptical voices. Dr Karen Stollznow (linguist and paranormal investigator) gave an early interview. Brian Dunning, Blake Smith, and Bryan Bonner provided support. The publication was professionally designed with full-colour layouts, custom graphics, and a visual polish unusual for independent paranormal-adjacent magazines.

Nelson's editorial philosophy centred on Carl Sagan's dictum that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. His recurring argument targeted the ghost hunting community specifically: electronic voice phenomena, anomalous photographs, and EMF readings could never constitute sufficient evidence for the afterlife because they were inherently ambiguous. "Not being able to explain something doesn't mean paranormal," he wrote. "You have to be able to back your claim up with evidence that can stand over scientific scrutiny."