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Sorry, but I have to be skeptical about any show that declares itself skeptical. Skepticism isn't good science or good logic; it's just reverse religion. True s

by sabat 16y ago

Sorry, but I have to be skeptical about any show that declares itself skeptical. Skepticism isn't good science or good logic; it's just reverse religion. True science does not immediately believe or disbelieve. It investigates dispassionately.

nso 16y ago
Yeah, and that is also what Skeptoid promotes.
wheels 16y ago
Philosophical skepticism implies just that. It's not so much nay-saying as deference to evidence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophical_skepticism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophical_skepticism
ugh 16y ago
You have this beautiful (albeit probably incomplete) definition of what being a skeptic means in your comment – I only have to change one word: “True skeptics do not immediately believe or disbelieve.” That would be my definition and I’m pretty sure it would also be one that Brian Dunning (author of the podcast) would accept. What’s wrong with that definition? What wrong with using the word in this way? I know there are a good many conspiracy nuts who abuse the term (which might explain your harsh reaction) but I can assure you that Brian Dunning is not one of them. Try to read or listen to some of his stuff.
- sabat 16y ago
  Regardless of the dictionary definition, in practice, skeptics immediately disbelieve and then claim they're willing to believe if shown exhaustive proof. Pro Skeptic Michael Shermer, for example, strongly doubted global warming for years, presumably because he could not observe the molecular activity first-hand. Michael is not a scientist. He's just a skeptic.
Achorny 16y ago
"True science does not immediately believe or disbelieve. It investigates dispassionately." You may not like the label they chose for themselves, but that's exactly what the skeptical movement advocates! (skeptoid included)
jokermatt999 16y ago
Listen to the show sometime. The guy actually does a pretty good job of doing the research, and is willing to admit when arguments "disproving" conspiracy theories don't work.

by sabat 16y ago

nso 16y ago

Yeah, and that is also what Skeptoid promotes.

wheels 16y ago

Philosophical skepticism implies just that. It's not so much nay-saying as deference to evidence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophical_skepticism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophical_skepticism

ugh 16y ago

You have this beautiful (albeit probably incomplete) definition of what being a skeptic means in your comment – I only have to change one word: “True skeptics do not immediately believe or disbelieve.” That would be my definition and I’m pretty sure it would also be one that Brian Dunning (author of the podcast) would accept. What’s wrong with that definition? What wrong with using the word in this way? I know there are a good many conspiracy nuts who abuse the term (which might explain your harsh reaction) but I can assure you that Brian Dunning is not one of them. Try to read or listen to some of his stuff.

sabat 16y ago
Regardless of the dictionary definition, in practice, skeptics immediately disbelieve and then claim they're willing to believe if shown exhaustive proof. Pro Skeptic Michael Shermer, for example, strongly doubted global warming for years, presumably because he could not observe the molecular activity first-hand. Michael is not a scientist. He's just a skeptic.

Achorny 16y ago

"True science does not immediately believe or disbelieve. It investigates dispassionately." You may not like the label they chose for themselves, but that's exactly what the skeptical movement advocates! (skeptoid included)

jokermatt999 16y ago

Listen to the show sometime. The guy actually does a pretty good job of doing the research, and is willing to admit when arguments "disproving" conspiracy theories don't work.