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Definitions certainly get muddled. Revisionism, skepticism, and denialism. You have to be really careful about labels, but we should all agree that skepticism (
by lbrandy 17y ago
Definitions certainly get muddled. Revisionism, skepticism, and denialism. You have to be really careful about labels, but we should all agree that skepticism (esp. of the scientific variety) is good but when it becomes denialism, we've left the rational world.
I find these topics fascinating. In fact, I think everyone should dig into one just as a mental exercise. Convince yourself. You will learn a tremendous amount, even from the most bizarre. And not just about science or whatever topic is at hand, but at logic, fallacy, and how people think about and convince themselves of things.
I've dug fairly deep into things like 9/11 conspiracy theories, creationism, moon hoaxes, tax protesters, and other assorted "alternative" theories (like homeopathy). I am 100% convinced they are all nonsense, but I encourage anyone to dig in. You'd be simply amazed how much you can and will learn.
- eru 17y agoYou can start with the hollow (or flat) earth.
- cousin_it 17y agoBrought to you by the same guy who invented the Dark Sucker theory: http://home.netcom.com/~rogermw2/square_earth.html http://home.netcom.com/~rogermw2/square_earth.html EDIT: he also has a Force Skeptics page that might be relevant to our discussion. http://home.netcom.com/~rogermw2/force_skeptics.html http://home.netcom.com/~rogermw2/force_skeptics.html
- hughprime 17y agoTax protesters?
- kingkongrevenge 17y agoPeople say there is no law authorizing the income tax. I don't remember the arguments nullifying the 16th amendment, but they have them.
- hughprime 17y agoOh yes, those loons. I think they argue it was never ratified by one state or another. I'd pick a name other than "tax protesters" for them, though, to distinguish them from your run-of-the-mill folks who like to protest that taxes should be lower.