Comments on: Double Scoop of Skepticism http://www.skepticblog.org/2008/11/18/double-scoop-of-skepticism/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:38:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ryan Johnson http://www.skepticblog.org/2008/11/18/double-scoop-of-skepticism/#comment-884 Ryan Johnson Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:15:03 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=446#comment-884 Clearly, Podblack, you need to get working, you're obviously slacking off, Jeez! If only you could try and contribute a little! Ha Ha, seriously though, I commend you on your efforts, and it's people like you that make this world a better place. By speaking up, you will get more attention to your efforts. I for one will check out your site! And Larian, facing the "crazy's" can sometimes be one of the best learning experiences of all! I understand your discouragement. Take it in stride and use that to figure out better ways of executing your programs. Maybe we can figure out a way of getting a few people in your area together to build give you support there. And for everyone, make sure that you represent yourself and others professionally, honestly and respectfully. play nice, and if the others resort to being ridiculous, remember you are under no obligation to stand there and listen to that. Excuse yourself and walk away. Better to live to fight another day! Clearly, Podblack, you need to get working, you’re obviously slacking off, Jeez! If only you could try and contribute a little!

Ha Ha, seriously though, I commend you on your efforts, and it’s people like you that make this world a better place. By speaking up, you will get more attention to your efforts. I for one will check out your site!

And Larian, facing the “crazy’s” can sometimes be one of the best learning experiences of all! I understand your discouragement. Take it in stride and use that to figure out better ways of executing your programs. Maybe we can figure out a way of getting a few people in your area together to build give you support there.

And for everyone, make sure that you represent yourself and others professionally, honestly and respectfully. play nice, and if the others resort to being ridiculous, remember you are under no obligation to stand there and listen to that. Excuse yourself and walk away.

Better to live to fight another day!

]]> By: Podblack http://www.skepticblog.org/2008/11/18/double-scoop-of-skepticism/#comment-882 Podblack Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:41:58 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=446#comment-882 Well, I contributed to the writing of a course that's mandatory for all children studying Philosophy and Ethics in my state: http://podblack.com/?p=228 I help contribute to our group's Philosophy cafes and contribute to training of the teachers who do the course I mentioned above. I'm a member of the Skeptic Zone podcast and contribute to the Stop Jenny site. I support SkeptiCamp; gave some pointers to the pdf of SkeptiCamp and currently write and contribute to another ongoing project about skeptical activism. I ran a program at my school for two years entering in for a state-wide Skeptic Report writing contest; this led to presenting on skepticism for children, suggested books (part of my blog) and appearing on radio in my country. And I left my job to research part-time a new way of assessing paranormal, pseudoscientific and conspiracy theory beliefs for my dissertation - we have some rather interesting results. Much of my focus is on gender differences and belief. I'm not well known. People don't link to my blog much, for example. I'm still trying to figure out why people are so obsessed with getting onto TV, though. There are a lot of science shows out there already? At any rate: creating specific goals and work with those who get it done was something raised at the Australian National Conference 2008 by Michael McRae regarding CT and Science Education. Worth checking out the Critical Thinking group created by him on Yahoo groups. Well, I contributed to the writing of a course that’s mandatory for all children studying Philosophy and Ethics in my state:
http://podblack.com/?p=228
I help contribute to our group’s Philosophy cafes and contribute to training of the teachers who do the course I mentioned above.
I’m a member of the Skeptic Zone podcast and contribute to the Stop Jenny site.
I support SkeptiCamp; gave some pointers to the pdf of SkeptiCamp and currently write and contribute to another ongoing project about skeptical activism.
I ran a program at my school for two years entering in for a state-wide Skeptic Report writing contest; this led to presenting on skepticism for children, suggested books (part of my blog) and appearing on radio in my country.
And I left my job to research part-time a new way of assessing paranormal, pseudoscientific and conspiracy theory beliefs for my dissertation – we have some rather interesting results. Much of my focus is on gender differences and belief.

I’m not well known. People don’t link to my blog much, for example.

I’m still trying to figure out why people are so obsessed with getting onto TV, though. There are a lot of science shows out there already?
At any rate: creating specific goals and work with those who get it done was something raised at the Australian National Conference 2008 by Michael McRae regarding CT and Science Education. Worth checking out the Critical Thinking group created by him on Yahoo groups.

]]> By: Larian LeQuella http://www.skepticblog.org/2008/11/18/double-scoop-of-skepticism/#comment-868 Larian LeQuella Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:38:54 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=446#comment-868 What if you will get burned at the stake for being a heretic? I attempted something like that a few months back by giving a talk about the Phoenix Lander at the local library. I had no interested participants show up, but I did have a handful of "fundies" show up to tell me that I was going to hell for spreading satan's lies about Mars and the age of the solar system (which wasn't even the focus of the talk, but mentioning oceans billions of years ago is close enough). It's incredibly discouraging if you are in an area like I am. What if you will get burned at the stake for being a heretic? I attempted something like that a few months back by giving a talk about the Phoenix Lander at the local library. I had no interested participants show up, but I did have a handful of “fundies” show up to tell me that I was going to hell for spreading satan’s lies about Mars and the age of the solar system (which wasn’t even the focus of the talk, but mentioning oceans billions of years ago is close enough).

It’s incredibly discouraging if you are in an area like I am.

]]> By: Coleran http://www.skepticblog.org/2008/11/18/double-scoop-of-skepticism/#comment-860 Coleran Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:23:18 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=446#comment-860 Very nice post Ryan. It is that desire which drew me toward this in the first place, including the stuff I did with yourselves to try and further that. There are so many good ways to spread this and I think there is huge scope. It is an exciting time to be involved in the skeptical movement. We have the talent and the tools to do some great stuff. Looking forward to the stuff you are all doing but looking forward more to the stuff that will come from people we have never heard of. It will be those who really push and expand this great area of thought. Very nice post Ryan.

It is that desire which drew me toward this in the first place, including the stuff I did with yourselves to try and further that. There are so many good ways to spread this and I think there is huge scope. It is an exciting time to be involved in the skeptical movement. We have the talent and the tools to do some great stuff. Looking forward to the stuff you are all doing but looking forward more to the stuff that will come from people we have never heard of. It will be those who really push and expand this great area of thought.

]]> By: Ryan Johnson http://www.skepticblog.org/2008/11/18/double-scoop-of-skepticism/#comment-856 Ryan Johnson Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:34:54 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=446#comment-856 Well said Philip. I agree. It's not going to happen fast either. But we all need to make an effort to interject critical thinking and skepticism--aloud, in our daily lives. Hopefully those around us will get a bit via osmosis! Well said Philip.

I agree. It’s not going to happen fast either. But we all need to make an effort to interject critical thinking and skepticism–aloud, in our daily lives. Hopefully those around us will get a bit via osmosis!

]]> By: Philip http://www.skepticblog.org/2008/11/18/double-scoop-of-skepticism/#comment-847 Philip Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:12:56 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=446#comment-847 I wouldn't say that this was a "surprisingly inspiring post." It is just inspiring. One thing that people seem to do a lot of is just sit on their butt. They think the expert or the professional can handle everything on their own. If anything needs awareness it's skepticism. What it is and what it is not. There is power in words. There is a lot of negative connotation put on the term skeptic. So you have to be aware of that and be sure your audience is ready to hear the term in the proper way at the proper time. To those who understand the full meaning of the word, I am a skeptic. To those who don't, they see me as a critical (or evidence based) thinker. I'm not going to try to change the world, just a few people at a time. I wouldn’t say that this was a “surprisingly inspiring post.” It is just inspiring. One thing that people seem to do a lot of is just sit on their butt. They think the expert or the professional can handle everything on their own. If anything needs awareness it’s skepticism. What it is and what it is not. There is power in words. There is a lot of negative connotation put on the term skeptic. So you have to be aware of that and be sure your audience is ready to hear the term in the proper way at the proper time. To those who understand the full meaning of the word, I am a skeptic. To those who don’t, they see me as a critical (or evidence based) thinker. I’m not going to try to change the world, just a few people at a time.

]]> By: Peter Vlasveld http://www.skepticblog.org/2008/11/18/double-scoop-of-skepticism/#comment-843 Peter Vlasveld Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:45:29 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=446#comment-843 That was a surprisingly inspiring post Ryan. I just may try this. Thank you. That was a surprisingly inspiring post Ryan. I just may try this. Thank you.

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