Maybe “you’re” looking at “their” reaction to seriously?

I think you are. Chill…baby…chill.

I don’t think Shirley Ghostman is particularly funny but I think the reactions of Brian & Michael give the impression that skeptics can’t take a joke unless it’s aimed at something they don’t like.

Penn & Teller do similar sorts of stunts to folks on Bullshit! and although they seem to inform the unwitting participants afterwards it’s note worthy that most of the people take it in good humour and have no problem with being made to look foolish. Also, Mark Edward has recently been advocating on this very blog pranks against believers that are no less dishonest than this stunt.

Overall I think it’s silly to get so worked up over a comedy show and speaking personally it has left me with the impression that Brian and Michael could do with chilling out a bit more.

Are you suggesting that “True” skeptics are immune from being fooled?

One is less likely to be fooled by something for which substantial information is available beforhand. As such, one can read up on a subject such as homeopathy, mediums, ufos and the like based on evidence, and take the necessary time to weigh that evidence and form an opinion. Hence, it is easier to be well prepared to face the claims of homeopathic quacks than it is to face a seemingly honest person making a pitch for something that resides in the domain of the legitimate. Our evidence thresholds are based on our understanding of human relations and our experience. Considering the variance in motivations and behaviours from person to person, it is much easier to make a bad judgement call on a person’s intentions than it is to make on an independent concept such as homeopathy.

In the current case, as in the case of Expelled, the hoaxers intentionally mis-represented themselves to achieve a goal opposite to what was advertized, and they did so in a way that was intended to mislead. If someone does it in a convincing manner, it can be difficult to avoid. Michael and Brian were lured in because, based on their experience, they know that most people out there are not trying to dupe them. The original contact did not deviate too much from their general experience to create alarm.

The basic fact is that most people are not trying to fool you. That leaves us open to being fooled once in a while because intentions can be difficult to decipher. I would rather be fooled once or twice in my life than go around being wary of everyone’s intentions.

It is possible to be overly skeptical. We will never hear about those legitimate enterprises that were immediately discounted as hoaxes based on a person’s alarm bells going off. Is it better to be too cautious at the risk of missing out on some legitimate enterprises?

Finally, the fact that Michael and Brian are Skeptic celebrities makes them tempting targets for hoaxsters. As such, they will likely meet more hoaxsters in one year than you will in your entire life, and these hoaxes are likely to be publicized….especially if succesful. By that very fact, you are less likely to be punked then they will, and if you are…no one is likely to hear about it…so one should be careful of excess criticism.