On November 28, three members of ASR’s Steering Committee — David Bailey, Aysha Khan, and Lisa Johnson — attended the Whole Life Expo at the Convention Centre in Toronto. The expo is billed as “Canada’s largest showcase of natural health, alternative medicine, and eco-friendly lifestyles.”
Being a skeptic can be tricky; who should you trust?
Article by:
shadeydave @
1:21 am |
September 15, 2010
Filed under: Critical Thinking,Newsletter Articles,Skepticism
Filed under: Critical Thinking,Newsletter Articles,Skepticism
Open your mind, you new-age freak!
Let’s get some movement in the movement
I love that there is a skeptical ‘movement.’ I love knowing that there are like-minded people out there, compatriots with whom I can bitch and moan, hash out ideas, learn something, debate, and have some laughs. I love that here in Toronto we meet once a month at our Skeptics in the Pub event to do exactly these things. Having a movement provides a sense of belonging, of community — some might even say family.
Science: It’s the law!
I recently overheard something that no doubt many of us have heard in one form or another — that you can pay a heavy price for breaking the laws of nature. Since I wasn’t party to the conversation I resisted the urge to butt in, but there was definitely some squirming on my part.
Local Matters
Skepticism has experienced unprecedented growth in size and influence in recent times due in large part to the Internet bringing together a geographically disparate group of like-minded people. Standout blogs, podcasts, forums, and wikis have helped equalize access to the skeptical community, promote our positions, and inform about/organize against pseudoscientists, charlatans, ideologues, and those who are just plain incorrect.
News, scams, and herbal supplements
Recently some vitamin supplement scams have been passed off as legitimate news articles from reputable-looking sites. Here are two examples:
Vaccines and autism: Is the message finally getting through?
Article by:
Dave Bailey @
8:14 pm |
Filed under: Antivaccination,Conspiracy Theories,Critical Thinking,Newsletter Articles,Skepticism
Filed under: Antivaccination,Conspiracy Theories,Critical Thinking,Newsletter Articles,Skepticism
Most skeptics will be familiar with the unfortunately popular notion that there is a link between vaccinations and autism. For the most part we see it as a manufactured controversy that has had only negative effects, such as decreased confidence in science-based medicine, increased and misplaced confidence in alternative medicine, and the suffering and death of children who have not received vaccinations or have not been protected by herd immunity.
What we’re up against: The issues skeptics examine
Article by:
ASR Resources Department @
3:42 pm |
August 8, 2007
Filed under: Critical Thinking,Skepticism
Filed under: Critical Thinking,Skepticism
Skepticism, in the sense that we use the word, is an approach of critical inquiry. It does not claim that we can know nothing. Nor is it opposed to belief. We all have and need beliefs to get through life.
Do skeptics know nothing — or everything?
Older Posts » There are several misconceptions or accusations that confront skeptics constantly.
The top two in my experience are (1) “Skeptics don’t believe anything” and (2) “Skeptics think they know everything”. Strangely, these charges often come from the same sources.