Tag Archives: skepticism

Is it time to give up on “Skepticism”?

Today I’m recovering from a rather unpleasant patch of illness that has left me drained, tired and at times irritable — and has prevented me posting the following thoughts for over a week. As I can’t see anyone caring anyway, … Continue reading

Posted in atheism, Debunking myths, Science, Social commentary desecrated, Unclassifiable!, Uninteresting to others whitterings about my life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

On Thursday I’m Talking Ghosts At Skeptics In the Pub, Cheltenham Science Festival Fringe. Controversy May Ensue :D

So I am trying to write my talk on The Science of Ghosts for Thursday night… Continue reading

Posted in Debunking myths, Fun forthcoming events, Paranormal, Science, Uninteresting to others whitterings about my life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pigs Might Fly! Randi, Bem and A Sceptical Failure?

I like James Randi, a lot. He has had a rough year, and I wish him well – and I have long supported the JREF, despite endless objections to some of Randi’s videos. Long time readers of this blog will … Continue reading

Posted in Debunking myths, Paranormal, Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Where Is The Effective Sceptical Activism Really Happening?

Skeptics are a funny lot. I have jokingly in the past suggested that modern organized Skepticism follows on from what Charismatic Christianity was in the mid 80’s, Wicca was in the late 80’s/early 90’s and  ufology was in the 90’s … Continue reading

Posted in Debunking myths, Social commentary desecrated | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

When Psychics Fail — Beyond Sally Morgan

OK, last week I wrote a short piece on Sally Morgan, in which I critiqued the evidence that she was using a well known fraud trick, that is having accomplices gather information in the crowd (or prepare information from public sources like newspapers), and then being fed it by hidden assistants using a radio connection. (I almost wrote “wireless” there for “radio”; astonishing how the meaning of that word, so common in my youth, has changed forty years on!). I doubted this partly on the fallibility of witness testimony, partly because the Theatre manager had came forward with a fairly convincing “alibi” involving two theatre techs being overheard being the cause of the whole matter. I lay out all the facts as I had them in my previous piece, which may be worth reading as it links to the RTE broadcast and the Irish Independent article, if you have not been following the case. Continue reading

Posted in atheism, Debunking myths, Paranormal, Religion, Social commentary desecrated | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Booting the Ball in No Man’s Land… A Rant for Sceptics

I should really avoid this topic like the plague, but I’m going to talk about it anyway, and risk upsetting everyone, because that what I happen to do!

I nearly titles this the “sceptics movement”, but as I think the idea of a movement that makes sceptics sounds like a creed or religious group is a misnomer I avoided that term; one thing is certain, sceptics always argue, disagree and often strongly, over all kinds of things. Where the evidence is solid they tend to agree, but on moral issues, tactical issues, social or political issues, or scientific areas where the evidence is weak sceptics hold strongly divergent opinions. And that is good and healthy. Continue reading

Posted in Debunking myths, Paranormal, Social commentary desecrated, Unclassifiable! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Living with the ‘Enemy’ – the Epistemological Acid Test

I just saw a friend has joined a Liberal Christian forum on Facebook, and it has brought to mind a few thoughts on what many people think is a rather perverse feature of my personality; given that I am a religious and ‘paranormal’ believer, with fairly strong beliefs that I express freely, why do I spend most of my on-line existence in atheist and sceptic sites? Continue reading

Posted in atheism, Debunking myths, Paranormal, Religion, Science, Uninteresting to others whitterings about my life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

UK Sceptics Newsletter

Hey chaps and chapesses, I have been meaning to share this for a while. The excellent UK Sceptics, whose forum is linked if you look on this blog have released a pdf newsletter which deserves a wider readership. You can … Continue reading

Posted in Debunking myths, Fun forthcoming events, Paranormal | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

In Defence of Astrology – some common sense on a touchy subject!

In defense of Astrology? Have I finally lost the plot? 🙂 Maybe! I like to doubt my own doubts from time to time, and critique my own sceptical beliefs. I originally wrote this as a playful piece on Richard Dawkin’s … Continue reading

Posted in Debunking myths, History, Paranormal, Religion, Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

UK-Sceptics Conference, Muncaster Castle, Cumbria, 18th-20th September 2009

The UK Sceptics have announced their 2009 conference to be held at Muncaster Castle, Cumbria on the 18th-20th September 2009.  Speakers include Chris French and Chris Roe, but also interestingly John Walliss on mediumship and amazingly Nick Pope – yes,  … Continue reading

Posted in Debunking myths, Paranormal, Reviews and Past Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments