5 responses so far ↓

• 1 strimmer // Jun 22, 2012 at 12:16 am

  I first found out about the organized skeptics movement around 2005-2006. I became interested in two authors I found out about, James Randi and Richard Dawkins. Wanting to find out more about them I starting watching videos of their lectures and downloading interviews with them from podcasts. Listening to them on podcasts such as Skepticality, Point of Inquiry, and Skeptics Guide to the Universe became the beginning of the end. I instantly knew that these were my people and I needed to get involved.

  I have always been interested in science and have considered myself a decent critical thinker; however, it wasn’t until I started getting involved in the skeptics movement that I realized some common critical thinking mistakes that I made in the past.

  I believe the skeptics community and movement serve an important role in promoting and advocating for science. However, I would say the most important thing that I have learned in my time in the skeptic movement is that there is one-million and one ways that others can fool you but there is one-billion and one ways in which you can fool yourself.

• 2 Leon // Jun 22, 2012 at 2:41 pm

  I had two lines of inspiration, really. One was via the atheist movement, encouraged by the likes of PZ Myers. The other was more direct: I was inspired by Phil Plait, whose Bad Astronomy blog I was following. Around 2004 I finally realized that creationism was making big inroads, and that not only set me hard against creationism itself, but it led me to investigate pseudosciences in general. Before, I had thought of them as goofy fluffy stuff that was probably make-believe, but thought some of it might have something. Come to find it’s almost all nonsense with nothing to back it up.

  Reality rules! (In both senses of the word.)

• 3 Brandon // Jul 16, 2012 at 3:35 pm

  I like to think I have always been scientifically oriented in my approach to reality, but truly realized I was a skeptic/critical thinker when I was immersed in Carl Sagan’s “Demon Haunted World”. I never knew there was an actual community that called themselves “Skeptics”. I found the national Skeptics community by chance when I found the Geologic Podcast, thinking it would be about geology (I’m a geologist) around 2006. Through Geo’s podcast, I found the SGU, Skepticality, Skeptoid, Reasonable Doubts, Point of Inquiry, and others. I knew then that I wasn’t alone in the world in my confusion as to why people think the way they do and believe crazy crap. I come from a low income, religious, right-wing community that consistently votes against their own interest. This compelled me to starting a small skeptics group in my hometown of Red Bluff, CA and joining Chico Skeptics (in the Pub). I’m not a huge fan of philosophical debates about the nature of truth, but love science discussion and methodology. Having taught geosciences at the university level, I feel there is massive ignorance about what science is (and isn’t) and how we know what we know. I feel it’s important to promote science and critical thinking skills as much as possible because we have to live with these people (vacinations, anyone?). I’m trying to leave a better world for the next generation–specifically, for my son, Sagan. What I find most interesting is that we are a minority that has seen lots of growth over the last five years, and seems to have some good momentum. Now that I’m in Cap City, I look forward to joining SAS and meeting you all.

• 4 Eddie Scott // Jul 17, 2012 at 4:55 pm

  Like most people I’ve talked to in the skeptical “movement,” there was no big conversion moment for me. My move towards skepticism and critical thinking kind of came as a natural outgrowth of my move away from a religious mindset. And it took place over a lot of years.

  The Internet certainly deserves a big share of the credit though – or, rather, the effective use of the Internet by bloggers, podcasters, authors and other skeptics. Who knew there was even something like skepticism (as an organized movement) before we could all find it so easy through technology? First you stumble across, say, The Skeptics Guide to the Universe, and before you know it you’re listening to Skeptoid, Skepticality, and the Skeptic Zone (to name three). That leads to web sites and books and, before you know it you’re attending conferences and meetings and meeting other like-minded people and getting involved.

  That, at least, is how it happened for me.

• 5 Jerry Sloan // Jul 24, 2012 at 2:54 pm

  Hi Shane,

  AOF would like to know if the Sac Skecptics would like to present at panel at our September 12th meeting on the suggested subject of My Favorite Pseudoscience. The panel could have 4 or 5 people with you as moderator. If you think this is possible let me know – 383-4979 after noon – I sleep late and have the phone off until then. Also I will see you at Hoppy’s on Friday

  Jerry

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