DOCSLIB.ORG

Autism, Cults Young Skeptics & the Right Approach

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

SKEPTICI S M . SCIENCE . SOCIETY Vol. 30, No 3. September 2010 tics kep eak S p S AUTISM, CULTS young SKEPTICS & the right approach FAITH HEALING j GALILEO j ASTROLOGY Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Skeptic_Cover_Sep10.indd 1 3/9/10 9:45:40 AM The Skeptic September 10 Skeptical Groups in Australia Australian Skeptics Inc – Eran Segev Queensland Skeptics Association Inc – Bob Bruce www.skeptics.com.au PO Box 1388 Coorparoo DC 4151 PO Box 20, Beecroft, NSW 2119 Tel: (07) 3255 0499 Mob: 0419 778 308 [email protected] Tel: 02 8094 1894; Mob: 0432 713 195; Fax: (02) 8088 4735 Hear Bob on 4BC Paranormal Panel - 9-10pm Tuesdays [email protected] Sydney Skeptics in the Pub – 6pm first Thursday of each Meeting with guest speaker on the last Monday of every month month at the City Hotel, corner of Kent & King Streets at the Red Brick Hotel, 81 Annerly Road, South Brisbane. Dinner in the city (meeting upstairs) from 6pm, speaker at 7.30pm. See our web site for details: www.qldskeptics.com Dinner meetings are held on a regular basis in Chatswood Next dinner: Sept 25 - guest speaker business analyst John Smyrk. Bookings online or contact [email protected] Canberra Skeptics – Michael O’Rourke & Pierre Le Count PO Box 555, Civic Square, ACT 2608 Tel: (02) 6121 4483 [email protected] (general inquiries), Hunter Skeptics Inc – John Turner [email protected] (Canberra Skeptics in the Pub). Tel: (02) 4959 6286 [email protected] Monthly talks usually take place on the 13th of each month at We produce a 4-page e-newsletter six times a year; contact the the Innovations Theatre at the ANU. Dates and topics are subject newsletter editor ([email protected]) to add your to change. Canberra Skeptics in the Pub gather from time to email address to receive the e-newsletter. time at King O’Malleys Pub in Civic. For up-to-date details, visit our web site at: http://finch.customer.netspace.net.au/skeptics/ Meetings are held upstairs at The Cricketers Arms Hotel, Cooks Hill on the first Monday of each even-numbered month, commencing 7.00pm, with a guest speaker on an interesting topic. Skeptics SA – Laurie Eddie 52B Miller St Unley, SA 5061 Tel: (08) 8272 5881 [email protected] Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc – Terry Kelly GPO Box 5166, Melbourne VIC 3001 Thinking and Drinking - Skeptics in the Pub, on the third Friday Tel: 1 800 666 996 [email protected] of every month. Contact [email protected] www.meetup.com/Thinking-and-Drinking-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/ Skeptics’ Café – Third Monday of every month, with guest calendar/10205558 or http://tinyurl.com/loqdrt speaker. La Notte, 140 Lygon St. Meal from 6pm, speaker at 8pm sharp. More details on our web site www.skeptics.com.au/vic WA Skeptics – Dr John Happs PO Box 466, Subiaco, WA 6904 Tel: (08) 9448 8458 [email protected] Borderline Skeptics – Russell Kelly All meetings start at 7:30 pm at Grace Vaughan House, PO Box 17, Mitta Mitta, Victoria 3701 227 Stubbs Terrace, Shenton Park Tel: (02) 6072 3632 [email protected] Further details of all our meetings and speakers are on our website at www.undeceivingourselves.com Meetings are held quarterly on second Tuesday at Albury/ Wodonga on pre-announced dates and venues. Australian Skeptics in Tasmania – Leyon Parker PO Box 582, North Hobart TAS 7002 Gold Coast Skeptics – Lilian Derrick Tel: 03 6238 2834 BH, 0418 128713 [email protected] PO Box 8348, GCMC Bundall, QLD 9726 Skeptics in the Pub - 2nd Thursday each month, 6.30pm, Prince Tel: (07) 5593 1882; Fax: (07) 5593 2776 of Wales Hotel, Battery Point [email protected] Contact Lilian to find out news of more events. Darwin Skeptics – Brian de Kretser Tel: (08) 8927 4533 [email protected] Volume 30 • No 3 • September 10 Contents re PO rt S Aust Skeptics at TAM8 6 Richard Saunders AVN’s annus horibilis 8 8 Tim Mendham 6 FEATURES Education on cults 11 Michael Wolloghan Pugliucci interview 14 Richard Saunders 18 22 Young Aussie Skeptics 16 Richard Hughes Critical thinking 18 14 Peter Ellerton 11 Autism Debate 22 Eran Segev & Bob Buckley art ICL es 30 Belief in astrology 30 Caitlin Brain & Krissy Wilson The church & Galileo 34 Helen Lawrence Experiencing faith healing 36 34 Peter Ellerton 36 FO ru M 58 Sucrose debate 48 Forbes-Ewan, Gillespie et al Big Bang 54 54 Various authors Climate economics 56 Mark Lawson Solar energy economics 58 Tony Heyes 48 REGU L ARS Editorial 4 Around the Traps 5 Puzzles page 21 43 What goes around 28 Book reviews 40 Astrology column 60 Letters 61 40 EDITORIAL From the Editor I can hear you … any years ago (more than twenty, dissemination than they deserve, if they Mto be approximately exact) I used deserve anything at all. to edit a magazine called The Skeptic. But there is very much a positive You may have heard of it. In those days, side that should outweigh the negative the magazine was the prime source of implications. And that is that skepticism ISSN 0726-9897 information to the body of Skeptics is no longer a secret, but a growing Quarterly Organ of in Australia about the views, news and movement that encompasses all ages and Australian Skeptics Inc evidence under discussion by members. all manners of communication. There is a (ABN 90 613 095 379) There was also an annual convention boldness and vivacity – not to mention a Editor – still a regular event after 30 years – and large dose of excitement, enthusiasm and Tim Mendham the occasional get-together over food, beer humour – about current activity. And or whatever. long may it continue. Editorial Board Other than that, there was not a lot There are examples of Skeptics Steve Roberts to bring Skeptics together to keep them proclaiming their views in this issue, as Barry Williams informed and to allow the sharing of there always have been. But the breadth Krissy Wilson opinions and findings. and depth of views that continue Michael Wolloghan To be truthful, these limitations to today are as considered as they are communication meant that the skeptical encompassing and should be encouraged. Design Services message was not readily heard or With that in mind, I welcome Nova Consulting P/L understood, and was regarded in some contributions from all corners, and for All correspondence to: circles as a ‘dirty little secret’ that dare not all segments of the magazine – articles, Australian Skeptics Inc speak its name. news items, forums, letters and reviews. PO Box 20 In the years since then, largely The Skeptic thrives on diversity and while Beecroft NSW 2119 thanks to the development of a range of we would steer clear of the intemperate, Australia technologies, Skeptics have enjoyed far vindictive and misinforming, we do greater and more rapid dissemination of work according to the philosophy of Contact details information, which has given them the “vive la difference”. There are – and Tel: +61 (0)2 8094 1894 capability (“empowerment” is the word should be – items which for one reason Mob: +61 (0)432 713 195 used in recent years) to promulgate their or another rouse endorsement or, equally, Fax: +61 (0)2 8088 4735 views widely. irritation. Such views encourage debate, [email protected] This is not to say that this magazine and preferably informed debate, which www.skeptics.com.au no longer holds a significant role in the is the stuff of the scientific method. Yes, Skeptical world. It most certainly does, there will be the occasional misinformed The Skeptic is published four times and it remains – whether in digital or or even silly contribution, at least in per year by Australian Skeptics Inc. hard copy format – the prime source of some people’s eyes. There’s nothing Views and opinions expressed in articles evidence-based discourse and discussion wrong with that as long as the response and letters in The Skeptic are those of on the many and varied issues that (and you can believe me there will a the authors, and are not necessarily Skeptics concern themselves with. response) is concerned with well-meant those of Australian Skeptics Inc. But a considerable outcome of the and sometimes good-humoured debate, Articles may be reprinted with rise in varied technologies – the internet, discussion and correction. permission and with due acknowledge- websites, email, SMS, Twitter, Facebook, I look forward to hearing from you. ment to The Skeptic. All effort is made to YouTube, blogs, podcasts and vodcasts, ensure correct acknowledgement of all and there are bound to be others I’ve - Tim Mendham, editor contributions. We are happy to update missed – is that more people have credit when so informed. delivered more information to a broader PS: A hearty thanks to Steve Roberts for his Editorial submission deadlines audience than ever before. behind-the-scenes contribution to this issue. October 15, 2010 This, of course, can lead to problems. Despite being in Sweden, enjoying meatballs January 15, 2011 Intemperate statements, vindictive and filbunke, he added an oversight that April 15, 2011 invective and downright misinformation was both valuable and valued, not to July 15, 2011 are given more credence and mention extremely prompt. 4 N E WS The Skeptic September 10 Around the traps ... Global views Yamaguchi Prefecture last year, after a on homeopathy midwife gave the baby a homeopathic remedy instead of a vitamin K2 SKEPTICS There have been mixed reactions to injection. Change OF ADDRESS homeopathy recently, particularly following the UK House of Commons Subscribers, contributors Science & Technology Committee Evolution for schools statement which, according the British and members should Medical Journal, concludes that In an effort to promote note that the address “homeopathy is a placebo treatment an understanding of the that deceives patients and could principles of evolution for correspondence with therefore damage the implicit trust among students, the Australian Skeptics Inc between doctor and patient”.
Recommended publications
  • The Amazing Meeting 5

    The Amazing Meeting 5

    The Amazing Meeting 5 Per Johan Råsmark James Randi är känd för de flesta skeptiker. Det finns knappast någon som inte vid något till- fälle i en diskussion nämnt hans utmaning, där den som kan visa upp en paranormal förmåga under kontrollerbara former kan få $ 1 000 000. För knappt ett år sedan var vi nära att förlora honom då han drabbades av en allvarlig hjärtattack, men tack vare modern medicinsk veten- skap överlevde han. Den 18 januari 2007 var han så närvarande när det femte ”The Amazing Meeting” (TMA) inleddes i Las Vegas. Dessa möten, av vilka det första hölls i Florida och de övriga har varit i Las Vegas, arrangeras av ”James Randi Educational Foundation” (JREF). Denna gång hölls konferensen på Riviera eftersom Stardust där man varit de två senaste åren håller på att för- vandlas till enbart ”dust” i den ständiga omvandlingen av staden. Konferensen har hela tiden ökat i popularitet och detta år tyckte drygt 800 personer att det var värt att resa till ett kallt Las Vegas. Enligt arrangörerna gör detta konferensen till världens största någonsin för skeptiker och det ska också vara den med procentuellt sett flest kvinnor och flest ungdomar. (För att vara sunt skeptisk vill jag påpeka att jag inte har kontrollerat de uppgifterna.) Temat för årets möte var ”Skepticism and the Media”, något som inte alla talarna höll sig till eftersom det är en stor konferens, men som kunde ses på antalet mediepersonligheter bland de inbjudna gästerna. Att man inte helt höll sig till konferensens tema märktes redan den första dagen som inled- des med två workshops.
  • When Entertainment Meets Science: Summit Boosts Innovative Education JAMES UNDERDOWN

    When Entertainment Meets Science: Summit Boosts Innovative Education JAMES UNDERDOWN

    SI May June 11 CUT_SI new design masters 3/25/11 10:01 AM Page 5 [ NEWS AND COMMENT When Entertainment Meets Science: Summit Boosts Innovative Education JAMES UNDERDOWN Can the entertainment media, with their formidable skills, help educate young people about science? That was just one of the hopes as the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) hosted the unusual Summit on Science, En ter - tainment, and Education at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, Cal- ifornia, on February 4, 2011. The all-day symposium featured a top- shelf lineup of speakers from all over the United States on the status and direction of science education today. Each of its From left: Superstring theorist Brian Greene, writer/director/producer Jerry Zucker, and educator Tyler Johnstone three categories (science, entertainment, discuss ways to attract students to the world of science. and education) was well represented by in- novators in their respective fields with rel- her students to testify how they are drawn tainment who need help with content. evant knowledge and experience. toward science. In this day and age of Thanks to a $225,000 grant from the From the world of science, luminaries myriad distractions, catching the eye of Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, such as Ralph Cicerone, NAS president; students is more of a challenge than ever. the Ex change “is seeking proposals to es- Sean B. Carroll, biologist; and Charles But the program didn’t begin and end tablish collaborative partnerships among Vest, president of the National Academy with a group of experts bemoaning the scientists, entertainment industry profes- of Engineering and president emeritus of failures of the education system and sionals, and educators to develop educa- the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, pointing fingers at Hollywood schlock tional products or services that effectively were present.
  • 2013-03-March-Sacram

    2013-03-March-Sacram

    Special Events Volume 1, Issue 3 March 2013 Fri Mar 1 Movie n Pizza at Sierra College Darwin Day Gala a Success! Fri Mar 1 SAAF meeting and discussion We honored science and the greatest scientific dis- Sat Mar 2 Little Free Library planning covery, natural selection. Lots of tables, including Sun Mar 3 Ancient Chris- ACLU, local groups, Camp Quest, sale of Darwin tian Study Group finger puppets, four electric cars were displayed, the Wed Mar 6 New Member Coffee Meetup Mockingbirds sang sciencey songs in great harmony, Sat Mar 9 SF National and everyone had plenty of cake! Atheist Party Conf. Sat Mar 9 Stockton Dr. Ivan Schwab made interesting points about the eye: Brunch and Atheism Sun Mar 10 Dinosaur Day 1. We needed a ‘file cabinet’ to handle so much sensory Science Fest input, so the brain developed after the eye, not before. Sun Mar 10 Modesto 2. Eyes started when creatures were still ocean dwell- Science on Screen Sun Mar 10 “Hope After ers. That's why our eyes Faith” - Jerry Dewitt need constant lid flap- Fri Mar 15 Stockton ping to keep them wet. Drinking Skeptically Sat Mar 16 Ask an 3. Eyes started as a pro- Atheist - St. Pat’s Parade tein source, using sun- Sat Mar 16 Potluck Game light for energy. Later came a reaction for move- Night Sun Mar 17 JoAnn Anglin ment away from sudden shadows. Poetry Topics 4. Many types of eyes still exist, many much better Sun Mar 17 Blasphemy Breakfast - Rocklin than ours. Some see infrared, like snakes.
  • Scientific Report on Bial Fellowship 36/08 Theoretical Background

    Scientific Report on Bial Fellowship 36/08 Theoretical Background

    Scientific Report on Bial Fellowship 36/08 Theoretical background and study overview In sympathetic magical belief, objects are deemed to possess an affinity of power through their resemblance or connection to individuals by the ‘Law of Similarity’ (Frazer, 1922). Early belief in these laws underpin folk herbal remedies, alchemy and voodoo witchcraft, but also trigger magical notions in modern scientifically literate adults (e.g. Rozin & Nemeroff, 1990). One of the most dramatic examples of belief in sympathetic magic is the concern that damage to a representation can somehow harm the real-world person or object it is representing (Behrand, 2003). In our pilot studies, we have demonstrated that adults who do not think that they will be upset by cutting up a photograph of their childhood sentimental object will show significantly elevated arousal as measured by their galvanic skin response. Following the destruction they reported no awareness of increased arousal. This suggests that there may be latent emotional responses to perceived destruction that are suppressed. We predict that this reflects suppression of amygdala fear activation by inhibitory dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPC) networks. The rationale for this frontal inhibitory effect is the recent demonstration that activation of the DLPC and anterior cingulate is associated with unwanted prejudicial responses to Black faces by White participants (Richeson et al, 2003; Cunningham et al, 2004). These studies on prejudice are consistent with the idea that it is possible to control spontaneously activated negative attitudes. The current body of work examined whether the same network might be implicated in sympathetic magical reasoning. Sixty-seventy percent of Western children form a strong emotional attachment to a specific toy which they then treat as invaluable and irreplaceable (Lehman et al., 1995).
  • Philosophical Communities Jules Evans and Thomas Dixon Background

    Philosophical Communities Jules Evans and Thomas Dixon Background

    Connected Communities Philosophical Communities Jules Evans and Thomas Dixon Background Executive Summary Researchers and Project Partners Grassroots philosophy groups have Project leads proliferated in the UK, the US and beyond Jules Evans over the last 15 years. This is in part thanks Policy Director, Centre for the History to social networking websites like meetup. of the Emotions, Queen Mary, University com and Facebook, which have made it of London. easier for organisers to publicise their groups: there are now 846 philosophy Thomas Dixon groups on meetup.com alone, some of Director, Centre for the History of them with thousands of members. Today, the Emotions, Queen Mary, University philosophy groups meet in pubs, cafes, of London. bookstores, parks, old people’s homes, Project partners prisons, in virtual worlds and elsewhere. Such groups challenge formal models Jonathan Rowson of education and traditional divisions Director of the Social Brain Centre, RSA between high and mass culture, and Charles Seaford affirm the public’s appetite for informal Head of the Centre for Well-Being, new philosophical discussion. economics foundation This project examines and promotes the Paul Doran contemporary rise of grassroots philosophy National Director, Philosophy in Pubs groups. The project’s outputs consist of a David R. Buchanan 30,000-word research report, a seminar, Director, Institute for Global Health and a website (www.thephilosophyhub.com), and has generated over 20 media articles Seminar participants and interviews so far. The report seeks to Steve Bramall map the landscape of grassroots philosophy SBA groups, and to bring together existing research findings and resources regarding Lizzy Lewis those groups.
  • Skepticism 2.0

    Skepticism 2.0

    Skepticism 2.0 D.J. GROTHE hen Carl Sagan, James Randi, Paul Kurtz, Martin from CSICOP’s own magazine subscriber lists. Groups were Gardner, Ray Hyman, and others came together formed in the Washington, DC, and Los Angeles regions and W in the mid-1970s to form the Committee for the in a number of other cities around the U.S. and abroad. A Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Para normal (CSICOP, movement, not merely a magazine, was beginning to form. now CSI), did they plan on starting a worldwide grassroots In recent years, new developments in technology and soci- critical-thinking movement? Did they craft a plan to deputize ety have allowed this skeptical movement to reach out in new everyday people to speak out in their communities about the directions, sometimes departing from tested ways of advancing prevailing nonsensical ideas of the day? Did they envision the skeptical outlook that have worked in the past. This is the young people meeting up regularly to be skeptical together, as next generation of skepticism. This is Skepticism 2.0. in the growing Skeptics in the Pub events in cities across North America and around the world? New Media for New Audiences Often citing inspiration from the founders of CSI, an “aver- age Joe” skeptical citizen, possibly without special training or background in skepticism and with the help of only a computer connected to the Internet, can reach out to an audience that the skeptical magazines and organizations never would have reached I doubt it. These men had the laudable ambition to orga- nize leading think ers and social critics to respond authorita- tively to growing trends of credulity in society: increased belief in the power of psychics, the phenomenon of Uri Geller, UFO beliefs, ancient astronaut theories, popular belief in ghost hauntings and channeling, faith healers and religious charla- tans, and the like.
  • Debunking Detox Diets

    Debunking Detox Diets

    6NHSWLFLVP6FLHQFH6RFLHW\ 9ROXPH1R0DUFK AN INTRODUCTION TO PARAPSYCHOLOGY A REMOTE VIEWING EXPERIMENT SCIENTOLOGY AND THE TRAVOLTA TRAGEDY ENVIRONMENTAL DEBATES AND LOGICAL FALLACIES PSYCHIATRY BASHING DEBUNKING DETOX DIETS ZZZVNHSWLFVFRPDX Skeptics Around Australia New South Wales PO Box 438 Collaroy Beach NSW 2097 Connect with the next generation! Tel: 0432 713 195 Fax: (02) 8088 4735 Scientists in Schools is a national program [email protected] that creates long-term professional Hunter Skeptics partnerships between scientists and Ph: (02) 4959 6286 [email protected] teachers. It’s completely fl exible to [email protected] suit your interests and availability. Victoria Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc GPO Box 5166AA, Melbourne VIC 3001 Find out more at Tel: 1 800 666 996 www.scientistsinschools.edu.au [email protected] Borderline Skeptics Scientists in Schools PO Box 17 , Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Tel: (02) 6072 3632 is an Australian [email protected] Government initiative. Queensland Queensland Skeptics Assn Inc PO Box 6454 , Fairfi eld Gardens QLD 4103 Tel: (07) 3255 0499 [email protected] Gold Coast Skeptics PO Box 8348, GCMC Bundall QLD 9726 Tel: (07) 5593 1882 Fax: (07) 5593 2776 [email protected] ACT Canberra Skeptics PO Box 555, Civic Square ACT 2608 Tel: (02) 6121 4483 [email protected] South Australia Skeptics SA 52B Miller St Unley SA 5061 Tel: (08) 8272 5881 [email protected] Western Australia WA Skeptics PO Box 466, Subiaco WA 6904 Tel: (08) 9448 8458 [email protected]
  • Freethought Volume 1 No

    Freethought Volume 1 No

    The Tampa Bay Coalition of Reason Freethought Volume 1 No. 5 Oct. 2012 Jim Peterson, Editor ews N What’s Inside? It Is Time for Secular Humanists to Run for Faith Unified Calendar… ... ... 2 is a Humanist Value Humanist Society…... 3 * Public Office Faith? ...in Humanism? Yes, actually. Not in Tampa Humanists…. 7 * By Paul Kurtz, Ruth Mitchell, Toni Van Pelt, and deities or superstitions of course, but in ourselves as human beings; and in each other. Faith in human Clr.UU-Humanists… 7 * Tom Flynn potential, confidence in the instruments of reason Post Carbon Council..8 As secular humanists, we live in this world here and and logic; in the value of the world we have created; Freethought Films…..9 now, not in an imaginary world beyond our lives. these are the basis of real hope. This is faith carved This is our place, and it can only be better if we take in the immutable granite of human history. We Humanist Families…. 10 * responsibility for it. The Council for Secular embrace both Mozart and Stalin, the ugliness and Americans United..… 10 Humanism and the Center for Inquiry are committed horror, the beauty and delight. For they are both an to a set of humanist ethical values, many of which expression of the human, and define for better or Military Atheists.….10 * can be fulfilled only by social and political action worse, our possibilities. Though we are not shaped Atheists of FL ……..11 * for which we need to take responsibility. as passive stone, our character is chiseled in the Ctr.
  • From the Editor Skep Ti Cal Inq Uir E R™ the MAG a ZINE for SCI ENCE and REA SON

    From the Editor Skep Ti Cal Inq Uir E R™ the MAG a ZINE for SCI ENCE and REA SON

    SI Sept/Oct pgs_SI MJ 2010 7/23/10 12:41 PM Page 4 From the Editor Skep ti cal In quir e r™ THE MAG A ZINE FOR SCI ENCE AND REA SON ED I TOR Kend rick Fra zi er ED I TO RI AL BOARD James E. Al cock Martin Gardner and the Skeptical Movement Today Thom as Cas ten Ray Hy man Joe Nick ell Am ar deo Sar ma artin Gardner’s passing and the latest successful skeptic’s conference are both causes for Benjamin Wolozin Mreflection on where the skeptical movement Gardner helped found stands now. CON SULT ING ED I TORS I begin these comments as I depart The Amazing Meeting 8 (TAM8), the James Randi Sus an J. Black more Ken neth L. Fed er Educational Foundation’s big skeptics conference in Las Vegas. Martin Gardner’s legacy was much Barry Karr in evidence, and indeed Gardner received a moving tribute from Randi at the beginning of a late- E. C. Krupp Scott O. Lil i en feld afternoon panel on the origin of the skeptics movement. Randi, Ray Hyman, and Paul Kurtz— Da vid F. Marks three giants who, with Gardner, were present at the beginning—and I talked about the events that Jay M. Pasachoff Eu ge nie Scott led to the creation of CSICOP (now our Committee for Skeptical Inquiry) in 1976. Ray’s, Randi’s, Rich ard Wis e man and Paul’s reminiscences also lead off this special Martin Gardner Tribute Issue of the SKEPTICAL CON TRIB UT ING ED I TORS INQUIRER , pp.
  • +Dragons, Brains &Energy

    +Dragons, Brains &Energy

    SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY Vol. 36, No 3. September 2016 Risks & Stats What Skeptics need to know +Dragons, Brains & Energy Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Skeptic_Cover_SEP16.indd 1 30/08/2016 1:22 pm The Skeptic September 16 Skeptical Groups in Australia NSW VIC Australian Skeptics Inc – Eran Segev Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc – Chris Guest www.skeptics.com.au GPO Box 5166, Melbourne VIC 3001 PO Box 20, Beecroft, NSW 2119 Tel: 1 800 666 996 [email protected] Tel: 02 8094 1894; Mob: 0432 713 195; Fax: (02) 8088 4735 Skeptics’ Café – Third Monday of every month, with guest [email protected] speaker. La Notte, 140 Lygon St. Meal from 6pm, speaker at 8pm Sydney Skeptics in the Pub – 6pm first Thursday of each sharp. More details on our web site www.skeptics.com.au/vic month at the Crown Hotel, cnr Goulburn and Elizabeth Streets in the city (meeting upstairs) Dinner meetings are held on a regular basis. Ballarat Skeptics Currently being re-activated. See Facebook for details Hunter Skeptics – John Turner Tel: (02) 4959 6286 [email protected] Citizens for Science - Mornington Peninsula (formerly Peninsula Skeptics, aka The Celestial Teapot) Meetings are held at the Club Macquarie, Lake Road, Argenton Contact: Graeme Hanigan 0438 359 600 on the second Thursday of each month, excepting January, http://www.meetup.com/Citizens-for-Science/ commencing 7.00pm, with a guest speaker or open discussion www.facebook.com/groups/peninsula.skeptics/ on a given topic. Visitors welcome. Further information from the secretary
  • Jennifer Forester, Faculty Mentor

    Jennifer Forester, Faculty Mentor

    Pics or It Didn’t Happen: Sexist Hyperskepticism in the Modern Skeptical Movement Author: Jennifer Forester, Faculty Mentor: Clark Pomerleau, Ph.D., Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences Department and College Affiliation: Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences Pics or It Didn’t Happen 2 Bio: Jennifer Forester graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in English with a specialization in writing and rhetoric. Jennifer was a member of the Honors College. She presented her research at University Scholars Day in April 19, 2013. She is proud of her service in the United States Marine Corps where she was a Corporal (Bandsman, Armorer) in Cherry Point, North Carolina. She is a mother of two brilliant, if often unruly, children. Her current plan is to find gainful employment, but promises that she will eventually return to college and obtain her doctorate in rhetoric with a particular focus on the ways that rhetorical studies can be applied to social justice. Pics or It Didn’t Happen 3 Abstract: In the skeptical community, there is an ongoing conflict over what—if any—actions are necessary to make the movement more welcoming to the growing numbers of women in its ranks. This conflict has brought a great deal of antifeminist sentiment to the surface, to include rape and death threats against prominent women who speak affirmatively on feminist issues within organized skepticism. The origins of this problem can be found in the grounding of skeptical dialogue on the superiority of a traditionally masculinized ideal of science and reason, which excludes the feminized personal narratives that serve as evidence for mistreatment of women within the community.
  • Canadian Atheist: Set XVI

    Canadian Atheist: Set XVI

    1 2 In-Sight Publishing 3 Canadian Atheist: Set XVI 4 IN-SIGHT PUBLISHING Publisher since 2014 Published and distributed by In-Sight Publishing Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada www.in-sightjournal.com Copyright © 2020 by Scott Douglas Jacobsen In-Sight Publishing established in 2014 as a not-for-profit alternative to the large commercial publishing houses who dominate the publishing industry. In-Sight Publishing operates in independent and public interests rather than in dependent and private ones, and remains committed to publishing innovative projects for free or low-cost while electronic and easily accessible for public domain consumption within communal, cultural, educational, moral, personal, scientific, and social values, sometimes or even often, deemed insufficient drivers based on understandable profit objectives. Thank you for the download of this ebook, your consumption, effort, interest, and time support independent and public publishing purposed for the encouragement and support of academic inquiry, creativity, diverse voices, freedom of expression, independent thought, intellectual freedom, and novel ideas. © 2014-2020 by Scott Douglas Jacobsen. All rights reserved. Original appearance in Canadian Atheist. Not a member or members of In-Sight Publishing, 2020 This first edition published in 2020 No parts of this collection may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized, in any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented or created, which includes photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher or the individual co-author(s) or place of publication of individual articles. Independent Cataloguing-in-Publication Data No official catalogue record for this book, as an independent endeavour.