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The 60th Meeting of the Skeptics’ Circle: Reality in danger

It’s that time again! Has it really been a fortnight since the last time the skeptics of the blogosphere met to apply desperately-needed critical thinking skills to the woo, credulity, and general lack of critical thinking in which the blogosphere is continually awash?

I guess so.

This time up, we have a rather unusual presentation of the Circle for the 60th Meeting of the Skeptics’ Circle over at Infophilia. This time around, the threat is real:

“So, here’s the situation. Woos have struck at the foundation of reality, and it’s now determined by the popularity of ideas. Simply put, the argument from popularity actually works now. Many like-minded woos have grouped together so that in certain areas, their beliefs will take form.”

“Wait, hold on,” one skeptic says. “You’re going to have to excuse me if I’m a bit skeptical of all of this. Woo taking over the world in one night? Seems very far-fetched, even taking into account the Bigfoot abduction sighting and the ghost of Hahnemann.”

“Perfect. Keep up that attitude and we might have a chance. The firmer your grasp on reality, the better you’ll be able to fight back. But just remember, now isn’t the time to get stuck in an Ivory Tower of skepticism. Tonight, we have to fight.

Kinda makes you want to paint your face blue, just like Mel Gibson in Braveheart and shout, “Skepticism!” doesn’t it?

Can our intrepid band of skeptics hold back the tide of irrationality? What will become of the very nature of reality? You’ll have to tune in to the rest to find out.

Assuming reality survives the attack, next up to host will be Rebecca at Memoirs of a Skepchick. Start getting your best skeptical entries together for her, just in case the war isn’t over by then and reality is still threatened. Better yet, if you want to join the army of skepticism as an officer rather than as enlisted personnel (by volunteering to host your very own Skeptics’ Circle, natch!), head over to HQ, check out the skeptical regs and the manual on what is expected in an officer and then drop me a line. If you meet the requirements (no woo on your site, for one thing), I’ll put you on the schedule to host.

By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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