New Skeptic Zone podcast out! I’ve interviewed Dr Petra Boynton on sexuality, skepticism and myths! She’s a lecturer who has one of the most practical, succinct and informative feeds that you can get under 140 characters with her account @drpetra. It was there that I first learned about ‘Clitoraid’ and it is well-worth your time following her for updates:
A truly fantastic post on women and/in science, and Susan Greenfield by @sophiescott
Speaking of Twitter updates… what’s in the works after Randi’s ‘hint’ at the NECSS – Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism?
Over at ICBS everywhere, Barbara has a brilliant post on the importance educating oneself on what skepticism actually means… before going around claiming that it applies to criticising everything and shouting down those who say otherwise: Scientific Skepticism: A Tutorial:
“You see, it is obvious that an uncomfortably large portion of people calling themselves skeptics and skepticism activists and advocates are under the impression that the definition of “skepticism” is one or more of the following:
- liberalism
- humanism
- secularism
- atheism
- negotiable
- a refuge for people who felt like outcasts in high school”
In addition, Barbara of ICBS Everywhere has a very cute little post where she puzzles about the superstition of the money spider!
While there is apparently a species that is refered to by that name (Linyphiidae), the superstition of a tiny spider being lucky stems back to 1507, according to my copy of the Dictionary of Superstitions.
1594 If a spinner creepe uppon him, hee shall have golde raine downe from heaven.
1662 When a Spider is found upon our clothes, we use to say. Some money is coming towards us. The Moral is this, such who…. Imitate the industry of that contemptible creature… may by God’s blessing weave themselves into wealth and procure a plentiful estate.
1732 Others have thought themselves secure of receiving Money, if … by chance, a little Spider fell upon their Cloaths.
It’s not just in Australia, that itty-bitty spiders are often given the ‘nickname’ of money spiders then! I used to think it was 
because they’re little, like a coin. In the US, perhaps they would have called them ‘penny’ or ‘nickel’ spiders? Because they’re tiny, like spare change, down behind your airline seat. ‘Money Spiders’ is even a trope in gaming!
Another excellent article today in The Australian, ‘The True Nature of Scepticism’ - one which is not written by anyone from the past or present-Australian Skeptics, but is in fact by Frank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent.
Recently Justin Rowlatt, who runs the BBC News Ethical Man blog, wrote of his concern that the word sceptic was in danger of becoming a term of abuse. He noted that since it was “the foundation of good science”, scepticism should be praised.
The paradox of demonising scepticism in an age where science enjoys significant cultural status has not escaped the attention of some of the advocates of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change consensus on climate change.
…But most supporters of the IPCC consensus are wedded to a language that stigmatises precisely the sort of questioning associated with scepticism. Some of them use the word scepticism in a way that exposes a tension between the aspiration to demonise the sceptic while appearing to uphold the convention of openness that is usually associated with scientific inquiry.
I’ve attempted to point this out to a few in the past, to no avail. So, it’s great to see an article like this appear. In addition,
The defining attitude of the sceptic is the suspension of judgment. A sceptic is someone who has not decided or is not in a position to decide.
The act of suspending judgment need not mean a commitment not to judge. It can mean the postponement of judgment while the sceptic continues to inquire into the problem. Unlike doubt, which involves a negative judgment, scepticism represents a form of prejudgment. It is opposed to dogma and the attitude of unquestioned certainty.
In some cases the suspension of judgment can represent an act of evasion. But the suspension of judgment can be a prelude to a commitment to explore further in pursuit of clarity and truth.
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I hope I did not misunderstand Randi; wouldn’t want to start a false rumor, but it seemed pretty clear from what I heard that there’s something in the works, possibly between JREF and CFI.
Oh yeah, on other thing: his aura totally backs me up too!
I’d never heard of the “Money Spider” superstition. Though I had wondered about their name. Yay knowledge!
You linked to TV Tropes! Nooooo!
Yes, it’s a good way of getting COMPLETELY lost for a few hours reading!
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