Anti-Science

Even Perfect Skepchicks are Imperfect

Eventually, we all get duped. Everybody. It’s just impossible to make it through life without occasionally accepting something as fact that seems correct, only to find out later that it’s not. For instance, the idea that an ancient pyramid was found in Bosnia fooled a lot of otherwise sensible people. It seemed very believable on the surface. Or how about Piltdown Man? That was a clever forgery that got a few people. You see, there are a lot of sophisticated schemes out there designed to trick even the smartest, most observant person.

All I’m saying is that I have absolutely no reason to be ashamed that for the past 18 months I have been under the impression that a lion mutilated 42 midgets in a Cambodian ring fight.

Oh sure, laugh at me. When it’s tossed out there in the open, all naked and shivering, it’s pretty obvious that it’s a totally made up story, but believe you me, had you come across this one morning (pre-coffee!) as you scanned news headlines on the web, I assure you that you, too, would immediately skim the article with interest before firing it over to your coworker with a note saying, “How did my 20-year recurring nightmare end up on the newswire?”
Anyway, I just wanted you all to know: when it comes to critical thinking, I’m not necessarily better than everyone else. Sometimes I’m much, much worse.

Rebecca Watson

Rebecca is a writer, speaker, YouTube personality, and unrepentant science nerd. In addition to founding and continuing to run Skepchick, she hosts Quiz-o-Tron, a monthly science-themed quiz show and podcast that pits comedians against nerds. There is an asteroid named in her honor. Twitter @rebeccawatson Mastodon mstdn.social/@rebeccawatson Instagram @actuallyrebeccawatson TikTok @actuallyrebeccawatson YouTube @rebeccawatson BlueSky @rebeccawatson.bsky.social

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10 Comments

  1. I once thought there were people in Washington D.C. that actually gave a damn about their constituents. How gullible I was.

  2. –Erm…

    …When WHAT gets tossed out all naked and shivering…? The lion? The midget(s)? The Vegemite eaters?

  3. "All I’m saying is that I have absolutely no reason to be ashamed that for the past 18 months"

    Yes, yes you do. This means you are not religiously (sceptically?) reading Snopes.

    I sentence you to a jar of Vegemite.

    Otara

  4. You can't both be a skeptic and think you can't be fooled. It isn't possible. That's the whole point of evidence-based standards. If you can't be fooled, you don't need evidence, but we can all be fooled.

    If there is one trait all woos share, it is complete unswerving faith in their own judgement.

  5. What draws you to the conclusion the Bosnian pyramids are not manmade? The excavations have barely begun (the work will probably take many years to complete,) and we already have the stated opinions of Egyptian experts, that the structures are definitely manmade, and represent a crude or early form of pyramid. Enough material has been unearthed already, to make that certain. To see the pyramids in their entirety, will simply take more time and work.

    Remember, the pyramids of Central America and Mexico also didn't look like much, until they were fully excavated and restored. Most of those pyramids remain overgrown in the forests, by the way. A casual observer would assume they were merely odd-shaped hills.

    Photos and other information coming from the Bosnian pyramids site have been regularly posted here:
    http://www.bosnianpyramid.com

    Please don't be fooled by the sour grapes (bickering, politicking and misinformation in archaeological circles.) It would be wise for us to avoid jumping to premature and unfounded conclusions.

  6. I bought into Harvey & Marilyn Diamond's Natural Hygeine concepts taught in "Fit for Life". It led to me arguing for proper food combining on the skeptic bb, only to have my ass handed to me. Oh well. :)

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