Skepticism

New Video! Venom Fang X and the Argument from Popularity

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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14 Comments

  1. I’ve just been trying to ignore the existence for VenomFangX for quite some time now…but the MS Paint graphics has made this takedown palatable :D

  2. Whilst watching this video, I BELIEVED with all my might that Rebecca would remove her robe at the end, and sure enough, she *didn’t.* Therefore, God doesn’t exist.

    Obviously, we need more believers.

  3. Whilst watching this video, I BELIEVED with all my might that Rebecca would remove her robe at the end Venom Fang X didn’t exist, and sure enough, she *didn’t.* he *does*.Therefore, God doesn’t exist.

    Shit.

  4. It is a good look, for a Bondage fan.

    But why give that tool any attention?

    Speaking of Bondage, why has Randi not played a major role in a Bond film? Is he allergic to cats?

  5. Black bathrobe = villain
    White bathrobe = heroine

    I’m glad Rebecca and Venom got it right. It might have been confusing.

  6. In general, the problem with the argument from popularity isn’t that it is fallacious but rather that it in general gives such weak evidence that any other evidence is orders of magnitude more relevant. This is all the more severe when we have multiple plausible explanations for why the beliefs in question would develop without any external impetus.

    Incidentally, when did VenomFangX reappear? His last disappearance seem to last for a while. Does that mean we’re back to the usual cycle? I wonder when we’ll get to the bogus DMCA takedown notice stage. That was fun.

  7. Aside from your objections, for Venom Fang X to be able to derive the probability of God’s existence from the fact people believe in him, he would need an estimate of the unconditional probability of God’s existence and the unconditional probability of belief in God.

    Bayes Fail.

  8. No more “god of the gaps” now it’s “god in the shoebox.” A new meme in the making.
    Way to go, Rebecca!

  9. 1. Belief in freedom is highly likely in a world where freedom exist.

    2. Belief in freedom is an abnormality/anomaly and highly unlikely in a world where freedom does not exist.

    3. ???

    4. Profit!!

  10. Rebecca Watson,

    This is not surprising, since Venom Fang X, like the overwhelming majority of creationists has always been a self parody.

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