Humanity ahs a capacity to believe many absurd things. There is a sea of information coming at us from all directions, how do we sift out the misinformation and bogus claims, and get to the truth? Michael Shermer of Skeptic Magazine lays out a "Baloney Detection Kit," ten questions we should ask when encountering a claim.
The 10 Questions:
1. How reliable is the source of the claim?
2. Does the source make similar claims?
3. Have the claims been verified by somebody else?
4. Does this fit with the way the world works?
5. Has anyone tried to disprove the claim?
6. Where does the preponderance of evidence point?
7. Is the claimant playing by the rules of science?
8. Is the claimant providing positive evidence?
9. Does the new theory account for as many phenomena as the old theory?
10. Are personal beliefs driving the claim?
Michael Shermer discusses each of the ten questions in the video below. (If your broadband speed is not fast enough let the video play through with the sound off and then play it through with the sound on.)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Naomi Oreskes: Merchants of Doubt
To me it is overwhelmingly clear that the great majority of people qualified to make a judgement on climate change are convinced that the planet is warming and that it is largely the fault of humans. My evidence of this view is found in this post.
Why then do so many people deny the obvious? Naomi Oreskes explains the origins and tactics of the deniers in the video below. It is long but well worth viewing.
UPDATE: When I wrote this I thought that a climate change denier might find it and make a comment. I was surprised that this attracted a different type of denier - a tobacco denier! I didn't know that such people existed.
Why then do so many people deny the obvious? Naomi Oreskes explains the origins and tactics of the deniers in the video below. It is long but well worth viewing.
UPDATE: When I wrote this I thought that a climate change denier might find it and make a comment. I was surprised that this attracted a different type of denier - a tobacco denier! I didn't know that such people existed.
Friday, March 5, 2010
OK Go - This Too Shall Pass
This is a stunner!
The question, "why is he covered in red paint?" is answered at the end.
(If you find that the video stops and starts as it downloads from YouTube the best way to watch it is to start it up, go away and then come back and play it through when it is completely downloaded.)
Turn on your sound!
What a brilliant idea for a Video Clip!
Here is a brief video describing the origin of the idea and how it was executed.
This is a link to an article with many pictures of the band setting up the "machine".
They also produced a more standard, but still entertaining, version shown below:
To find out more about the band go to their website.
The question, "why is he covered in red paint?" is answered at the end.
(If you find that the video stops and starts as it downloads from YouTube the best way to watch it is to start it up, go away and then come back and play it through when it is completely downloaded.)
Turn on your sound!
What a brilliant idea for a Video Clip!
Here is a brief video describing the origin of the idea and how it was executed.
This is a link to an article with many pictures of the band setting up the "machine".
They also produced a more standard, but still entertaining, version shown below:
OK Go - This Too Shall Pass from OK Go on Vimeo.
To find out more about the band go to their website.
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