Skeptics

When and where should this term apply?

Category:

Education

Tags:

• king
• heathen
• skeptics
• skepticism
• doubt
• creationism
• paranormal
• 9/11
• truthers
• evolution
• ghosts
• psychics

[Merjey]

I could understand the argument against this, but I've generally considered people who are 'skeptical' of things like evolution as being deniers. Most 'skeptics' question even conventionalism, which includes evolution. Skepticism is the application of consistent criteria when examining claims.

And while atheism is

[KingHeathen]

Sure, but don't you think that Christians call us "deniers" as well?

[bonnell123]

I do not think that the Skeptic movement has named themselves as such, to be more enticing to other degrees of religiosity. I don't think a group of atheists were sitting around saying "how can we be more popular?"

I think that it was a grup that realized that being an atheist does not necessarily mean you are rational in any sense. My take on it, is that the Skeptical movement is an entirely different group, more of a partner to, than an spin off of, atheism.

[KingHeathen]

I wasn't referring to the "Skeptic movement"...I was referring to people putting together Meet Up groups but not using the label "atheist" when that is what they actually meant.

[arachnophile01]

@KingHeathen what if they also questioned homeopathy at these meet-ups

[KingHeathen]

@arachnophile01 I'd say it is warranted as homeopathy has severe issues with its claims.

[johndebbra]

don't forget the skeptics that believe we never went to the moon lol..sorry couldn't resist to put that in.

[thefakeyeti]

@takerhbkfan

The type of atheist that looks up at the sky, says "Fuck you god.... there.. I prooved there is no god"...

Irritates me.

[arachnophile01]

Which side is "skeptics" comes down to Occams razor usually. Skeptics could include people who are against; crationism, biorythms, graphology, astrology, phrenology,palm reading, New age,ESP, UFOs, bigfoot, the loch ness monster, 911 truthers, moon hoaxers, bible codes, Virgin Mary grilled cheese, other Virgin Mary products, take your pick

[mindsmirror]

You can be so skeptical that you end up pushing everyone away from you. There is no need to question someone as to whether or not their claim is perfect when they say they got home at 9:30 (Unless it's in a murder trial or something). In normal conversation, it's simply a waste of time to make people exactly prove statements that don't really need to be exact. You can get to where you literally do not believe anything or anyone (Including yourself). This is what I call "uselessly skeptical".

[mindsmirror]

Note that I knew someone like this. It got to the point where I could not say ANYTHING because each little detail of my statement was picked apart before I could get anywhere. This person was obsessed with "being a skeptic" and seemed to be trying to live up to some idealized skeptical life where you question everything. They questioned ridiculously minor things that were simply irrelevant. I could not speak to them without them implying I was wrong about every single little detail.

[mindsmirror]

I have always disliked the word "skeptic" as far as a belief system descriptor. Being a "skeptic" says NOTHING of your reasoning skills or beliefs (Or lack thereof), as KingHeathen points out.

A "skeptic" can be someone who is blindly skeptical to absolutely everything, regardless of the evidence for or likelihood of the claim. That type of person will question every single thing you say, which makes conversation with them ridiculous. "So, can you actually prove you bought that sandwich at 9?"

[takerhbkfan]

exactly, it's possible to turn atheist for the wrong reasons;thus, not all atheist are necessarily skeptic.

[iwirebr]

geez, get a dictionary man...