Why Skepticism means more than incredulity- A response to an unreasonable “skeptic”

There is a definitional problem with the word “Skepticism” that confuses some people.

The idea that skepticism merely entails constant incredulity-with no process by which to assess truth claims- will render the very definition of skepticism an impossible heuristic.

Recently, Jeremy got into an online exchange (and by “exchange”, I mean “drive-by-followed-by-tone-trolling”) with a commenter called “badrescher” on his post Let’s Meet In The Alley: Skeptics vs. Atheists.  Let’s look at Skepticism according to Badrescher:

I share Jeff Wagg’s concerns and care little about discussing religion. That said, I am tenacious about secularism and the separation of church and state. It doesn’t work, though, without wide-spread acceptance that we do not all share the same religious (or non-religious) views. Atheists are not exempt from this; we need to accept that others have come to different conclusions.

I totally get what you are saying!  I went to ComicCon last year, and there was this group of guys (I bet you guessed they were guys) who were all dressed up as Klingons.  This totally pissed me off.  Star Trek is totally different from comic books.  Sure, some people who like comic books also like sci-fi television programs, but what about the hipster indie comic junkies who totally fancy themselves too cool for Nerd culture?  Plus, Trekkies totally have their own Cons already,why can’t they just segregate and stick to COMICS?

But I wanted to comment on something that I noticed that seems to be a pervasive view in this community.

ORLY? Please, by all means, tell me what all my friends are thinking…..

Be A Part Of Something Meaningful

Derek and Tessie Forgie

Normally I wouldn’t abuse my position as a guest blogger to coerce readers to get involved in a cause.

To hell with it, this cause is easy to get involved in and combines several themes that are prevalent on this blog……

I’d like you to meet Derek Forgie.  I’ve known Derek for almost twenty years- we were both involved in the arts community here in North Bay for many years before Derek moved down to Toronto in search of fame and fortune.  Well, mostly fame.

Derek is the most motivated guy I know.  When he wants to do something, he just does it.  When he moved to Toronto he started HSSE, Heterosexuals for Same Sex Equality, a group whose mission statement is to advocate for LGBT issues from a heterosexual angle- and to get the message out that human rights are everyone’s rights.

HSSE has already organized a successful campaign called “Straight Not Narrow”- selling T-shirts and organizing community involvement including participation in the Pride Parade in Toronto.  The T-shirt is awesome and sends a clear and catchy message while raising money for a great cause.  I’m not here to sell you a T-shirt though, don’t worry.

The new HSSE project is centered around an ad campaign that shows real couples holding a sign that reads “Gay marriage doesn’t threaten our marriage”.   Derek asked me if I could help by getting a picture of me and Misty holding a sign that carried the message- and I said I could do better than that.

I’m hoping that I can get as  many of the married (or engaged) readers at Le Cafe to get Derek a photo of them holding up this sign.  I’m also trying to pull some strings at some of the other blogs I frequent.  The sign could be hand written, or printed off using a computer- and it doesn’t have to be to same font as the one you see above.  If you like, you could add the facebook address that is written on the sign as well.  Each photo should be uploaded to facebook.com/TheHSSE but if you love humans but hate social networks, feel free to e-mail the picture to me and I will forward it to Derek.  My e-mail is my first name and last name (waye) all one word , ampersat, consultant, period, com- and this should not be construed as an invitation for Jude to send me pictures of Sam and Anna growling.

As part of the campaign, for the month of February, the wonderfully talented staff at “Who Do You Love? Photography” in Toronto are very generously offering FREE professional couples portraits like the one above. If you’d like to book your session (or if you have any questions) email: contactus@WhoDoYouLovePhotography.com

So to make this easy for all of you:

1. Make a sign that says “Gay marriage doesn’t threaten our marriage” feel free to add “facebook.com/TheHSSE”
2. Take a picture of you and your husband/wife (and kids?) holding the sign.
3. Go to facebook.com/TheHSSE and upload the photo to their wall.  Alternately, you can e-mail the picture to me (my first and last name,ampersat,consultant, period, com)  If you put “George sent me” and I get twenty photos……
4. I will raffle off the free “Straight Not Narrow” T-shirts to the people who participate.

So get to it.  Be a part of something meaningful.

Bali bound!

Tina and I are waiting at gate M10 at O’hare to board our Korean Air flight to seoul Korea. This flight is 13 hours and then we have a short layover before another six hour flight to Bali.

George W has already started blogging in my place. So don’t be strangers. He’s got things already scheduled to post and I’m excited to see the havoc he wreaks in my stead.

I didn’t ask him to yet but I hope whatever I post on my blog and facebook he reposts here.

We dropped talulah off this morning and I can’t say my eyes were exactly dry, but I’m glad she’ll be in good hands at the kennel.

Keep thinking of and/or praying for us as you know those things work and change the trajectory of how the future unfolds.

Cheers to you all and I’ll be lurking while away.

Clever Marketing: I see what you did there…..

 

Bus ad  reads: “Sofa King- Our Prices Are Sofa King Low”

Clever.