Trouble in the Skeptic Kingdom

[Arouet]

That's all well and good, but what I really want to know is - did Carl Sagan smoke pot? And if he did, did he enjoy it?

(I also wonder whether Sagan was obsessed about aliens - but you can deal with that after the pot thing.)

tx

[really?]

What point are you attempting to make ?

[Arouet]

He's a troll really - though a more entertaining than average troll.

[really?]

[really?]

First off provide a link to the Novella article to allow readers to get up to speed. Secondly, when quoting someone also provide a link. Readers need check for themselves if the quote is accurate and not taken out of context. If you'll do that it would be appreciated.

This skeptic is well aware that science by itself is most times not enough to cause someone to change their beliefs. What helps most is what Steven Novella discusses here.

How To Talk to a Believer
http://theness.com/neurologicablog/inde ... -believer/

It seems to me you are implying skepticism is either a foolish endeavor or close to being on its deathbed. Is my impression correct ?

[Arouet]

I think pot should be decriminalized - and I've only tried it a handful of times more than a decade ago, and I'm not a smoker or illegal drug user.

If Shermer said science and skepticism are synonymous I disagree with that. Brian Dunning's statement is more accurate. Skepticism often involves science but not exclusively.

[Arouet]

Close: Skepticism is not science but science is by its nature skeptical. That doesn't mean that everyone with a science education practices skepticism in other areas of their lives.

Skepticism has nothing to do with one's conclusions. Skepticism is about how one gets to their conclusions. it doesn't require science, but it does require sufficient reliable justification for a claim.

[really?]

[drastikmeazures]

I think pot can be exteamly usefull for a lot of people, it can also be abused. Although I don't think you can actually die from an overdose the way you can with aspirin.

[really?]

[Arouet]

[Arouet]

Well- if you're interested in identifying the definition that skeptics use when referring to skepticism let me know.

[NinjaPuppy]

[NinjaPuppy]

[NinjaPuppy]