Comments on: The Skeptologists teaser video http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:37:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Blue Collar Scientist » Blog Archive » The Skeptologists http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81904 Blue Collar Scientist » Blog Archive » The Skeptologists Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:07:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81904 [...] over to Phil Plait’s blog for a teaser trailer of the pilot, and take note of the letter there from the director: Raise your voice! Let it be [...] […] over to Phil Plait’s blog for a teaser trailer of the pilot, and take note of the letter there from the director: Raise your voice! Let it be […]

]]> By: Christian X Burnham http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81903 Christian X Burnham Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:19:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81903 BA and others: My comment was a throwaway surreal image. Sorry if it overstepped the mark. BA and others:

My comment was a throwaway surreal image. Sorry if it overstepped the mark.

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81902 The Bad Astronomer Sun, 13 Apr 2008 04:37:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81902 Barton- Do you <i>really</i> want to compare Christian Burnham to <b>Mengele</b>? That's disgusting. I'm not thrilled with his comment either, but what you said is beyond the pale. Feel free to go away and not comment here anymore. Barton-

Do you really want to compare Christian Burnham to Mengele?

That’s disgusting. I’m not thrilled with his comment either, but what you said is beyond the pale. Feel free to go away and not comment here anymore.

]]> By: leandra http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81901 leandra Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:27:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81901 I have to echo some of the comments about the block on bottle thing-I totally didn't get it when I first saw it, and I read a lot about skepticism and etc. I guess that's one cultural myth I've missed. I also agree that they loch ness monster picture would be waaaay more well-known and recognized-I think people would see that and get the point of the show right away. I have to echo some of the comments about the block on bottle thing-I totally didn’t get it when I first saw it, and I read a lot about skepticism and etc. I guess that’s one cultural myth I’ve missed. I also agree that they loch ness monster picture would be waaaay more well-known and recognized-I think people would see that and get the point of the show right away.

]]> By: chefcrsh http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81900 chefcrsh Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:41:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81900 To my thinking, to expect skeptics to support something based purely on ideological claims rather than cold, hard,...acts, is very bad form. Show us a trailer at the very least. While I very much admire, Dr. Novella, Michael Shermer and Phil Plait, and am wild about Kirsten Sanford, I for one wouldn't put letter behind my name on behalf of something I have no idea is good or bad, even though it is done with the help of noted skeptics and lays claim to being "a TV series that focuses on the real, the intelligent and important advances in science, critical thinking and skepticism". To my thinking, to expect skeptics to support something based purely on ideological claims rather than cold, hard,…acts, is very bad form. Show us a trailer at the very least.

While I very much admire, Dr. Novella, Michael Shermer and Phil Plait, and am wild about Kirsten Sanford, I for one wouldn’t put letter behind my name on behalf of something I have no idea is good or bad, even though it is done with the help of noted skeptics and lays claim to being “a TV series that focuses on the real, the intelligent and important advances in science, critical thinking and skepticism”.

]]> By: NoMorals http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81899 NoMorals Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:40:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81899 I liked the trailer - got the supernatural bent of it right off. It actually made me wonder exactly which explanation they were going to debunk for the block falling off; psychic power, ghosts, or some gods will. Have to agree with those above about the Indiana Jones look, though. And not because the next movie is supposedly crap, but because Indiana keeps looking for and finding significant mythological religious artifacts instead of real lost treasures (imagine if he found a cache of scrolls saved from the library at Alexandria - just before it was torched - that held the key to the Nazi’s making THE BOMB in time to change the outcome of WWII. Could have been a great movie, taught a lot of history, and still made half a gazillion dollars). /off soapbox Don’t try and appeal to the masses - that’s what’s wrong with most shows to begin with. Aim for your target audience and don’t miss! Those that can be offended if a subject near and dear to their hearts is addressed by a skeptical mind in a public manor will be offended no matter what you do, so just consider those folks as outside of your target audience and get on with it. Tell the truth as best as you can see it, and let the chips of unreason fall where they may. It might not be a huge success to do this, but no matter what the outcome at least you’ll be able to look yourself in the eye in the mirror every morning. And BTW, geeks having fun showing off their brains is entertaining as all get out (IMHO) and I wish there were a whole channel that showed nothing but such shows. Show us just how smart people can actually be, and how much fun it is to really be using that big brain to do what the brain does best - learn. Entertainment with a purpose, I guess is what I’m trying to say. Anywho, good luck and email sent off as requested. I liked the trailer - got the supernatural bent of it right off. It actually made me wonder exactly which explanation they were going to debunk for the block falling off; psychic power, ghosts, or some gods will. Have to agree with those above about the Indiana Jones look, though. And not because the next movie is supposedly crap, but because Indiana keeps looking for and finding significant mythological religious artifacts instead of real lost treasures (imagine if he found a cache of scrolls saved from the library at Alexandria - just before it was torched - that held the key to the Nazi’s making THE BOMB in time to change the outcome of WWII. Could have been a great movie, taught a lot of history, and still made half a gazillion dollars). /off soapbox

Don’t try and appeal to the masses - that’s what’s wrong with most shows to begin with. Aim for your target audience and don’t miss! Those that can be offended if a subject near and dear to their hearts is addressed by a skeptical mind in a public manor will be offended no matter what you do, so just consider those folks as outside of your target audience and get on with it. Tell the truth as best as you can see it, and let the chips of unreason fall where they may. It might not be a huge success to do this, but no matter what the outcome at least you’ll be able to look yourself in the eye in the mirror every morning.

And BTW, geeks having fun showing off their brains is entertaining as all get out (IMHO) and I wish there were a whole channel that showed nothing but such shows. Show us just how smart people can actually be, and how much fun it is to really be using that big brain to do what the brain does best - learn. Entertainment with a purpose, I guess is what I’m trying to say.

Anywho, good luck and email sent off as requested.

]]> By: Barton Paul Levenson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81898 Barton Paul Levenson Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:59:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/09/the-skeptologists-teaser-video/#comment-81898 Christian X. Burnham writes: <blockquote>…sneer loudly and then proclaim in a mocking voice: ‘Where is your God now?’</blockquote> Josef Mengele had a Jewish kid as a servant. While the kid watched his mother and father marching into the gas chamber, Mengele used those same words: "Where is your God now?" Christian X. Burnham writes:

…sneer loudly and then proclaim in a mocking voice:

‘Where is your God now?’

Josef Mengele had a Jewish kid as a servant. While the kid watched his mother and father marching into the gas chamber, Mengele used those same words: “Where is your God now?”

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