More Bass Ackwards

A few weeks ago, this blogger posted on how alternative medicine practitioners may call "real" (science-based) medicine "alternative" and alternative medicine "real" medicine (see here).  This bass ackwards juggling of terminology is common with most anti-scientific ideology (i.e. creationism/intelligent design, alternative medicine, psychic phenomenon, UFO belief, climate change denial, conspiracy theories, spirit/ghost belief, Christian apologetics, etc).  This anti-skeptic website, http://www.debunkingskeptics.com/,  is, frankly, an absurd attempt to juggle terminology on skeptics in general.  What's the harm?   As always, let the buyer beware.

Penn State Scandal And Conspiracy Theories

Mano Singham has an interesting question regarding the Penn State child rape scandal:  How far did the Penn State rot spread? 

Conspiracy Theory Summary

This blogger has recently posted on the subject of conspiracy theory, to include several examples. To sum up this topic, following are some statements made by authors in recent years regarding the general conspiracy theory of The New World Order:

There are several problems with a conspiratorial view that doesn't fit with what we know about power structures. First, it assumes that a small handful of wealthy and highly educated people somehow develop an extreme psychological desire for power that leads them to do things that don't fit with the roles they seem to have. For example, that rich capitalists are no longer out to make a profit, but to create a one-world government. Or that elected officials are trying to get the constitution suspended so they can assume dictatorial powers. These kinds of claims go back many decades now, and it is always said that it is really going to happen this time, but it never does. Since these claims have proved wrong dozens of times by now, it makes more sense to assume that leaders act for their usual reasons, such as profit-seeking motives and institutionalized roles as elected officials. Of course they want to make as much money as they can, and be elected by huge margins every time, and that can lead them to do many unsavory things, but nothing in the ballpark of creating a one-world government or suspending the constitution. - - - - -Domhoff, G. William (2005). There Are No Conspiracies

I am skeptical that “global governance” could “come much sooner than that [200 years],” as [journalist Gideon Rachman] posits. For one thing, nationalism—the natural counterpoint to global government—is rising. Some leaders and peoples around the world have resented Washington’s chiding and hubris over the past two decade of American unipolarity. Russia has been re-establishing itself as a “great power”; few could miss the national pride on display when China hosted the Beijing Olympics this summer; while Hugo Chavez and his ilk have stoked the national flames with their anti-American rhetoric. The departing of the Bush Administration could cause this nationalism to abate, but economic uncertainty usually has the opposite effect. [...] Another point is that attempts at global government and global agreements have been categorical failures. The WTO’s Doha Round is dead in the water, Kyoto excluded many of the leading polluters and a conference to establish a deal was a failure, and there is a race to the bottom in terms of corporate taxes—rather than an existing global framework. And, where supranational governance structures exist, they are noted for their bureaucracy and inefficiency: The UN has been unable to stop an American-led invasion of Iraq, genocide in Darfur, the slow collapse of Zimbabwe, or Iran’s continued uranium enrichment. That is not to belittle the structure, as I deem it essential, but the system’s flaws are there for all to see. - - - - - Partridge, Mark C. (December 14, 2008). One World Government: Conspiracy Theory or Inevitable Future?

Conspiracy “theories” lack any true analysis of the systemic class forces at work that oppress billions of people each day. They do not point to imperialism and capitalism as the main problems, instead ascribing society's ills to a few leaders from imperialist countries that are somehow above the class systems under which we live. Such “theories” are not only false, anti-Marxist and truly reductive of history—they are dangerous diversions that keep people from aiming their anger and hatred toward the system that actually causes oppression throughout the world. - - - - - Party for Socialism and Liberation (1 September 2010). Daniel Estulin and the phony 'Bilderberg conspiracy'

Right-wing populist movements can cause serious damage to a society because they often popularize xenophobia, authoritarianism, scapegoating, and conspiracism. This can lure mainstream politicians to adopt these themes to attract voters, legitimize acts of discrimination (or even violence), and open the door for revolutionary right-wing populist movements, such as fascism, to recruit from the reformist populist movements. - - - - - Berlet, Chip (Fall 1998, revised 4/15/99). Dances with Devils: How Apocalyptic and Millennialist Themes Influence Right Wing Scapegoating and Conspiracism

The crucial piece of this puzzle is the identity of the Antichrist, the tyrannical figure who both leads and inspires the new world order. [...] for many years, rapture theologians identified the Soviet Union as the Antichrist. But after Sept. 11, they became quite certain that the Antichrist was closely connected with the Arab world and the Muslim religion. This means, quite simply, that for rapture theologians, Islam stands at the heart of the tyrannical "new world order." Precisely here we discover why the idea of a "new world order" has such potential to move global politics in profoundly negative directions, for rapture theologians typically welcome war with the Islamic world. As Bill Moyers wrote of the rapture theologians, "A war with Islam in the Middle East is not something to be feared but welcomed -- an essential conflagration on the road to redemption." Further, rapture theologians co-opt the United States as a tool in their cosmic vision -- a tool God will use to smite the Antichrist and the enemies of righteousness. This is why Tim LaHaye, co-author of the best-selling series of end-times books, could lend such strong support to the American invasion and occupation of Iraq. By virtue of that war, LaHaye believed, Iraq would become "a focal point of end-times events." Even more disturbing is the fact that rapture theologians blissfully open the door to nuclear holocaust. Rapture theologians have always held that God will destroy his enemies at the end of time in the Great Battle of Armageddon. But since World War II, they have increasingly identified Armageddon with nuclear weaponry, thereby lending biblical inevitability to the prospects of nuclear annihilation. As one prophecy writer put it, "The holocaust of atomic war would fulfill the prophecies. - - - - - Hughes, Richard T. (2011). Revelation, Revolutions, and the Tyrannical New World Order

Blood For Oil?

Brian Dunning has transcribed a Skeptoid podcast from 2007 that was controversial

Russell Blaylock, MD

The Skeptic Dictionary has an article about Russell Blaylock, MD.

Kevin Trudeau

The Skeptic Dictionary has an article on one of TV's Infomercial giants, Kevin Trudeau. This person needs to be avoided like the plague.

Roswell

The Skeptic Dictionary has an article on the Roswell Incident.

The Bohemian Club

In 2008 Brian Dunning transcribed his Skeptoid podcast on the Bohemian Club.

The Bilderberg Group

Several months ago Brian Dunning transcribed his Skeptoid podcast on the Bilderberg Group.

Zeitgeist: The Movie

About a year ago, Brian Dunning posted a transcript of his Skeptoid podcast on Zeitgeist; The Movie.

9/11 Conspiracy

In 2005 Popular Mechanics magazine published an article refuting the most persistent conspiracy theories of September 11th.

The Kennedy Assassination

Skeptical Inquirer posted an article in 2005 reviewing the facts and fiction in the JFK Assassination.

Mike Adams Sinks To A New Low

Orac continues exposing Mike Adams.

The God Within

Orac continues exposing Mike Adams.

Mike Adams' 10 Biggest Lies About Healthcare

This post is first in a series exposing Mike Adams of NaturalNews.com. Mike Adams' name has come up recently in posts regarding Conspiracy Theorists. Since apparently there are more supporters of conspiracy theories in the atheist community than I realized, this blogger thought it appropriate to present on this blog the real Mike Adams (*note*: This Mike Adams should be distinguished from the controversial conservative professor at UNCW).

Orac of the Respectful Insolence blog gets the first shot, reviewing Mike Adams'10 biggest lies about health care .

Conspiracy Theories Continued

This post is a continuation of a post of a few days ago regarding conspiracy theories. Here is an article from the Skeptical Inquirer of a few months ago.

Gullibility and Skepticism

This blogger is a member of the local Meetup group Greensboro Atheists. Among fellow members is one individual in particular who intermittently posts articles and materials that support a wide variety of unsupported conspiracy theories in many areas such as government, medicine and religion. This person's latest post was particularly of note, as it was a re-post from a well-known promoter of pseudoscience, quackery and conspiracy theories. Below is the post, followed by my response and a lengthy article exposing Mike Adams and others of his ilk.

The lesson here: just because someone portrays himself as skeptical does not mean he is such. Let the buyer beware.

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The Gullible Mind Explained by Mike Adams
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This blogger's response:

While skepticism does not stop at the governments doorstep, it doesn't include swallowing conspiracy theories without evidence either. This is a weak attempt to confuse people into believing unsupported conspiracy theories like: 9/11 was a government inside job; Obama was not born in the USA, evil drug companies are promoting vaccines that cause autism, etc.

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The post from the Neurologica blog:

Top 5 Threats To Science In Medicine

Even though this post is a year old, nothing has changed.

Skeptical of Religion, But Accepting of Pseudoscience

Just one prominent example of a celebrity, Bill Maher, who is skeptical of religion but accepting of pseudoscience. So much for consistency.