Comments on: When Skeptics Collide

By: me

me — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:00:18 +0000

Mike, You were correct in that the original title of the post went a different direction than I intended… so, I found a more appropriate title to better reflect my intended point.

By: Steve Martin

Steve Martin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:42:46 +0000

Not saying that I never am (a jerk).

But you are, too.

By: Steve Martin

Steve Martin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:41:48 +0000

Mike,

You are a jerk.

By: Mike Haubrich, FCD

Mike Haubrich, FCD — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:03:19 +0000

Sure.

By: me

me — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:21:15 +0000

Mike, I don’t really know who “the Amazing Randi” is… I’ve heard the name, that’s all. It was an interesting exchange of ideas. That’s all.

Now, go put on “So Long Bannatyne.”

By: Mike Haubrich, FCD

Mike Haubrich, FCD — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:23:44 +0000

The title of your post was “Randi Debunks Global Warming.” You were using him as an authority because he uses skepticism to debunk card tricks, psychics and the like, right? But he has no expertise in Global Warming. You objected to people rejecting religion because they are not experts in teh last post.

Jason doesn’t hold himself as an expert in global warming, but his post explains how the process of skepticism works.

Massimo, himself, respects certain things that Randi does, but doesn’t accept him as an authority on global warming.

Randi has since admitted that he screwed up on this post, but you didn’t bother to check the follow up.

Please, Alden. Don’t be so thick on this stuff, I know you better than that.

Steve Martin, on the other hand, is hopeless.

By: me

me — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:54:40 +0000

You quote an IT guy as an expert?

Now, what specifically about my reasoning in this post bothers you? (If you’ll read carefully, I don’t offer Randi as an authority. It’s Pigliucci who respects him, not me. All I did was link to the 2 posts for folks to read for themselves.)

By: Mike Haubrich, FCD

Mike Haubrich, FCD — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:29:33 +0000

Or you could try this:

http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/12/skeptics_how_do_you_know_what.php

By: Mike Haubrich, FCD

Mike Haubrich, FCD — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:19:21 +0000

Here is a bit more for your understanding, unless you insist on being so stubborn.

http://www.lousycanuck.ca/?p=2754

By: Mike Haubrich, FCD

Mike Haubrich, FCD — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:13:48 +0000

This is especially the sort of reasoning that makes me laugh at your last post.

Not impressed by people who claim to be experts? And Randi admits that he is not an expert on global warming.

Call me when a climatologist (someone who actually works wtih the data) issues the same sort of statement. Until then, drop the critical thinking ruse.