Skeptic: Promoting Science and Critical Thinking

Skeptical Activism:
Fight Fraud & Pseudoscience!

There are as many ways to “be a skeptic” as there are individual skeptics. For some, the value of the community of skeptics is community itself; for others, it is the opportunity for reflection and self-improvement, while for others, it is an area of purely academic interest.

And then, there are skeptics who see themselves as part of a movement. For those people, skepticism is a mission: an organized effort to discover reality, to expose fraud — and to help people.

Learn more about this type of “activist” skepticism below. Then share your views at www.skepticforum.com/activism

Where Do We Go From Here?

In 2007, Junior Skeptic Editor Daniel Loxton called for a renewed focus on classical skeptical activism in an article entitled “Where Do We Go From Here?” This insider’s look reviews the history of the skeptics movement, and argues that combatting paranormal fraud is an “ethical imperative. It’s the right thing to do, and that’s all.”

• DOWNLOAD “Where Do We Go From Here?” (PDF) >
• LISTEN to this essay on the Skepticality podcast (47MB MP3) >
• READ responses to this essay in eSkeptic >

What Do I Do Next?

Continuing the theme of skeptical activism, Daniel Loxton convened a panel of 13 leading skeptics to discuss 105 practical things you can do to promote science and advance skepticism. This in-depth 2009 article, entitled “What Do I Do Next?” is available in two versions: a 30,000 word panel discussion-format version (PDF), and a point-form Quick Reference Guide (html).

Whether you’re a bright new skeptic or a long-time veteran, this point-by-point panel discussion is packed with ideas you’ll find provocative and valuable.

• DOWNLOAD the full discussion version (PDF) >
• READ the Quick Reference Guide version at Skeptic.com >
• LISTEN to Daniel Loxton introduce this project on Skepticality (20MB MP3) >
• DISCUSS at the Skeptic Forum >

Activism on Skepticality

Skeptic magazine’s Official Podcast frequently addresses the topic of skeptical activism. Listen to free episodes with this theme, including:

• Episode #98: What Do I Do Next? (20MB MP3) >
• Episode #97: Skepticamp in Atlanta (15MB MP3) >
• Episode #93: Back Inside The Discovery Institute (32MB MP3) >
• Episode #90: The Long Tail of Skepticism (26MB MP3) >
• Episode #85: Skeptics Invade Dragon*Con 2008 (26MB MP3) >
• Episode #84: Can Skeptics Tame the Internet? (50MB MP3) >
• Episode #77: Don’t Be Such a Scientist! (38MB MP3) >
• Episode #63: Where Do We Go From Here? (47MB MP3) >

Tools & Resources from Shop Skeptic

• How to Debate a Creationist (2nd. Ed.) by Michael Shermer
• Baloney Detection Kit by Michael Shermer
• Pseudoscience and the Paranormal by James Randi
• James Randi’s Solved Mysteries Workshop Part III, Part IV, Part V
• Who is Science Writing For? by Margaret Wertheim
• Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns and other Delusions by James Randi
• The Faith Healers by James Randi
• Voodoo Science: The Road From Foolishness to Fraud by Robert L. Park
• The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
• Why People Believe Weird Things (1st ed.) by Michael Shermer