Comments for Griffith University Skeptics and Freethinkers Weblog

Comment on An Idiot’s Guide To Rational Debating by travbaker

travbaker — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:06:13 +0000

What do you mean evolution is a poor rational argument? Asking evolution to explain the origin of life is like asking a toaster to boil water… Evolution doesn’t pertain to the origins of life – it refers to aspects of population diversity and mechanics – which have been observed and verified.

Google Abiogenesis. It deals with the origin of life – not evolution, which has never claimed to.

I agree that the author of this article misconstrues what a skeptic is… Not all atheists are skeptics. As I said, being a skeptic is not a position on any topic- it’s an approach taken towards that topic which ensures critical thinking.

“Is a skeptic someone who never forms an opinion but simply argues for the sake of arguing?” Not at all, a person who does that is a troll.

Comment on An Idiot’s Guide To Rational Debating by Steven Liaros

Steven Liaros — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:12:21 +0000

Excellent summary for debaters…not sure why you would limit yourself to ‘rational’ debates. Does this mean that intuitive ideas are necessarily irrational or cannot be debated.

Doesn’t skepticism start with an intuitive feeling? That something that has been argued rationally does not feel right and therefore needs to be explored further?

In fact, the idea of Creationism comes from poor rational thinking… the world is very complex therefore it must have been created by a higher intelligence. The scientific challenge, suggesting that Evolution is a better explanation for the complexity, is also a poor rational argument, as it explains the ‘developmental process’ but not the origin.

You have an excellent debating style but I’m not sure that you understand what a skeptic is.
Given, then, that you argue that terms should be defined, I have found the following definition:
skep·tic (Noun)
1. A person inclined to question or doubt all accepted opinions.
2. A person who doubts the truth of Christianity and other religions; an atheist or agnostic.

So, noting that, “if there is nothing that will change your mind you have formed a prejudice not an opinion” …is a skeptic someone who never forms an opinion but simply argues for the sake of arguing?

Comment on An Idiot’s Guide To Rational Debating by travbaker

travbaker — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:18:38 +0000

Woah. Just found out Griffith had a skeptic’s society. Sweet.

Remember, skepticism isn’t a position taken on a subject – it’s an approach to claims. Therefore, I must disagree with the grouping that was made about skeptics comprising of “secularists, agnostics, humanists, atheists, and even the occasional deists…” For example, I (and some people I know) were skeptics long before they were atheists – we just hadn’t applied our skepticism (an approach) to our religious beliefs.

Was a good read, though

I’ll definitely be getting involve with this group after my gap year (this year).Many beers will be had! (In moderation)…

Comment on Who are we you ask? by Griffith University Skeptics and Freethinkers

Griffith University Skeptics and Freethinkers — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:45:44 +0000

Hi Murray,

Yes, we still exist! We’ve had some trouble getting me access to the blog. But now I’m here and I’ll be posting when I can!

Comment on Who are we you ask? by Murray @ Midnight

Murray @ Midnight — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 14:42:22 +0000

Hi Amanda, I haven’t seen any activity on this site since 2011. Does GUSSF still exist?

Comment on Body Brilliant Chiropractic: #1 at Manipulation? by Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:55:38 +0000

After 12 months of treatment at ‘body brilliant chiropractics’ I found myself to be unstable in my daily work, suffering knee & hip discomfort. So much so that at times putting one foot in front of the other would send shooting pain through my pelvis region. To sum it up, I felt completely de-stabilized. For a fit, healthy & very active woman it was dead obvious this method of treatment was not agreeing with me. When my children began to complain of the same issues… That was it. I could not believe I was scammed into believing this method would be beneficial to me & my families health. We were all suffering the same discomforts! I believe chiropractics can be beneficial. I don’t believe this method of chiropractics works.

Comment on So who’s up for some skeptical activism at the Woodford Folk Festival? by Kate

Kate — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:30:45 +0000

Great ideas! Over at the UQ Skeptics Facebook site, we’ve been discussing what the best questions to ask her would be. Let’s have a few, and make sure the audience is left with the firm impression that her views are unsupported, dangerous, and universally condemned by the medical profession.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/UQSkeptics/

Comment on A GUSSF Summary of an Intelligent Design Lecture with Thomas E Woodward by Jayson Cooke: Interview with a skeptic

Jayson Cooke: Interview with a skeptic — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:41:25 +0000

[...] In 2007, while he was at university, Mr Cooke attended a presentation by American intelligent design advocate Thomas Woodward. [...]

Comment on How will Gloria Thomas celebrate World Homeopathy Awareness Week? by Jayson Cooke: Interview with a skeptic

Jayson Cooke: Interview with a skeptic — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:40:07 +0000

[...] the dangers of relying on untested or unproven treatments instead of evidence based medicine; how Homeopathic ‘treatments’ are nothing more than expensive placebos; the dangers involved in chiropractic treatments; and the [...]

Comment on A GUSSF Summary of an Intelligent Design Lecture with Thomas E Woodward by The Humbuggery of Charles Darwin? « Jayson D Cooke

The Humbuggery of Charles Darwin? « Jayson D Cooke — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 02:32:21 +0000

[...] than my fair share of encounters with evolution deniers in the past (here, here, here, here, here, here and here are just some examples). Creationists, biblical literalists, intelligent design proponents; [...]