What Makes A Skeptic? | Skeptic Generation | Episode 35 Season 2

We toss around the word "skeptic" a lot, but what does that mean? Are climate skeptics the same? If you consider yourself a different kind of skeptic, we want to hear about it! Call us at 585-526-8774 or https://tiny.cc/callSG.

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TIME STAMPS & CALL NOTES

00:00 - Intro - Eric Needs to Talk About Skepticism
14:06 - What Are The Precepts of Skepticism? - Mark (he/him) - CA
18:52 - What Are Extraordinary Claims? - Rae (they/them) - UK
43:15 - Calling Out Christian Hypocrisy - John (he/him) - LA
1:00:02 - Are Christians the Real Lizard People? - Ameet (he/him) - NY
1:14:03 - Should We “Identify” as Skeptics? - Micaiah (he/them) - TX

00:00
Eric wants to discuss what skepticism actually is, and what it is not. Why do some conspiracy theorists gravitate toward the term “skeptic” and how do we distance ourselves from outrageous claims?

14:06
Why don’t people understand the burden of proof, the null hypothesis, and Occam's razor? This caller laments the lack of skepticism in the general population, and the hosts suggest having a large skeptical demographic may not be in the best interest of the powerful.

18:52
This call starts with a Hitch quote and ends with a discussion on whether or not aliens have sent UFOs to earth. Eric gets a bee in his bonnet about the caller’s willingness to put extraterrestrial life as a viable option for unexplained events. Vi sees a middle ground.

43:15
This theist caller has been hanging out with atheists on Sundays, and has been seeing things differently than he used to. He addresses what he sees as hypocrisy in the Church, especially around the idea of who can be saved and what a “true Christian” even is. Vi and Eric give this guy two thumbs up!

1:00:02
Why is it a conspiracy theory to say that lizard people are taking over the government, but NOT a conspiracy theory to suggest that Christian Nationalists are? This caller wants to know how to best hold himself accountable and avoid falling into a conspiracy mindset. Vi points out that the problem with conspiracy theories is not the claim itself, but rather the method used to get to said claim.

1:14:03
Is skepticism a tool, an identity, or both? This caller wants to know if identifying as a “skeptic” is a good thing to do. Eric emphasizes the value of viewing your epistemology as a tool rather than a personality trait, while Vi explains the potential pros and cons of using labels to find community online.
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