On some other boards, I've seen people describe ADC, psychic healing, telepathy, and other paranormal phenomena as being helpful and encouraging goodness while skepticism is filled with negativity. Skepticism tears things down while beliefs make us stronger and healthier.

Skepticism helps a lot of people.

Skepticism helps the parents of autistic children who are given false hope by facilitated communicators. Few can imagine the frustration of not being able to communicate with one's children, but having people lie to you is not the best way to deal with that frustration.

Skepticism helps people who are falsely accused of child molestation by therapists who recover repressed memories. Skepticism shows how these therapists plant false memories rather than recover accurate memories.

Skepticism helps protect very ill people from psychic surgeons who use slight of hand to create the illusion that they are removing tumorous material from a patient's body.

Skepticism protects qualified job applicants from being dismissed because of claims of amateur or professional graphologists who don't like certain types of handwriting.

Skepticism helps keep lie detector tests out of courtrooms which protects people who are naturally nervous from polygraph operators who sometimes find guilt where there is none.

Skepticism can even help ADC clients. With the possible exception of Art Bell, no one believes that every self-proclaimed psychic communicator is on the level. These people, trying to communicate with their departed loved ones, do draw a line and say those psychics over there ( e.g. JVP, SB) are not legitimate.

Is skepticism perfect? No. Are the people who represent skepticism on internet chat boards and in the media tactful and considerate? Not always. Does skepticism a good thing? Yes.

In reply to the above Bernie posted the following.

Hi, Ladewig...

While much in agreement with the positive "feel" in your presentation, I think it worthwhile to point out that "skepticism," in and of itself, is none of these things. For example, you write:

"Skepticism shows how these therapists plant false memories rather than recover accurate memories."

Actually, skepticism does not "show" or demonstrate anything - ever! Skepticism is like these martial arts that use the opponent's strengths (his claims) against him. There is no "skepticism" at all - until or unless someone makes a (positive only!) assertion.

At this point the skeptic surfaces and he has one question (one line of questioning) only:

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE YOU OFFER IN SUPPORT OF YOUR ASSERTION?

All else - really - turns only on how well the assert-or presents and defends his thesis. And on nothing else.

To refer once again to your example (above) the skeptic would not be able to "...show how therapists plant false memories..." at all. He would rather have to content himself with demonstrating by questions and requests for data and support, etc. that the therapists COULD NOT or CAN NOT show or demonstrate this ability which THEY (not he!)are asserting.

Again I agree with your "warm glow" feeling here - but since there is widespread confusion about skepticism (including on this Board!) - often equating it with irony, or with stoicism, or most gratuitous of all - as synonymous with atheism, I felt it worthwhile to comment. It is none of these. It is itself, totally empty and waits but the releasing shower of "assertion" to spring into bloom! This must always be pointed out.

Bernie

Last Updated 14^th January 2002 by Russell