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Post by Tamrin on Jul 4, 2008 16:16:41 GMT 10
PseudoscienceFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Excerpt - Linked Above]
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 11, 2008 19:13:21 GMT 10
Is there a name, or can someone come up with a name, and explanation for the irritating phenomenon whereby unsubstantiated, pseudoscientific and ahistoric fringe theories appear to gain more popular support than what are often even more amazing findings, advanced by serious practitioners who put in the requisite time and practice, immersing themselves in the permutations and nuances of their particular disciplines, and whose opinions at least deserve some favourable predisposition, instead of being met with derision? Under the same phenomenon, individuals scoffing at serious science or history, often try to cloak their own pet, whacky ideas in the trapping of those same disciplines, apparently trying to have their cake and eat it too.
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Post by maximus on Jul 12, 2008 2:11:11 GMT 10
I postulate that people attempt to substitute the more fringe beliefs for religion, hence the quasi-religious attitude that often is displayed in such beliefs as alien intervention. Humans have a natural inclination towards spiritual beliefs, and when religion itself is rejected or marginalised, substitutes are found. The belief in aliens, for instance, has come, for many, to be a replacement for angels. If one compares the similarity in alien abduction tales and angel encounters, there is a striking similarity.
As to why they tend to couch thier speculations in the trappings of science, it is an attempt to gain legitamacy.
Regarding a term to describe, accurately, the various psudeoscientific tin-foil-hat Konspiracy Kookiness, I have an old-fashioned one: BULLS***!
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 16, 2008 9:21:22 GMT 10
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 16, 2008 21:21:25 GMT 10
NEGATIVE PROOF From Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia[Excerpt - Linked Above]
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Post by sneezy on Dec 31, 2008 4:00:22 GMT 10
Is there a name, or can someone come up with a name, and explanation for the irritating phenomenon whereby unsubstantiated, pseudoscientific and ahistoric fringe theories appear to gain more popular support than what are often even more amazing findings, advanced by serious practitioners who put in the requisite time and practice, immersing themselves in the permutations and nuances of their particular disciplines, and whose opinions at least deserve some favourable predisposition, instead of being met with derision? Under the same phenomenon, individuals scoffing at serious science or history, often try to cloak their own pet, whacky ideas in the trapping of those same disciplines, apparently trying to have their cake and eat it too. There is a name: "hooey"
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Post by Tamrin on Apr 26, 2009 21:18:12 GMT 10
Michael Shermer on Charlie Rose on Pseudoscience, Part 1 Michael Shermer on Charlie Rose on Pseudoscience, Part 2
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Post by Tamrin on Sept 15, 2009 7:17:06 GMT 10
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Post by huw on Sept 17, 2011 15:01:20 GMT 10
Is there a name, or can someone come up with a name, and explanation for the irritating phenomenon whereby unsubstantiated, pseudoscientific and ahistoric fringe theories appear to gain more popular support than what are often even more amazing findings, advanced by serious practitioners who put in the requisite time and practice, immersing themselves in the permutations and nuances of their particular disciplines, and whose opinions at least deserve some favourable predisposition, instead of being met with derision? Under the same phenomenon, individuals scoffing at serious science or history, often try to cloak their own pet, whacky ideas in the trapping of those same disciplines, apparently trying to have their cake and eat it too. Generic pseudoscience: "woo" (per James Randi). Believing in it: "fuckwittage". Explanation: intellectual envy. Those who lack the gumption to study are driven by envy to apply Occam's Razor to grossly inadequate data, resulting in woo; those who lack the wit to comprehend are driven by envy to believe something simpler, resulting in fuckwittage.
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Post by Tamrin on Sept 17, 2011 15:10:47 GMT 10
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