Fri, 31 July 2009
Joe Nickell
0:00:00 Introduction - Richard Saunders & Stefan Sojka 0:04:20 Richard Saunders interviews Joe Nickell 0:25:50 A Grain of Salt - With Eran Segev 0:34:40 The Monty Hall Problem by Jason Rosenhouse - Token Skeptic Book Review by Kylie Sturgess 0:39:10 Dr Rachie Reports With Dr Rachael Dunlop 0:47:00 THE THINK TANK - Richard Saunders, Dr Rachael Dunlop, Dianne, Joanne Benhamu and Eran Segev Comments[9]
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- Hey Eran - I enjoy your segment, even if, on occasion, I see it differently to you. There's some expression, the name of which escapes me at the moment, that summarises how one should take advice or opinions similar to the ones you provide in your segment... dang it, it'll come to me eventually.
- The reason I compared your views to the anti vacc lobby was the fact that a few ruin it for all - If kids as young as 6 and seven are encouraged to think Critically as you suggest and then figure it all out and then tell all the other kids in the class to have their fanasy ruined because the of your views - similair to all the kids in kindy getting vaxed and then the few who don't, live off the benfit of not needing too.
They are kids and surely we should encourage santa and easter bunny as long as possible until they themselves figure it out and then know there no magic in the world - Seano, I have to disagree with you. You seem to be suggesting that without make-believe children can't possibly have a sense of joy and wonder about the world. If anything we should be encouraging kids to get the same sense of wonder from the reality of the world as we do about imaginary things. There is nothing wrong with fairytales. We enjoy them just as much as adults as we do as children. You only have to see how much we indulge in the imaginary world of movies. It is quite possible to indulge in the realm of fantasy while at the same time teaching kids what is real and what is not from an early age without, as you put it "spoiling it".
- 'Grain of salt' is a good feature on an excellent podcast. Seano, you clearly didn't listen to the segment very well (claiming the opposite of what Eran actually said), and then claiming that a person's reflections on how he raises his kids is somehow equivalent to what the antivax loons do is simply baffling (your 'clarification' notwithstanding). Poor form.
- Interesting comments about people's perception about cancer rates increasing over recent times. Given all the different kinds of cancers and all the different causes, that's a very general kind of statement to make. If you go to Cancer Council Victoria's website (http://www.cancervic.org.au/), and click on cancer statistics on the LHS nav bar, you can search for the stats that matter for you in a very easy to digest form. For example, you can look at the trends for the rates of both incidence and mortality for all cancers, or a specific cancer.
I'll be up front in saying that in addition to informing readers of a very informative website,
Bit of a disclosure statement: By pointing you here, I'm also plugging my company's software (http://www.spacetimeresearch.com). Hope you enjoy the experience and get some meaningful info out of it! - Grain of Salt
I generally don't like this part of the show - but please!!!! this weeks is just painfull. I have 3 kids and hate anyone telling me how to raise my kids. Irans advise is - lets kill xmas tooth fairy easter bunny everything. It is too short here to explain fully how insulting his views are but I can say is to me the same as the anti vaccination lobby - we know whats best - - Seano,
You are perfectly entitled to not like the segment, of course, but to compare my views on education to the anti-vax lobby is ridiculous.
You should be able to tell the difference between an opinion piece, which this clearly was, and a segment citing science even without me starting every sentence with "in my opinion".
You should also learn to listen to what's being said, as I was very explicit in saying that there is no reason to ruin these fantasies and I haven't done it with my children, so "lets kill xmas tooth fairy easter bunny everything" is not just poor English, it's also the opposite of what I said.
I hope you enjoy the rest of the show. - Good interview except for the comments regarding the way skeptics should approach the claims of believers. It's all fine and good if one has the time to invest in examining extraordinary claims in a rigorous process, but for most of us it is not a practical approach to dealing with people spouting whoo.
As such, I am one of those skeptics who hurts "our cause" by laughing at, and dismissing out of hand, claims of god, UFOs, ghosts, Bigfoot, Yetis, etc. I do so in much the same way the hosts of the show dismiss and deride alternative medicine claims.
This is not meant as criticism; in the role of investigator Mr. Nickell needs to follow a specific protocol (although I doubt the claim he approaches each claim without preconceived opinions as to validity of the claim, or eventual outcome of the investigation). But as a working skeptic, I see no problem dismissing claims which have remained unproven throughout the unfolding of human history.
ejd
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