"I Was a Skeptic, But I’m All Better Now" Topic

"Whenever academics and the luminaries of the self-identified skeptic intelligentsia start talking about esotericism and "occulture" from a sociological perspective, it makes me a little queasy. It's like hearing an atheist recognizing the social utility of religion, by which they unsubtly mean, "society needs some kind of mechanism to control these morons".

So, skeptics are concerned. Skeptics are always concerned about something, but these days there has been a steady stream of books, articles, and web content bemoaning a remarkable rise in interest in strange phenomena, alternative history, conspiracy theories, the paranormal, the occult, and all those delicious subjects lumped together under the rubric "fringe".

Of course, the first point we can examine skeptically (see what I did there?) is the contention that there has been a groundswell in mainstream interest towards fringe topics, Forteana, and the various and sundry phenomena that defy natural explanation or contradict the accepted cannon of physicalist scientific inquiry. This is the skeptic equivalent of Chicken Little's falling skies, and loosely translated is meant to imply that people are getting stupider. Not that it isn't verifiable that the majority of the human race would float if dropped in a "bowl of clue", but that has been and probably always will be the case. But as any good marketer or propogandist will tell you, it's not what you say, it's how you say it. Preferably with a megaphone. And cool uniforms. And fancy titles. And learned outlets for the publication of scholarly tracts. And gosh darn it, get yourself some foundations and think tanks if you're really serious…"
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Amicalement
Armand

I was a believer, but I'm better now. :)

Dan

As long as I get an armband no wait I mean a Jazz band.

At least its on the right board.

Lots to comment on, but I like how there's some assumption that the elites have formally adopted skepticism, and rigorous evidence based thinking as a thought pattern. Ha if only!

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

"it's not what you say, it's how you say it."

And yet most people still know that it's a big pile of being fed to them…