I attended my first ever Skeptics in the Pub event last night. And, by the beard of Randi, it was packed.
Well over 100 people crowded into the basement bar of the Penderel’s Oak to listen to ‘Bad Astronomer’, and Nature Network drinks attendee, Phil Plait talk about Apollo conspiracy theories.
He ran through the usual medley of fallacies trumpeted by those who think Mankind’s Greatest Adventure was all filmed in a Nasa sound stage. You know the stuff—why is the flag waving when there is no atmosphere on the moon?; why are there no stars in the lunar sky?; why, if the sun is the only light source, do the shadows fall in many directions.
Phil denounced each dodgy claim with rational arguments and cutting humour. The flag is creased thanks to weeks of stowage, and moves around through vibration and static electricity. There are no stars in the sky because the sun is shining, just like day time on Earth—in any case, the exposure times would not pick up stars even had the shots been taken back home. And the shadows fall in different directions because of something called PERSPECTIVE, as Phil demonstrated with a photo of his local (non-faked) park.
All logical stuff, but enough people believe in the conspiracies to keep Phil in work for years (he recently gave up research to become a full time skeptic and blogger).
Unfortunately, I was too far back to see most of the show (the photo at the top is as good as it got), and left before Q&A, but I’d highly recommend getting along to one of these events. Meetings are usually monthly, with an eclectic mix of speakers tackling subjects as diverse as homeopathy and holocaust denial.
And sorry to recommend it yet again, but you have to listen to the Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast, which I find unmissable. The SGTTU’s Rebecca Watson recently started a Boston chapter of Skeptics in the Pub.
Footnote: Some claim I never went to this event, and faked the photos (note the dubious halo effect around the lighting). The conspiracy starts here.
he recently gave up research to become a full time skeptic and blogger. Nice work if you can get it. How does he make a living?
Glad you finally made it along Matt. And I apologise for James Randi not being able to attend. He was at the Magic Circle to renew his membership and must have been caught up with a few old and new faces. He’s winging his way over back to Florida as I type but, hopefully we should be able to grab him on his next visit.
As to how Phil makes a living…He gives many lectures in astronomy and Bad Astronomy around the US and is in high demand – I’m glad we nabbed him on the off-chance last night. Phil’s also working on his next book, which should be out in 2009.
I can confirm that Matt was actually there! I was very disappointed that James Randi didn’t materialise in a puff of smoke, or merge through a trap door.
I’ll certainly make another visit though.
How wide is the definition of “skeptic”? I once heard a discussion on the use of animals in research between Colin Blakemore and Ray Greek. I guess you could argue that Greek is a skeptic, though he is on the wrong side of the line of science orthodoxy on this issue.
I am skeptical of professional skeptics. But I don’t make a living from it.
I am skeptical about the skepticism of those who are skeptical about skeptics. You know who you are.
I am sceptical of people who spell sceptic “skeptic”.
I did ponder the spelling but decided to follow Matt’s lead. [Tries and fails to make a pun about sceptic, septic and styptic].
Aha, Sid explained the whole k versus c thing, when I interviewed him over on my other blog.
…everyone’s a skeptic/sceptic! That’s why it’s so much fun.
Oh, that’s my favorite Monty Python – the Septic Sceptic Sketch.
Prof. Gangrene – I can’t believe I’m going to die of an infected pimple! Doctor, isn’t there anything more you can do?
Dr. Hangnail – I could call a priest.