1 00:00:23,590 --> 00:00:09,080 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:28,850 --> 00:00:26,540 hello from Sydney Australia Richard 3 00:00:32,650 --> 00:00:28,860 Saunders here for the skeptic Zone 4 00:00:38,979 --> 00:00:32,660 episode number 155 for the eighth of 5 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:38,989 October 2011 and yes I have a cold Oh 6 00:00:46,790 --> 00:00:42,930 modern science hurry up and discover the 7 00:00:48,470 --> 00:00:46,800 cure the cure for the common cold well 8 00:00:50,900 --> 00:00:48,480 this is very common cold this one it's 9 00:00:53,660 --> 00:00:50,910 particularly common it's a stuffed up 10 00:00:56,570 --> 00:00:53,670 nose a bit of sneezing feeling slightly 11 00:01:01,430 --> 00:00:56,580 tired bad sleep yeah pretty 12 00:01:03,740 --> 00:01:01,440 run-of-the-mill cold oh well I'll forget 13 00:01:06,830 --> 00:01:03,750 about it for the next hour because 14 00:01:09,020 --> 00:01:06,840 coming up on this episode of the skeptic 15 00:01:11,929 --> 00:01:09,030 zone very shortly I'm going to tell you 16 00:01:14,719 --> 00:01:11,939 all about some great skeptical activism 17 00:01:18,580 --> 00:01:14,729 success here in Australia with another 18 00:01:22,460 --> 00:01:18,590 one of these wacko crazy bizarre energy 19 00:01:24,230 --> 00:01:22,470 bands it's coming up very soon and also 20 00:01:26,929 --> 00:01:24,240 on the show we have a talk by Joel 21 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:26,939 Pittman has given it Sydney skeptics in 22 00:01:34,810 --> 00:01:30,210 the pub all about what it was like not 23 00:01:37,700 --> 00:01:34,820 so many years ago to be a an outreach 24 00:01:40,969 --> 00:01:37,710 person and outreach with the youth 25 00:01:43,849 --> 00:01:40,979 ministry of a Pentecostal church very 26 00:01:45,739 --> 00:01:43,859 interesting stuff and now their mindset 27 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:45,749 was when they went into schools and I 28 00:01:54,319 --> 00:01:49,530 was quite horrified to learn how easy it 29 00:01:56,899 --> 00:01:54,329 is for people with the badge of religion 30 00:01:59,630 --> 00:01:56,909 how easy it is for them sometimes to 31 00:02:02,989 --> 00:01:59,640 have access to children in schools we 32 00:02:08,660 --> 00:02:02,999 will learn more a little bit later in 33 00:02:11,630 --> 00:02:08,670 the show and to wrap up the show we have 34 00:02:13,850 --> 00:02:11,640 a series of our little interviews sort 35 00:02:16,370 --> 00:02:13,860 of sparked off by a discussion that our 36 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:16,380 reporter main our head with me a few 37 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:21,290 days ago about the term debunker and 38 00:02:26,570 --> 00:02:24,690 what people think of that term is it 39 00:02:29,270 --> 00:02:26,580 better than skeptic is it worse than 40 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:29,280 skeptic should we not use it when is it 41 00:02:33,980 --> 00:02:32,730 their appropriate to use it skeptics and 42 00:02:36,890 --> 00:02:33,990 deep bunkers 43 00:02:39,890 --> 00:02:36,900 a series of interviews of lots of people 44 00:02:44,030 --> 00:02:39,900 at skeptics in the pub coming up but to 45 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:44,040 wrap up the show but first some news the 46 00:02:56,090 --> 00:02:53,090 website of Mamma Mia wwm am a Mau Mau 47 00:02:58,070 --> 00:02:56,100 has almost gone into meltdown if sites 48 00:03:00,830 --> 00:02:58,080 can go into meltdown these days because 49 00:03:04,550 --> 00:03:00,840 our very own dr. Richie wrote a blog 50 00:03:09,530 --> 00:03:04,560 post there called nine vaccination myths 51 00:03:13,970 --> 00:03:09,540 busted with science and it's been widely 52 00:03:17,510 --> 00:03:13,980 reported it's a it's an excellent blog 53 00:03:20,030 --> 00:03:17,520 post if you just Google nine vaccination 54 00:03:21,620 --> 00:03:20,040 myths and Rachel Dunlop you'll find the 55 00:03:24,620 --> 00:03:21,630 article very easily because the URLs 56 00:03:27,470 --> 00:03:24,630 very long just google it but what's very 57 00:03:30,950 --> 00:03:27,480 interesting is that the number of 58 00:03:35,540 --> 00:03:30,960 comments it's insane oh boy what is it 59 00:03:38,230 --> 00:03:35,550 as I look now it's 745 and Brian the 60 00:03:40,670 --> 00:03:38,240 anti-vaxxers have got on their big time 61 00:03:42,350 --> 00:03:40,680 accusing Rachel of being in the pocket 62 00:03:45,290 --> 00:03:42,360 of big pharma well that's nothing new 63 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:45,300 she's been accused of that long time so 64 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:47,130 have I I think so has anybody with a 65 00:03:55,220 --> 00:03:49,890 skeptical mind pushing real medicine and 66 00:03:58,700 --> 00:03:55,230 vaccination anyway ah so much attention 67 00:04:01,190 --> 00:03:58,710 was given to this blog post by the sheer 68 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:01,200 volume of traffic going through that 69 00:04:07,060 --> 00:04:04,170 Rachel was invited on the television 70 00:04:10,670 --> 00:04:07,070 program of mia freedman the lady behind 71 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:10,680 mamma mia website and she was in the 72 00:04:16,220 --> 00:04:13,170 studio just a few days ago and that I 73 00:04:20,450 --> 00:04:16,230 believe will be on Sky News here in 74 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:20,460 Australia this coming Friday fear not if 75 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:24,450 you go to mama mia condotta you next 76 00:04:28,670 --> 00:04:26,130 week you can probably see that episode 77 00:04:32,750 --> 00:04:28,680 as they archive it and make it available 78 00:04:36,410 --> 00:04:32,760 for you anyway worth checking out so 79 00:04:38,540 --> 00:04:36,420 Google Rachel Dunlop nine vaccination 80 00:04:40,940 --> 00:04:38,550 myths and you'll find out more now a 81 00:04:44,090 --> 00:04:40,950 good friend and former skeptic zone 82 00:04:46,420 --> 00:04:44,100 reporter Michael will hand has asked me 83 00:04:49,060 --> 00:04:46,430 to mention that 84 00:04:52,810 --> 00:04:49,070 in November November the second in fact 85 00:04:56,830 --> 00:04:52,820 at the parliament house in canberra we 86 00:04:59,530 --> 00:04:56,840 have cults in australia facing the 87 00:05:01,930 --> 00:04:59,540 realities a national conference and this 88 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:01,940 is by the cold information and family 89 00:05:10,090 --> 00:05:07,610 support inc or C ifs the objective of 90 00:05:12,670 --> 00:05:10,100 the conference is to focus attention on 91 00:05:15,910 --> 00:05:12,680 and recommend safeguards against a 92 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:15,920 serious harm caused by destructive cults 93 00:05:21,970 --> 00:05:19,370 in Australia now if you're interested or 94 00:05:23,770 --> 00:05:21,980 concerned about this sort of thing maybe 95 00:05:26,740 --> 00:05:23,780 you know somebody who has got themselves 96 00:05:29,020 --> 00:05:26,750 a tangled up in a cult the best thing to 97 00:05:37,210 --> 00:05:29,030 do is to go to the website for more 98 00:05:40,450 --> 00:05:37,220 information and that's wwc ifs oga you 99 00:05:42,010 --> 00:05:40,460 so remember that's early November 100 00:05:46,060 --> 00:05:42,020 Wednesday the second of November 101 00:05:50,140 --> 00:05:46,070 starting at 9am in our nation's capital 102 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:50,150 and now we get to the successful 103 00:05:55,540 --> 00:05:52,970 skeptical activism I mentioned a little 104 00:05:58,240 --> 00:05:55,550 while ago now it came to our attention 105 00:06:01,180 --> 00:05:58,250 not so long ago that the rebels sport 106 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:01,190 the rebel sport chain here in Australia 107 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:05,570 which sell shoes and socks and running 108 00:06:11,140 --> 00:06:08,090 the equipment and exercise machines and 109 00:06:15,450 --> 00:06:11,150 all great things for sport we're selling 110 00:06:19,410 --> 00:06:15,460 something called the NRG the NRG 111 00:06:23,170 --> 00:06:19,420 titanium ion band and it looks 112 00:06:25,830 --> 00:06:23,180 surprisingly similar well sort of to the 113 00:06:30,610 --> 00:06:25,840 old power balance band the one that was 114 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:30,620 debunked and shut down here in Australia 115 00:06:36,970 --> 00:06:34,610 now as it happens rebel sport last year 116 00:06:40,330 --> 00:06:36,980 were selling the power balance band so 117 00:06:43,410 --> 00:06:40,340 we were surprised very surprised to see 118 00:06:47,050 --> 00:06:43,420 that they had simply taken up the next 119 00:06:48,820 --> 00:06:47,060 band making all sorts of amazing claim 120 00:06:51,310 --> 00:06:48,830 so we were quite surprised and saddened 121 00:06:54,310 --> 00:06:51,320 to see this so we thought would take 122 00:06:57,550 --> 00:06:54,320 some pretty quick and direct action so 123 00:07:00,310 --> 00:06:57,560 here is the letter we wrote to both 124 00:07:03,280 --> 00:07:00,320 rebel sport and to the ni 125 00:07:06,940 --> 00:07:03,290 gee company the producers of this rubber 126 00:07:10,930 --> 00:07:06,950 wristband and also publish on our 127 00:07:13,420 --> 00:07:10,940 website as an open letter Ozzy's love 128 00:07:17,110 --> 00:07:13,430 their support and love affair go for all 129 00:07:19,750 --> 00:07:17,120 rebel sport provides a range of sporting 130 00:07:22,300 --> 00:07:19,760 accessories on which everyday people and 131 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:22,310 athletes rely to get the most out of 132 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:24,650 their sporting life it is therefore 133 00:07:29,050 --> 00:07:27,290 disappointing to see that rebel sport is 134 00:07:32,500 --> 00:07:29,060 selling something that in our opinion 135 00:07:35,980 --> 00:07:32,510 does not and cannot live up to the 136 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:35,990 marketing claims the NRG titanium iron 137 00:07:41,410 --> 00:07:39,050 band currently being sold via rebel 138 00:07:43,900 --> 00:07:41,420 sports outlets seems to be yet another 139 00:07:46,570 --> 00:07:43,910 in the long line of so-called power 140 00:07:50,170 --> 00:07:46,580 bands rubber wristbands that claim to 141 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:50,180 aid sporting performance and health it 142 00:07:55,690 --> 00:07:53,090 was not so long ago rebel sport was 143 00:07:59,140 --> 00:07:55,700 selling the now debunked power balance 144 00:08:01,900 --> 00:07:59,150 band if this wristband was merely being 145 00:08:03,850 --> 00:08:01,910 touted as a fashion accessory we would 146 00:08:05,890 --> 00:08:03,860 have no objections to rebel sports 147 00:08:09,910 --> 00:08:05,900 decision to stock and promote it to 148 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:09,920 customers however NRG and rebel sport as 149 00:08:16,450 --> 00:08:12,890 stockists are selling a product which is 150 00:08:20,470 --> 00:08:16,460 making questionable but testable medical 151 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:20,480 claims NRG publicly states that it quote 152 00:08:27,550 --> 00:08:23,810 has made a breakthrough in negative ion 153 00:08:29,380 --> 00:08:27,560 technology and quote if so we would very 154 00:08:32,530 --> 00:08:29,390 much like to see the peer-reviewed 155 00:08:35,740 --> 00:08:32,540 scientific studies it sounds very much 156 00:08:38,290 --> 00:08:35,750 to us that NRG are simply using 157 00:08:42,219 --> 00:08:38,300 scientific sounding words and terms in 158 00:08:44,530 --> 00:08:42,229 order to market their product some of 159 00:08:47,910 --> 00:08:44,540 the medical claims made by the NRG 160 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:47,920 company are that benefits may include 161 00:08:54,340 --> 00:08:50,810 increased blood flow increased 162 00:08:59,230 --> 00:08:54,350 circulation revitalization of red blood 163 00:09:01,240 --> 00:08:59,240 cells neutralize free radicals there is 164 00:09:03,130 --> 00:09:01,250 no credible evidence that this product 165 00:09:05,980 --> 00:09:03,140 can alter the physiology of the human 166 00:09:08,230 --> 00:09:05,990 body and until the manufacturer 167 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:08,240 demonstrates this with actual scientific 168 00:09:13,420 --> 00:09:10,610 studies then they are potentially 169 00:09:15,820 --> 00:09:13,430 misleading customers with claims about 170 00:09:19,389 --> 00:09:15,830 benefits which their product may not 171 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:19,399 have upon reviewing the medical evidence 172 00:09:26,590 --> 00:09:22,970 put forward by NRG dr. Steven novella 173 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:26,600 assistant professor of neurology at Yale 174 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:30,010 University School of Medicine said quote 175 00:09:35,949 --> 00:09:33,170 none of the proper controls are in place 176 00:09:39,070 --> 00:09:35,959 to make the information anything other 177 00:09:41,050 --> 00:09:39,080 than a marketing demonstration similar 178 00:09:44,530 --> 00:09:41,060 to the parlor tricks used by power 179 00:09:46,750 --> 00:09:44,540 balance end quote and quote there is 180 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:46,760 every reason to believe that these 181 00:09:53,110 --> 00:09:49,490 titanium bands are medically worthless 182 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:53,120 and quote just like the ill-fated Power 183 00:09:58,329 --> 00:09:55,850 Balance product before them NRG rely 184 00:10:02,199 --> 00:09:58,339 heavily on testimonials from sporting 185 00:10:05,410 --> 00:10:02,209 stars notably from the NRL that's the 186 00:10:08,260 --> 00:10:05,420 National Rugby League however while no 187 00:10:10,570 --> 00:10:08,270 doubt heartfelt and sincere they are not 188 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:10,580 evidence that the product works as 189 00:10:17,199 --> 00:10:14,330 claimed Australian skeptics urge rebel 190 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:17,209 sport to reconsider their decision to 191 00:10:23,050 --> 00:10:20,450 sell the NRG titanium ion band if 192 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:23,060 however NRG and rebel sports stand 193 00:10:29,310 --> 00:10:25,370 behind the claims of the titanium iron 194 00:10:33,870 --> 00:10:29,320 band we invite them to apply for our 195 00:10:36,820 --> 00:10:33,880 $100,000 prize Australian skeptics Inc 196 00:10:39,730 --> 00:10:36,830 now that open letter was posted on the 197 00:10:45,190 --> 00:10:39,740 Australian skeptics website on sep 198 00:10:48,820 --> 00:10:45,200 tember 26th and on sep tember 30th rebel 199 00:10:51,460 --> 00:10:48,830 sport twittered the following we 200 00:10:54,370 --> 00:10:51,470 appreciate feedback regarding and RG 201 00:10:57,940 --> 00:10:54,380 titanium iron bands we are discussing 202 00:11:01,470 --> 00:10:57,950 with energy and have decided to remove 203 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:01,480 the product from sale in our stores I 204 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:03,650 think we need to thank all those people 205 00:11:10,540 --> 00:11:08,410 who are retweeted our original posting 206 00:11:13,690 --> 00:11:10,550 certainly brought it to the attention of 207 00:11:16,030 --> 00:11:13,700 rebel sport and Australian skeptics also 208 00:11:18,639 --> 00:11:16,040 congratulate rebel sport for taking this 209 00:11:21,550 --> 00:11:18,649 action one that puts their customers 210 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:21,560 first it is another good example of 211 00:11:26,510 --> 00:11:25,730 skeptical activism at work well on that 212 00:11:29,650 --> 00:11:26,520 six 213 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:29,660 full of that very successful night I 214 00:11:34,970 --> 00:11:32,370 will leave you now as I run downstairs 215 00:11:38,150 --> 00:11:34,980 to for my what will it be this week 216 00:11:40,910 --> 00:11:38,160 vodka martini stirred not shaken down 217 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:40,920 gin and tonic hot chocolate in the air 218 00:11:47,390 --> 00:11:46,170 chicken soup mmm cold medicine ah I'm 219 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:47,400 gonna sit down and have some cold 220 00:11:59,300 --> 00:11:50,370 medicine and let you enjoy the skeptics 221 00:12:11,450 --> 00:12:08,060 a recent speaker at Sydney's skeptics in 222 00:12:13,519 --> 00:12:11,460 the pub was Joel Pittman now his family 223 00:12:16,370 --> 00:12:13,529 joined a Pentecostal church when he was 224 00:12:18,470 --> 00:12:16,380 only four and he himself was actively 225 00:12:32,030 --> 00:12:18,480 involved in youth ministry leadership 226 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:32,040 from the age of 15 well I actually want 227 00:12:36,380 --> 00:12:34,290 to start tonight what I'm gonna be 228 00:12:38,630 --> 00:12:36,390 talking about is the Evangelic or 229 00:12:40,820 --> 00:12:38,640 movement and I would take that sort of 230 00:12:42,410 --> 00:12:40,830 encompass you know charismatic San 231 00:12:45,350 --> 00:12:42,420 Pentecostals who would see themselves a 232 00:12:46,460 --> 00:12:45,360 slightly different as well as and I want 233 00:12:48,950 --> 00:12:46,470 to I want to talk about them but 234 00:12:52,100 --> 00:12:48,960 slightly through the frame of their 235 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:52,110 involvement with Scripture and scripture 236 00:12:56,870 --> 00:12:55,290 and in public high schools now for 237 00:12:59,150 --> 00:12:56,880 anyone who hasn't met me before it 238 00:13:01,340 --> 00:12:59,160 doesn't know me I was a youth pastor for 239 00:13:05,450 --> 00:13:01,350 a couple of years I grew up in a 240 00:13:06,860 --> 00:13:05,460 Pentecostal evangelical church and my 241 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:06,870 involvement is sort of extended to 242 00:13:11,780 --> 00:13:08,490 teaching Scripture and a couple of state 243 00:13:13,550 --> 00:13:11,790 high schools in the western suburbs III 244 00:13:15,110 --> 00:13:13,560 thought what might be good and for 245 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:15,120 anyone who had me speak at skeptic camp 246 00:13:21,950 --> 00:13:17,610 this is what I did at skeptic amp was to 247 00:13:26,210 --> 00:13:21,960 talk about how the Avenger local church 248 00:13:28,910 --> 00:13:26,220 works in high schools and also on that 249 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:28,920 ground how they work on indoctrinating 250 00:13:35,060 --> 00:13:32,130 children with both state and community 251 00:13:39,140 --> 00:13:35,070 funding to get young children to join 252 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:39,150 their churches now this seems too many 253 00:13:44,060 --> 00:13:41,250 people when I talk to them they often 254 00:13:45,410 --> 00:13:44,070 say that doesn't happen or or you see a 255 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:45,420 little bit about like say access 256 00:13:48,350 --> 00:13:46,770 ministries and things like that and they 257 00:13:50,329 --> 00:13:48,360 make a slip up at a conference but 258 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:50,339 surely most of the people that go in a 259 00:13:55,460 --> 00:13:51,810 trained and they have some understanding 260 00:13:57,050 --> 00:13:55,470 of what they're doing so I thought what 261 00:13:58,970 --> 00:13:57,060 I might do tonight is a very abridged 262 00:14:01,550 --> 00:13:58,980 version of taking you through what it 263 00:14:02,810 --> 00:14:01,560 might be like for you as a student in a 264 00:14:04,970 --> 00:14:02,820 school going to one of the scripture 265 00:14:06,410 --> 00:14:04,980 classes that I taught we would start 266 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:06,420 week one where we'd introduce the 267 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:08,970 concept of God that would mean basically 268 00:14:11,710 --> 00:14:10,410 introduced I'm Adam of course I mean the 269 00:14:15,730 --> 00:14:11,720 Christian God because there isn't 270 00:14:17,499 --> 00:14:15,740 other one and an explaining why he is 271 00:14:19,420 --> 00:14:17,509 actually the right God and that if 272 00:14:20,980 --> 00:14:19,430 you've chosen another one then you know 273 00:14:23,439 --> 00:14:20,990 well don't worry we'll get to that in a 274 00:14:25,569 --> 00:14:23,449 couple of weeks time but explaining who 275 00:14:28,269 --> 00:14:25,579 God is and starting to introduce who 276 00:14:30,309 --> 00:14:28,279 Jesus is etc now at this point it's all 277 00:14:32,290 --> 00:14:30,319 very nice and quite rosy and you know 278 00:14:34,090 --> 00:14:32,300 well this is just you know some of our 279 00:14:35,530 --> 00:14:34,100 beliefs and we're great and we're all 280 00:14:37,300 --> 00:14:35,540 interested in all your opinions about 281 00:14:39,759 --> 00:14:37,310 everything and isn't it you know nice 282 00:14:41,350 --> 00:14:39,769 and then the next week they come in and 283 00:14:43,420 --> 00:14:41,360 we start we talk about what we would 284 00:14:45,069 --> 00:14:43,430 have deemed loosely as morality and i 285 00:14:46,990 --> 00:14:45,079 suppose what what they're trying to 286 00:14:49,090 --> 00:14:47,000 argue now is what what Scripture teaches 287 00:14:50,530 --> 00:14:49,100 currently do is teach a form of ethics 288 00:14:51,910 --> 00:14:50,540 which is where we would come in and then 289 00:14:55,509 --> 00:14:51,920 we'd say introducing the Ten 290 00:14:57,610 --> 00:14:55,519 Commandments now what anyone who is not 291 00:14:59,470 --> 00:14:57,620 read the Ten Commandments not 292 00:15:01,449 --> 00:14:59,480 particularly good but will most of them 293 00:15:03,519 --> 00:15:01,459 are particularly good so and we'd make 294 00:15:05,439 --> 00:15:03,529 the you know pretty false argument now 295 00:15:08,259 --> 00:15:05,449 that I would understand now is that you 296 00:15:10,329 --> 00:15:08,269 know most of our law is based on content 297 00:15:13,420 --> 00:15:10,339 commandments of course large parts of it 298 00:15:15,129 --> 00:15:13,430 or not now we would go through then with 299 00:15:16,530 --> 00:15:15,139 them and explain this would be by week 300 00:15:19,689 --> 00:15:16,540 three would be explaining to them how 301 00:15:23,439 --> 00:15:19,699 whether they know it or not they've 302 00:15:24,790 --> 00:15:23,449 broken all these Commandments you know 303 00:15:26,860 --> 00:15:24,800 if you ever had a if you ever been 304 00:15:28,090 --> 00:15:26,870 really angry at you did you know ever 305 00:15:29,679 --> 00:15:28,100 had that moment you've just told your 306 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:29,689 dad you're going you know stick it and 307 00:15:32,470 --> 00:15:31,250 you've been really mad and you've 308 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:32,480 thought something really badly about 309 00:15:36,699 --> 00:15:34,490 anymore you've ever you know thought 310 00:15:38,019 --> 00:15:36,709 about having sex with someone you know 311 00:15:39,460 --> 00:15:38,029 if you just think about these things 312 00:15:43,809 --> 00:15:39,470 you've actually committed the crime and 313 00:15:45,999 --> 00:15:43,819 you're guilty and I find it really hard 314 00:15:48,249 --> 00:15:46,009 now I mean this is for me this is it 315 00:15:49,929 --> 00:15:48,259 seems quite recent history but so far 316 00:15:52,900 --> 00:15:49,939 removed that I've struggled to say it 317 00:15:54,970 --> 00:15:52,910 now with a straight face no I really do 318 00:15:56,619 --> 00:15:54,980 like you know to me it seems so removed 319 00:15:58,540 --> 00:15:56,629 from where i am now that to send here 320 00:16:00,850 --> 00:15:58,550 and talk to you it seems like i might be 321 00:16:02,949 --> 00:16:00,860 setting up for a really bad joke but I'm 322 00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:02,959 not this is quite seriously what they 323 00:16:05,829 --> 00:16:04,910 would come in until and then of course 324 00:16:08,259 --> 00:16:05,839 you know so you go through the Ten 325 00:16:09,699 --> 00:16:08,269 Commandments and then you know the one 326 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:09,709 of the worst discussions that i can 327 00:16:14,199 --> 00:16:12,170 remember which was a common discussion 328 00:16:16,150 --> 00:16:14,209 would be better us there was there was a 329 00:16:17,470 --> 00:16:16,160 section in our course we actually are 330 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:17,480 students if they had lost the virginity 331 00:16:21,429 --> 00:16:19,490 or not and explaining how that was 332 00:16:22,809 --> 00:16:21,439 really an affront to God and how you 333 00:16:24,199 --> 00:16:22,819 know you can't repair that and how it's 334 00:16:26,239 --> 00:16:24,209 going to damage and ruin your life 335 00:16:30,559 --> 00:16:26,249 you know forever because you've you've 336 00:16:32,900 --> 00:16:30,569 taken these steps now they move pretty 337 00:16:34,460 --> 00:16:32,910 quickly past that and then you know by 338 00:16:36,879 --> 00:16:34,470 this point yeah at this point the kids 339 00:16:39,230 --> 00:16:36,889 of course are well and truly going will 340 00:16:40,759 --> 00:16:39,240 holy crap you know what do we what do we 341 00:16:42,199 --> 00:16:40,769 do we've pissed off we've pissed off 342 00:16:47,030 --> 00:16:42,209 this guy that we didn't know existed 343 00:16:48,439 --> 00:16:47,040 until a few weeks ago and and what are 344 00:16:50,809 --> 00:16:48,449 we supposed to do you know is there 345 00:16:52,939 --> 00:16:50,819 anything we can do well actually because 346 00:16:54,230 --> 00:16:52,949 you've done these things it's not that 347 00:16:56,350 --> 00:16:54,240 doesn't stop there because you've done 348 00:16:59,090 --> 00:16:56,360 these things you know so weak week five 349 00:17:01,220 --> 00:16:59,100 there's this place called Hill which is 350 00:17:04,639 --> 00:17:01,230 reserved for people who have broken 351 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:04,649 these laws so unfortunately because 352 00:17:10,639 --> 00:17:07,970 you've done these things um hell is um 353 00:17:12,829 --> 00:17:10,649 so I mean I'm I'm just telling you I 354 00:17:15,139 --> 00:17:12,839 have to tell you because I really love 355 00:17:17,029 --> 00:17:15,149 you and I really care about you and I 356 00:17:18,799 --> 00:17:17,039 really hope that you know you get this 357 00:17:20,569 --> 00:17:18,809 right and yeah well what do we do well 358 00:17:24,490 --> 00:17:20,579 fortunately there's this guy called 359 00:17:26,899 --> 00:17:24,500 Jesus right and you know if you just 360 00:17:31,490 --> 00:17:26,909 tell him that you love him and you're 361 00:17:33,889 --> 00:17:31,500 sorry then he will take away all those 362 00:17:35,450 --> 00:17:33,899 things that you did and everything will 363 00:17:38,810 --> 00:17:35,460 be wonderful again so we create a 364 00:17:40,460 --> 00:17:38,820 problem than we solve it and and what we 365 00:17:41,779 --> 00:17:40,470 would do in the last week and this 366 00:17:45,470 --> 00:17:41,789 usually gets people's hackles up 367 00:17:47,060 --> 00:17:45,480 including my own now is in the last last 368 00:17:49,159 --> 00:17:47,070 session what we do is we'd have the 369 00:17:52,010 --> 00:17:49,169 whole group we'd have a whole class of 370 00:17:55,159 --> 00:17:52,020 kids about 30 kids at a time we'd have 371 00:17:56,659 --> 00:17:55,169 30 kids who would we'd go guys would you 372 00:17:58,340 --> 00:17:56,669 mind just you know closing your eyes for 373 00:17:59,870 --> 00:17:58,350 a moment and we want to give you some 374 00:18:02,149 --> 00:17:59,880 thought about everything that we spoken 375 00:18:04,490 --> 00:18:02,159 about in the last few weeks you know and 376 00:18:06,260 --> 00:18:04,500 if you if you're serious about moving 377 00:18:09,919 --> 00:18:06,270 past all those awful things that you've 378 00:18:13,460 --> 00:18:09,929 done and you're serious about making 379 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:13,470 things right then what we want you to do 380 00:18:18,649 --> 00:18:17,250 is accept Jesus into your life and you 381 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:18,659 know while your eyes are all closed we 382 00:18:23,450 --> 00:18:19,890 won't just pop your hand up if you'd 383 00:18:25,690 --> 00:18:23,460 like to do that now at a guess how many 384 00:18:30,649 --> 00:18:25,700 people would you say pop their hands up 385 00:18:32,269 --> 00:18:30,659 30 yeah exactly 30 30 easily ever if we 386 00:18:34,190 --> 00:18:32,279 if we didn't have one it was usually 387 00:18:36,500 --> 00:18:34,200 yeah we had one out every now and then 388 00:18:37,430 --> 00:18:36,510 it was a surprise but invariably the 389 00:18:40,039 --> 00:18:37,440 whole room went 390 00:18:41,419 --> 00:18:40,049 and then that was good because and this 391 00:18:43,159 --> 00:18:41,429 was in school while you know it's all in 392 00:18:45,980 --> 00:18:43,169 school times I was never supervised by 393 00:18:47,269 --> 00:18:45,990 teachers at any stage of the game no one 394 00:18:50,049 --> 00:18:47,279 seemed to be interested that I was in 395 00:18:53,419 --> 00:18:50,059 classes telling kids these things at all 396 00:18:55,029 --> 00:18:53,429 you know and I say I just be happily go 397 00:18:57,769 --> 00:18:55,039 away and we'd hand them permission slips 398 00:18:59,240 --> 00:18:57,779 which they could then take home to their 399 00:19:00,680 --> 00:18:59,250 parents to sign once they'd made this 400 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:00,690 wonderful decision to commit their lives 401 00:19:05,869 --> 00:19:03,330 to Jesus they could take this permission 402 00:19:07,249 --> 00:19:05,879 slip home and if their parents send them 403 00:19:09,710 --> 00:19:07,259 back they get sent away to this 404 00:19:11,930 --> 00:19:09,720 wonderful church camp which we used to 405 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:11,940 call encounter weekends now has anyone 406 00:19:15,649 --> 00:19:14,250 been involved in the Avenger willful 407 00:19:17,990 --> 00:19:15,659 movement at all and heard of these 408 00:19:22,340 --> 00:19:18,000 things for encounter Wiccans I mean 409 00:19:23,539 --> 00:19:22,350 account of weekend is kind of like well 410 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:23,549 now I would loosely term it as 411 00:19:28,580 --> 00:19:26,730 brainwashing now but but they the idea 412 00:19:30,830 --> 00:19:28,590 of an encounter weekend so you come away 413 00:19:31,940 --> 00:19:30,840 with the church and you're separated 414 00:19:33,619 --> 00:19:31,950 male and female you're not allowed to 415 00:19:35,570 --> 00:19:33,629 have mobile phones you don't have any 416 00:19:39,499 --> 00:19:35,580 contact with your family and you spend a 417 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:39,509 weekend away where basically you get 418 00:19:44,299 --> 00:19:42,450 this huge form when you come in and they 419 00:19:46,009 --> 00:19:44,309 teach you how to speak in tongues they 420 00:19:47,869 --> 00:19:46,019 spend a weekend casting demons out of 421 00:19:49,389 --> 00:19:47,879 kids who might have been them and 422 00:19:52,580 --> 00:19:49,399 possessed without their knowledge 423 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:52,590 throughout that xperia and and then we 424 00:19:55,759 --> 00:19:54,330 spend this time with a they do this sort 425 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:55,769 of ceremonial it's almost like a Tony 426 00:19:58,669 --> 00:19:56,970 Robbins kind of meeting you know were 427 00:19:59,930 --> 00:19:58,679 they they write down all their ticket 428 00:20:01,039 --> 00:19:59,940 like a ticket boxing where they tick off 429 00:20:02,450 --> 00:20:01,049 all the sins and things that they've 430 00:20:04,580 --> 00:20:02,460 committed or or their family members 431 00:20:06,470 --> 00:20:04,590 might have committed so so generational 432 00:20:08,389 --> 00:20:06,480 sins will they call it and you took off 433 00:20:09,649 --> 00:20:08,399 all those things and then you keep on 434 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:09,659 your hot little hand they make a big 435 00:20:12,769 --> 00:20:11,129 fire and you chuck your sins into the 436 00:20:17,930 --> 00:20:12,779 fire and then you thank God for giving 437 00:20:20,749 --> 00:20:17,940 you now so you get to the end of that 438 00:20:22,009 --> 00:20:20,759 and then you know the kids come back and 439 00:20:23,509 --> 00:20:22,019 then they go straight into something 440 00:20:25,820 --> 00:20:23,519 which used to be called cell groups and 441 00:20:28,129 --> 00:20:25,830 which became really unpopular after 442 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:28,139 September September 11 so that's what 443 00:20:31,580 --> 00:20:29,129 that will call this is what they were 444 00:20:33,980 --> 00:20:31,590 called I'm sorry so we have this cell 445 00:20:35,419 --> 00:20:33,990 group meetings yes over its own is a 446 00:20:37,639 --> 00:20:35,429 wonderful thing you know I'm strong 447 00:20:40,279 --> 00:20:37,649 we're on a watch list somewhere just 448 00:20:41,930 --> 00:20:40,289 because of the name but but no they go 449 00:20:43,249 --> 00:20:41,940 through that they'd join us over for a 450 00:20:46,039 --> 00:20:43,259 small group and they do one-on-one 451 00:20:47,930 --> 00:20:46,049 discipleship I was on I'm still now 452 00:20:49,789 --> 00:20:47,940 quite astounded by the amount of parents 453 00:20:51,739 --> 00:20:49,799 who are quite happy 454 00:20:54,409 --> 00:20:51,749 just to let someone they didn't know on 455 00:20:56,930 --> 00:20:54,419 the basis that though from a church just 456 00:20:59,470 --> 00:20:56,940 come and spend isolated time with their 457 00:21:03,259 --> 00:20:59,480 children without any questions at all 458 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:03,269 now it you know for them they're quite 459 00:21:08,899 --> 00:21:05,610 fortunate that it was me because I'm not 460 00:21:10,399 --> 00:21:08,909 criminal but um I often wonder how given 461 00:21:13,220 --> 00:21:10,409 everything in the media the parents are 462 00:21:15,979 --> 00:21:13,230 still quite willing to say yeah whatever 463 00:21:18,739 --> 00:21:15,989 please Soph you go spend time alone in 464 00:21:20,749 --> 00:21:18,749 um in their bedroom with kids talking 465 00:21:23,180 --> 00:21:20,759 about God I'm sure that's what you're 466 00:21:28,430 --> 00:21:23,190 doing and we won't check on you at all 467 00:21:30,859 --> 00:21:28,440 and and so for mine I often ask like 468 00:21:33,049 --> 00:21:30,869 what are the implications of that you 469 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:33,059 know from that experience now most 470 00:21:37,399 --> 00:21:35,730 people here be looking now going well 471 00:21:40,159 --> 00:21:37,409 that's all that's well a nice now we can 472 00:21:42,799 --> 00:21:40,169 see the obvious problems but now I've 473 00:21:45,229 --> 00:21:42,809 spoken to so many people now where 474 00:21:47,450 --> 00:21:45,239 there's no actual solutions that are in 475 00:21:51,049 --> 00:21:47,460 place to actually deal with what's going 476 00:21:52,580 --> 00:21:51,059 on now my problem at the moment my main 477 00:21:54,619 --> 00:21:52,590 problem at the moment I don't know that 478 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:54,629 I'd really be that upset if the Uniting 479 00:21:57,919 --> 00:21:56,129 Church just decided hey we're going to 480 00:21:59,599 --> 00:21:57,929 go do scripture in high schools now I 481 00:22:01,249 --> 00:21:59,609 get the sense about the Uniting Church 482 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:01,259 that it might probably just be more 483 00:22:05,029 --> 00:22:03,210 about you know philosophy and ethics and 484 00:22:06,349 --> 00:22:05,039 the most uniting church people I know 485 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:06,359 aren't even really sure if there's a God 486 00:22:11,210 --> 00:22:08,369 themselves so they don't tend to be that 487 00:22:12,889 --> 00:22:11,220 but the evangelical church is much 488 00:22:16,159 --> 00:22:12,899 different to that and they're cashed-up 489 00:22:18,529 --> 00:22:16,169 much really cashed up most of the money 490 00:22:21,109 --> 00:22:18,539 for us when we were going at teaching 491 00:22:23,149 --> 00:22:21,119 Scripture came from the large mega 492 00:22:26,090 --> 00:22:23,159 church that was you know on the corner 493 00:22:28,340 --> 00:22:26,100 wasn't Hillsong for the record that so 494 00:22:29,749 --> 00:22:28,350 it was very similar actually the bulk of 495 00:22:31,580 --> 00:22:29,759 what you see at Hillsong actually arose 496 00:22:32,389 --> 00:22:31,590 out of a church cord wasn't the time 497 00:22:35,419 --> 00:22:32,399 called penrith christian fellowship 498 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:35,429 center and most of the ministry that 499 00:22:41,149 --> 00:22:38,970 exists in Hillsong outside of the 500 00:22:43,789 --> 00:22:41,159 Houstons was from kind of christian 501 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:43,799 fellowship center and they started a 502 00:22:48,590 --> 00:22:45,570 huge amount of this and that's sort of 503 00:22:50,570 --> 00:22:48,600 where I grew up so you look outside of 504 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:50,580 that whole behavior that demonology and 505 00:22:55,580 --> 00:22:53,369 everything else and this is a society 506 00:22:57,769 --> 00:22:55,590 outside of a few small small group of 507 00:23:00,049 --> 00:22:57,779 people are quite happy for people who 508 00:23:02,990 --> 00:23:00,059 are like me to go around teaching people 509 00:23:06,670 --> 00:23:03,000 is so I suppose my 510 00:23:09,980 --> 00:23:06,680 question is as more to the group is 511 00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:09,990 what's wrong with that and and why do we 512 00:23:20,270 --> 00:23:14,310 not make more noise about it and because 513 00:23:21,980 --> 00:23:20,280 I I mean I was never trained I ever I 514 00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:21,990 was never presented with any sort of 515 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:24,510 legal guidelines or framework we're told 516 00:23:27,410 --> 00:23:25,650 that there was things that I wasn't 517 00:23:29,270 --> 00:23:27,420 allowed to say I wasn't allowed to do I 518 00:23:31,850 --> 00:23:29,280 was allowed into the school five days a 519 00:23:33,890 --> 00:23:31,860 week I was able to run my groups inside 520 00:23:36,980 --> 00:23:33,900 the school without any question or any 521 00:23:38,390 --> 00:23:36,990 supervision at any point and that wasn't 522 00:23:40,100 --> 00:23:38,400 just in one school wasn't just an 523 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:40,110 anomaly of you know this one school and 524 00:23:44,540 --> 00:23:42,330 it was quite common for these things to 525 00:23:47,210 --> 00:23:44,550 take place where either the teachers are 526 00:23:50,510 --> 00:23:47,220 too exhausted to either have the time to 527 00:23:51,890 --> 00:23:50,520 supervise or you know the or their 528 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:51,900 disinterested because they're not really 529 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:54,690 paid enough to care well I suppose I 530 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:56,010 don't know if that's fair fair to say 531 00:23:59,510 --> 00:23:57,810 that I mean you can't be everywhere and 532 00:24:01,370 --> 00:23:59,520 I'm married to a teacher and I'm she'll 533 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:01,380 be the first person told me that she 534 00:24:06,740 --> 00:24:02,490 can't be everywhere and has no 535 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:06,750 inclination to be so on that I think 536 00:24:12,460 --> 00:24:08,130 that sort of leaves enough for me to 537 00:24:14,690 --> 00:24:12,470 answer questions if there are any oh 538 00:24:16,970 --> 00:24:14,700 there's no no I mean there's the there's 539 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:16,980 the the the main guy as in you're 540 00:24:20,360 --> 00:24:18,930 working with children's check but though 541 00:24:21,770 --> 00:24:20,370 like when I work for the church that was 542 00:24:24,740 --> 00:24:21,780 a standard form for the church that we 543 00:24:26,230 --> 00:24:24,750 saw it so we we could produce a copy of 544 00:24:28,790 --> 00:24:26,240 that that said that they will checked 545 00:24:31,700 --> 00:24:28,800 but and so to that extent that's one 546 00:24:35,420 --> 00:24:31,710 thing but outside of I don't remember in 547 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:35,430 two years I can't remember a I can't 548 00:24:38,690 --> 00:24:37,050 remember a teacher I think I had one 549 00:24:40,790 --> 00:24:38,700 teacher maybe in two years sort of pop 550 00:24:43,070 --> 00:24:40,800 their head in the door and show a little 551 00:24:48,710 --> 00:24:43,080 bit of being a disgruntled about what we 552 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:48,720 were saying but it was me no no actually 553 00:24:52,430 --> 00:24:50,850 one school one school principal was was 554 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:52,440 part of the church that was funding us 555 00:25:00,470 --> 00:24:56,450 so um he was quite ecstatic to see us 556 00:25:02,210 --> 00:25:00,480 yeah holy public public schools and so 557 00:25:04,850 --> 00:25:02,220 the money was coming from cuz this was 558 00:25:07,940 --> 00:25:04,860 in in penrith there was a protestant 559 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:07,950 churches education board in penrith so 560 00:25:10,580 --> 00:25:09,210 we had about it's about fourteen 561 00:25:13,130 --> 00:25:10,590 thousand dollars a year that was coming 562 00:25:14,810 --> 00:25:13,140 and the bulk of that money was something 563 00:25:16,169 --> 00:25:14,820 around like 11 thousand for fourteen 564 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:16,179 thousand dollars was coming for 565 00:25:22,109 --> 00:25:18,850 the one church who had the money the 566 00:25:23,549 --> 00:25:22,119 money to spend and so while they used to 567 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:23,559 say it was kind of you know democratic 568 00:25:26,609 --> 00:25:24,850 you know we're all here to help each 569 00:25:29,430 --> 00:25:26,619 other and everything the bulk of the 570 00:25:30,629 --> 00:25:29,440 bulk of the students that went through 571 00:25:32,220 --> 00:25:30,639 they either went to that church will 572 00:25:34,619 --> 00:25:32,230 they they went to my youth group for a 573 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:34,629 short period of time as well when we 574 00:25:38,129 --> 00:25:36,369 started teaching scripture I'd started 575 00:25:40,590 --> 00:25:38,139 out I had five kids in the youth program 576 00:25:43,169 --> 00:25:40,600 within a term I had 90 you know just 577 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:43,179 from from one set of scripture classes 578 00:25:47,460 --> 00:25:44,850 that was a 10 week a 10 week program 579 00:25:50,519 --> 00:25:47,470 sorry if so question how did the kids 580 00:25:52,710 --> 00:25:50,529 actually come to oh well what we did we 581 00:25:55,019 --> 00:25:52,720 sent a we had a note that was actually 582 00:25:57,989 --> 00:25:55,029 sent out a notice that the parents had 583 00:25:59,999 --> 00:25:57,999 to opt out so they had a note sent out 584 00:26:02,340 --> 00:26:00,009 that basically said it's police sent us 585 00:26:03,570 --> 00:26:02,350 back if you have a problem not police 586 00:26:05,549 --> 00:26:03,580 send us back if you would like your 587 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:05,559 child to attend which I would have 588 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:06,490 thought would have been the normal way 589 00:26:11,639 --> 00:26:09,610 around but it's where we sent it yeah no 590 00:26:13,470 --> 00:26:11,649 co high school it's they though there 591 00:26:14,970 --> 00:26:13,480 was the entitlement no no we didn't know 592 00:26:17,970 --> 00:26:14,980 we had no involvement with primary 593 00:26:19,470 --> 00:26:17,980 school at all the primary school in our 594 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:19,480 primary schools in our area where 595 00:26:24,570 --> 00:26:21,970 actually serviced by a Catholic group 596 00:26:26,369 --> 00:26:24,580 that did the whole thing and we didn't 597 00:26:28,379 --> 00:26:26,379 seem largely interested it was year 7 598 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:28,389 was where we wanted where we wanted to 599 00:26:39,239 --> 00:26:37,690 be and um I think I don't think 13 year 600 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:39,249 olds disposable incomes any higher than 601 00:26:44,249 --> 00:26:43,210 a 10 year olds but but they know the I 602 00:26:45,210 --> 00:26:44,259 don't think it was I think it was more 603 00:26:48,419 --> 00:26:45,220 the age that they could actually 604 00:26:50,220 --> 00:26:48,429 understand the concept of of sin and 605 00:26:51,810 --> 00:26:50,230 there was nothing like there was nothing 606 00:26:53,999 --> 00:26:51,820 about me at the time I mean this is 607 00:26:56,669 --> 00:26:54,009 something that I was I was more or less 608 00:26:58,350 --> 00:26:56,679 born into there was no concept that you 609 00:26:59,940 --> 00:26:58,360 know that I was being manipulative or 610 00:27:02,159 --> 00:26:59,950 doing something untoward and I thought I 611 00:27:03,749 --> 00:27:02,169 was doing these kids a favor you know I 612 00:27:06,210 --> 00:27:03,759 was saving them from something that was 613 00:27:08,460 --> 00:27:06,220 perfectly awful for all the time you 614 00:27:10,499 --> 00:27:08,470 know so there was no sense and there was 615 00:27:12,419 --> 00:27:10,509 no one that I've known ever that that 616 00:27:15,239 --> 00:27:12,429 taught scripture who was teaching 617 00:27:17,879 --> 00:27:15,249 scripture and saying this is awful where 618 00:27:19,950 --> 00:27:17,889 are we you know snide and evil the 619 00:27:22,019 --> 00:27:19,960 bastards for doing this there was no 620 00:27:31,009 --> 00:27:22,029 sense of that at all we were doing good 621 00:27:37,289 --> 00:27:36,029 well the church is basically I they tell 622 00:27:40,350 --> 00:27:37,299 anyone who will listen not to have 623 00:27:42,090 --> 00:27:40,360 anything to do with me so that like a 624 00:27:44,090 --> 00:27:42,100 church I grew up in so socially you just 625 00:27:46,139 --> 00:27:44,100 you have no friends pretty quickly 626 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:46,149 because which is not such a bad thing 627 00:27:50,279 --> 00:27:48,850 because I don't really have a lot in 628 00:27:51,690 --> 00:27:50,289 common with them anymore I've actually 629 00:27:55,409 --> 00:27:51,700 it's quite funny I've actually become 630 00:27:58,590 --> 00:27:55,419 the I've become like the church groups 631 00:28:00,930 --> 00:27:58,600 have become their little black priest I 632 00:28:03,389 --> 00:28:00,940 suppose in the sensor it's like you know 633 00:28:05,519 --> 00:28:03,399 because the idea is that things are 634 00:28:08,220 --> 00:28:05,529 meant to be perfect neither yeah because 635 00:28:10,799 --> 00:28:08,230 God is good and then you know it's got 636 00:28:12,659 --> 00:28:10,809 about you know having everything you 637 00:28:14,460 --> 00:28:12,669 want having a perfect life and things if 638 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:14,470 you just do these things and everything 639 00:28:18,149 --> 00:28:16,330 works out perfectly which everyone here 640 00:28:19,619 --> 00:28:18,159 knows that they don't you know life just 641 00:28:22,379 --> 00:28:19,629 happens regardless of whether you 642 00:28:24,779 --> 00:28:22,389 professor belief or or otherwise now 643 00:28:26,970 --> 00:28:24,789 what I find now is that I the people 644 00:28:28,499 --> 00:28:26,980 will just swear what they have nothing 645 00:28:30,930 --> 00:28:28,509 to do and they will ignore me have 646 00:28:32,999 --> 00:28:30,940 nothing nothing at all to do it you know 647 00:28:34,859 --> 00:28:33,009 to the point of just out of rudeness and 648 00:28:36,269 --> 00:28:34,869 then something happens they do something 649 00:28:38,580 --> 00:28:36,279 catastrophic and they realize that if 650 00:28:40,109 --> 00:28:38,590 they tell the pastor of the church that 651 00:28:41,730 --> 00:28:40,119 they've done that they might be excluded 652 00:28:46,379 --> 00:28:41,740 from activities or isolated from people 653 00:28:48,029 --> 00:28:46,389 so they tell me instead my favorite one 654 00:28:49,499 --> 00:28:48,039 of course was the associate pastors wife 655 00:28:51,930 --> 00:28:49,509 who was like sleeping with five 656 00:28:54,119 --> 00:28:51,940 different people in the church and and 657 00:28:57,629 --> 00:28:54,129 you know she was feeling quite guilty 658 00:28:59,039 --> 00:28:57,639 about about that or so so she told me 659 00:29:01,139 --> 00:28:59,049 you know it was going on I had another 660 00:29:03,749 --> 00:29:01,149 one like the worship the worship pastor 661 00:29:07,830 --> 00:29:03,759 the worship pastor in the church as well 662 00:29:09,810 --> 00:29:07,840 who her marriage had broken down and and 663 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:09,820 she hadn't had sex in a long time so 664 00:29:14,279 --> 00:29:11,610 it's off just doing anything with legs 665 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:14,289 and as she was another one who calls me 666 00:29:18,690 --> 00:29:16,330 in the middle of her breakdown and and 667 00:29:20,159 --> 00:29:18,700 then of course you know the the crisis 668 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:20,169 ends and then they go back to forgetting 669 00:29:24,810 --> 00:29:21,970 that I pretending that I don't exist in 670 00:29:29,510 --> 00:29:24,820 and and living life like it's wonderful 671 00:29:34,250 --> 00:29:29,520 and Jesus's wants me for something yeah 672 00:29:35,510 --> 00:29:34,260 oh yeah sorry what my person of what was 673 00:29:39,980 --> 00:29:35,520 my personal epiphany was the question 674 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:39,990 and I do as it was a few I would always 675 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:43,410 tell people that my belief in my faith 676 00:29:48,380 --> 00:29:45,210 was grounded he was not just grounded in 677 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:48,390 one one particular thing but I'd gone to 678 00:29:52,910 --> 00:29:51,450 a you know a Pentecostal school where 679 00:29:54,740 --> 00:29:52,920 they taught something called me gwa 680 00:29:57,530 --> 00:29:54,750 which is called man in God's world there 681 00:29:59,810 --> 00:29:57,540 was no science classes and of course 682 00:30:01,280 --> 00:29:59,820 you're indoctrinated taught so well that 683 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:01,290 when you when I didn't end up going to a 684 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:02,970 state high school I was taught very well 685 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:04,530 just to ignore exclude myself from 686 00:30:09,470 --> 00:30:07,650 anything that was resembling science at 687 00:30:11,770 --> 00:30:09,480 any rate so I had absolutely up until my 688 00:30:16,250 --> 00:30:11,780 mid 20s I had no concept at all of what 689 00:30:19,730 --> 00:30:16,260 evolution was in slightest so the first 690 00:30:21,290 --> 00:30:19,740 the first point was when the church made 691 00:30:23,210 --> 00:30:21,300 this big fuss about this book called The 692 00:30:26,570 --> 00:30:23,220 God Delusion and how we shouldn't read 693 00:30:28,910 --> 00:30:26,580 it and I know there was that but prior 694 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:28,920 to that I mean there's all these things 695 00:30:32,270 --> 00:30:30,450 there's always this constant challenges 696 00:30:35,180 --> 00:30:32,280 that that that stopped making your world 697 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:35,190 perfect you know I think from my early 698 00:30:39,860 --> 00:30:37,770 teens I'd started having anxiety attacks 699 00:30:41,420 --> 00:30:39,870 and and the church should always just 700 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:41,430 said no that's you know the devil 701 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:43,410 attacking you and you know demonic 702 00:30:47,510 --> 00:30:45,570 harassment you know we don't who do all 703 00:30:48,710 --> 00:30:47,520 this prayer and everything else and do 704 00:30:50,780 --> 00:30:48,720 everything that the Bible would say to 705 00:30:52,460 --> 00:30:50,790 get your life into water and that the 706 00:30:54,020 --> 00:30:52,470 problems are still occurring and so 707 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:54,030 you'd pray some more and end up chasing 708 00:30:59,180 --> 00:30:55,890 your tail and it just makes us it even 709 00:31:00,770 --> 00:30:59,190 worse so there was that and to the point 710 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:00,780 where i first went actually saw someone 711 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:01,770 who knew what they were talking about 712 00:31:04,790 --> 00:31:03,330 who said well have you tried doing X Y 713 00:31:10,250 --> 00:31:04,800 Zed and they stopped almost straightaway 714 00:31:13,340 --> 00:31:10,260 oh ok so that's nice and then when I was 715 00:31:16,100 --> 00:31:13,350 about 18 my father tried to kill himself 716 00:31:18,020 --> 00:31:16,110 when my parents were divorcing and that 717 00:31:20,300 --> 00:31:18,030 kind of didn't fit into the whole church 718 00:31:21,530 --> 00:31:20,310 world view about what life was meant to 719 00:31:23,210 --> 00:31:21,540 be like and how it was meant to be 720 00:31:27,860 --> 00:31:23,220 perfect so there was there and then 721 00:31:29,450 --> 00:31:27,870 there was the persistent just crazy 722 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:29,460 morals which I could never quite 723 00:31:33,830 --> 00:31:31,410 understand I mean I told you I mean the 724 00:31:36,110 --> 00:31:33,840 first one about that young that young 725 00:31:38,030 --> 00:31:36,120 lady and how to me I still it still just 726 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:38,040 makes me shudder that people could 727 00:31:41,780 --> 00:31:40,410 actually these are genuine people you 728 00:31:42,380 --> 00:31:41,790 had meet in a street and go I won't they 729 00:31:45,140 --> 00:31:42,390 warm 730 00:31:47,510 --> 00:31:45,150 in nice you know otherwise normal people 731 00:31:49,190 --> 00:31:47,520 and their beliefs and the morality is so 732 00:31:50,570 --> 00:31:49,200 twisted and so I mean one of the other 733 00:31:52,100 --> 00:31:50,580 ones of course when I was nuclear in the 734 00:31:55,130 --> 00:31:52,110 church I started dating and decided I 735 00:31:57,950 --> 00:31:55,140 really like having sex and and the 736 00:32:02,780 --> 00:31:57,960 church frowns on that you know so that 737 00:32:04,220 --> 00:32:02,790 was annoying yeah so i had to find a way 738 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:04,230 around that and i thought a theist and 739 00:32:10,670 --> 00:32:08,970 was as good as anything else no no 740 00:32:12,470 --> 00:32:10,680 science science is the next big one for 741 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:12,480 me that no I think once you know once 742 00:32:15,260 --> 00:32:13,770 what you'd sort of take two of those 743 00:32:17,750 --> 00:32:15,270 legs down things were a bit shaky and 744 00:32:19,190 --> 00:32:17,760 then you know someone I remember I was 745 00:32:21,500 --> 00:32:19,200 talking with the guy from answers in 746 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:21,510 genesis in he'd come out he was a 747 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:23,490 regular out at our church a lot of for a 748 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:25,170 lot of the time and he was coming out 749 00:32:29,630 --> 00:32:26,610 doing this talking I remember him saying 750 00:32:32,450 --> 00:32:29,640 to me I'm using as an example in the 751 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:32,460 church talking about the evolution of of 752 00:32:36,380 --> 00:32:35,130 bats and how they would have fly it at 753 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:36,390 the cave and how they didn't always have 754 00:32:41,900 --> 00:32:39,810 wings and how many how many bats had to 755 00:32:44,650 --> 00:32:41,910 jump fall to their death before the one 756 00:32:49,850 --> 00:32:44,660 behind them when all of all wings and 757 00:32:51,590 --> 00:32:49,860 and and I you go well you know but even 758 00:32:54,380 --> 00:32:51,600 then I went no I don't think it works 759 00:32:55,610 --> 00:32:54,390 that way and I'm I don't even know 760 00:32:58,210 --> 00:32:55,620 anything but no that doesn't make sense 761 00:33:00,620 --> 00:32:58,220 I don't think that's how it works and 762 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:00,630 and by then you know it's I'd been 763 00:33:03,260 --> 00:33:01,770 obviously sure how to answer people 764 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:03,270 articulately and say I don't think this 765 00:33:07,670 --> 00:33:05,490 is right I came across this is quite I 766 00:33:08,990 --> 00:33:07,680 came across this excellent minister 767 00:33:11,900 --> 00:33:09,000 who'd come down who'd been completely 768 00:33:13,910 --> 00:33:11,910 outside of our little group of people 769 00:33:16,610 --> 00:33:13,920 for you know 20 odd years of my life and 770 00:33:17,870 --> 00:33:16,620 he'd come as they complete outsider and 771 00:33:19,130 --> 00:33:17,880 the first day into the church he's gone 772 00:33:21,020 --> 00:33:19,140 oh tell us all about you tell us about 773 00:33:22,940 --> 00:33:21,030 you but do you believe in everything 774 00:33:24,830 --> 00:33:22,950 else and so I just basically started 775 00:33:26,420 --> 00:33:24,840 reciting the aog Creed more or less you 776 00:33:27,980 --> 00:33:26,430 know you know the inerrant Word of God 777 00:33:30,470 --> 00:33:27,990 you have six and a half thousand years 778 00:33:32,750 --> 00:33:30,480 older they're bouncing and he looked at 779 00:33:34,190 --> 00:33:32,760 me like I had rocks in my head and he'd 780 00:33:37,010 --> 00:33:34,200 never heard he didn't know that people 781 00:33:38,630 --> 00:33:37,020 were that you know full-on he's like no 782 00:33:40,250 --> 00:33:38,640 you know evolution is kind of like a 783 00:33:43,250 --> 00:33:40,260 it's not really you're not just an idea 784 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:43,260 and because that you know because you 785 00:33:45,860 --> 00:33:44,250 know we'd always think we're really 786 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:45,870 intelligent you know telling people that 787 00:33:49,130 --> 00:33:48,090 you know I evolution is just a theory 788 00:33:51,170 --> 00:33:49,140 you know 789 00:33:52,490 --> 00:33:51,180 which like I said now it's been about 790 00:33:54,860 --> 00:33:52,500 four and a half years from in allen 791 00:33:56,990 --> 00:33:54,870 others I can't even imagine saying it 792 00:33:58,490 --> 00:33:57,000 now it just seems so remote to even 793 00:34:01,000 --> 00:33:58,500 suggest for a second that you would say 794 00:34:22,340 --> 00:34:01,010 that someone with a straight face but 795 00:34:25,610 --> 00:34:22,350 the Here I am nonetheless hi I'm a 796 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:25,620 skeptic hell nurse a the wee beastie who 797 00:34:29,750 --> 00:34:27,210 lives in the look I want to talk about 798 00:34:32,300 --> 00:34:29,760 monster talk the podcast skeptically 799 00:34:34,790 --> 00:34:32,310 examines monster story oh listen to your 800 00:34:36,919 --> 00:34:34,800 fancy talk why are you just watching the 801 00:34:40,669 --> 00:34:36,929 Lulu monster shows on the teller last 802 00:34:41,990 --> 00:34:40,679 night huh oh yeah but but I watched 803 00:34:44,389 --> 00:34:42,000 those because they helped me hone my 804 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:44,399 skeptical donut bit telling me out far 805 00:34:48,290 --> 00:34:46,770 keep eyes live look why don't you go 806 00:34:49,850 --> 00:34:48,300 back in that water over there and let me 807 00:34:52,070 --> 00:34:49,860 talk to people about monster talk Oh 808 00:34:54,649 --> 00:34:52,080 does that interest oh it doesn't have 809 00:34:56,690 --> 00:34:54,659 pictures as a podcast I like fixtures 810 00:34:58,220 --> 00:34:56,700 miss Elvis brought for television look 811 00:34:59,840 --> 00:34:58,230 if you like pictures so much the how 812 00:35:01,700 --> 00:34:59,850 come all the photos of you are so blurry 813 00:35:03,770 --> 00:35:01,710 I don't know what you're talking about 814 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:03,780 i've never had any picture taken that's 815 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:06,090 that's probably true I don't want to be 816 00:35:11,270 --> 00:35:08,610 on your show I wanna be on britain's got 817 00:35:13,910 --> 00:35:11,280 talent like Susan Boyle I want to sing a 818 00:35:15,350 --> 00:35:13,920 proper Scottish song anyway please check 819 00:35:17,660 --> 00:35:15,360 out monster talk from your preferred 820 00:35:24,270 --> 00:35:17,670 podcast aggregator apart from monster 821 00:35:35,470 --> 00:35:28,710 years may not spooky action at a 822 00:35:40,370 --> 00:35:38,360 I'm just cruising along in what has been 823 00:35:42,470 --> 00:35:40,380 known as it's the skeptic nabil 824 00:35:44,270 --> 00:35:42,480 basically what happens is Richard 825 00:35:46,820 --> 00:35:44,280 Saunders wakes up in the morning puts on 826 00:35:49,550 --> 00:35:46,830 some sort of cargo pants and pulls back 827 00:35:51,890 --> 00:35:49,560 a bust of Shakespeare and slides down 828 00:35:53,570 --> 00:35:51,900 his jrf pole which is actually shaped 829 00:35:55,940 --> 00:35:53,580 like the letters J ref which is very 830 00:35:57,470 --> 00:35:55,950 painful for him and into the Saunders 831 00:35:59,180 --> 00:35:57,480 nabil now this is a pretty impressive 832 00:36:00,920 --> 00:35:59,190 you've got here I mean I tell you what 833 00:36:03,710 --> 00:36:00,930 when people see you pull up at the front 834 00:36:07,100 --> 00:36:03,720 their place in a Mitsubishi they must 835 00:36:08,900 --> 00:36:07,110 really quiver they're skeptical you will 836 00:36:10,760 --> 00:36:08,910 never make it on top gear Richard well 837 00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:10,770 that's true but that's on another 838 00:36:15,050 --> 00:36:12,570 network you see I'm on the seven network 839 00:36:16,700 --> 00:36:15,060 and Top Gear's on the nine network so we 840 00:36:18,470 --> 00:36:16,710 got a problem there I've been hanging 841 00:36:21,170 --> 00:36:18,480 out with Richard today because he said 842 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:21,180 hey you gotta buy bargains you gotta buy 843 00:36:26,720 --> 00:36:23,490 in bulk Maynard you've been he he is 844 00:36:28,670 --> 00:36:26,730 debunking my going down to the Thai shop 845 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:28,680 and buying a five-dollar salad of runts 846 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:29,970 in a while and making that last for a 847 00:36:33,380 --> 00:36:31,170 couple of days because I'm a bachelor 848 00:36:35,630 --> 00:36:33,390 live alone my place is the size of a 849 00:36:38,660 --> 00:36:35,640 postage stamp he goes nothing that let's 850 00:36:40,490 --> 00:36:38,670 go to costco you can buy five kilograms 851 00:36:42,950 --> 00:36:40,500 of tomato sauce there at bargain prices 852 00:36:45,890 --> 00:36:42,960 but I saw I saw people running out of 853 00:36:48,380 --> 00:36:45,900 there with no joke 5 litre containers of 854 00:36:50,390 --> 00:36:48,390 barbecue sauce it's astounding I love 855 00:36:52,310 --> 00:36:50,400 going to costco it's just good fun apart 856 00:36:54,410 --> 00:36:52,320 from anything else and for buying bulk 857 00:36:57,500 --> 00:36:54,420 Vegemite of course and let me tell you I 858 00:36:59,990 --> 00:36:57,510 only saw two pairs of pajama jeans there 859 00:37:02,720 --> 00:37:00,000 and girls if you're going on there it's 860 00:37:04,850 --> 00:37:02,730 probably a very loose sloppy joe as we 861 00:37:07,790 --> 00:37:04,860 might call them in Australia as the top 862 00:37:09,860 --> 00:37:07,800 and footless tights I think I go that's 863 00:37:11,570 --> 00:37:09,870 what you wear I think that's the style 864 00:37:13,820 --> 00:37:11,580 may not I think that's a start but we 865 00:37:15,380 --> 00:37:13,830 were just discussing actually and this 866 00:37:17,260 --> 00:37:15,390 is something that we might continue 867 00:37:20,900 --> 00:37:17,270 later in skeptics in the pub this week 868 00:37:24,650 --> 00:37:20,910 but I'm beginning to have thoughts about 869 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:24,660 the public perception of two words we 870 00:37:28,310 --> 00:37:26,610 know that the public have a very hard 871 00:37:30,170 --> 00:37:28,320 understand i'm getting the groups of 872 00:37:33,530 --> 00:37:30,180 words skeptic because and they all think 873 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:33,540 it means the cynical non-believer but 874 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:35,850 the public also 875 00:37:40,070 --> 00:37:38,490 no very well the word debunker or 876 00:37:41,720 --> 00:37:40,080 debunking and they know what that means 877 00:37:43,130 --> 00:37:41,730 you know something's rubbish and someone 878 00:37:46,460 --> 00:37:43,140 comes along says look it's rubbish and 879 00:37:48,530 --> 00:37:46,470 he is wise rubbish now a lot of the 880 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:48,540 schedule skeptical community don't like 881 00:37:51,980 --> 00:37:50,610 the word debunking or debunker because 882 00:37:54,350 --> 00:37:51,990 it sets you up from the beginning of 883 00:37:56,450 --> 00:37:54,360 someone who's out to to disprove 884 00:37:58,850 --> 00:37:56,460 something whereas in reality we 885 00:38:02,840 --> 00:37:58,860 investigate now if something happens to 886 00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:02,850 be bunk that we can say well look it 887 00:38:08,780 --> 00:38:05,610 doesn't work but i'm i'm wondering 888 00:38:11,870 --> 00:38:08,790 whether the word debunking has got an 889 00:38:13,850 --> 00:38:11,880 unnecessarily bad rap look you know I 890 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:13,860 feel sometimes about skeptical movement 891 00:38:18,560 --> 00:38:16,290 I reckon the term crackpots with 892 00:38:21,290 --> 00:38:18,570 evidence fits perfectly because you are 893 00:38:22,820 --> 00:38:21,300 very intense and almost sometimes you 894 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:22,830 come across as being on some sort of 895 00:38:26,660 --> 00:38:24,690 they'll use a word crusade about 896 00:38:28,340 --> 00:38:26,670 something well and so you know you like 897 00:38:30,380 --> 00:38:28,350 you might get a UFO believer on the 898 00:38:32,030 --> 00:38:30,390 radio you get you guys on the radio 899 00:38:34,460 --> 00:38:32,040 people will give you equal weight 900 00:38:35,510 --> 00:38:34,470 because it's the media yeah oh yeah they 901 00:38:37,520 --> 00:38:35,520 give the media will give you that way 902 00:38:39,230 --> 00:38:37,530 because you have an equal intensity and 903 00:38:41,540 --> 00:38:39,240 you can just proved your point with 904 00:38:43,490 --> 00:38:41,550 evidence more easily well I mean into a 905 00:38:46,100 --> 00:38:43,500 lot of the media you're right we are 906 00:38:47,810 --> 00:38:46,110 crackpots the UFO believer will be a 907 00:38:49,550 --> 00:38:47,820 crackpot oh let's get them and the 908 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:49,560 skeptics who a lot of media just think 909 00:38:53,030 --> 00:38:51,450 are the other sort of crackpots who 910 00:38:54,620 --> 00:38:53,040 don't believe anything blah blah blah 911 00:38:57,260 --> 00:38:54,630 and we'll get them together and that'll 912 00:39:00,530 --> 00:38:57,270 be our segment now I think more and more 913 00:39:02,210 --> 00:39:00,540 meat there's a lot of media well ones I 914 00:39:04,010 --> 00:39:02,220 know realize that's not the way it works 915 00:39:05,540 --> 00:39:04,020 but they'll still do it because they 916 00:39:08,420 --> 00:39:05,550 know that's what is a quick and easy 917 00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:08,430 story so with debunking the problem is 918 00:39:12,110 --> 00:39:10,170 that that's a potentially negative 919 00:39:14,060 --> 00:39:12,120 connotation straight out of the gate 920 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:14,070 because you're taking something away 921 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:16,290 from people that they believe in that 922 00:39:21,890 --> 00:39:17,970 might actually give them some comfort 923 00:39:23,810 --> 00:39:21,900 comfort yes but then again in the public 924 00:39:27,500 --> 00:39:23,820 imagination the word skeptics probably 925 00:39:29,030 --> 00:39:27,510 worse well skeptic means well we know 926 00:39:32,150 --> 00:39:29,040 what it we know what it means how 927 00:39:34,310 --> 00:39:32,160 listeners know what it means but people 928 00:39:35,960 --> 00:39:34,320 like Randy and Joe Nickell I've seen on 929 00:39:39,110 --> 00:39:35,970 frequently on interviews having to 930 00:39:41,900 --> 00:39:39,120 explain to the interviewer why they're 931 00:39:43,790 --> 00:39:41,910 not debunkers you know what I mean why 932 00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:43,800 they don't you set out to do that 933 00:39:48,380 --> 00:39:46,170 I'm just I'm interested to know and this 934 00:39:51,350 --> 00:39:48,390 is why later on this week in skeptics in 935 00:39:53,630 --> 00:39:51,360 the pub will be asking pub goes what 936 00:39:55,490 --> 00:39:53,640 they think of this very issue often i 937 00:39:58,880 --> 00:39:55,500 say skeptics to people and they almost 938 00:40:00,590 --> 00:39:58,890 roll their eyes yeah yeah I get that all 939 00:40:02,240 --> 00:40:00,600 the time yeah ma you could because 940 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:02,250 they're talking to me and I've just 941 00:40:06,050 --> 00:40:04,530 bought a year supply Vegemite it could 942 00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:06,060 be at all the hat you're wearing I don't 943 00:40:10,490 --> 00:40:07,890 know for our Australian distance I'm 944 00:40:16,859 --> 00:40:10,500 sporting the Leonard teal look from 945 00:40:23,740 --> 00:40:19,359 for our American listeners I'm sporting 946 00:40:25,809 --> 00:40:23,750 pepsin and extra from dragnet could be 947 00:40:27,880 --> 00:40:25,819 yeah you look like a men in black today 948 00:40:32,050 --> 00:40:27,890 go when I walk in the room people go 949 00:40:33,309 --> 00:40:32,060 down danna anyway so why not just get 950 00:40:36,609 --> 00:40:33,319 the Hat and be done with it but you 951 00:40:38,290 --> 00:40:36,619 stopped me buying a blue plaid trilby 952 00:40:39,910 --> 00:40:38,300 hat today I could have looked like you 953 00:40:42,069 --> 00:40:39,920 know something from a wham film clip a 954 00:40:43,900 --> 00:40:42,079 white cool cat in a trilby hat I mean 955 00:40:45,940 --> 00:40:43,910 you gotta be cruel to be kind man I mean 956 00:40:48,430 --> 00:40:45,950 you would have looked at you were to cut 957 00:40:51,309 --> 00:40:48,440 a dash in your blue plaid at but you 958 00:40:52,750 --> 00:40:51,319 know we have to draw a little fence so 959 00:40:54,339 --> 00:40:52,760 instead i bought a doctor who stick a 960 00:40:56,140 --> 00:40:54,349 book for five bucks it was the weeping 961 00:40:58,300 --> 00:40:56,150 angels episode 2 i'm gonna go stick that 962 00:40:59,770 --> 00:40:58,310 all over my flat now i think you should 963 00:41:02,920 --> 00:40:59,780 may not i think you should and let's 964 00:41:04,510 --> 00:41:02,930 catch up again later in the week or for 965 00:41:06,370 --> 00:41:04,520 our listeners in a couple of seconds 966 00:41:09,460 --> 00:41:06,380 time and skeptics in the pub where we 967 00:41:12,370 --> 00:41:09,470 will ask the pub goers about this very 968 00:41:16,830 --> 00:41:12,380 debunking skeptical topic next time you 969 00:41:22,270 --> 00:41:19,780 look up at the skeptics meeting now I 970 00:41:23,470 --> 00:41:22,280 had have had 18 Cosmopolitan's in fact 971 00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:23,480 there are no more left behind the bar 972 00:41:27,040 --> 00:41:25,130 and I'm here with a remnant how are you 973 00:41:28,300 --> 00:41:27,050 are you are like let's get the skeptic 974 00:41:30,730 --> 00:41:28,310 man in Australia how do you feel about 975 00:41:32,470 --> 00:41:30,740 using the word debunkers instead of 976 00:41:34,330 --> 00:41:32,480 using the word skeptic because a lot of 977 00:41:35,890 --> 00:41:34,340 people skip big is a nebulous word that 978 00:41:37,420 --> 00:41:35,900 doesn't mean as much and debunkers like 979 00:41:38,860 --> 00:41:37,430 oh that's someone who finds out 980 00:41:41,800 --> 00:41:38,870 something that's not real how do you 981 00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:41,810 feel about is well it's a difficult one 982 00:41:45,940 --> 00:41:44,090 because skeptic does to some extent 983 00:41:47,770 --> 00:41:45,950 means somebody who doesn't believe but 984 00:41:50,410 --> 00:41:47,780 methodological skepticism which is what 985 00:41:52,210 --> 00:41:50,420 we practice which is what we do that 986 00:41:54,010 --> 00:41:52,220 means looking for evidence and making 987 00:41:55,690 --> 00:41:54,020 decisions based on evidence which so 988 00:41:57,760 --> 00:41:55,700 it's not believing but it's not 989 00:41:59,740 --> 00:41:57,770 believing until there is appropriate 990 00:42:01,930 --> 00:41:59,750 amount of evidence or good enough 991 00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:01,940 evidence so what is the is the quick 992 00:42:05,380 --> 00:42:03,410 description you give people when I ask 993 00:42:07,230 --> 00:42:05,390 who the skeptics were they about what is 994 00:42:10,090 --> 00:42:07,240 normally say I say we seek the evidence 995 00:42:12,790 --> 00:42:10,100 and and debunkers you think is that 996 00:42:14,590 --> 00:42:12,800 feeling of negativity been yes he does 997 00:42:17,050 --> 00:42:14,600 have a negative feeling about it and I 998 00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:17,060 believe it is negative if you set out to 999 00:42:20,710 --> 00:42:18,890 investigate something believing you're 1000 00:42:22,720 --> 00:42:20,720 going to debunk it then you're not a 1001 00:42:24,760 --> 00:42:22,730 skeptic now of course there are cases 1002 00:42:27,430 --> 00:42:24,770 when we know something is not true 1003 00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:27,440 before we set out to talk when before we 1004 00:42:31,360 --> 00:42:28,370 start talking about it for example 1005 00:42:34,120 --> 00:42:31,370 homeopathy unless we are in the process 1006 00:42:35,290 --> 00:42:34,130 of investigating homeopathy in a 1007 00:42:36,700 --> 00:42:35,300 scientific from a scientific perspective 1008 00:42:38,890 --> 00:42:36,710 okay doing it going to do another 1009 00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:38,900 research in which case we have to be 0 1010 00:42:43,420 --> 00:42:40,970 completely open-minded about it and say 1011 00:42:45,580 --> 00:42:43,430 whatever the results are that that's 1012 00:42:48,250 --> 00:42:45,590 where we'll go based on all the 1013 00:42:50,470 --> 00:42:48,260 available evidence to date we can debunk 1014 00:42:52,810 --> 00:42:50,480 homeopathy we know what the results of a 1015 00:42:55,180 --> 00:42:52,820 homeopathy study are likely to be and we 1016 00:42:56,560 --> 00:42:55,190 can say homeopathy does not work and if 1017 00:42:58,090 --> 00:42:56,570 somebody tries to mislead the public 1018 00:42:59,729 --> 00:42:58,100 into believing on where but it does work 1019 00:43:02,529 --> 00:42:59,739 then we can can 1020 00:43:05,769 --> 00:43:02,539 debunk them without without it being 1021 00:43:08,170 --> 00:43:05,779 wrong but if you are if you're going to 1022 00:43:10,599 --> 00:43:08,180 investigate something and your goal is 1023 00:43:12,579 --> 00:43:10,609 to debunk it then that's not real 1024 00:43:14,529 --> 00:43:12,589 skepticism that's not what a skeptic who 1025 00:43:15,849 --> 00:43:14,539 do oh you're basically looking for 1026 00:43:18,910 --> 00:43:15,859 something to boost your argument yeah 1027 00:43:20,259 --> 00:43:18,920 absolutely yeah and when I came up to 1028 00:43:21,430 --> 00:43:20,269 you said it's perfect you should ask me 1029 00:43:24,009 --> 00:43:21,440 this question today is it something we 1030 00:43:26,019 --> 00:43:24,019 can talk about a microphone ok that's 1031 00:43:27,910 --> 00:43:26,029 the secrets at secret basically that 1032 00:43:29,559 --> 00:43:27,920 secret skeptics ghia what I can say is 1033 00:43:31,509 --> 00:43:29,569 that I believe the word skeptic has been 1034 00:43:33,549 --> 00:43:31,519 hijacked first of all by the climate 1035 00:43:35,890 --> 00:43:33,559 change skeptics but also by people 1036 00:43:38,109 --> 00:43:35,900 saying this you know oh I've been a 1037 00:43:40,390 --> 00:43:38,119 skeptic but you know until I saw this 1038 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:40,400 and I but skepticism means something 1039 00:43:43,269 --> 00:43:42,410 beyond just not believing and that is 1040 00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:43,279 something that people have got to 1041 00:43:47,559 --> 00:43:45,890 realize and it is something that I've 1042 00:43:48,789 --> 00:43:47,569 been thinking about and it's a property 1043 00:43:50,769 --> 00:43:48,799 because I'm going to do something about 1044 00:43:53,380 --> 00:43:50,779 it now with the discovery to discern 1045 00:43:54,489 --> 00:43:53,390 that neutrinos may travel faster than 1046 00:43:56,140 --> 00:43:54,499 the speed of light does that mean I've 1047 00:43:57,700 --> 00:43:56,150 got to take down my poster of Einstein 1048 00:44:01,420 --> 00:43:57,710 for my wall and put one up of Deepak 1049 00:44:03,969 --> 00:44:01,430 Chopra I don't think Deepak Chopra would 1050 00:44:06,579 --> 00:44:03,979 have said that new cleaners fly faster 1051 00:44:08,049 --> 00:44:06,589 than light no I don't think it wasn't 1052 00:44:09,969 --> 00:44:08,059 that specific but I think he would tell 1053 00:44:12,099 --> 00:44:09,979 you that things can go fast in leiden he 1054 00:44:13,539 --> 00:44:12,109 knew it all are I'm sure he would say 1055 00:44:15,519 --> 00:44:13,549 that it doesn't mean that he had said it 1056 00:44:17,289 --> 00:44:15,529 before that discovery the point is that 1057 00:44:19,539 --> 00:44:17,299 this discovery is still preliminary in 1058 00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:19,549 all 170 scientists who are involved in 1059 00:44:22,900 --> 00:44:21,410 this discovery will say that it's 1060 00:44:25,329 --> 00:44:22,910 preliminaries to get still got to be 1061 00:44:27,279 --> 00:44:25,339 verified they've done their best to find 1062 00:44:29,079 --> 00:44:27,289 holes in their findings they have been 1063 00:44:30,729 --> 00:44:29,089 able to which is know why now after 1064 00:44:33,339 --> 00:44:30,739 about three years of research they've 1065 00:44:36,849 --> 00:44:33,349 opened it up to the not to the public no 1066 00:44:38,410 --> 00:44:36,859 mind you the Venus goddess but I've got 1067 00:44:39,700 --> 00:44:38,420 a calculator on my iPhone and I'm 1068 00:44:41,079 --> 00:44:39,710 willing to work this one out for them 1069 00:44:43,779 --> 00:44:41,089 I've got a few hours spare light it or 1070 00:44:46,569 --> 00:44:43,789 not yeah well it's obviously a lot more 1071 00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:46,579 complicated than that but look I think 1072 00:44:52,749 --> 00:44:50,210 odds are then they they most of those 1073 00:44:54,670 --> 00:44:52,759 scientists also will say that odds are 1074 00:44:57,069 --> 00:44:54,680 that all chances are that this will be 1075 00:44:59,229 --> 00:44:57,079 discovered to be some kind of mistake of 1076 00:45:01,150 --> 00:44:59,239 some sort measuring mistake a 1077 00:45:03,489 --> 00:45:01,160 calculating mistake a statistical error 1078 00:45:05,859 --> 00:45:03,499 of some sort but that doesn't mean that 1079 00:45:07,029 --> 00:45:05,869 he can't actually be true mmm it could 1080 00:45:09,089 --> 00:45:07,039 actually be true in which case that's 1081 00:45:11,499 --> 00:45:09,099 fantastic again and it doesn't disprove 1082 00:45:12,480 --> 00:45:11,509 Einstein and that's important to point 1083 00:45:14,790 --> 00:45:12,490 out what it means 1084 00:45:16,740 --> 00:45:14,800 there will be a refining of the theory 1085 00:45:18,030 --> 00:45:16,750 well there's actually just this week 1086 00:45:21,960 --> 00:45:18,040 there was another research that actually 1087 00:45:24,450 --> 00:45:21,970 proved again that lights is actually II 1088 00:45:28,020 --> 00:45:24,460 really as light photons are restricted 1089 00:45:30,470 --> 00:45:28,030 to the speed of light okay so so an 1090 00:45:33,109 --> 00:45:30,480 Einstein's theory is one of the most 1091 00:45:36,060 --> 00:45:33,119 confirmed in the history of science 1092 00:45:38,130 --> 00:45:36,070 second only to quantum mechanics in 1093 00:45:40,980 --> 00:45:38,140 terms of the number of number of digits 1094 00:45:44,010 --> 00:45:40,990 to the right of the decimal point so 1095 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:44,020 it's it's confirmed it Einstein was not 1096 00:45:48,750 --> 00:45:46,210 wrong what could happen is that Einstein 1097 00:45:50,970 --> 00:45:48,760 was wrong on some minut elements of the 1098 00:45:54,180 --> 00:45:50,980 theory and those will need to be refined 1099 00:45:56,670 --> 00:45:54,190 it's similar to the way Einstein did not 1100 00:45:59,220 --> 00:45:56,680 prove Newton wrong what he did was he 1101 00:46:00,870 --> 00:45:59,230 proved that there could be a refining of 1102 00:46:04,350 --> 00:46:00,880 Newton's theory we still use use 1103 00:46:08,250 --> 00:46:04,360 Newtonian mechanics to send rockets to 1104 00:46:09,660 --> 00:46:08,260 Mars okay so you know that a lot of 1105 00:46:13,260 --> 00:46:09,670 other people that are jumping up and 1106 00:46:15,030 --> 00:46:13,270 down now going aha you are believers in 1107 00:46:15,990 --> 00:46:15,040 science you're not treating it like it 1108 00:46:17,609 --> 00:46:16,000 should be treated you should be 1109 00:46:18,660 --> 00:46:17,619 skeptical about these new findings on 1110 00:46:20,430 --> 00:46:18,670 that sort of thing and they're going 1111 00:46:21,870 --> 00:46:20,440 that's it space aliens obviously real 1112 00:46:24,200 --> 00:46:21,880 because Einstein was wrong and I've 1113 00:46:29,970 --> 00:46:24,210 heard people say that another podcast 1114 00:46:31,470 --> 00:46:29,980 nothing ours well they good on them for 1115 00:46:32,820 --> 00:46:31,480 their open-mindedness but this is 1116 00:46:35,609 --> 00:46:32,830 exactly a case where the mind is so open 1117 00:46:37,349 --> 00:46:35,619 keep your mind open your head so open 1118 00:46:40,680 --> 00:46:37,359 that the brain spills out that's exactly 1119 00:46:42,840 --> 00:46:40,690 one of those cases so what do you think 1120 00:46:44,910 --> 00:46:42,850 about the skeptics versus debunkers 1121 00:46:46,380 --> 00:46:44,920 debate I mean I mean they're both useful 1122 00:46:48,300 --> 00:46:46,390 words for the movement but do you think 1123 00:46:51,630 --> 00:46:48,310 that one should be moved used more than 1124 00:46:54,270 --> 00:46:51,640 the other well I think the debunking is 1125 00:46:56,130 --> 00:46:54,280 a very limiting label to put on oneself 1126 00:46:57,750 --> 00:46:56,140 I mean limits you to one activity of 1127 00:47:00,090 --> 00:46:57,760 being a skeptic money you know it's not 1128 00:47:02,010 --> 00:47:00,100 just about proving other people wrong 1129 00:47:04,140 --> 00:47:02,020 would take as you say taking ideas away 1130 00:47:05,790 --> 00:47:04,150 from them but you think it's also bit 1131 00:47:07,800 --> 00:47:05,800 hard to explain to people exactly what a 1132 00:47:11,010 --> 00:47:07,810 skeptic is usually because it's not a 1133 00:47:14,690 --> 00:47:11,020 not usually a short answer yes it is 1134 00:47:17,100 --> 00:47:14,700 hard and I've failed on many occasions 1135 00:47:18,560 --> 00:47:17,110 because something's hard doesn't mean it 1136 00:47:20,910 --> 00:47:18,570 doesn't need to solve a valuable label 1137 00:47:24,480 --> 00:47:20,920 okay and what do you think about that 1138 00:47:30,180 --> 00:47:24,490 issue well the word debunk implies that 1139 00:47:33,750 --> 00:47:30,190 the person not making the claim has to 1140 00:47:36,720 --> 00:47:33,760 disprove the claim and we all know that 1141 00:47:41,460 --> 00:47:36,730 you can't disprove you can't prove the 1142 00:47:43,380 --> 00:47:41,470 negatives so skip that this word skeptic 1143 00:47:45,540 --> 00:47:43,390 as much as much better title and you 1144 00:47:48,800 --> 00:47:45,550 have to wait for the evidence the 1145 00:47:51,540 --> 00:47:48,810 climate has to prove it not the skeptic 1146 00:47:53,460 --> 00:47:51,550 ok and then what's your name Naomi 1147 00:47:55,590 --> 00:47:53,470 hutchman ok now I mean now what what's 1148 00:47:57,300 --> 00:47:55,600 your view on the whole Dabanga versus 1149 00:47:59,190 --> 00:47:57,310 skeptic labeling I do know that 1150 00:48:01,080 --> 00:47:59,200 sometimes we're confused with global 1151 00:48:04,200 --> 00:48:01,090 warming skeptics and I really really 1152 00:48:05,640 --> 00:48:04,210 really hate that mmm what what's your 1153 00:48:07,950 --> 00:48:05,650 quick way of explaining yourself out of 1154 00:48:09,450 --> 00:48:07,960 that I come from a family of 1155 00:48:11,010 --> 00:48:09,460 creationists and global warming deniers 1156 00:48:14,010 --> 00:48:11,020 and it's very hard to get a word in 1157 00:48:16,260 --> 00:48:14,020 Christmas must be hell for you oh we 1158 00:48:17,580 --> 00:48:16,270 don't talk about that again so it's 1159 00:48:19,410 --> 00:48:17,590 mainly what what everyone's been doing 1160 00:48:21,810 --> 00:48:19,420 during the year is discussed oh yeah 1161 00:48:23,550 --> 00:48:21,820 yeah keep it nice so if you are trying 1162 00:48:25,620 --> 00:48:23,560 to say to people do i'm hanging with the 1163 00:48:27,300 --> 00:48:25,630 skeptics and people normally that they 1164 00:48:29,520 --> 00:48:27,310 get all climate skeptics they think do 1165 00:48:33,180 --> 00:48:29,530 they don't one really encountered anyone 1166 00:48:34,620 --> 00:48:33,190 who's asked me that so if you had to 1167 00:48:35,760 --> 00:48:34,630 describe the skeptic movement briefly 1168 00:48:38,160 --> 00:48:35,770 what do you normally used to say all 1169 00:48:40,590 --> 00:48:38,170 their bunch of people there let's say we 1170 00:48:42,150 --> 00:48:40,600 follow the science that's the easiest 1171 00:48:44,790 --> 00:48:42,160 way to describe oh just follow what the 1172 00:48:46,440 --> 00:48:44,800 science says what's been tested rather 1173 00:48:48,570 --> 00:48:46,450 than just hearsay a lot of people can be 1174 00:48:49,800 --> 00:48:48,580 very very very convinced of what's true 1175 00:48:52,800 --> 00:48:49,810 but you don't really really know until 1176 00:48:54,270 --> 00:48:52,810 it's been properly tested okay so how do 1177 00:48:56,610 --> 00:48:54,280 you feel about use the word skeptic 1178 00:48:58,680 --> 00:48:56,620 versus to bunker how much for the word 1179 00:49:00,330 --> 00:48:58,690 skeptics because the Dabangg come there 1180 00:49:02,430 --> 00:49:00,340 are very negative connotations with two 1181 00:49:03,960 --> 00:49:02,440 bunkers and crackpots with evidence you 1182 00:49:06,090 --> 00:49:03,970 know I like that term crackpots with 1183 00:49:07,710 --> 00:49:06,100 evidence okay currently skeptics have 1184 00:49:10,800 --> 00:49:07,720 already got the view 1185 00:49:12,300 --> 00:49:10,810 being more cynics and so we really need 1186 00:49:14,040 --> 00:49:12,310 to try and reclaim the word rather than 1187 00:49:17,130 --> 00:49:14,050 go for other words and debunk is just 1188 00:49:19,740 --> 00:49:17,140 another very negative words so I've got 1189 00:49:24,180 --> 00:49:19,750 an opinion on this would you know one 1190 00:49:26,460 --> 00:49:24,190 sure it is obviously something you've 1191 00:49:28,290 --> 00:49:26,470 come up cross over the years skeptics to 1192 00:49:29,849 --> 00:49:28,300 bunkers being interchangeable but how do 1193 00:49:31,109 --> 00:49:29,859 you feel about using debunkers to 1194 00:49:32,670 --> 00:49:31,119 explain it to people who don't know who 1195 00:49:34,790 --> 00:49:32,680 skipped exam I always thought to bankers 1196 00:49:37,230 --> 00:49:34,800 with people who throw you out of bed 1197 00:49:39,060 --> 00:49:37,240 it's a very American word to it is i 1198 00:49:40,770 --> 00:49:39,070 know it is a very negative work because 1199 00:49:43,790 --> 00:49:40,780 it only has one outcome you actually are 1200 00:49:46,500 --> 00:49:43,800 debunking where skepticism is 1201 00:49:50,400 --> 00:49:46,510 traditionally about looking at the 1202 00:49:51,510 --> 00:49:50,410 evidence and judging it either way so 1203 00:49:54,599 --> 00:49:51,520 what about when you get something like 1204 00:49:56,220 --> 00:49:54,609 you get climate skeptics that that the 1205 00:49:58,560 --> 00:49:56,230 regular skeptics claim aren't real 1206 00:50:00,000 --> 00:49:58,570 skeptics you get like a schism like that 1207 00:50:01,320 --> 00:50:00,010 and that really confuses people it 1208 00:50:02,460 --> 00:50:01,330 confuses people quite a lot they 1209 00:50:04,890 --> 00:50:02,470 basically getting skeptics and 1210 00:50:06,870 --> 00:50:04,900 non-believers that's the attitude that's 1211 00:50:09,089 --> 00:50:06,880 why we differentiate ourselves through 1212 00:50:11,460 --> 00:50:09,099 the clever process of spelling that 1213 00:50:12,960 --> 00:50:11,470 there's SC skeptics and then there's sk 1214 00:50:15,630 --> 00:50:12,970 skeptics with a little less a little k 1215 00:50:16,980 --> 00:50:15,640 then there's capital s k skeptics and 1216 00:50:18,690 --> 00:50:16,990 that's make there's major differences 1217 00:50:20,010 --> 00:50:18,700 between the three actually it so it's 1218 00:50:21,630 --> 00:50:20,020 very confusing but i've actually had to 1219 00:50:24,120 --> 00:50:21,640 explain it to people a great length at 1220 00:50:25,620 --> 00:50:24,130 various times what do you think which is 1221 00:50:27,599 --> 00:50:25,630 performance on the one the other night 1222 00:50:28,920 --> 00:50:27,609 there cuz i mean because it because 1223 00:50:30,870 --> 00:50:28,930 people are gonna go you didn't see it I 1224 00:50:34,370 --> 00:50:30,880 didn't say I'm luckily no I'm just a lot 1225 00:50:37,320 --> 00:50:34,380 of great ad see oh really yeah I believe 1226 00:50:39,870 --> 00:50:37,330 and you did miss out on seeing some data 1227 00:50:41,280 --> 00:50:39,880 say wacko the dillio on television BGC 1228 00:50:43,470 --> 00:50:41,290 whack out the dillio sounded just like 1229 00:50:44,910 --> 00:50:43,480 Flanders you're absolutely fantastic I'm 1230 00:50:46,440 --> 00:50:44,920 pleased to hear that i'm gonna click bad 1231 00:50:48,720 --> 00:50:46,450 is still used actually wacko that it'll 1232 00:50:50,430 --> 00:50:48,730 open I'm actually quite pleased to hit 1233 00:50:52,950 --> 00:50:50,440 to know that the word is a dual ally is 1234 00:50:54,450 --> 00:50:52,960 still used actually quite a lot Wow was 1235 00:50:55,770 --> 00:50:54,460 that one exert dual ally is that the 1236 00:50:57,150 --> 00:50:55,780 australian one no no it's actually in 1237 00:50:59,010 --> 00:50:57,160 regional things actually been so we've 1238 00:51:00,930 --> 00:50:59,020 actually Hugh Laurie use it the other 1239 00:51:02,790 --> 00:51:00,940 day in house but it must have confused 1240 00:51:06,150 --> 00:51:02,800 the Yanks totally and what does it 1241 00:51:08,190 --> 00:51:06,160 describe crazy guys IAM off with the 1242 00:51:09,660 --> 00:51:08,200 fairings blue alley that's a good word 1243 00:51:11,849 --> 00:51:09,670 use that one it's been great talking to 1244 00:51:15,329 --> 00:51:11,859 you dr. Chomsky my pleasure entirely 1245 00:51:18,450 --> 00:51:15,339 okay so how do you feel about the the 1246 00:51:19,710 --> 00:51:18,460 skeptic versus debunker label for a 1247 00:51:22,800 --> 00:51:19,720 well what's going on here tonight for 1248 00:51:25,349 --> 00:51:22,810 example look the problem over the term 1249 00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:25,359 to bunker is that it gives the idea that 1250 00:51:30,359 --> 00:51:26,410 you're going in with a preconceived 1251 00:51:33,120 --> 00:51:30,369 notion so if I was going to go in and 1252 00:51:36,870 --> 00:51:33,130 debunk something then that automatically 1253 00:51:37,920 --> 00:51:36,880 sets a a this you know preconceived idea 1254 00:51:40,859 --> 00:51:37,930 that I'm going to go and i'm going to 1255 00:51:42,300 --> 00:51:40,869 dismiss it knock it down shoot it shoot 1256 00:51:44,579 --> 00:51:42,310 it in the foot whatever i need to do 1257 00:51:47,520 --> 00:51:44,589 right that's not what we're about what 1258 00:51:49,320 --> 00:51:47,530 we do is we go in and we look yeah the 1259 00:51:52,530 --> 00:51:49,330 evidence each side left and right and 1260 00:51:54,210 --> 00:51:52,540 make a decision on that you think some 1261 00:51:55,890 --> 00:51:54,220 critical thinking also confuses people 1262 00:51:58,500 --> 00:51:55,900 too because a lot of people don't know 1263 00:51:59,910 --> 00:51:58,510 what that means as well well it sounds 1264 00:52:01,560 --> 00:51:59,920 too highbrow I think the turn of 1265 00:52:03,540 --> 00:52:01,570 critical thinking oh you're a critical 1266 00:52:05,730 --> 00:52:03,550 thinker you you must be you know one of 1267 00:52:08,730 --> 00:52:05,740 those smart guys you might use the word 1268 00:52:10,050 --> 00:52:08,740 philosophy yeah that's right yeah and I 1269 00:52:12,359 --> 00:52:10,060 think it's shoots over people's heads 1270 00:52:14,550 --> 00:52:12,369 too much and but the people we need to 1271 00:52:16,560 --> 00:52:14,560 aim towards other people that wouldn't 1272 00:52:18,960 --> 00:52:16,570 use a term like critical think your day 1273 00:52:20,490 --> 00:52:18,970 to day hmm but how else do you get that 1274 00:52:23,010 --> 00:52:20,500 message across I don't I don't 1275 00:52:25,079 --> 00:52:23,020 understand it is a bit of a quandary and 1276 00:52:27,000 --> 00:52:25,089 what do you think on the whole debunker 1277 00:52:29,040 --> 00:52:27,010 this is skeptic it's really interesting 1278 00:52:30,810 --> 00:52:29,050 one because I don't like the term 1279 00:52:32,190 --> 00:52:30,820 skeptic the more I'm getting into the 1280 00:52:34,200 --> 00:52:32,200 skeptical community the more I 1281 00:52:36,359 --> 00:52:34,210 appreciate that it is actually probably 1282 00:52:38,430 --> 00:52:36,369 the best word um do you think there is 1283 00:52:41,460 --> 00:52:38,440 another one or as someone who's just 1284 00:52:43,470 --> 00:52:41,470 recently been on the committee how do 1285 00:52:45,450 --> 00:52:43,480 you describe to your friends what you're 1286 00:52:47,040 --> 00:52:45,460 doing but without using the words it's 1287 00:52:48,300 --> 00:52:47,050 quite funny when I use the word skeptic 1288 00:52:50,160 --> 00:52:48,310 because I work in an environmentally 1289 00:52:52,109 --> 00:52:50,170 institution automatically people think 1290 00:52:53,609 --> 00:52:52,119 skeptic gum climate change skeptics so 1291 00:52:55,470 --> 00:52:53,619 run look at me looks at me with this 1292 00:52:56,640 --> 00:52:55,480 horrified look on their face going what 1293 00:52:57,960 --> 00:52:56,650 are you doing in an environmental 1294 00:52:59,670 --> 00:52:57,970 organization if you don't believe in 1295 00:53:01,680 --> 00:52:59,680 climate change and it's like no no it's 1296 00:53:03,120 --> 00:53:01,690 not about got nothing to do with that so 1297 00:53:05,250 --> 00:53:03,130 it is really difficult because the word 1298 00:53:07,230 --> 00:53:05,260 was probably running along quite well 1299 00:53:09,390 --> 00:53:07,240 and then it kind of got hijacked by a 1300 00:53:12,150 --> 00:53:09,400 group of people that don't sit in the 1301 00:53:13,980 --> 00:53:12,160 same camp as us anyway I do like 1302 00:53:15,750 --> 00:53:13,990 critical thinking I think I do tend to 1303 00:53:16,920 --> 00:53:15,760 use that when I'm describing what I'm 1304 00:53:18,450 --> 00:53:16,930 doing 1305 00:53:20,280 --> 00:53:18,460 you know and when I explain it to people 1306 00:53:21,870 --> 00:53:20,290 is it's something that we all do every 1307 00:53:24,030 --> 00:53:21,880 day you just sometimes don't know that 1308 00:53:26,250 --> 00:53:24,040 you're doing it and debunking is a term 1309 00:53:28,740 --> 00:53:26,260 you defer to stay away from yeah i don't 1310 00:53:31,140 --> 00:53:28,750 think i would use it myself but i think 1311 00:53:33,089 --> 00:53:31,150 each of us has to have something that 1312 00:53:34,799 --> 00:53:33,099 we're comfortable with explained to 1313 00:53:36,270 --> 00:53:34,809 other people what the what we're up to 1314 00:53:37,140 --> 00:53:36,280 and what we're doing so if it is a 1315 00:53:39,540 --> 00:53:37,150 matter of using critical thinking 1316 00:53:41,700 --> 00:53:39,550 skeptics or debunking I think if they're 1317 00:53:44,000 --> 00:53:41,710 all valid if it helps one person 1318 00:53:46,290 --> 00:53:44,010 explained to another what the point is 1319 00:53:48,569 --> 00:53:46,300 now what do you think of the issue as to 1320 00:53:50,309 --> 00:53:48,579 whether skeptics should perhaps better 1321 00:53:52,829 --> 00:53:50,319 be known as debunkers because the term 1322 00:53:54,329 --> 00:53:52,839 debunking is more widely known and 1323 00:53:55,530 --> 00:53:54,339 accepted when if you say well I'm a 1324 00:53:59,460 --> 00:53:55,540 skeptic people don't always know what 1325 00:54:01,829 --> 00:53:59,470 that means um that puts the onus on the 1326 00:54:03,960 --> 00:54:01,839 skeptic to debunk rather than the person 1327 00:54:06,569 --> 00:54:03,970 making the claim to prove so it's not 1328 00:54:07,680 --> 00:54:06,579 quite right and so what do you use when 1329 00:54:09,210 --> 00:54:07,690 people ask you all who are those 1330 00:54:10,980 --> 00:54:09,220 skeptics people you hang out and what's 1331 00:54:12,930 --> 00:54:10,990 the quick description pocket description 1332 00:54:14,339 --> 00:54:12,940 you usually give them because sometimes 1333 00:54:17,870 --> 00:54:14,349 people roll arise and go oh it's like 1334 00:54:21,210 --> 00:54:17,880 some weird geeky thing or something I 1335 00:54:22,829 --> 00:54:21,220 still use the term skeptic so but I just 1336 00:54:25,680 --> 00:54:22,839 explained that they're not out to debunk 1337 00:54:28,049 --> 00:54:25,690 the route to to get people to prove 1338 00:54:29,880 --> 00:54:28,059 their claims mm-hmm and do you think the 1339 00:54:33,030 --> 00:54:29,890 term critical thinking confuses people 1340 00:54:34,710 --> 00:54:33,040 even more sometimes yeah it sort of has 1341 00:54:38,789 --> 00:54:34,720 the connotations of criticism rather 1342 00:54:39,960 --> 00:54:38,799 than then what it actually means so 1343 00:54:43,200 --> 00:54:39,970 people might take it the wrong way 1344 00:54:45,059 --> 00:54:43,210 mm-hmm I probably agree with the the 1345 00:54:48,839 --> 00:54:45,069 idea that debunking is perhaps a little 1346 00:54:50,549 --> 00:54:48,849 bit negative because when you see minds 1347 00:54:52,289 --> 00:54:50,559 about crackpots with evidence I still 1348 00:54:55,829 --> 00:54:52,299 think is the best one ever for skeptics 1349 00:54:57,750 --> 00:54:55,839 that is really good that is crack 1350 00:54:59,309 --> 00:54:57,760 pockets with evidence that's us even 1351 00:55:01,470 --> 00:54:59,319 Michael Shermer liked it he wasn't even 1352 00:55:07,289 --> 00:55:01,480 drunk yeah yeah no that's that's us 1353 00:55:08,940 --> 00:55:07,299 that's us um yeah well whenever you say 1354 00:55:11,130 --> 00:55:08,950 you're a skeptic and then you explain 1355 00:55:12,470 --> 00:55:11,140 what it is and debunking necessarily 1356 00:55:14,570 --> 00:55:12,480 comes into that you 1357 00:55:16,370 --> 00:55:14,580 then get told you all you get all the 1358 00:55:17,990 --> 00:55:16,380 jokes are you skeptical about being 1359 00:55:20,810 --> 00:55:18,000 skeptical and you know what are you 1360 00:55:22,700 --> 00:55:20,820 skeptical about and you know and then 1361 00:55:24,830 --> 00:55:22,710 sometimes it gets called City Hall I 1362 00:55:27,950 --> 00:55:24,840 think maybe it's it's more interesting 1363 00:55:30,859 --> 00:55:27,960 to think of ourselves as critical 1364 00:55:32,359 --> 00:55:30,869 thinkers because you think a lot of 1365 00:55:33,950 --> 00:55:32,369 people have trouble grasping at as well 1366 00:55:37,849 --> 00:55:33,960 they think honest just more philosophy 1367 00:55:40,160 --> 00:55:37,859 I've got to learn possibly possibly I 1368 00:55:42,800 --> 00:55:40,170 think if you if you if you're a critical 1369 00:55:46,130 --> 00:55:42,810 thinker then well firstly it's 1370 00:55:51,950 --> 00:55:46,140 interesting then debunking may or may 1371 00:55:55,460 --> 00:55:51,960 not flow from that it's um I think it's 1372 00:55:58,370 --> 00:55:55,470 still more positive yeah but in terms of 1373 00:56:00,920 --> 00:55:58,380 a label as to an all-encompassing label 1374 00:56:03,710 --> 00:56:00,930 to explain to people what we are in a in 1375 00:56:07,670 --> 00:56:03,720 a little you know a little single bite a 1376 00:56:11,090 --> 00:56:07,680 little sound right hmm difficult really 1377 00:56:12,770 --> 00:56:11,100 difficult I can understand the argument 1378 00:56:14,180 --> 00:56:12,780 yeah and you can see what my crackpots 1379 00:56:15,320 --> 00:56:14,190 whatever and seems to be gaining no 1380 00:56:17,900 --> 00:56:15,330 traction whatsoever but I'm going to 1381 00:56:19,730 --> 00:56:17,910 keep trying ah look I'll of crackpots 1382 00:56:39,620 --> 00:56:19,740 with evidence I think we should adopt it 1383 00:56:44,700 --> 00:56:42,900 have you heard about QED the exciting 1384 00:56:48,060 --> 00:56:44,710 skeptical conference 10 to 11 4 March 1385 00:56:50,370 --> 00:56:48,070 2012 quite exciting days you're probably 1386 00:56:52,560 --> 00:56:50,380 wondering why should i go to QED while 1387 00:56:54,360 --> 00:56:52,570 the existential dilemma will have the 1388 00:56:56,010 --> 00:56:54,370 investigator and legend Joe Nickell 1389 00:56:58,140 --> 00:56:56,020 quite extraordinary detective 1390 00:57:00,750 --> 00:56:58,150 alternative medicine expert Ed's orders 1391 00:57:02,790 --> 00:57:00,760 quacks in Deward difficulties monsters 1392 00:57:05,760 --> 00:57:02,800 werewolves and lucid dreaming from debra 1393 00:57:08,970 --> 00:57:05,770 hi working theory demons Massimo 1394 00:57:11,190 --> 00:57:08,980 polidoro head of the Italians questo a 1395 00:57:13,110 --> 00:57:11,200 garage auditory davidr Anna [\h__\h] and 1396 00:57:15,900 --> 00:57:13,120 conspiracy theories whitey beatable 1397 00:57:18,180 --> 00:57:15,910 secular campaign Miriam namazi well 1398 00:57:19,650 --> 00:57:18,190 equality detractors sara angeles will 1399 00:57:22,100 --> 00:57:19,660 shows how to play the Federman with 1400 00:57:24,150 --> 00:57:22,110 robots withering electronic devices 1401 00:57:26,340 --> 00:57:24,160 ufologist ian ridpath with 1402 00:57:28,230 --> 00:57:26,350 extraterrestrial details professor steve 1403 00:57:30,210 --> 00:57:28,240 jones and white creationism is not some 1404 00:57:31,500 --> 00:57:30,220 quiet and evolution deniers podcaster 1405 00:57:33,960 --> 00:57:31,510 and spoon bender Richard Saunders 1406 00:57:35,640 --> 00:57:33,970 questions ESP demonstrations there are 1407 00:57:37,950 --> 00:57:35,650 filia Benson Queen existentialist 1408 00:57:39,720 --> 00:57:37,960 debater and we'll have comedy from Robin 1409 00:57:42,090 --> 00:57:39,730 Ince and gas quality entertainment 1410 00:57:44,070 --> 00:57:42,100 definitely tickets are 89 pounds in 1411 00:57:47,970 --> 00:57:44,080 there going fast so re queue everybody 1412 00:57:50,930 --> 00:57:47,980 directly would you cut that out you can 1413 00:57:54,210 --> 00:57:50,940 get your ticket from QED calm dot org 1414 00:57:55,440 --> 00:57:54,220 court event dome in marsh seriously if 1415 00:57:57,720 --> 00:57:55,450 you don't stop bang enough to hurt 1416 00:58:01,420 --> 00:57:57,730 quickly end discussion comes QED 1417 00:58:14,390 --> 00:58:01,430 Manchester question explore discover 1418 00:58:20,820 --> 00:58:16,860 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1419 00:58:25,050 --> 00:58:20,830 zone I had some tried-and-true medicine 1420 00:58:28,230 --> 00:58:25,060 for colds a drink of water maybe it was 1421 00:58:30,090 --> 00:58:28,240 homeopathic water yes homeopathic water 1422 00:58:32,700 --> 00:58:30,100 it's like dehydrated water just add 1423 00:58:35,790 --> 00:58:32,710 water anyway I'm sure I'll be feeling 1424 00:58:37,230 --> 00:58:35,800 better before long I hope I'm feeling 1425 00:58:39,300 --> 00:58:37,240 better before long because soon I'll be 1426 00:58:43,290 --> 00:58:39,310 packing my bags as I make my way to the 1427 00:58:44,970 --> 00:58:43,300 United States to take part in Saigon yes 1428 00:58:48,630 --> 00:58:44,980 the conference for the committee for 1429 00:58:50,970 --> 00:58:48,640 skeptical inquiry where I'm lucky enough 1430 00:58:53,820 --> 00:58:50,980 to be a speaker if you want to find out 1431 00:58:55,950 --> 00:58:53,830 more about this conference I've never 1432 00:58:58,140 --> 00:58:55,960 been to New Orleans before I am looking 1433 00:59:01,950 --> 00:58:58,150 forward to it it's on at the end of our 1434 00:59:09,860 --> 00:59:01,960 October October 27th to 30th I check out 1435 00:59:14,460 --> 00:59:09,870 the website CSI conf e r e in ze sie 1436 00:59:16,950 --> 00:59:14,470 conference got org really looking 1437 00:59:19,770 --> 00:59:16,960 forward to that and after that after 1438 00:59:21,330 --> 00:59:19,780 that in early november i'll be in the 1439 00:59:24,660 --> 00:59:21,340 orange county visiting my good old 1440 00:59:26,190 --> 00:59:24,670 friend from scribd oi com Brian Dunning 1441 00:59:27,570 --> 00:59:26,200 and i'll be giving a few talks down 1442 00:59:30,090 --> 00:59:27,580 there and i'll try to get some 1443 00:59:32,910 --> 00:59:30,100 information about those are into next 1444 00:59:37,280 --> 00:59:32,920 week's show but i think it's time for me 1445 00:59:40,620 --> 00:59:37,290 to to get that hot water bottle and 1446 00:59:46,890 --> 00:59:40,630 climb under the covers and wish you all 1447 00:59:50,100 --> 00:59:46,900 a very good night desire recover from my 1448 00:59:52,290 --> 00:59:50,110 cold ample next week this is Richard 1449 00:59:58,500 --> 00:59:52,300 Saunders signing off from Sydney 1450 01:00:00,059 --> 00:59:58,510 Australia you've been listening to the 1451 01:00:04,769 --> 01:00:00,069 skeptic zone 1452 01:00:08,099 --> 01:00:04,779 visit our website at www skeptic zoomtv