1 00:00:22,339 --> 00:00:09,110 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:28,679 --> 00:00:25,200 hello and welcome to the skeptic zone 3 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:28,689 podcast episode number 413 for the 4 00:00:33,540 --> 00:00:31,570 eighteenth of sep tember 2016 Richard 5 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:33,550 Saunders here with you from soggy gray 6 00:00:37,740 --> 00:00:36,010 cloudy Sydney Australia coming up on 7 00:00:39,930 --> 00:00:37,750 this week's show we catch up with some 8 00:00:43,259 --> 00:00:39,940 old friends of the skeptics own first of 9 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:43,269 all the delightful sharon hill sharon 10 00:00:50,630 --> 00:00:46,690 hill from doubtful news com sharon can 11 00:00:54,030 --> 00:00:50,640 be filling us in updating us bringing us 12 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:54,040 latest news from doubtful news and will 13 00:01:00,090 --> 00:00:56,530 also discuss the merits of ghost hunting 14 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:00,100 goes to is ghost busting all that sort 15 00:01:04,369 --> 00:01:01,510 of thing coming up at the top of the 16 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:04,379 show the incomparable sharon hill 17 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:06,490 following that it's a very concerning 18 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:08,850 story we're bringing you thanks to the 19 00:01:16,140 --> 00:01:13,210 reasonable Hank blog about nurses 20 00:01:20,550 --> 00:01:16,150 registered nurses and midwives who are 21 00:01:23,249 --> 00:01:20,560 also active X and they're not shy about 22 00:01:26,630 --> 00:01:23,259 it these nurses and midwives are happy 23 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:26,640 to post up on blogs and Facebook groups 24 00:01:30,899 --> 00:01:29,530 anti-vaccination memes and so on and 25 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:30,909 we're going to be reading out some of 26 00:01:37,070 --> 00:01:33,610 the bizarre wacky and crazy memes 27 00:01:40,649 --> 00:01:37,080 anti-vaccination memes these people 28 00:01:42,870 --> 00:01:40,659 circulate or recirculate regurgitate one 29 00:01:46,260 --> 00:01:42,880 might say then to round off the show our 30 00:01:49,770 --> 00:01:46,270 old friend men radford it's going to be 31 00:01:53,070 --> 00:01:49,780 joining us to talk about a very strange 32 00:01:56,700 --> 00:01:53,080 story evil clowns now Ben's got a book 33 00:01:58,020 --> 00:01:56,710 out about naughty evil bad clowns but I 34 00:01:59,370 --> 00:01:58,030 thought we'd have a little talk about 35 00:02:03,030 --> 00:01:59,380 this because it's something that's just 36 00:02:05,609 --> 00:02:03,040 totally bizarre mysterious evil looking 37 00:02:08,399 --> 00:02:05,619 bad clowns running about the countryside 38 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:08,409 up to no good it is a strange story and 39 00:02:12,750 --> 00:02:10,690 Ben and I will also be discussing the 40 00:02:16,339 --> 00:02:12,760 latest photograph from Loch Ness I don't 41 00:02:19,860 --> 00:02:16,349 know whether you've seen it its a 42 00:02:22,770 --> 00:02:19,870 spoiler alert it's clearly it's clearly 43 00:02:24,929 --> 00:02:22,780 a small group of seals swimming about 44 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:24,939 and playing about but this has been 45 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:27,730 touted as one of the best photographs of 46 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:29,770 the Loch Ness monster well touted by the 47 00:02:35,220 --> 00:02:33,010 media clickbait I suppose of 48 00:02:38,660 --> 00:02:35,230 bit of a story but it's an interesting 49 00:02:43,369 --> 00:02:38,670 case this new photograph from Loch Ness 50 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:43,379 more or less because it shows to us 51 00:02:49,319 --> 00:02:47,290 clearly clearly what's really going on 52 00:02:52,319 --> 00:02:49,329 with many photographs in the past which 53 00:02:55,110 --> 00:02:52,329 left and doubtedly those of seals 54 00:02:57,750 --> 00:02:55,120 swimming about Loch Ness anyway all that 55 00:03:00,000 --> 00:02:57,760 and more with men radford to round off 56 00:03:02,729 --> 00:03:00,010 the show before we get to that a couple 57 00:03:05,009 --> 00:03:02,739 of notes from me I've recently been 58 00:03:09,930 --> 00:03:05,019 tinkering with the skeptics own website 59 00:03:12,390 --> 00:03:09,940 at skeptic zone TV and if you click on 60 00:03:14,759 --> 00:03:12,400 the link at the top of the page that 61 00:03:18,479 --> 00:03:14,769 says episodes quick which I'm doing now 62 00:03:21,479 --> 00:03:18,489 you get the standard lips in list of 63 00:03:23,970 --> 00:03:21,489 episodes you can scroll down and go 64 00:03:26,129 --> 00:03:23,980 directly to the year or the month that 65 00:03:29,309 --> 00:03:26,139 you're interested in scrolling down now 66 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:29,319 goes all the way of course 2 2008 when 67 00:03:34,559 --> 00:03:31,930 the show started but more importantly I 68 00:03:36,619 --> 00:03:34,569 think right near the top of the episodes 69 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:36,629 link the episodes page which comes up 70 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:40,090 there's a keyword search and that works 71 00:03:46,259 --> 00:03:43,290 very well if for example you want to 72 00:03:48,750 --> 00:03:46,269 find out all the times I interviewed my 73 00:03:50,759 --> 00:03:48,760 good friend Richard Wiseman for example 74 00:03:52,619 --> 00:03:50,769 if you type Wiseman Richard Wiseman or 75 00:03:55,650 --> 00:03:52,629 just Wiseman into the keyword search hit 76 00:03:57,990 --> 00:03:55,660 the search button up comes every episode 77 00:04:01,289 --> 00:03:58,000 where we've had the pleasure of 78 00:04:03,300 --> 00:04:01,299 interviewing Richard Wiseman or James 79 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:03,310 Randi if you put in James Randi up comes 80 00:04:07,140 --> 00:04:04,690 all the interviews with james randi 81 00:04:09,659 --> 00:04:07,150 going back over the years Eugenie Scott 82 00:04:11,369 --> 00:04:09,669 maybe if you want to listen to her 83 00:04:13,650 --> 00:04:11,379 interviews it's it's own it's a nice 84 00:04:16,289 --> 00:04:13,660 feature which I haven't utilized until 85 00:04:17,819 --> 00:04:16,299 now but I'm glad it's there stay tuned 86 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:17,829 at the end of the episode I have a few 87 00:04:22,860 --> 00:04:20,650 more little notes and announcements to 88 00:04:24,899 --> 00:04:22,870 make but 1 i'll share with you right now 89 00:04:27,089 --> 00:04:24,909 is next week's episode of the skeptic 90 00:04:29,310 --> 00:04:27,099 zone is going to be early it actually 91 00:04:31,409 --> 00:04:29,320 it'll be a few days early it might even 92 00:04:34,230 --> 00:04:31,419 come out on the thursday or the friday i 93 00:04:36,990 --> 00:04:34,240 think at this stage quite early because 94 00:04:39,510 --> 00:04:37,000 in a few days i am interviewing ben 95 00:04:43,379 --> 00:04:39,520 goldacre who's coming out courtesy of 96 00:04:46,559 --> 00:04:43,389 think ink to do a tour of australia and 97 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:46,569 new zealand and in order for us 98 00:04:50,669 --> 00:04:48,490 kept exam listeners to get the full 99 00:04:52,739 --> 00:04:50,679 benefit before they see Ben Goldacre I 100 00:04:55,019 --> 00:04:52,749 will be pulling out the show a bit 101 00:04:58,249 --> 00:04:55,029 earlier next week or this week later 102 00:05:00,269 --> 00:04:58,259 this week I should say so yes look out 103 00:05:03,119 --> 00:05:00,279 possibly Thursday or something like that 104 00:05:04,559 --> 00:05:03,129 for an early episode of the skeptic zone 105 00:05:08,239 --> 00:05:04,569 but now it's time for me to run 106 00:05:14,339 --> 00:05:08,249 downstairs have some nice smoked salmon 107 00:05:17,159 --> 00:05:14,349 with avocado on toast drizzled that is a 108 00:05:21,179 --> 00:05:17,169 nice word drizzled with a little bit of 109 00:05:23,489 --> 00:05:21,189 sesame seed oil sesame oil hmm why I 110 00:05:48,390 --> 00:05:23,499 enjoy that and I will I hope you enjoy 111 00:05:54,850 --> 00:05:52,450 and joining me now on the line all the 112 00:05:56,860 --> 00:05:54,860 way from a place I'd like to visit I've 113 00:05:59,140 --> 00:05:56,870 heard it's a bit dull I'd still like to 114 00:06:03,670 --> 00:05:59,150 visit it just at Harrisburg Pennsylvania 115 00:06:05,980 --> 00:06:03,680 it's sharon hill hello hi Richard how 116 00:06:07,630 --> 00:06:05,990 are you I'm doing really well I'm doing 117 00:06:09,730 --> 00:06:07,640 really well and no I have not been to 118 00:06:11,830 --> 00:06:09,740 that part of the United States I've not 119 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:11,840 been to Washington DC or New York or 120 00:06:20,590 --> 00:06:16,010 Pennsylvania it can't be that dull is it 121 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:20,600 really that it's pretty dull what they 122 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:23,090 say about Pennsylvania is well we have 123 00:06:28,930 --> 00:06:25,250 Philadelphia on one side Pittsburgh on 124 00:06:30,250 --> 00:06:28,940 the other and you know Alabama in 125 00:06:33,280 --> 00:06:30,260 between basically because there's 126 00:06:35,650 --> 00:06:33,290 nothing there but farmland and yeah 127 00:06:38,410 --> 00:06:35,660 that's about it I'm sure it has a beauty 128 00:06:40,690 --> 00:06:38,420 and a wonder all of its own let's show 129 00:06:42,670 --> 00:06:40,700 and muster everywhere now I guess when 130 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:42,680 you look for but no it's about time we 131 00:06:47,830 --> 00:06:45,650 caught up with you Sharon ah I skipped 132 00:06:49,690 --> 00:06:47,840 exam listeners are well aware of what 133 00:06:51,610 --> 00:06:49,700 you do because I regularly play the 134 00:06:55,740 --> 00:06:51,620 doubtful news promo with that 135 00:06:57,850 --> 00:06:55,750 interesting riddle music how is 136 00:06:59,620 --> 00:06:57,860 listeners who haven't heard it and don't 137 00:07:02,140 --> 00:06:59,630 know can you tell me a little bit about 138 00:07:03,900 --> 00:07:02,150 the history of doubtful news why you did 139 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:03,910 it and how's it going at the moment 140 00:07:11,380 --> 00:07:10,370 right I started it oh gee um 2011 or 141 00:07:13,990 --> 00:07:11,390 something like that I can't even 142 00:07:17,260 --> 00:07:14,000 remember now it was so long ago and I 143 00:07:21,190 --> 00:07:17,270 started it up as a way to talk about 144 00:07:23,260 --> 00:07:21,200 weird news in the media that the media 145 00:07:25,990 --> 00:07:23,270 was sort of falling down on these 146 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:26,000 stories they weren't being critical they 147 00:07:29,500 --> 00:07:27,650 weren't digging into them they weren't 148 00:07:31,450 --> 00:07:29,510 they weren't giving information that 149 00:07:33,820 --> 00:07:31,460 could help people decide whether these 150 00:07:36,340 --> 00:07:33,830 stories were true or not they were just 151 00:07:38,620 --> 00:07:36,350 sort of playing up the hype and i found 152 00:07:41,470 --> 00:07:38,630 that kind of annoying and i was able to 153 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:41,480 rewrite the stories into a blog form and 154 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:43,970 add a little bit more information so 155 00:07:47,380 --> 00:07:45,530 people would start maybe thinking a 156 00:07:49,150 --> 00:07:47,390 little bit more critically and deeper 157 00:07:50,830 --> 00:07:49,160 about these questionable claims and then 158 00:07:52,780 --> 00:07:50,840 they could decide for themselves if 159 00:07:54,159 --> 00:07:52,790 maybe the media was being a little bit 160 00:07:57,279 --> 00:07:54,169 too generous and 161 00:08:00,010 --> 00:07:57,289 and credulous so that's why I called it 162 00:08:01,619 --> 00:08:00,020 doubtful news and it went on for a 163 00:08:06,309 --> 00:08:01,629 number of years and then we took a break 164 00:08:07,570 --> 00:08:06,319 back in April of this year and I thought 165 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:07,580 that was going to be the end of it 166 00:08:13,959 --> 00:08:11,930 actually I was pretty worn out there's 167 00:08:17,409 --> 00:08:13,969 there's a lot of weird news and we it 168 00:08:22,029 --> 00:08:17,419 was very difficult to keep up and you 169 00:08:25,899 --> 00:08:22,039 can get uh pretty jaded trying to oh yes 170 00:08:29,679 --> 00:08:25,909 of course about this Yuri's all the time 171 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:29,689 it's never ending it really know and it 172 00:08:35,230 --> 00:08:31,490 can be frustrating so I needed a break 173 00:08:36,969 --> 00:08:35,240 and then in june i updated a story about 174 00:08:39,730 --> 00:08:36,979 a guy who thought he found a Bigfoot 175 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:39,740 skull fossil and i thought oh this is 176 00:08:44,050 --> 00:08:42,050 what I do this is what I do I talk about 177 00:08:47,939 --> 00:08:44,060 these weird stories and I can't help it 178 00:08:51,879 --> 00:08:47,949 so within the past month I've started to 179 00:08:55,329 --> 00:08:51,889 put up some new stories since middle 180 00:08:58,269 --> 00:08:55,339 August and we've started to keep the 181 00:09:01,150 --> 00:08:58,279 site active again and decided that maybe 182 00:09:03,430 --> 00:09:01,160 some interesting new projects are coming 183 00:09:06,130 --> 00:09:03,440 down the road pretty soon well I'm 184 00:09:08,019 --> 00:09:06,140 pleased to know that you're you're back 185 00:09:09,460 --> 00:09:08,029 in the swing of things so to speak what 186 00:09:10,900 --> 00:09:09,470 are some of the stories that have caught 187 00:09:14,860 --> 00:09:10,910 your attention apart from that one 188 00:09:18,850 --> 00:09:14,870 recently well gee I think it's the 189 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:18,860 official silly season isn't it we have 190 00:09:24,550 --> 00:09:21,170 enough going on in the US here with our 191 00:09:26,439 --> 00:09:24,560 crazy election but there's these stories 192 00:09:29,139 --> 00:09:26,449 that are coming out in the news because 193 00:09:33,819 --> 00:09:29,149 perhaps it's a slow news day otherwise 194 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:33,829 and the bigger stories that what's going 195 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:36,410 on right now as we speak are crazy 196 00:09:42,910 --> 00:09:40,370 clowns appearing in North and South 197 00:09:44,259 --> 00:09:42,920 Carolina and scaring children this 198 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:44,269 sounds like something that been read 199 00:09:49,059 --> 00:09:46,370 through would be interested in he wrote 200 00:09:50,439 --> 00:09:49,069 a great article about it and after I 201 00:09:52,300 --> 00:09:50,449 read that article and then it keeps 202 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:52,310 going as you know there's there's 203 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:54,170 contagion with these stories then other 204 00:09:58,449 --> 00:09:55,490 people start thinking that they see 205 00:10:00,670 --> 00:09:58,459 these clowns and right now there's a 206 00:10:02,319 --> 00:10:00,680 couple things also going on in the media 207 00:10:04,870 --> 00:10:02,329 with regards to clowns there's a new 208 00:10:07,390 --> 00:10:04,880 movie or two coming out about evil 209 00:10:11,220 --> 00:10:07,400 clowns Ben's 210 00:10:13,690 --> 00:10:11,230 bad clowns is is recently released and I 211 00:10:17,470 --> 00:10:13,700 think that people just have clowns on 212 00:10:19,570 --> 00:10:17,480 their minds and the funny part is that 213 00:10:21,790 --> 00:10:19,580 for the past week or so that these 214 00:10:24,310 --> 00:10:21,800 clowns have been appearing no one's 215 00:10:26,620 --> 00:10:24,320 taken a picture or a video that could be 216 00:10:28,620 --> 00:10:26,630 authenticated which is weird because 217 00:10:32,470 --> 00:10:28,630 they're in residential areas and 218 00:10:34,630 --> 00:10:32,480 everybody has a cell phone and lots of 219 00:10:36,460 --> 00:10:34,640 places have security cameras or 220 00:10:39,250 --> 00:10:36,470 surveillance cameras why aren't these 221 00:10:44,950 --> 00:10:39,260 clowns showing up are they phantoms are 222 00:10:46,810 --> 00:10:44,960 they introduced you know having a good 223 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:46,820 old time with these stories it's it's 224 00:10:51,580 --> 00:10:49,610 kind of a mystery clowns I haven't well 225 00:10:53,230 --> 00:10:51,590 that one hasn't made it to Australia yet 226 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:53,240 I guess but you make a very good point 227 00:10:58,300 --> 00:10:56,450 about the cell phones and everybody has 228 00:11:00,760 --> 00:10:58,310 cell phones and this is the point I made 229 00:11:03,010 --> 00:11:00,770 a few months back on the skeptic zone in 230 00:11:06,070 --> 00:11:03,020 relation to UFOs of course if there's 231 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:06,080 all this paranormal activity going along 232 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:07,970 be it UFOs if we can call that 233 00:11:17,500 --> 00:11:12,370 paranormal or ghosts or evil clowns and 234 00:11:18,670 --> 00:11:17,510 there are so many are there are so many 235 00:11:22,330 --> 00:11:18,680 people out there with good quality 236 00:11:25,270 --> 00:11:22,340 cameras on their person all the time why 237 00:11:27,210 --> 00:11:25,280 are we flooded with incredible high 238 00:11:30,550 --> 00:11:27,220 definition pictures of the paranormal 239 00:11:34,660 --> 00:11:30,560 right well I have a personal account of 240 00:11:37,660 --> 00:11:34,670 this of why that could be I was staying 241 00:11:39,730 --> 00:11:37,670 at a cabin on a ridge in West Virginia a 242 00:11:43,030 --> 00:11:39,740 few weeks ago it was a summer night and 243 00:11:44,770 --> 00:11:43,040 it was very warm out and I was out on 244 00:11:48,010 --> 00:11:44,780 the deck and it was dark probably about 245 00:11:49,870 --> 00:11:48,020 ten pm and it was very loud with summer 246 00:11:51,430 --> 00:11:49,880 insects so I couldn't hear anything but 247 00:11:53,650 --> 00:11:51,440 these insects and I'm looking out at the 248 00:11:56,230 --> 00:11:53,660 stars and I see this very very bright 249 00:11:58,480 --> 00:11:56,240 light not not too distant and it's 250 00:12:01,090 --> 00:11:58,490 extremely bright and it's moving very 251 00:12:04,690 --> 00:12:01,100 slowly up down and sideways with in a 252 00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:04,700 very small area and it took me about two 253 00:12:07,990 --> 00:12:06,110 minutes of looking at it trying to 254 00:12:11,140 --> 00:12:08,000 figure out what it was before i realize 255 00:12:13,570 --> 00:12:11,150 i had the ipad in my hand and I hadn't 256 00:12:17,140 --> 00:12:13,580 picked it up and took a picture uh-huh 257 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:17,150 yes I was too involved in observing and 258 00:12:19,820 --> 00:12:19,130 by the time I realized that and got the 259 00:12:22,550 --> 00:12:19,830 Canberra 260 00:12:25,100 --> 00:12:22,560 open and pointed it it was beyond the 261 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:25,110 trees and I couldn't see it anymore it 262 00:12:32,540 --> 00:12:28,370 turns out that it was probably a drone 263 00:12:35,330 --> 00:12:32,550 that the it appeared that the neighbors 264 00:12:38,150 --> 00:12:35,340 may have had a drone that they flew at 265 00:12:41,150 --> 00:12:38,160 night the next morning I heard a strange 266 00:12:44,180 --> 00:12:41,160 buzzing sound that sounded like a drone 267 00:12:46,550 --> 00:12:44,190 and I think that that's what it probably 268 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:46,560 was it would make sense and other people 269 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:48,890 have suggested that to me as well so 270 00:12:53,750 --> 00:12:52,530 that was my failure to catch a UFO well 271 00:12:56,420 --> 00:12:53,760 I think we're going to hear more about 272 00:12:58,160 --> 00:12:56,430 this in the future as more and more 273 00:12:59,660 --> 00:12:58,170 drones and being flown around and 274 00:13:01,820 --> 00:12:59,670 especially at night we have the lights 275 00:13:07,070 --> 00:13:01,830 on them but still some of them are made 276 00:13:09,710 --> 00:13:07,080 to look like UFOs even brain but i have 277 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:09,720 i have another story oh yeah I have 278 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:11,850 another story in the news and this came 279 00:13:18,020 --> 00:13:14,490 from your part of the world who where 280 00:13:21,620 --> 00:13:18,030 somebody took a cell phone video of what 281 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:21,630 they say was uh by the same name is 282 00:13:27,010 --> 00:13:24,930 Tiger I have seen that it was on our 283 00:13:30,860 --> 00:13:27,020 news reports here last night an 284 00:13:33,020 --> 00:13:30,870 incredibly grainy and patch ie picture 285 00:13:35,470 --> 00:13:33,030 of something that looks like a something 286 00:13:38,510 --> 00:13:35,480 moving somewhere it's very hard to tell 287 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:38,520 isn't it amazing again such poor quality 288 00:13:43,900 --> 00:13:40,890 when we have these great instruments 289 00:13:46,700 --> 00:13:43,910 right in our hands so yeah unfortunately 290 00:13:48,350 --> 00:13:46,710 videos photographs they're practically 291 00:13:51,290 --> 00:13:48,360 worthless anymore because of the 292 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:51,300 manipulation but man we all we had to 293 00:13:55,190 --> 00:13:53,370 learn how to use them better well that's 294 00:13:57,230 --> 00:13:55,200 true I wouldn't say they're worthless I 295 00:13:58,970 --> 00:13:57,240 mean if something did happen I mean if 296 00:14:01,340 --> 00:13:58,980 there really was a thylacine and 297 00:14:05,540 --> 00:14:01,350 somebody had their wits about them they 298 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:05,550 could get just absolutely mind snapping 299 00:14:11,630 --> 00:14:08,490 evidence of such a thing or whatever 300 00:14:13,670 --> 00:14:11,640 other odd phenomenon there might be 301 00:14:15,470 --> 00:14:13,680 about but just getting back to the 302 00:14:18,260 --> 00:14:15,480 website itself i'm curious over the 303 00:14:20,630 --> 00:14:18,270 years do you have you had much feedback 304 00:14:22,070 --> 00:14:20,640 from people who have got a great deal of 305 00:14:25,910 --> 00:14:22,080 benefit out of your sight maybe 306 00:14:28,370 --> 00:14:25,920 journalists or other people sure i have 307 00:14:30,590 --> 00:14:28,380 had a lot of the audience say that they 308 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:30,600 just loved the site because they were 309 00:14:35,809 --> 00:14:32,850 sick of seeing garbage on the news 310 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:35,819 and I've had a couple professors contact 311 00:14:41,629 --> 00:14:37,290 me and say they use it in their 312 00:14:44,780 --> 00:14:41,639 classrooms to refer their their students 313 00:14:47,900 --> 00:14:44,790 to this type of story in comparison to 314 00:14:50,540 --> 00:14:47,910 the regular media stories I even had one 315 00:14:53,420 --> 00:14:50,550 professor a friend of the the website 316 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:53,430 tell me there really is nothing else on 317 00:14:58,939 --> 00:14:56,130 the web like doubtful news because it 318 00:15:01,160 --> 00:14:58,949 covered such an array of subject areas 319 00:15:03,519 --> 00:15:01,170 it's just huge all kinds of subject 320 00:15:06,249 --> 00:15:03,529 areas from alt med to conspiracy to 321 00:15:11,269 --> 00:15:06,259 crypto zoology and paranormal stuff 322 00:15:14,930 --> 00:15:11,279 which is it's difficult to do for one 323 00:15:17,300 --> 00:15:14,940 person so it is kind of a lot to juggle 324 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:17,310 but I love this kind of stuff and I'm 325 00:15:21,110 --> 00:15:19,170 trying to get some good information out 326 00:15:24,050 --> 00:15:21,120 there may be information that people 327 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:24,060 won't see any place else and I think 328 00:15:28,819 --> 00:15:26,130 that the audience appreciates that and I 329 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:28,829 do get some journalists who will see the 330 00:15:34,870 --> 00:15:32,130 story and contact me and we also have a 331 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:34,880 little circle here in the US of 332 00:15:39,499 --> 00:15:37,410 independent researchers that if we don't 333 00:15:42,170 --> 00:15:39,509 have the capability to talk about a 334 00:15:45,290 --> 00:15:42,180 subject we will pass the journalists off 335 00:15:48,050 --> 00:15:45,300 to one of our friends who has expertise 336 00:15:49,879 --> 00:15:48,060 in that area that's brilliant i did such 337 00:15:51,530 --> 00:15:49,889 a good thing to know that there is such 338 00:15:52,850 --> 00:15:51,540 a resource out there not just for 339 00:15:55,100 --> 00:15:52,860 journalists of course but just for the 340 00:15:57,139 --> 00:15:55,110 general population who are curious and 341 00:15:58,759 --> 00:15:57,149 interested in like would like another 342 00:16:00,920 --> 00:15:58,769 take on some of the strange and bizarre 343 00:16:03,860 --> 00:16:00,930 stories we get out there but when you're 344 00:16:05,569 --> 00:16:03,870 not busy pouring over your you're 345 00:16:07,189 --> 00:16:05,579 doubtful news you're actually getting 346 00:16:08,870 --> 00:16:07,199 out there and doing things and i 347 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:08,880 understand that recently you went to 348 00:16:15,199 --> 00:16:12,810 washington DC to hunt for a ghost well 349 00:16:17,210 --> 00:16:15,209 I'm a member of the National Capital 350 00:16:18,650 --> 00:16:17,220 Area skeptics i'm a board member with 351 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:18,660 them and that's the washington d.c 352 00:16:25,639 --> 00:16:20,370 skeptics group it's one of the oldest in 353 00:16:28,490 --> 00:16:25,649 the US and we are planning to run a skep 354 00:16:30,679 --> 00:16:28,500 tour on ghosts for around Halloween time 355 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:30,689 so i decided to go down and check out 356 00:16:36,999 --> 00:16:34,050 the commercial ghost tour and the tour 357 00:16:39,679 --> 00:16:37,009 was of lafayette square which is the 358 00:16:42,250 --> 00:16:39,689 park area it's called presidents park 359 00:16:45,170 --> 00:16:42,260 it's right between the White House and a 360 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:45,180 block up Constitution Avenue there's 361 00:16:48,910 --> 00:16:46,250 pennsylvania avenue 362 00:16:51,430 --> 00:16:48,920 there's a park in there and it's 363 00:16:53,380 --> 00:16:51,440 surrounded by there now government 364 00:16:55,090 --> 00:16:53,390 buildings but they the facades look like 365 00:16:58,860 --> 00:16:55,100 houses and at one time they were houses 366 00:17:02,410 --> 00:16:58,870 and many of them are supposedly haunted 367 00:17:04,360 --> 00:17:02,420 so I I went on this ghost tour and 368 00:17:07,270 --> 00:17:04,370 around lafayette square and i listened 369 00:17:11,620 --> 00:17:07,280 to her stories and I was just so 370 00:17:16,630 --> 00:17:11,630 unimpressed now I had been a ghost her 371 00:17:18,699 --> 00:17:16,640 before but this one was was worse now I 372 00:17:22,990 --> 00:17:18,709 have to laugh because I have been on a 373 00:17:26,140 --> 00:17:23,000 number of ghost tours myself and they 374 00:17:27,699 --> 00:17:26,150 range from the amusing and fun where 375 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:27,709 they don't take themselves too seriously 376 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:30,410 and you learn some history along the way 377 00:17:35,740 --> 00:17:33,410 which is good today e to the cringing 378 00:17:37,420 --> 00:17:35,750 Lee pathetic where it's just here's 379 00:17:38,860 --> 00:17:37,430 another spot and here's another story 380 00:17:41,110 --> 00:17:38,870 here's another spot and here's another 381 00:17:42,700 --> 00:17:41,120 story take a photograph now with your 382 00:17:45,250 --> 00:17:42,710 flesh and you'll see ghosts orbs and 383 00:17:48,610 --> 00:17:45,260 it's just exactly that's exactly how it 384 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:48,620 was was it was it she was like orbs are 385 00:17:52,780 --> 00:17:50,450 psychic energy take as many pictures as 386 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:52,790 you can because you'll see them it 387 00:17:58,330 --> 00:17:55,730 really is you know it really is pathetic 388 00:18:00,070 --> 00:17:58,340 and sometimes believers get a little bit 389 00:18:02,260 --> 00:18:00,080 upset with skeptics or naturally enough 390 00:18:04,180 --> 00:18:02,270 and then they'll say are you skeptics 391 00:18:05,470 --> 00:18:04,190 are so mean and you're picking on us and 392 00:18:07,540 --> 00:18:05,480 they'll play that what we call the 393 00:18:10,090 --> 00:18:07,550 victim card but sometimes we just have 394 00:18:12,460 --> 00:18:10,100 to come out out with it and just say 395 00:18:16,450 --> 00:18:12,470 what's going on some things is just 396 00:18:19,510 --> 00:18:16,460 truly cringe-worthy cringe-worthy and 397 00:18:22,500 --> 00:18:19,520 pathetic yeah but what I got out of this 398 00:18:25,510 --> 00:18:22,510 ghost her was the state of ghost tours 399 00:18:27,610 --> 00:18:25,520 and right now and it really is not worth 400 00:18:30,940 --> 00:18:27,620 your money for most of these there 401 00:18:32,500 --> 00:18:30,950 probably are some good ones I haven't 402 00:18:34,630 --> 00:18:32,510 the ones that I've been on have not been 403 00:18:37,300 --> 00:18:34,640 particularly great so we're gonna try a 404 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:37,310 different spin on a ghost tour and I 405 00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:39,890 think it'll be fun no I would love to 406 00:18:44,380 --> 00:18:42,710 join you on that who knows maybe when 407 00:18:46,780 --> 00:18:44,390 they invent the transporter from Star 408 00:18:49,420 --> 00:18:46,790 Trek I can join you it's a little bit 409 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:49,430 difficult but also I understand that 410 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:54,050 you're working on a book right a few 411 00:18:58,630 --> 00:18:56,810 years ago I got a master's degree in 412 00:18:59,620 --> 00:18:58,640 science in the public it was a science 413 00:19:04,300 --> 00:18:59,630 education 414 00:19:07,420 --> 00:19:04,310 degree and the focus of my master's 415 00:19:11,050 --> 00:19:07,430 thesis was paranormal investigators and 416 00:19:12,670 --> 00:19:11,060 how they say they use science so I'm 417 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:12,680 working that up into a book right now 418 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:17,450 I'm at the heavy editing stage and so 419 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:19,850 it's going to be a while longer but I 420 00:19:25,180 --> 00:19:21,530 hope that this gets out there and 421 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:25,190 hopefully it's it's my goal that real 422 00:19:30,370 --> 00:19:27,170 paranormal investigators of all stripes 423 00:19:33,550 --> 00:19:30,380 ghost hunters UFO seekers Bigfoot 424 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:33,560 hunters they read it and they see that 425 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:36,050 we can do investigation a different way 426 00:19:39,610 --> 00:19:37,970 we don't have to pretend to play to play 427 00:19:41,620 --> 00:19:39,620 scientists we don't have to say we're 428 00:19:44,830 --> 00:19:41,630 doing all the scientific stuff we could 429 00:19:47,020 --> 00:19:44,840 be more rational and maybe actually get 430 00:19:50,350 --> 00:19:47,030 some good information out of these 431 00:19:54,190 --> 00:19:50,360 investigations for a change really good 432 00:19:57,010 --> 00:19:54,200 luck yeah yeah I'm still at the 433 00:20:00,040 --> 00:19:57,020 optimistic stage yeah well in my in my 434 00:20:03,010 --> 00:20:00,050 experience and I've seen this in a 435 00:20:05,230 --> 00:20:03,020 number of the new age festivals I go to 436 00:20:08,230 --> 00:20:05,240 or the paranormal conventions they'll be 437 00:20:10,870 --> 00:20:08,240 the ghost hunters there they normally 438 00:20:14,530 --> 00:20:10,880 there are there are groups of them like 439 00:20:16,450 --> 00:20:14,540 like clubs and they almost universally 440 00:20:20,610 --> 00:20:16,460 will have black t-shirts with some sort 441 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:20,620 of ghost logo on them and they will have 442 00:20:25,330 --> 00:20:22,490 where I've seen them they'll have the 443 00:20:28,390 --> 00:20:25,340 table display and there are all sorts of 444 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:28,400 scientific looking instruments and 445 00:20:33,610 --> 00:20:32,210 detectors which of course I as Brian 446 00:20:35,380 --> 00:20:33,620 Dunning reminds us and one of these 447 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:35,390 sceptile episodes it's simply just 448 00:20:39,900 --> 00:20:37,490 laughable that they don't they can't 449 00:20:43,780 --> 00:20:39,910 detect things that have no known 450 00:20:46,270 --> 00:20:43,790 physical properties what I did find out 451 00:20:51,060 --> 00:20:46,280 in the research is from the beginning of 452 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:51,070 technology at the dawn of science 453 00:20:55,870 --> 00:20:53,570 apparatus has always been associated 454 00:20:58,480 --> 00:20:55,880 with science scientists have to have 455 00:21:01,000 --> 00:20:58,490 something in their hands and trying to 456 00:21:04,510 --> 00:21:01,010 measure things and gadgets and Lady 457 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:04,520 things and gizmos and so it's not ghost 458 00:21:09,310 --> 00:21:07,010 hunters or Ghostbusters that invented 459 00:21:12,370 --> 00:21:09,320 this it's always been the case and in 460 00:21:13,420 --> 00:21:12,380 fact even when the camera and the radio 461 00:21:15,450 --> 00:21:13,430 was invented those 462 00:21:17,410 --> 00:21:15,460 were sort of seen as supernatural 463 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:17,420 apparatus because it felt that they 464 00:21:22,270 --> 00:21:19,130 could maybe transcend the natural world 465 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:22,280 I capture something on the other side so 466 00:21:26,050 --> 00:21:23,810 this has been going on for a really long 467 00:21:29,020 --> 00:21:26,060 time and I think what I was able to see 468 00:21:32,110 --> 00:21:29,030 is this pattern of these investigators 469 00:21:34,420 --> 00:21:32,120 and the the things that they but they 470 00:21:37,810 --> 00:21:34,430 pick out and things that they use the 471 00:21:39,550 --> 00:21:37,820 roles that they try to play and it's 472 00:21:41,590 --> 00:21:39,560 almost a model of the way that they 473 00:21:45,190 --> 00:21:41,600 behave so it's been an interesting 474 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:45,200 experience and it's occurred to me of 475 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:48,410 course it's one sphere of investigation 476 00:21:53,620 --> 00:21:52,010 with an incredible failure rate I think 477 00:21:57,370 --> 00:21:53,630 it's around a hundred percent so far 478 00:21:59,020 --> 00:21:57,380 right and obvious a ghost hunters the 479 00:22:02,140 --> 00:21:59,030 sad thing is that the people who call 480 00:22:04,300 --> 00:22:02,150 them sometimes really do need help mmm 481 00:22:06,580 --> 00:22:04,310 they're scared they're very freaked out 482 00:22:10,350 --> 00:22:06,590 they believe something strange is going 483 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:10,360 on and they want someone to talk to and 484 00:22:16,510 --> 00:22:13,850 these amateur investigators do serve a 485 00:22:18,970 --> 00:22:16,520 role where else could these people go to 486 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:18,980 tell their story and have a sympathetic 487 00:22:24,330 --> 00:22:22,610 ear so in a way they do play an 488 00:22:27,910 --> 00:22:24,340 interesting role in our society 489 00:22:29,530 --> 00:22:27,920 scientists has have left these fields 490 00:22:32,260 --> 00:22:29,540 they don't want anything to do with it 491 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:32,270 and who are these people to turn to it's 492 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:35,450 kind of strange I guess so and it's sort 493 00:22:40,270 --> 00:22:37,730 of feeds back on itself because the 494 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:40,280 people who want them want to have these 495 00:22:43,210 --> 00:22:42,050 people come and investigate the ghost is 496 00:22:45,910 --> 00:22:43,220 just a sort of people who would believe 497 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:45,920 in ghosts anyway and when these people 498 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:47,930 exactly scientific looking instruments 499 00:22:51,610 --> 00:22:49,730 and their black t-shirts and they have 500 00:22:53,020 --> 00:22:51,620 various roles and they'll bring along oh 501 00:22:55,930 --> 00:22:53,030 yeah one of them in the group is 502 00:22:58,930 --> 00:22:55,940 normally the the group's clairvoyant or 503 00:23:01,480 --> 00:22:58,940 medium or something like to tune in on 504 00:23:03,250 --> 00:23:01,490 the vibrations oh and it's kind of 505 00:23:05,290 --> 00:23:03,260 hilarious because they say we use 506 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:05,300 science but you bring along our psychic 507 00:23:11,530 --> 00:23:07,970 that's right well I look forward to that 508 00:23:13,750 --> 00:23:11,540 book very much it is an interesting area 509 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:13,760 if I can offer any insights from 510 00:23:17,980 --> 00:23:15,890 Australia I'd be happy to do so but 511 00:23:20,950 --> 00:23:17,990 anyway Sharon I'm so pleased that 512 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:20,960 doubtful news is going strong good on 513 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:22,850 you for taking a break I know that 514 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:25,130 sometimes a crosses my mind it would be 515 00:23:30,350 --> 00:23:27,330 nice to take a break from the Skip Dixon 516 00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:30,360 quick but it is an important thing to do 517 00:23:35,810 --> 00:23:32,370 I think it's a terrific resource and 518 00:23:37,850 --> 00:23:35,820 what's that website once again doubtful 519 00:23:41,390 --> 00:23:37,860 news com that's easy to remember and 520 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:41,400 fact next time I see you I must I must 521 00:23:45,230 --> 00:23:43,290 buy you some dinner so you'll give me 522 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:45,240 another lovely doubtful news t shirt I 523 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:47,610 wore the last one last one I wore to 524 00:23:54,950 --> 00:23:51,930 death we have these great bags too so 525 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:54,960 when they I've got ya if anyone wants to 526 00:23:59,780 --> 00:23:57,090 have me up for some bags I can get them 527 00:24:03,940 --> 00:23:59,790 great tote bags that fold up and fit 528 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:03,950 inside your car a box or your purse or 529 00:24:09,140 --> 00:24:06,690 they're there they're good swag to have 530 00:24:11,690 --> 00:24:09,150 yes they're fantastic because I use one 531 00:24:16,010 --> 00:24:11,700 actually I got one off you I guess it 532 00:24:18,590 --> 00:24:16,020 was the last time last year where I saw 533 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:18,600 you and I you very kindly gave me a 534 00:24:22,460 --> 00:24:20,970 doubtful news tote bag and a fault they 535 00:24:24,410 --> 00:24:22,470 scrunch right up and you open them up 536 00:24:26,780 --> 00:24:24,420 and they have been testing oh you're a 537 00:24:28,940 --> 00:24:26,790 good person to know sharon hill and you 538 00:24:30,590 --> 00:24:28,950 know I I do look forward to the next 539 00:24:33,050 --> 00:24:30,600 time we meet hopefully won't be too long 540 00:24:34,690 --> 00:24:33,060 but for now sharon hill all the way over 541 00:24:38,450 --> 00:24:34,700 there in harrisburg thank you very much 542 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:38,460 thanks Richard bye everybody 543 00:24:59,270 --> 00:24:57,450 I toss a coin hundred times and I'm 544 00:25:01,880 --> 00:24:59,280 allowed to withhold from you the ISIS 545 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:01,890 half the times then I can convince you 546 00:25:07,190 --> 00:25:04,410 that I have a coin with two heads okay 547 00:25:09,140 --> 00:25:07,200 if we remove half of the data we can 548 00:25:12,410 --> 00:25:09,150 never know what the true effect size of 549 00:25:15,740 --> 00:25:12,420 these medicines we cannot make decisions 550 00:25:17,630 --> 00:25:15,750 in the absence all of the information in 551 00:25:19,460 --> 00:25:17,640 silence we don't care how many letters 552 00:25:21,020 --> 00:25:19,470 in have after your name in science we 553 00:25:22,670 --> 00:25:21,030 want to know what your reasons aren't 554 00:25:24,830 --> 00:25:22,680 for believing somehow do you know that 555 00:25:28,130 --> 00:25:24,840 something is good for us or bad for us 556 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:28,140 an evening with Ben Goldacre homeopathic 557 00:25:34,940 --> 00:25:32,370 hucksters nonsensical naturopaths Andy 558 00:25:37,670 --> 00:25:34,950 intellectual anti-vaxxers slippery 559 00:25:40,220 --> 00:25:37,680 statistician the journalists daring to 560 00:25:42,940 --> 00:25:40,230 declare meets is critically carcinogenic 561 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:42,950 let's not forget fraudulent 562 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:45,810 pharmaceutical firms so when the public 563 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:47,610 is kept in the dark about the 564 00:25:53,210 --> 00:25:50,370 detrimental duplicity of these 565 00:25:54,650 --> 00:25:53,220 declarations how many scientists does it 566 00:25:58,130 --> 00:25:54,660 take to screw in a light bulb that it 567 00:26:00,620 --> 00:25:58,140 illuminates the facts just one dr. ben 568 00:26:03,180 --> 00:26:00,630 goldacre shining light in Australia and 569 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:03,190 New Zealand this September 570 00:26:08,430 --> 00:26:06,010 an evening with Ben Goldacre is brought 571 00:26:10,500 --> 00:26:08,440 to you by think think the folks behind 572 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:10,510 the Australian tools of dr. Neil 573 00:26:16,830 --> 00:26:13,570 deGrasse Tyson James the amazing Randi 574 00:26:18,690 --> 00:26:16,840 Steve Wozniak and many more Ben Goldacre 575 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:18,700 will be speaking in Brisbane Melbourne 576 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:21,490 Auckland and Sydney and to get your 577 00:26:30,780 --> 00:26:28,210 tickets visit w wa you and i hope to see 578 00:27:02,410 --> 00:26:30,790 you at the sydney talk on sunday the 579 00:27:07,330 --> 00:27:04,850 now here's something a very great 580 00:27:10,070 --> 00:27:07,340 concern brought to us by a friend 581 00:27:14,420 --> 00:27:10,080 reasonable Hank at the reason blank blog 582 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:14,430 which is reasonable Hank dot-com is the 583 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:18,210 pin up man or should I say the dartboard 584 00:27:23,830 --> 00:27:20,730 pin up man of many anti-vaxxers many 585 00:27:25,910 --> 00:27:23,840 anti-vaxxers loon conspiracy theorists 586 00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:25,920 chiropractor especially the 587 00:27:32,690 --> 00:27:29,370 anti-vaccination ones and alt med 588 00:27:35,210 --> 00:27:32,700 huckster what reasonable Hank is done 589 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:35,220 now for some months is put up on his 590 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:37,650 blog the rantings and ravings and 591 00:27:45,830 --> 00:27:40,250 postings online postings of 592 00:27:47,420 --> 00:27:45,840 anti-vaccination nurses and midwives yes 593 00:27:49,460 --> 00:27:47,430 it's hard to believe that there is a 594 00:27:52,130 --> 00:27:49,470 certain percentage for nurses and 595 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:52,140 midwives who are anti-vaccination who 596 00:27:56,990 --> 00:27:54,210 have bought into the conspiracy theories 597 00:28:00,080 --> 00:27:57,000 and one hates to think what they're 598 00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:00,090 advising young parents now what 599 00:28:07,070 --> 00:28:02,370 reasonable Hank has done is he is not 600 00:28:11,180 --> 00:28:07,080 only named these people he has extensive 601 00:28:14,060 --> 00:28:11,190 pages on them showing their postings 602 00:28:16,820 --> 00:28:14,070 online to great detail on how they are 603 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:16,830 in fact really anti-vaccination and what 604 00:28:22,870 --> 00:28:20,490 did also is done and I don't know if I 605 00:28:25,790 --> 00:28:22,880 Hank regional Hank set out to do this 606 00:28:28,790 --> 00:28:25,800 it's also turned into somewhat over an 607 00:28:32,540 --> 00:28:28,800 interesting archive interesting in a 608 00:28:36,140 --> 00:28:32,550 morbid sense of anti-vaccination memes 609 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:36,150 and just clicking on some of the the 610 00:28:40,850 --> 00:28:37,890 screenshots posted by these 611 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:40,860 anti-vaccination nurses and midwives we 612 00:28:46,730 --> 00:28:44,010 can we can see many many examples of the 613 00:28:48,860 --> 00:28:46,740 memes that their fur posted the screen 614 00:28:51,020 --> 00:28:48,870 captures and I thought I'd read some of 615 00:28:53,210 --> 00:28:51,030 them out to you these are doing the 616 00:28:54,770 --> 00:28:53,220 rounds of the internet and of course we 617 00:28:57,800 --> 00:28:54,780 expect them from the anti-vaccination 618 00:28:59,540 --> 00:28:57,810 zealots out there but if we just don't 619 00:29:03,230 --> 00:28:59,550 expect this sort of thing from people 620 00:29:05,620 --> 00:29:03,240 who really should know better and need 621 00:29:09,050 --> 00:29:05,630 to know better being nurses and midwives 622 00:29:11,060 --> 00:29:09,060 now of course must be a tiny percentage 623 00:29:12,130 --> 00:29:11,070 of nurses and midwives i'm sure the vast 624 00:29:14,730 --> 00:29:12,140 majority 625 00:29:19,060 --> 00:29:14,740 are on board with the science and 626 00:29:22,690 --> 00:29:19,070 wouldn't be so stupid and foolhardy as 627 00:29:25,860 --> 00:29:22,700 to join in the general conspiracy 628 00:29:29,770 --> 00:29:25,870 theories but the ones listed on 629 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:29,780 reasonable Hank blog appear to be so 630 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:33,290 here are some of the memes as posted at 631 00:29:37,660 --> 00:29:35,210 various places by these nurses and 632 00:29:39,610 --> 00:29:37,670 midwives here's one it's a lovely 633 00:29:43,210 --> 00:29:39,620 picture at the ocean what does it say 634 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:43,220 one in every 42 boys now has autism does 635 00:29:51,850 --> 00:29:47,810 one in every 42 boys died of measles ? 636 00:29:55,780 --> 00:29:51,860 there are various postings here for the 637 00:29:58,450 --> 00:29:55,790 vax movie help bring the movie vax from 638 00:30:00,640 --> 00:29:58,460 cover up to catastrophe to australia and 639 00:30:03,970 --> 00:30:00,650 new zealand share and find out group on 640 00:30:08,350 --> 00:30:03,980 facebook oh dear now the one with a a 641 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:08,360 road sign says vaccine checkpoint ahead 642 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:11,210 and just scrolling through the the lists 643 00:30:16,390 --> 00:30:13,130 here here's another meme come up posted 644 00:30:19,090 --> 00:30:16,400 by one of these nurses your baby needs 645 00:30:22,660 --> 00:30:19,100 the hepatitis V vaccine in case he 646 00:30:25,180 --> 00:30:22,670 shoots up heroin with a prostitute hmm 647 00:30:28,230 --> 00:30:25,190 charming here's another one a meme that 648 00:30:32,950 --> 00:30:28,240 says the murdering of our daughters 649 00:30:35,950 --> 00:30:32,960 which is ranting about the gardasil 650 00:30:38,050 --> 00:30:35,960 vaccination another one it's quite too 651 00:30:42,430 --> 00:30:38,060 graphic there is a picture of a little 652 00:30:45,970 --> 00:30:42,440 baby lying on a poison sign with lots of 653 00:30:48,550 --> 00:30:45,980 needles stuck all over its body the next 654 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:48,560 picture along has a man in a in a 655 00:30:53,230 --> 00:30:51,290 chemical hazard suit spraying crops it 656 00:30:56,470 --> 00:30:53,240 would appear and there's another picture 657 00:31:00,300 --> 00:30:56,480 there of a teenager guzzling a hamburger 658 00:31:04,150 --> 00:31:00,310 and the caption is a world gone mad 659 00:31:07,300 --> 00:31:04,160 where this is normal and okay when those 660 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:07,310 pictures and this is radical and 661 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:09,170 quackery than the radical in quackery 662 00:31:15,010 --> 00:31:13,730 are organic foods a classic meditation 663 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:15,020 shot of somebody sitting cross-legged 664 00:31:21,460 --> 00:31:17,170 with their hands over their head and 665 00:31:24,070 --> 00:31:21,470 what appears to be herbs and things 666 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:24,080 ready to grind into natural medicine I 667 00:31:28,810 --> 00:31:25,850 imagine Oh another one 668 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:28,820 it's a it's a grandmother and a little 669 00:31:33,539 --> 00:31:31,850 baby but the grandmother is a wolf like 670 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:33,549 Little Red Riding Hood wolf I guess 671 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:37,250 grandma your dtap only stops you from 672 00:31:42,460 --> 00:31:39,890 coughing after exposure you still carry 673 00:31:45,250 --> 00:31:42,470 pertussis in your Airways for six weeks 674 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:45,260 understand the danger with a website 675 00:31:50,110 --> 00:31:47,890 link and we've click over to another 676 00:31:53,590 --> 00:31:50,120 another listing from another one of 677 00:31:58,149 --> 00:31:53,600 these nurses and midwives I is the next 678 00:32:00,190 --> 00:31:58,159 meme as as published has promoted as 679 00:32:04,390 --> 00:32:00,200 well as recycled by one of these people 680 00:32:07,060 --> 00:32:04,400 I am NOT Mandy vaccine I am pro child 681 00:32:09,220 --> 00:32:07,070 pro-family pro community I am Pro 682 00:32:12,669 --> 00:32:09,230 science I am pro research I am pro 683 00:32:15,750 --> 00:32:12,679 health pro well-being prosafety I am pro 684 00:32:18,789 --> 00:32:15,760 government transparency I am pro 685 00:32:21,279 --> 00:32:18,799 pharmaceutical company accountability IM 686 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:21,289 pro honesty i am pro critical thinking I 687 00:32:30,010 --> 00:32:26,330 am pro freedom in other words they see 688 00:32:32,340 --> 00:32:30,020 his ID vaccinations all this all this 689 00:32:34,659 --> 00:32:32,350 rhetoric they go on about about 690 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:34,669 pro-freedom and all the rest of it's 691 00:32:39,220 --> 00:32:37,010 just a cover-up that they're crossed 692 00:32:42,100 --> 00:32:39,230 their anti-vaccination I mean the same 693 00:32:44,560 --> 00:32:42,110 one has links to vaccine free Australia 694 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:44,570 and unvaccinated in Australia and so on 695 00:32:51,669 --> 00:32:47,330 another one they've posted up another 696 00:32:54,549 --> 00:32:51,679 meme has men dressed in riot gear with 697 00:32:56,860 --> 00:32:54,559 lots of needles attacking people on the 698 00:32:58,840 --> 00:32:56,870 street in the background the right truck 699 00:33:02,350 --> 00:32:58,850 says mandatory vaccination and the 700 00:33:04,990 --> 00:33:02,360 lettering says take a long sobering look 701 00:33:06,220 --> 00:33:05,000 into the not-too-distant future there we 702 00:33:10,390 --> 00:33:06,230 go we're going to be tackled to the 703 00:33:12,820 --> 00:33:10,400 ground by riot police with the needles 704 00:33:15,190 --> 00:33:12,830 and another picture has a little baby 705 00:33:19,060 --> 00:33:15,200 crying being taken away by one of these 706 00:33:21,100 --> 00:33:19,070 evil vaccine enforcement police it's 707 00:33:23,340 --> 00:33:21,110 quite amazing Hank reasonable Hank 708 00:33:26,020 --> 00:33:23,350 you've really put together an incredible 709 00:33:28,870 --> 00:33:26,030 archive of these anti-vaccination memes 710 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:28,880 here's another one top 5 reasons to 711 00:33:35,490 --> 00:33:32,090 vaccinate your kids number one injecting 712 00:33:37,460 --> 00:33:35,500 aluminium and formaldehyde is healthy 713 00:33:40,970 --> 00:33:37,470 too 714 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:40,980 you never read the package insert three 715 00:33:48,890 --> 00:33:44,210 seizures asthma and allergies are fun 716 00:33:52,220 --> 00:33:48,900 for you don't understand natural human 717 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:52,230 immunity and five everyone else does it 718 00:33:58,700 --> 00:33:56,090 now what is also on the the website 719 00:34:01,580 --> 00:33:58,710 listed under the the memes and the 720 00:34:02,990 --> 00:34:01,590 postings by these people are references 721 00:34:06,049 --> 00:34:03,000 to such things as the code of 722 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:06,059 Professional Conduct for midwives well 723 00:34:11,240 --> 00:34:07,890 look I could go on and on and on because 724 00:34:13,849 --> 00:34:11,250 there are so many nurses and midwives 725 00:34:16,849 --> 00:34:13,859 are listed here at the blog but I will 726 00:34:18,950 --> 00:34:16,859 link to this in this week's show notes 727 00:34:20,899 --> 00:34:18,960 or if you visit reasonable hang calm you 728 00:34:23,030 --> 00:34:20,909 can see it for yourself in fact i'll 729 00:34:25,190 --> 00:34:23,040 link directly to the search solar all 730 00:34:28,460 --> 00:34:25,200 these will come up it's quite 731 00:34:30,980 --> 00:34:28,470 eye-opening and it's a little bit scary 732 00:34:34,099 --> 00:34:30,990 to to think that there are people who 733 00:34:37,430 --> 00:34:34,109 should enjoy a great level of respect in 734 00:34:39,339 --> 00:34:37,440 our community who are into the very 735 00:34:44,210 --> 00:34:39,349 conspiracy theory that puts their own 736 00:34:46,339 --> 00:34:44,220 and their own careers in question and 737 00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:46,349 that's putting it lightly but more 738 00:34:51,470 --> 00:34:48,450 importantly it's putting young lives at 739 00:34:54,639 --> 00:34:51,480 risk well done reasonable Hank a very 740 00:34:56,669 --> 00:34:54,649 worrying story indeed 741 00:35:14,730 --> 00:34:56,679 you 742 00:35:21,420 --> 00:35:18,100 the skeptic zone live a special live 743 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:21,430 recording of this very podcast at the 744 00:35:27,580 --> 00:35:24,290 Occidental hotel in Sydney just near 745 00:35:30,220 --> 00:35:27,590 winded station 43 York Street this is 746 00:35:33,250 --> 00:35:30,230 part of skeptics in the pub join me in 747 00:35:36,130 --> 00:35:33,260 the skeptic zone crew for live reports 748 00:35:38,770 --> 00:35:36,140 and interviews prize giveaways on the 749 00:35:40,410 --> 00:35:38,780 night everybody's welcome but for more 750 00:35:44,890 --> 00:35:40,420 information and to reserve your place 751 00:35:46,660 --> 00:35:44,900 visit meetup com /a ust skeptics there 752 00:35:49,260 --> 00:35:46,670 will be a link in this week show notes 753 00:35:52,050 --> 00:35:49,270 see you there at the skeptic zone live 754 00:36:21,120 --> 00:35:52,060 Thursday the sixth of October at the 755 00:36:26,500 --> 00:36:24,640 joining me now all the way from Turkey 756 00:36:28,540 --> 00:36:26,510 New Mexico I've never been there I'd 757 00:36:30,700 --> 00:36:28,550 like to visit and if I did go to visit I 758 00:36:33,850 --> 00:36:30,710 would certainly visit my old friend van 759 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:33,860 Radford hello Ben hello there Richard 760 00:36:37,870 --> 00:36:36,530 hello good to see you because that's 761 00:36:40,330 --> 00:36:37,880 what we're doing at the moment through 762 00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:40,340 the wonders of the one is the skype you 763 00:36:45,910 --> 00:36:42,710 got the old skeptical beard happening 764 00:36:47,620 --> 00:36:45,920 man I see yeah you know I figured I need 765 00:36:50,260 --> 00:36:47,630 to look a little distinguished a little 766 00:36:52,240 --> 00:36:50,270 a little bit of gray helps me either 767 00:36:53,830 --> 00:36:52,250 look old or look look intelligent I'm 768 00:36:55,990 --> 00:36:53,840 not sure which you take your pick well 769 00:36:58,270 --> 00:36:56,000 that's why I've been very carefully 770 00:37:03,010 --> 00:36:58,280 dyeing my hair gray for years to give me 771 00:37:05,170 --> 00:37:03,020 that distinguish look I put a little bit 772 00:37:08,610 --> 00:37:05,180 in each year you know nobody notices 773 00:37:11,020 --> 00:37:08,620 they think I'm gently oh well I wish 774 00:37:14,230 --> 00:37:11,030 anyway optical you're skeptical I 775 00:37:14,910 --> 00:37:14,240 haven't seen you since we we saw each 776 00:37:16,380 --> 00:37:14,920 other at the LA 777 00:37:18,599 --> 00:37:16,390 amazing meeting which was the last 778 00:37:20,490 --> 00:37:18,609 amazing meeting and I remember I ended 779 00:37:22,230 --> 00:37:20,500 interviewed you outside because we're 780 00:37:24,839 --> 00:37:22,240 looking for somewhere quiet but there 781 00:37:27,180 --> 00:37:24,849 was constant helicopters it was insane 782 00:37:30,030 --> 00:37:27,190 it was but it was most like you set it 783 00:37:31,470 --> 00:37:30,040 up but I know you didn't I did but that 784 00:37:34,230 --> 00:37:31,480 was a lot of fun that was a lot of fun 785 00:37:36,510 --> 00:37:34,240 we certainly a lament that there will be 786 00:37:40,829 --> 00:37:36,520 no more tams it was a good run for many 787 00:37:44,299 --> 00:37:40,839 years but I'm I've given you a tap today 788 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:44,309 called you up because there's this 789 00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:47,290 bizarre thing going on which I've seen 790 00:37:51,630 --> 00:37:49,690 on various feeds I haven't paid it too 791 00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:51,640 much attention because it sort of got 792 00:37:55,859 --> 00:37:53,650 lost a little bit in the wash of bizarre 793 00:37:57,960 --> 00:37:55,869 things but it keeps coming up this is 794 00:38:00,480 --> 00:37:57,970 all about and sort of touches on the 795 00:38:05,789 --> 00:38:00,490 paranormal in a strange sort of way this 796 00:38:08,190 --> 00:38:05,799 is all about creepy and bad clowns that 797 00:38:12,660 --> 00:38:08,200 seem to be infesting the United States 798 00:38:15,630 --> 00:38:12,670 now what the hell is this all about it's 799 00:38:18,059 --> 00:38:15,640 a it's a it's actually I honestly is 800 00:38:20,099 --> 00:38:18,069 it's such a complex topics that it would 801 00:38:21,480 --> 00:38:20,109 really probably take me half hour to to 802 00:38:23,579 --> 00:38:21,490 really go into and it's it's a 803 00:38:24,990 --> 00:38:23,589 fascinating topic as as you know I 804 00:38:27,480 --> 00:38:25,000 recently wrote a book about it called 805 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:27,490 bad clowns yeah and I go into the 806 00:38:31,589 --> 00:38:29,650 history of evil clowns and scary clowns 807 00:38:33,000 --> 00:38:31,599 and in real life and pop culture and 808 00:38:34,799 --> 00:38:33,010 this and that and it was it was just 809 00:38:36,329 --> 00:38:34,809 I've actually had some people who sort 810 00:38:38,789 --> 00:38:36,339 of looked at me sideways and asked me if 811 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:38,799 I if I've been dressing his clown to 812 00:38:43,829 --> 00:38:40,930 promote my book i said no i have an 813 00:38:47,549 --> 00:38:43,839 alibi I wasn't around at the time you 814 00:38:49,500 --> 00:38:47,559 know ask Richard nobody here's what is 815 00:38:51,870 --> 00:38:49,510 fascinating let me give you sort of a 816 00:38:54,329 --> 00:38:51,880 thumbnail sketch so what's what's been 817 00:38:57,030 --> 00:38:54,339 happening and it's been especially true 818 00:39:00,210 --> 00:38:57,040 over the past but say six weeks or two 819 00:39:04,829 --> 00:39:00,220 months or so is there's been a series of 820 00:39:08,190 --> 00:39:04,839 a clown scary clown creepy clown reports 821 00:39:09,539 --> 00:39:08,200 um and this is actually nothing new as I 822 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:09,549 talk about in the book and also Loren 823 00:39:12,870 --> 00:39:11,410 Coleman in his book mysterious America 824 00:39:15,150 --> 00:39:12,880 and other people have written about it 825 00:39:16,799 --> 00:39:15,160 as well but there's that there's a 826 00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:16,809 long-standing phenomena of what are 827 00:39:22,230 --> 00:39:20,770 called phantom clowns and and again I 828 00:39:24,780 --> 00:39:22,240 devoted chapter my book to it because 829 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:24,790 it's such a bizarre fascinating 40 in 830 00:39:31,690 --> 00:39:28,610 topic but basically these are clowns 831 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:31,700 sort of a rumors of clowns that that 832 00:39:36,370 --> 00:39:34,130 have circulated the the first ones that 833 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:36,380 were really the really sort of came into 834 00:39:41,950 --> 00:39:39,290 prominence were in the 1980s in 1981 for 835 00:39:44,530 --> 00:39:41,960 example there was a in Massachusetts 836 00:39:47,230 --> 00:39:44,540 there were reports of clowns in a white 837 00:39:50,170 --> 00:39:47,240 van that we're trying to allegedly lure 838 00:39:52,300 --> 00:39:50,180 and abduct children and as you can 839 00:39:54,610 --> 00:39:52,310 imagine this scare people right are 840 00:39:56,890 --> 00:39:54,620 these clowns creeping around children ah 841 00:39:59,440 --> 00:39:56,900 but it was it was interesting because it 842 00:40:01,450 --> 00:39:59,450 when when when police investigated they 843 00:40:03,010 --> 00:40:01,460 never found anything was always it was 844 00:40:05,290 --> 00:40:03,020 always you know they would they would 845 00:40:07,450 --> 00:40:05,300 send squad cars out they investigate and 846 00:40:09,640 --> 00:40:07,460 no one ever saw these clowns except for 847 00:40:12,820 --> 00:40:09,650 children and the vast majority of the 848 00:40:15,610 --> 00:40:12,830 reports were from from from from 849 00:40:18,010 --> 00:40:15,620 children and some of them we know you 850 00:40:20,470 --> 00:40:18,020 know upon investigation we know were 851 00:40:22,780 --> 00:40:20,480 hoaxes right so for example they were 852 00:40:26,410 --> 00:40:22,790 hey there were some where for example a 853 00:40:29,170 --> 00:40:26,420 kid said that he was confronted by a he 854 00:40:32,290 --> 00:40:29,180 was he was going to school with his bit 855 00:40:35,350 --> 00:40:32,300 his backpack of books and he he suddenly 856 00:40:38,110 --> 00:40:35,360 was confronted by a clown with a machete 857 00:40:43,300 --> 00:40:38,120 in one hand and a Uzi machine gun in the 858 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:43,310 other hand ah now I i find this dubious 859 00:40:48,190 --> 00:40:45,170 for several reasons but let me finish 860 00:40:51,610 --> 00:40:48,200 the story so so apparently what this 861 00:40:55,060 --> 00:40:51,620 brave child did was he threw his bag of 862 00:40:57,550 --> 00:40:55,070 books at this armed clown uh which 863 00:41:00,640 --> 00:40:57,560 terrified the clown apparently the the 864 00:41:04,510 --> 00:41:00,650 bag of school books from this from this 865 00:41:06,820 --> 00:41:04,520 this this pubescent boy was so scared 866 00:41:09,750 --> 00:41:06,830 that was terrifying the clown dropped 867 00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:09,760 his machete and machine gun and ran off 868 00:41:15,700 --> 00:41:13,970 uh now you may be wondering I'm sorry 869 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:15,710 I've got you could I've got the image in 870 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:17,810 my head of the funny shoes and scree 871 00:41:22,900 --> 00:41:19,850 scree scree scree nothing exactly right 872 00:41:25,810 --> 00:41:22,910 and police are showing up looking for 873 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:25,820 like size 48 foot bridge right ha dado 874 00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:28,490 so so when you look at the story you're 875 00:41:33,340 --> 00:41:30,890 like well you know I'm skeptical right 876 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:33,350 yeah it's like all of a sudden you know 877 00:41:37,780 --> 00:41:35,090 that the kids the hero of the story cuz 878 00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:37,790 he bravely you know shadow you scared 879 00:41:41,800 --> 00:41:39,770 the clear anyway of course I'm not 880 00:41:42,490 --> 00:41:41,810 ruining anything by spy telling you that 881 00:41:44,710 --> 00:41:42,500 he admitted 882 00:41:48,190 --> 00:41:44,720 this this was in fact not true the whole 883 00:41:49,810 --> 00:41:48,200 thing was fake I know but uh but so what 884 00:41:52,870 --> 00:41:49,820 happened was that over over the last 885 00:41:54,760 --> 00:41:52,880 over the next few decades these the 886 00:41:56,230 --> 00:41:54,770 so-called phantom clowns recurred in 887 00:41:59,110 --> 00:41:56,240 different places so there was some in 888 00:42:01,330 --> 00:41:59,120 Massachusetts there's some of Chicago 889 00:42:03,790 --> 00:42:01,340 there were reports in in honduras in 890 00:42:06,340 --> 00:42:03,800 Central America also in in England and 891 00:42:09,250 --> 00:42:06,350 elsewhere great so these the the 892 00:42:10,450 --> 00:42:09,260 so-called phantom clowns again they sort 893 00:42:12,880 --> 00:42:10,460 of they would they would there would be 894 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:12,890 these this sort of spate of reports or 895 00:42:17,650 --> 00:42:15,410 sightings that would make the news for a 896 00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:17,660 few weeks or maybe even a month and then 897 00:42:21,820 --> 00:42:18,890 sort of fade away and then they would 898 00:42:23,860 --> 00:42:21,830 re-emerge six months later or a couple 899 00:42:25,600 --> 00:42:23,870 years later somewhere else and the the 900 00:42:27,730 --> 00:42:25,610 common thread here was that they were 901 00:42:30,520 --> 00:42:27,740 always near misses there were never 902 00:42:33,790 --> 00:42:30,530 actually any children that were abducted 903 00:42:36,580 --> 00:42:33,800 attacked you know molested killed or 904 00:42:38,290 --> 00:42:36,590 anything of it was it was always near 905 00:42:40,510 --> 00:42:38,300 misses it was always it was almost 906 00:42:43,240 --> 00:42:40,520 always children and they almost always 907 00:42:44,710 --> 00:42:43,250 you know had the story about how and it 908 00:42:47,290 --> 00:42:44,720 was it you know and what happened was it 909 00:42:48,880 --> 00:42:47,300 was essentially a folkloric thing so so 910 00:42:50,830 --> 00:42:48,890 then the rumors started it was basically 911 00:42:52,720 --> 00:42:50,840 schoolyard rumors so some people say 912 00:42:54,340 --> 00:42:52,730 well you know the reason these clowns 913 00:42:56,710 --> 00:42:54,350 are trying to abduct kids is because 914 00:42:59,620 --> 00:42:56,720 they use their they kill the children 915 00:43:03,040 --> 00:42:59,630 use their blood Oh put on ice cream ice 916 00:43:07,660 --> 00:43:03,050 cream topping what now you know again I 917 00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:07,670 I'm like really this is you know and in 918 00:43:11,440 --> 00:43:09,770 it again from a folkloric point of view 919 00:43:13,420 --> 00:43:11,450 it's fascinating because it this 920 00:43:16,450 --> 00:43:13,430 actually traces back to for example the 921 00:43:18,370 --> 00:43:16,460 blood libel rumors that were held 922 00:43:21,640 --> 00:43:18,380 against against the Jews you know 923 00:43:23,890 --> 00:43:21,650 millennia ago so this whole notion that 924 00:43:26,110 --> 00:43:23,900 the blood of innocent children is being 925 00:43:28,120 --> 00:43:26,120 used for nefarious purposes this has a 926 00:43:30,610 --> 00:43:28,130 long tradition and it just happened he 927 00:43:34,570 --> 00:43:30,620 updated in this particular clown context 928 00:43:37,240 --> 00:43:34,580 um so anyway so so this is the this is 929 00:43:39,820 --> 00:43:37,250 the background for the Phantom clowns in 930 00:43:41,320 --> 00:43:39,830 addition to these phantom clowns which 931 00:43:46,300 --> 00:43:41,330 by the way in the book I make analogies 932 00:43:48,550 --> 00:43:46,310 to basically water would circle you know 933 00:43:52,840 --> 00:43:48,560 phantom menaces and examples this would 934 00:43:55,030 --> 00:43:52,850 be Spring Heeled jack or the fit the 935 00:43:56,290 --> 00:43:55,040 phantom gasser of Mattoon or the the 936 00:43:59,560 --> 00:43:56,300 type a slasher and 937 00:44:02,350 --> 00:43:59,570 there's there's a handful of of figures 938 00:44:03,760 --> 00:44:02,360 historical sort of mysteries uh there's 939 00:44:05,110 --> 00:44:03,770 about a dozen or so depending on how you 940 00:44:07,740 --> 00:44:05,120 count them but essentially these are 941 00:44:11,050 --> 00:44:07,750 these tend to be masked figures who are 942 00:44:13,690 --> 00:44:11,060 briefly seen reported usually bye bye 943 00:44:16,840 --> 00:44:13,700 bye children not always but but often 944 00:44:18,820 --> 00:44:16,850 times and but that are said to sort of 945 00:44:20,770 --> 00:44:18,830 Menace people they don't really attack 946 00:44:23,080 --> 00:44:20,780 people for the most part there's there's 947 00:44:24,880 --> 00:44:23,090 very few cases of anyone actually being 948 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:24,890 killed or injured it's more sort of a 949 00:44:31,270 --> 00:44:28,010 menace or a threat and so I place these 950 00:44:34,450 --> 00:44:31,280 phantom clowns clearly in the context of 951 00:44:36,070 --> 00:44:34,460 this larger group of phantom menace so 952 00:44:37,840 --> 00:44:36,080 anyway so that's that's that's why I 953 00:44:40,060 --> 00:44:37,850 piece it so so that's one that's one 954 00:44:42,910 --> 00:44:40,070 element that's going on the second thing 955 00:44:46,180 --> 00:44:42,920 that's going on is that there have been 956 00:44:48,640 --> 00:44:46,190 a series of real-life people not not 957 00:44:50,110 --> 00:44:48,650 mythological folklore people not you 958 00:44:53,650 --> 00:44:50,120 know mythical entities like slender man 959 00:44:55,540 --> 00:44:53,660 or phantom clouds but real people who 960 00:44:59,200 --> 00:44:55,550 are dressing as clowns trying to scare 961 00:45:02,590 --> 00:44:59,210 people uh actually and this is big going 962 00:45:04,530 --> 00:45:02,600 on for for several years I the first one 963 00:45:08,140 --> 00:45:04,540 that really caught my attention was a 964 00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:08,150 character named Northampton clown and he 965 00:45:13,390 --> 00:45:11,210 was seen in Northampton England and it 966 00:45:15,670 --> 00:45:13,400 was this clown that would appear in 967 00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:15,680 Northampton usually at night just 968 00:45:23,020 --> 00:45:19,010 standing there looking scary waving 969 00:45:24,550 --> 00:45:23,030 waving menace lead to passersby uh and 970 00:45:26,350 --> 00:45:24,560 he didn't attack anyone he didn't hurt 971 00:45:28,360 --> 00:45:26,360 anyone it wasn't kind of weapon but it 972 00:45:31,090 --> 00:45:28,370 was just creepy enough to see a person 973 00:45:33,400 --> 00:45:31,100 in a park or a roadway or a street yeah 974 00:45:36,280 --> 00:45:33,410 it's in the semi-darkness standing there 975 00:45:39,880 --> 00:45:36,290 alone and so what happened was this 976 00:45:42,790 --> 00:45:39,890 Northampton clown character uh he and a 977 00:45:44,440 --> 00:45:42,800 friend began posting photos and on 978 00:45:46,300 --> 00:45:44,450 social media and so they would actually 979 00:45:48,010 --> 00:45:46,310 encourage people hey if you've seen the 980 00:45:50,050 --> 00:45:48,020 Northampton clown take a photo put it on 981 00:45:51,760 --> 00:45:50,060 Facebook page there was actually 982 00:45:53,890 --> 00:45:51,770 Northampton clown facebook page it was 983 00:45:55,900 --> 00:45:53,900 set up and the whole thing turned out to 984 00:45:59,170 --> 00:45:55,910 be basically a publicity stunt for a 985 00:46:00,490 --> 00:45:59,180 filmmaker yeah ah yeah there you go so 986 00:46:01,810 --> 00:46:00,500 anyway so that that was one of the 987 00:46:05,080 --> 00:46:01,820 original ones that was the Northampton 988 00:46:06,820 --> 00:46:05,090 clown and in in later years and I know 989 00:46:08,320 --> 00:46:06,830 because I wrote about this for Discovery 990 00:46:10,660 --> 00:46:08,330 News and life science and other other 991 00:46:13,270 --> 00:46:10,670 other outlets I mean I followed this 992 00:46:16,060 --> 00:46:13,280 very closely so so what would happen is 993 00:46:17,680 --> 00:46:16,070 the the few a few months later in some 994 00:46:20,080 --> 00:46:17,690 cases a year later often right around 995 00:46:21,610 --> 00:46:20,090 Halloween there would be copycats so 996 00:46:23,500 --> 00:46:21,620 there was then there was the Staten 997 00:46:24,820 --> 00:46:23,510 Island clown and then there was there 998 00:46:26,980 --> 00:46:24,830 were a couple other clowns there were 999 00:46:31,030 --> 00:46:26,990 there was a spate of clown reports in 1000 00:46:32,530 --> 00:46:31,040 for example in in France in 2014 on one 1001 00:46:34,570 --> 00:46:32,540 hand again you have these phantom clowns 1002 00:46:37,660 --> 00:46:34,580 which are essentially mythological 1003 00:46:39,850 --> 00:46:37,670 legendary menacing creatures that that 1004 00:46:42,130 --> 00:46:39,860 are sort of that are reported but never 1005 00:46:44,380 --> 00:46:42,140 actually seen ever actually caught and 1006 00:46:46,780 --> 00:46:44,390 and and you know air and almost 1007 00:46:48,700 --> 00:46:46,790 certainly not not real that are sent for 1008 00:46:51,430 --> 00:46:48,710 you the product of rumors legend then 1009 00:46:54,100 --> 00:46:51,440 you have people who actually do dresses 1010 00:46:55,630 --> 00:46:54,110 clowns uh but the important the 1011 00:46:57,700 --> 00:46:55,640 important distinction here is that the 1012 00:46:59,110 --> 00:46:57,710 people who've just as clowns when you 1013 00:47:01,690 --> 00:46:59,120 when you actually look what they do uh 1014 00:47:02,710 --> 00:47:01,700 they don't they don't attack anyone for 1015 00:47:04,990 --> 00:47:02,720 the most part I mean there's there's a 1016 00:47:06,340 --> 00:47:05,000 handful it's used copycats it's it's 1017 00:47:07,780 --> 00:47:06,350 people who are just have that's good to 1018 00:47:10,030 --> 00:47:07,790 know yeah yeah they're just having fun 1019 00:47:12,280 --> 00:47:10,040 they're there because the thing it's so 1020 00:47:15,820 --> 00:47:12,290 easy to have this viral story right all 1021 00:47:17,290 --> 00:47:15,830 you need is a clown mask and you know to 1022 00:47:18,700 --> 00:47:17,300 dress up and stain somewhere at night 1023 00:47:20,920 --> 00:47:18,710 wait for someone to photograph you and 1024 00:47:22,840 --> 00:47:20,930 suddenly you're making national news so 1025 00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:22,850 this is the these two factors are at 1026 00:47:27,540 --> 00:47:25,010 play and what happened about six weeks 1027 00:47:31,990 --> 00:47:27,550 ago in in Greenville South Carolina 1028 00:47:33,820 --> 00:47:32,000 their reports of of of these these 1029 00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:33,830 clowns that were allegedly trying to 1030 00:47:37,840 --> 00:47:35,690 lure people behind this this group of 1031 00:47:40,660 --> 00:47:37,850 buildings this is hansel and gretel type 1032 00:47:42,370 --> 00:47:40,670 story the story is that there's there's 1033 00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:42,380 you know there's these apartments in 1034 00:47:47,740 --> 00:47:44,810 Greenville and behind these apart this 1035 00:47:50,080 --> 00:47:47,750 apartment complex through a wooded area 1036 00:47:51,670 --> 00:47:50,090 there's a trail that goes and there's a 1037 00:47:53,440 --> 00:47:51,680 house back in the back in the woods 1038 00:47:57,400 --> 00:47:53,450 again this is straight a Hansel and 1039 00:47:59,260 --> 00:47:57,410 Gretel right and the kids say rumor 1040 00:48:01,540 --> 00:47:59,270 among children is for what that's worth 1041 00:48:04,000 --> 00:48:01,550 but there's a group of clowns that live 1042 00:48:06,070 --> 00:48:04,010 in this house that is you know that is 1043 00:48:08,170 --> 00:48:06,080 down through the woods past death and 1044 00:48:11,740 --> 00:48:08,180 there they and they have been seen 1045 00:48:13,390 --> 00:48:11,750 luring children to them but what's 1046 00:48:14,560 --> 00:48:13,400 interesting what so and you would think 1047 00:48:17,620 --> 00:48:14,570 well what are they learning them with 1048 00:48:21,910 --> 00:48:17,630 you might think candy ice cream pokemon 1049 00:48:24,130 --> 00:48:21,920 cards no no in this case the the claim 1050 00:48:24,640 --> 00:48:24,140 is that they're they're losing children 1051 00:48:27,670 --> 00:48:24,650 with 1052 00:48:30,970 --> 00:48:27,680 big watts of money well that'll do it 1053 00:48:33,250 --> 00:48:30,980 every time he read that or iphone 7 I 1054 00:48:36,519 --> 00:48:33,260 think right exactly so it's this 1055 00:48:38,950 --> 00:48:36,529 fascinating modern twist modern American 1056 00:48:40,870 --> 00:48:38,960 twist on this on this legendary thing 1057 00:48:42,099 --> 00:48:40,880 right and so so you know yo there's 1058 00:48:43,720 --> 00:48:42,109 clowns out there you know they're 1059 00:48:45,819 --> 00:48:43,730 flashing bigs well was when I'm thinking 1060 00:48:48,010 --> 00:48:45,829 number one first of all many kids are 1061 00:48:49,809 --> 00:48:48,020 scared of clowns so if they saw clown 1062 00:48:51,250 --> 00:48:49,819 they're not going to be fooled by their 1063 00:48:53,769 --> 00:48:51,260 stick in a run like hell me sit 1064 00:48:55,900 --> 00:48:53,779 direction so and then you factor it's a 1065 00:48:58,210 --> 00:48:55,910 it's a fascinating story but so what 1066 00:48:59,890 --> 00:48:58,220 happened was was that this is taken very 1067 00:49:02,019 --> 00:48:59,900 seriously because again you know this is 1068 00:49:03,370 --> 00:49:02,029 you have to remember that the initial 1069 00:49:05,799 --> 00:49:03,380 reports are about children and 1070 00:49:07,200 --> 00:49:05,809 oftentimes you know I've I can't tell 1071 00:49:11,019 --> 00:49:07,210 you how many times people say you know 1072 00:49:14,680 --> 00:49:11,029 children don't lie and they have you 1073 00:49:16,510 --> 00:49:14,690 ever seen a child should really about 1074 00:49:19,240 --> 00:49:16,520 all sorts of things for no reason at all 1075 00:49:21,700 --> 00:49:19,250 right the their life it's part of it 1076 00:49:23,170 --> 00:49:21,710 exactly and it's just part of the the 1077 00:49:25,180 --> 00:49:23,180 growing princess right that's where they 1078 00:49:28,809 --> 00:49:25,190 it doesn't mean they're evil it doesn't 1079 00:49:31,390 --> 00:49:28,819 mean there's just what they do all right 1080 00:49:34,180 --> 00:49:31,400 so I might have told the odd whopper 1081 00:49:36,220 --> 00:49:34,190 myself when I was younger I didn't ever 1082 00:49:38,319 --> 00:49:36,230 know now that's that's understandable 1083 00:49:40,420 --> 00:49:38,329 but so in the end that's then that's 1084 00:49:42,609 --> 00:49:40,430 where the adults come along and slowly 1085 00:49:45,039 --> 00:49:42,619 guide them and teach them that what's 1086 00:49:47,319 --> 00:49:45,049 right rock exact all right what now tell 1087 00:49:49,029 --> 00:49:47,329 me a little bit about your book and how 1088 00:49:52,809 --> 00:49:49,039 people can get that because that that 1089 00:49:54,400 --> 00:49:52,819 this it does cover this topic yeah yeah 1090 00:49:57,700 --> 00:49:54,410 I mean that the book is called bad 1091 00:49:59,049 --> 00:49:57,710 clowns I talked with you and Empress 1092 00:50:00,670 --> 00:49:59,059 University of New Mexico press to 1093 00:50:02,740 --> 00:50:00,680 publish it we were going we're trying to 1094 00:50:04,269 --> 00:50:02,750 think should there be a subtitle we went 1095 00:50:07,569 --> 00:50:04,279 back and forth for several weeks said 1096 00:50:10,839 --> 00:50:07,579 what more do you want it's like it's the 1097 00:50:13,809 --> 00:50:10,849 this the title is the subject is bad 1098 00:50:16,660 --> 00:50:13,819 clown that that covers everything it 1099 00:50:19,230 --> 00:50:16,670 goes into historical bad clowns evil 1100 00:50:22,390 --> 00:50:19,240 clowns the psychology of fear of clowns 1101 00:50:25,630 --> 00:50:22,400 there I go into dip clowns that the dunk 1102 00:50:28,420 --> 00:50:25,640 tank clowns mr. punch at the punch of 1103 00:50:30,970 --> 00:50:28,430 duty shows fictional clowns so I I try 1104 00:50:33,039 --> 00:50:30,980 to sort of cover the whole spectrum and 1105 00:50:35,410 --> 00:50:33,049 that the book has been it's been out for 1106 00:50:38,050 --> 00:50:35,420 a couple months now you can get it on 1107 00:50:40,810 --> 00:50:38,060 amazon com local bookstores 1108 00:50:43,240 --> 00:50:40,820 and and it just so happens again it's I 1109 00:50:46,090 --> 00:50:43,250 the the timing could be better you know 1110 00:50:47,830 --> 00:50:46,100 I just it came out again a few months 1111 00:50:50,440 --> 00:50:47,840 ago I'd actually been writing it for for 1112 00:50:52,660 --> 00:50:50,450 about 10 years on and off and it just 1113 00:50:54,760 --> 00:50:52,670 happened that this seemed to be a good 1114 00:50:57,630 --> 00:50:54,770 time to write about bad clowns and boom 1115 00:51:00,490 --> 00:50:57,640 there in the news everywhere else sudden 1116 00:51:02,590 --> 00:51:00,500 bad clowns I wonder what'll be next that 1117 00:51:04,900 --> 00:51:02,600 what a fascinating topic now just before 1118 00:51:07,000 --> 00:51:04,910 we go earlier on in the show of course 1119 00:51:09,220 --> 00:51:07,010 and i know you are listening Ben I know 1120 00:51:10,720 --> 00:51:09,230 you listen to the skeptics in every week 1121 00:51:12,520 --> 00:51:10,730 so you would have heard earlier in the 1122 00:51:13,960 --> 00:51:12,530 show that you're on now I don't think 1123 00:51:16,840 --> 00:51:13,970 that works anyway we were talking to 1124 00:51:18,400 --> 00:51:16,850 sharon hill yes maybe that works in some 1125 00:51:20,320 --> 00:51:18,410 weird universe i don't know we were 1126 00:51:22,420 --> 00:51:20,330 chatting to sharon hill of doubtful news 1127 00:51:25,810 --> 00:51:22,430 now i must say that that interview i did 1128 00:51:28,810 --> 00:51:25,820 with Sharon was recorded earlier last 1129 00:51:33,460 --> 00:51:28,820 week and was just lined up for this 1130 00:51:36,190 --> 00:51:33,470 episode and the latest news from loch 1131 00:51:38,110 --> 00:51:36,200 ness hadn't hit yet but i noticed now at 1132 00:51:40,090 --> 00:51:38,120 doubtful new sharon hill has covered 1133 00:51:42,640 --> 00:51:40,100 this quite well and i'm sure you've been 1134 00:51:44,560 --> 00:51:42,650 made aware of this the mysterious 1135 00:51:46,810 --> 00:51:44,570 photograph the new one coming from loch 1136 00:51:49,690 --> 00:51:46,820 ness you have seen it i think i have in 1137 00:51:52,390 --> 00:51:49,700 fact i wrote a piece for a seeker which 1138 00:51:56,800 --> 00:51:52,400 is formally discovery news online so if 1139 00:51:59,110 --> 00:51:56,810 you if you go to seeker SE e ke are calm 1140 00:52:00,730 --> 00:51:59,120 and you type in Loch Ness or type in my 1141 00:52:02,500 --> 00:52:00,740 name Benjamin Radford you'll you'll find 1142 00:52:04,840 --> 00:52:02,510 the story but yes I I wrote a piece 1143 00:52:06,640 --> 00:52:04,850 about it in fact just yesterday and in 1144 00:52:08,200 --> 00:52:06,650 fact i quote sharon hill whoo-hoo I 1145 00:52:10,300 --> 00:52:08,210 greatly admire and respect she's done 1146 00:52:13,360 --> 00:52:10,310 wonderful work for doubtful news and 1147 00:52:16,120 --> 00:52:13,370 elsewhere and yeah I I came about came 1148 00:52:18,310 --> 00:52:16,130 you know came into the the investigating 1149 00:52:21,880 --> 00:52:18,320 the photograph and looked at the story 1150 00:52:25,660 --> 00:52:21,890 behind it and as Sharon points out you 1151 00:52:27,520 --> 00:52:25,670 know it's it's almost certainly seals or 1152 00:52:30,250 --> 00:52:27,530 possibly order that almost but very 1153 00:52:31,510 --> 00:52:30,260 likely seals are very likely sales yeah 1154 00:52:34,300 --> 00:52:31,520 and it's in it's you know it's 1155 00:52:35,770 --> 00:52:34,310 interesting because you know one of the 1156 00:52:38,350 --> 00:52:35,780 one of the reasons that it's making such 1157 00:52:42,340 --> 00:52:38,360 news is because you know in the world of 1158 00:52:44,380 --> 00:52:42,350 a Bigfoot and and and Loch Ness monsters 1159 00:52:47,920 --> 00:52:44,390 and Yeti almost all the photos are 1160 00:52:49,840 --> 00:52:47,930 blurry bad you know out of focus who 1161 00:52:51,849 --> 00:52:49,850 knows what the hell they are this this 1162 00:52:55,120 --> 00:52:51,859 photograph is different it is it 1163 00:52:57,579 --> 00:52:55,130 is fairly clear and it is it's in focus 1164 00:53:00,539 --> 00:52:57,589 and its brightly lit unfortunately that 1165 00:53:04,839 --> 00:53:00,549 means that we can tell what it is and so 1166 00:53:07,390 --> 00:53:04,849 yeah in this particular case um yeah and 1167 00:53:09,130 --> 00:53:07,400 it's interesting because if you when 1168 00:53:11,410 --> 00:53:09,140 you're looking at it when you're 1169 00:53:13,630 --> 00:53:11,420 analyzing photographs of monsters and 1170 00:53:16,029 --> 00:53:13,640 leged monsters as of course I have for 1171 00:53:18,789 --> 00:53:16,039 many years some independently and in my 1172 00:53:20,349 --> 00:53:18,799 books and with monster talk podcast what 1173 00:53:22,900 --> 00:53:20,359 you find is you have this there's this 1174 00:53:26,589 --> 00:53:22,910 interesting sort of twilight zone in 1175 00:53:28,210 --> 00:53:26,599 which if a photo is to clear then it 1176 00:53:29,529 --> 00:53:28,220 won't it won't be considered mysterious 1177 00:53:31,779 --> 00:53:29,539 because you'll you'll be able to figure 1178 00:53:33,670 --> 00:53:31,789 out what it is if it's if it's if it's 1179 00:53:36,759 --> 00:53:33,680 too blurry if it's if it's too ambiguous 1180 00:53:39,190 --> 00:53:36,769 then you can't tell what it is you're 1181 00:53:42,400 --> 00:53:39,200 some sort of blob so that it has to be 1182 00:53:45,370 --> 00:53:42,410 just ambiguous enough to be tantalizing 1183 00:53:47,890 --> 00:53:45,380 or to be to be to be it has to be just 1184 00:53:51,279 --> 00:53:47,900 yeah there it's there's interesting gray 1185 00:53:53,109 --> 00:53:51,289 area where if it's do clear then then 1186 00:53:55,569 --> 00:53:53,119 it's not mysterious because we can tell 1187 00:53:58,210 --> 00:53:55,579 what it is if it's not clear enough then 1188 00:54:00,910 --> 00:53:58,220 it just you know a blob against you know 1189 00:54:03,249 --> 00:54:00,920 something dark and so so it is there's 1190 00:54:05,220 --> 00:54:03,259 again the it's only a mystery in that 1191 00:54:08,079 --> 00:54:05,230 little son in that little zone there 1192 00:54:09,729 --> 00:54:08,089 we're outside of that it's you know it's 1193 00:54:11,979 --> 00:54:09,739 something that no notices are pay 1194 00:54:13,539 --> 00:54:11,989 attention to and on one end of the 1195 00:54:16,180 --> 00:54:13,549 spectrum and on the other side it's 1196 00:54:20,019 --> 00:54:16,190 obviously you know an order or a deer or 1197 00:54:21,819 --> 00:54:20,029 a seal I didn't really strike me the 1198 00:54:24,640 --> 00:54:21,829 importance of this photograph at first I 1199 00:54:26,319 --> 00:54:24,650 saw it oh and I blew it up on my own 1200 00:54:28,839 --> 00:54:26,329 computer I said are you sure it's a 1201 00:54:31,180 --> 00:54:28,849 co-write could be an order then I had 1202 00:54:32,829 --> 00:54:31,190 you know checked the pictures of co-op 1203 00:54:34,989 --> 00:54:32,839 it's obvious three seals they're just 1204 00:54:37,390 --> 00:54:34,999 playing around that's okay so on that 1205 00:54:38,739 --> 00:54:37,400 point of view I didn't really worry me 1206 00:54:40,509 --> 00:54:38,749 or impress me and I didn't think too 1207 00:54:43,089 --> 00:54:40,519 much more of of it but then upon 1208 00:54:45,700 --> 00:54:43,099 reflection I thought and it alludes to 1209 00:54:47,289 --> 00:54:45,710 what you say it's a wonderful example of 1210 00:54:50,200 --> 00:54:47,299 how photographs down through the years 1211 00:54:52,749 --> 00:54:50,210 were almost undoubtedly of similar 1212 00:54:54,130 --> 00:54:52,759 things from Loch Ness but now the 1213 00:54:56,349 --> 00:54:54,140 photography is getting better and better 1214 00:54:58,180 --> 00:54:56,359 we can clearly see that of course it's 1215 00:55:01,059 --> 00:54:58,190 just some seals playing around i mean 1216 00:55:04,509 --> 00:55:01,069 this one you'd have to be a pretty 1217 00:55:05,710 --> 00:55:04,519 diehard paranormal enthusiasts to to 1218 00:55:08,320 --> 00:55:05,720 think this is anything 1219 00:55:10,030 --> 00:55:08,330 then three or four seals just playing 1220 00:55:11,530 --> 00:55:10,040 around in the water but it's very 1221 00:55:14,650 --> 00:55:11,540 important because it shows us exactly 1222 00:55:16,300 --> 00:55:14,660 that this has no doubt being the case 1223 00:55:18,370 --> 00:55:16,310 for many years right i mean there's 1224 00:55:21,970 --> 00:55:18,380 that's exactly right there's no reason 1225 00:55:24,640 --> 00:55:21,980 to assume that that you that you know 1226 00:55:26,620 --> 00:55:24,650 that the the previous photographs were 1227 00:55:28,359 --> 00:55:26,630 any different I mean it's things on the 1228 00:55:30,849 --> 00:55:28,369 water right it just happened to be that 1229 00:55:33,910 --> 00:55:30,859 the technology and the camera you know 1230 00:55:36,430 --> 00:55:33,920 that the digital I mean there's the 1231 00:55:39,670 --> 00:55:36,440 technology for capturing visual images 1232 00:55:42,250 --> 00:55:39,680 has increased in quality exponentially 1233 00:55:44,800 --> 00:55:42,260 in the past in you know five ten years 1234 00:55:45,970 --> 00:55:44,810 and so it's the same thing you know when 1235 00:55:48,099 --> 00:55:45,980 you when you look at for example the 1236 00:55:51,099 --> 00:55:48,109 evidence for Bigfoot right to this day 1237 00:55:52,750 --> 00:55:51,109 most Bigfoot believers will tell you 1238 00:55:55,030 --> 00:55:52,760 that the best evidence for Bigfoot is 1239 00:56:00,220 --> 00:55:55,040 the patterson-gimlin film which was shot 1240 00:56:03,550 --> 00:56:00,230 in 1967 1967 that's that's how all this 1241 00:56:07,300 --> 00:56:03,560 film is and and you know and the irony 1242 00:56:09,430 --> 00:56:07,310 is that if someone today shot that same 1243 00:56:10,750 --> 00:56:09,440 patterson-gimlin film that the blurry 1244 00:56:12,880 --> 00:56:10,760 image of you know that the creature 1245 00:56:15,609 --> 00:56:12,890 going from right left and yeah in bluff 1246 00:56:18,130 --> 00:56:15,619 creek california if that was shot today 1247 00:56:19,690 --> 00:56:18,140 the quality of the cameras would be such 1248 00:56:22,089 --> 00:56:19,700 that people would recognize it 1249 00:56:24,250 --> 00:56:22,099 immediately it's a guy in a suit it 1250 00:56:27,490 --> 00:56:24,260 looks exactly like a guy in a suit and 1251 00:56:30,370 --> 00:56:27,500 and and but because so so it's it's a 1252 00:56:33,250 --> 00:56:30,380 mistake to sort of to misunderstand the 1253 00:56:36,280 --> 00:56:33,260 poor quality of visual recording 1254 00:56:38,380 --> 00:56:36,290 technology from decades before and and 1255 00:56:39,640 --> 00:56:38,390 and sort of conflate that with with oh 1256 00:56:42,490 --> 00:56:39,650 well back then there were mysterious 1257 00:56:44,710 --> 00:56:42,500 things no back then the cat the 1258 00:56:45,970 --> 00:56:44,720 photography was worse that's why that's 1259 00:56:49,270 --> 00:56:45,980 why we don't know what the hell it is 1260 00:56:51,310 --> 00:56:49,280 which is flying and wait it's causing an 1261 00:56:53,320 --> 00:56:51,320 interesting effect in in the world of 1262 00:56:55,780 --> 00:56:53,330 the paranormal cryptozoology out are you 1263 00:56:57,460 --> 00:56:55,790 because again the the technology is 1264 00:57:00,579 --> 00:56:57,470 getting better and better every year and 1265 00:57:02,470 --> 00:57:00,589 so you know it raises really interesting 1266 00:57:04,810 --> 00:57:02,480 questions for we know what would a 1267 00:57:06,820 --> 00:57:04,820 plausible Bigfoot photo what would a 1268 00:57:11,380 --> 00:57:06,830 plausible messy photo look like in 10 1269 00:57:13,270 --> 00:57:11,390 years uh and because the I and my guess 1270 00:57:15,970 --> 00:57:13,280 is that the the so-called plausible 1271 00:57:18,579 --> 00:57:15,980 images organ or goodness sooner or later 1272 00:57:19,660 --> 00:57:18,589 vanish because there will be no 1273 00:57:21,460 --> 00:57:19,670 plausible images 1274 00:57:22,930 --> 00:57:21,470 because all the ones the quality of the 1275 00:57:25,750 --> 00:57:22,940 cell phone videos and high-definition 1276 00:57:27,640 --> 00:57:25,760 cameras are going to be such that people 1277 00:57:30,579 --> 00:57:27,650 know exactly what it is it can no longer 1278 00:57:32,470 --> 00:57:30,589 be mistaken for a lake monster CMOS for 1279 00:57:34,270 --> 00:57:32,480 a Bigfoot because we now know what it is 1280 00:57:36,490 --> 00:57:34,280 and so there again it goes back to that 1281 00:57:40,089 --> 00:57:36,500 sort of Twilight Zone the ambiguity in 1282 00:57:41,530 --> 00:57:40,099 which mysteries of all are the golden 1283 00:57:43,240 --> 00:57:41,540 year of the paranormal and may be 1284 00:57:45,849 --> 00:57:43,250 slipping behind us I don't know that'll 1285 00:57:47,740 --> 00:57:45,859 be a sad day will it oh I don't know I 1286 00:57:51,370 --> 00:57:47,750 like that old-fashioned stuff i love 1287 00:57:52,690 --> 00:57:51,380 reports of loch ness oh me too well then 1288 00:57:54,849 --> 00:57:52,700 i think one day you'll have to come out 1289 00:57:57,309 --> 00:57:54,859 here to visit australia new zealand and 1290 00:58:00,069 --> 00:57:57,319 we can I don't know we could hunt for 1291 00:58:02,049 --> 00:58:00,079 the Yowie I'd love to yeah we uh yeah 1292 00:58:04,329 --> 00:58:02,059 other monsters that apparently are 1293 00:58:06,250 --> 00:58:04,339 running around running around here in 1294 00:58:07,839 --> 00:58:06,260 Australia although strangely enough I i 1295 00:58:09,579 --> 00:58:07,849 I've noticed over the years when I 1296 00:58:11,500 --> 00:58:09,589 another skeptics turn up the monsters 1297 00:58:13,990 --> 00:58:11,510 seem to run away you scare them Richard 1298 00:58:16,059 --> 00:58:14,000 you scare them and if people want to 1299 00:58:18,940 --> 00:58:16,069 check your website out Ben I think it's 1300 00:58:21,730 --> 00:58:18,950 just Benjamin Radford com it is exactly 1301 00:58:23,740 --> 00:58:21,740 although i would say it in in an 1302 00:58:26,170 --> 00:58:23,750 American accent but it works you the way 1303 00:58:28,990 --> 00:58:26,180 whatever Australian English or American 1304 00:58:31,210 --> 00:58:29,000 English is just it's all the same oddly 1305 00:58:32,680 --> 00:58:31,220 enough it still works and Redford all 1306 00:58:35,470 --> 00:58:32,690 the way from Albuquerque New Mexico 1307 00:58:47,410 --> 00:58:35,480 thank you very much great thanks to be 1308 00:58:55,790 --> 00:58:52,309 hey Heidi oh hi Joe hi Heidi oh hi 1309 00:58:59,030 --> 00:58:55,800 Maynard hi Maynard oh hi Joe nice day in 1310 00:59:02,870 --> 00:58:59,040 this park yeah yes great weather oh look 1311 00:59:05,450 --> 00:59:02,880 a unicorn a unicorn there are no such 1312 00:59:08,660 --> 00:59:05,460 things as unicorns silly yes there are 1313 00:59:11,150 --> 00:59:08,670 no there isn't hey ladies what are you 1314 00:59:14,599 --> 00:59:11,160 arguing about Joe thinks unicorns are 1315 00:59:18,109 --> 00:59:14,609 real they fo are let's look this up in 1316 00:59:20,390 --> 00:59:18,119 the skeptics dictionary the word how can 1317 00:59:22,700 --> 00:59:20,400 we do that in this park there are no 1318 00:59:25,010 --> 00:59:22,710 computers here you ladies probably don't 1319 00:59:28,099 --> 00:59:25,020 know about the skeptics dictionary app 1320 00:59:31,220 --> 00:59:28,109 available now for iPhone iPad and iPod 1321 00:59:33,200 --> 00:59:31,230 touch in the App Store yeah we do we've 1322 00:59:37,550 --> 00:59:33,210 been listening to the skeptic zone for 1323 00:59:39,740 --> 00:59:37,560 years you know yes ok the app lets you 1324 00:59:43,460 --> 00:59:39,750 access all the great skeptics dictionary 1325 00:59:46,309 --> 00:59:43,470 articles when you're on the go yeah let 1326 00:59:49,220 --> 00:59:46,319 me look up unicorns oh cool Heidi 1327 00:59:51,710 --> 00:59:49,230 prepare to be proven wrong it says here 1328 00:59:55,040 --> 00:59:51,720 the Unicorn is a creature from fables 1329 00:59:56,569 --> 00:59:55,050 aha actually I see now that someone just 1330 00:59:59,270 --> 00:59:56,579 dumped their ice cream cone on that 1331 01:00:01,609 --> 00:59:59,280 horse's head Thanks yep attention their 1332 01:00:13,140 --> 01:00:01,619 iphone that that's just some guy in his 1333 01:00:18,269 --> 01:00:15,839 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1334 01:00:21,180 --> 01:00:18,279 zone and bang you to sharon hill and Ben 1335 01:00:23,120 --> 01:00:21,190 Radford for taking part this week now 1336 01:00:26,670 --> 01:00:23,130 here's a few more little notes before we 1337 01:00:29,579 --> 01:00:26,680 sign out off and away from the skeptic 1338 01:00:32,630 --> 01:00:29,589 zone those people in Australia if you 1339 01:00:36,299 --> 01:00:32,640 have not seen the new movie spin out 1340 01:00:40,620 --> 01:00:36,309 which is currently in wide release it's 1341 01:00:43,289 --> 01:00:40,630 a lot of fun I was a very lucky I went 1342 01:00:46,289 --> 01:00:43,299 to see a special preview last week of 1343 01:00:49,349 --> 01:00:46,299 spin up here in Sydney which was a lot 1344 01:00:51,210 --> 01:00:49,359 of fun Maynard was there too doing lots 1345 01:00:52,950 --> 01:00:51,220 of interviews as main out would a big 1346 01:00:54,870 --> 01:00:52,960 thank you to our Tim Ferguson the 1347 01:00:58,980 --> 01:00:54,880 director the co-director now spin out 1348 01:01:00,930 --> 01:00:58,990 for having me come along and much 1349 01:01:03,630 --> 01:01:00,940 appreciated and if you have seen the 1350 01:01:07,170 --> 01:01:03,640 movie why not head over to Maynard com 1351 01:01:10,440 --> 01:01:07,180 dot for a special podcast you'll see 1352 01:01:12,660 --> 01:01:10,450 there behind the scenes of spin out 1353 01:01:14,750 --> 01:01:12,670 Maynard spent some time on the set as 1354 01:01:17,279 --> 01:01:14,760 they were filming he interviews the 1355 01:01:20,670 --> 01:01:17,289 director the co-director Tim Ferguson 1356 01:01:23,640 --> 01:01:20,680 and many of the stars of the movie check 1357 01:01:27,210 --> 01:01:23,650 it out Maynard calm got a you for the 1358 01:01:30,660 --> 01:01:27,220 behind the scenes podcast and as I've 1359 01:01:32,970 --> 01:01:30,670 mentioned before our full disclosure I'm 1360 01:01:34,620 --> 01:01:32,980 not getting any special kickbacks or 1361 01:01:38,519 --> 01:01:34,630 deals for mentioning this movie it's 1362 01:01:40,769 --> 01:01:38,529 just nice to help out a friend and also 1363 01:01:43,049 --> 01:01:40,779 I like to support the local film and TV 1364 01:01:45,809 --> 01:01:43,059 industry because I do part time work in 1365 01:01:47,549 --> 01:01:45,819 it from time to time in fact those 1366 01:01:49,859 --> 01:01:47,559 people in Australia if you saw the first 1367 01:01:52,589 --> 01:01:49,869 episode of the new TV series doctor 1368 01:01:55,349 --> 01:01:52,599 doctor right at the beginning of the 1369 01:01:57,960 --> 01:01:55,359 show there was a strange and the CZ 1370 01:02:00,359 --> 01:01:57,970 ologist doing an operation with big 1371 01:02:03,089 --> 01:02:00,369 glasses well that was me now here's some 1372 01:02:05,519 --> 01:02:03,099 exciting news that will be of interest 1373 01:02:07,710 --> 01:02:05,529 if you're in New Zealand the New Zealand 1374 01:02:10,289 --> 01:02:07,720 skeptics have a convention coming up the 1375 01:02:12,480 --> 01:02:10,299 second to the fourth of December in 1376 01:02:14,599 --> 01:02:12,490 beautiful Queenstown for more 1377 01:02:19,440 --> 01:02:14,609 information visit conference dot 1378 01:02:22,710 --> 01:02:19,450 skeptics dot n Z and I'm very lucky 1379 01:02:24,750 --> 01:02:22,720 indeed very fortunate I'll be a one of 1380 01:02:26,010 --> 01:02:24,760 the guest speakers at the convention 1381 01:02:28,440 --> 01:02:26,020 looking forward to that 1382 01:02:30,630 --> 01:02:28,450 enormously it'll be nice to bump into 1383 01:02:33,750 --> 01:02:30,640 some old friends including Susan ger 1384 01:02:35,610 --> 01:02:33,760 Beck who has appeared on the skeptic 1385 01:02:37,620 --> 01:02:35,620 zone from time to time well I'm sure 1386 01:02:39,090 --> 01:02:37,630 I'll be talking about this conference a 1387 01:02:41,010 --> 01:02:39,100 bit more over the next few months and 1388 01:02:43,560 --> 01:02:41,020 hopefully interviewing some of the 1389 01:02:46,830 --> 01:02:43,570 people from New Zealand the New Zealand 1390 01:02:50,190 --> 01:02:46,840 skeptics all about it if you are in New 1391 01:02:52,710 --> 01:02:50,200 Zealand or if you know people in New 1392 01:02:55,590 --> 01:02:52,720 Zealand some of your new zealand 1393 01:03:00,480 --> 01:02:55,600 facebook friends point them towards 1394 01:03:02,010 --> 01:03:00,490 conference dot skeptics NZ and i'm sure 1395 01:03:03,870 --> 01:03:02,020 we'll have a lot of fun i'm going to be 1396 01:03:05,970 --> 01:03:03,880 bringing some divining rods and we're 1397 01:03:09,780 --> 01:03:05,980 going to be doing some divining tests 1398 01:03:13,230 --> 01:03:09,790 and stuff like that i think i think my 1399 01:03:14,600 --> 01:03:13,240 talk is going to be around the secrets 1400 01:03:18,020 --> 01:03:14,610 of the psychics or something like that 1401 01:03:20,940 --> 01:03:18,030 something like that more news about that 1402 01:03:25,500 --> 01:03:20,950 before long and lastly thank you once 1403 01:03:27,350 --> 01:03:25,510 again to those generous people who show 1404 01:03:31,350 --> 01:03:27,360 their support to the skeptic zone by 1405 01:03:34,650 --> 01:03:31,360 their monthly or weekly donations via 1406 01:03:38,730 --> 01:03:34,660 paypal or via patreon then you can sort 1407 01:03:40,350 --> 01:03:38,740 all that out at skeptic zone TV well 1408 01:03:42,960 --> 01:03:40,360 somebody has to buy may not all those 1409 01:03:44,850 --> 01:03:42,970 cups of coffee and tea but for this week 1410 01:03:51,180 --> 01:03:44,860 this is Richard Saunders signing off 1411 01:03:52,820 --> 01:03:51,190 from Sydney Australia you've been 1412 01:03:56,340 --> 01:03:52,830 listening to the skeptics own podcast 1413 01:03:59,430 --> 01:03:56,350 visit our website at wwc a petting zoo 1414 01:04:03,300 --> 01:03:59,440 TV for contacts and archive of all 1415 01:04:05,580 --> 01:04:03,310 episodes since 2008 and our online store 1416 01:04:08,300 --> 01:04:05,590 please support the skeptic zone by 1417 01:04:11,310 --> 01:04:08,310 following us on twitter at skeptic zone 1418 01:04:14,370 --> 01:04:11,320 liking us on facebook and leaving a 1419 01:04:17,250 --> 01:04:14,380 review on iTunes you can also show your 1420 01:04:20,700 --> 01:04:17,260 support by subscribing via paypal for as 1421 01:04:23,040 --> 01:04:20,710 little as 99 cents a week the skeptic 1422 01:04:24,750 --> 01:04:23,050 zone is an independent production the 1423 01:04:26,850 --> 01:04:24,760 views and opinions expressed on the 1424 01:04:29,040 --> 01:04:26,860 skeptic zone and not necessarily those 1425 01:04:38,080 --> 01:04:29,050 of Australian skeptic League or any 1426 01:04:42,050 --> 01:04:40,520 okay go into a quick edit excuse me from 1427 01:04:44,300 --> 01:04:42,060 in it I got to kick the two cats out 1428 01:04:48,140 --> 01:04:44,310 they've just walked in the climbing over 1429 01:05:03,860 --> 01:04:48,150 okay you two gone you out app not coming 1430 01:05:05,750 --> 01:05:03,870 out alright feed you later you're lovely 1431 01:05:08,900 --> 01:05:05,760 but they decided to walk into the studio