The Skeptical Scientist - Dr. Rachael Dunlop Notes

For those of you who would like to see the Bigfoot video we mentioned on the show, it’s here.

And for those of you who would like to read the monologue transcript, enjoy!

And now to Speaking Up. If you were listening to the live version of the show, you know that we attempted to have Steve Thoms, editor of Skeptic North, the pan-Canadian Skeptical blog collective, on to talk about the project. But the internet is a harsh mistress. He had some computer issues and the segment unfortunately had to be scrapped. But, luckily, I know a bit about the blog, so let me fill you in on what you missed.

A long time ago, in a land far away, there was a skeptical conference. This wondrous gathering was called, The Amazing Meeting 7. Skeptics from all across the world came together, to share news of their homelands, to discuss common skeptical issues, and to learn from one another. And so it came to be that there was a meeting of regionally-related minds; the Canadian Contingent Meet-Up. For these skeptics, some separated by hinterland, others by mountains, some relegated to remote islands, this was, finally, the chance to meet their brethren. To embrace them.

And so there was embracing. And the exchange of email addresses. And the eating of pizza. In their charming accents, they spoke of crystal healers in Vancouver, the creationists of Alberta, organic food in Ontario, and cancer-curing cannabis in Nova Scotia. And they drank sub-standard American beer. And it was good.

But, after TAM and back in their respective provinces, they realized they wanted more. They were not content to simply know of each other’s existence. No, that was not enough for this intrepid group of skeptical explorers. They wanted to make a difference, to spread reason and critical thinking to every corner of their beloved homeland, to banish ignorance and misinformation, and expose those who profit from them. Like their Canadian foreparents, they could not succeed alone. They had to band together to fight the elements, and the loneliness, and the beavers. In this case “beavers” refers to unproven alternative medicine, Raelians, e-meters and the anti-vaccination movement.

So. They began, a blog. And so it was named, in that amusing but vaguely self-deprecating Canadian way, Skeptic North.

With contributors from sea to shining sea, Skeptic North set out to make their mark. Not only on the skeptical community, but also on mainstream media. Day and night they toiled, researching, and writing, and honing both their snark and their ability to critically analyze the world around them. They published post after post, challenging pseudoscience across Canada. They explained, patiently and with quiet humor, that magnetic fields don’t actually affect human health. That correlation and causation mean two totally different things. That energy healing actually involves neither energy nor healing. That “all natural” describes arsenic just as well an all-fruit smoothie. That Jenny McCarthy’s mommy instincts are not comparable to a medical degree.

And then suddenly, the unthinkable happened.

The spectre of naturopaths with the ability to prescribe actual medication in Ontario reared its ugly head. And Skeptic North rallied the troops! They wrote and wrote as fast as their little fingers allowed. And lo and behold the mainstream media took notice. Newspapers and websites and radio programs started calling, and they wanted to talk. About skepticism! And Skeptic North told everyone who would listen about the potential danger of giving prescriptive powers to people who believe that the vibration of water can cure illness, or that coffee enemas were somehow beneficial. About how this was actually a very, very bad thing. But to no avail.

With only as much warning as three readings of a bill would allow, the deed was done. The government of Ontario had given its blessing to the naturopaths, changing its laws and giving them prescriptive powers that had previously been reserved for professionals with actual medical training. And Skeptic North was sad, and wanted to be where someone loved it best of all. Sweden, perhaps.

But then… it heard voices. The voices of other skeptical-Canadians, and skeptical-Australians, and skeptical-Americans. And they whispered to keep going. To keep on fighting. Because the struggle would continue. Peddlers of pseudoscience and proponents of preposterous panaceas would persist. And only together, could the brave skeptics hope to defeat them.

But Skeptic North knew it needed help.

It needed writers of all shapes and sizes. With specific areas of expertise. Or not. Writers that could commit to providing quality content on a semi-regular basis. And who would be willing to send an email to Steve Thoms at skepticnorth@gmail.com with a sample of their writing.

And it needed readers. Readers who would comment on the blog in a mostly civil way. Who would add the RSS feed to their readers. Who would forward the links, for the love of science, and post them on twitter and facebook, and add them to Digg, Reddit and even Fark.com.

Where are these heroes? She asks. And will they step forward, to join the struggle? To challenge the fallacious, the fraudulent and the flippin’ ridiculous, whenever and wherever it emerges within Canada?

Find out, at skepticnorth.com

Most of this is true. And pretty much what Steve said on-air. Mostly.