Author Topic: Is Skeptiko dead? (Read 59926 times)

skidoo · « **Reply #30 on:** Jul 26, 2007, 11:43:48 AM »

Haven't seen Dean Cameron around here for a while.

Neutral Milk · « **Reply #31 on:** Jul 26, 2007, 11:47:15 AM »

He's probably off filming Summer School II, or maybe Ski School II

god I hope he's filming ski school II...

Nightspore · « **Reply #32 on:** Jul 26, 2007, 02:38:27 PM »

Sigh... another episode just appeared. This one's an interview with Ginger Campbell, host of The Brain Science Podcast.

Gilnei · « **Reply #33 on:** Jul 26, 2007, 03:03:02 PM »

Sometimes I wonder if Tsakiris will ever do an episode dealing with any topic that is not related to his pet "mind apart from the brain" belief, you know, just to try to pretend that he's actually concerned about skeptical matters.

But I guess he doesn't even bother pretending at this point.

Nightspore · « **Reply #34 on:** Jul 26, 2007, 03:17:47 PM »

Ten minutes in and not only is he back onto NDEs but spouting yet again about the Pam Reynolds case. Campbell at this point seems to be talking sense but we'll see how that goes...

heliocentricra · « **Reply #35 on:** Jul 26, 2007, 07:33:18 PM »

I downloaded all of Campbell's podcasts but haven't gotten around to listening to them yet. They seem to cover really interesting topics.

Grayven · « **Reply #36 on:** Jul 27, 2007, 12:28:51 AM »

I read, somewhere, a theory that all people go through the 'stages of death' . Sounds like BS to me. But basically everyone goes through denial, anger, bargaining, acceptance. Whatever.

Chime in when Alex gets to anger. The podcasts could get a lot more exciting.

skidoo · « **Reply #37 on:** Jul 27, 2007, 08:09:48 AM »

Quote from: "Grayven"

I read, somewhere, a theory that all people go through the 'stages of death' . Sounds like BS to me. But basically everyone goes through denial, anger, bargaining, acceptance. Whatever.

Chime in when Alex gets to anger. The podcasts could get a lot more exciting.

Elisabeth Kuebler-Ross.

Nightspore · « **Reply #38 on:** Jul 27, 2007, 10:29:24 AM »

Quote from: "Grayven"

Chime in when Alex gets to anger. The podcasts could get a lot more exciting.

The last couple of episodes have seen Tsakiris apparently getting irritated with his guests. In this one he got a little argumentative with Campbell - like she's stupid for not seeing things from his deluded viewpoint. I think it's only a matter of time before he blows his cool with a guest.

Campbell for the most part spoke sense, but I did notice an apparent contradiction; at one point she says that NDEs etc. are physically based in the brain, but later she seems to be saying that maybe they're not. I need to listen to those parts again to get her exact words, because I think I must have misconstrued. Tsakiris of course jumped all over it.

Tsakiris is suffering from one huge argument-from-personal-incredulity over the whole NDE thing. He simply cannot see how the physical brain can produce internal experiences - he underestimates the power of the brain and in doing so does it and us (as humans) a huge disservice. And because he, personally, can't see it, he has to fall back on ridiculous supernatural explanations ("the brain is the receiver in a field of consciousness", for example), and try to persuade people that his view is better and must be correct.

Anyway, enough. I've been fixating on Tsakiris and his atrocious podcast way too much; I'll continue to listen but I'm not posting any more here unless I think it's of real interest. As Grayven said, when Tsakiris really loses it with a guest I'll flag that for sure - the way things are going I think it's just a matter of time.

danielzig · « **Reply #39 on:** Jul 27, 2007, 04:41:47 PM »

Quote from: "Grayven"

I lost interest in Skeptico after the shameful backstabbing Dr Lester interview. Alex's tactic of interrupting with his little sermons struck me as somewhat unethical
.

Same here. I also find near death experiences interesting, because I'm an atheist. Alex made it seem like because Lester brought up his atheism, he must be biased against NDEs, when Lester hadn't said or done anything to give that impression. Ugly, just ugly.

JurijD · « **Reply #40 on:** Jul 27, 2007, 05:34:06 PM »

Quote from: "Nightspore"

... supernatural explanations ("the brain is the receiver in a field of consciousness", for example), and try to persuade people that his view is better and must be correct.

yes Alex is great at explaining an unknown with another unknown.

his podcasts are mostly devoid of real information. It's all "uuu what IF this were true... THEN ...."

I personally don't want to waste my time listening to idiotic speculations and personal sacred cows.

mindme · « **Reply #41 on:** Jul 27, 2007, 07:17:51 PM »

Quote from: "JurijD"

Quote from: "Nightspore"
... supernatural explanations ("the brain is the receiver in a field of consciousness", for example), and try to persuade people that his view is better and must be correct.

yes Alex is great at explaining an unknown with another unknown.

his podcasts are mostly devoid of real information. It's all "uuu what IF this were true... THEN ...."

I personally don't want to waste my time listening to idiotic speculations and personal sacred cows.

Yeah the one with the husband/wife team was a great example. They were offering stigmata as evidence for mind/body dualism. Geez. Alex's skepticism of that which confirms his belief is rather astounding.

JMA · « **Reply #42 on:** Feb 13, 2008, 11:18:21 PM »

There is a new Skeptiko episode available. :roll:

Calvyn · « **Reply #43 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 12:15:27 AM »

Christ, did you have to necro a thread made last July?

mindme · « **Reply #44 on:** Feb 14, 2008, 05:17:21 AM »

Boy Alex's "I'm done with the skeptics" bit didn't last. I thought his podcast was from here on in going to be devoted to his psychic dog research. But it would appear he's back moaning.