Case, Jeremy and Sam explore the definition of scientific skepticism and touch on the usual topics that fail the sniff test.
Sam Mulvey is a producer and the technical brain behind Ask an Atheist. He is a collector of vinegar varieties, vintage computers, antique radios, and propaganda.
Hey guys, great show and intro into skepticism!
In the spirit of the show, I want to call you out on your own ad hominem attack: Before you got started talking about skepticism, you were talking about the anti-vaxers, and you urged the audience to “not get their science from Playboy bunnies.” It’s an excellent example of the ad hominem fallacy. Jenny McCarthy is not wrong about vaccinations because she is a former Playboy bunny, she’s wrong because the evidence overwhelmingly shows there’s no link between vaccines and autism.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks you for your reply, Jenea. I wouldn’t necessarily call it an ad hominem attack. As you say, Jenny McCarthy is not a doctor or any sort of expert on autism and its causes. The point we made is that someone is a bad source on autism because they were a Playboy bunny, but because that’s the platform of fame she uses to promote her anti-vaccine activism. If there’s a former Playboy centerfold out there with a published peer reviewed paper connected austim to vaccination, I’ll definitely listen. As I would listen if any Playboy centerfold made it clear they… Read more »
Comments on this show were moved to a post called “your food crazy”.