http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms UK-Skeptics articles and commentary Mon, 11 May 2009 11:54:25 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en One main reason that people are attracted to herbal medicines is that they are "natural therefore safe". This, of course, is a dangerous assumption and is completely wrong. There are two main reasons why 'natural' does not necessarily mean safe: Naturally occurring drugs.If a herbal remedy ... http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms/herbal-viagra-traditional-chinese-medicine-health-warning/ This is an announcement for the UK-Skeptics 2009 paranormal conference, which will take place at the beautiful (and supposedly haunted!) Muncaster Castle in the English Lake District on the weekend of the 18th-20th September 2009. The aim of the conference is to take a balanced view of anomalous experiences from all ... http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms/uk-skeptics-paranormal-conference-2009/ John Jackson © UK-Skeptics C onfirmation bias is where we look for reasons, or supporting evidence, that matches our belief or thesis whilst disregarding or placing less weight on disconfirming reasons or evidence against it.As a hypothetical example, let's look at someone's belief that hypnotherapy ... http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms/confirmationan-error-of-reasoning/ John Jackson © UK-Skeptics "I'm entitled to my opinion", "you're entitled to your opinion". Both of these expressions come up frequently in debates but what do people mean by them and are they of any relevance in a debate? I'm entitled to my opinion Tom: I ... http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms/entitled-to-an-opinion/ All over the media last week were reports of the finding that drinking coffee can lead to people seeing ghosts. Headlines such as: Three cups of brewed coffee a day 'triples risk of hallucinations'; 'Visions link' to coffee intake; and the alarmist Danger from just 7 cups of coffee a day. all had ... http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms/drinking-coffee-makes-you-see-ghosts/ See: Critical Thinking petition. A new petition has been started to petition the Prime Minister to introduce Critical Thinking as part of the core curriculum in primary and secondary schools. From the petition's creator: Critical Thinking is an essential skill, providing a mental tool-kit to help the thinker tell fact from fantasy. It ... http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms/critical-thinking-petition/ vbloke © 2006 Let's assume for a minute that astrology actually works. No questions, it just does. Now, when the astrological signs were drawn up originally, it was done around 600BC. Each sign (e.g.: Scorpio) are exactly 30° wide - they are measured ... http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms/astrology-and-precession/ Claims are often put forward by proponents of alternative remedies and therapies stating that they have tested their treatment and it has passed the test: proof that it works. Skeptics, however, insist that unless a treatment has passed a double-blind, placebo-controlled ... http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms/randomised-placebo-controlled-double-blind-trials/ An examination of the question: can skeptics be skeptical of skepticism? John Jackson © 2008 “There’s no such thing as truth.” What is wrong with this statement? Well, it’s a statement that is presented as being factual (true) and yet it’s claiming that there is no such ... http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms/are-you-skeptical-of-skepticism/ vbloke © 2006 Western (Zodiacal) astrology relies on the position of the Sun, Moon and planets at the time of your birth to determine your personality. Each planet has a particular "personality" and affects different aspects of your personality.How this happens is ... http://www.ukskeptics.com/cms/zodiacal-astrology/