NYC Skeptics Public Lecture: Rebecca Watson

[Reager]

NYC Skeptics Public Lecture Series presents

Rebecca Watson

"Women and Skepticism"

When: Saturday February 16 @ 1:00 PM

Where: University Settlement
184 Eldridge St. (at Rivington St., two blocks south of Houston)

Click here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=184+Eldridge+St.+New+York+City&sll=40.721217,-73.990731&sspn=0.005806,0.009999&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1) for map.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Rebecca is the founder of Skepchick.org (http://www.%3cbr%20/%3Eskepchick.org), an online magazine focused on women and critical thinking. Her articles and essays have appeared online and in newspapers and magazines across the United States. Her daily ramblings can be found at www.skepchick.org/blog (http://www.nycskeptics.org/lectures/www.skepchick.org/blog). She occasionally poses in skeptic pin-up calendars.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I'm so glad I won't be in NY that day.

[kittynh]

not as glad as Rebecca!

[rebecca]

Ha ha, too true, Kitty.

People in the NYC area, let's make a whole thing of it! I'd like to see people, at the talk and afterward at the bar.

[MWare]

Information about potential travel options and those looking for travelling companions feel free to check here:

http://www.nycskeptics.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=107

Information about the Fung Wah bus and Metro North as well as other options will be posted at the above link in the next couple of days.

Hope to see everyone there.

[Wowbagger]

"Wowbagger wishes to retract this post. He apologizes, for it came out a lot meaner than he intended. We are keeping the original text here, for historical context, but unless you are reading this thread with history in mind, please pretend it does not exist."





Hey, maybe if we're lucky, Rebecca will actually tell us all how we can get up off our butts, and do something; instead of just talking about herself and her radio show, for the whole time.

[kittynh]

wow you are such a smmooooth talker.

[Phil]

Hey, maybe if we're lucky, Rebecca will actually tell us all how we can get up off our butts, and do something; instead of just talking about herself and her radio show, for the whole time.


Ouch!!


I'm checking my frequent flier miles. Haven't been to New York since the Wiseman show. May be time for another Phil invasion.

[KingMerv00]

I'm in. Anybody in Philly want to coordinate transport?

[rebecca]

Hey, maybe if we're lucky, Rebecca will actually tell us all how we can get up off our butts, and do something; instead of just talking about herself and her radio show, for the whole time.

Wow, wtf. For the record, the title printed on the schedule was a mistake -- it was an early suggestion I gave Jeff, which I then changed because I didn't want to repeat my talk from TAM5. Do you want a refund?

eta:
And you know, not to harp on it, but I find it really depressing that I failed to convey to you the point of the talk, which I had hoped would be clear: through grassroots community activism, we can make positive changes in the way the mainstream media operates in regards to skepticism. And not only is it depressing that I failed to do that, but also that I failed so badly that you felt it was important enough to post here, despite the fact that you've previously expressed support for the things I do.

[KingMerv00]

Wow, wtf.

Wtf indeed. I think if one really really wanted to get off their butts and do something, it would have been done already. I site Robert S. Lancaster. He didn't need Rebecca's help.

[Phil]

Wow, wtf. For the record, the title printed on the schedule was a mistake -- it was an early suggestion I gave Jeff, which I then changed because I didn't want to repeat my talk from TAM5. Do you want a refund?

eta:
And you know, not to harp on it, but I find it really depressing that I failed to convey to you the point of the talk, which I had hoped would be clear: through grassroots community activism, we can make positive changes in the way the mainstream media operates in regards to skepticism. And not only is it depressing that I failed to do that, but also that I failed so badly that you felt it was important enough to post here, despite the fact that you've previously expressed support for the things I do.


Don't kill him. I think it was just bad delivery.

[Gravy]

Hey, maybe if we're lucky, Rebecca will actually tell us all how we can get up off our butts, and do something; instead of just talking about herself and her radio show, for the whole time.I'm hoping you meant that in jest, because your heckling lines were for Saturday.

I'm glad Rebecca talked about the radio show. It's a big deal! And difficult. And scary (to me). And important.

[Cleon]

I'm hoping you meant that in jest, because your heckling lines were for Saturday.

I'm glad Rebecca talked about the radio show. It's a big deal! And difficult. And scary (to me). And important.

And considerably more effective than snarky posts on a message board. :mad:

[KingMerv00]

Don't kill him. I think it was just bad delivery.

I'm going to give Wowbagger the benefit of the doubt and assume it was a joke.

[Gravy]

I'm going to give Wowbagger the benefit of the doubt and assume it was a joke.I think so. He seems like a genuinely nice guy.

[kittynh]

hey it seems to be one of those jokes that sounds funny in your head.

And only there.

Cause he's been a real Rebecca supporter. Think it's a rag on that article.

Oh and Gravy, while I'm sure you are a good tour guide, you should see Rebecca do Boston! I mean.... you know... I mean she sure knows how to move people around Boston....and keep them happy.

I give up!

[RSLancastr]

That's okay. My talk was originally titled "Stopping People Who Resemble Richard Wiseman," and I hardly touched on that at all.

[Wowbagger]

Oh dear,

It seems the words in my last post were taken a tad too harshly than I intended. Perhaps I should have phrased it in a manner akin to constructive criticism, instead of the snarkiness that ended up coming out. My bad.

I fully support Rebecca's radio show, and I have been pushing it onto everyone I know: friends, family, co-workers, etc.
And, hearing the whole story behind it was quite cool. The presentation was, in fact, well delivered. No refund necessary.

However, since Public Radio contests don't crop up very often, I feel it would have been nice if we also could be given some insights into what the average Joe might do, to obtain more of these opportunities. This is NOT meant to be taken as hatred of the whole thing. It is merely a suggestion for next time.
Maybe asking the producers for advice, on how to attract mainstream producers, and conveying that, would be a nice supplement.

Besides, if I really hated Rebecca's speech, I would have told her, to her face, at the convention. I am not one for squirming behind keyboards, to vent such opinions.

So, a thousand apologies to Rebecca and company. And, I look forward to seeing y'all in February!

And you know, not to harp on it, but I find it really depressing that I failed to convey to you the point of the talk, which I had hoped would be clear: through grassroots community activism, we can make positive changes in the way the mainstream media operates in regards to skepticism. And not only is it depressing that I failed to do that, but also that I failed so badly that you felt it was important enough to post here, despite the fact that you've previously expressed support for the things I do. You failed at no such thing! I failed in portraying my future suggestions more nicely.

Though, I admire your response. Had mine been intended as harsh criticism, it would have been right appropriate.

I'm hoping you meant that in jest, because your heckling lines were for Saturday. It certainly came off less "jestful" than I intended. Only upon re-reading it now, do I realize how ugly the words were.

I'm glad Rebecca talked about the radio show. It's a big deal! And difficult. And scary (to me). And important. I whole-heartedly agree.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

...you should see Rebecca do Boston!

Didn't they make a movie about that?

:duck:

[Ziggy66]

Drinks on Wowbanger! LOL

[Wowbagger]

Drinks on Wowbanger! LOLI will certainly buy Rebecca a drink or two, to make up for that lousy post!
(and the name is Wowbagger, btw, not banger, not that it's a big deal, though).


Say, Mods: Since it's too late for me to edit post #6, I was wondering if one of y'all could add a statement to the top of it. Something like this:
"Wowbagger wishes to retract this post. He apologizes, for it came out a lot meaner than he intended. We are keeping the original text here, for historical context, but unless you are reading this thread with history in mind, please pretend it does not exist."
Or, something like that.

[Gravy]

<snip>
I fully support Rebecca's radio show, and I have been pushing it onto everyone I know: friends, family, co-workers, etc.
And, hearing the whole story behind it was quite cool. The presentation was, in fact, well delivered. No refund necessary.

However, since Public Radio contests don't crop up very often, I feel it would have been nice if we also could be given some insights into what the average Joe might do, to obtain more of these opportunities. This is NOT meant to be taken as hatred of the whole thing. It is merely a suggestion for next time.
Maybe asking the producers for advice, on how to attract mainstream producers, and conveying that, would be a nice supplement.I can't speak for Rebecca, but I don't suppose such opportunities come around – or can be created – often. That's why they had a 4-hour podcasting seminar on Friday and Brian's short talk and the podcasting panel discussion on Saturday. There's something that's accessible to almost everyone (although creating a show that people want to listen to takes talent and smarts). The important thing is that these people didn't wait around for a national radio show opportunity to arise.

Michael Stackpole, who has been doing this longer than any of the other speakers, had the most concrete advice about dealing with the media and debate opponents. What I took from the other speakers, and what I tried to convey, was the inspirational idea that whatever the bothersome issue that needs fixing, amateurs with no previous experience can dive in and make a difference.

Rebecca is inspiring because what she's doing takes not only a ton of work and talent and smarts, but also a boatload of courage.






Although being an attention whore doesn't hurt... :duck:
http://wtc7lies.googlepages.com/DSCF7439.jpg

[KingMerv00]

I will certainly buy Rebecca a drink or two, to make up for that lousy post!
(and the name is Wowbagger, btw, not banger, not that it's a big deal, though).


Say, Mods: Since it's too late for me to edit post #6, I was wondering if one of y'all could add a statement to the top of it. Something like this:
"Wowbagger wishes to retract this post. He apologizes, for it came out a lot meaner than he intended. We are keeping the original text here, for historical context, but unless you are reading this thread with history in mind, please pretend it does not exist."
Or, something like that.

Apologies for my own snarky comments Wowbagger.

[LibraryLady]

And by the way, I'm no longer scared of Rebecca. I've met her. I could take her, two falls out of three.

[Kochanski]

I am ready to party with any and all JREFers who show up for Rebecca's talk. I am already experiencing serious withdrawal symptoms from TAM 5.5.

[Reager]

I am ready to party with any and all JREFers who show up for Rebecca's talk. I am already experiencing serious withdrawal symptoms from TAM 5.5.

Try and remember the question you wanted to ask me. :-)

[Wowbagger]

Thank you, mods, for adding the retraction statement!

I can't speak for Rebecca, but I don't suppose such opportunities come around – or can be created – often. That's why they had a 4-hour podcasting seminar on Friday and Brian's short talk and the podcasting panel discussion on Saturday. There's something that's accessible to almost everyone (although creating a show that people want to listen to takes talent and smarts). The important thing is that these people didn't wait around for a national radio show opportunity to arise.

Michael Stackpole, who has been doing this longer than any of the other speakers, had the most concrete advice about dealing with the media and debate opponents. What I took from the other speakers, and what I tried to convey, was the inspirational idea that whatever the bothersome issue that needs fixing, amateurs with no previous experience can dive in and make a difference.

Rebecca is inspiring because what she's doing takes not only a ton of work and talent and smarts, but also a boatload of courage. Don't assume I didn't know all this already.

I am, in fact, in the midst of getting up and doing stuff. I have a film project which is (slowly) making progress (it is fictional, but does have a skeptical view), content ideas for a 'blog, and another web site project I am actually collaborating with Rebecca on. I would like to see them all succeed. Though, which one I spend the most time on, will be decided as I evaluate the feedback.

I did attend the workshop, which was quite good (although, like others have said, it would be nice to hear more about blogging, and a little less about podcasting, but it makes little difference. I suspect personality is what really drives these things, anyway.).

Hearing Rebecca speak about the progress being made, and what more we can do, to attract others into critical thinking (especially women, who have, historically, been less active in these things), is definitely something I want to be part of!

Although being an attention whore doesn't hurt... :duck: I don't think we would ever allow Rebecca to be such an attention whore, if she wasn't so gosh-darn brilliant!

Apologies for my own snarky comments Wowbagger. Oh, that's okay. I probably deserved them. I think everyone's reaction was very appropriate, if you were to assume the post was intended to be as mean as it was. So, the next time someone makes such a comment, I expect similar reactions from y'all! Don't soften the blow. Tell it like it is!!

[Ziggy66]

I will certainly buy Rebecca a drink or two, to make up for that lousy post!
(and the name is Wowbagger, btw, not banger, not that it's a big deal, though).


I'm sorry, I meant to say "Drinks AT Wowbagger (as in, Rebecca throws hers...) :-)

PS. Sorry about the nick typo

[jmercer]

Excuse me, but Rebecca is not an "attention-whore" any more than a black-hole is a gravity-whore. Attention just naturally goes to her based on her innate qualities. :)

Might as well blame the sun for giving a sunburn, or romance for thrilling hearts.

[LibraryLady]

Excuse me, but Rebecca is not an "attention-whore" any more than a black-hole is a gravity-whore. Attention just naturally goes to her based on her innate qualities. :)

Might as well blame the sun for giving a sunburn, or romance for thrilling hearts.

Or day for following night.

Now that I have met Rebecca, I can say categorically, she's got the charisma and brains to be a media spokesperson for our movement.

Now if we can just get her to stop cussing...

[Wowbagger]

I'm bumpin' this thing, to remind everyone it's this weekend!!

[Wowbagger]

Er.. but, now it's more like last weekend.

It was her best presentation, yet, though!

[Gravy]

More photos here. (http://nyctours.googlepages.com/nycskepticspubliclecture)

[Alliebubs]

Great talk and excellent after-lecture schmoozing. The boy and I enjoyed it verily. :)