The historic and original "Welcome new posters! Introduce yourselves here!" thread

[Paulhoff]

Now, now Paul, we've told you before: Stop barbequeing the newbies!

Slow roasting in the oven is preferred!
Thanks, I forgot the Barbecue sauce.

Paul

:) :) :)

[Calvyn]

/wave.

Just joining up to get subject matter for my podcast. I may comment occasionally, but I spend most of my time hanging out over at the SGU forums.

[grayman]

Thanks, I forgot the Barbecue sauce.

Paul

:) :) :)

Hey Paul, here's the olive oil and spices you asked for.



I'll be over here in the corner milking the goat.

[CJOKUSAP]

Hey Paul, here's the olive oil and spices you asked for.



I'll be over here in the corner milking the goat.
Oh, so that's what you are doing! Well , thank a deity for that then!:)

[GeeMack]

First name initial "G", last name initial "Mc". GeeMack.

Professional magician for decades. (Just one among many vocations and even more avocations.)

Recently tagged a professional skeptic by one who wasn't a skeptic at all. I know, dubious honor.

Non-theist. Not a theist. Atheist.

Once upon a long time ago the dean of boys at my high school wagged his fat finger at me and said, "Mack, you're a thinker, and thinkers make waves." Yeah? Well, grab a surfboard dean, old man, and hold on tight!

[prewitt81]

First name initial "G", last name initial "Mc". GeeMack.

Professional magician for decades. (Just one among many vocations and even more avocations.)

Recently tagged a professional skeptic by one who wasn't a skeptic at all. I know, dubious honor.

Non-theist. Not a theist. Atheist.

Once upon a long time ago the dean of boys at my high school wagged his fat finger at me and said, "Mack, you're a thinker, and thinkers make waves." Yeah? Well, grab a surfboard dean, old man, and hold on tight!

I like it! Welcome, GeeMack!

[rosolenn]

this is interesting... i forgot how i got to this link ... i wanted to post something & had to join ... by the time i got joined i had forgotten what trivia i wanted to expound on... old age, i guess - now 65

originally from toronto... james randi's from there too, i believe and i greatly admire him for his debunking mission in life ... there are too many naked emperors running around being admired for their lavish attire

i am a bit of a science geek (msc physics too long ago to remember), especially the history of science and what makes it special in the larger context of humanism and the enlightenment ... and arguments against teaching intelligent design (ie creationism) in biology classes ... why the global warming skeptics are wrong even if they're right, which they're not, but maybe are a bit, but are strongly linked to the big, rich guys but then again

enough already ... i'll say g'bye and wish you all healthy skepticism with a positive spin ... just got back from a canoe trip with a bunch of old friends, also science/engineering nerds and now off on a family canoe trip and no worries except maybe bears who gladly should not be hungry at this time of year

norm

[grayman]

Oh, so that's what you are doing! Well , thank a deity for that then!:)

Ummm...yeah. :mglook :goat

[CJOKUSAP]

Ummm...yeah. :mglook :goat
You seem confused! Are you really that narrow-minded?

[chess1306]

Thanks for all your input.

[Foolmewunz]

First name initial "G", last name initial "Mc". GeeMack.

Professional magician for decades. (Just one among many vocations and even more avocations.)

Recently tagged a professional skeptic by one who wasn't a skeptic at all. I know, dubious honor.

Non-theist. Not a theist. Atheist.

Once upon a long time ago the dean of boys at my high school wagged his fat finger at me and said, "Mack, you're a thinker, and thinkers make waves." Yeah? Well, grab a surfboard dean, old man, and hold on tight!

Welcome, GeeMack.

I guess you already know, then that there are a bunch of magicians hanging out over in Conjurer's Corner. Cranky bunch, too! All I wanted was to know how Houdini did that one little trick, for Chrissake!:spjimlad:

I think you need to post a lot in a hurry. We have an unfortunately similar name on these boards, G4MCDAD, and since he's suspended right now, I thought you were somehow him, back from the not-quite-dead. He's a bit of a piece of work and his religious beliefs are about 180 degrees in the opposite direction of yours.

[Tanstaafl]

... there are too many naked emperors running around being admired for their lavish attire


Well said!

And welcome to the forum.

[AuctionGuy]

I am new to this forum and look forward to lots of reading. I have an open mind and am willing to listen to all points of view even ones I may not agree with.

[Scot Ferre]

Hi - I'm a moderator on another big VBulletin forum, so I know my way around these kinds of forums - anyway, this is my second post, and I'm just here to participate in certain threads that deal with the LDS Church. I happen to be LDS, and I am looking forward to discussing such matters in the relevant threads. I live in Utah, and am a school psychologist, and a Rehabilitation Counselor currently. Anyway - I'll see y'all around. :)

[Darat]

Welcome AuctionGuy.

Scott - I've already welcomed you in the past.... ;)

[CJOKUSAP]

I hear Her Majesty ERII once said that Manchester was "not a very nice place".
Compared to where?

[Mr. Skinny]

I am new to this forum and look forward to lots of reading. I have an open mind and am willing to listen to all points of view even ones I may not agree with.
Welcome, AuctionGuy.

That may be one of the most bland intros I've ever read on our intro thread(s). :)

How are we supposed to find anything to agree/disagree with or poke fun at with an opening post like that?

We need material to work with, man!

Hi - I'm a moderator on another big VBulletin forum, so I know my way around these kinds of forums - anyway, this is my second post, and I'm just here to participate in certain threads that deal with the LDS Church. I happen to be LDS, and I am looking forward to discussing such matters in the relevant threads. I live in Utah, and am a school psychologist, and a Rehabilitation Counselor currently. Anyway - I'll see y'all around. :)

Welcome, Scot.

We have a few former LDS'ers here. I think we even have one active one, Sword of Truth, if memory serves. He hangs out in the Conspiracy Theories forum sometimes.

Enjoy your stay.

Skinny

[Tanstaafl]

Welcome, Scot.

We have a few former LDS'ers here. I think we even have one active one, Sword of Truth, if memory serves. He hangs out in the Conspiracy Theories forum sometimes.

Enjoy your stay.

Skinny


rcronk also, who is very active in Religion. But then again, Scot has already found him.

[Ysidro]

We have an unfortunately similar name on these boards, G4MCDAD, and since he's suspended right now....

G4 got suspended? Oh my, I'm going to have to check this out.

[Oubliette]

Hello everyone! :D Greetings from Puerto Rico.

I just joined the forum and I've already seen some interesting opinions around.

Btw, that "new blood" label sounds like I just joined a vampire cult or something... haha I like it ;)

See ya around!

[tkingdoll]

Hallo and welcome to all the noobs.

[Scot Ferre]

Scott - I've already welcomed you in the past.... ;)

Hmm - I wonder... :)

Please PM me where I know you from. I'm curious.

[grayman]

Scott - I've already welcomed you in the past.... ;)

Hmm - I wonder... :)

Please PM me where I know you from. I'm curious.

Darat, have you been playing with the TARDIS again?

[Wanton Soup]

Well, the spell checker just wiped out a long arduous message that I really don't feel like re-writing, so I guess I just say howdy. I'm very new to this site, and I hope it contains all the promise that it seems. Or something...er...yeah...

[Hokulele]

Well, the spell checker just wiped out a long arduous message that I really don't feel like re-writing, so I guess I just say howdy. I'm very new to this site, and I hope it contains all the promise that it seems. Or something...er...yeah...


Welcome Wanton Soup! Just ignore any promises grayman might make, and have fun.

[Andrewsarchus]

Oi everyone!
I'm not really "new" to the forum because I've been a lurker for few years. I am pretty familiar with the resident posters, trolls, kooks, and the usage of the word "interesting". I've recently decided to commit to becoming a member and attempt to interact with you all in an effort to get over my fear of having a forum presence.

[grayman]

Wanton Soup, welcome to the forum.

Would you like some ice cream or an oatmeal cookie? Just follow me...:stone028:

[grayman]

Oi everyone!
I'm not really "new" to the forum because I've been a lurker for few years. I am pretty familiar with the resident posters, trolls, kooks, and the usage of the word "interesting". I've recently decided to commit to becoming a member and attempt to interact with you all in an effort to get over my fear of having a forum presence.

Interesting.

[Hokulele]

Wanton Soup, welcome to the forum.

Would you like some ice cream or an oatmeal cookie? Just follow me...:stone028:


Don't say I didn't warn you!

[arthwollipot]

Compared to where?

Not stated.

[Paulhoff]

Fresh blood, oh boy, time for blood soup.

Paul

:) :) :)

Yesssss, this will be very tasty, much go and buy fresh spices.

[Tanstaafl]

Interesting.


It's true! :)

[hcmom]

I've recently decided to commit to becoming a member and attempt to interact with you all in an effort to get over my fear of having a forum presence.

What/who here could possibly be scary?

Unless you're a goat or a nun, that is.

Well, or you value your sanity.




Um..... or you run into MdeC, or grayman, or one of their "friends". (The goats and nuns....)




Uh...... or you think wandering into the CT forums would be a good idea.


Or R&P.

Other than that, no worries.

[grayman]

Andrewsarchus, your biggest worry here is dangling a participle in front of hcmom.

Shhh! There she is. Act casual.

[hcmom]

* hcmom giggles QUITE innocently

[Paulhoff]

* hcmom;2901363 giggles QUITE innocently
I need a new dictionary, innocence means something different in mine.

Paul

:) :) :)

[Tanstaafl]

She just means that she's innocent of any crime.

Really just her way of saying the goat was of legal age.

[Paulhoff]

She just means that she's innocent of any crime.

Really just her way of saying the goat was of legal age.
And for a goat that age is.

Paul

:) :) :)

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Greetings JREF folks,

I have been in the skeptical community for many years now, but only recently have I started looking at the various forums. I'm a long-time reader of the Skepchick blog, and a dedicated listener to the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe podcast.

I was introduced to skepticism when I was given Sagan's Demon-Haunted World as a Christmas present a while back. Then I read the books of Michael Shermer, Randi, Bob Carroll, Schick & Vaughn, etc. Skepticism and critical thinking are now one of my driving passions, along with science education and (cognitive) learning theory.

My day job is teaching college astronomy. I also teach a course in critical thinking & the scientific method, which is heavily influenced by my desire to educate the general public about the difference between real science and pseudoscience. In all my classrooms, I endeavor to show that science is a way of approaching the world, and that science isn't only done by "old white guys with beards" (no offense, Randi). I have also recently started showing other teachers how to incorporate a critical approach to pseudoscience in their classes.

So, there you go. A long winded introduction.
~goodguyseatpie~

[Mojo]

Welcome to the forum, and enjoy your pie!

[ferj]

Hello, I am a genuine psychic. I hope to use this forum as a practice run before entering the $1m challenge. I intend to post predictions of future events.

[grayman]

goodguyseatpie, we have a thread for you. Click here (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=89750).

Welcome aboard.

[grayman]

Hello, I am a genuine psychic. I hope to use this forum as a practice run before entering the $1m challenge. I intend to post predictions of future events.

Welcome to the forum.

You are not the first self-proclaimed "psychic" to visit here. Prepare to have your claims closely examined and discussed. Likely you will toss out vague generalizations and say in retrospect that you were right. Lilkely we will ask for rock-solid evidence. Likely you will get frustrated and leave the forum as previous psychics have. Likely the $1,000,000.00 will still be untouched (not a prediction, just playing the odds).

Good luck ferj. We await your predictions.

[hcmom]

Hello, I am a genuine psychic. I hope to use this forum as a practice run before entering the $1m challenge. I intend to post predictions of future events.

Do you do private-type readings, or just world events?

[Foolmewunz]

Hello, I am a genuine psychic. I hope to use this forum as a practice run before entering the $1m challenge. I intend to post predictions of future events.

I knew you were going to say that! (Someone had to do it... It's a JREF tradition.)

Welcome, and like Grayman said, be prepared. You will have your claims scrutinized very heavily. Also be prepared for a few people who may be, shall we say, "less than polite". You have come into a skeptics playground, after all.

[Foolmewunz]

Greetings JREF folks,

I have been in the skeptical community for many years now, but only recently have I started looking at the various forums. I'm a long-time reader of the Skepchick blog, and a dedicated listener to the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe podcast.

I was introduced to skepticism when I was given Sagan's Demon-Haunted World as a Christmas present a while back. Then I read the books of Michael Shermer, Randi, Bob Carroll, Schick & Vaughn, etc. Skepticism and critical thinking are now one of my driving passions, along with science education and (cognitive) learning theory.

My day job is teaching college astronomy. I also teach a course in critical thinking & the scientific method, which is heavily influenced by my desire to educate the general public about the difference between real science and pseudoscience. In all my classrooms, I endeavor to show that science is a way of approaching the world, and that science isn't only done by "old white guys with beards" (no offense, Randi). I have also recently started showing other teachers how to incorporate a critical approach to pseudoscience in their classes.

So, there you go. A long winded introduction.
~goodguyseatpie~


Mmmmmm, Pie! Tend to the thread Grayman recommended, but don't worry if you miss it, 'cuz we have a new pie thread every six to eight months, it seems.

I think you'll find we have a couple of Astronomers on board, already. And anyone promoting critical thinking in the schools is allright in my book!

Welcome - and have fun.

[ferj]

problem posting testing

[ferj]

back later

[Paulhoff]

problem posting testing
A so-called genuine psychic and didn't foresee this, and most likely didn’t foresee the very hard road ahead on this forum either. :D

Paul

:) :) :)

[HghrSymmetry]

Welcome ferj. I'm looking forward to the winning multi-state power ball numbers.
I would prefer you send them to me by private message, because if you post them publicly,....thousands will know the numbers and the pot will be watered down to an insignificant amount.

Thanks a million (pun intended).
;)

[ferj]

HghrSymmetry
ok so let,s get the one about "So why don,t you win the lottery then AY!!!!!"out of the way. The answer is that winning the lottery is very difficult for anyone, even someone as gifted as myself.

[Paulhoff]

The answer is that winning the lottery is very difficult for anyone, even someone as gifted as myself.
What a convenient comeback.

Paul

:) :) :)

[UltraTexan]

How do you guys get them nifty avatars?

[John 13]

hey JREF...

My name is John 13 or J13P, (the 13 is not a religious reference, my middle name begins with M (13th letter) and i hate the name. So i changed it.

it took me a while to find my way here, but i have been an admirer of Randi for quite some time. To be frank, when i was younger(I'm 31) I used to confuse him with some magician that also used the prefix amazing. So i would like to publicly apologize for that. Sorry Randi!

Im a recovering catholic. that became an atheist in the 8th grade when i was forced to be confirmed. They told me, "john this will be the most important decisions in your catholic life if you don't get married or become a priest." I took it very seriously. I sheepishly told Cardinal Bernadin (yes the cardinal, he was associated with our church, so he was hands on with it) in confidence that i didn't think i was ready for such a thing. Our teachers had told us to consider it carefully so i did. So what happened?

THE BASTARD HE SOLD ME OUT. HA!

I was called to a special meeting with 3 of my teachers, my principal, my assistant principal, our pastor, a few nuns who headed up the alter boys (yes i was an alter boy.) So they just blurt out the question, "So you don't think your ready to be confirmed?" I knew i was sold out. I quietly said no. They babbled allot, and finally said...So you know you don't graduate 8th grade if you are not confirmed. That was the precise moment i became an atheist. It was in fact a religious experience.HA! My choices were:

A. Lie to a guy in a funny hat in a church in front of a thousand people, and graduate.

Or

B. Say i wasn't ready, get my ass kicked for 3 solid months by my drill instructor dad, and then re-do 8th grade. At the end of which i would have to lie to a guy in a pointy hat in front of a thousand ppl in a church.

I was confirmed, and i went on to more catholic school, but much more smarter. Since i went to all these catholic schools, I know i was taught alot of ******** science. I like to read as much as i can regarding the sciences to in fact "un-learn." So if i say something really dumb, don't roast me. I promise to try not to.

This whole atheist thing was important because this started my life as a critical thinker. Since I knew they were all full of ****, i went into future religion classes with sharp claws and a chip on my shoulder(yeah, i was kind of a bastard about the subject.) So in high school, I had no problem calling out the teachers who were spewing trash even though i was disciplined heavily for it. It all seemed worth it. It was like they already "showed me their hand" in that meeting before i left 8th grade.


That's where I'm coming from. I'm also a full time professional musician(guitar and various instruments) and artist. I review concerts and music for a handful of web sites, and so far I have been on 3 continents. Tell Asia my feet haven't touched the shore yet!

I'm pretty excited about joining as I have been a reader of randi's blog for a while, and my favorite part of SGU is Randi speaks. I have not been to my first TAM yet, but I will make it to one some day if I can financially swing it!

So, Hello Brothers and Sisters...and for me, "Don't touch each other unless you intend love!"-Jagger

Best,
John/J13P

The Suns not yellow, its chicken!-dylan

[grayman]

How do you guys get them nifty avatars?

They usually start as a rash.

[UltraTexan]

Hey John 13, I too am a recovering catholic guitarist. :D

Your confirmation reminds me of mine. My mother forced me to go through these classes, and I pretty much did it just to get it over with and get her out of my hair so I could go back to playing Playstation or whatever. Anyway, you know how you have to pick a confirmation name based on saint's names? Well, just to be a smart@ss, I picked two names, from two actual saints, and when the priest read my name he said, "Johann Sebastian." :D

[UltraTexan]

They usually start as a rash.

And end up as a mustache?

[grayman]

John 13, welcome to the forum.

Um...that's about it. Can't think of anything witty at the moment.

Want an oatmeal cookie...?

[grayman]

They usually start as a rash.

And end up as a mustache?

Or a cold sore.

Really, that's all it is.

[Hokulele]

And end up as a mustache?


After 50 posts, you will have the option of choosing an avatar in your User Options.

OK, who let grayman out of the Humor section?

[UltraTexan]

Thanks, I'll be like, cool and stuff after 50 posts....

[grayman]

OK, who let grayman out of the Humor section?

I'll go back if you tie me up like last time. :stone028:

[HghrSymmetry]

Welcome John.
I suspect your tale is identifiable to many members.
Many of us had to conform and pretend to survive that period as well.

Its unfortunate that it has left resentment, scars, and various painful memories, but hey, we're only human.

The perpetrators often forget....the victims seldom do.

[Geek Goddess]

How do you guys get them nifty avatars?

Under UserCP (at the menu bar at the top), then edit avatar. You must have 50 posts to do this, so get crackin'

[Disenchanted]

Hi

[grayman]

Hi

hey

[Paulhoff]

Hello, I am a genuine psychic. I hope to use this forum as a practice run before entering the $1m challenge. I intend to post predictions of future events.
Serious????????????? and on this forum.

Paul

:) :) :)

[Hokulele]

I'll go back if you tie me up like last time. :stone028:


They no longer sell that gauge of steel cable. I wonder if kevlar would hold . . .

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Since I'm a newbie, I figured the following reply belonged here, rather than as a hijack on another thread.

From the "hole in the Universe" thread:

Oh yeah? So what's a seat pie?

:whistling

Something babies make, perhaps? :)

Actually, I'll give extra credit (a gold star?) to the first person to correctly determine how I derived my moniker (WITHOUT Google). And, no, it's not because I'm a Good Guy and I like to eat pie. Points for effort will also be awarded. :p

[petra10]

welcome goodguyseatpie....is it because your a good guy who sits on pies or your a bad guy who hates pies. Just pm me my gold star thank you

[Good Lt]

Hey all. Some here might know me from SLC comments, blogging at the Jawa Report, or wherever. If not, hey now anyway! Happy to join this exquisite crew of blokes.

egg:smiloe:

[BRR_Amy]

Hi all!

My name is Amy and Grayman instructed me to get in here and say hi. ;)

I'm actually a Producer for Beyond Reality Radio with Jason and Grant from TAPS. I recently booked James Randi and Robert Lancaster for a show on Skepticism and joined the forums to get an idea of what you all thought of the broadcast.

I'm a natural peacemaker, so I may not rock many boats...my goal was to find some commonalities between Paranormal Investigators and Skeptics - and hating Sylvia Browne seems to be one of them. :)

Anyway, I'm a pretty busy gal, but I promise to stop in when I can. And if anyone has any questions, show suggestions, etc - feel free to PM me or add me on myspace.

Cheers,

Amy

[COLONEL]

Hi all!

My name is Amy and Grayman instructed me to get in here and say hi. ;)

I'm actually a Producer for Beyond Reality Radio with Jason and Grant from TAPS. I recently booked James Randi and Robert Lancaster for a show on Skepticism and joined the forums to get an idea of what you all thought of the broadcast.

I'm a natural peacemaker, so I may not rock many boats...my goal was to find some commonalities between Paranormal Investigators and Skeptics - and hating Sylvia Browne seems to be one of them. :)

Anyway, I'm a pretty busy gal, but I promise to stop in when I can. And if anyone has any questions, show suggestions, etc - feel free to PM me or add me on myspace.

Cheers,

Amy
Welcome to the forum and all I can say is if you are taking instructions from the Grayman , Well ahh gee mmmm err. Oh just forget it you'll figure it out Maybe before its to late . Oh yea do not molest the goats ,they get enough of that from the Grayman .

[BRR_Amy]

*taking notes* Do not molest goats....got it!

[hcmom]

*taking notes* Do not molest goats....got it!

For a very long week or so we weren't even allowed to molest goats....

[brodski]

For a very long week or so we weren't even allowed to molest goats....

Oh, we could molest goats, we just couldn't talk about it...

[Foolmewunz]

Oh, we could molest goats, we just couldn't talk about it...

This is true. We are, after all, endowed by our lack of a creator with certain inalienable rights.

[John 13]

Thanks for the warm welcome all ye of the JREF. I look forward to learning many things, and poke at people who refuse to think rationally. Seriously, I feel the JREF is one of the most exciting movements to happen in science, and I feel it has an important cause. With its importance comes responsibility...


Best,


John

I MISS PERRY DeAngelis! :( I wish I could have known him.

[jp834618]

Hi all,

My name is J.P. - I'm an ex-"twoofer" (please don't hurt me) which is what caused me to happen across this forum. I've somehow become temporarily brainwashed by two things in my life; 9/11 conspiracy theories and the book series Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsh. Even though I always say I don't believe in anything I have to believe in, I have still been bested by those two things. I am happy at least that I've snapped out of it both times. I feel like this forum will be useful to keep me grounded in the realm of reality if I happen to be led astray again.

My healthy obsessions: Cooking, cosmetology, photography, interior design, gardening, graphic design, all things which require creativity. For work, I repair and build computers as I attend school to get my cosmetology license.

So I just wanted to say hello at the request of the message at the top of my browser. I look forward to all the intelligent and enlightening discussion I will find here.

[HghrSymmetry]

Welcome JP.

Glad to hear you "pulled it out." Yes, it's bright out here, but you get used to the visibility.

[summondice]

Hi all...as one *might* guess, I"m new. And I never correct it when I accidentally type a " instead of an ' (I wonder...do the rules of a and an apply when one is using the symbol of something...? Ah well).

I'm never very good at these introductory posts, so I suppose I'll just give the basics and be on my way (the need for an avatar compels me to post as much as possible, despite the negative effects this might have on my social well-being).

Mmmm...I'm a student majoring in philosophy (accidental emphasis in ethical theory and conveniently pre-law), though I don't claim to know anything about the subject. I chose it because it's a short program, I like the subject, I like my peers, and I like my professors. It's a winning hand. I plan to go in to freelance writing and research. I also work as an in-house auditor (one of *those* people...) for a residential substance abuse facility (or two, depending on time of year).

Oh. And I'm a goofball. I'll go ahead and claim I'm a skeptic, but I'm willing to bet many of you will ultimately disagree with that claim in due time, and I'm ok with that. I am contentedly agnostic on the "god" issue. Beyond that...I keep an open mind with a question or several at the end of my tongue.

/rigmarole. ETA: Uh...is it normal for paragraph breaks to have to be added.../what am I doing wrong that they aren't just occurring?

[hcmom]

/rigmarole. ETA: Uh...is it normal for paragraph breaks to have to be added.../what am I doing wrong that they aren't just occurring?

You have to but two lines between to get one. But that's not the worst of it. Darat refuses to allow us to have two spaces after a period, no matter how hard we try.

[summondice]

Ha ha - Oh I am so very glad that I'm not just typing strangely or something. extra "enters" it is.

I think I may be in the minority, but I'm thrilled about the lack of double spaces after a period...We hates them, Precious, we do....we hates them...I'm not a grammar, spelling, punctuation (maybe a little...), etc nazi, but I do have my odd little pet peeves (which usually go unexpressed because they really do tend to be peculiar)...double spacing after periods is one of them. :D

************* ...huh...it's not working. I keep having to use the html to make paragraph breaks...I'm using Firefox, might that be part of the issue? (I don't think it would be, but...maybe?"

[hcmom]

Ha ha - Oh I am so very glad that I'm not just typing strangely or something. extra "enters" it is.

I think I may be in the minority, but I'm thrilled about the lack of double spaces after a period...We hates them, Precious, we do....we hates them...I'm not a grammar, spelling, punctuation (maybe a little...), etc nazi, but I do have my odd little pet peeves (which usually go unexpressed because they really do tend to be peculiar)...double spacing after periods is one of them. :D

************* ...huh...it's not working. I keep having to use the html to make paragraph breaks...I'm using Firefox, might that be part of the issue? (I don't think it would be, but...maybe?"

Just watch your apostrophes and you'll be relatively safe from me... I use Firefox, and so do bunches of others, (somewhere Darat has stats on browser use) so no, it's not that.

[Paulhoff]

Darat, PhFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Paul

:) :) :)

Welcome all...... ;)

[Lord Bunner]

Hello all. I am, as one would expect by posting in this thread, a new member to the JREF forum.


FYI, please don't mistake my username as any indication of nobility or arrogance. It's simply an aquired nickname whose exact origins are lost to antiquity (i.e. I forgot how it came to be). I'll work on a creation myth to explain it some day.


Anyway, I am a first year graduate student in Astronomy, with the hopes of achieving my PhD. within the next 5-6 years. My undergraduate degree was in physics, but what I consider my *real* education was the critical thinking training I received as an undergraduate in a community of unusually intellectual students & professors.


Having left that community behind, I hope to statisfy my yearning for intelligent and critical discussion by engaging myself in this forum. My current understanding of the world leads me to adopt the position of an "atheistic agnostic" (Michael Shermer's definition). But as any critical thinker should maintain, my position is contingent on new evidence and new arguments.


I'm looking forward to the discussions on this forum!

[Hokulele]

Welcome Lord Bunner! Make sure you track down wollery, I am sure he would appreciate having another astronomer/astrophysicist around. Also, keep an eye out for the Bad Astronomer, he wanders in from time to time.

[Gregoire]

Hi all...as one *might* guess, I"m new. And I never correct it when I accidentally type a " instead of an ' (I wonder...do the rules of a and an apply when one is using the symbol of something...? Ah well).




I have learned to ask Library Lady about questions such as these. She cleared up a controversy we were having on this thread about ending a sentence with a preposition (back in July). And she, like a true skeptic, gave us two independent authoritative sources.:)


Welcome All!

[Miss Anthrope]

*Miss A rubs her psychic temples* ;)

Welcome.........Scar.....let. Scarlet. Yes, Scarlet gwababna.

I predict your presence soon in the welcome thread. Warning..the spirits are sending me a message. I see it now. Remember, Scarlet gwabababa, I have the power to delete any incriminating personal information posted about me.

[scarlet guinevere]

I recently found out about this site, and find it really interesting. I am a student close to graduating with a B.S.B.A. There are so many different areas that I am interested in and looking forward to learning more about. I'm also looking forward to getting to know some of you, and learning more about some fascinating subjects.

[Miss Anthrope]

AHA! See that?!?! Take THAT, Sylvia Browne!

Glad you finally made it here, "Scarlet"! :D

[Hokulele]

I sense a hot read.

[Geek Goddess]

[deanna troi] I feel that you knew what was about to happen [/deanna troi}

[Miss Anthrope]

Awww, you dark entity skeptics!!!!

[arthwollipot]

OMG That is sooo cool. You are like, totally psychic!

[Tanstaafl]

I sense a hot read.


If you mean a reading by a hot chick, I agree.

[grayman]

Miss A, if you start reading my mind please remember, that thing involving you, Phil, the bowl of fruit and the Barcalounger was only a thought. I've never intended to really do that. :boxedin:

[Blackwell]

Miss A, if you start reading my mind please remember, that thing involving you, Phil, the bowl of fruit and the Barcalounger was only a thought. I've never intended to really do that. :boxedin:

That's not what your post at forums.barcaloungerfetishists.com said.

[Toby Beau]

Hey everyone!
I'm a skeptical college student in Boulder, CO. I met "grayman" at a skeptics meeting last night so I decided to post on this forum a little bit. I usually post a lot on the Skeptics Guide to the Universe forum and the Internet Infidels Forum. In fact, I just kicked off a formal debate:
"The post-resurrection accounts of the New Testament cannot be reconciled"
just google Internet Infidels and find the Debates section. I'd like to hear comments.
So, if anyone is going 'ghost hunting' or doing a paranormal investigation in the Boulder/Denver area LET ME KNOW!

[this charming man]

Welcome Toby,

I look forward to "seeing" you on the boards.

[paint3d]

I have never been able to post here. Let's see if this works.

[Mr. Skinny]

I have never been able to post here. Let's see if this works.
Nah. Try again. Didn't work. :)

[saraban]

Hi longish time member, shortish time lurker and infrequentish poster who'd forgotten until recently he was even a member. So until I post again Rock on Randi


*is infrequentish a word? One would like to think so*

[Mr. Skinny]

Hi longish time member, shortish time lurker and infrequentish poster who'd forgotten until recently he was even a member. So until I post again Rock on Randi


*is infrequentish a word? One would like to think so*

Welcome back.

Infrequentish is a perfectly cromulent word, particularly if you are a person that feels the need to add -ish to otherwise perfectly cromulent words. :)

[saraban]

Welcome back.

Infrequentish is a perfectly cromulent word, particularly if you are a person that feels the need to add -ish to otherwise perfectly cromulent words. :)

Thank you :)

Mmm cromulent, must attempt to use it in a sentence.

*Think of Dr Johnson looking up how to spell a word and finding he hadn't written that bit yet*

[Foolmewunz]

I have never been able to post here. Let's see if this works.

Huh? Did someone hear a rustling sound? Nope, nothing there. Just my imagination I guess.


ETA: Welcome Paint3d. Do you do 3D graphics, or is that the flat number you have to remodel next week? We have a small contingent of graphic artists, painters and illustrators lurking about. Enjoy yourself!

[Foolmewunz]

Hi longish time member, shortish time lurker and infrequentish poster who'd forgotten until recently he was even a member. So until I post again Rock on Randi


*is infrequentish a word? One would like to think so*



Yeah! Another muck-about-with-the-language guy. You can join us in the grammar resistance. Our credo: If you can make sense out of it, they can make sense out of it, so use it.

[saraban]

Yeah! Another muck-about-with-the-language guy. You can join us in the grammar resistance. Our credo: If you can make sense out of it, they can make sense out of it, so use it.

Thank you I shall be happy to join. And if you notice most people who pull you up on grammar tend to spell it grammer*

*A little known fact, so little known I made it up.*

*Note to self maybe not a good idea admitting to making things up on here

[OperatorMalfunction]

Hi! I am taking a hiatus from my usual board because of what I perceived to be preferential treatment of evangelicals over atheists like myself. Basically my avatar, which was humorous and perhaps only lightly mocking of that Jesus guy, was complained about so much I had to take it down. I'm still struggling with why it made me so offended to have to do that and until I work out exactly what I think about it all, I can't bring myself to go "home." And I may never, which is a pity, as I really loved being there, despite the stupid "science is a religion" and "evolution is impossible" nonsense that goes on in some of the threads.

I'm a skeptic to the core, don't really believe in much of anything at all if I can't see/smell/touch/taste/feel it myself, or there is actual empiric evidence for it. I've come a long way in my life because I used to believe in everything -- I even attended a class on ghosts at my local college and spent many nights out chasing them in those days. Christianity, sweat lodge, tarot, astrology, ghosts, demons and all were investigated by me wholeheartedly in my youth.

But, the older I get, the more I learn about scientific theorem and laws, the more I don't experience in a spiritual setting, the more I realize that that stuff is a crock, in my opinion.

Anyway, I'm looking for a new internet home, as having a net forum is my only social life at the moment due to real life duties and constraints, and I feel lost without one. I'm not going to say which forum I left -- I'm sure people would know which it was by the name, and I may be able to get over my offended indignation enough to go back someday, so I would really rather not burn that bridge. Up until this (I feel) rather arbitrary and discriminatory event, I enjoyed myself there, and made a lot of friends. I respect the staff and administration (with this one exception) very much. So, don't ask, and don't guess. i wont tell.

So there's not any mystery: I'm a 40-ish single mother of two small children, what some religious types like to refer to as a "militant" atheist, and I live somewhere in northern California.

I hope I'll fit in around here, and I hope you won't mind a very opinionated loudmouth joining in the fun.

[Hokulele]

Welcome OperatorMalfunction!

Opinionated loudmouths in this forum? Never.

Just kidding, you should fit in just fine. Head over the Religion and & Philosophy sub-forum and dive right in, the water's warm.

[Mr. Skinny]

Hi, OperatorMalfunction.

This is a pretty good forum. Hopefully, you'll feel at home here. It's kinda like shopping for a vacation home, isn't it?

Try the place out for two or three months, and let us know what you think.

[dnvergoddess]

hey all, thanks for being here...seems like you've created a pretty interesting place. i was directed to this forum by a couple of clients who found a possibly coincedental reference to myself as a practicing massage therapist in
a google search. my name is nyke. the post is pretty funny in it's inaccuracy, but gave my clients a bit of a scare. i am glad they called me anyway, but wonder if there are others who won't. does anyone recall a post about "woo-woo relatives"? i am very glad this possibly coincendental reference to a cmt with my same name happened on a site ostensibly dedicated to critical thinking...in fact, i am almost stunned by the "alanic" quality of the phenomenon...
...i will not panic...i will not panic...

[dnvergoddess]

...almost forgot:

truth is a pathless land...

there is no teacher...

pay no attention to the speaker, for he may be deceived or trying to deceive you...in other words, don't be lazy and trust people, get off your @$$ and have your [I]own[I] damn experience...
-a very crotchety old man

[usefkl05]

Hi all,

A lot of the people I care about are very prone to fall for woo-woo, and whenever I tell them what my interpretation for the situation is, in general the reception I get is the kind of "No, the spirits are making him say so in order to test my faith. I shall remain steady.", and then the conversation halts. I find myself in a lose-lose position.

So I came to these forums and websites looking for inspiration on how to explain myself in a more lighthearted and convincing way because I can't stand seeing people fail due to their silly and stubborn self-delusions.

See you around!
Andy

[Reinhard]

Hi!

Yet another sceptic (skeptic? sceptik? skeptik? asshat?) joins your ranks, so I'm afraid I won't be providing you with too much woo-ish woo to laugh at. Hopefully, anyway. I recently completed a psychology degree, which made me very aware of all the fallacies that people fall into in their thinking as a matter of routine - there are a lot - and my dissertation was on the Barnum Effect. So, I already have credentials as a Buster of Woo! Or at least, so I like to tell myself. ;)

P.S. Although I admit, I have a soft spot for Cryptozoology; not really because I believe it, but because it would be well cool if Loch Ness Monsters or Bigfeet (Bigfoots?) really did turn up one day...

[SusanB-M1]

OperatorMalfundtion

I know exactly what you mean about going into all sorts of woo! Although by the sound of what you say, I think I was probably more sceptical. Finding this site removed any last tiny scraps of the sort of thinking which tells you to investigate further because there 'must be something in it'. Being a 'militant atheist' and, in my case, a strong supporter of the British Humanist Association, I regret* the years I spent not being so.
*Well, that's just in a manner of speaking, as I never waste time regretting things I cannot change.

Welcome from me too.

[SusanB-M1]

Hi!

Yet another sceptic (skeptic? sceptik? skeptik? asshat?) joins your ranks, so I'm afraid I won't be providing you with too much woo-ish woo to laugh at. Hopefully, anyway. I recently completed a psychology degree, which made me very aware of all the fallacies that people fall into in their thinking as a matter of routine - there are a lot - and my dissertation was on the Barnum Effect. So, I already have credentials as a Buster of Woo! Or at least, so I like to tell myself. ;)
I think it is lovely to know that there are so many younger people to promote the message of scepticism well into this century.

P.S. Although I admit, I have a soft spot for Cryptozoology; not really because I believe it, but because it would be well cool if Loch Ness Monsters or Bigfeet (Bigfoots?) really did turn up one day...
Oh, I do so know how you feel! But don't hold your breath - I've been waiting for something exciting like this to happen for a very long time, but have to acknowledge that I should have known better, even though it's fun to think about.

Welcome.

[gericaux]

Hi,
My name is Gericaux and I’m from Brighton in the UK. My reason for signing up for this forum is quite a simple one. I have an interest in all things unexplained and paranormal as, indeed, I do in many things normal and everyday. What intrigues me is the vehemence with which most people seem to come down on one side of the fence or the other.

I have read many posts on this and other sites from both sceptics and believers in one theory or another and apart from the professed certainty in their particular belief no reasons for these convictions are offered. It is very easy to listen to the news, political rhetoric, religious sermons or other media such as the recent Zeitgeist movie and fall in line with whichever train of thought offends us least but aren’t we just subscribing to someone else’s belief system without bothering to find any answers ourselves?

For me this particular theme could lead on to ever diversifying topics but I don’t want your first impressions of me to be of some ranting antagonist so I’ll leave this one up in the air in the hope that some of you will take the time to give me your thoughts on the matter...

G.

[Saliva]

Hi! I'm Sylvia Browne and I'm a fraud. :D

No, really I'm just a witty teenager, sick of stupidity ruling the world and scammers making a fortune.

[Slimething]

Hi! I'm Sylvia Browne and I'm a fraud. :D

No, really I'm just a witty teenager, sick of stupidity ruling the world and scammers making a fortune.

Welcome, Saliva! I somehow knew you would wind up here.

[Alphaman]

Hi all,

Aaron Sakovich here. Long time reader, follower, and admirer of Randi's. Longtime skeptic and lifelong heathen. Been lurking on the boards for a long time, finally coming out of the closet!

Great to be here!
Aaron

[Miss Anthrope]

Hi all,

Aaron Sakovich here. Long time reader, follower, and admirer of Randi's. Longtime skeptic and lifelong heathen. Been lurking on the boards for a long time, finally coming out of the closet!

Great to be here!
Aaron

A hearty welcome to you Aaron.

[SusanB-M1]

gericaux

Welcome from some way west along the south coast opposite The Needles.

May I ask if you are a member of the British Humanist Association? Numerical support helps them exert influence on legislation and education.

[homerboo]

Hello JREFfers!
Looking forward to brushing off the green on this forum. I've seen a lot of interesting opinions here and hope to continue that tradition.
M

[this charming man]

Hello JREFfers!
Looking forward to brushing off the green on this forum. I've seen a lot of interesting opinions here and hope to continue that tradition.
M

welcome

I look forward to your posts.

[Sergio Leone]

Hello All.......

I come to this forum in shame and relieved at the same time. You see I have been a strong skeptic since I was 12 years old and over the last year I allowed myself to be sucked into the infectious 9/11 Truth Movement.

Let me be clear......I do not adhere to the "official" story lock, stock and barrel as no skeptic should but I allowed myself to be manipulated into thinking our government blew up the towers, shot down flight 93, and flung a tomahawk into the Pentagon. I don't know how I let myself be suckered into such ridiculous lines of thinking but I did. Needless to say, I have finally come to terms with how utterly ridiculous the truth movement is and I am glad to be thinking in a normal state of mind again.

There are a few things I came out of the truth movement with which have led me to broaden my spectrum of thinking like eugenics, certain factual tidbits like Prescott Bush's history, the SPP, mainstream media bias, etc..... but I must admit these people are sad, pathetic, paranoid, delusional wack jobs who disregard any form of rational thinking for anything that sounds sexy enough to make the headlines at prisonplanet.com.

[Slimething]

Welcome to the Forum, Sergio Leone. Shame is not allowed here, except for the woos who invade and try to poison us with crapiola. We've all been derailed at some point so don't sweat it. The beauty of skepticism is that you go where the evidence takes you. It's nice to have rational, wise sounding boards along the journey so that's what we're here for. Oh, and fun too.

[GhostofMaxwell.]

Hi,

Im Jason

Im in the middle of a physics degree, and a science forum junkie.

Despite the Ghost in my SN, Im a staunch sceptic, so dont expect any acceptance from me unless you can demonstrate repeatedly that what you claim is, a physical reality.:)

Thanks for allowing me here.

[Humbucker]

Just joined the forum a few days ago, and intend to lurk awhile till I get my JREF legs. I found the forum while looking for answers to questions raised by the "Zeitgeist" film. Was happy to discover a lot of great, well-informed sources here.

About me: I guess you'd say I'm looking for a source to turn to when I need info about myth-debunking and that sort of thing; a place where reason and rational discussion carry the day more often than hearsay, rumour and intellectual dishonesty.

I'm a writer by profession, studied Psych in undergrad (though more wrt topics like perception and message design than therapy issues); have an MA in Communication Studies (media, intercultural communication, stats, a little exposure to critical theory, culture studies...stuff like that).

Love music, horses, long walks on the beach, etc, etc.

Hope to read and perhaps even contribute to some stimulating discussions.

Cheers.

[Edy_P]

Ronal Pegg is the one mentioned in Bill Bryson's 'Short History...'isn't he?

I am unaware of this. Has anyone got details or a link please ?

[SusanB-M1]

I am unaware of this. Has anyone got details or a link please ?

On second thoughts, I realised that it was 'Down Under', Bill Bryson's travels in Australia but I hope someone will correct this if I'm wrong.

[Miss Anthrope]

Hello All.......

I come to this forum in shame and relieved at the same time. You see I have been a strong skeptic since I was 12 years old and over the last year I allowed myself to be sucked into the infectious 9/11 Truth Movement.

Let me be clear......I do not adhere to the "official" story lock, stock and barrel as no skeptic should but I allowed myself to be manipulated into thinking our government blew up the towers, shot down flight 93, and flung a tomahawk into the Pentagon. I don't know how I let myself be suckered into such ridiculous lines of thinking but I did. Needless to say, I have finally come to terms with how utterly ridiculous the truth movement is and I am glad to be thinking in a normal state of mind again.

There are a few things I came out of the truth movement with which have led me to broaden my spectrum of thinking like eugenics, certain factual tidbits like Prescott Bush's history, the SPP, mainstream media bias, etc..... but I must admit these people are sad, pathetic, paranoid, delusional wack jobs who disregard any form of rational thinking for anything that sounds sexy enough to make the headlines at prisonplanet.com.

Welcome, and may I compliment your most awesome user name?

[dwr54]

Thanks to the site moderators for the welcome. My main purpose for joining the site forum was to get some advice from experienced debaters, which I see there are a lot of here.

I am a skeptic (sceptic) and long-time admirer of JREF as well as other like-minded sites, particularly the Richard Dawkins' Foundation.

Perhaps encouraged by the recent upsurge in interest (in UK and Ireland anyway) in atheism and scepticism, etc, I have found myself increasingly involved in casual debates with people on those subjects and boy am I surprised at the levels of emotions this can raise in people. You can easily hit a raw nerve and fall out with friends - as I have found.

I am quite a genial type, but I don't bend over to bullying and have found myself aggresively defending scepticism against all manner of superstitious quackery with people who should know better. However, its easy to come across as a know-all loudmouth and blow your arguments by putting people off.

And thats why I joined the forum: I need advice as to how to deliver the rational message in a reasoned and confident way during normal informal conversations.

I hope to pick up a few tips. My posts won't all be as long as this. By the way, I live in Northern Ireland and am a 41 year-old male, a dad, a husband, a fire fighter, and a mature student (environmental science), but not all in that order.

Cheers all.

[this charming man]

Thanks to the site moderators for the welcome. My main purpose for joining the site forum was to get some advice from experienced debaters, which I see there are a lot of here.

I am a skeptic (sceptic) and long-time admirer of JREF as well as other like-minded sites, particularly the Richard Dawkins' Foundation.

Perhaps encouraged by the recent upsurge in interest (in UK and Ireland anyway) in atheism and scepticism, etc, I have found myself increasingly involved in casual debates with people on those subjects and boy am I surprised at the levels of emotions this can raise in people. You can easily hit a raw nerve and fall out with friends - as I have found.

I am quite a genial type, but I don't bend over to bullying and have found myself aggresively defending scepticism against all manner of superstitious quackery with people who should know better. However, its easy to come across as a know-all loudmouth and blow your arguments by putting people off.

And thats why I joined the forum: I need advice as to how to deliver the rational message in a reasoned and confident way during normal informal conversations.

I hope to pick up a few tips. My posts won't all be as long as this. By the way, I live in Northern Ireland and am a 41 year-old male, a dad, a husband, a fire fighter, and a mature student (environmental science), but not all in that order.

Cheers all.

:welcome4

I look forward to your posts; there are many people here whom are able to develop your debate skills.

Slainte!

[sad_skinhead]

I know I've made a few posts before, but I never introduced myself as I couldn't -and still can't- think of anything worthwhile to say. I often thought I was always fairly immune to horoscopes and psychics and the like, but I often heard claims that I had been told were backed up by science, and was often inclined to believe them, for example animals responding to homeopathy.

Hence, I joined hopefully to arm myself with rational information and, although unlikely, to contribute.

[vegasrob]

:) I have read the home page for some time and just signed up here. It looks like fun.

[zarcus]

Hello everyone. This forum is really well managed. Has a nice clean look, without being boring. It's also extremely popular I notice.

James Randi is one of my hero's (perhaps wrong word, but I'll leave it).:D

[LashL]

I know I've made a few posts before, but I never introduced myself as I couldn't -and still can't- think of anything worthwhile to say. I often thought I was always fairly immune to horoscopes and psychics and the like, but I often heard claims that I had been told were backed up by science, and was often inclined to believe them, for example animals responding to homeopathy.

Hence, I joined hopefully to arm myself with rational information and, although unlikely, to contribute.

:) I have read the home page for some time and just signed up here. It looks like fun.

Hello everyone. This forum is really well managed. Has a nice clean look, without being boring. It's also extremely popular I notice.

James Randi is one of my hero's (perhaps wrong word, but I'll leave it).:D

I just wandered into the "Welcome New Members" thread and it only seemed right to say, "Welcome" to the new members. :D

The official welcoming party will, no doubt, be along some time soon, but in the meantime...take a look around, use the search function to look for specific topics that are of interest to you, and then jump in and have fun.

:welcome4

Cheers,
Lash

[DiskoVilante]

Hi!
P.S. Although I admit, I have a soft spot for Cryptozoology; not really because I believe it, but because it would be well cool if Loch Ness Monsters or Bigfeet (Bigfoots?) really did turn up one day...

Welcome Reinhard!

That would be "Bigfoot-s" by the way. As Bigfoot itself is a noun, adding an 's' is correct. Just like the plural of "walkman" (you know, those things that used to play tapes...kinda like an iPod) is "walkman-s."

[grayman]

I wanted to welcome all the new people but didn't bring enough oatmeal cookies and the ice cream melted.



I'll be in back in the goat pen if you need me.

[theBigShagboski]

Hey all, my name is Steve (or Shaggy, if you prefer - there are folks in the real world who can't fathom that my name is anything but, and after 13 years of that, it's as good a real name as any :-) ), I'm in Toronto, which I think is Randi's old home town. It's a real shame we lost the guy to the south, hehe.

I spent most of my high school years sitting on the fence of Agnosticism, and one of the most influential educators to me back then was a fundamentalist Christian chemistry teacher. Made for a real interesting debate, really, but I always remained in the middle because "you just can't know!" I'm trying to get back in touch with the guy... that should be an interesting topic of conversation.

Turns out I was actually atheist all along, paying lip-service to the chance there was a God, but taking a course in astronomy to satisfy science requirements (for a history degree here at the UofT) earlier this year showed me just how spectacular and self contained the universe was. I think I had always known it, but learning the math and geometry of stellar parallax, and how everything relates to each other showed how unnecessary a God was i the existence and functioning of the everything, and since things form out of necessity and efficiency, believing in something unnecessary as fundamental just... doesn't work.

When I told my mom (who had been watching "the Secret" over and over and over, leaving books about contact spirit guides and woo-woo motivational posters all over the house), her words were, quite literally, "But you're still going to spiritual, right?" If only I had the chance to make a proper come back, I think it would have been something like "and believe in what?"

Anyway. Been reading the forums for a long while, it certainly helped see how enriching skepticism can be despite causing tensions with my "spiritual" friends who practice Reike and my mother who routinely goes for acupuncture. Finally signed on, and the rest is history!

[/long introduction]

[Tanstaafl]

Welcome Shaggy, I'm you'll find this an interesting place, and as a bonus there are several astronomers you can rub elbows with.

[Gravy]

Hello everyone. This forum is really well managed. Has a nice clean look, without being boring. It's also extremely popular I notice.

James Randi is one of my hero's (perhaps wrong word, but I'll leave it).:DWelcome, zarcus! You've described me to a T, except for the well managed, boring, and popular parts. Are you the psychic we've all been waiting for?

[rafermom]

As I've been told: hello.

I hope to enjoy here as much as I see you do.

[HawaiiBigSis]

On behalf of the welcoming committee -- many of whom are cruising the Inside Passage about now, and having so much fun that they're being derilict in their welcoming duties -- welcome to everybody.

Poke around the grounds until you feel at home, find comfortable places, and never mind the men in the back room with the goats. They're preparing them for sacrifices so the planes will continue to fly.

[fagin]

Hello all

Have been annoying woo woo friends and colleagues for as long as I can remember so was nice to discover some like minds on the internet a few years ago.
I'm a long time reader of the newsletter and finally got round to typing in my name and joining up.
So I don't expect to post much but I will be reading.

[sagat]

Greetings

I have been a lurker here at the forums since 2001, after seeing Randi on Larry King Live.

[Tanstaafl]

Welcome both of you, I think you cancel each other out...

fagin just signed up but expects to lurk, while
sagat has been lurking pretty much forever but will now post.

Regardless, welcome to the forum and I hope you both jump in with some posts.

[DouglasL]

I am a 42 year old long time skeptic. I did not know that there are so many others around the world like me until I found this site. Thanks for letting me join a much larger community of free thinkers.

[ckent2]

Welcome DouglasL. I'm new blood myself, but I've been lurking for quite a while. This site is the skeptic's dream. I'm quite happy here myself.

[Mr. Skinny]

I am a 42 year old long time skeptic. I did not know that there are so many others around the world like me until I found this site. Thanks for letting me join a much larger community of free thinkers.
Welcome, DouglasL.

This site was a great find for me also. It's been nearly six years since I joined, and the place has grown from just a few thousand to a rather large group of misfits. :)

Welcome DouglasL. I'm new blood myself, but I've been lurking for quite a while. This site is the skeptic's dream. I'm quite happy here myself.
Good to have you, ckent2. I'm glad that you're glad to be here.

Kudos for using one of your first few posts to welcome another noob.

[TuftedPuffin]

Hey, I'm a Tufts student and medium-long time skeptic (depending on how you count it). Joined the forum just now, but I've been following Randi's commentary for awhile. I'm wondering if there are any other Tufts students on the forum.

[Quantus]

I am very happy that I stumbled upon this forum. For me it is truly a wonderful resource to further my education in many different directions, as people are constantly sharing sources with each other.

I was born in the US but have currently moved to India, where I now have a tedious sales job. But at the moment I am living in a little town on the footsteps of the Himlayas which is basically the starting point and base for most of the missionary activity in India. It has a wonderful infrastructure for these people (i.e. a great language school, plenty of churches and loads of money). Some of these people use very underhanded and despicable methods to sell their religion and it's something that I really want people to be aware of, but I will post a thread and share the information that I have on this with all of you.

In any case suffice it to say that I am very happy to be on this board. Sometimes I get lost on it for hours and hours as I follow links which send me all over the place. I look forward to participating in some of the spirited discussions that go on here.

Thank You Very Much

[Foolmewunz]

TuftedPuffin, welcome.... I haven't heard anyone mention being from Tufts, but I reckon you'll find out if you settle in. Enjoy your stay. We generally don't eat the young for your first few weeks, at least. :spjimlad:

And welcome, too, to Quantus. I'll await your posts, as I'm curious to know a little more about how you wound up in the Himalayas, and your take on the local communities. Are you (or your family) originally from the sub-continent? Not a whole lot of people I know would take a job selling in India.

[Paulhoff]

Welcome everyone,

Paul

:) :) :)

Note: must get more BBQ sauce, getting low.

[andymonk]

Hi folks, I,m andy from orkney.:)

[jojonete]

Hi everyone.

I've been reading the MDC forum for some months now.

I suppose I should say something about myself, so there I go:
- My real-life name is Rubén.
- I live in Asturias, North of Spain.
- I work as a teacher.
- I'm 32 years old.
- I consider myself skeptic.
- I think the JREF is doing a great job promoting critical thinking.
- I hate avatars and signatures. They draw attention off the true message.

Well, no more ideas about what to tell so I stop here.
Have fun!

[Paulhoff]

- I hate avatars and signatures. They draw attention off the true message.
Welcome jojonete.

Paul

:) :) :)

We have another one for the grill....... :rolleyes:

[HghrSymmetry]

P,
Nice hypercube (shadow).

[Bahiabel]

My first post! I admit that I first came to the site trying to find people who did not believe the 9/11 CT. I have been reading much the last few weeks and decided to try to join the conversation. Looking forward to the education forum as well as the conspiracy forum. I enjoy the fact that there are people from all over the world engaged in conversation. Hello to all!

Kelli:)

[wingnut]

hi y'all

I have reached saturation point with the constant bombardment of ********
via television, internet, magazines and any other form of communication
wackos can get their hands on (including telepathy although that one hasnt reached me yet)

Thank God (there I go again) for Randi, P&T, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins etc........

may the sauce be with ewe (I live in New Zealand)

wingnut

[Kumar]

Hello near and dear ones,
Greetings!!

It may either be a sunny, cloudy or dark day as per the perception.

Kumar was lost in play-ground, Kumar revisting and couldn't resist by looking your love and attention towards so considered as CAMs and to try again for dynamic contribution to science and humanity, may not to these.

I need no introduction as many members know me very well. Still to refresh briefly, I am skeptik with skepetics and believer with believers. Briefly, I like dynamic and new knowledge esp. which are or near to or can become “absolute & final” , popular and well-existing im commons with least adversities. Currently, you can again deviate me by playing at the cost of trying or getting new and dynamic knowledge. Though I am spiritual & unbiased but also love science and logic and dislike biased interactions, so try best to be truth based.

Beg and request to interact accordingly. Hope for the best.

Good luck and best wishes.

Kumar

Hello Darat/Lisa,

Please ensure that there is no duplicacy of my ID..Kumar.

Best regards.

[Foolmewunz]

The return of a legendary poster! Wow! There was mention of Kumar in a thread just a couple of days ago. Welcome back, I'm sure the regulars will be out to greet you, soon. (I'm a mere newbie myself - hardly yet figured out how this internetz thing works.)

I'm sure I'm not going to be the first to say, WELCOME BACK, KUMAR!

[Kumar]

Hello Foolmewunz,

I noted and will take care accordingly. Still, being first-one to response, I shall respect you. Regards.

[MRC_Hans]

Hi, Kumar. Sorry thatthe other homeopaths ignored you and drove you back into the lion's den. I would compliment you on your courage, if I thought it was that.

Have fun!

Hans

[Kumar]

Hello My old contributer and well wisher Mr. Hans,

Thanks. I like lions and tigers not goats. They are bit pleasing to like ones and from a distance to others.

Anyway, we should avoid controversies and try do do healthy discussions. No one can ignore me, niether you nor they, but inability to follow me, can just be a miss or weakness.

Be positive and have faith as there is a physical basis of "placebo"..reward expectation, some dopamine release in brain, (recent) and it can add to delicate, deep and natural real effects which on dysfaith may be devoided.

Best wish, luck and regards.

[Mojo]

Welcome back, Kumar!

[Quantus]

Hi Everyone
Thank you for your warm welcome it is really kind. Foolmewunz you hit it dead on , my family moved to America about 30 years ago, but I am ethnically Indian. So I have alot of family here, and now understand the language, but ofcourse it is still very much a different world.
Thanks Again

[Foolmewunz]

Hi Everyone
Thank you for your warm welcome it is really kind. Foolmewunz you hit it dead on , my family moved to America about 30 years ago, but I am ethnically Indian. So I have alot of family here, and now understand the language, but ofcourse it is still very much a different world.
Thanks Again

Hey, Quantus! You'll have to pardon us, because Kumar is kind of an old hand here - quaint and woo-ish to an extreme. And we don't mean to neglect our duties, but he/she is going to attact a whole lot of attention. Like I said before, .... Settle in, find a niche, and I'm sure there are a whole lot of people who'd be interested in your insights. There are great threads on religious beliefs, and I'm sure you can add something from your own perspective.

If I missed anyone else, ..... Sorry! All are welcome here. Woo-ish, shrew-ish, or jew-ish.... we care not.

[Cerchier]

Hello,

I've been reading this forum for about a week and lurking for a bit, so I thought I'd say hello.

I'm a bit of a lurker when I first join a forum, but I look forward to joining some of the debates and conversations I've enjoyed reading.

Talk later,
cerchier

[dementedcactus]

I'm glad to a part of it all. I hope to learn much and benefit the Boards as well.

RC

[Tanstaafl]

Well, darn it, dementedcactus, from your user name I was hoping you were in Arizona, but I see Brooklyn in your profile. Well (as a former NYer) welcome anyway!

And welcome to Cerchier too, I'm sure you'll find it's twice as much fun when you join in.

[mr. ottle]

I don't think I ever introduced myself here.

I've been following Randi's career for... let's see... eons. I've occasionally wandered by the site, but only recently showed up in a more tangible form because ottle assures me you guys support nepotism.

Now that I have faces and personalities to put with the names, I hope to be a real forumerite :)

[matrixcutter]

Hello, I'm from England and I'm a fan of Alan Watt.
Anyone else heard of him?

[Kumar]

Hello Mojo, quantus. fool....,

Thanks. Pls interact with "placebo" -- reward expectations. You can get benefits of dopamine release in brain part by it. Best luck.

[arthwollipot]

I know I've made a few posts before, but I never introduced myself as I couldn't -and still can't- think of anything worthwhile to say. I often thought I was always fairly immune to horoscopes and psychics and the like, but I often heard claims that I had been told were backed up by science, and was often inclined to believe them, for example animals responding to homeopathy.

Hence, I joined hopefully to arm myself with rational information and, although unlikely, to contribute.

Hi sad. I've been wondering about the animal homeopathy results as well. I've got a couple of people trying to track down the scientific papers that they say they heard reports about. Unsuccessfully so far.

Essentially the skeptical response as was explained to me was that the animals' owners and vets certainly do respond to placebo, and the animals respond to their owners and vets. Also, homeopathy is rarely conducted on its own, but as a part of a "holistic" set of treatments and it is impossible to determine whether a particular homeopathic treatment was the cause of the animal's improvement.

I will report in the General Skepticism forum when I've got some decent information.

[TheIntriguingBill]

Ran across this forum while getting information about the million dollar challenge. No, no, not for me...I was offering the information to a purported psychokinetic. I'm a nice guy; if someone can come by an easy million I see no reason not to tip them off.

[Toni]

HI,
I'm a Wisconsin resident, have filed my Wisconsin divorce papers last week.
In Wisconsin I have to wait 6 months after my divorce is finalized but I've already found another man I am very happy with and would like to get married before the 6 month period. Which state can I become a resident the quickest with no marraige restriction?

[unicorn]

hi,everyone i joined here because i have heard a lot of things about this forum so i joined to check it out.
have a great day !!;) ;) ;)

[fxm]

Hello everyone... I'm not exactly new to the forums, but haven't really even done much lurking until recently. Just posted my first reply to a topic, so I thought I'd finally introduce myself.

I've been a skeptic for many years. My career has been in software development and networking, although for the last 10+ years I've been in management. With the new Business Skepticism forum, I'm hoping I can finally contribute something here.

[Darat]

Even if you're not quite new you are still welcome we don't mind secondhand goods on this forum. As long as you washed your hands of course!

[Jerry Tourte]

Hello, everybody! This is my first post, but I signed up to the forum a year or so ago, so I could send a pm to Jerry Andrus. Now that we have returned from Alaska, I promised a few people, and myself, that I would actually start posting messages. You know, be present as it were...
I am a musician who has to do gardening to pay for my toys and bad habits. Like many, I am a staunch atheist, I try to be apolitical, and I have a soft spot for scientific evidence. I don't know what I can add to all of this, but I'm glad to give it a go.

[karmicserenade]

I consider myself an open minded skeptic.

One thing I don't care for is skeptics who are blind to any opinion but there own, even when there is irrefutable evidence to prove them otherwise.

I know I will find many interesting threads to explore here :)

Sincerely
Denise.

[DouglasL]

I consider myself an open minded skeptic.

One thing I don't care for is skeptics who are blind to any opinion but there own, even when there is irrefutable evidence to prove them otherwise.

I know I will find many interesting threads to explore here :)

Sincerely
Denise.

I am quite sure you will find something you like here. I certainly have.

[Smiledriver]

Hi all. I actually have posted once, but not lately. I however just came back from the AA2 cruise to Alaska and met a bunch of you there. I'm the Canadian who was griping about Dawkins and singing Alice Cooper song at Kareoke. Hope everyone remembers and to all those on the forum, but not on the AA2. Hello and talk to you all soon.

Matt

[Paulhoff]

Yes, I will not say where, but they are talking about you.

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/thum_488046e8922ae7678.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=8270)

Paul

:) :) :)

[bigbossmatt]

Hi every one,
I'm Matt :) This is my first post.

I stumbled upon Jame Randi videos on youtube a little earlier this year and I have been hooked ever since. I really like what Randi does for the world; rationality and scientific method seems to be threatened by psychics and people with wishful thinking rather than a desire for Truth (whether favourable to you personally or not). I like the skeptical attitude because it is one that naturally seeks out the truth irrespective of what it means for them, good or bad; instead of wanting to believe in, say, life after death because you miss Grandma. :)

I am an agnostic/atheist (currently reading Dawkins' The God Delusion, and I haven't decided which term is better for me).

I am in third year at uni studying psychology. I play the drums in rockabilly/swing/and rythmn and blues bands.

Thats me in a nutshell.

I'm looking forward to using this site to keep up to date with worldwide issues in skepticism and JREF.

[Brab]

I'm new to blogging (if this is what I'm even doing!) I've experienced several life changing experiences in the last 4 years. Awakening to my husband's sexual addiction, helping my Mom die when she was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer, resigning from a job I'd had for 14 years, leaving my husband and the life I'd known for 27 years and a harrowing experience when my daughter suffered a traumatic brain injury after being thrown from a horse.

I can't say I was consciously questioning my belief system (I assumed everyone "believed" as I did.) I found myself immersed in books. Each book led me to new authors and new ideas to think about (fortunately my son worked at Half Price Books where I received discounts as I purchased a multitude of books!)

I was raised in a Catholic environment. Today? I am 51 and am truly amazed that I had never questioned the virgin birth until 3 years ago. I remember vividly having a converstion with a "former" friend 4 years ago where we discussed this very topic, in her kitchen, as though this was an event in history that had actually occurred!

I don't remember how I stumbled upon JREF but I'm glad I did. I live in a rurual area in Washington state and JREF keeps me grounded in reality. It is reassuring to know that there are others "out" there!

[sthomson]

Hi all,

I'm a scientist and an engineer, interested in anthropology and the "paranormal". I wasn't born skeptical, but I've certainly learned that reading a "fact in a book or seeing it on TV doesn't necessarily mean it's true.

[Btodd]

Hello all. I've been lurking for a little while; I found this place after my cousin became a 9/11 Truther (not full-blown, but well on his way). I found you while searching for rational responses for his endless array of the usual conspiracy nonsense.

I'm thankful to say that he's no longer under the spell of that particular delusion, in part thanks to the resources I found on the subject through these forums. Special thanks to Mark Roberts as well for his inspiring efforts.

I can probably contribute to threads on Scientology the most, but I also keep a watchful eye on Creationism and Intelligent Design (and splitting hairs, as you see).

Oh, and The Secret offends me on a level that I can't describe.

But I'm not bitter! ;) Anyway, thanks for having me here, and reminding me that there are people like myself in the world, even if I never meet them.


Btodd

[bethanythemartian]

Hi! I'm Bethany, and I have had an interesting relationship with organized religion all of my life- I was pretty much raised outside of it, by a woman who has some pretty un-focused ideas of what she believed.

Although I attended church as an adolescent, I did it because my friends went to church, not because I believed. Also, I liked the music.

Although I have seen James Randi on television once in a while, I didn't really know who he was until I started watching Penn & Teller's BS. This started me down a path of skepticism. I probably still hold some old beliefs that are silly, but bare with me on that.

Also- Bethany The Martian is an old joke, and not anything to do with a belief in the existence of sentient life on Mars.

[Mr. Skinny]

So many people to greet, so I'll try to keep it short...


Hello, everybody! This is my first post, but I signed up to the forum a year or so ago, so I could send a pm to Jerry Andrus. Now that we have returned from Alaska, I promised a few people, and myself, that I would actually start posting messages. You know, be present as it were...
I am a musician who has to do gardening to pay for my toys and bad habits. Like many, I am a staunch atheist, I try to be apolitical, and I have a soft spot for scientific evidence. I don't know what I can add to all of this, but I'm glad to give it a go.
You went on the Alaska tour, so I'm sure I'll be seeing pics of you and Rebecca and other forumites. Good to see your forum presence.

I consider myself an open minded skeptic.

One thing I don't care for is skeptics who are blind to any opinion but there own, even when there is irrefutable evidence to prove them otherwise.

I know I will find many interesting threads to explore here :)

Sincerely
Denise.
There's certainly no one here that meets that description, Denise. We're perfect skeptics! :p

I am quite sure you will find something you like here. I certainly have.
Hush, n00b! :D

Hi all. I actually have posted once, but not lately. I however just came back from the AA2 cruise to Alaska and met a bunch of you there. I'm the Canadian who was griping about Dawkins and singing Alice Cooper song at Kareoke. Hope everyone remembers and to all those on the forum, but not on the AA2. Hello and talk to you all soon.

Matt
Another cruiser, eh? So, you like to get drunk, dis Dawkins, and make a fool of yourself in public, eh?

You'll find a niche here.

Hi every one,
I'm Matt :) This is my first post.

I stumbled upon Jame Randi videos on youtube a little earlier this year and I have been hooked ever since. I really like what Randi does for the world; rationality and scientific method seems to be threatened by psychics and people with wishful thinking rather than a desire for Truth (whether favourable to you personally or not). I like the skeptical attitude because it is one that naturally seeks out the truth irrespective of what it means for them, good or bad; instead of wanting to believe in, say, life after death because you miss Grandma. :)

I am an agnostic/atheist (currently reading Dawkins' The God Delusion, and I haven't decided which term is better for me).

I am in third year at uni studying psychology. I play the drums in rockabilly/swing/and rythmn and blues bands.

Thats me in a nutshell.

I'm looking forward to using this site to keep up to date with worldwide issues in skepticism and JREF.
I found your introductory post entirely too calm, rational, and informative.

What are your thoughts on Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Specifically, San Antonio Rose and the interaction of the drums with the steel guitar and fiddle?

I'm new to blogging (if this is what I'm even doing!) I've experienced several life changing experiences in the last 4 years. Awakening to my husband's sexual addiction, helping my Mom die when she was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer, resigning from a job I'd had for 14 years, leaving my husband and the life I'd known for 27 years and a harrowing experience when my daughter suffered a traumatic brain injury after being thrown from a horse.

I can't say I was consciously questioning my belief system (I assumed everyone "believed" as I did.) I found myself immersed in books. Each book led me to new authors and new ideas to think about (fortunately my son worked at Half Price Books where I received discounts as I purchased a multitude of books!)

I was raised in a Catholic environment. Today? I am 51 and am truly amazed that I had never questioned the virgin birth until 3 years ago. I remember vividly having a converstion with a "former" friend 4 years ago where we discussed this very topic, in her kitchen, as though this was an event in history that had actually occurred!

I don't remember how I stumbled upon JREF but I'm glad I did. I live in a rurual area in Washington state and JREF keeps me grounded in reality. It is reassuring to know that there are others "out" there!
No, this is not blogging. Blogging is more like having a personal diary online. This is a forum where people actually discuss (and sometimes bite, hehe).

With so many issues in your life, I can't comment on them all, but welcome to the forum. :)

Hi all,

I'm a scientist and an engineer, interested in anthropology and the "paranormal". I wasn't born skeptical, but I've certainly learned that reading a "fact in a book or seeing it on TV doesn't necessarily mean it's true.
Engineer here also. Welcome!

Hello all. I've been lurking for a little while; I found this place after my cousin became a 9/11 Truther (not full-blown, but well on his way). I found you while searching for rational responses for his endless array of the usual conspiracy nonsense.

I'm thankful to say that he's no longer under the spell of that particular delusion, in part thanks to the resources I found on the subject through these forums. Special thanks to Mark Roberts as well for his inspiring efforts.

I can probably contribute to threads on Scientology the most, but I also keep a watchful eye on Creationism and Intelligent Design (and splitting hairs, as you see).

Oh, and The Secret offends me on a level that I can't describe.

But I'm not bitter! ;) Anyway, thanks for having me here, and reminding me that there are people like myself in the world, even if I never meet them.


Btodd
Good to hear, Btodd. I spend more time than I should in the Conspiracy Theory sub-forum. As an engineer and a skeptic, it's always seemed like a train wreck that had happened and needing sorting out.

Glad you could pull one away before they got hooked on the bull.

Hi! I'm Bethany, and I have had an interesting relationship with organized religion all of my life- I was pretty much raised outside of it, by a woman who has some pretty un-focused ideas of what she believed.

Although I attended church as an adolescent, I did it because my friends went to church, not because I believed. Also, I liked the music.

Although I have seen James Randi on television once in a while, I didn't really know who he was until I started watching Penn & Teller's BS. This started me down a path of skepticism. I probably still hold some old beliefs that are silly, but bare with me on that.

Also- Bethany The Martian is an old joke, and not anything to do with a belief in the existence of sentient life on Mars.
Bethany,

There are plenty of opportunities to test your beliefs here. Join in a few threads and gather some opinions.

Welcome to you as well.




Phew! Hope I'm done.

Welcome, everyone.

[chiyo]

Greetings. JoeEllison showed me the way....LOL. I'm in the medical field, and my interests lie there, in science, and just about anything else that needs questioning.

[grayman]

Hi all,

I'm a scientist and an engineer...

Engineer here as well. Which railroad are you with? ;)

Welcome, everyone.

Welcome Mr. Skinny...oh wait...we've met already, haven't we? Want an oatmeal cookie?

[shep]

Greetings all,

I'm an (often confused) skeptic and critical thinker who works as a systems administrator and freelance software developer/consultant in New Zealand.

[edit: spelling error fixed]

I found this forum via a hobby of mine -- sleight of hand / conjuring.
I hope to have a few lively 'debates', as well as increase my knowledge of the natural world and its descriptive laws.

My beliefs in the scientific process have always been fairly consistent, but in the last 8 years or so (I am 24) I have struggled with my constantly changing opinions with regards to philosophy and politics: I have gone from being a democratic socialist, to a hardline libertarian (and objectivist), to a hardline anarcho-syndicalist. I wouldn't have a clue what to call myself now, other than perhaps, more of a pragmatic and realistic thinker than I have been in the past.

I tend to be so tolerant and empathetic of woo woo beliefs, I could almost be seen as a flip-flopper. I am trying to work on that.

The intellectual honesty and [relatively] noiseless discussion on these forums is just great to see. I look forward to contributing!

-k.

[bigbossmatt]

I found your introductory post entirely too calm, rational, and informative.

What are your thoughts on Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Specifically, San Antonio Rose and the interaction of the drums with the steel guitar and fiddle?

Too rational, calm and informative? Damn. I might not get on here hahaha :P

I'll be more irrational in the future. Any way, I'm glad I found this forum, it is already very interesting.

[Rando22]

Hello!
I joined this Forum because a wacko friend of mine thought I might fit in.

[arthwollipot]

Any particular reason why your whacko friend thought so?

[Foolmewunz]

Greetings all,

I'm an (often confused) skeptic and critical thinker who works as a systems administrator and freelance software developer/consultant in New Zealand.

<<snip>>


Welcome! Aww crap, another bloody Kiwi . Hey, great to have another New Zealander on board. Stroll over to the sports forum if you're an AB fan - the resident Kiwi is The Atheist, a rabid sports fan - but we have someone representing almost all the major squads (and I'm a Yank, so even the not-so-major squads), and it's a good roasting and toasting all around. (And a real handy way to settle in and ratchet up your post count so that you can post links, and get nifty avatars and the free cookies and goats).

[BAMoser]

Obviously, I am a "noob" but I am happy I finally joined this clan. I have been observing Mr. Randi for a number of years now and admire his factual-based approach to the supernatural and/or paranormal.
Most recently, I came across Robert Lancaster's site, stopsylviabrown, and fell in love with the skeptical community all over again.
I, myself, am a skeptic; only because I require concrete FACTS to back up any claims of anything "unearthly". Honestly, I don't believe in the supernatural and only believe in the paranormal because of the actual definition of the word which would be "anything out of the norm".
Anyhow, as I said before, I am happy to be here and would like to say hello to all! :)

[Talby]

Evening folks, long time lurker first time poster. I came here to have a good laugh and chew bubblegum.

I wouldn't call myself a "skeptic" as such... it's no secret that I strongly beleive in astral projection, vodou curses, and seeing Jesus in pancakes. Nah, just kidding.

I look forward to the good times and great flame wars. The former more than the latter, I hope.

[BAMoser]

only believe in the paranormal because of the actual definition of the word which would be "anything out of the norm".


I'm sorry, let me reiterate on this particular subject of believing in the paranormal ... quite literally meaning, I believe in myself ... I don't think (noting the intellectuals on this forum), that I need to extrapolate on this issue any longer. ;)

[platypusking]

hi. i'm jon. from new orleans, currently living in los angeles. i work QA at WDIG (so i test applications and games on cell phones). i'm 23 and play/write music.

[Space_Ed]

Hello...

Im a student. Im English. I found this site when looking for second opinions on the Zeitgeist movie. I study Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Im interested in many things. As Dawkins would say im a 'deeply religious non-believer'.

[OnlyTellsTruths]

Hello all,

I’m here to be the decisive word on all topics, but mostly I'm here to bring the light to trolls and people who feed trolls.

Trolls are real. They bring darkness and feed on the blood, sweat, and tears of all humans, yet it seems the most brazen of trolls aspire to bring darkness even to areas which are best lit. Let us not allow their hatred of light to overcome their fear of light very often.

Please do not feed the trolls.

[TubeMonkey]

Hello,
I'm another lurker finally taking the plunge and joining in. I'm not really much of a joiner and this is the first forum I've joined, so hopefully I won't make too many mistakes at first.
I'm a woman, I live in London in the UK, and the creeping influence of faith (any faith) seems to affect more and more parts of everyday life, which worries me. It seems that freedoms and even scientific progress could be curtailed and so I am trying to become more vocal about the things that matter to me. Almost everyone here seems so articulate, so it is a bit daunting starting, but with the anonymity of the internet...no one can see you blush.
Looking forward to talking to you all.

[Paulhoff]

Welcome to all the New Bloods, hope you all look around and find something that you're interested in.

Paul

:) :) :)

[Aliscyn]

Hi,
I am a new member my name is Aliscyn and I am from Pitsburgh,Pa, I am married with 3 children. I have been with my husband since I was 15 and he was 17 are children are 18,17 and 14 I know teens !! I AM VERY VERY INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT MEDIUMS ARE THEY REAL OR NOT?

[Paulhoff]

Hi,
I am a new member my name is Aliscyn and I am from Pitsburgh,Pa, I am married with 3 children. I have been with my husband since I was 15 and he was 17 are children are 18,17 and 14 I know teens !! I AM VERY VERY INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT MEDIUMS ARE THEY REAL OR NOT?
NOT.

And welcome.

Paul

:) :) :)

[Aliscyn]

You say not but I am still on the fence about MEDIUMS but I do believe some people may have psychic abilities and maybe I will share my story with people here at some point to show why I believe in some psychics!! Thank you for the warm welcome!!

[lefen]

Hay all. I run a website called Weird Links. I heard about this forum because you've been sending me some hits recently (I'd be greatful if someone could point me to the thread, because I can't seem to find it), so I thought I'd come meet some people and have some nice chats.

I'm a scientist by profession, but I've never really shaken off a curiosity for Forteana and pseudo-science. Global politics is also a fairly recent fetish of mine. I'm currently reading Stranger In A Strange Land, but I've not really warmed to the protagonist yet :/

Regards :>

[this charming man]

I consider myself an open minded skeptic.

One thing I don't care for is skeptics who are blind to any opinion but there own, even when there is irrefutable evidence to prove them otherwise.

I know I will find many interesting threads to explore here :)

Sincerely
Denise.

Welcome; however, beware of the Grammar Tyrant! He is around here somewhere.

[Paulhoff]

Welcome, and I will not tell you the truth.... :eek:

Paul

:) :) :)

Not on this thread

[Paulhoff]

Welcome; however, beware of the Grammar Tyrant! He is around here somewhere.
Billy-something :jaw-dropp

Paul

:) :) :)

[this charming man]

You say not but I am still on the fence about MEDIUMS but I do believe some people may have psychic abilities and maybe I will share my story with people here at some point to show why I believe in some psychics!! Thank you for the warm welcome!!

Hello and welcome. I look forward to your stories. Perhaps people here will be able to refute them, or maybe they won't.

Have you read about cold reading? Have you seen Derren Brown perform? Have you read about confirmation bias?

I know thats a lot of questions; however, expect a lot more. :)

You should read some of the threads RSLancastr has started. He also has a great site StopSylviaBrowne.com
(http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/home/).

[this charming man]

Hi,
I am a new member my name is Aliscyn and I am from Pitsburgh,Pa, I am married with 3 children. I have been with my husband since I was 15 and he was 17 are children are 18,17 and 14 I know teens !! I AM VERY VERY INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT MEDIUMS ARE THEY REAL OR NOT?

NO THEY ARE ALL

1) MISTAKEN, THEY MAY BE VERY GOOD AT OBSERVATION THOUGH
2) LIARS
3) FRAUDS
4) MENTALLY ILL

[Aliscyn]

Hello and welcome. I look forward to your stories. Perhaps people here will be able to refute them, or maybe they won't.

Have you read about cold reading? Have you seen Derren Brown perform? Have you read about confirmation bias?

I know thats a lot of questions; however, expect a lot more. :)

You should read some of the threads RSLancastr has started. He also has a great site StopSylviaBrowne.com
(http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/home/).
Have you seen Derren Brown perform? Have you read about confirmation bias?



I do not believe in Sylvia Brown AT all I feel she is totally fake.. Yes I know what cold reading is...No never saw Derren brown perform.. No have not read confirmation bias...

[Aliscyn]

NO THEY ARE ALL

1) MISTAKEN, THEY MAY BE VERY GOOD AT OBSERVATION THOUGH
2) LIARS
3) FRAUDS
4) MENTALLY ILL
Charming man can you prove they are all fake? That is a huge assumption is it not?

[Aliscyn]

OK here is my story why I believe in at least one psychic.... I was working for a company from my home and used to conduct interviews over the phone in many states.. Well this has been a few years back and to this day I am still blown away by this lady.. None of the people we interviewed knew who was going to call or when we would call so there was NO way this lady had any information about me.. When I called this lady (Mary Blank) I started the interview and the only information Mary had was my name and the state I was from....She stopped me in the middle of the interview and started telling me things about myself that there was no way for her to know.. info she stated 1st She told me one of my children was going on vacation near water and would have a great time there was no danger and for me not to worry: FACT my daughter at the time was 11 and was going to Ocean Maryland and yes she had an awesome time
2nd Said I had 4 children but one was a miscarriage and said it was a girl FACT: she was totally 100% correct I did have a miscarriage but as for the sex of the child I did not know.
"]3rd told me my youngest struggles in school and will have a future doing something in uniform... [/COLOR] Fact: he does and did struggle in school .. Not able to confirm his career yet as he is only 14.
That is all I have written down and I never finished the interview.... She made me a believer that some do have a gift!

[Roadtoad]

Charming man can you prove they are all fake? That is a huge assumption is it not?

Not necessarily. Still, we're looking forward to what you have to say in another thread.

[Paulhoff]

None of the people we interviewed knew who was going to call or when we would call so there was NO way this lady had any information about me..
This should be talked about somewhere else on the forum, but as you say, as far as you know she knew nothing of you, that does not mean she didn't.

Paul

:) :) :)

[SusanB-M1]

OK here is my story why I believe in at least one psychic....
<snip>
That is all I have written down and I never finished the interview.... She made me a believer that some do have a gift!
I understand well how such a 'reading' is so very convincing, as I had a somewhat similar experience about 25 years ago. I was a sceptic, but could not rationalise this particular case, tucking it away in the back of my mindwith a question mark. It is only finally since coming to this site that I put it decisively in its proper place.

... and welcome of course. I visited Pittsburgh once and found the people there so friendly and helpful.

[this charming man]

Charming man can you prove they are all fake? That is a huge assumption is it not?

This is my belief after reading about and witnessing many psychic "readings" ; in addition, it is more of a parody of your ALL CAPS COMMENT.

However; one cannot prove a negative.
An example of this is if I were to say:

"I have a flying-invisible-pink unicorn in my kitchen; prove that I do not."

Please know I am neither poking fun at your nor am I attacking you; however it is my hope that I will be able to help you become a lot more skeptical about mediums.


Here is a Derren Brown clip. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G18NfN76bAs) There are many more.

cheers :)

[this charming man]

OK here is my story why I believe in at least one psychic.... I was working for a company from my home and used to conduct interviews over the phone in many states.. Well this has been a few years back and to this day I am still blown away by this lady.. None of the people we interviewed knew who was going to call or when we would call so there was NO way this lady had any information about me.. When I called this lady (Mary Blank) I started the interview and the only information Mary had was my name and the state I was from....She stopped me in the middle of the interview and started telling me things about myself that there was no way for her to know.. info she stated 1st She told me one of my children was going on vacation near water and would have a great time there was no danger and for me not to worry: FACT my daughter at the time was 11 and was going to Ocean Maryland and yes she had an awesome time
2nd Said I had 4 children but one was a miscarriage and said it was a girl FACT: she was totally 100% correct I did have a miscarriage but as for the sex of the child I did not know.
"]3rd told me my youngest struggles in school and will have a future doing something in uniform... [/COLOR] Fact: he does and did struggle in school .. Not able to confirm his career yet as he is only 14.
That is all I have written down and I never finished the interview.... She made me a believer that some do have a gift!

My first question would be did she know that you were calling? If so she could have done some reconnaissance and investigating prior to the interview.

1) This is hardly a "hit." Many people go on vacation near the water. The Earth is mostly water. :)

2) First, my condolences about the miscarriage. A lot of woman miscarry; my wife did. Also think really hard about the conversation. Did the psychic come right out and say this before you spoke to her, or did you both talk for a bit and then she said this? She could have picked up clues in your conversation. Plus you cannot give credit to her for the sex of your miscarried child. You did not know the sex, so you do not know if she was correct.

3) This is a guess; kids struggle in school all the time. Again think really really hard about the phone call. Was she fishing? How many "misses" did she have that she blew right over and onto the next thing? Again, you cannot give credit for the uniform guess. Please remember that kids can get part time jobs, and even fast food joints and grocery stores have uniforms.

The next time, if there is a next time, please write down all the misses too, and pay close attention to the fishing and guessing. As I stated earlier, psychics are probably very good at observation; they can even read body language whether one is conscious of it or not.

:)

oh and

It's True! (you will get that later if you read the board a lot ;) )

[hcmom]

"I have a flying-invisible-pink unicorn in my kitchen..."


HEY!! I want a flying, invisible, pink unicorn too!! If it ever has babies, let me know, please?

[GreNME]

Hello there!

My name is John, though I usually go by GreNME when posting on the web (hence the username). I've actually read content on this site previously covering a number of subjects, but I do have to admit that what brought me to actually join was reviewing some of the large number of 9/11-based material out there.

I'm just an IT manager who happens to be a lay-study of history, with hope of having time to pursue degrees later that will allow me to enter the field that has me constantly fascinated and excites me. I'm an autodidact in many things (heck, including my own profession), but that hasn't meant I am or have been opposed to learning in a class or from books. The internet has proven to be both a boon and a bane in my search for more and more information, considering the junk::worthwhile ratio of many popular information sources out there (just look at the educational section of Google Video as an example). In that regard, I'm very happy to see places like this forum and its parent site exist, encouraging an open skepticism and critical thinking among its readers.

I'll have to admit from the get-go that I'm a polemist at heart, if only because it has led me to hone my critical thinking into a tool that I can employ in as many different subjects as I have, whether those subjects be historical context to economics to everyday life. I'm a big fan of the socratic method when it comes to defining the terms of language used in debate, I definitely enjoy a point-counterpoint method for engaging an opposing view on a somewhat level field, and have also had my share of using an essay-based method to cover larger and more general areas of contention when I felt it more appropriate. All of this means I can tend to be verbose at times, a cutting reductionist at others, though I can sometimes see the use for hyperbole as a counter to other hyperbole. As such, I understand if sometimes someone might feel the need to say something about my methods and request an adjustment to a more palattable form of discourse.

Well, that's enough of an introduction for now. I'm sure anyone curious enough can find more of my presence out on the web anyway, small though it is (though I'll wait until later to link to any of it, in keeping with the forum rules set forth). Thanks for having me around!

[OldTigerCub]

I just found this forum and have been enlightened by many of the senior whose posts I have read. My dad was a veteran of the Second World War, an infantryman of the 10th Armored Division, a participant in the Battle of the Bulge and a POW of the German army, thus the screen name.
I have made a hobby, or maybe more of an obsession, of studying the mark that the men of the 10th AD put on history during the defense of Bastogne, and have come to appreciate (finally) the role of the "Greatest Generation" in the world we know today. Without them we would certainly not be enjoying the freedoms and prosperity we enjoy and take for granted.

[OldTigerCub]

I just found this forum and have been enlightened by many of the senior posters whose entrys I have read. My dad was a veteran of the Second World War, an infantryman of the 10th Armored (Tiger) Division, a participant in the Battle of the Bulge and a POW of the German army, thus the screen name.
I have made a hobby, or maybe more of an obsession, of studying the mark that the men of the 10th AD put on history during the defense of Bastogne, and have come to appreciate (finally) the role of the "Greatest Generation" in the world we know today. Without them we would certainly not be enjoying the freedoms and prosperity we enjoy and take for granted.
One of my recent pet peeves is 9-11 troothers and their propagation of half-truths and downright lies about the events of 9-11-2001. I hope to learn from those who can apply science and logic to counter speculation and innuendo how to answer, in exacting terms, the questions posed by would-be CTers.
I look forward to sound arguments, inspiring testimony, and rational discussion as I hover about the forum.

[manofthesea]

Just wanted to say hi to everyone. Living in Hawaii, I guess that I've developed a 'blue colored lense' to see life through. There's a few controversial subjects that I'm interested in and I'm sure that I'll be able to add a little by way of personal observations. Thanks.

[Paulhoff]

Hi everyone, manofthesea we have a few Hawaiians here.

Paul

:) :) :)

Your mission if you accept it is to find them.

[OldTigerCub]

Hi,
I am a new member my name is Aliscyn and I am from Pitsburgh,Pa, I am married with 3 children. I have been with my husband since I was 15 and he was 17 are children are 18,17 and 14 I know teens !! I AM VERY VERY INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT MEDIUMS ARE THEY REAL OR NOT?

Being new here myself, it's good to see another 'burgher! Assuming you are a Stiller fan, it's a good day in "Steeler Nation"!:D

[Mr. Skinny]

Hello there!

My name is John, though I usually go by GreNME when posting on the web (hence the username). I've actually read content on this site previously covering a number of subjects, but I do have to admit that what brought me to actually join was reviewing some of the large number of 9/11-based material out there.

I'm just an IT manager who happens to be a lay-study of history, with hope of having time to pursue degrees later that will allow me to enter the field that has me constantly fascinated and excites me. I'm an autodidact in many things (heck, including my own profession), but that hasn't meant I am or have been opposed to learning in a class or from books. The internet has proven to be both a boon and a bane in my search for more and more information, considering the junk::worthwhile ratio of many popular information sources out there (just look at the educational section of Google Video as an example). In that regard, I'm very happy to see places like this forum and its parent site exist, encouraging an open skepticism and critical thinking among its readers.

I'll have to admit from the get-go that I'm a polemist at heart, if only because it has led me to hone my critical thinking into a tool that I can employ in as many different subjects as I have, whether those subjects be historical context to economics to everyday life. I'm a big fan of the socratic method when it comes to defining the terms of language used in debate, I definitely enjoy a point-counterpoint method for engaging an opposing view on a somewhat level field, and have also had my share of using an essay-based method to cover larger and more general areas of contention when I felt it more appropriate. All of this means I can tend to be verbose at times, a cutting reductionist at others, though I can sometimes see the use for hyperbole as a counter to other hyperbole. As such, I understand if sometimes someone might feel the need to say something about my methods and request an adjustment to a more palattable form of discourse.

Well, that's enough of an introduction for now. I'm sure anyone curious enough can find more of my presence out on the web anyway, small though it is (though I'll wait until later to link to any of it, in keeping with the forum rules set forth). Thanks for having me around!
That was a very well written introduction. Welcome to the forum.





I just found this forum and have been enlightened by many of the senior posters whose entrys I have read. My dad was a veteran of the Second World War, an infantryman of the 10th Armored (Tiger) Division, a participant in the Battle of the Bulge and a POW of the German army, thus the screen name.
I have made a hobby, or maybe more of an obsession, of studying the mark that the men of the 10th AD put on history during the defense of Bastogne, and have come to appreciate (finally) the role of the "Greatest Generation" in the world we know today. Without them we would certainly not be enjoying the freedoms and prosperity we enjoy and take for granted.
One of my recent pet peeves is 9-11 troothers and their propagation of half-truths and downright lies about the events of 9-11-2001. I hope to learn from those who can apply science and logic to counter speculation and innuendo how to answer, in exacting terms, the questions posed by would-be CTers.
I look forward to sound arguments, inspiring testimony, and rational discussion as I hover about the forum.
Hi, OldTigerCub.

Oddly, I just re-watched the Band of Brothers episode on Bastogne last weekend. I've also read a few WWII books that included Bastogne. Fascinating story. Many heroic people that fought there.

Welcome to the forum, and can you believe the Browns beat the Bengals today!!! 96 total points scored!!! I guess even the Browns get lucky once in a while. :D

[OldTigerCub]

Hi, OldTigerCub.

Oddly, I just re-watched the Band of Brothers episode on Bastogne last weekend. I've also read a few WWII books that included Bastogne. Fascinating story. Many heroic people that fought there.

Welcome to the forum, and can you believe the Browns beat the Bengals today!!! 96 total points scored!!! I guess even the Browns get lucky once in a while.

Thanks for the wave, MrSkinny!
The Browns-Bengals game was a real shocker! It was a surprise to see Cleveland bounce back from last week.
If I could recommend a good book (new on the market) "Alamo in the Ardennes" by John C. McManus is an interesting look at fighting around Bastogne, and the men that defended the town for the first few days. Dad was part of Team Cherry, sent to roadblock east of Bastogne at Longvilly and Magaret, so that piece of history is something I find of particular interest. "Band of Brothers" presents the most accurate portrayal I have seen on film, and though they took a little artistic license with history, they did give the 10th AD their due mention.

[Mr. Skinny]

Hi, OldTigerCub.

Oddly, I just re-watched the Band of Brothers episode on Bastogne last weekend. I've also read a few WWII books that included Bastogne. Fascinating story. Many heroic people that fought there.

Welcome to the forum, and can you believe the Browns beat the Bengals today!!! 96 total points scored!!! I guess even the Browns get lucky once in a while.

Thanks for the wave, MrSkinny!
The Browns-Bengals game was a real shocker! It was a surprise to see Cleveland bounce back from last week.
If I could recommend a good book (new on the market) "Alamo in the Ardennes" by John C. McManus is an interesting look at fighting around Bastogne, and the men that defended the town for the first few days. Dad was part of Team Cherry, sent to roadblock east of Bastogne at Longvilly and Magaret, so that piece of history is something I find of particular interest. "Band of Brothers" presents the most accurate portrayal I have seen on film, and though they took a little artistic license with history, they did give the 10th AD their due mention.
I will look into that book, OTC. Hopefully, my library will have it.

I'm currently reading Into The Rising Sun by Patrick K. Odonnell. It's interviews with Pacific theatre veterans.

My dad didn't serve, but one of my uncles trained as an Alamo Scout in the Pacific theatre. Had a third cousin that was a navigator on a bomber that got shot down. He was held in the same prison camp where "The Great Escape" occured.

[GreNME]

That was a very well written introduction. Welcome to the forum.
Many thanks. :)

That intro was meant to achieve two things: display my tendency to be verbose and give as much 'advance warning' as to how I tend to word ideas in written form. I was tempted to also point out that I blame my influences on Frank Herbert, my tendency to read non-fiction, and my brain damage (really!). ;)

[felix]

hello everyone
i'd like to start a new thread about a disscussion on music,can anybody tell me where should i post it?

[grayman]

hello everyone
i'd like to start a new thread about a disscussion on music,can anybody tell me where should i post it?

History, Literature, and the Arts would be a good place to start.

And welcome to the forum.

[COLONEL]

Welcome all you Newbies . Please wait while the Grayman takes your picture before you wonder off and get lost .

[Aliscyn]

Great to see another fan of the Steelers here!! Hope you enjoy the site here so far I enjoy reading what others think and post!

[Aliscyn]

I am not going to dispute your thoughts I know for a fact the LADY had absolutely no idea who I was and No the conversation was a script I was reading from ! Again not a chance she knew anything about me from reading the script the script was strictly about the company I worked for. Also I was told this should be talked about in a different part of the forum being new I am not sure where . As of now I will drop the subject in this forum.

[tagmosis]

Hello, this is an introduction. It is not well written.

I came to this forum while searching for material to debunk 9/11 truthers, and decided it would be a good resource for learning about pseudoscience and conspiracy theories. Plus I like reading Randi's commentaries. I visit other forums, but none of them are devoted to discussion and refutation of psuedoscience and conspiracies and mysticism in general.

I am a skeptic and have been for about three or four years. I can't remember many details about my conversion to skepticism. It was a gradual thing.

I also note that this forum has a lot of features, tags, and smilies, more so than the other forums I post on. That's kind of cool.

[Mr. Skinny]

Hello, this is an introduction. It is not well written.

I came to this forum while searching for material to debunk 9/11 truthers, and decided it would be a good resource for learning about pseudoscience and conspiracy theories. Plus I like reading Randi's commentaries. I visit other forums, but none of them are devoted to discussion and refutation of psuedoscience and conspiracies and mysticism in general.

I am a skeptic and have been for about three or four years. I can't remember many details about my conversion to skepticism. It was a gradual thing.

I also note that this forum has a lot of features, tags, and smilies, more so than the other forums I post on. That's kind of cool.
Your intro isn't poorly written, but I'm not one to judge, as I belong to a group of people called "engineers" who are not typically know for their writing skills.

I kind of came to skepticism gradually as well. No major revelation that led me there, although I suppose engineering school more or less sealed the deal, so to speak.

Anyhow, welcome to the forum.

[genesplicer]

Greetings! I'm genesplicer (I've had that handle since my first online adventures in 1976 (Hello ARPANET!)). I am a 7th and 8th grade science teacher in Riverside, CA. I have been interested in skepticism since I saw James Randi completely fluster a psychic on "That's Incredible!" back in the late '70's. I subscribed to "Skeptical Inquirer" when I stumbled upon across an article written by him in an early issue.

I feel that critical and skeptical thinking are not generally taught in our schools and I am working to remedy this. My Graduate thesis addressed the controversy surrounding the teaching of evolution in public schools and how to deal with it.

I strongly emphasize critical thinking in class. Just today I pulled a Yuri Geller and bent spoons, then had my students engage in discussions about how I could have done such a thing, without using psychic powers. The generation of reality-based hypotheses is enough to get the kids firing up their skepticism.

I am looking forward to participating in these forums, now that I have found them. (I can't believe I didn't know of their existence before now...)

Cheers!

[Wildy]

Hello.

I was lazy and decided to use my very imaginative Australian nickname for my username.

I came here because one forum that I frequent is full of conspiracy nuts but no proper discussion, and another forum has become too slow for my taste. Also if I understand this place correctly it is one of the few places on the net that is a good place to go for discussion.

I also heard from someone who I believe appears here that this is a good place to get information to throw at the conspiracy nuts.

However I do enjoy a good discussion and if I spend too long on this introduction I will never join in a discussion now will I?

[this charming man]

Greetings! I'm genesplicer (I've had that handle since my first online adventures in 1976 (Hello ARPANET!)). I am a 7th and 8th grade science teacher in Riverside, CA. I have been interested in skepticism since I saw James Randi completely fluster a psychic on "That's Incredible!" back in the late '70's. I subscribed to "Skeptical Inquirer" when I stumbled upon across an article written by him in an early issue.

I feel that critical and skeptical thinking are not generally taught in our schools and I am working to remedy this. My Graduate thesis addressed the controversy surrounding the teaching of evolution in public schools and how to deal with it.

I strongly emphasize critical thinking in class. Just today I pulled a Yuri Geller and bent spoons, then had my students engage in discussions about how I could have done such a thing, without using psychic powers. The generation of reality-based hypotheses is enough to get the kids firing up their skepticism.

I am looking forward to participating in these forums, now that I have found them. (I can't believe I didn't know of their existence before now...)

Cheers!


Please allow me to welcome you; I am positive your presence will be greatly appreciated. I look forward to your posts, and I admire your persistence to encourage critical thinking. Keep fighting the good fight.

Cheers

:welcome4

[this charming man]

Hello.

I was lazy and decided to use my very imaginative Australian nickname for my username.

I came here because one forum that I frequent is full of conspiracy nuts but no proper discussion, and another forum has become too slow for my taste. Also if I understand this place correctly it is one of the few places on the net that is a good place to go for discussion.

I also heard from someone who I believe appears here that this is a good place to get information to throw at the conspiracy nuts.

However I do enjoy a good discussion and if I spend too long on this introduction I will never join in a discussion now will I?


Welcome. You have come to the right place; however, don't let the CTers frustrate you too much. There are many skilled debunkers here; they should be able to help strengthen your debate skills.
BTW, there are several Aussies and a few Kiwis here at the forums.


:welcomeb:

[Lorilove]

Hi there,

My name is Lori, and I came to this forum after looking up something else and stumbling onto a few of the threads, and liking some of what I saw there.

I am 33, a single mother of one child, and I live in New York - on Long Island. I have been here for around two years.

Look forward to exchanges with many of you, and hope my stay will be long here.

Thanks, and have a nice day.

[hcmom]

Greetings! I'm genesplicer (I've had that handle since my first online adventures in 1976 (Hello ARPANET!)). I am a 7th and 8th grade science teacher in Riverside, CA. I have been interested in skepticism since I saw James Randi completely fluster a psychic on "That's Incredible!" back in the late '70's. I subscribed to "Skeptical Inquirer" when I stumbled upon across an article written by him in an early issue.

I feel that critical and skeptical thinking are not generally taught in our schools and I am working to remedy this. My Graduate thesis addressed the controversy surrounding the teaching of evolution in public schools and how to deal with it.

I strongly emphasize critical thinking in class. Just today I pulled a Yuri Geller and bent spoons, then had my students engage in discussions about how I could have done such a thing, without using psychic powers. The generation of reality-based hypotheses is enough to get the kids firing up their skepticism.

I am looking forward to participating in these forums, now that I have found them. (I can't believe I didn't know of their existence before now...)

Cheers!

Yay!! Another Southern Californian!!

[Blackwell]

Yay!! Another Southern Californian!!

Pfftt. Right. Just what we needed.





Welcome everyone!

[Paulhoff]

Yes, more people that build their lives on shaky ground. :D

Paul

:) :) :)