Author: Jim

What’s Up With Academia?

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We’re beginning to see more and more, that Higher Education is becoming no more than an echo chamber for those whose agenda is Social Justice, or whatever is perceived to be Social Justice, to them of course, without consideration the person(s) or the circumstances of those that are condemned for their views or their associations.  Of course, this started at the student level where protests and disruptions – even violent disruptions – would occur on campus because a few decided that an invited speakers’ views were so abhorrent to a small mob, that those views may not be heard, by anyone. These are the institutions which in the past have always welcomed reasoned discussion, even debate, because it was believed that even those views that may be disagreeable to some, would allow students to better understand the wider world. Not any longer.

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Being Skeptical: Where Does Bias Begin?

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Gretchen and I have been discussing what being a skeptic is and what it means. Her latest response to me is here.  In the post she responded  to, there is a discussion about confirmation bias and how I believe that everyone exhibits this bias at one time or another. But bias, I believe,  goes beyond that. We may certainly read or hear something that confirms a belief we have held, but where does that come from? I have no background in any of the neuro-sciences, but I think that, from life experience, just knowing other people, that there is an explanation.

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Thanks, Mom

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It’s Mothers Day and yes, as most children, I am thinking about my Mom today. Unfortunately, I can’t call her to tell her how much I love her, how she inspired me to be the best during my life. My Mother died ten years ago. Still, she’s never been forgotten by my sister or myself. We were given opportunities by both our parents that they never had. Neither of my parents ever went to college, but it was important, more-so from my Mother that both my sister and I attend and graduate and to go as far as we wanted educationally. Initially, for my sister, that meant a PhD in English Literature. She was, before her retirement, a Milton Scholar, yes, someone respected in her field. Who encouraged that? Mom.

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#SexStrike: Really?

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Logging into Twitter today, I noticed something that seemed to be trending a bit, at least in my timeline: Alyssa Milano is declaring a #SexStrike, until women receive what she refers to as body autonomy. If I understand this protest, it’s about a recent bill passed in the State of Georgia that would prevent an abortion, once a fetal heartbeat had been detected. I’m told this is somewhere around the sixth week of pregnancy. I don’t want to argue whether this new law is right or wrong, Constitutional or not, that’s for others in a different forum. What I find amusing about this protest is that I don’t see a lot on the left commenting one way or another and of course, those on the right are outright mocking her.

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What is Skepticism? Can We Know Anything?

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Gretchen, over a Skeptic Review, posted an excellent piece, appropriately titled, What Is Skepticism? It a great introduction that details not only the general definition of skepticism, but also breaks out the different kinds of skepticism. I don’t think that the state of skepticism is necessarily imperiled though, even if there are those that have a certain view of those defined that way. I may be wrong, but I have never known anyone, a skeptic, that goes around introducing themselves that way. As I mentioned in my introductory piece, we are all skeptical at one level or another. Where I think I may agree with those that criticize us, is that there may be a contingent of people claiming to be skeptics, that don’t actually exemplify that status.

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What is Skepticism?

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When I first started this blog, I had no idea how to describe it. Yes, I am both a conservative and a skeptic, but if I just called it that, as I eventuslly did, what would that mean t others? I went back and forth but finally decided on my first instinct: Conservative Skeptic. I thought at the time it would raise a lot of questions of potential readers, and then thought that it was a good thing if it did. Most people, at least those that I know, don’t see theat there’s anyway someone that claims to be a conservative could actually be a skeptic as well. At least in the terms that are widely utilized by some. But I am. I am both and for even a few today, they are unable to understand how a person may be conservative and skeptical at the same time. Reread that. Yes, it’s true. Even for most conservatives I know, I’m not considered a conservative simply because  I am an atheist and I’m told, often, that a pillar of conservatism is belief in God. Which pillar is that exactly?

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Debating Ideas Without Labels

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What happens to a civil society, discourse itself, when thoughts and ideas expressed are so easily categorized? More importantly, the people behind the same? I just read a good piece from Paul Joseph Watson, over at Human Events, that may be a good indicator of where society as a whole is headed, if we’re not already there. It’s an emotional piece, for sure, but then if I were labeled as dangerous or an extremist, I too might become a little (little?) emotional myself. But that’s where we seem to be, labeling thoughts, ideas, we dislike, possibly even those that would seem reprehensible to most people, and instead of  standing and refuting those ideas, silence those that express them.

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What is Skepticism? A Friendly Debate

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Nothing much to say today but to all my readers that something is in the cookpot. Yes, Gretchen and I are going to go “dueling blogs” on what defines as skeptic. I think it will be fun, as well as educational (maybe just for me!) but But Gretchen is a great person to debate with. We did this once before although it was just at a moments notice and I don’t believe the “debate” received the attention it should have.

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Sarah Braasch: Shadowbanned

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Someone I consider a friend appears to have been shadow banned by Twitter. Yes, Sarah Braasch. She’s been on a one woman crusade of sorts to right wrongs perpetuated against her by Yale University, and several major media outlets. She tweets a lot about it, well that may be an understatement, because this is now become her life mission: to restore her name and reputation. Although I’ve never experienced the trauma that Sarah has, I have investigated her case in depth, and written several posts (here, here, here, here, for a start) in support of the dilemma she is in, by nothing of her own doing.  She is tireless in her effort, and should be applauded because many might, after the least effort, probably give up. Not Sarah.

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In Support of the Open forum

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I like an open discussion or debate.I’m not adverse to listening to positions that I may not agree with or even may find reprehensible. That’s the purpose of an open forum, to allow everyone a platform to discuss their ideas, and others to challenge them. I know there will be some that find it strange a conservative would hold may hold this view, but I think there are more of us that believe this than may be thought. Of course there are those that are very close minded, but I think that’s true no matter the political orientation. For every conservative anyone may name, I know I can counter with a liberal or progressive.

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