# Skeptics suck **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 6, 1999, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824 "1999-10-06T13:35:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![the\_first\_supraliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@the\_first\_supraliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_first_supraliminal)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/1 "1999-10-06T13:35:00Z")
Skeptics are a closed-minded, line-following, cowardly bunch with no real balls. They live in a tiny world with their huge egos and never really accomplish anything, except recruit more spineless wannabes. šŸ™‚ * * * Thereā€™s always another beer. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/2 "1999-10-06T13:37:00Z")
I see youā€™ve moved your how-to-troll thread from MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/3 "1999-10-06T13:52:00Z")
Beer, so your skeptical of skeptics,eh? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/4 "1999-10-06T13:55:00Z")
Beeruser, is it true that youā€™re the guy Nicolas Cage based his characterization on in _Leaving Las Vegas_?( šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/5 "1999-10-06T15:30:00Z")
I realize this was a post that slithered down the board list from the Pit where Beeruser intended it to be, but an excess of anything is wrong. That would include skepticism. Moderation in all things, including moderation! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/6 "1999-10-06T15:45:00Z")
Well, since itā€™s in Great Debates, Iā€™ll do some debunking. I note with interest that BeerUser failed to provide any _proof_ for his opinion that ā€œSkeptics are a closed-minded, line-following, cowardly bunch with no real balls.ā€ Iā€™ll start with your allegation that skeptics have no balls. If you meant to say that skeptics have balls but that they are not real, please correct me, and Iā€™ll be glad to debunk that, too. You cannot simply make an assertion of this nature and expect people to believe it. We need facts. A link to an original source, a book, anything would be a start. And no anecdotes-- The simple fact that you heard somewhere about a ball-less skeptic is not proof. Even solid proof of the existence of a single or even a few ball-less skeptics does not mean that you can make a blanket assertion as to the ball-lessness skeptics in general. Remember that correlation is not necessarily causation, especially in the esoteric field of testicular deficiency. Keep in mind that you make an extraordinary claim. Extraordinary proof is needed. As to your second assertion, it assumes _a priori_ the correctness of the first. Ergo, it is meaningless until you can prove the foundation. So until you provide some real evidence, I refuse to believe that skeptics are any of the things you claim. Can I wink-smiley thing a whole post? Iā€™ll try šŸ˜‰ * * * Livinā€™ on Tums, Vitamin E and Rogaine ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/7 "1999-10-06T15:55:00Z")
Manhattan, where can I send the retainer? Youā€™re just the kind of lawyer anyone could possibly want? šŸ™‚ Now, to the topic at handā€¦ Some skeptics are of the female persuasion. With the rarest of exceptions, and ignoring incomplete transsexual operations, female persons are not possessed of balls in the anatomical sense. Therefore it is safe to believe that at least _some_ skeptics are ball-less. Further, I have never, whether in real life or in observations of fiction, non-fiction, or the Web, observed a skeptic attempting to recruit an invertebrate organism (except for one discussion with a theologically-minded octopus, but my own mental state was not conducive to objective observation at the time, and I may have hallucinated it). Therefore I would have to take exception to BeerUserā€™s comment about ā€œā€¦recruit[ing] more spineless wannabes.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/8 "1999-10-06T15:59:00Z")
Not to mention that if theyā€™re ā€œwannabes,ā€ why would they need to be recruited? You donā€™t recruit people that already want to be what youā€™re recruiting for! ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/9 "1999-10-06T16:06:00Z")
Dammit, here I have been travelling on my life-journey, thinking that I am a fairly skeptical person if not a full-blown skeptic. Then Beeruser posts his well-reasoned definition of a skeptic, and I find the props knocked out from under me. I suppose that I will have to think of myself in different terms from now on, as I would never think of questioning Beeruserā€™s use of terms. Maybe I could use ā€œrealistā€, as I do live in the great big objectively verifiable world, usually. ## I would like to second Polycarpā€™s high opinion of manhatten. Any attorney who is also an old Deadhead canā€™t be all bad. Dr. Fidelius, Charlatan Associate Curator Anomalous Paleontology, Miskatonic University Cave ab homine unius libri ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/10 "1999-10-06T16:10:00Z")
You are apparently unaware that ā€œwannabeā€ is an invertebrate species know for its lack of testicles, grossly swollen ego and ability to follow a line precisely. It is also much prized for ease of recruitment by various groups, but I am generally told that skeptics find them unappealing, preferring to let the wannabes attach their leech-like mouths to the less discriminating. Therefore I must also object to Beeruserā€™s assertions. * * * ā€œEppur, si muove!ā€ - Galileo Galilei ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/11 "1999-10-06T16:32:00Z")
Dr. Fidelius said: > [@](#): > > Any attorney who is also an old Deadhead canā€™t be all bad. The problem, sir, is that most attorneys are deadheads, but not with reference to the music of the late Mr. Garcia and his colleagues. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/12 "1999-10-06T16:52:00Z")
Well, I will admit that I am close-minded. Every time I leave my mind open, the cat gets out. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 1999, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/13 "1999-10-07T05:46:00Z")
Iā€™m skeptical that I can add anything worthwhile to this thread, but i can assure you that I do, in fact, have testiclesā€¦ * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 1999, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/14 "1999-10-07T05:52:00Z")
Dr F: > [@](#): > > Any attorney who is also an old Deadhead canā€™t be all bad. Apropos of nothing at all, Iā€™ve noticed, and appreciated, the sig of manhattan for quite some time. That is all. Waste Flick Lives! ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 1999, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/15 "1999-10-07T05:54:00Z")
Oh, yeah, I also think that Beeruser is being a little too broad-brushed. Waste Flick Lives! ---
**Author:** ![Occam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Occam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Occam)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/16 "1999-10-06T18:36:00Z")
Iā€™m so skeptical I doubt the sincerity of other skeptics. -author forgotten ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/17 "1999-10-06T18:37:00Z")
Yeah, well Iā€™m skeptical that youā€™re really Occam! ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/18 "1999-10-06T19:09:00Z")
He canā€™t possibly be Occam. Look at that stubble! * * * ā€œThe world ends when I die. And as far as Iā€™m concerned, the rest of the universe might as well call it a day too.ā€ ā€“ Matt Groening ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/19 "1999-10-06T19:40:00Z")
Hey, **I** donā€™t doubt that heā€™s Occam. Look how many people have been using his razor lately, just on this board. Would **you** shave with something thatā€™s been used that much? šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824/20 "1999-10-06T20:02:00Z")
I donā€™t consider myself a skeptic. But if you tell me the sun is shining, Iā€™ll go to the window and look. Then Iā€™ll say, ā€œWell, it was shining 8 minutes agoā€. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skeptics-suck/16824.md?page=2)