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developed by JhackAbout Skeptikai
Skeptikai defends science and exposes pseudoscience. Living in Japan also allows for an interesting opportunity to discuss fascinating stories that go unnoticed elsewhere. Psychological phenomena and intriguing cases from around the globe are also regularly highlighted.
What are the Most Corrupt Countries In the World Today?There is plenty of malice, crime, and corruption in today's political systems around the…
Cooperating Online Gives Students Better GradesDo you work well alone? Do other people get in your way or distract you from your studies?…
What is Rakugo?Rakugo isn't a word the English-speaking world knows; but if one Canadian can help it, the…
How Many Teenage Daughters Are Meeting Strangers from the Internet Offline?A new study has just come out which reveals something about the relationship between…
Vaccine Psychology – Part 1: Vaccine Price Influences Perceived Risk of InfectionEven the adults who are rational enough to know that vaccines are a good thing (as opposed…
Can the Colour of the Cup Change the Flavour of What’s Inside?Researchers haven't found that the colour of a cup actually changes the taste of a cup of…
Skeptikai Turns Two Years Old!The blogging on Skeptikai started two years ago, and I'm happy to say things have been…
The Brain is Not Simply Split into Two Totally Separate Halves, and Other Lessons onOne year ago, I wrote an article that skewered the infographic that one website had been…
Egyptian Satirists Are in Serious Danger of Angering the AuthoritiesIf you watch any of the English-subtitled videos of Bassem Youssef, you get the distinct…
In-Laws Bring A Couple Together… or Tear Them ApartA new study has shed some light on the influence in-laws can have on a relationship, and…
Category Archives: Legal Issues
SATIRAN – Part 2: Ahmadinejad, Israel, and the Presidency
In Part 1, the recent health issues of Ahmadinejad were discussed, showing a man more human that people give credit for. But the timing was unfortunate. Ahmadinejad’s collapse was during a political time in which the public perception of his strength as a leader is rumoured to be at risk. For example, his recent attempts at improving his image through Iranians’ love of sports have been failing due to international sanctions that make it difficult for players to continue playing. Now, the president is finding new obstacles from all strata of society.
58 Year-Old Store Clerk to Robbers: “If You’re Going to Hit Me, Hit Me!”
If convenience stores don’t have “employee of the month” awards, I hope they have “regional badass” distinctions, because one employee did something amazing last night. When two robbers came into her store with a bat and started demanding money, she stood her ground. The most salient part of this story is what she shouted at them: “Naguru nara, nagare!” In English, this means “If you’re going to hit me, hit me!”
Posted in Culture, Japan, Legal Issues, Media
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Is “Outing” an Internet Troll Going Too Far?
If you don’t know the word “troll,” you probably haven’t been on the internet enough. An “internet troll” is like a cyber-bully, except they usually don’t have a specific target. They essentially say things to get a reaction, probably because they feel that that’s enough to momentarily alleviate their feelings of insignificance in a world where they don’t get enough attention. The anonymity of the internet makes it possible to get away with saying hurtful things, so there is a whole sad subculture of individuals who have far too much free time, trolling away as if to say “someone acknowledge me!” But with all the freedom of speech and censorship issues in the news recently, it’s important to consider: Is it ever ethical to out an internet troll?
Posted in Biographical, Culture, Legal Issues, Media
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Top 5 Quotes of Stupid America’s War on Smart People
The American war on smart people is incredible. For some reason, there has been a growing disdain for intellect and distrust for education in the “Greatest Country in the World,” and this year’s presidential election has never ceased to amaze me at every turn. The idea that people should not be educated, think critically, or be honest is ridiculous, foolish, and dangerous. Obviously not all education is equal (i.e,. unaccredited universities are garbage) and not all smart people are educated (nor are all educated people smart). But in general, no one should dismiss or denigrate education. So here is a list of the five most egregious quotes that demonstrate the growing animosity towards intelligence and education in America.
Posted in Aggregators/lists/rankings, Biology & Evolution, Culture, Featured, Legal Issues, Media, Psychology, Science, Skepticism
Tagged comedians, education, evolution, intelligence, politics, Santorum
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Japan Introduces New Environment Tax
The Japanese government has introduced an carbon tax on Monday, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This tax comes on top of an already existing one for businesses paying for crude oil and coal imports. The government will raise the tax every two years until 2016.
Companies are likely to raise prices in order to cover higher fuel bills, which will obviously affect consumers. Gasoline and utility costs are expected to rise as well. The money gained will be used to boost clean energy and power-saving projects, but many people are arguing that this tax will have only a small effect.
What Does a Week of Gun Violence Look Like in America?
The reason for carrying a gun in America is an obvious and understandable one: protection. After all, there are lots of weapon-wielding psychos out there in dark masks – just think about what happened at Aurora. This is what one Connecticut man thought yesterday when he saw someone in a black ski mask wielding a knife in his sister’s driveway (the next door over to his house). When he came to investigate, he took no chances, and made the fatal shot. The victim, Tyler Giuliano, was a fifteen year-old high school student. It was also the killer’s son. “It’s something out of a Hollywood script” said one top elected official. I disagree. It’s just an ordinary day in America.
Posted in Activism, Aggregators/lists/rankings, Culture, Featured, Legal Issues, Media, Science
Tagged America, crime, England, gun violence, guns, Lebanon
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Iranian Woman Beats Up Cleric After Being Told to Cover Up
Don’t mess with Iranian women. Iranian cleric Hojatoleslam Ali Beheshti was just doing his regular religious duties, politely telling an Iranian women to cover herself up. She brashly responded with “You should just close your eyes.” What happened next was a quick escalation. The woman began to insult the cleric, and when he told her to stop, she started threatening him. The woman soon pushed him to the ground and started kicking him while shouting insults at him. Evidently, this cleric picked the wrong ass-kicking Iranian woman to oppress.
Posted in Activism, Culture, Legal Issues, Sex and Sexuality
Tagged discrimination, fashion, Iran, sexism, violence
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Political Satire and Censorship in the Middle East
The Danish cartoons started cultural clashes; riots and embassies burned down to ashes. Still there is hope in the dissident voices; who see beyond jihad more civilized choices.
These words begin the chapter on the Middle East, in the book entitled “The Offensive Art – Political Satire and Censorship around the world, from Beerbohm to Borat.” The book can help us understand what’s happening in the Middle East, with the furor over the pathetically-made video that has gotten Muslims up in arms.
Posted in Activism, Culture, Featured, Legal Issues, Media
Tagged America, cartoons, Denmark, discrimination, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jewish studies, Jordan, newspapers, Saudi Arabia
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If You Study Islam, Be Careful in the U.S.
If you’re studying Islam and you’re going to America, you had better have a squeaky clean record – and even then, you still might get questioned more than a bit aggressively. This is the story of one man who went into the field of Islamic Studies for his PhD, and went through an ordeal that for no reason ended up with him having a permanent record. He was just a regular PhD student from McGill University, and the fact that he had dual American and French citizenship didn’t seem to matter – he was suspicious. Evidently, there’s something wrong with learning more about Islam in America, even when it’s done in Canada.
Posted in Biographical, Culture, Legal Issues
Tagged America, crime, discrimination, education, Islam
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Guns in America – Part 2: Gun Cultures and Foreign Solutions
In Part 1, we saw that many people are very dangerous with guns, including some who accidentally shoot themselves or others in the face. In fact, hundreds of unintentional deaths happen every year due to guns, not to mention the thousands that are intentional. Being able to defend yourself against a large person who wants to hurt you is of course an important thing, but obviously this argument assumes that you’re a smaller person defending against a bigger person. However, anyone can own a gun, which makes it dangerous for everyone.
Posted in Activism, Culture, Japan, Legal Issues, Psychology, Science, Social Psych
Tagged America, Canada, gun, politics, violence
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