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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.
The Psychological Science of StorytellingIt hit me about two years ago, sometime after I started this blog. Somewhere between the…
Islamic Blasphemy and the “Freedom” to Choose your Own ReligionIn the last few weeks, Muslims from Bangladesh have been going crazy trying to fight back…
Inattentional Blindness and the Invisible ViolinistIf a tree falls in the forest and no one's around to hear it, does it make a sound? It…
Hamas-Israel Ceasefire Ends as Gaza Schools Drop Sports for Military TrainingI have been following the news regarding the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza that…
Are Vocal Homophobes Really Just Homosexuals in the Closet?Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who…
Why Haven’t We Found the Missing Link in the Fossil Record? Science Answers!War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. -George Orwell If evolution is…
Bollywood Zombies and The Westernization of Indian Pop CultureGo Goa Gone, the first Western-style zombie flick to be made in Bollywood, was just…
Hungary Solves Homelessness by Finding Places for All… in Jail?The brilliant move of Hungary lawmakers to criminalize the act of being a homeless person…
The 2013 Pigasus AwardsEvery year, the James Randi Educational Foundation gives awards to recognize the special…
Did Jesus ‘Want’ to be Nailed to a Cross?I'm pretty sure the answer to the question in the title is "no," but there are many things…
Tag Archives: violence
Say “Tata” to Unwanted Wrinkles and Slap the Years Right Off Your Face!
Are you willing to pay $350 in the name of beauty? Do you have no sense of scientific literacy and want to get a quick fix? Do believe that anything coming from the “mythical land of the East” is magical? Then welcome to Tata Massage, where trained specialists are waiting to literally slap the wrinkles away! These Thai specialists are waiting to smack some sense into you, and some wrinkles out of you. So come on down to the new store in San Francisco, California, where Tata Massage celebrated their grand opening on October 23rd! Or, you know… don’t.
Posted in Biographical, Culture, Medicine & Health, Psychology, Science, Skepticism
Tagged alternative medicine, America, comedy, prostitution, satire, violence
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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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Chaos in the Middle East – Muslims Up in Arms Over Anti-Islamic Film
I stop checking the internet for just a few days and what happens? The Middle East goes absolutely insane. Well, not simply the Middle East, but believers of Islamic persuasion who are up in arms. They’re violently opposing America and all that’s associated with it. Why are they so upset? Another episode of a satirical children’s cartoon, perhaps? Actually, it appears as though what caused this was actually a video that insults the prophet Muhammed. In truth, it’s not so different from a satirical children’s cartoon.
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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Guns in America – Part 1: The Current State of Gun Violence
With thousands of Americans dying from gun violence each year, it seems that such stories are in the news so often that – paradoxically – it’s rarely ever news anymore. However, high-profile cases such as the recent shooting in Aurora, Colorado has brought gun crimes back into the media spotlight. The response to this event has in some ways been predictable, and in other ways mind-boggling. There’s no telling what it’s going to take for Americans to have a real debate about gun control, but it’s important for everyone, because American guns have a way of affecting people outside the country as well.
Posted in Activism, Culture, Legal Issues, Media, Medicine & Health, TED
Tagged America, comedians, guns, Mexico, politics, violence
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Does Owning a Gun Increase or Decrease Safety? Science Answers
Guns have always been thought of as a means to protect oneself from harm. Considering they can be instantly lethal, they make other self-defense routes like martial arts appear to some people as a total waste of time. But is it true that guns keep increase safety? No, I’m not comparing a gun to martial arts; I’m comparing owning a gun vs. not owning a gun. Which is the statistically safer option?
The Domestic Abuse Double-Standard – Part 2: A Man’s Worth
In Part 1, we looked at how people thought female partners assaulting male partners was largely ignored or overlooked. In the video I showed, most people thought that such a scene was no big deal, no reason to step in, or even a good thing. In Part 2, you’ll see just how bad the double-standard of domestic abuse has gotten, and who we should be blaming for it.
Posted in Activism, Culture, Legal Issues, Media, Psychology
Tagged sexism, violence
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The Domestic Abuse Double-Standard – Part 1: Are women always the victims?
What would you do if you were stuck in an abusive relationship? What would you do if asking for help was not only considered humiliating, but there was even a stigma attached to it? How would your life be different if you knew that the person you were involved with could not only get away with, but even sometimes be encouraged to do something to you that you would never – ever – be encouraged to do to them? This is what men have to face everywhere, because the world does not take seriously the idea that a man can be the victim of physical abuse by a female.
A Visual History of Sex and Violence
I stumbled upon an amazing picture that basically shows the evolution of man in terms of sex and violence, all the way from club-wielding cavemen to go-go dancers and semi-automatic machine guns. It’s a very interesting image that clearly the creator took a lot of time to make. Not just because of the artwork, but because of the random story-arcs and the various period references. So let’s see what you’ve got: How many periods can you identify? (Extra points for relevant locations) Write a comment below to show your history knowledge.