Web of Skepticism: Guerrilla Activism in the Age of the Internet

Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter. That's where the action is for a new generation of critical thinkers and a host of "fence sitters" wondering how to navigate extraordinary claims. The single most powerful skeptical tool on the Internet today is Wikipedia.Just over ten years old, this living, breathing encyclopedia has already changed the epistemology in every language.

Shouting and belittling believers does nothing but force them to circle the cognitive dissonance wagons and shut down. Allowing them to do their own research and think things through independently, without pressure, is the only way to potentially change minds. Susan will discuss the most relevant modern tools and techniques for shaping the public into better critical thinkers, with emphasis on Wikipedia.

Guerrilla Skepticism is the act of inserting well written, carefully cited skeptical references into Wikipedia pages where they are needed, while still following the guidelines and rules of everyone's online encyclopedia. This grassroots method allows skeptics working at home to contribute to the skeptical movement without personally confronting people.

Speaker: Susan Gerbic