“Michael Shermer says the human tendency to believe strange things — from alien abductions to dowsing rods — boils down to two of the brain’s most basic, hard-wired survival skills. He explains what they are, and how they get us into trouble.
Michael Shermer debunks myths, superstitions and urban legends, and explains why we believe them. Along with publishing Skeptic Magazine, he’s author of Why People Believe Weird Things and The Mind of the Market.”
Erm… I don’t believe in EVERYTHING. That includes ANYTHING he says!
I do believe in the power of LAUGHTER! The chimp clip at the end is hilarious…eww French kissing in the USA.
To add… Some people NEED something to believe in, whether it is a medium that brings comfort at the loss of a child, or a conspiracy theory that fuels intrigue, discussion or wonderment. Some people want to sit back and enjoy the magic show and think it is real. Who are we to mock them for such beliefs if it brings such an array of emotions, in what could be a very meaningless and pointless life.
And just to touch on the monetary aspect. People will spend their money! Whether it is on a medium, on a Richard Dawkins book or false boobs. Belief is a funny word. I believe that what I have said is true and to the best of my knowledge but may not fall into your belief system. touchay!
Some conspiracy theorists believe the photoshoppers will rule the world, or at least shape it.
Our ability to see what we want in the world around us has both amusing and dangerous consequences, the low/high risks mentioned at the beginning. However, it has been clearly imposed through many propaganda campaigns and doctored photos, both political and more often, in advertising and media. Bill Hicks had plenty of opinions on the Ad industry – quite right too.
In many ways, the Internet has become the ‘wind in the grass’ and we have a lot of new judgements to make thanks to modern technologies.
Here’s another interesting video on TED http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/daniel_kahneman_the_riddle_of_experience_vs_memory.html
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…that was awesome! The pattern recognition circuits that i use to find the patterns that help me to remove my pattern recognition circuits just went ape shit!
niceeeeeeeee…
Awesome talk, never heard of this guy before.
Selling dowsing rods to Iraq sounded more like an intentional scam than the people selling them actually believing it, especially at that price.
But I dont think we started out like that … and not all have that in built pattern, not all wish to believe .. Some don’t do anything else than question theirselves and others, and things .. They have not adapted to that other self (the one that likes to believe as that is more easy and comfortable in life, avoiding obstacles etc).
It’s just a matter of focus/perspective I guess .. We could have shown just as many examples to people which show that people do not believe .. If you combine all those systems in our brains there is ofcourse notthing left to discuss, research .. but hey … ..
Review the belief .. review the disbelief .. and review the reviewer, THAT above all … .
we;;, good point: why should we believe michael shermer?
I still say that Derren would make a fabulous presenter for TED.
@joejo6969
You say “Who are we to mock them for such beliefs”. To some degree, I agree with you. If the belief is harmless – meh! While I shake my head at them for having an irrational belief, they’re completely free to believe it. But saying it’s “OK” to have irrational beliefs is not OK! For one, it predisposes you to have more irrational belief’s. Then the problem then lies where they’re beliefs pave their way into a dangerous irrational belief. Shermer gives a perfect example of the antenna that ‘detects’ land mines that lead to people’s death. Believing in a God that gave instructions to bronze age desert dwelling tribes on how everyone should live they’re lives, also is NOT ok. These are dangerous belief’s and it’s our moral duty to mock and take apart such ridiculous beliefs
What I’m trying to say is …There are all kinds of things that people might want to believe, but it’s never good to willingly believe something without a rational justification for believing it.
“we;;, good point: why should we believe michael shermer?”
Fallicies.. 19. Overreliance on Authorities:
http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/sherm3.htm
Here’s another TED video with Shermer (older, probably known by some here):
http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_shermer_on_believing_strange_things.html