Baloney Detection Kit
Carl Sagan’s book, The Demon-Haunted World, is an introduction to skepticism, critical thinking, and pseudoscience. The above video is based on one of its chapters.
(Wikipedia link) (Amazon link)
Youtube:
James Randi – Can’t Prove a Negative
QualiaSoup – Open-Mindedness
QualiaSoup – Coincidence
QualiaSoup – Anecdotes
QualiaSoup – The Superstitious Pigeon
Harriet Hall – Vaccine False Alarms, TAM7 Anti-Anti-Vax Panel
Article: An illustration of Gardasil’s risks
Article: An illustration of the Swine Flu Vaccine’s risks
Article: CDC Vaccine FAQ
Article: An illustration of climate change concerns
Article: The vacuity of chiropractic
Podcast: QuackCast, Episode
(2007-10-22 #19 Influenza disease/vaccine overview for reasonable, if reluctant people; presented by an infectious disease specialist)
Podcast: QuackCast, Episode
(2009-02-22 #29 Vaccine ingredient/antigen overview for people who think infection is safer than prevention)
Podcast: The Skeptics’ Guide To The Universe, Archive
(2009-11-15 is a good one on H1N1)
Resource: QuackWatch
Resource: Science Based Medicine
Resource: Skepdic
Resource: Snopes
Why does this matter?
Evidence and argumentation won’t necessarily sway someone who has not yet learned that sincerity is not a measure of accuracy.
He or she needs to understand this stuff before a rational conversation can take place.