Cincinnati Skeptic

Magazine Overview

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Vol. 11 No. 6
Date: June/July 2002
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought (ART)
Cover Headline: "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." - Hanlon's Razor

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic, the newsletter of The Association for Rational Thought, covers a range of topics including urban legends, the debate over intelligent design in schools, climate change, and organizational business. The cover features a cartoon of Immanuel Kant meeting Joe College.

April Meeting: The Nature, Spread, and Purpose of Urban Legends

Justin Masterson, described as a "Legend Hunter" and senior at Miami University, presented on urban legends. He shared a personal anecdote about being told an egg could only be stood on its end during the spring equinox, which he later learned was false. Masterson, who identifies as a student, video producer, folklorist, and religious skeptic, outlined his talk to cover what urban legends are, how they are studied, why they are created and spread, and a round-up of favorite examples.

• He categorized urban legends into several types:
• Apocryphal: Such as the legend that George W. Bush had the lowest IQ score among presidents.
• Symbolic: Like the transmission of AIDS through contaminated needles or an "AIDS Mary."
• Anecdotal: Stories involving well-known people, such as the one about Eddie Murphy and a housewife in Las Vegas.
• Proverbial: Legends that relate to a basic truth or practical precept, like the story of a congregation praying for a mountain to be moved.
• Linguistic: Legends pertaining to acronyms or word origins, such as the supposed origin of the word "fuck."
• Conceptual: Legends without a narrative or plot, like the idea that female praying mantises always bite off the heads of males after mating.

Masterson also discussed the folklorist perspective, emphasizing that the telling and passing on of the lore is key, regardless of truth. He contrasted this with the "veracity perspective" which seeks to determine the truth of claims. He noted that urban legends spread easily due to their entertainment value and the internet's forwarding capabilities. Common ways legends are created include confabulation, exaggeration, and fabrication. Some legends also contain hidden messages, often related to fear.

He shared a favorite legend about scientists drilling in Siberia who reportedly discovered a hollow place in the Earth's crust with extreme temperatures and sounds of screaming, which he humorously suggested might be the location of Hell.

May Meeting: On Ohio Creationism and Oddball Letters

The May meeting at the Dubliner Restaurant was a free-for-all on skepticism topics. Two main issues were discussed: "intelligent design" (ID) in public schools and responses to topics on the ART website.

Wolf Roder, Professor of Geography at the University of Cincinnati, discussed intelligent design, characterizing it as a creationist pseudo-science that opposes evolution. He noted that ID advocates often take legitimate scientific quotes out of context.

The discussion also touched upon the struggle at the Ohio Board of Education to insert intelligent design into revised science standards. Phillip Krauss and Kenneth L. Miller argued against its inclusion, with Miller being a Catholic who accepts evolution. The Santorum Amendment was mentioned as an attempt to promote intelligent design.

Roy Auerbach presented humorous emails received through the ART website, with religion and evolution being a popular topic. He noted that critics of supernatural claims often label skeptics as closed-minded, while the reverse is true for believers.

Book Reviews

Strange Creations: Aberrant Ideas of Human Origins by Donna Kossy
Reviewed by Wolf Roder, this book explores various non-evolutionary explanations for human origins, including extraterrestrial creation, de-evolution, and racial theories. It also examines Elaine Morgan's aquatic ape theory and the Urantia Book. Roder calls it a "useful source on a wide variety of pseudo-science ideas, oddball groups, and their writings."

The Coming Storm: Extreme Weather and Our Terrifying Future by Bob Reiss
Reviewed by Wolf Roder, this book addresses the global climate warming controversy. Reiss accepts the reality of warming and its impacts, such as melting glaciers and rising sea levels. The review highlights the political debate surrounding climate change in the US and the shift in corporate attitudes, with some companies like British Petroleum taking steps to mitigate fossil fuel use. The book also examines climate disasters and their link to warming, with a focus on the Maldives.

Other Content

• ART Business: Election results for the 2002-2003 officers are announced, with Roy Auerbach continuing as President.
• Poem in a Box: A poem by Emily Dickinson titled "There is no Frigate like a Book."
• Puzzle for Thinkers: A mathematical puzzle involving equations with letters representing digits.
• How come we believe so much odd stuff?: A brief mention of US Census data on educational attainment.
• Not the sharpest knife in the drawer: An anecdote about a clumsy robber.
• Summer Fun: A section with various snippets, including a story about selling body parts and a proposal to waive IRS penalties for "one-time stupid acts."
• Science Book-Club Meetings for 2002: A schedule of upcoming book club meetings and selections.
• Details of Upcoming Events: Information on the last meeting of the 2001-2002 season and an upcoming picnic.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Cincinnati Skeptic, through The Association for Rational Thought (ART), consistently promotes a skeptical and rationalist perspective. The publication actively debunks pseudo-science, urban legends, and unsubstantiated claims, particularly those related to creationism and intelligent design. The editorial stance favors evidence-based reasoning and critical thinking, encouraging readers to question popular beliefs and media narratives. The newsletter also serves as a platform for organizational news, meeting reports, and community engagement within the skeptical movement.

Title: Cincinnati Skeptics
Issue: Vol. 11 No. 6
Date: June/July 2002

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptics newsletter, published by the Association for Rational Thought (ART), serves as a communication tool for local skeptics and promotes the organization's activities and philosophies. ART is presented as an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to investigating paranormal claims and promoting rational thought. It aligns itself with prominent skeptical organizations such as CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), The Skeptics Society, and the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF).

Organization and Activities

The newsletter provides contact information for ART, including its P.O. Box in Cincinnati, Ohio. It details the organization's meetings, which occur on the second Saturday of each month from September through June, starting at 10:00 AM and are open to the public. ART also maintains a database of paranormal claims for media consultation and actively investigates local paranormal cases. Founded in 1991 by Cincinnati area skeptics, ART aims to provide a platform for discussing and debating extraordinary claims.

Membership and Support

Annual dues for ART are set at $15.00, which includes a subscription to the Cincinnati Skeptic newsletter. The newsletter includes a form for individuals to join as new or renewing members, or to give a gift membership. It also appeals for additional financial contributions to support the organization's work, emphasizing that while contributions are not currently tax-deductible, efforts are underway to achieve this status. Members are also given the option to request specific subjects for future meetings and to opt out of having their names and addresses shared with other mailing lists.

Skepticism and the Electronic Media

A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to promoting engagement with skeptical content through electronic media. It encourages readers to join SANE (Skeptical Area Network Effort) via email for weekly updates featuring messages from CSICOP, James Randi, and local skeptics. The newsletter also highlights the ART skeptical website (http://www.cincinnatiskeptics.org), which offers blurbs on various topics, links to skeptical resources worldwide, information on joining SANE, definitions of the organization's purpose and bylaws, and details on how to attend meetings or obtain sample copies of the newsletter. David Wall, the Web Site Manager, is credited for this section.

What is a Skeptic?

Page 2 of the newsletter features a section defining the role of a skeptic. It posits that modern skepticism is a response to the prevalence of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. Skeptics are described not as cynics, but as individuals who embrace the scientific method as the best tool for seeking knowledge. The core principle emphasized is that "extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence," and skeptics insist on rigorous evidence before accepting such claims. The Cincinnati Skeptics group is presented as a forum for debating these claims, challenging dogmatism, and having fun while seeking truth.

Coming Attractions

The newsletter announces the last meeting of the 2001-2002 season, scheduled for Saturday, June 8, 2002, with a program from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by a picnic lunch from 12:15 PM to 2:00 PM. Details for the picnic are to be found inside. It also looks ahead to the next year, noting that there will be a "Friday the 13th" event in September, December, and June, and invites members to help the program committee plan a celebration.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the promotion of skepticism, the importance of the scientific method, the critical evaluation of paranormal claims, and community engagement through meetings and online platforms. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of rational inquiry, evidence-based reasoning, and the debunking of pseudoscience and fringe beliefs. The newsletter actively seeks to educate the public and recruit like-minded individuals to its cause, using both traditional print media and modern electronic communication channels.