Auckland Skeptics in the Pub

December with Rebecca Watson

December 4, 2012 · 7:00 PM
The Cabana Bar

This month we're a week early, with a special guest speaker from abroad!

Rebecca Watson is an internationally-renowned skeptic. She's the founder of the Skepchick blogging network, and one of the rogues on the top-rating Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast.

Rebecca will be speaking on the following topic:

How Girls Evolved to Shop, and Other Ways to Insult Women with "Science"

As skeptics, we often turn to scientific research to inform our worldview. Unfortunately, a lot of research hits the mainstream media regardless of whether or not the science is solid. Evolutionary psychology is a field seemingly tailor-made for newspaper headlines and popular science books, but how much of it is true? Did differences between the brains of men and women really evolve during the Paleolithic? Did cave-gentlemen really prefer blondes? And why do women have sex? Let's look at what some great (and not-so-great) scientific minds have to say.

Rebecca is here courtesy of the New Zealand Skeptics, Inc.

The meetup is free but we'll be encouraging a donation to help cover Rebecca's expenses. Rebecca will also be selling various swag!

Please note that the venue is The Cabana Bar which is part of the same complex as The Juice Bar (The Windsor Castle), but is outside at the rear.

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A former member

I was so disappointed... poor argument, poor topic. there's crappy journalism out there, there's some poor science... we can all laugh at it... so what? Does anyone really take that stuff seriously?

1 · December 4
- View all 10 replies
- Rayna
  
  Unfortunately yes... Otherwise it would not be profitable for companies to do that kind of marketing
  
  0 · December 4
- Brendan
  
  I think the problem is that most people just don't think about these things, they read this crap and it just goes in. They probably don't care either, but that's another matter.
  
  0 · December 4
- Leonard
  
  First attendance at a skeptics meetup. I found it very interesting but not because of the speaker. I wasn't disappointed because I had expected the talk to be similar to what I had seen on you tube prior. I couldn't help but noticing all the snide little negative comments in relation to men that were frequently dropped. As much as I didn't particularly find too much value in the talk, I very much appreciate all the work that the organisers put in to arrange the talk.
  
  1 · December 5
- A former member
  
  I agree Leonard - and I too appreciate the efforts of the group organisers. Yes, the talk was amusing - but for someone who was heralded as a key figure in the sceptics movement, i still found it disappointing .... there are so so many important issues to discuss, why take the mickey out of an obscure peice of poor research that noone really takes seriously? Im beginning to wonder whether the original article might have been a spoof! Anyone remember/ know about Sokals hoax?
  
  0 · December 5
- Karen Thomson
  
  I wouldn't be too confident that no-one takes this seriously. People do tend to believe what is in the papers is true, and even when they know better it still sinks in and sticks. Especially trite pop culture 'facts". Given the negative effect the reinforcing a stereotype can have on behaviour it is important to challenge these poorly thought out conclusions early.
  
  1 · December 5
- Rayna
  
  Agreed Karen... Carola, While you may be intelligent and aware of bullshit in news papers like most of us. Unfortuently we are in a minority who are aware of this crap. The Majority of readers use this as their source of information and when someone with a PhD has slapped their name on it, The Article in questions becomes very credible to these people (who will unlikely be university educated). So yes a lot of people do fall for this.. While some of these articles could be fake and taking the piss it becomes the Poe's Law axiom.
  
  As Rebecca said most of us know about stereotype threat and all these other terms so we are aware. Most others aren't. As someone who has done graduate studies in advertising and learnt about target advertising. While we weren't taught to do what veet did. We were taught that we use what the audience knows or relates with. (i.e when a someone with a PHD has said people with big booties are sexier).
  
  0 · December 5
- A former member
  
  yes, but we are talking about a single article from 2009, that has gathered dust since. i wouldnt even contemplate the article from the Sun as serious - they are just as likely to write about frozen aliens or 3 headed polar bears! I just think it was a very poor choice of topic - she had an excellent platform to speak on relevant issues of the day - science denial, climate change denial for starters....
  
  0 · December 5
- Grant Dye
  
  This is poor internet etiquette. Can I please suggest that you take your discussion to the message board rather than the mailing list of 454 people so we can all stop having to trash comments on this. Leave the mailing list to the organisers. Thanks.
  
  1 · December 5
- Blair
  
  Personally I prefer the emails rather than checking back here everyday. If you don't like the emails then just turn off notifications or set up a rule in your mailbox rather than asking everyone else to change their behaviour to suit yours.
  
  1 · December 6
- Regan Music
  
  that's fine except sometimes people say something that is relevant and useful, meetup.com doesnt have a setting to "turn off trolls and idle banter".
  
  I can't believe how many emails i've received cos somebody didn't like the meetup. what does one expect aside from what they were told was going to be presented? people could just not go. in any case, i've now contributed towards the blah-blah... fail >.>
  
  0 · December 6
Chris

I agree with most of Rebecca's presentation. However Rebecca discredits evolutionary psychology because it's the field that gave rise to some of the silly claims she so rightly denounced. She takes the position that evolutionary psychology makes some silly claims therefore all evolutionary psychology is silly. Sounds like a logical fallacy to me.

0 · December 5
- View all 5 replies
- Mark Hanna
  
  It seemed to me that she was pretty explicit in that she was criticising the bad science that comes out of the field, not the entire field, and the poor journalism that makes use of it.
  
  It even felt like she went out of her way to make that clear, especially after the internet explosion that followed the first iteration of her talk.
  
  2 · December 5
- Chris
  
  I didn't get that impression but thanks for your comment Mark. I'll review the online presentation to see if I'm wrong.
  
  0 · December 5
- Mark Hanna
  
  Do you (or anyone else, of course) know if last night's talk was filmed by anyone? I know the talk she gave in Australia was recorded, but it'd be cool if last night's one was as well.
  
  0 · December 5
- Chris
  
  Sorry I don't know. I only know of the one posted on You Tube. http://www.youtube.co...
  
  0 · December 5
- S
  
  First she said that she had coped a lot of flack about it after her other presentation (s?) But at our one she specifically said that it wasn't aimed at the entire field.
  
  2 · December 5
Tania

I actually enjoyed the talk- it was entertaining.

2 · December 5
Masoomeh Noori

It was my first meet up, and I really enjoyed it. Rebecca is a great speaker. She touched the truth.
Thank you to all of you who organized this meet up.

2 · December 4
Brendan

Not what I was expecting, but an interesting subject. Rebecca presented well and I really enjoyed the talk.

0 · December 4
James McFall

My first Skeptics in the pub. Rebecca's talk was funny and educational. Some of the stuff people pass off as science is just nuts. No wonder the public can get confused and stop taking science news seriously. Thanks for traveling all the way over Rebecca.

1 · December 4
Rayna

Great talk... Very reasonable and informative. Thanks for coming Rebecca :-), I do not have any idea what these guys problems are in the USA but their opinions are unfounded.

2 · December 4
sally dalhousie

Awesome to see, hear and meet Rebecca ... Even though I peed her off by getting her to join our quiz team under false pretences. Ha!

2 · December 4
Hine Kearns

Fantastic talk. Logical, reasonable, thoughtful and funny. Even had background music ;-)

3 · December 4
Com N. Sense

I'm wondering if you have seen this write-up about Rebecca's "Women Evolved To Shop" presentation. It is a great prelude to her appearance and highly recommended http://skepticink.com/incredulo...
Skepticism should be practiced by everyone, especially skeptics. I'm sure you all agree

1 · December 4
- View all 8 replies
- Craig Shearer
  
  And then there's this: http://freethoughtblo...
  
  2 · December 4
- Jenni Smith
  
  Great article... Which begs the question why NZSkeptics has invited, and presumably paid for, a person who is apparently not a real skeptic (in the proper meaning of the word)?
  
  0 · December 4
- Rayna
  
  Jenni.... Define Skepticism please. Saying she is not a real skeptic is weak. What is skepticism and how does she not fit in to this category? Just because someone may not have a right opinion on a certain topic does not exclude her from the "skeptic club" and the term Science denialism that that guy is extremely harsh and not true... It is making her sound like a creationist (who in fact deny science). At most it would be a mis-understanding of an area of science. An Area I know nothing about to comment on.
  
  If you really think like this though.... I suggest you dont turn up.
  
  0 · December 4
- Mark Hanna
  
  And there's this too (which is also linked to from PZ's post): http://freethoughtblo...
  
  2 · December 4
- Fred Lunjevich
  
  Com N. Sense is a troll and likely that Clint dick himself. I note this person has joined the Our group and the Wellington group 8 hours ago and posted the same pathetic article. Oh and they're evidently really active in the NZ skeptics community — they make it to Christchurch skeptics in the pub as well.
  
  2 · December 4
- Jenni Smith
  
  Fred... I don't know who Com N. Sense is nor do I know who you are, but surely we can refrain from making personal attacks? Isn't that what is supposed to set this group apart from the many others? Let's courteously debate the idea, not the person.
  
  1 · December 4
- Regan Music
  
  THIS is what I just got emailed a million times about??? time to change some settings...
  
  0 · December 4
- Fred Lunjevich
  
  Actually Jennie, that wasn't a personal attack but a speculation on who Com N Sense is, given that they obviously have an axe to grind with Rebecca and they just magically seem to crop up here (and Wellington/Christchurch skeptic sin the pub). This Issue isn't new, and a cursory look at the conduct of this Clint character will tell you that "dick" is an accurate term for the guy. PZ's article which has been linked above is a good place to start.
  
  0 · December 4
Jenni Smith

Rayna... One possible answer is: ”The true meaning of the word skepticism has nothing to do with doubt, disbelief, or negativity. Skepticism is the process of applying reason and critical thinking to determine validity. It’s the process of finding a supported conclusion, not the justification of a preconceived conclusion.” I'm not saying her opinion is right or wrong, I'm just saying that it appears she doesn't bring a skeptical mind to the subject, one in which it appears she is not really an expert. Have you read the Ed Clint article? I'm not saying it is perfect but does raise some fairly serious issues. That's all I'm saying. And I'm quite happy to be shown to be wrong in my concern without a suggestion that I need stay away. Anyway, I'm gutted now that I have a family commitment and can no longer make it; will be really curious to see what others think after hearing her. Hope you all have an interesting and informative night.

1 · December 4
Andrey Popov

Hi there! Not sure of I can make it especially since I'm in the wait list. Is it possible to record the event on camera and post it somewhere? Considering the popularity of our speaker it would benefit many.

0 · December 4
- Craig Shearer
  
  Hi Andrey - probably won't record the actual event, but the talk Rebecca is giving is already online due to its "controversial" nature. See here: http://www.youtube.co...
  
  0 · December 4
Com N. Sense

Actually I'm not Ed. I go by Reap but I was posting by a generic name to avoid any bias. That obviously doesn't work when dealing with people who make assumptions based on whatever they want to be true. I would also encourage you to read PZ Myers' take on things and make up your own mind. His post was not available at the time of my original posting. Those of you who can get it will and those who can not, won't. Since when is posting an opposing argument trolling? Interesting what I've learned here today, very interesting. call me what you will I have no goals except honest examination of all side of the issue. Have a nice day

0 · December 4
- Rayna
  
  You were not giving an honest examination... You posted one side who vermintly opposes one person. You did not post any other content other than that to give a balanced opinion.
  
  Also are you this Reap by any chance? http://freethoughtblo...
  
  0 · December 4
James McFall

Is the 90 person limit a limit of the bar? or will us late to sign up people get a cheeky chance to sneak in?

0 · December 3
- Craig Shearer
  
  I would say turn up anyway - chances are you'll get in, but we will have to assess the situation tomorrow night.
  
  0 · December 3