Michael Shermer: Why people believe strange things

Posted by admin on November 5th, 2009 and filed under images | 25 Comments »

http://www.ted.com Why do people see the Virgin Mary on cheese sandwiches or hear demonic lyrics in “Stairway to Heaven”? Using video, images and music, professional skeptic Michael Shermer explores these and other phenomena, including UFOs and alien sightings. He offers cognitive context: In the absence of sound science, incomplete information can combine with the power of suggestion (helping us hear those Satanic lyrics in Led Zeppelin). In fact, he says, humans tend to convince ourselves to believe: We overvalue the “hits” that support our beliefs, and discount the more numerous “misses.”

Duration : 0:14:12


[youtube 8T_jwq9ph8k]

25 Responses

  1. greatmahoo Says:

    It’s called ” …
    It’s called “hyperbole”
    The stuff in WWN is no less credible than the incoherent ramblings of most conspiracy theorists.

  2. TheCrisp222 Says:

    science vs. …
    science vs. religion? ok, how about this:
    the afterlife has been scientifically confirmed.
    “Doe’s Account ” google it.

  3. QueenAnime99 Says:

    skepticism saves …
    skepticism saves you grief.

  4. ank2000 Says:

    Absolutely great. …
    Absolutely great. Very funny, very well presented, excellent. Thanks for this video, had a great laugh.

  5. tyler98144 Says:

    cont’d: if you …
    cont’d: if you would like some help determining,

    i will hint that you should pay close attention to the placement of michael’s hands in his pockets the majority of this talk.

    there is a NEEDED quiet confidence in order to pitch a story and make people believe it without them questioning you. michael makes no attempt to express with his hands because, quite simply, he knows that using the hands for expression is a weakness of too much passion.

    many other things to notice, happy hunting.

  6. tyler98144 Says:

    do yourself a favor …
    do yourself a favor:

    1: turn down the volume of this video and watch
    2: study the body language of the presenter
    3: take note of the sarcastic cartoon storyboards

    now, it’s important that you don’t lie to yourself and form a bias to the popular conclusion of people who came to watch this video, but i want to ask a question…

    do you notice anything wrong with this video? do you think that quite possibly the presenter of this video might be trying to con you into a belief?

  7. supernaut2525 Says:

    more likely that …
    more likely that all ufos are fake? vast majority? ok. but be weary of absolutes.

  8. DCioccoloni Says:

    is that a fact? …
    is that a fact? show me statistics, case studies etc please.
    PS. u might want to think of a better name, referencing 666 like that is basically a declaration of immaturity.

  9. tyler98144 Says:

    go to sleep …
    go to sleep children. he’s here to tell you you’re going to be ok… go back to sleep.

  10. Ramshobraja Says:

    One problem is both …
    One problem is both right and left wing conspiracy theorists we have.

  11. 666jewkid Says:

    yeah but 99% of …
    yeah but 99% of skeptics are usually wrong.

  12. fryingpananne88 Says:

    Very Good!
    Very Good!

  13. darknam Says:

    just like me, and …
    just like me, and you, but it is not bad information!

  14. clemzzz Says:

    government AGENT !! …
    government AGENT !! LOLOLOLOL
    99% of skeptics , apply their same logic to all governement especially right wing evangelical types like bush etc. Nixon couldn’t hide the watergate scandel , so how the fcuk could he hide the moon hoax !! skeptics are all against bad government so don’t think when we expose conspiracy stories as rubbish , that we are covering up for the “shadowy powers” … rofl !!

  15. sasha22cuno Says:

    I want a $28,000 …
    I want a $28,000 sandwich ; )

  16. MrOnairos Says:

    Pretty awesome… …
    Pretty awesome…very well presented!

  17. jacko28182 Says:

    I just can’t help …
    I just can’t help but laugh at these stupid conspiracy theorists with their fuckin’ crazy, unproven ideas!!!

  18. jelinto Says:

    Wow! What a well …
    Wow! What a well thought-out, insightful rebuttal. I’m in awe of your intelligence.

  19. kranskyman Says:

    Are you retarded?
    Are you retarded?

  20. accidentsinspace Says:

    Why do people …
    Why do people believe strange things, yeah, like the bullshit prattle of Shermer, some ex proffessional cyclist and government agent?

  21. crankthetoto Says:

    lol good finish
    lol good finish

  22. jelinto Says:

    ….furthermore, …
    ….furthermore, does it take a genius to debunk a headline from the World Weekly News?

    Good grief!

  23. jelinto Says:

    I notice if you …
    I notice if you don’t make comments that have a “skeptics society” biased leaning, you get thumbs down.

    *sigh* It’s just as dangerous for everyone to be worshipping & believing every word of the Micheal Shermer / James Randi types, as it is to be worshipping the David Ike types.

    Don’t you think if you were trying to prove an actual conspiracy involving a shadowy, but highly powerful, government, you’d have the cards stacked against you?

  24. dumbbell33 Says:

    This is a great …
    This is a great subject for reverse speech ,..

  25. dwolfcoach Says:

    Pattern seeking …
    Pattern seeking primates looking for suggestive words to believe what they want to believe… perfect. Our contempt for human discovery and reverence for cheap con men and their BS, what else can be said.

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