Lou, I would love to see more on that. That’s the kind of simple planting the seed and letting it sprout on its own that we were talking about at the con as a way to get around defensiveness.

Phil, I mean too narrow in that by focusing on scientific knowledge and the communications of scientists, they’re focusing on pushing information instead of the exchange and evaluation of information. It’s neat to say, “Here are some ways to make a tough topic palatable,” but ultimately, selling science over crap is a war we can’t win. We don’t have the easy answers on our side, and easy answers are what sell to the majority. Unless we get to the point where easy answers make people nervous enough to at least ask questions, we’re in trouble.

I understand but disagree with you about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy however. I tend to think of those, as Dale McGowan of Parenting Beyond Belief has called it, “the ultimate dry-run“.

I have no idea what kind of test would determine levels of conviction that involve both blood and nudity outside of pagan ritual. Not that I’m AGAINST that, mind you.

More importantly, was there nudity and are there photos?

It’s interesting that you bring up advertising specifically. That’s where I first introduced my kids to skepticism and critical thinking. Watching TV with them, I’d talk to the TV.

“Our product is 30% better!”

and I’d say out loud

“30% better than what? Better than your old product? Better than your other product? Better than the competition’s? How do you know it’s better? Did you ask people? Did you do tests? How do you test that?”

At first, the kids would usually get annoyed and leave the room, sigh, whatever. I’ve rarely been more proud of them though as the first time I heard each of them do the exact same thing. Talk to the kids? Nah, talk to the TV.

The point of course is that being publicly vocal can be effective for anyone within earshot. As or more effective than teaching directly? I don’t know, but certainly effective in addition to teaching directly.

Perhaps a partial solution is that people of all ages need more role models. I have trouble thinking of scientist today who is talked about among school aged children the way Carl Sagan was.

The creationist astronomer, whom I’ve observed, speaking to a 1000 people at a large church is a powerful role model whose message stomps on that from a few good teachers. Scientists and science enthusiasts (me) need to join the teachers by keeping the science clubs alive (I do) and setting up community and school activities (I do this too).
John G