Denialism Blog

Author: MarkH

  • Selectivity (Cherry Picking)

    For our next installment of the big five tactics in denialism we’ll discuss the tactic of selectivity, or cherry-picking of data.

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  • Unified theory of the crank

    A crank is defined as a man who cannot be turned.
    – Nature, 8 Nov 1906

    Here at denialism blog, we’re very interested in what makes people cranks. Not only how one defines crankish behavior, but literally how people develop unreasonable attitudes about the world in the face of evidence to the contrary. Our definition of a crank, loosely, is a person who has unreasonable ideas about established science or facts that will not relent in defending their own, often laughable, version of the truth. Central to the crank is the “overvalued idea”. That is some idea they’ve incorporated into their world view that they will not relinquish for any reason. Common overvalued ideas that are a source of crankery range from bigotry, antisemitism(holocaust deniers), biblical literalism (creationists – especially YEC’s), egotism (as it relates to the complete unwillingness to ever be proven wrong) or an indiscriminant obsession with possessing “controversial” or iconoclastic ideas. Some people just love believing in things that no one in their right mind does, out of some obscure idea that it makes them seem smart or different.
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  • Conspiracy

    Three can keep a secret if two are dead.
    -Benjamin Franklin

    What are denialist conspiracy theories and why should people be instantly distrustful of them? And what do they have to do with denialism?
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  • Hello Scienceblogs

    Hello and welcome to denialism blog.

    Here we will discuss the problem of denialists, their standard arguing techniques, how to identify denialists and/or cranks, and discuss topics of general interest such as skepticism, medicine, law and science. I’ll be taking on denialists in the sciences, while my brother, Chris, will be geared more towards the legal and policy implications of industry groups using denialist arguments to prevent sound policies.
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