Saturday, April 25, 2009

TAM 7: Getting Closer

I'm getting really excited for TAM 7. The JREF has advertisements on several podcasts I listen too, Penn did a Penn Says about it and I just got a flier in the mail. I've got my registration completed and my airline tickets booked. I just need to order a few books to get signed and I'll be all set.

I'm having a hard time figuring out what I enjoy the most about TAM. It is really fun to be around so many people who are rational thinking and pro-science. It is such a positive atmosphere. I know a lot of people who aren't aware of the skeptical movement view skepticism as a negative world view. They think all it is, is people sitting around saying 'moon landing hoaxers are morons, 9/11 truthers are idiots, etc.' Skeptics to generally hold those positions, but it is a secondary result of a skeptical outlook. In general skepticism is focused on understanding how the world works based on evidence and the scientific method. This is a positive stance that encourages learning all sorts of exciting things and is free from superstition and irrational guilt and fear.

1 comment:

Amicus said...

I have to admit that I was pleased by the upbeat, energetic, friendly, happy and positive atmosphere at TAM 6 last year. It's not that I was specifically expecting something different, but I wanted to withhold pre-judging it and just see how it struck me once we got there. I remember you and I commenting to each other by the conclusion of the first day on how we were pleased by the tone and atmosphere of the place. It was a fantastic experience and I'm looking forward to another round of it this year with TAM 7!