http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Health/believe+hear+Ottawa+Skeptics/1696856/story.html

My theory... many people LOVE to say things don't exist due to a lack of proof of existence. But then again, the same people cannot prove that these things DON'T exist due to lack of proof as well.

Besides... if a UFO landed right in the middle of Times Square in New York City at noon when everyone can see it, there would still be a majority of people to refute the facts.

Sorry... I have seen too much weird stuff so far in my life to be overly skeptical. BUT... nothing wrong with a little searching to debunk any odd claim, like that magnetic thingy in the school. THAT can be easily refuted.

I am an engineer. I work in troubleshooting heavy machinery and I perform A LOT of failure analysis. and THE golden rule in failure analysis... BEWARE OF PRECONCEIVED IDEAS. If you are going to refute something, back it up. Saying ''it's impossible'' isn't much of an argument.

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the same people cannot prove that these things DON'T exist due to lack of proof as well.

That's because it's IMPOSSIBLE to prove a negative. I cannot prove that bigfoot doesn't exist, or that there are no fairies at the bottom of gardens. That's why skeptics demand evidence for positive claims. Otherwise, you have to believe everything. Don't shift the burden of proof.

It's simple, if you want people to believe you, provide evidence, that's all. Innocent until proven guilty, doesn't exist until shown to exist, it's all the same.

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I am an engineer. I work in troubleshooting heavy machinery and I perform A LOT of failure analysis. and THE golden rule in failure analysis... BEWARE OF PRECONCEIVED IDEAS.

I too am an engineer and in my practice it helps to not make assumptions about things that are observed. The same could be applied to UFO sightings. "I saw some strange lights in the sky, I don't think it was an airplane, therefore it's extraterrestrial space craft!"

Also, as an engineer, I don't need evidence to refute 'something', unless it's a well established 'something'. If it's a new 'something' then whoever is pitching it, will need to back it up with evidence.

Sometimes, you just have to believe. Not everyone walks around with a camera or scientific equipment. And like I said, even if they did, someone would probably claim it is fake due to a photoshop job or something of the sort. Some people like to refure claims due to a possible scam, like you pointed out... but some just liek to tell people that they are wrong. THAT side of skepticism sucks.

Take the existence of aliens... No, I can't prove they exist. I have no proof of existence. BUT... with the vastness of the known universe, combined with the amount of stars (est. 350 billion) in our galaxy, multiplied by the probable amount of planetary bodies around those stars (for math's sake, let's say 10), multiplied by the possible amount of galaxies could it be that out of the possible estimated 100 billion galaxies in the known observable universe, that means that someone that refuses to believe that extra-terrestrials exist due to lack of proof, also believe that out of the possible 3.5 exp 25, or if you prefer, 35000000000000000000000000 possible stellar bodies, other than ours, NONE could carry a possible intelligent sentient life form. That is known as a mathematical no-brainer... to refute that a possibility exists with those numbers is being narrow-minded. A claim of us being alone in the universe is as close to impossible as you can get.

I never claimed we were alone in the universe, and most skeptics would agree that we're likely not alone. The questions are: Are we being visited by them now? Are they only accidentally seen by random people out camping? Did they pilot themselves light years to earth, then crash land in New Mexico? Is "the government" competent enough to conduct a massive multi-decade (now century) coverup?

Or... maybe, just maybe, there's simpler explanations for all these things?

I have in fact donated much CPU time to searching for aliens using the SETI @home program. If aliens exist out there, scientific projects like SETI will help us find them.

Firstly....congrats to Jon on the fame/publicity. That's awesome!
However, not being an engineer (I took psychology in school), maybe I can lend a different point of view...I don't like being overly skeptical.
Always requiring scientific proof, or academic references, to any side comment or interesting info, seems like a very pessimistic way to live your life.
I do advocate the "taking it with a grain of salt" approach, but its kinda liberating just to say "huh, I didn't know that" and accepting the info....even if its weird stuff like Bigfoot, UFO's, and fortune telling. Really, I think those "weird things" are possible...do most people fake them for personal gain? Yes, but not all of them.
I find life is a lot more fun with a little magic, faith, and unexplained phenomenons.  

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Always requiring scientific proof, or academic references, to any side comment or interesting info, seems like a very pessimistic way to live your life.

That's not an accurate representation of our group. We demand evidence for extraordinary claims.

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I find life is a lot more fun with a little magic, faith, and unexplained phenomenons.  

Me too! Why do you think I donate so much  time into looking into this stuff? I'm endlessly fascinated by all sorts of weird stuff. But when these things are discussed, the plausibility and evidence for them is often overlooked, and I don't think that's right. I also care about the truth too.

Quoted from Hippochrome

I find life is a lot more fun with a little magic, faith, and unexplained phenomenons.  

Agreed. Even tho I have a degree in science and medicine and have practiced for 20 years (Man I'm old!  ) I have lived my life and raised my child to believe in magical things and to never lose the joy of wonderment despite other people trying to turn it purely into a science experiment.

Do I believe in unicorns? You better believe it! Do I believe in people moving things with their minds? You better believe it! Do I believe in modern medicine failing where sheer willpower suceeds to heal in cancer and other terminal diseases? - you better believe it! Can I prove any of it scientifically - no but I still believe. Call me a fool if you like but I'm sure there will continue to be many unexplained things even 1000 years from now when technology and scientific investigations are even more advanced.

And unicorns will still be on this earth because they are magical!

ME

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Do I believe in modern medicine failing where sheer willpower succeeds to heal in cancer and other terminal diseases? - you better believe it!

Are you seriously suggesting that cancer patients can just wish their cancer away, and therefore shouldn't bother with treatments recommended to them by their doctors? Please tell me I'm understanding you wrong.

Man, I wish life was that easy.

And who's being the negative pessimist here? People seemed to be having a lot of fun taking the piss out of me today. I'm very happy today that my ugly mug got featured in my city's most respected newspaper, and I won't let you guys ruin it.  

Quoted from jonny_eh

And who's being the negative pessimist here? People seemed to be having a lot of fun taking the piss out of me today. I'm very happy today that my ugly mug got featured in my city's most respected newspaper, and I won't let you guys ruin it.  

That's your picture?

I don't believe it.

Quoted from Monkeybug

That's your picture?

I don't believe it.

Ya, not nearly as handsome as yours (assuming your avatar is yours)