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Nov. 20, 2018 - Skeptoid
08:42
Skeptoid #650: I Believe

Your beliefs are fallible and can fool you. Be willing to change your mind based on new information. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Transcriber: nvidia/parakeet-tdt-0.6b-v2, sat-12l-sm, and large-v3-turbo
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Time Text
Fatherly Advice With A Song 00:02:43
In the tradition of every 50th Skeptoid episode being a lavish musical, we present you with episode 650 with music by composer Tyson Illingworth and vocals by Amelia Barron.
It's a sweet, skeptical, downbeat jam that you'll want to add to your favorite playlist.
And you can get a high-quality MP3 of just the song on the transcript page for this episode at skeptoid.com.
I believe is coming right up on Skeptoid.
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You're listening to Skeptoid.
I'm Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com.
Thank you for joining me today, Erica.
You're welcome.
We're driving around the property here in Bend, Oregon, in our electric UTV and totally not faking out in a studio or anything.
Is that the important thing you wanted to talk to me about?
No, what I wanted to say is that since this is the 650th episode of Skeptoid, this would be a good time to celebrate by giving you some fatherly advice.
You know, Dad, I think I'm probably all good.
Well, you're almost there, but you know how you harbor all sorts of pseudo-scientific beliefs?
Dad, I'm a physics major, and I've had to put up with Skeptoid for most of my life.
So no, I don't believe I harbor all sorts of pseudo-scientific beliefs.
Yeah, but you're pretending to for the purpose of this episode, right?
Uh, yes, I forgot.
So, the advice I wanted to share with you has to do with a way to make better life decisions by basing your knowledge on data rather than on personal beliefs.
Pretty sure I'm way ahead of you on that one.
I know, but you're playing along with me here, right?
Base Knowledge On Data Not Beliefs 00:03:52
Oh, yes, right.
So, how is it that you're planning to share this advice with me?
Well, as a long-time skeptoid listener, you know that every 50th episode is usually a musical.
Oh, God, please know.
So, I thought I'd tell you with a song.
And it goes a little like this: how can you strum a guitar and drive the UTV at the same time?
It's Hollywood Effects Magic.
I want to know, and I want to feel.
I want to find out what is real.
I've seen some things, I know the truth.
I won't be blinded by my youth.
Grounded in time, I see the light.
I will be guided by what's right.
Trust in myself, leave that behind.
I have a vision in my mind.
I'm safe inside My own truth, I don't need your point of view.
I believe, I'm taking hold, I'm in control.
I got to satisfy my soul.
I'm standing my ground, I'm ready to fight, I'm holding on with all my might.
I want to touch on something more.
I wanna find out what's in store.
I know sometimes it may seem rough, but I believe that it's enough.
I'm safe inside my own truth.
I don't need your point of view.
I believe, we all have beliefs.
Beliefs are those ideas we've concluded are true, but we're not always right.
Beliefs are fallible and they can fool us.
Often we put so much faith in our beliefs that we close our minds to contradicting information.
This is why we are so easy to fool.
A willingness to change our beliefs, to question what we think we know, is the heart of intellectual honesty.
I believe, Wow, Dad, thanks to your wisdom, I now no longer base my whole life on blind faith in my fallible beliefs.
Skepticism Is The Best Medicine 00:02:02
The song gets full credit.
It's actually a pretty cool song.
Where can I get it?
You can download it now for free without the goofy narration on both sides.
But the goofy narration's the best part.
From the transcript page for episode 650 at skeptoid.com.
It's called I Believe and it goes great in your favorite playlist on your MP3 player.
I believe.
I'll go get it right now.
And I believe you're listening to Skeptoid, a listener-supported program.
I'm Brian Dunning.
And I'm Erica Dunning from Skeptoid.com.
I always wanted to say that.
Thank you for 650 episodes.
Hello, everyone.
This is Adrian Hill from Skookum Studios in Calgary, Canada, the land of maple syrup and moose.
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Remember that skepticism is the best medicine.
Next to giggling, of course.
Until next time, this is Adrienne Hill.
From PRX.
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