Here Be Dragons is a free 40 minute video introduction to critical thinking. It is suitable for general audiences and is licensed for free distribution and public display.
Most people fully accept paranormal and pseudoscientific claims without critique as they are promoted by the mass media. Here Be Dragons offers a toolbox for recognizing and understanding the dangers of pseudoscience, and appreciation for the reality-based benefits offered by real science.
Here Be Dragons is written and presented by Brian Dunning, host and producer of the Skeptoid podcast and author of the Skeptoid book series.
Captions are available in over a dozen different languages. Just click the CC button.
Duration : 0:41:10
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September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
While many 9/11 …
While many 9/11 truthers are making bold claims with little evidence, we must be just as skeptical of the govt’s story. And I think there is enough conflicting evidence to call that story in question. Who flew the planes (Saudi Arabians + 1 UAE) isn’t as relevant as why the towers fell, especially WTC 7. If the evidence doesn’t support the hypothesis that fires in one part of the building caused the free-fall collapse of the entire structure, we must be willing to consider alternate hypotheses.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
He forgot about one …
He forgot about one fallacy: Proof by gesticulation.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Hey Brian, love the …
Hey Brian, love the video but… stop licking your lips while you talk! It’s incredibly distracting and awkward. ಠ_ಠ
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Very informative, …
Very informative, the scope of critical thinking that you’ve introduced to me is almost as large as the way your shirts fit on you.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
@TheSaarth i meant …
@TheSaarth i meant without*
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
yoga with all its …
yoga with all its bullshit is just exercise.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
That was such a …
That was such a great introduction to the world of skepticism. Bravo.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
I love it when he …
I love it when he talks about illiteracy and pop culture and poor knowledge right in front of that oprah girl. I just loved it! =)
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
@theUSER101 Well, a …
@theUSER101 Well, a balanced diet is one thing, saying fish oil is a panaceum is another. That was the point.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Himalayan Salt …
Himalayan Salt Lamps look wicked cool however so if somebody gave me one I’d not decline it, I’d just ignore the spiel about the supposed health benefits or whatever it is they’re supposed to provide.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
@ZergAteu Who does …
@ZergAteu Who does eat enough fish? People who have a heart attack and start taking fish oil after, reduce their risk of another heart attack. Eating fish once or twice a week significantly reduces the risk of a stroke. I sure as don’t eat fish twice a month even, nor do most people I’d imagine. It also helps reduce joint pain and the list goes on. To say that it is only beneficial to those who are deficient is really saying nothing at all.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
@theUSER101 Q: I …
@theUSER101 Q: I disagree that some of the products shown at the beginning are pseudoscientific.
A: The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are beneficial. I included it here because supplementation has not been shown to beneficial, at least for people who are healthy and not suffering from a deficiency. It’s fine to get it in your diet (eat fish) but most well performed trials have found limited or no benefit from supplementation for healthy people.
From the FAQ page
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Wait…..what’s …
Wait…..what’s wrong with fish oil? If there is a supplement that is beneficial and almost NEEDED…it’s fish oil.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Very good!!!!
Very good!!!!
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Thank you for …
Thank you for uploading this! I’ve been curious about it ever since you first mentioned it on the podcast. I meant to watch half tonight and the rest tomorrow but it was so quick and well made my fiancee was bugging me to come to bed before I knew it. Great work!
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
some of these …
some of these things do have grains of truths to them but most of the effect of the things you showed are necessary to a point because placebos work wonders to the ignorant mind but then again for them to be proper placebos u have to be ignorant
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
maaaan you’re weird …
maaaan you’re weird, who goes to sleep with a microphone…
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
I’m glad I found …
I’m glad I found this channel. Since I’ve been subscribed I’ve been rewarded with quality videos on responsible, rational thinking skills and the mistakes we all make in assessing the world around us.
Imagine how far we’d be as a species if in the last 2 thousand years we were focusing on messages like this rather than the easy-road, comfort food of superstitious beliefs.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Hey.. Yoga is an …
Hey.. Yoga is an amazing core stability, strength, and flexibility exercise if you cut out the bullshit. Love it.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
@ZarlanTheGreen I …
@ZarlanTheGreen I think that’s his point in a broader sense. That kind of information and regulation seriously lacks in ‘health’ food store suppliments.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
I wonder how many …
I wonder how many people that are watching this don’t know all of this already…
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
I like these videos …
I like these videos, but please don’t foray into religion… there definitely be dragons.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
i object to the …
i object to the omega-3 picture when referencing “modern day dragons”. it has been studied in several clinical trials and has been shown to have a benefit – thats why its not just made by supplement companies anymore; you can get an omega 3 prescription. im pretty sure its been proven to work for triglycerides. i dont know if that picture was meant to imply supplements in a broader sense, but still, i dont think it should be included in that montage of other bogus products.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Excellent video! …
Excellent video! Keep up the good work.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Wait a minute…
St …
Wait a minute…
St John’s Wort actually has been shown to work (though I doubt the thing in the video, had proper dosage and side effect information and all that)