Just a few questions from a newish member......

[bindeweede]

Are skeptics basically non-social? I don't mean anti-social, of course. People who believe in religions or other super-natural forces have groups of like-minded prople to join, who offer support, confirmation, social activity. (I forget who called the Church of England "the Conservative Party at prayer". Or was it the other way round?)

Could it be that skeptics, being, possibly, more independent thinkers, using as much logic and rationality as they can, don't feel the need of a support - group of like-minded people in the same kind of way. Does the fact that they question everything, or at least seek evidence, make them unpopular, as most people don't like to be made to think and question their beliefs.

Would a "Skeptical Social Group" suffer the same fate as an "Apathetic Social Group", with potential members either not feeling the need to join a group, or feeling they couldn't be bothered?

Also, where did the term "woo" come from? I looked it up in my Chambers, and got
1 to court affection from a potential partner, or something like that
2 a syslem of cataloguing Beethoven's compositions without an opus number.

Just a few rambling thoughts....................

[huw-l]

Could it be that skeptics, being, possibly, more independent thinkers, using as much logic and rationality as they can, don't feel the need of a support - group of like-minded people in the same kind of way. Does the fact that they question everything, or at least seek evidence, make them unpopular, as most people don't like to be made to think and question their beliefs.

Like any large group skeptics cover the whole gamut. While people such as myself would hold up their hand to being down the "loner" end of the spectrum there are other members of this forum who are decidedly at the other end of the spectrum.

Recent surveys suggest that the majority of the UK population no longer regularly attend church. Does that mean all those people are non-social? I don't think that was quite what you were getting at.

Would a "Skeptical Social Group" suffer the same fate as an "Apathetic Social Group", with potential members either not feeling the need to join a group, or feeling they couldn't be bothered?

In some senses the UK Skeptics are a social group for skeptics. See the "Skeptic meetings" section of the forums.

Also, where did the term "woo" come from? I looked it up in my Chambers, and got

It's a contraction of woo-woo. There is thread on the JREF discussing it's origins.
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=9466

[Admin]

I certainly enjoy being independent, making my own decisions, etc. I went self-employed 10 years ago and now have my own company for example. It suits me down to the ground.

I hope I’m not anti-social, but I don’t feel the need to be a part of a group to function.

Skeptics, IMO, are just ordinary people (honest!) and like to socialise as much as anyone else but I think that because we look for evidence-based answers using critical thinking skills etc. and do not look toward authority figures or follow peer-group consensus, we don’t need to belong to a group.

[Cuddles]

Are skeptics basically non-social? I don't mean anti-social, of course. People who believe in religions or other super-natural forces have groups of like-minded prople to join, who offer support, confirmation, social activity.

Nope. I'm in lots of groups of like minded people. The vast majority of social things are not linked to religion or other beliefs in any way, so there is no reason skeptics would be different from anyone else. Do I need religion to go to he pub with a few friends? Do I need religion to join a kayak club? I think I'm more independant then most people, but I'd still be incredibly bored if I didn't have several social groups to be part of. I just don't need social groups that require belief in imaginary friends to join.

[Jocky]

Are skeptics basically non-social? ... Does the fact that they question everything, or at least seek evidence, make them unpopular, as most people don't like to be made to think and question their beliefs.

I don't suppose skeptics are any more or less likely to be socially gregarious than anyone else. It's true that airing a skeptical point of view can make you unpopular in some situations, but it's unlikely to effect your social life that much, unless you're rude and agressive about it (in which case the problem vis not so much with your skepticism as with your social skills).

I pick and choose quite carefully when I open skeptical conversations. For instance, I'm an active member of various theatrical groups, and I don't particularly want to annoy my fellow actors by arguing with them about homeopathy or something.

In some senses the UK Skeptics are a social group for skeptics

Absolutely. We can all get our fix of woo-bashing here, to leave us refreshed for communicating with normal people in RL

Also, where did the term "woo" come from?

I don't think anyone knows for sure. It's widely presumed to be related to the noise which ghosts are supposed to make (and which I'm supposed to act frightened of, when my 4 year old daughter makes it with a towel stuck over her head :D )