Remembering Scooby Doo

I was watching TV the other day and my son was watching old episodes of "Scooby Doo, Where are you!", and it occurred to me that it might have been the single greatest skeptic's cartoon in the history of children's television.  What great lessons it taught us without us even acknowledging it.

Like how to sneak with all that sneaking music going on.

On the surface it seemed like a show all about ghosts and goblins, but the real lessons it taught were about the importance of investigation and evidence.

Also how to recognize stoners.

They were a great example for the rest of society in how to deal with supernatural and unbelievable claims.

Honest investigation

Observation

and letting the evidence lead you to the proper conclusion without the confirmation bias that affects so many of us.

You guys listening??

There were no monsters, no goblins, no ghosts, no aliens. 

In the end the "Gang" would always reveal that it wasn't really supernatural happening by explaining the scheme of some old guy who was trying to pull a fast one

"and I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for those pesky KIDS!"

As long as no one mentions the strange talking of a great dane, the show was a skeptics paradise!

Sadly I have also noticed that even the great skeptics contained in the Mystery Machine can fall victim to the lowest common denominator. 
TV shows always have to go further and further in order to keep their audience interested (so they think), so eventually in the later spin-off series (and in the second movie) there really WERE ghosts and goblins.

The first live action movie actually went back to the original fantastic formula for skeptical success and all the hocus pocus was revealed in the end to be just a trick perpetrated by a small talking puppy.

ummm, well there has to be SOME suspension of disbelief...

ANYway, let's just look back fondly at this show as the example of rational thinking that it was.

I think that I have found my son's Christmas Present!


Peace

Daily Snippet- Eternal Earthbound Pets

This is simply the funniest thing that I have seen in a long time.

Christians who are waiting patiently for the rapture can now rest assured that their loved pets will be cared for long after their superior and saved souls are gone.

Atheists have promised it.

A group of atheists have decided to make the ultimate business proposition.  Entrust the only people that you are SURE will be left behind with the care of your soulless pets after the rapture.
They have called it Eternal Earth Bound Pets.

Is this a scam?

OF COURSE it is.  They have no intention of actually having to render services, and every intention of taking the money.

However, they are very open about this fact from the outset.  They state very clearly that they are atheists, and as such do not believe in the rapture, but still Christians send money.

Is it deception?

Clearly not.

It IS however a fool and his money, and the cautionary tale about how they are parted.

Moral?  Maybe not

Who could ever claim that taking advantage of delusional people is moral.

But awesome?

I would say unequivocally....


YES!