Mushy, back in 2001, not long after joining this forum, I created my first thread, titled, IIRC, "Why are the prominent skeptics such jerks?" I spoke specifically of Randi and Penn & Teller. I think that none of these gentlemen as jerks, but said that they often come across in their media appearances as cranky, obnoxious jerks. Contrary to your OP, I had often bemoaned over the years that Randi, one of my heroes, often came across in public appearances as just some cranky old man yelling out the window "All you psychics get off of my lawn!" I almost always agreed with what he said, but often cringed at how he said it. In that post I praised the calm (and thoroghly skeptical) approach of Carl Sagan back in the day. When Susan and I were first dating, she had never heard of Randi. I explained why I so highly admired him. When we later watched him on a few TV appearances, Susan did not care for Randi AT ALL, thinking him a cranky old fuddy-duddy (or words to that effect) When she finally met him in person, she later said to me "He's such a sweetheart!! You'd never know it from seeing him on television!" I've never seen nor read much of Dawkins, so can't speak to that, and have never heard of this Thunderf00t person. In my skeptical endeavors I have always tried (though not always succeeded) to be fairly calm and straightforward in my approach and demeanor. Phil Plait, the previous president of the JREF, is a "kinder, gentler" face of skepticism, and urges other skeptics to be less confrontational in their skeptical endeavors, as he did in his deservedly-popular "Don't Be a Dick!" presentation at TAM8 this year. So, not ALL representatives of skepticism fit your description, but many - too many - do. What do you propose be done about it?
