Have we lost the war over the meaning of "skeptic"?

[arthwollipot]

I think we should apply the lesson we learned from pronouns. You don't need to make a new word up when there is a perfectly adequate one right there. It'll never catch on in a big way.

 

[icerat]

We already have the word 'rational' and 'rationalist' to describe the issue of reasonableness.

Reasonable is more affective, despite it's roots in "reason". If you describe someone as reasonable, it rarely means you're talking about their use of logic and critical thinking - dictionary literally calls that usage archaic.



Rational is on the other hand the opposite - too unemotional. Vulcan like. Further, being rational implies the other is being irrational - harsh and begging for backlash.

Also, both words already taken for websites.

 

[angrysoba]

Skepticism has been mostly replaced by sociopolitical woo on this board.

And it's probably been a decade or more since this forum has offered a significant debunking of anything.

Be the change that you want to see in the world.