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Earning a living as a skeptic?

UnTrickaBLe

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Is it possible? How many people actually earn a living as a skeptic? Randi does. Shermer? Hyman? Martin Gardner is really a writer, isn't he? Maybe the closest a normal person can get is to become a tenured professor focused on skepticism?
 
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "skeptic". If you mean investigating haunted houses, and the like, it'd be a niche field, since most people don't want to know the truth, but I'm sure you could. Doesn't Joe Nickell make a living from investigating? (Among writing, lecturing, etc.)

As for Shermer, et al, they mainly make their livings from writing and publishing, don't they?

In short, you could probably make a living that way, but it might be tough to sell the public on the idea.
 
I thought of opening a Skeptic Bookshop. Where people with questions about the paranormal and such can come for the real answers instead of going into ANY bookshop and seeing a wall of shelves with Mind, Body & Bullsh*t books.

The only decent science-vs-paranormal books even by the big names (Randi, Sagan, Sherman..etc) are never in stock and have to be ordered. Even though there is a HUGE list of books skeptics, the usual bookshops don't seem to bother adding them to thier (often tiny) science sections.

But then maybe theres a good financial reason for that. :(
 
I worked at a bookstore for a couple of years. Among the benefits we had (a high rate of pay was not one of them) was the fact we could order books in for the store, thereby "customizing" the store. There was a list of books we had to have, by order of the head office, but I ordered in as many skeptical books as I could. Most didn't sell, and we ended up sending them back.

One interesting (though non-skeptical) book I ordered was the SR-71 Pilots Manual. It was supposed to be the declassified flight portion of the actual manual on flying the SR-71 Blackbird. Sold for $100.00. One Christmas, a guy bought it.
 
UnTrickaBLe said:
Is it possible? How many people actually earn a living as a skeptic? Randi does.
Click to expand...

So it's possible and there is a precedent to follow. Why was Randi successful?
 
Undodog said:
I thought of opening a Skeptic Bookshop. Where people with questions about the paranormal and such can come for the real answers instead of going into ANY bookshop and seeing a wall of shelves with Mind, Body & Bullsh*t books.

The only decent science-vs-paranormal books even by the big names (Randi, Sagan, Sherman..etc) are never in stock and have to be ordered. Even though there is a HUGE list of books skeptics, the usual bookshops don't seem to bother adding them to thier (often tiny) science sections.

But then maybe theres a good financial reason for that. :(
Click to expand...

Maybe the larger market needed to support such a specialty shop cannot be found in local traffic?
 
There are career opportunities for professional debunkers, and writers/lectureres on skeptical topics. Pretty much freelance, I would suspect.
And anyone working in the field of risk management would cetainly need a skeptical mind for any analyses they conducted.
 
I'd think you'd need to simply be an expert in a related field and as such, pursue skeptical aims.

I'm trying to do this with Bullshido, but I haven't quit my day job just yet. :)
 
UnTrickaBLe said:
Is it possible? How many people actually earn a living as a skeptic? Randi does. Shermer? Hyman? Martin Gardner is really a writer, isn't he? Maybe the closest a normal person can get is to become a tenured professor focused on skepticism?
Click to expand...

I assume all of the people you mention make their living by writing books, giving speeches, and/or having other sources of income.

So I would guess that if you wanted to make a living as a professional skeptic, the best way would be to eithr write a book on the subject or convince someone that you should get paid for making speeches on the subject.
 
Phrost said:
I'd think you'd need to simply be an expert in a related field and as such, pursue skeptical aims.
Click to expand...

Much easier to make money with various woos, as you need no expertise (in fact it seems to help).
 
Marian said:


Much easier to make money with various woos, as you need no expertise (in fact it seems to help).
Click to expand...
Sure it is, if your conscience will allow you. Unless you have no conscience, or scruples, or ethics. Then, it's easy to make millions. L. Ron knew it.
 
Re: Re: Earning a living as a skeptic?

Nyarlathotep said:


I assume all of the people you mention make their living by writing books, giving speeches, and/or having other sources of income.

So I would guess that if you wanted to make a living as a professional skeptic, the best way would be to eithr write a book on the subject or convince someone that you should get paid for making speeches on the subject.
Click to expand...

Or develop a fiscally profitable skeptic website. ;)
 
Re: Re: Re: Earning a living as a skeptic?

tamiO said:


Or develop a fiscally profitable skeptic website. ;)
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That too. Though regardless whether you write books, give speeches or run a website, I am willing to bet that it is a heck of a lot easier to make money as a professional woo-woo than as a professional skeptic. There just seems to be more money on that side of the fence, unfortunately.
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Earning a living as a skeptic?

no one in particular said:
You'd have to make some pretty good pie to make folks want to pay for it...
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People shouldn't pay for providing content to a website.

:)
 
Hmmm. This thread gives me an idea.

First, I will study cold reading and become a "psychic medium." I will spend 2-3 years "in the trenches", learning all the tricks of the trade and amassing a small personal fortune.

Next, I will announce, with great indignation, that "mediums" are nothing but frauds and charlatans. (Maybe I can do this on the Larry King Show ;)) I will vow to fight and expose "psychics" for the rest of my life as a medium-turned-skeptic.

Muahahaha!!!!
 
Actually, that would make a great low-budget documentary film. Of course, I wouldn't win any awards at Sundance. ;)

Can anyone suggest a good "psychic" alias for me? Maybe "David Soar." It has a Biblical, uplifting quality, wouldn't you agree. :D
 
UnTrickaBLe said:
Actually, that would make a great low-budget documentary film. Of course, I wouldn't win any awards at Sundance. ;)

Can anyone suggest a good "psychic" alias for me? Maybe "David Soar." It has a Biblical, uplifting quality, wouldn't you agree. :D
Click to expand...
Or, you might be known as David Sore, as in, pain in the a**. :D
 
UnTrickaBLe said:
Hmmm. This thread gives me an idea.

First, I will study cold reading and become a "psychic medium." I will spend 2-3 years "in the trenches", learning all the tricks of the trade and amassing a small personal fortune.

Next, I will announce, with great indignation, that "mediums" are nothing but frauds and charlatans. (Maybe I can do this on the Larry King Show ;)) I will vow to fight and expose "psychics" for the rest of my life as a medium-turned-skeptic.

Muahahaha!!!!
Click to expand...

Already been done. :)
 
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