Ok, so I am not entirely sure this one’s really worth
covering, but here you go. Vinstonas “Winston” Wu is the guy behind the
admittedly sporadically updated website The Scientific Committee Exposing
Pseudo-Skeptical Cynicism of the Paranormal, or “SCEPCOP.” The website seems
devoted to championing every crazy idea for which there is no evidence
whatsoever, and seems to be loosely based on a rant Wu wrote in 2001 on why standard skeptical arguments against the paranormal are
wrong. According to Wu, the document seems to be, as rationalwiki puts it, “the single greatest thing to happen to the anti-reality movement since
hallucinogenic drugs.”
Wu, who according to himself “is considered by his fans to
be the most freethinking Asian since Bruce Lee, and arguably of all-time as
well” combats what he deems to be “pseudoskeptics”, which seems to be supposed
to denote anyone who doesn’t take personal testimony,
anecdotes, and idle speculation as proof of the paranormal, in particular James
Randi. His website appears not to be particularly active, however, and part of
the reason we had some qualms about giving Wu an entry here is this.
The website promotes several individuals as SCEPCOP
committee members, though it is a bit unclear whether these have agreed to
serve on the committee. The individuals
in question include (apparently Australian) Victor Zammit,
a lawyer and fan of near-death experiences who has offered a “million dollar
prize” to any skeptic who can refute his claimed evidence by convincing a
committee of true believers apparently appointed by him that you have refuted
the evidence “beyond any doubt” (he doesn’t seem to see the problem with that
criterion), and Internet-famed homeopathy promoter John Benneth.
Diagnosis:
Well, let’s be kind and just conclude that Wu’s arguments seem, at times, to be
somewhat misguided, and that he lacks a clear understanding of the
significance, value and nature of evidence.
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