"What's the harm?"

[trotsky]

Got to thinking about that response and did some searching to see who's addressed it well.

These folks sure did.

http://www.skeptics.org.uk/article.php?dir=articles&article=what_is_the_harm.php

The potential for harm comes from:

* Magical thinking.

Magical thinking is the opposite of logical thinking; it is a mode of thinking where anything goes. Beliefs that have no scientific explanation or foundation in reality are simply explained by invoking forces, energies, entities, etcetera, that require no explanation or proof.

Magical thinking often occurs by making naïve assumptions about cause and effect, or through a lack of understanding about probability and statistics. Once someone embraces magical thinking, his or her objectivity and rationality is diminished. This leaves them vulnerable to the many bogus and fraudulent claims that exist.

Paranormal and pseudoscientific claims rely heavily on magical thinking.

* Uncritical acceptance of claims.

We are faced with many extraordinary claims every day from advertisers promoting dubious goods and services, to psychics claiming to talk to the dead. Once magical thinking has been adopted, we no longer need to question, scrutinise, or even think about whether or not a claim may be true, we just simply accept it at face value.

Of course, many claims are false. Uncritically accepting claims leaves us susceptible to manipulation by those who wish to prey on us.

* Diminished powers of reasoning.

Someone who believes that angels guide their life or that their fate is written in the stars has given up some personal control over their life. Rather than use their own reasoning power to reach conclusions about important matters, this type of person is more likely to seek advice from astrologers or psychics; people who in reality are not qualified to give important advice.

If someone needs to consult a psychic to ask whether or not to change jobs, or go on a date, how are they going to cope if they have to make a major health or financial decision?

By assigning our fate to magical forces, we are reducing our ability to use logic and reasoning to make informed decisions.

Much more at the link.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Sounds a little paranoid.

Color me skeptical.

[trotsky]

2. Don't you mean "S"keptical?

;-)