About Time Workshops
Creating Conversations
Susan has created three workshops to help people become better communicators. The focus will be on communicating better with family members, co-workers and friends that have some fringe beliefs that can be discussed over time.
The goal is to become the person that people come to when they have questions about weird things.
These workshops are NOT a lecture - you will be asked to participate - the workshops will be recorded for viewing.
The workshops can be booked in person or via Zoom and are FREE!
MCS Workshops
01
UFO Burn Mark
02
Mandella Effect
03
Luck
Workshop Details
UFO Burn Mark
Overview – Having difficult discussions with people on the edge of falling into magical thinking rabbit holes. We will discuss the concepts of debunking vs prebunking (also called inoculation theory). We will start with a case study and use that to further the discussion on how to have difficult discussions.
Readings:
Guide - Hairdryers and UFOs - Mick West
These two Skeptoid articles help with the discussion - #4116 and #4037
This is a one hour video that you do not have to watch, but it explains the case study more
Metabunk.org discussion about the marks (many photos – browse though this)
Mandella Effect
Overview – Continuing looking into having difficult discussions with people who aren’t all the way in the rabbit hole just yet, focusing on false memories.
Readings:
Definition of the Mandela Effect
"Play it again Sam." Was that really said in the movie Casablanca? Read the Massimo Polidoro article in Skeptical Inquirer.
This next article is not required reading but might help explain the science behind the quantum theory:
Could Quantum mechanics be responsible for the Mandela Effect?
Luck
Overview-In this session, we will be focusing on Pre-bunking using the topic LUCK, inspired by Richard Wiseman's work and his book The Luck Factor.
Reading:
Here is an article about research around how some people describe themselves as "lucky" while others say they are "unlucky."
http://richardwiseman.com/resources/The_Luck_Factor.pdf
A worthy quote from Richard Wiseman that encapsulates the workshop goals is that "... skepticism can play a positive role in people’s lives. The re-search is not simply about debunking superstitious thinking and behavior. Instead, it is about encouraging people to move away from a magical way of thinking and toward a more rational view of luck.
Perhaps most important of all, it is about using science and skepticism to increase the level of luck, happiness, and success in people’s lives.
Monterey County Skeptics is testing this format for all the groups affiliated with the Center for Inquiry (CFI) – I will be asking for feedback, and we will be taking photos (let me know if you do not wish to be in photos).
CFI will be rolling out various workshops like this one throughout the United States, adapting as we go, depending on the feedback I receive from everyone.
Past workshops
Including videos
MCS Workshops
2023
Past workshops:
2023 Schedule:
Dates: Saturday January 7, 14, 21
Time: 2 - 4 pm
Place: Meeting at the El Gabilan Library in North Salinas.
https://salinaspubliclibrary.org/about/el-gabilan-library
This is a brand new library that opened right before the pandemic closed it down, with plenty of parking. It is a beautiful building. We will be in the community room, ground floor, left as you enter library, next to restrooms.
No food or drink is allowed in the library, but in our community room food and drink are allowed. (see above video)
Please be on time, come early and browse the library. We only have 2 hours in the room, so I ask that you complete the reading assignments before the workshop and be prepared to discuss and engage politely. Since this will be open to the public, I’m unsure how many people will attend.
The Salinas Public Library is not a sponsor, nor does it endorse any policies or activities of the sponsors of this program.
After the discussion, we will venture to an agreed-upon venue to socialize and have a bite to eat.
The workshop will be recorded.
Let us know you are coming
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Overview – Having difficult discussions with people on the edge of falling into magical thinking rabbit holes. We will discuss the concepts of debunking vs prebunking (also called inoculation theory). We will start with a case study and use that to further the discussion on how to have difficult discussions.
Readings:
Guide - Hairdryers and UFOs - Mick West
These two Skeptoid articles help with the discussion - #4116 and #4037
This is a one hour video that you do not have to watch, but it explains the case study more
Metabunk.org discussion about the marks (many photos – browse though this)
Nick Tiller article on Debunking and Prebunking
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Overview – Continuing discussion on having difficult discussions with people who aren’t all the way in the rabbit hole just yet.
Readings:
Case Study – The Mandela Effect
Massimo Polidoro article in Skeptical Inquirer
This is not required reading but might help explain the science behind the quantum theory
Saturday, January 21, 2023
We will be focusing on Pre-bunking
Using the topic LUCK
Here is the assigned reading http://richardwiseman.com/resources/The_Luck_Factor.pdf