In my many years of writing articles and occasionally fact-checking news media reports (see, for example, much of my book Media Mythmakers: How Journalists, Activists, and Advertisers Mislead Us), I'm continually baffled by the defensive stance that people often take...
Gender Issues
Study Finds Weight Discrimination Surprisingly Rare
Encouraging new study finds that weight discrimination is rare, not common: Most people report experiencing no harassment, insults, or boorish behavior due to their weight, and only 5% report being discriminated against because of their body size. You can read my...
Seven Accused Witches Killed in Africa
Yes, people are still being accused, tortured, and killed because of witchcraft accusations. It happened last week in East Africa when seven people died; my article on this horrible event, with some background on witch hunts, can be seen HERE.
Whatever happened to the viral "Bring Back Our Girls" campaign earlier this year? My article on Boko Haram and the forgotten captives, in which I explain why little has been done, and why buying the girls' freedom would probably be the best option but won't happen....
‘Miss Representation’ and The Importance of Good Statistics
I have a recent blog on the importance of fact-checking statistics and claims--including those made by people whose causes you support. You can read it HERE.
Colombian Girls Blame Vaccine for Mysterious Symptoms
Hundreds of Colombian girls and their families are blaming HPV vaccines for mysterious symptoms. An interesting blend of anti-vaccination conspiracy and mass hysteria, you can read my article on it HERE.
Sandusky Victim Sparks Repressed Memory Concerns
The son of convicted serial child molester Jerry Sandusky came forward recently in an interview with Oprah Winfrey to corroborate reports of his adopted father’s abuse. However some psychologists are concerned about the validity of those memories. You can see the...
What’s Behind Reports of Supernatural Sex?
Last year it was pop superstar Kesha; now it’s actress Natasha Blasick — star of “Paranormal Activity 2″ — coming forward to talk about her sexual experiences. What's behind reports of supernatural sex? You can read more HERE.
Why Do Some Falsely Claim to Be Victims?
My new article on why some people falsely claim to have been the victim of bias, discrimination, and even violent crimes... You can read it HERE.
Penis-Theft Panics Around the World
I recently wrote about penis-theft panics for LiveScience.com. I'd written about it before, for example in the book I co-authored with Bob Bartholomew, "Hoaxes, Myths, and Manias: Why We Need Critical Thinking," and I included it in a talk I gave last year on mass...