I am a sceptic. That is, I am somebody who doesn't believe something quickly. Or at least, who doesn't presume to be sure of many things, even though he thinks certain things are very probable. A sceptic is willing to say: I don't know. Doubt is a sceptic's middle name. I will give a few examples below of things about which I am skeptical.
Have you ever heard the expression that when you read something in the newspapers about which you happen to be knowledgeable, or to which you were a witness, you will find it to be full of mistakes? Well, it's often true. Although I would not go so far as to say you can't believe anything if it's printed, I think you should always keep in mind that reporters are not always very accurate in their reporting. And that's not only due to the fact that reporters are sloppy or biased because of their political views, it is also due to the fact that sources are often not reliable. Take for instance the CNN reporting about the gulf war (1991). Almost all of their battle information was taken straight from the pentagon and passed on to the public. Obviously the pentagon would have some interest in providing the media with biased information, especially if some of the facts would be bad for their reputation. Always be weary when information comes from only one source. And be especially weary if information comes from the Internet, which contains just as much valuable information as it does nonsense.
In the end my definitive cure from some belief in paranormal phenomena (based on several personal accounts from trusted people) was James Randi's book Flim Flam. Randi is a magician who has exposed many a faith healer, mind reader, spoon bender, etc. In each case such people were shown either to be naive believers in powers they didn't turn out to have or not so naive competent users of magical tricks. As of now nobody has been able to claim the million dollar prize Randi organized for a demonstration of a paranormal phenomenon under scientifically controlled conditions, although many have tried. The Skeptical Inquirer, a monthly publication of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, publishes interesting and high quality articles exposing paranormal would-be's. in addition interesting articles appear in this magazine which are skeptical about such diverse things as satanical sects, multiple personality disorder, mass hysteria and hypnosis.
Pollution does exist, of course, and it is good that people take measures to combat it. But I do think that stories about pollution are grossly exaggerated. I do not believe in apocalyptic predictions regarding the destruction of the world. Also, I question the motives of many environmental activists. Protection of the environment is a sorry excuse to combat economic growth and wealth, the real agenda of left wing green activism.
Although this is a true computer program problem, I do not believe in predictions of economic collapse or other apocalyptic disasters. Although some companies will have to work very hard in the beginning of 2000 to combat some remaining millennium problems, I do not believe regular consumers will notice it at all. This is, in my opinion, simply based on a series of misconceptions:
By the way, I do believe in the possibility that Y2K panic could result in a run on banks.
This is just plain nonsense. As proof of this I offer the fact that people always return from skiing trips in such a healthy condition.