1/ The trend in organised scepticism now is to be "kind and compassionate".

Indeed the UK Skeptic magazine changed its strap-line from "Pursuing Truth though Reason and Evidence since 1987" to "Reason with Compassion".

2/ An article published this week in the Skeptic is one of a few that spells out how to do this... https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2021/01/putting-some-skeptical-mantras-to-bed/

3/ Apparently, we need to listen to anecdotes and accept them as evidence (albeit a less reliable evidence), play to people's feelings rather than confront them with facts, avoid "questioning everything":, and so on.

4/ Some controversial thoughts on this:

A 'softly softly' approach serves no-one.

The reason is that the person you are going soft on is never going to change their mind anyway. You never convince the homeopath, the chiropractor, the QAnon believer or the gender theologian.

5/ Your aim is almost always the "shrugger" - the third party who does not see that belief in homeopathy is a problem, or the person who is not into identity politics but thinks it is kind or does no harm to let men play in women's sports.

6/ We are targeting the politicians, the policy makers, the CEOs, the NGOs, Regulators, the journalists and academics. There *are* a few true believers who you may break though with. But do not forget who you need to convince to change things. Indifferent people with power.

7/ Compromising with nonsense is not compassionate even though it hurts feelings and upsets. Compassion comes from being *effective* in what we do. And being effective requires us to be a bigger pain in the neck to the powers that be than the "nice" people with dangerous ideas.

8/ Some words from the Hitch:

I quote,

“Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the 'transcendent' and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself.

9/ Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity.

10/ Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, & all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you.”

Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian

11/ I will have more to say on this on a forthcoming blog post. Meanwhile, please do enjoy @sarahditum's words on this today on "The Cult of Kindness" ... https://unherd.com/2021/02/why-snark-is-better-than-smarm/