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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20200227T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20200227T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20191220T203010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200105T141757Z
UID:334-1582831800-1582839000@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Talk Yourself Better
DESCRIPTION:Comedy writer and journalist Ariane Sherine created and organised the Atheist Bus Campaign\, persuading Richard Dawkins and Humanists UK to support her – and buses with variations on the slogan ‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life’ ran in 13 countries across the globe. \nAs a result\, Ariane received an Inbox full of hate mail from Christians\, which eventually led to a major nervous breakdown and suicidal ideation. She ended her journalistic career\, and didn’t write again for over three years. \nIn this talk\, she will tell the full story of how therapy and medication saved her life\, prompting her to write her new book\, Talk Yourself Better: A Confused Person’s Guide to Therapy\, Counselling and Self-Help. \nAriane will also be signing copies of Talk Yourself Better after the talk. \nWhat people have said about Talk Yourself Better: \n“Brilliant – makes the baffling comprehensible.” JEREMY VINE \n“What an excellent\, long-overdue idea! A super-accessible guide\, through the bewildering marketplace of modern therapy\, to ease our noble search for help.” DERREN BROWN \n“How do we cope with this brutal world? In this witty\, revealing book Ariane Sherine runs through the ways. An excellent\, funny and thought-provoking read for all who seek answers.” ARTHUR SMITH \n“What makes Ariane Sherine’s Talk Yourself Better stand out from the crowd is its accessibility and humour; to be able to discuss difficult things with a lightness of touch and a comedy that does not trivialise is a rare skill indeed. This\, combined with the honest – and often deeply moving – stories of clients and practitioners alike\, makes this the ideal introduction to for anyone considering therapy for the first time.” BRIAN BILSTON \nARIANE SHERINE \nAriane Sherine is the comedy writer and journalist who created the Atheist Bus Campaign\, as well as the bestselling celebrity book The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas. She has written for BBC One’s My Family\, Channel 4’s Countdown and BBC Three’s Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps\, as well as for The Guardian\, The Sunday Times\, The Independent\, The Observer and New Humanist. \n£5 on the night to cover costs with extra raised going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/talk-yourself-better/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20191126T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20191126T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190312T091306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190802T095911Z
UID:241-1574796600-1574803800@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:When The Uncertainty Principle Goes To 11
DESCRIPTION:When the Uncertainty Principle goes to 11.\nThere are deep and fundamental links between quantum physics and heavy metal. \nI know that a Skeptics In The Pub audience will be deeply sceptical about that claim\, but there are. Really. \nFar from being music for Neanderthals\, as it’s too often construed\, metal can be harmonically and rhythmically complex. That complexity is the source of many connections to quantum physics. You’ll discover how the uncertainty principle can be found in chugging guitar riffs\, what the double slit experiment has to do with Iron Maiden\, and why metalheads in mosh pits behave just like molecules in a gas. \nPhilip Moriarty is a professor of physics at the University of Nottingham\, a heavy metal fan\, and a keen air-drummer. His research focuses on prodding\, pushing\, and poking single atoms and molecules; in this nanoscopic world\, quantum physics is all. Moriarty has taught physics for almost twenty years and has always been struck by the number of students in his classes who profess a love of metal music\, and by the deep connections between heavy metal\, mathematics\, and quantum mechanics. He’s a father of three — Niamh\, Saoirse\, and Fiachra – who have patiently endured his off-key attempts to sing along with metal classics for many years. Unlike his infamous namesake\, Moriarty has never been particularly enamoured of the binomial theorem. \nHe blogs at https://muircheartblog.wordpress.com\, and the book on which this talk is based was published by Ben Bella last year: https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Uncertainty-Principle-Goes-11/dp/1944648526 \n£5 on the night with extra raised after costs going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/when-the-uncertainty-principle-goes-to-11/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190731T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190731T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190203T185504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190207T171906Z
UID:34-1564601400-1564608600@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Tall Building Fire Safety: The Burning Issue
DESCRIPTION:The vast majority of buildings are a mixture of ignition sources and materials that can act as fuel meaning fire risks have to be managed carefully. Tall buildings\, especially where people live\, are a particular challenge because of their shape and size. In this lecture Dr Claire M Benson will discuss the technical measures that are meant to be put in place to prevent a ‘towering inferno’ scenario\, as well as the oversight failures identified before\, and following\, the tragic Grenfell tower disaster and how we can stop events like this happening in future. \nDr Claire Benson is a fire and explosion scientist with over ten years experience researching and lecturing as part of the Explosion and Fire Research Group at London South Bank University. She has a PhD in chemical engineering\, specialising in high-pressure oxygen system safety. Her research areas include fire suppression\, fire and arson investigation\, fire safety systems. She has conducted research for the London Fire Brigade\, Sellafield Ltd and the Ministry of Defence.
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/tall-building-fire-safety-the-burning-issue/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190730T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190730T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190706T082648Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190706T082851Z
UID:297-1564515000-1564522200@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Sell Off- Film Screening
DESCRIPTION:‘Sell Off’ is a film by Peter Bach about the selling off\, privatisation of our health service\, and dismantling of our NHS. \nThe film is just under an hour long\, and charts how successive governments have dismantled our health service over a 30 year period. This documentary is split into 10 chapters\, and features many health professionals on the front line. \nSpeakers following the film will update people as to the situation today\, what is happening to our local hospitals\, and will inform the audience as to what we can do to save what’s left of our NHS. This event is a call to action\, as this will effect everyone in the country. \nThe film will be followed with a Q&A with doctors in the film. \n£5 on the night to cover costs with extra raised going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/sell-off-film-screening/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190626T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190626T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190207T094931Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190207T094946Z
UID:76-1561577400-1561584600@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Forgetting Ourselves: Reflections On Memory And Identity
DESCRIPTION:Professor Chris French\, head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths\, explores the myriad ways in which are our memories can fail us. Together we’ll consider the unreliability of eyewitness testimony and its consequences\, as well as our tendency to create entirely false memories\, either spontaneously or as a result of dubious forms of psychotherapy or manipulations by devious experimental psychologists. We’ll also explore the phenomenon of “non-believed memories”; that is\, that strange phenomenon whereby we have a clear recollection of an event that we know for a fact never actually happened at all. Given the importance of our autobiographical memories for our sense of identity\, this ultimately raises the question: do any of us really know who we really are?
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/forgetting-ourselves-reflections-on-memory-and-identity/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190528T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190528T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190208T090241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190527T155923Z
UID:102-1559071800-1559079000@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:*Postponed* What Every Parent Needs To Know About Steiner Schools
DESCRIPTION:Steiner School taken by Nigel Cox\n*Postponed due to illness* \nWith Michael Gove and the coalition approving new Steiner Schools to open under the Free School Programme\, it is timely to look closely at the origins and beliefs of Rudolf Steiner\, the founder of the occult movement of Anthroposophy. \nSteiner was a mystic who believed he had direct clairvoyant access to cosmic knowledge. As such he developed an esoteric belief system based on karma\, reincarnation\, astrology\, homeopathy and gnomes. His visions gave insights into architecture\, art\, dance\, agriculture\, medicine\, education\, science and diet. His racial hierarchy of spiritual developmental resonated in Germany in the early 20th Century turning a personal belief into a worldwide movement. \n\nToday we find hundreds of anthroposphically inspired organisations in the UK alone: everything from Steiner Schools\, Biodynamic farms to banks\, pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies\, charities and cheese makers. \nAndy Lewis has been trying to lift the veil on the inner secrets of the movement and will discuss how this secretive movement has direct impact on public life. He is the developer of the web site quackometer.net\, which explores the pseudo-medical claims of alternative medicine web sites and their impact on society. \n£5 on the door to cover cost with extra raised going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/what-every-parent-needs-to-know-about-steiner-schools/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190423T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190423T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190203T184758Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190207T171931Z
UID:29-1556047800-1556055000@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Myths and Legends of Transylvania
DESCRIPTION:Transylvania is a byword for vampires and gypsy magic – but there is so much more strangeness that makes Dracula look pretty tame. \nLore is passed on through fireside tales of demons\, underworlds and wicked spirits that exist alongside humans\, of a creator God who has long abandoned his world. \nTransylvania has long been a place of conflict\, of cultural clashes and invasion. Within this unique European pressure cooker of faith and war\, supernatural beliefs took hold in everyday life. The magical practices of actual Transylvanians from the beginning of the last century up to the present day were about giving reason to a violent world\, a way of gaining some agency in the chaos. \nWilliam Hunter talks about why magic is needed\, on what basis it is done\, and some of the techniques he has seen performed. \nHe was raised in the Carpathian mountains of Transylvania and spent most of his childhood with monks\, fortune tellers and very tall trees. SInce then he has travelled throughout Europe exploring surviving or reimagined native beliefs\, partaking in Fire festivals and fertility rites from Scotland to Albania.
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/myths-and-legends-of-transylvania/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190402T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190402T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190319T091558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190319T091558Z
UID:254-1554233400-1554240600@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Neurotribes And The Pleasure Of Being Labelled
DESCRIPTION:Neurotribes\nDavid Forsythe was a GP in Wateringbury for 30ish interesting years. When his mother\, a primary school teacher\, asked him ‘Have you read Jane Austin’s Persuasion’? he replied he’d never read a book from end to end. She dismissed him with a ‘Don’t be silly\, you’re a GP!’. Having been diagnosed as being dyslexic at the late age 44\, and due to better diagnosis and modern research\, potentially somewhere on the Autistic spectrum\, these discoveries led to the research into neurotypicals and mixed Neurotribes. \nDyslexia\, Dyscalculia\, Dyspraxia\, Autism and its spectrum\, Attention Deficit Disorder\, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder\, are all so called ‘learning disabilities’ that nowadays cause a need for increased teaching resources. In the 1950’s & 60’s they were just considered being less clever\, and more often that not extra resources weren’t given and the benefits of different ways of thinking completely unrecognised. \nNow\, due cheaper neuroimaging\, there are many validated labels. Where many people are thought to be Neurotypical (or as yet unclassified)\, experts are using newer\, more specific classifications as we get better at understanding how these characteristics have always been there and contribute to societal makeup differently\, so with greater knowledge of each type of neurological make up we are in a period of transition to better utilises different neurotribes strengths.
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/neurotribes-and-the-pleasure-of-being-labelled/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190327T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190327T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190319T091129Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190319T091129Z
UID:252-1553715000-1553722200@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Crime\, what crime?
DESCRIPTION:Brexit has highlighted the media world that we live in; television\, newspapers\, social media\, podcasts; we all rely on these mediums for our ‘facts’. But what we also know from the Brexit debate is that much of what we see\, read or hear isn’t fact; most is opinion\, conjecture misinterpretation\, or simply ‘fake news’. As a lawyer\, I am conscious that the Brexit debate has led to misconceptions regarding EU law\, whether that is in terms of the scope of EU jurisdiction\, how rules and regulations are passed\, their status in relation to UK law\, the content of that law\, or the powers of the ECJ. \nBut…you will be pleased to know that this is not an evening for debating Brexit and EU law! Brexit is just one example of how the law can be misinterpreted but taken as ‘fact’. Law in general is often misconceived\, and what we think is the law might be far from the truth. \nAs a university lecturer in law\, it always surprises me how little the students I teach know about the law before embarking on their course. But that is not their fault; they are just a microcosm of wider society. How many people know where and how the law evolves\, how it is implemented and what it actually is? Very few of course. \nThis presentation will rerun part of a presentation I gave in January 2017\, when unfortunately\, the snow on that evening prevented some people from attending. However\, if you did come to that session\, don’t worry\, as this is an updated version with mostly new material. \nI will be looking at one area of law\, my area\, criminal law! We will consider some areas of criminal liability\, from theft\, cybercrime and burglary\, to domestic abuse\, assaults and murder\, to name a few. Will you know about the law or will you discover some entrenched legal myths?
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/crime-what-crime/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190327T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190327T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190203T184214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190315T091845Z
UID:25-1553715000-1553722200@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:*Cancelled* A Skeptics Guide To Spotting Bullshit *Cancelled*
DESCRIPTION:  \n*Cancelled*  Apologies\, but due to unforeseen circumstances this event has been cancelled. \nDo you have a blind spot? You’re probably sure that other people have. When Carmen started looking into the subject she found that sometimes\, just when it’s important\, our capacity for critical thinking goes out of the window and we make poor decisions. \nIn this talk Carmen will take us through: \nAn introduction to the many different shades of bullshit\nHow to spot it live in action\nHow to counteract it\nHow to not be a dick about it\nCome and get riled up about why this is so important at what feels like a golden opportunity to bring some much needed critical thinking skills into the world right now. \nCarmen D’Cruz has been the part of the London Skeptics in the Pub team since 2009 and has worked with critical thinking groups around the world to promote the rational application of evidence in as many areas as possible.
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/a-skeptics-guide-to-spotting-bullshit/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190227T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190227T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190203T181835Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190203T232928Z
UID:5-1551295800-1551303000@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Mr Green And Mr Grey Cannot Visit Us Today
DESCRIPTION:Given the bewildering variety of life on Earth – all stemming from one self-replicating molecule – can we really predict what life on other worlds is like? Maybe not. But we can imagine what it isn’t like. \nStevyn Colgan has been involved with aliens for three decades. He’s held Jabba the Hutt’s face\, helped sculpt creatures for Bruce Willis to shoot at\, and had a script accepted for Doctor Who in the 1980s. In this entertaining talk\, you’ll hear about feuding gangs of scientists\, film directors with less imagination than children\, and the perils of concrete poo. You’ll also come to realise that if we really are intelligently designed\, the designer had no bloody idea what they were doing. \nStevyn Colgan is an author\, artist\, speaker and oddly-spelled Cornishman.
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/mr-green-and-mr-grey-cannot-visit-us-today/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20190115T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20190115T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190203T192117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190207T172000Z
UID:44-1547580600-1547587800@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:I'm A Joke And So Are You
DESCRIPTION:What better way to understand ourselves than through the eyes of comedians – those who professionally examine our quirks on stage daily? In this touching and witty book\, award-winning presenter and comic Robin Ince uses the life of the stand-up as a way of exploring some of the biggest questions we all face. Where does anxiety come from? How do we overcome imposter syndrome? What is the key to creativity? How can we deal with grief? \nInformed by personal insights from Robin as well as interviews with some of the world’s top comedians\, neuroscientists and psychologists\, this is a hilarious and often moving primer to the mind. But it is also a powerful call to embrace the full breadth of our inner experience – no matter how strange we worry it may be! \nRobin Ince is co-presenter of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 show\, The Infinite Monkey Cage. He has won the Time Out Outstanding Achievement in Comedy\, was nominated for a British Comedy Award for Best Live show and has won three Chortle Awards. He has toured his stand up across the world from Oslo to LA to Sydney\, both solo and with his radio double act partner\, Professor Brian Cox. He is the radio critic for the Big Issue and appears regularly on both television and radio. He has two top-ten iTunes podcast series to his name.
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/im-a-joke-and-so-are-you/
LOCATION:Market House\, 30 Earl Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1PS\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20181212T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20181212T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190203T231244Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190203T233010Z
UID:52-1544643000-1544650200@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:How to be a Psychic Conman
DESCRIPTION:“Leicester’s answer to Derren Brown” – BBC Radio\n“The skills incorporated into the show [are] breath-taking … a highly impressive performance” – Bunbury Magazine \nRoll up! Roll up! Roll up! Gather ye round the traveling caravan\, as Snake Oil Salesman Ash Pryce demonstrates the miraculous curative abilities of psychic surgery\, taught to your humble trickster by a wise man in the Philippines (or a magicians tool book\, whichever sounds more wondrous). See with amazement the telekinetic forces at work as you learn how to move objects with your mind\, psychically manipulate your finest silverware and read the minds of your peers. Or maybe\, it’s all just a trick? \nThe show will involve demonstrations and explanations of telekinesis tricks\, metal bending\, psychic surgery and remote viewing as well as look at government funded research into psychic phenomena\, and the shoddy protocols that allowed “psychics” to beat the legendary Zener card experiments in the 1930s. \nAnd if that wasn’t enough\, interspersed throughout the show will be numerous on stage demonstrations of mentalism to add an extra layer of entertainment to the proceedings. \nStagetime Promotions Magician of the Year 2017\, and Edinburgh Horror Festival Sell out performer 2016\, 2017 and 2018. \nFind Ash on most social media as “Psychic Conman” and check out his website at \nwww.psychicconman.co.uk/ \nWarning to those on the front row… there will be blood! \n£5 on the night or in advance at: https://www.psychicconman.co.uk/product-page/how-to-be-a-psychic-conman-maidstone \n*Please note that this event will be held at Heart of Kent Hospice\, 15A King Street\, Maidstone\, next to the Heart of Flavour Hospice.* \n*Tea and Coffee will be provided\, other than that its byob*
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/how-to-be-a-psychic-conman/
LOCATION:Heart of Kent Hospice\, 15a\, King Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1BA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20181122T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20181122T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190203T234046Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190207T172025Z
UID:59-1542915000-1542922200@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Weird Science: An Introduction To Anomalistic Psychology
DESCRIPTION:Ever since records began\, in every known society\, a substantial proportion of the population has reported unusual experiences many of which we would today label as “paranormal”. Opinion polls show that the majority of the general public accepts that paranormal phenomena do occur. Such widespread experience of and belief in the paranormal can only mean one of two things. Either the paranormal is real\, in which case this should be accepted by the wider scientific community which currently rejects such claims; or else belief in and experience of ostensibly paranormal phenomena can be fully explained in terms of psychological factors. This presentation will provide an introduction to the sub-discipline of anomalistic psychology\, which may be defined as the study of extraordinary phenomena of behaviour and experience\, in an attempt to provide non-paranormal explanations in terms of known psychological and physical factors. This approach will be illustrated with examples relating to a range of ostensibly paranormal phenomena. \nBiog: Professor Chris French is the Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths\, University of London. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry\, as well as being a Patron of the British Humanist Association and a member of the Scientific and Professional Advisory Board of the British False Memory Society. He has published over 130 articles and chapters covering a wide range of topics within psychology. His main area of research is the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. He frequently appears on radio and television casting a skeptical eye over paranormal claims\, as well as writing for the Guardian and The Skeptic magazine which\, for more than a decade\, he also edited. His most recent books are Why Statues Weep\, co-edited with Wendy Grossman\, Anomalistic Psychology\, co-authored with Nicola Holt\, Christine Simmonds-Moore\, and David Luke\, and Anomalistic Psychology: Exploring Paranormal Belief and Experience co-authored with Anna Stone.
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/weird-science-an-introduction-to-anomalistic-psychology/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20181029T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20181029T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190207T164443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190207T164532Z
UID:81-1540841400-1540848600@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Circular Reasoning: The Rise Of The Flat Earth Belief
DESCRIPTION:In 2013\, when Michael Marshall first interviewed the Vice President of the Flat Earth society for his show Be Reasonable\, people could scarcely believe that anyone could genuinely think the Earth was flat. Five years later\, Flat Earth belief has gone mainstream\, spawning thousands of hours of YouTube videos\, gaining widespread international media coverage\, and attracting countless followers. How did we get here? \nIn this talk\, Marshall will talk through his experiences of the Flat Earth movement\, take a look at the leaders and some of their reasoning\, and report back from the weekend he spent at the UK’s first ever Flat Earth convention. \nMichael Marshall is the Project Director of the Good Thinking Society and the Vice President of the Merseyside Skeptics Society. He regularly speaks with proponents of pseudoscience for the Be Reasonable podcast. His work has seen him organising international homeopathy protests\, going undercover to expose psychics and quack medics\, and co-founding the popular QED conference. He has written for the Guardian\, The Times and New Statesman. \n£6 on the door with extra raised after costs going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/circular-reasoning-the-rise-of-the-flat-earth-belief/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20180903T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20180903T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190208T210440Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190208T210440Z
UID:109-1536003000-1536010200@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Separating Fact and Fiction In Hypnosis
DESCRIPTION:Hypnosis is a valuable method for studying different facets of conscious awareness yet it continues to be one of the most misrepresented and misunderstood phenomenon in psychology. Here I will dispel widespread myths and misconceptions about hypnosis and describe what psychologists\, neuroscientists\, and clinicians have learned about this fascinating phenomenon. \nDevin Terhune is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Goldsmiths\, University of London where he studies conscious awareness and its top-down regulation. His primary interests concern the neurocognitive basis of time perception and individual differences in hypnotic suggestibility. \n£5 on the night to cover costs with extra raised going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/separating-fact-and-fiction-in-hypnosis/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20180809T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20180809T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190208T210556Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190208T210556Z
UID:110-1533843000-1533850200@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:People vs Tech: How The Internet Is Killing Democracy (and how we can save it)
DESCRIPTION:Jamie will talk about his new book ‘The People Vs Tech’\, which argues there is a looming war between democracy and digital technology. He will explain what Cambridge Analytica did during the Trump election – and whether it made a difference – and suggest that democracies are being slowly undermined by the internet. Jamie will also set out what needs to be done to avoid the drift into techno-authoritarianism. \nCopies of Jamie’s latest book will be available for purchase at the event and he will be happy to sign copies upon request. \nJamie Bartlett is the Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at the think-tank Demos\, where he specialises in online social movements and the impact of technology on society. He is also author of the best selling book The Dark Net and a regular commentator on national and international media outlets. \n£5 on the door with extra raised going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/people-vs-tech-how-the-internet-is-killing-democracy-and-how-we-can-save-it/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20180723T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20180723T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190208T210707Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190208T210707Z
UID:111-1532374200-1532381400@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Politalks 1- Is Anti Semitism A Problem In The Labour Party
DESCRIPTION:A few people wanted to delve into politics\, so bit of a break from the usual sciencey subjects. Going forward we’re going to get as many people from\nacross the political spectrum as possible to discuss local\, national and historical issues. No speaker\, just a group discussion. \nFirst requested topic was Anti Semitism in Labour. \n£3 on the night to cover costs with any extra going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/politalks-1-is-anti-semitism-a-problem-in-the-labour-party/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20180709T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20180709T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190208T211147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190208T211147Z
UID:112-1531164600-1531171800@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:The Psychology of Vaccine Acceptance\, Hesitancy\, and Denial
DESCRIPTION:Recent data from the World Health Organisation has indicated a fourfold increase in cases of measles in 2017 compared to previous year (from 5273 to 21 315 cases) across the European region (www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/press- releases/2018/europe-observes- a-4- fold- increase-in- measles-cases- in-2017- compared-to- previous-year). These cases subsequently lead to hundreds of hospitalisations\, and 35 recorded deaths. While some of these cases were in those too young to be vaccinated\, or those that had other health concerns that made vaccination inadvisable\, the majority of the cases were in people who had actively made a choice to avoid immunisation. \nThe reasons why an individual may refuse a vaccine backed by extremely strong safety and efficacy evidence are wide ranging and complex. In this talk\, Richard will introduce you to the concept of Vaccine Hesitancy and explain how\, risk perception\, uncertainty\, social influence and above all trust plays a role in vaccine delay\, selection and refusal. \nSpeaker: Richard Clarke is a health psychologist and 3rd year PhD candidate with The Vaccine Confidence Project (www.vaccineconfidence.org/) based at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The academic field of vaccination is very wide\, Richard’s area of expertise focuses on the social science related to vaccine delivery. For all things vaccine science please visit The Vaccine Knowledge Project at vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/ \n£5 on the door to cover costs with any extra raised going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/the-psychology-of-vaccine-acceptance-hesitancy-and-denial/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20180604T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20180604T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190208T211420Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190208T211420Z
UID:113-1528140600-1528147800@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:How To Be Reasonable: By Someone Who Tried Everything Else
DESCRIPTION:Most of us weren’t born reasonable. We were born into a superstitious culture with only our ramshackle primate brains to try and figure out what’s going on. Reason\, an appreciation for evidence and critical thinking skills are virtues that most of us had to fight for and that we have to work hard to keep up in difficult situations. \nRebecca is no exception\, she grew up believing many strange things and has had to train herself to think critically. Instead of being embarrassed by our former beliefs Rebecca thinks it is important to have compassion for and interest in what we used to believe and why we believed it. Instead of feeling shame for having been wrong\, we should be proud that we had the courage to overturn beliefs that proved to be wrong. \nIn this talk Rebecca will discuss who she was before\, and after she “became reasonable” and overturn the myth that there is such a thing as “perfectly reasonable” we are all\, after all\, a work in progress. \nRebecca is passionate about skeptical education because she has found the tools of skepticism to be profoundly empowering. Learning to think clearly has made her safer\, more confident and happier. Drawing on her experience as a skeptical educator and comic book artist she will present some ideas that will help you improve your critical thinking skills and the way you think about how you think. \nHere’s a link to Rebecca’s website: http://rebeccaonpaper.com/ \n£5 on the door to cover costs with any extra raised going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/how-to-be-reasonable-by-someone-who-tried-everything-else/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20180514T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20180514T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190208T211932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190208T211932Z
UID:114-1526326200-1526333400@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Philosophy\, Schools and British Values
DESCRIPTION:Alex Farrow is a philosophy teacher and stand-up comedian who will be exploring what he learnt from teaching philosophy in a 6th form college to Muslim and Christian teenagers in East London \nWhat place do philosophy and skepticism have in the school classroom? \nWhat is the “British values agenda” and are British values under attack? \nWhat is the role of the teacher in creating\, challenging and shaping the ethical and social opinions of young people? \nAlex has been invited to perform stand-up comedy about philosophy everywhere from Mervyn Stutter’s pick of the Edinburgh Fringe\, the National Museum of Scotland\, music festivals\, comedy clubs around the UK and the Oxford University Teaching Awards. He was also Farmington Fellow at Harris Manchester College\, Oxford in 2015 researching Philosophy in Schools \nHe is the host of Jericho Comedy Oxford. Jericho Comedy raised £8\,700 for the mental health charity Oxfordshire Mind last year for more information about them visit http://www.jerichocomedy.com/ \n“witty\, positive and talented” – DailyInfo Oxford “An engaging and entertaining pairing of learning and good humour!” – **** The Latest\, Brighton \n£5 on the door to cover costs with any extra raised going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/philosophy-schools-and-british-values/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20180130T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20180130T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190209T124618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190209T124618Z
UID:115-1517340600-1517347800@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:January Meetup
DESCRIPTION:The idea of having a social night was brought up\, so to have a bit of a break in routine I thought it would be good to meet and chat and see what topics people might want to have talks on in the future. \nFree to attend so just come as you are 🙂
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/january-meetup/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20171127T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20171127T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190209T171734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190209T171734Z
UID:116-1511811000-1511818200@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:We Do Things Differently
DESCRIPTION:Our systems are failing. Old models – for education\, healthcare and government\, food production\, energy supply – are creaking under the weight of modern challenges. As the world’s population heads towards 10 billion\, it’s clear we need new approaches. Futurologist Mark Stevenson sets out to find them\, across four continents.\nFrom Brazilian favelas to high tech Boston\, from rural India to a shed inventor in England’s home counties\, We Do Things Differently travels the world to find the advance guard re-imagining our future. At each stop\, he meets innovators who have already succeeded in challenging the status quo\, pioneering new ways to make our world more sustainable\, equitable and humane. \nMark has also written for The Times\, The Wall Street Journal\, The Guardian\, Intelligent Life\, The Irish Times\, The Irish Independent\, The Daily Telegraph\, and The New Statesman. His key skill is an ability to take complex or abstract concepts and make them understandable by non-specialists without trivialising the subject matter. \nMark is also an occasional comedy writer. His work has been performed on Radio 4 and his play (co-written with Jack Milner) Octopus Soup comes to London in January 2018. \n£5 on the door to cover costs with any extra going to the Against Malaria Foundation
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/we-do-things-differently/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20171005T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20171005T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190209T171429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190209T171547Z
UID:118-1507231800-1507239000@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Are Discovering New Antibiotics Fast Enough?
DESCRIPTION:John Broughall\, (pronounced as in a pub “brawl”)\, will discuss the issue of why the antibiotic development pipeline has dried up: what are the problems and why the pharmaceutical industry is not investing in research and development to produce new compounds. Multi-drug antibiotic resistance has been recognised as a global threat to health yet the solutions to this issue are not obvious\, the current commercially driven pharmaceutical process does not appear fit for purpose. The potential implications for health care in the future could be devastating and unfortunately antibiotic resistant bacteria do not recognize national boundaries. \nJohn is a PhD microbiologist who has spent most of his career in the diagnostics industry including the development of rapid and automated methods for use in microbiology laboratories. Latterly he has worked in the medical departments of two major pharmaceutical companies focusing on both antibiotics and also new oncology compounds\, he now runs his own consultancy business and gives talks on the issue of antibiotic resistance. \n£5 on the door to cover costs\, with extra raised going to The Against Malaria Foundation\, where 100% of the money raised goes towards insecticidal nets\, and who are the top rated charity at Givewell\, The Life You Can Save\, and Giving What You Can.
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/are-discovering-new-antibiotics-fast-enough/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20170704T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20170704T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190209T171247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190209T171247Z
UID:119-1499196600-1499203800@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Effective Altruism- Giving with Reason
DESCRIPTION:Effective Altruism is the idea behind a growing movement of philosophy\, science and evidence minded individuals with a passion to doing as much good as they possible can. Effective Altruism involves using a combination of the head (reason\, logic and evidence) and the heart (empathy/compassion) to systematically fight towards making the world a better place for all that live in it. As skeptics we apply critical thinking to a wide range of topics in our everyday lives however our charity and altruistic behaviours often gets a free pass. In this talk we will explore why this is the case and how a few small choices in your life can have life changing positive impact on someone else’s. \nRichard Clarke is a health psychologist and skeptic currently conducting a PhD in the area of information seeking and vaccine hesitancy with the Vaccine Confidence Project (http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/about/#team) based at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine and due to the reasoning behind Effective Altruism in 2014 he decided to pledge 10% of his income over the course of his life time to charities that are likely to have the most impact in the world. \n£5 on the door to cover costs with the rest going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/effective-altruism-giving-with-reason/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20170606T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20170606T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190209T171109Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190209T171109Z
UID:120-1496777400-1496784600@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Neuro Myths In Education
DESCRIPTION:One of the most persistent edumyths is learning styles – the idea that there are a number of styles of learning\, such as visual\, aural or kinaesthetic – and that certain children respond better if teaching is directed towards their preferred learning style. Another used to be “brain gym” – the idea that rubbing key parts of your body could wake your brain up or drinking water gives you energy. \nLots of other edumyths abound – but why do people believe them? Why have we rejected Father Christmas but cling on to the idea that we only use 10% of our brains? In this talk we begin to explore what we believe\, why we believe and how sometimes even direct evidence isn’t enough. \nJames Williams graduated in Geology and trained as a science teacher at the University of London. He then taught science in London and Surrey. He is now a lecturer in education at the University of Sussex. \nIn 2006 he filmed a six-part TV history/reality series for Channel 4 called ‘That’ll teach ’em’\, taking the role of the deputy head and housemaster in the fictional Charles Darwin school teaching 30 teenagers 1950s style. \nHis research interests currently revolve around teachers and their knowledge and understanding of the nature of science’ and the scientific method. This leads to work on a better understanding of the ‘Working Scientifically’ approach in the new National Curriculum and public examinations. He also researches the teaching of evolution and the issues surrounding creationism in schools. \n£5 on the door to cover expenses with any extra going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/neuro-myths-in-education/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20170516T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20170516T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190209T170853Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190209T170853Z
UID:121-1494963000-1494970200@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:The Dark Net
DESCRIPTION:THIS TALK WILL NOW BE ON THE 16TH OF MAY The dark net is an underworld that stretches from popular social media sites to the most secretive corners of the encrypted web. It is a world that frequently appears in newspaper headlines but one that is little understood\, and rarely explored. \nFor his book The Dark Net Jamie Bartlett spent two years immersed in some of the internet’s most shocking and secretive sub-cultures: spending time in secretive ‘trolling’ forums\, interviewing illegal pornographers\, buying drugs from the notorious ‘Silk Road’\, following bitcoin enthusiasts\, attending live internet sex shows\, and hanging out with neo-Nazis. \nIn his talk\, Jamie will suggest they are not as they seem. They are shocking and disturbing\, but often extremely innovative. He will discuss the truth of how these internet subcultures work\, who is part of them\, and what we can learn from them. He will also discuss the problems of meeting and writing about some of the internet’s most hated people. \nJamie is Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at the think-tank Demos. His primary research interests are: new political movements and social media research and analysis\, internet cultures and security and privacy online. The Dark Net was shortlisted for The Political Award and longlisted for The Orwell Prize. His next book Radicals (Random House) about new radical social and political movements will be released in Spring 2017. \n£5 on the door to cover costs with any extra going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/the-dark-net/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20170404T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20170404T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190209T170747Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190209T170747Z
UID:122-1491334200-1491341400@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Socionics
DESCRIPTION:Socionics was formed in the 1970’s and 80’s by Lithuanian psychologist\, Ausra Augustinaviciute and developed from the work of Carl Jung. It is a theory of personality type that focuses on the concept of information metabolism\, i.e. that people finitely vary in terms of how they process different kinds of information. It details 16 different ‘types of information metabolism’ which contribute to our strengths and weaknesses\, as well as values and motivations. These different types can interact with each other\, producing a range of relationships from harmonised to conflicting.Jack Oliver Aaron is a UK-based socionist and founder of the World Socionics Society\, a group dedicated to education and forming communities of interest in the theory\, as well as running regular meetup groups in London. He has an MSc in Occupational Psychology and is a member of the British Psychological Society. Jack is trying to introduce Socionics to western practitioners as a valuable alternative to popular theories of personality type\, such as the MBTI\, while looking at how such theories can be used more responsibly and made more falsifiable. \nIn this talk\, Jack will be providing an introduction to the theory of Socionics\, looking at how it is constructed from basic dichotomies\, while exploring its place in a wider range of theories on personality. The potential merits of the theory will be assessed\, as well as the current limitations that exist on theories in the absence of empirical testing \n£5 on the door to cover costs with extra raised going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/socionics/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20170306T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20170306T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190209T170647Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190209T170647Z
UID:123-1488828600-1488835800@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:How Do Our Genes Work
DESCRIPTION:The language of genes has become common in the media. We know they make your eyes blue\, your hair curly or your nose straight. We’re told that genes control the risk of cancer\, heart disease\, alcoholism or Alzheimer’s. The cost of DNA sequencing has plummeted from billions of pounds to a few hundred\, and gene-based advances in medicine hold huge promise. \nThere are 2.2 metres of DNA inside every one of your cells\, encoding roughly 20\,000 genes. These are the ‘recipes’ that tell our cells how to make the building blocks of life\, along with all the control switches ensuring they’re turned on and off at the right time and in the right place. But rather than a static string of genetic code\, this is a dynamic\, writhing biological library. With the help of cats with thumbs\, fish with hips and wobbly worms\, Kat will unpack some of the mysteries in our DNA and explain the latest thinking about how our genes work. \nDr Kat Arney is a science communicator and award-winning blogger for Cancer Research UK\, as well as a freelance science writer and broadcaster whose work has featured on BBC Radio 4\, the Naked Scientists and more. She has just published her first book\, Herding Hemingway’s Cats\, about how our genes work. \n£5 on the door to cover costs with any extra going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/how-do-our-genes-work/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20170206T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20170206T213000
DTSTAMP:20260525T140356
CREATED:20190209T170542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190209T170542Z
UID:124-1486409400-1486416600@maidstoneskeptics.co.uk
SUMMARY:Porn Panic: The New Lefts War On Free Expression And How Liberalism Ate Itself
DESCRIPTION:The 90s was a particularly liberal era in terms of personal freedom. But soon after the turn of the new century\, new morality groups began to pop up in the UK. Perhaps the first to notice this trend were strippers in East London\, who found pickets outside their workplaces\, and lobbyists trying to close the clubs down. These new moralists were not of the old\, Christian\, Tory kind: these groups were young\, left-wing\, and feminist. They were funded by social justice organisations and supported by the Guardian. Social conservatism\, having faded on the right\, was being reborn on the left.\nBeginning with campaigns against strip clubs\, pornography\, “sexualised” music videos\, and other forms of sexual expression\, the pro-censorship movement grew\, and broadened its scope. The old feminism and anti-racism messages of the left subtly turned into pro-censorship movements. Restrictions on “hate speech” morphed into suppression of speech that merely offended people. This new\, quasi-fascist movement of the left took aim at fundamental liberal values of free speech\, equality and reason. \nJerry Barnett is a technologist\, entrepreneur and veteran activist. As an operator of adult entertainment sites for many years\, he watched the rise of the porn panic\, and saw much of the political left collapse into conservatism. Realising that the attacks on sexual expression were precursor to far broader attacks on free speech\, he founded the Sex &amp Censorship campaign in 2013. His book Porn Panic!\, was published by Zero Books in 2016 and can be found here. \n£5 on the door to cover costs with any extra going to charity
URL:http://maidstoneskeptics.co.uk/event/porn-panic-the-new-lefts-war-on-free-expression-and-how-liberalism-ate-itself/
LOCATION:The Style and Winch\, 72 Union Street\, Maidstone\, Kent\, ME14 1ED\, United Kingdom
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR