Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
@danielloxton.bsky.social
Author, illustrator, and researcher of misinformation and fringe claims. Former Editor (2002–2021) of Junior Skeptic, and author of Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be and other science books for kids and adults. https://www.danielloxton.com
Pinned
A very incomplete list drawn from accounts I follow:
go.bsky.app/DyXUn9n
go.bsky.app/DyXUn9n
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
The utility of dissonance theory is that it gives us a general framework to understand patterns that folk wisdom identified long before Festinger (like, people are more receptive to congenial claims) and allows us to plan interventions to bypass or disarm some of the common pitfalls (ego threat etc)
November 26, 2025 at 11:11 PM
The utility of dissonance theory is that it gives us a general framework to understand patterns that folk wisdom identified long before Festinger (like, people are more receptive to congenial claims) and allows us to plan interventions to bypass or disarm some of the common pitfalls (ego threat etc)
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Interesting! When Prophecy Fails is a fascinating read, but it’s obviously messy to have observers embedded within a fringe group for an extended period, actively interacting with members.
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
NEW: When Propecy Fails is one of the most famous social psychology books of all time, a look at a small group of UFO believers when the “spacemen” failed to land. I wrote about a new study from an independent researcher who says the book is not what it seems. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Interesting! When Prophecy Fails is a fascinating read, but it’s obviously messy to have observers embedded within a fringe group for an extended period, actively interacting with members.
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Just got wrecked by this so here, wreck yourselves ❤️
![Comic. Panels up to the 10-year point are grayed out. New panels since the Ten Years comic, which chronicles the first ten years of PERSON 1's journey with cancer: (1) [two people in bed] PERSON 1 (woman): One more chapter? PERSON 2 (man): Don’t we both have to get up early? PERSON 1: Nnnnnggggh PERSON 2: Sure, good point. (2) [many people wearing masks, walking while looking at graphs on their phones] (3) [birds landing on people] PERSON 2 in beanie and scarf: Hah! They like *my* seeds best. PERSON 1 in scarf holding phone with a bird sitting on it: Wait, how do I take a picture of this one? (4) [two people rowing boats with tree landscape] (5) [Person 1 carries overflowing stack of things to Person 2 in bed] PERSON 1: I brought you honey lemon tea, more pillows, a cinnamon roll, Tylenol, another blanket, a– PERSON 2: It was just Appendicitis, I’m really– PERSON 1: *It is my turn to take care of you and I am going to do it right!* (6) [Two people in car] (7) [still in car) PERSON 1: Oh my god. PERSON 2: Oh my god. (8) [car driving] PERSON 1: Pull over! PERSON 2: I am! (9) [both people get out of car] (10) [Large colored panel of aurora borealis over water with both people looking on] (11) [Person 1 sits against tree while Person 2 lies on the ground] PERSON 1: Fifteen years. No sign of the cancer. (12) I *am* having some weird symptoms. Joint pain. Fatigue. I think I’m losing my close-up vision. PERSON 2: Yeah. Me too. (13) PERSON 2: I think we’re getting old. (14) PERSON 1: I guess that’s okay. PERSON 2: It’s all I wanted.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihwhjblp5lyiwp63ouar7ocfea7evmckytoeo7rkfuoo4gw5rnrra@jpeg)
November 27, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Just got wrecked by this so here, wreck yourselves ❤️
With breaking news, it’s almost always a good idea to wait for facts to emerge and then get checked and confirmed by people in a position to do so. Unfortunately the incentives and our instincts usually urge us to rush
There will be a flood of conspiracy theories from both sides about what the DC National Guard shooting "really" was. Except nobody knows exactly what happened or if anyone died, and there are no details about the shooter. Sometimes the proper response is not to respond for a while.
November 26, 2025 at 9:57 PM
With breaking news, it’s almost always a good idea to wait for facts to emerge and then get checked and confirmed by people in a position to do so. Unfortunately the incentives and our instincts usually urge us to rush
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
I used to host an extremely weird nightly show called ZeD and I 💯 agree with this post.
I think if Canada wants to have a strong cultural identity we need to go back to doing what we're best at, making the weirdest fucking TV shows you've ever seen
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I used to host an extremely weird nightly show called ZeD and I 💯 agree with this post.
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Honestly, it’s why I fell in love with science. As a kid, I was surrounded by people who’d never admit when they were wrong, and it really frustrated me. I was also a terrible perfectionist. So the idea that you could be wrong and admit it, and that was a GOOD THING, was beautiful and novel to me.
November 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Honestly, it’s why I fell in love with science. As a kid, I was surrounded by people who’d never admit when they were wrong, and it really frustrated me. I was also a terrible perfectionist. So the idea that you could be wrong and admit it, and that was a GOOD THING, was beautiful and novel to me.
Interesting! When Prophecy Fails is a fascinating read, but it’s obviously messy to have observers embedded within a fringe group for an extended period, actively interacting with members.
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
NEW: When Propecy Fails is one of the most famous social psychology books of all time, a look at a small group of UFO believers when the “spacemen” failed to land. I wrote about a new study from an independent researcher who says the book is not what it seems. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
It’s one of the most influential social psychology studies ever. Was it all a lie?
A classic book on UFO believers and their "cognitive dissonance" after aliens failed to land is called into question.
www.motherjones.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Interesting! When Prophecy Fails is a fascinating read, but it’s obviously messy to have observers embedded within a fringe group for an extended period, actively interacting with members.
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Seems to me, what matters with cognitive dissonance theory is that it holds up fine in the lab?
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
"ppl are really sick to the back teeth of concentrated corporate power. & I think that while they havent put their finger on it, there is a sense that a lot of our problems—genocide, climate inaction, xenophobia, authoritarianism, worsening labor conditions—are all downstream of concentrated power"
Cory Doctorow Explains Why Everything is Getting Shittier
The author and tech activist sits down with Current Affairs to discuss his new book, “Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What To Do About It”
www.currentaffairs.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:38 PM
"ppl are really sick to the back teeth of concentrated corporate power. & I think that while they havent put their finger on it, there is a sense that a lot of our problems—genocide, climate inaction, xenophobia, authoritarianism, worsening labor conditions—are all downstream of concentrated power"
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Funny thing is, there are “gravity ‘skeptics’” in the sense that there are cranks who deny gravity, just as there are cranks who deny vaccines, climate science, and germ theory. The big difference is, we haven’t put the “scientists are wrong about so-called gravity” cranks in charge of NASA!
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Funny thing is, there are “gravity ‘skeptics’” in the sense that there are cranks who deny gravity, just as there are cranks who deny vaccines, climate science, and germ theory. The big difference is, we haven’t put the “scientists are wrong about so-called gravity” cranks in charge of NASA!
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Incidentally, “gravity isn’t real” type claims were part of the impetus for launching modern organized skepticism 50 years ago. Scientists & editors of science magazines were plagued with crank correspondence—pseudo-physics, UFOs, ESP, etc. They welcomed volunteer specialists to refer stuff to
November 25, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Incidentally, “gravity isn’t real” type claims were part of the impetus for launching modern organized skepticism 50 years ago. Scientists & editors of science magazines were plagued with crank correspondence—pseudo-physics, UFOs, ESP, etc. They welcomed volunteer specialists to refer stuff to
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
If ghosts are real, what are they made of? No idea. Do they represent the lingering spirits of the dead, or some sort of “psychic memory,” or bleed through from some parallel dimension, or what? There’s no agreed upon theory of ghosts, just competing unverified stories
November 25, 2025 at 9:30 PM
If ghosts are real, what are they made of? No idea. Do they represent the lingering spirits of the dead, or some sort of “psychic memory,” or bleed through from some parallel dimension, or what? There’s no agreed upon theory of ghosts, just competing unverified stories
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Taken collectively, paranormal beliefs are very ordinary. Basically half of respondents affirm a belief in this one claim, and huge majorities will affirm a belief in at least one claim from a short list of common paranormal claims (ghosts in particular are always widely accepted)
Do Americans think aliens have ever visited Earth?
% who think they definitely or probably have …
Ever
U.S. adult citizens 47%
Democrats 51%
Republicans 41%
In recent years
U.S. adult citizens 42%
Democrats 45%
Republicans 39%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
% who think they definitely or probably have …
Ever
U.S. adult citizens 47%
Democrats 51%
Republicans 41%
In recent years
U.S. adult citizens 42%
Democrats 45%
Republicans 39%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
![A chart of YouGov polling data with the headline: "Americans are split on whether aliens have visited Earth in recent years ."
The chart's sub-headline is: "How likely do you think it is that aliens have [ever visited Earth / visited Earth in recent years]? (%)."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ke6f766al4swdugyvmvyipuo/bafkreidud3naabaljgrtc7u6kgcsh3lgvpzcjkg3dkrtu2o3p4rqqvqj54@jpeg)
November 25, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Taken collectively, paranormal beliefs are very ordinary. Basically half of respondents affirm a belief in this one claim, and huge majorities will affirm a belief in at least one claim from a short list of common paranormal claims (ghosts in particular are always widely accepted)
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Story: There is a large house, suspiciously cheap. It’s reputedly haunted, and cannot keep tenants. A brave man takes the bargain, moves in, hears strange noises in the night. Soon an apparition appears! Bound in chains, the apparition leads the man to a spot in the courtyard—then suddenly vanishes…
November 25, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Story: There is a large house, suspiciously cheap. It’s reputedly haunted, and cannot keep tenants. A brave man takes the bargain, moves in, hears strange noises in the night. Soon an apparition appears! Bound in chains, the apparition leads the man to a spot in the courtyard—then suddenly vanishes…
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
Expect normal people in all walks of life to believe pseudoscience, paranormal claims, and conspiracy theories. Most people do! But everyone’s different too. One might believe in ghosts, but not Bigfoot, or vice versa. Some people believe a ton such claims, some only believe one or two. Zero is rare
November 26, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Expect normal people in all walks of life to believe pseudoscience, paranormal claims, and conspiracy theories. Most people do! But everyone’s different too. One might believe in ghosts, but not Bigfoot, or vice versa. Some people believe a ton such claims, some only believe one or two. Zero is rare
Expect normal people in all walks of life to believe pseudoscience, paranormal claims, and conspiracy theories. Most people do! But everyone’s different too. One might believe in ghosts, but not Bigfoot, or vice versa. Some people believe a ton such claims, some only believe one or two. Zero is rare
November 26, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Expect normal people in all walks of life to believe pseudoscience, paranormal claims, and conspiracy theories. Most people do! But everyone’s different too. One might believe in ghosts, but not Bigfoot, or vice versa. Some people believe a ton such claims, some only believe one or two. Zero is rare
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
I remember you writing about this. The believers I've talked to usually start in strict "hidden ape-man" cryptozoo territory, but once I began asking a few questions, a couple have veered right into "Yeah, well, everyone knows Bigfoot can travel through dimensions."
November 25, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I remember you writing about this. The believers I've talked to usually start in strict "hidden ape-man" cryptozoo territory, but once I began asking a few questions, a couple have veered right into "Yeah, well, everyone knows Bigfoot can travel through dimensions."
Huh!
November 25, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Huh!
This was a petty flex in sheep camp when I was young, packing Prattley corral panels (though also an effort to hurry—we were constantly moving camps to keep the corrals dry for the flock’s foot health and sleep comfort)
www.prattley.co.nz/products/she...
www.prattley.co.nz/products/she...
November 25, 2025 at 11:10 PM
This was a petty flex in sheep camp when I was young, packing Prattley corral panels (though also an effort to hurry—we were constantly moving camps to keep the corrals dry for the flock’s foot health and sleep comfort)
www.prattley.co.nz/products/she...
www.prattley.co.nz/products/she...
My favorite part: “it stood before him, beckoning with the finger. Athenodorus made a sign with his hand that it should wait a little, and bent again to his writing, but the ghost rattling its chains over his head as he wrote, he looked round and saw it beckoning as before.”
Patience, darn it!
Patience, darn it!
Story: There is a large house, suspiciously cheap. It’s reputedly haunted, and cannot keep tenants. A brave man takes the bargain, moves in, hears strange noises in the night. Soon an apparition appears! Bound in chains, the apparition leads the man to a spot in the courtyard—then suddenly vanishes…
November 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
My favorite part: “it stood before him, beckoning with the finger. Athenodorus made a sign with his hand that it should wait a little, and bent again to his writing, but the ghost rattling its chains over his head as he wrote, he looked round and saw it beckoning as before.”
Patience, darn it!
Patience, darn it!
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
There is NO FUCKING EXCUSE for this to be happening.
I had a baby die in my arms of pertussis some fifty years ago. It was a HORRIBLE death. But my fellow nurses said to me, "It's almost stamped out now, they're all getting the shots, we won't be seeing this again."
HOW THE FUCK ARE WE HERE. 😡
I had a baby die in my arms of pertussis some fifty years ago. It was a HORRIBLE death. But my fellow nurses said to me, "It's almost stamped out now, they're all getting the shots, we won't be seeing this again."
HOW THE FUCK ARE WE HERE. 😡
A third infant has died in Kentucky, KYDPH adds:
“These are Kentucky’s first pertussis deaths since 2018. None of the infants nor their mothers received the recommended pertussis vaccinations during pregnancy or early infancy.”
s3.amazonaws.com/nursing-netw...
“These are Kentucky’s first pertussis deaths since 2018. None of the infants nor their mothers received the recommended pertussis vaccinations during pregnancy or early infancy.”
s3.amazonaws.com/nursing-netw...
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
There is NO FUCKING EXCUSE for this to be happening.
I had a baby die in my arms of pertussis some fifty years ago. It was a HORRIBLE death. But my fellow nurses said to me, "It's almost stamped out now, they're all getting the shots, we won't be seeing this again."
HOW THE FUCK ARE WE HERE. 😡
I had a baby die in my arms of pertussis some fifty years ago. It was a HORRIBLE death. But my fellow nurses said to me, "It's almost stamped out now, they're all getting the shots, we won't be seeing this again."
HOW THE FUCK ARE WE HERE. 😡
Taken collectively, paranormal beliefs are very ordinary. Basically half of respondents affirm a belief in this one claim, and huge majorities will affirm a belief in at least one claim from a short list of common paranormal claims (ghosts in particular are always widely accepted)
Do Americans think aliens have ever visited Earth?
% who think they definitely or probably have …
Ever
U.S. adult citizens 47%
Democrats 51%
Republicans 41%
In recent years
U.S. adult citizens 42%
Democrats 45%
Republicans 39%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
% who think they definitely or probably have …
Ever
U.S. adult citizens 47%
Democrats 51%
Republicans 41%
In recent years
U.S. adult citizens 42%
Democrats 45%
Republicans 39%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
November 25, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Taken collectively, paranormal beliefs are very ordinary. Basically half of respondents affirm a belief in this one claim, and huge majorities will affirm a belief in at least one claim from a short list of common paranormal claims (ghosts in particular are always widely accepted)
Story: There is a large house, suspiciously cheap. It’s reputedly haunted, and cannot keep tenants. A brave man takes the bargain, moves in, hears strange noises in the night. Soon an apparition appears! Bound in chains, the apparition leads the man to a spot in the courtyard—then suddenly vanishes…
November 25, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Story: There is a large house, suspiciously cheap. It’s reputedly haunted, and cannot keep tenants. A brave man takes the bargain, moves in, hears strange noises in the night. Soon an apparition appears! Bound in chains, the apparition leads the man to a spot in the courtyard—then suddenly vanishes…
There have been serious efforts to research ghosts & psychic phenomena claims for well over a century. At a certain level, those claims aren’t falsifiable (is there a ghost in your lap right now?), but I can tell you science has been collectively unable to confirm any ghost or psychic ability so far
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
There have been serious efforts to research ghosts & psychic phenomena claims for well over a century. At a certain level, those claims aren’t falsifiable (is there a ghost in your lap right now?), but I can tell you science has been collectively unable to confirm any ghost or psychic ability so far
👇
I really wish we'd stop calling them climate "skeptics" or "vaccine skeptics", if you jump off a cliff we don't call you a "gravity skeptic"
November 25, 2025 at 8:19 PM
👇
Reposted by Daniel Loxton 🇨🇦
I’m close to someone with an invisible disability who finds one of these chatbots very useful as one of many tools, so my generative “AI” cynicism has an asterisk—but these systems are also breaking a lot of other people (and their jobs and families). The trade-offs seem very bad to me, overall
NEW: A Discord community with nearly 200 members serves as a support group for people whose minds and lives have been upended by episodes of AI delusion and psychosis.
In some cases, members say, the group has helped people climb out of their destructive AI "spirals."
futurism.com/artificial-i...
In some cases, members say, the group has helped people climb out of their destructive AI "spirals."
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Meet the Group Breaking People Out of AI Delusions
In this Discord server, people impacted by AI delusions and psychosis share their experiences — and even help users out of delusional spells.
futurism.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I’m close to someone with an invisible disability who finds one of these chatbots very useful as one of many tools, so my generative “AI” cynicism has an asterisk—but these systems are also breaking a lot of other people (and their jobs and families). The trade-offs seem very bad to me, overall