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Skeptic North February 16, 2010

Posted by huymix in Science.
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Skeptic North Blog

The Skeptic North Blog is the first “Canada-wide” blog for skeptics. Let’s say you are either a skeptic (self-identifying or not) or not a skeptic, my reasons for you to skip the Skeptic North Blog will probably apply. If you follow some skeptical media, than you might have more of an appreciation for my reasons but either way the end result is a pass on this blog. Why do I say this even though I am Canadian and a self-identified skeptic?

  • The information is not so different that what is already out there. On understanding statistics 1 and 2, the writing is neither in depth enough for people who want to know more nor is it accessible enough for those with a passing interest. It’s a waste of time for these writers to retread the same ground more effectively covered by others. The whole left panel with Skeptics/Science Links is almost a litany of sites that cover the same topics.
  • The blog is hard to read. If you haven’t clicked to the site, the whole format is a 3 columns of words, words and more words format. The problem is that for the reader, it all gets a little too jumbled and with the length of some of these posts, and the 3-column format  it feels like reading through an invisible straw.
  • The writing is dry. Science and skepticism isn’t always sexy, but that doesn’t matter since on the internet there are so many options and views are at a premium. Plus, there are science blogs that manage to write without being very dry. Honestly, I wanted to be actively reading and responding to the site but after a couple of weeks of dry post after dry post I just couldn’t bother clicking on the site anymore.

Skeptic North is new and maybe they need some time to find their voice and focus on what will draw an audience and provide value for your time spent. Right now, the only value the site has is to aggregate other very good skeptical/science blogs. Make no mistake, I want there to be a successful Skeptic North Blog, I just want it to be a worthwhile Skeptic North and not what is there right now.