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===== Skepti-Forum Facebook Guide =====

Hi there!

Welcome to Skepti-Forum's Facebook guide.

If you are joining one of our Facebook groups, this guide will help you understand and navigate the [[http://www.skeptiforum.org/sf-network/|Skepti-Forum network]].

First of all, you should read through our **[[Facebook_Rules_&_Principles|Facebook Rules & Principles]]**. Our Facebook groups are quite different than other Facebook groups, so these rules will help you get a clear idea of our culture works. Next, Skepti-Forum is a large network of several projects. Here you can find a directory of all of these projects including our Facebook groups: **[[http://www.skeptiforum.org/sf-network/|Skepti-Forum Group and Project list]]**. What is Skepti-Forum anyways? **[[http://www.skeptiforum.org/about/|Check out our About page]]**.

If you are joining any of our groups, we highly recommend also joining **[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/SkeptiForum/|our Facebook group hub]]**. This hub is for general questions, collaboration between projects, Q&As with notable speakers, communicating to the broader audience and more. We try to keep the hub a calmer and more patient atmosphere since our subgroups tend to work on more complex issues at a faster pace. We recommend also that you watch for a while before posting or commenting so you can see how our forums work.

To stay up to date on important news, you should also *Like* our **[[https://www.facebook.com/SkeptiForum|Skepti-Forum Page]]**. People don't always have time to follow everything in the groups, so the page feed will provide most of the essentials. We also have another page focused on genetic-modification issues and news at **[[https://www.facebook.com/GMOSkeptiForum|GMO SF]]**.

If you have any questions about anything, you can feel free to ask in the post pinned at the top of the group. Most have information that can direct you to a help line or asking in that post will also get the attention of the moderators.

Please come say hello in **[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/SkeptiForum/permalink/1424777797774033/|our new member introduction thread]]**.

Are you interested in more relaxed discussion and a bit of fun? Check out our friends at **[[https://www.facebook.com/groups/524616254314755/|The Otter Limits]]**. The Otter Limits is also a great place to just toss some ideas back and forth in a much more creative and unrestrained atmosphere. They welcome off-topic discussions, silliness, and, of course, anything to do with otters.

===== Mission Statement =====

The mission of the Skepti-Forum project is to offer a variety of forums for rational, respectful, and evidence-based exploration of important current issues related to science and technology, especially for those subjects surrounded by confusion, misinformation, and misconception. We promote the tools of skeptical inquiry and scientific reasoning to nurture an open atmosphere for exchanging ideas, sharing disagreement, and asking questions. We also believe that both experts and non-experts can contribute tools, resources, and ideas for thinking about science and scientific claims.

Our goals:

1. To create easily-accessible communities across social media platforms where the public can ask questions about scientific issues.

2. To provide resources for science communicators engaging the public on social networks.

3. To challenge less-effective science communication strategies while offering evidence-based alternatives.

4. To demonstrate to the public the application of critical thinking strategies on public scientific issues.

===== Frequently Asked Questions =====

==== Who are you? ====

To find out more about us, check out [[http://www.skeptiforum.org/about/|our About page]].

==== What is skepticism? ====

[[http://www.skeptic.com/about_us/manifesto/|A Skeptical Manifesto]]

==== Why no Memes? A lot of my favorite pages use memes all the time. ====

Per the posting rules memes should only be posted as part of a discussion question for debunking. That is because memes typically make unsupported claims and emotional appeals; as such they provide no useful information for an evidence-based discussion. In very rare instances a meme will be allowed. It would have to contain information highly pertinent to the on going discussion, and it will only remain at the discretion of the Moderators. It is best not to meme but if you do: Always Think Before You Meme!

==== What are the issues with anecdotal evidence? Why are personal stories seen as such a weak form of evidence? ====

Anecdotal evidence can sound powerful. Humans are storytellers and the appeal of good story goes a long way. We also like to find cause and effect even when there isn’t one. Most of our superstitions fall into this category. At its heart anecdotes are about correlations. Cousin Henry did X and sometime later Y happened.

Lets say you interview a group of Hells of Angels and find that they all rode bicycles as children. You might then conclude that riding a bicycle as child is what leads people to become Hells Angels. Correlations can be interesting but they do not mean causation.

This why anecdotal information is so poor, it might point to an area that may warrant investigation but that is the best it can do. No conclusions can be drawn until such concerns have been tested with scientific rigor.

Here is an article on anecdotal evidence that might be helpful: [[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-anecdotal-evidence-can-undermine-scientific-results/?page=1|How anecdotal evidence can undermine scientific results.]]

==== How do I contact an Administrator/Moderator if I have a question or concern about the forum? ====

Go to the [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/GMOSF/members/|forum members tab]] and use the pull down menu to filter by Admins. You can then send one of the Admins a personal message.

==== Your forums are biased. Why didn't anyone post this information I think is important? ====

Did you post it?

==== What's with the otters? ====

Our mascot is the otter because, like otters, our members connect together in a sea of misinformation so that no one floats away and gets lost. Otters are also curious and playful explorers.
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