What the #$%@ is this site about?

Let's stretch our minds, set off some mental light bulbs and think in new ways.

Much of this site is devoted to language...a sorely neglected yet integral area in skeptical thinking.

Many excellent thinkers, scientists and even hard core skeptics cast aside their critical thinking skills when it comes to language. Many people hold prejudices about words, accents, grammar, spelling and languages in general but you can become a cunning linguist!

People think of bad language as ‘four-letter words’ and the sort of things you ‘shouldn’t say’. Here...the phrase refers to bad thinking about language.

This site aims to bust some myths about language (about swearing, insults, pronunciation, writing, alien languages, speaking in tongues, weird theories and inventions, etc.) and to provide articles and general info about skepticism, all with the cunning linguist's tongue planted firmly in cheek...amongst other places...

Who the #$%@ am I?

I'm Editor of The Skeptic, a quarterly magazine that has been in publication since 1981. Our magazine is different to the others - we have diverse contributors, readers and themes, and while we feature informative, thoughtful and well-researched articles, we have a strong sense of humor.

I am a Director of the Bay Area Skeptics, the San Francisco Bay Area's skeptical organization since 1982. I am a Contributing Editor to the Bay Area Skeptics Information Sheet, better known as the BASIS newsletter, and an author of the blog on our site.

I recently became a committee member of CFI San Francisco.

I am a veteran investigator of pseudoscience and the paranormal, and have investigated a broad range of phenomena, including mediums, hauntings, myths, legends, alternative medicine, conspiracy theories, bad ‘science’, psychics, religion and other cults. I've also written for many skeptical and scientific magazines, including Australasian Science and the Skeptical Inquirer as published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. However, I delight in working with people with opposing views, and am a frequent contributer to Haunted America Tours , a member of H.P.I. Haunted and Paranormal International and I'm always available for interviews and other activities with people from 'the other side'.

I am the US correspondent for The Skeptic Zone Podcast, where I interview skeptics, paranormal investigators, scientists, specialists, spiritualists and many more intriguing characters, from coast to coast.

Yes, I am also The Skepbitch. This is my beloved blog where I can have my say, unfettered and uncensored, about skepticism, science and society.


I am a Doctor of Linguistics, specializing in Lexical Semantics. My other research interests include pragmatics, intercultural communication, taboo language, and language and discrimination. Skeptical linguistics is an emerging field in which I have a special interest. This is an area that treats paranormal and pseudoscientific theories and beliefs about language. This is a broad field - covering everything from alien languages and graphology, to spells, prayers and the very language used by psychics and mediums.

I currently work as an Editor, Lecturer, Researcher and Consultant Linguist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Check out a recent article about my research here.

I am also a writer with interests in scriptwriting, articles, non-fiction, novels and travelogues. See here for a selection of articles, find other articles scattered around the site, and stick around for much more!

With thanks to…

Richard Saunders: Immediate past President of the Australian Skeptics, Magician, Web Designer and Programmer. Visit Richard's Mystery Investigators.

Mark Newbrook: Linguist extraordinaire and pioneer of Skeptical Linguistics. Mark's articles can be viewed here.

Phil Plait: The Bad Astronomer did a Good Turn in providing inspiration for Bad Language. Obviously, Bad Language was preferable to Bad Linguist!