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A bias where one applies skeptical standards unevenly—extremely high standards to claims one dislikes, and very low standards to claims one favors. The skeptic bias masquerades as intellectual virtue, but it is actually a form of motivated reasoning dressed in the language of doubt. True skepticism applies consistent criteria; skeptic bias is selective, often demanding “extraordinary evidence” for claims that challenge one's beliefs while accepting ordinary evidence for comfortable ones. It is common in online debates where participants call themselves skeptics but only doubt the other side.
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