Skeptics Should Focus on Merit

Train and equip skeptical communicators to prioritize high‑quality, auditable evidence (replications, preregistered meta‑analyses, audit studies) when rebutting social‑science myths, and to publicize forecast‑style tests of what the literature actually supports. This is a communication and institutional strategy—not a mere slogan—for aligning public debate with the strongest evidence. — If skeptics and institutions adopt an evidence‑first, merit‑focused outreach strategy, it could reduce persistent misperceptions (e.g., about gender bias or implicit tests), improve policy debates (education, hiring, legal standards), and restore some public trust in social science.