Reasonably good article. I don't agree that Randi was wrong to be dismissive of so called "academic" purveyors of parapsychology, but do agree that his belligerence and general methods were a problem. Coining catchy insults based on rhymes of people's names is just schoolyard bullying, it has nothing to do with skepticism but thanks in part to Randi this kind of infantile belligerence became synonymous with skepticism.

This kind of association is why I usually tell people that I'm "not religious" instead of an atheist. When I describe myself as an atheist people recoil and brace themselves, as though I've just thrown down a challenge and announced my intent to sperg out and start throwing insults. An association they've learned from experience, as I've seen it done myself more times than I can count.