1. Comment #358931 by headcold on April 1, 2009 at 5:16 pm

This video is fucking intense!!!

Okay, it's not really intense at all, but it is pretty interesting.

Other Comments by headcold

2. Comment #358933 by lackofgravitas on April 1, 2009 at 5:17 pm

Love the Jack Kirby!
good vid too.

Other Comments by lackofgravitas

3. Comment #358938 by SPS on April 1, 2009 at 5:45 pm

Well said, video guy. A lot of good stuff covered in under ten minutes.

Other Comments by SPS

4. Comment #358941 by noahidios on April 1, 2009 at 5:49 pm

hey, i already watched this video! i am even subscribed to the guy who made it. does any one know how you could post a link here of something you liked for others to see?

Other Comments by noahidios

5. Comment #358944 by Ignorant Amos on April 1, 2009 at 5:58 pm

may take a few viewings to get all onboard!!!

Other Comments by Ignorant Amos

6. Comment #358945 by SPS on April 1, 2009 at 5:58 pm

Hi noahidios,

If you mean post it within an article thread, you just post the web address in your comment. But, I assume you mean an article, or video, or something, in which case you can e-mail the link to articles@richarddawkins.net.

You can take a look here:
http://richarddawkins.net/articleSubmissions

Other Comments by SPS

7. Comment #358947 by Metch on April 1, 2009 at 6:14 pm

If you open your mind too much your brain will fall out..

Other Comments by Metch

8. Comment #358948 by noahidios on April 1, 2009 at 6:19 pm

thanks SPS, i'll use that next time i find something interesting. there is a funny video i found on youtube, i am not too sure it would get posted the way this article did because it is satire but i think its too funny to miss. you have to be familiar with the so called "worst atheist nightmare" banana video by Kirk Cameron, maybe you can tell me what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daD9pVB4YcI

Other Comments by noahidios

9. Comment #358949 by toomanytribbles on April 1, 2009 at 6:21 pm

wonderful video

Other Comments by toomanytribbles

10. Comment #358952 by weavehole on April 1, 2009 at 6:24 pm

Intensely intense!

"I cannot evaluate that claim without further data" mucho funsy!

Other Comments by weavehole

11. Comment #358955 by Friend Giskard on April 1, 2009 at 6:26 pm

This needs to be shown in every school, to every class, first thing every morning. First rate.

Other Comments by Friend Giskard

12. Comment #358959 by Fuzzy Duck on April 1, 2009 at 6:32 pm

Very good video. Lots of stuff covered. I'll show it to friends. I know some people who could use this.

-Kevin Schreck

Other Comments by Fuzzy Duck

13. Comment #358964 by Fizzle on April 1, 2009 at 6:38 pm

I second #11. Excellent video. Concise, precise and visually engaging.

Also true ;)

Other Comments by Fizzle

14. Comment #358968 by TheLordHumungus on April 1, 2009 at 6:48 pm

I love this guy, watch his other videos if you haven't already. Thanks to this one, I now have the best way to get out of a bad conversation:

I can't evaluate this conversation without further data, excuse me.

Ohhh, I can't wait.

Other Comments by TheLordHumungus

15. Comment #358975 by TheCRZA on April 1, 2009 at 7:11 pm

well done!

Other Comments by TheCRZA

16. Comment #358992 by infinitum17 on April 1, 2009 at 8:06 pm

wow, that as a GREAT video.

Other Comments by infinitum17

17. Comment #358994 by NormanDoering on April 1, 2009 at 8:10 pm

Actually, there's a lot of good atheist videos on youtube:

http://normdoering.blogspot.com/2009/04/atheists-on-youtube.html

Drop a comment into my blog post and share your favorite atheist youtube video.

Other Comments by NormanDoering

18. Comment #358996 by b0ltzm0n on April 1, 2009 at 8:17 pm

I really wish this video would have been shown to me in the 6th grade. Then it wouldn't have taken me until I reached the 10th grade before I realized I lacked belief in the supernatural.

Other Comments by b0ltzm0n

19. Comment #359007 by chuckgoecke on April 1, 2009 at 8:56 pm

I immediately sent the link to everybody in my address book. Fantastic!

Other Comments by chuckgoecke

20. Comment #359010 by prolibertas on April 1, 2009 at 8:57 pm

My own experience is mostly with New Agers. They're my pick for the most prime example of what this video is arguing against. On the one hand they elevate open-mindedness to be the highest ideal, but on the other hand their definition of open-mindedness seems to be just believing whatever anybody says so long as the belief makes them happy. No wonder there's such a ridiculous proliferation of woo in the New Age quarter. As well as, of course, a contempt for scientists, who are so arrogant and closed-minded as to actually demand evidence for beliefs...

Other Comments by prolibertas

21. Comment #359021 by helical4 on April 1, 2009 at 9:42 pm

Great video! However, I think the message will be wasted on the very peole that it is meant for.

Other Comments by helical4

22. Comment #359023 by Lucas on April 1, 2009 at 9:47 pm

Quite nice. (That's faux-Kirby though, or just a bit of paste-in with tablet drawn stuff.) Really liked the head/brain diagram at the end, and I very much appreciate the stress on "supernatural" as opposed to "religion". All too often that's what we really mean. The big argument is not so much science vs. religion; those are just the surface manifestations, or patterns of action, that come from drastically differing views of reality. I think evidence based naturalism vs. belief based supernaturalism is a better way to think about it.

Other Comments by Lucas

23. Comment #359024 by Cents on April 1, 2009 at 9:51 pm

Great to hear such logical views such as the ones found here at RD.net as well as various Evolution and Atheist websites that I have bookmarked. The speed of his monologue add an extra intensity to his insightful message. Wonderfully done. I've subscribed to his videos as well.

Other Comments by Cents

24. Comment #359025 by Roland_F on April 1, 2009 at 9:55 pm

Excellent !

Remind me that lot’s of posters here using Id’s like ‘Be open Mindend’ , ‘Clearmind’ or ‘Clearthinker’ etc… are not very open minded themselves and fit exactly the description in the video.

Other Comments by Roland_F

25. Comment #359026 by quantum_flux on April 1, 2009 at 10:15 pm

I shall chose what to open and close my mind on, and I shall choose to close my mind to this video as of 3:27 because the production of it stinks.

Other Comments by quantum_flux

26. Comment #359027 by quantum_flux on April 1, 2009 at 10:21 pm

April Fools, the video was actually quite good.

Other Comments by quantum_flux

27. Comment #359045 by Jesus86 on April 2, 2009 at 12:38 am

I would put it this way: An open-minded person entertains ideas that have or at least could have evidence for or against them to be discovered. A closed-minded person only entertains ideas to which he or she is emotionally attached.

This contrast is broader than the science vs. religion or even natural vs. supernatural divides. A secular naturalist can be closed-minded based on wishful thinking, for example. ("I so wish for this or that to be true that I believe it regardless of where the preponderance of evidence lies...")

In fact, I would hazzard to say that political correctness is as big a cause of closed-mindedness these days among secular naturalists as religion is among the religious. That has been one of my recurring critical themes on this website, actually. Political correctness is just as dogmatic as religion.

Political correctness leads people to believe theories (anthropogenic global warming, certain forms of feminism, anti-market economics like Marxism, etc.) because they are emotionally attached to the ethics behind the theory, rather than because there is any evidence for it. Usually in the teeth of the evidence. The underlying politically correct ethical principles are accepted on the basis of pure emotion rather than any kind of science-based theory, too.

You know instantly that it is emotion that is driving the politically correct belief because the first instinct of the politically correct is to attack the other side's motives or character or ethics rather than responding to their ideas or evidence with rational argument. You see this form of closed-mindedness time and again on this website from secular naturalists. It is the mainstay of academia these days. It really sucks.

Other Comments by Jesus86

28. Comment #359049 by Quetzalcoatl on April 2, 2009 at 12:55 am

Jesus86-

People can accept things even if they wish that they weren't true. It would be nice if climate change wasn't happening, but the evidence suggests that it is. We have to follow the evidence. But this isn't the thread for that.

Back on topic- the video is very interesting, and well-argued.

Other Comments by Quetzalcoatl

29. Comment #359053 by Philip1978 on April 2, 2009 at 1:17 am

I shall insist, until further evidence is provided that shows this video to be wrong, that all those who wish to play around with evidence from personal feelings etc see this video.

Very good indeed, I like it a lot

BRAVO!

Other Comments by Philip1978

30. Comment #359057 by Beachbum on April 2, 2009 at 1:46 am

I will recommend this video to all the people I think wouldn't possibly appreciate it, but desperately need the lesson.

Other Comments by Beachbum

31. Comment #359058 by MrPickwick on April 2, 2009 at 1:57 am

This is just one of many very interesting videos by "Qualiasoup". Check this guy's youtube videos:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=QualiaSoup&view=videos

Other Comments by MrPickwick

32. Comment #359061 by hungarianelephant on April 2, 2009 at 2:14 am

28. Comment #359049 by Quetzalcoatl

People can accept things even if they wish that they weren't true.

That's quite true, but I think that Jesus86's point is that often people don't. They take fact-positions based on political preferences rather than on the actual evidence. This is undoubtedly correct.

The mistake is always in assuming that this only happens on one side of the debate. At its best, this site is one of those rare places which can cut through that and insist on reason and evidence, even if it doesn't always live up to those standards. That's much of what makes it fun.

The video does a pretty good job of explaining that approach, I thought.

Other Comments by hungarianelephant

33. Comment #359062 by Eventhorizon on April 2, 2009 at 2:16 am

Wow! That contained some of the most homo-erotic animation I have ever seen

Oh and it was very thought-provoking too

Other Comments by Eventhorizon

34. Comment #359064 by maxpsycho on April 2, 2009 at 2:21 am

Religious people tend to have extremely open minds - in fact I think they are hollow.

Other Comments by maxpsycho

35. Comment #359073 by Jack Rawlinson on April 2, 2009 at 4:36 am

I've watched a few of this guy's videos and they've all been excellent.

Should be shown in schools...

Other Comments by Jack Rawlinson

36. Comment #359081 by cassiek on April 2, 2009 at 5:19 am

I had to smile at the use of the word "supernatural"; it covers all of the religious and new age nonsense out there.

However, I do agree with some of the previous comments that the points raised are wasted on the people who need them the most.

Other Comments by cassiek

37. Comment #359084 by Macros1980 on April 2, 2009 at 5:33 am

QualiaSoup collaborates a lot with TheraminTrees, who is also awesome. I think they're brothers or something.

This is my favorite of their vids:

Instruction Manual for Life

Other Comments by Macros1980

38. Comment #359093 by Lucas on April 2, 2009 at 5:59 am

Macros - Ah ha, so it's those guys. That vid was posted here some months ago to great acclaim. It's exactly their kind of use of metaphor that I aspire to in my comics (though I even try to go without words).

Other Comments by Lucas

39. Comment #359097 by Prosthetic Head on April 2, 2009 at 6:09 am

I experienced what it talks about a few mins ago, just been told by the same person in the same conversation that "science is wrong because it keeps changing what it says to fit evidence" AND that "scientists are closed minded, they think they know everything" - sigh!
It was a street-preacher, I am really starting to think there is no point what so ever in talking to hardcore mumbo-jumbo mungers, if they don't understand a logical contradiction then you can't ever persuade them of anything or trust anything they present to you.

Other Comments by Prosthetic Head

40. Comment #359106 by diaemus on April 2, 2009 at 6:37 am

This video is simply awsome! The best explanation I ever found on this topic. It will become a must in my classes on the scientific method.

Other Comments by diaemus

41. Comment #359107 by Rich Wiltshir on April 2, 2009 at 6:41 am

Excellent.

Had a muslim trying to convert me a few months ago - emphasising that he couldn't accept not KNOWING how things worked - that god gave him the answers and took this as proof. He failed to digest the observation that my ability to accept my own lack of understanding was an intellectual standpoint whereas his was an emotional one. The logic that his belief was exposed as being independant of intelligent enquiry somewhat upset him.

He missed the opportunity to delve into the emotional aspect of me being willing to accept and embrace my ignorance - not least the implication that I enjoyed being proved wrong whereas he detested the notion for himself (whilst insisting I accept his flawed assertion as valid).

Interesting how the closed mind tortures itself.

I've also been called 'intransigent' because I wouldn't accept a forceful (but flawed) counter argument to a proposition I put forward. And have been called weak for accepting an argument that was superior to the one I'd put forward earlier.

Ain't the human mind wonderful....

Other Comments by Rich Wiltshir

42. Comment #359113 by mitch_486 on April 2, 2009 at 6:57 am

This is the one argument that leads me to inescapable frustration, as several respected colleagues of mine tell me to be more open minded ALL the time.

They then lead me down the path of explaining why I don't believe in God. I then reiterate years of thorough research on the topic and still,they tell me to be more open minded.

I find this extremely unfair.

Other Comments by mitch_486

43. Comment #359115 by dochmbi on April 2, 2009 at 7:02 am

I wish they taught philosophy in public schools.

Other Comments by dochmbi

44. Comment #359141 by SilentMike on April 2, 2009 at 8:29 am

Very well done. Makes the point effectively. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who had this argument many times.

I like.

Other Comments by SilentMike

45. Comment #359151 by Lucas on April 2, 2009 at 8:53 am

Quite right, Rich. That "closed mind tortures itself" bit is, I think, worth exploring further.

Other Comments by Lucas

46. Comment #359307 by Jack Rawlinson on April 2, 2009 at 1:05 pm

And you've all seen his "Evolution" vid, right?

Throw this at the next creationist arsehole you come across.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vss1VKN2rf8

Other Comments by Jack Rawlinson

47. Comment #359376 by StudioLegionXIIII on April 2, 2009 at 4:12 pm

GREAT. By far the best YouTube video I've seen so far.

Other Comments by StudioLegionXIIII

48. Comment #359383 by Goldy on April 2, 2009 at 4:43 pm

Aaaah, the open mind. I see some people have minds so open the winds blew them clean...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/5096919/One-in-10-Americans-still-think-Barack-Obama-is-Muslim.html

Other Comments by Goldy

49. Comment #359482 by ICONIC FREEDOM on April 2, 2009 at 10:13 pm

I no longer argue about the existence of a god to the religious, simply put:

Do I know what the "first cause" was?

No, I do not and neither do you.

You have hope, desire, conjecture, projection, subjective ideas - but you don't know and neither do I, so what?

What I DO KNOW is what FREEDOM is for every human being to decide the direction of his or her life; being accountable (ownership of choice) being response-able (able to respond to the choice) and making each choice at no cost to another person without consent.

THAT I know.

Other Comments by ICONIC FREEDOM

50. Comment #359484 by ICONIC FREEDOM on April 2, 2009 at 10:20 pm

Open-mindedness from the religious is like saying Liberals are liberal - when they are anything but liberal, much like conservatives looking so much like liberals.

Both parties think they "know something" about how others should live their lives, the quality of that life, then seek to control, manipulate and regulate in order to force their personal subjective view - through legislation, law, vote and the courts.

Only the individual knows how his or her life should be lived and must care for self at no cost to others without consent.

Not giving people choice, is simply controlling.

Other Comments by ICONIC FREEDOM