451. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #219048 by Dr Doctor on July 26, 2008 at 7:26 am

So in order to rid the thread of candyman, we need to talk about iniquities.

Thanks for the cure.

452. Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

Comment #219047 by Dr Doctor on July 26, 2008 at 7:24 am

Good grief.

453. PZ Myers Desecrates a Eucharist

Comment #219034 by Dr Doctor on July 26, 2008 at 6:34 am

Ahhhh Monty Python.

I've heard it called "The armpittery of British Comedy".

Sterling stuff.

454. Toward a Type 1 civilization

Comment #219032 by Dr Doctor on July 26, 2008 at 6:28 am

Ah I forgot, Iran is the new bogeyman.

455. Texas Fiction Science

Comment #219011 by Dr Doctor on July 26, 2008 at 3:53 am

Alun ap Rhisiart

If only the resulting teaching would be that honest.

456. Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

Comment #219002 by Dr Doctor on July 26, 2008 at 2:17 am

"You poor child, if the atrocities of the war between Judaism and Islam are so unbearable why don't you enjoy yourself looking at some fine babes on a pornographic website instead?"

Missing something here, is that all the choice is on the internet? You either have to look (without warning) at appalling images of one kind or another?

Don't get the point you are making.

457. Texas Fiction Science

Comment #219000 by Dr Doctor on July 26, 2008 at 1:51 am

I loved Austin when I was there in 1999 and 2000. Texas is a beautiful state, until you get to Houston.

On topic, I have to say it looks to me like the fundies are winning the important victories all over.

458. PZ Myers Desecrates a Eucharist

Comment #218998 by Dr Doctor on July 26, 2008 at 1:45 am

It is sort of funny, but I'm a bit wafered out.

Cue Mr Creosote jokes.

459. Toward a Type 1 civilization

Comment #218720 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 4:10 pm

Type 1 civlisation

Totalitarian, everyone does what they are told or else, we harness geothermal, solar, etc etc etc.

Now where was the requirement for all of the "liberal democracy" stuff again?

*scratches head*

It may BE required, I just haven't seen any argument to explain why.

I get the impression if this was 5-10 years ago the word "multimedia" would have been thrown in.

460. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #218703 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 3:48 pm

Well I suppose that could be considered an improvement.

461. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #218697 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 3:45 pm

Oh for goodness sake. There is no "one" Turing Test! Go read up!

462. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #218691 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 3:39 pm

Comment #218683

Much as I hate pointing people at Wikipedia, I'm too knackered to bother doing anything else.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_test

Start at the top, read on. Not checked it in depth myself but the titles cover the relevant information. The anthropomorphic variant that Turing proposed was the third version of the test.

463. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #218679 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 3:31 pm

Oooh are we going to get into a discussion about the various Turing *Tests* as a test of intelligence, a test of conciousness or a test of anthropomorphic characteristics?

If so, can I have some more sleep first?

Edit: Forgot the ;)

464. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #218630 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 2:53 pm

Errmmm Steve

"I have no doubt that Teratornis is intelligent."

"if it passed the Turing test, ...to be totally honest, I think it has failed that test. "

That just doesn't add up. You can't hold two mutually exclusive opinions without being religous.

465. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #218617 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 2:48 pm

"but it might be solidarity as I recall pissing you off a few days ago."

You didn't piss me off, no matter how hard you might have tried. You just, to my mind, lost a massive swathe of ground to a worthless troll at a critical point. You didn't agree, we had a brief exchange of heated views, we moved on.

"But that Avatar doesn't seem like it holds grudges (now the Richard Reid...)"

It is Alistair McGrath meeting Richard Dawkins, a still I cribbed from the YouTube video. He does bear grudges, I just mercilessly take the piss for a few days then get bored. I know my weaknesses.

As for what I message someone, I only mentioned it here because he hasn't picked it up yet and I don't particularly want to drag that discussion on here in order to hold it.

Please return to your normally scheduled programming.

466. Toward a Type 1 civilization

Comment #218606 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 2:43 pm

I think this is too glib.

Whilst the examples of Type 1 might be sufficient from a detectability point of view, it doesn't meet the definition of:

"Type 1 can harness all of the energy of its home planet;"

Compare that with his example:

"Type 1.0: Globalism that includes worldwide wireless Internet access, with all knowledge digitized and available to everyone. A completely global economy with free markets in which anyone can trade with anyone else without interference from states or governments. A planet where all states are democracies in which everyone has the franchise."

What the effing heck does that have to do with it? A type 1 civilisation is one that CAN harness all of the energy of a planet. That is all.

The articles sayes "we need" and then does not explain the hurdles, or any rationale at all!

To me, at first reading, this is a very poor article. It is either made so by the fact I have a very poor brain, or he has been forced to make too many cuts for space allowance to make the article coherent.

Bah, humbug.

467. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #218583 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 2:31 pm

"For example, some people equate their religious beliefs with the promise that they will reunite with their dead loved ones. Questioning their faith, then, may trigger all the same territorial/defensive emotions as an attack on their loved ones.

One way to gain some insight into how those other people feel is to note our own emotional distress when someone has the gall to question our conviction of our personal perfection. "

I agree totally with this. The problem is that when people are clearly getting high on das Ich, empathy goes out the window. If there really is such a thing as a type-A personality, then that has to be a symptom and an inevitable side-effect is hypocrisy in behaviour and in outlook. It can end no other way.

Or that could just be complete psychobabble. Who knows.

Pop-corn all round.

On a seperate note physicist, I've sent you a private message. Didn't want to clutter up the flame war with my ramblings.

Well, not too many of them anyhow.

468. Red hot enlightenment led me to believe in one fewer god

Comment #218520 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 1:50 pm

Gussets, for example.

469. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #218517 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 1:48 pm

When you read to reinforce your prejudices you should never be surprised that your prejudices get reinforced.

470. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #218425 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 12:34 pm

"You spout a lot of bullshit,"
"...or rather imply this by saying TWP is 'more honest' than I am."
"all symptoms of what? I think you get it now."
"I don't label everyone "mentally ill" and I don't intimidate everyone who disagrees with me"
"I have a different socialization from you or anyone else."
"I grew up around parents who are highly intellectual who both came from highly competitve families. My socialization was centered around intellectual debate and one upsmanship."

Priceless, just priceless. More popcorn anyone?

471. MnIndy interview: Unrepentant science-heathen PZ Myers still intends to prove 'this cracker is nothing'

Comment #218383 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 10:50 am

I think I've mastered the pigeon eyes though!

472. MnIndy interview: Unrepentant science-heathen PZ Myers still intends to prove 'this cracker is nothing'

Comment #218369 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 10:16 am

McGrath emulator engaged.

I think you raise several, uh, interesting, uh points. I think what I would like say is, uh, crackers when seen, uh through the prism of Christianity that uh....

[some two hours pass]

So, uh, in conclusion, uh I would say that as an atheist it was, uh, the study of evolutionary biology that led me inextricably to the conclusion, uh, that Jesus Christ is our Lord.

[taps microphone]
Is this on?

473. MnIndy interview: Unrepentant science-heathen PZ Myers still intends to prove 'this cracker is nothing'

Comment #218321 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 8:30 am

This is an incident that the wider Catholic community will want to be forgotten about quickly. Expect to see it barely mentioned by everyone but the Catholic League unless PZ gets fired.

If it was to have a genuine effect of birthing reason, it would need to be followed up with successive similar traumatic events (for the blind-faith believer).

474. MnIndy interview: Unrepentant science-heathen PZ Myers still intends to prove 'this cracker is nothing'

Comment #218215 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 4:29 am

I think he proved something, I feel it strongly. I've just no idea what it was.

How religious am I?

475. MnIndy interview: Unrepentant science-heathen PZ Myers still intends to prove 'this cracker is nothing'

Comment #218203 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 4:13 am

Does he need to prove anything?

476. Good Science Writers: Richard Dawkins

Comment #218202 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 4:11 am

Decius

Do I really need to add smileys to my comments for people to notice I am mucking about?

477. Good Science Writers: Richard Dawkins

Comment #218191 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 4:00 am

Right, he has had his 15 minutes and 13 seconds to reply in, I vote we didn't pee him off.

Problem solved.

478. Good Science Writers: Richard Dawkins

Comment #218176 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 2:24 am

OK, I think I can settle this:

Dear Prof. Dawkins,

Did we really pee you off, or were you being tongue in cheek?

479. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #218153 by Dr Doctor on July 25, 2008 at 12:52 am

"Incidentally, I'd like to publicly apologise to Dr Doctor for my somewhat irate responses to his post on this matter. I can get inappropriately defensive in a discussion."

There was no need, but I appreciate it nonetheless. Nice to encounter a proper gentleman!

480. Historian predicts the end of 'science superpowers'

Comment #218145 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 11:28 pm

By which time it was too late because by the time the Soviet internal economy and scientific establishment crawled out from underneath Lysenko's jackboot economically and politically the "West" had the USSR cornered.

Frankly I think the diminishing influence of the USA (if it happens) will be a good thing. The world needs better balance between interests, and this will hopefully make the US foreign affairs less strident and shrill.

Especially if it continues to head towards becoming a de-facto theocracy.

481. Good Science Writers: Richard Dawkins

Comment #218144 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 11:23 pm

"I now see that Richard may have asked us about the title in the same way his wife might have asked him if "this dress makes me look fat." If so, I did not catch that, and withdraw my previous comments."

Having re-read the thread I think Richard was having a little jest with us. Picture him writing his post with an exasperated grin and I think that might be the right tone. Oftentimes he writes something I don't get first time around, especially humour. It is always the same with very clever people, their humour operates at a higher level too. I hope so anyway, I'd be mortified if I'd offended the guy on his own site!

"this dress makes me look fat."

As for that one, I always reply "No, it doesn't, it was the last two weeks of bingeing on Pizza dear.".

(I give spontaneous compliments enough without having to respond to every fishing expedition)

482. Historian predicts the end of 'science superpowers'

Comment #217641 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 1:39 pm

Homeopathy. Alternative medicine. Pot. Kettle. Black. Nuff said.

483. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #217635 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 1:31 pm

Donahue is an idiot. Doesn't he realise that PZ Myers has already figured that out and that is just the reason why he demonstrated non-bias by "desecrating" the God Delusion and the Koran?

If the University takes action against PZ Myers, it will be appealed and there will be grounds.

Smart man, PZ.

484. Historian predicts the end of 'science superpowers'

Comment #217539 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 12:20 pm

The Soviet Union was seriously damaged early on by bad science. Read up on Trofim Lysenko.

485. Historian predicts the end of 'science superpowers'

Comment #217469 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 11:26 am

I guess the historian was looking in the rear view mirror.

486. Cardinal accuses Anglican Communion of 'spiritual Alzheimer's'

Comment #217438 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 10:54 am

mixmastergaz:

"It's a silly example, but I was disturbed to see Borat leading a group of apparently normal people in a rousing chorus of "Throw the Jew down the well" in the recent film. Very funny, but also not funny at all. Perhaps it is the fact that relative peace and prosperity (for some) leads to complacency on these issues. "

I agree. SBC was basically hiding behind comedy to say something incredibly offensive about a given demographic. When pulled up on bullshit like this comedians invariably use the "irony" defence (oh! It is all about the media reaction and modern stereotypes and mocking them).

No it isn't, it is about perpetuating them, and then it validates such cretinous "jokes" to be used by your average islamiphobic/arabiphobic/other ethiciphobic moron to hide behind.

This isn't to say that the Jew Hating (in fact anything out-group hating) aspect isn't there in most cultures, but what bugs me is even on this site supposedly a clear thinking oasis it we see daily demonstrations of such oafishness and unsophisticated thinking (if you can call it thinking) who then cite "comedy" and other excuses to avoid being called on their BS themselves.

Steve (Zarbi) found himself losing his faith a little in human nature over the cracker incident. I find the closet racism masquerading as religionism far more depressing and disturbing.

But until people are willing to look in the mirror you hold up to their behaviour, there is no point in engaging them in dialogue about it.

The same goes of comedians whether they are making jokes about mother-in-laws, the Irish, blacks, Jews et al. There is something peculariarly arrogant about such "comedy", and no matter who does it (say, Jew about Jew) it just perpetuates the stereotype and desensitises the audience.

Coming back to the church, I think that is what a lot of religious ritual and dogma is about, desensitisation to incredible and unpleasant claims.

If I hear the argument "It is about challenging your preconceptions" trotted out one more time to excuse bad prejudice comedy I might have to put my fist through a wall.

If you excuse it in one direction, it excuses it in another. This is the reality.

487. Cardinal accuses Anglican Communion of 'spiritual Alzheimer's'

Comment #217423 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 10:37 am

Minimising the damage caused by the last death rattle of religion is shaping up to be the great battle of our time.

488. Cardinal accuses Anglican Communion of 'spiritual Alzheimer's'

Comment #217337 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 8:23 am

I think you aren't being paranoid, I think you have hit the nail on the head.

Anti-Jew sentiment is on the march again in the Christian world.

It is almost as if large swathes of the human race are now so removed from the horrors of death, war, slavery and mass slaughter that the concepts are devalued for them.

489. Cardinal accuses Anglican Communion of 'spiritual Alzheimer's'

Comment #217321 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 7:42 am

mixmastergaz

I think Illuminati has much older roots than that, but I think is Bavarian in origin and probably was used as part of Hitler's raging paranoia against the Jews.

It is some 20 years since I read a translation of Mien Kampf, and I would not willingly read it again!

It is strange how all this Jew-hating (and indeed anything other than Catholic hating) drivel all ties up together.

490. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #217307 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 7:15 am

I see where you are coming from now.

Yes, it is.

491. Cardinal accuses Anglican Communion of 'spiritual Alzheimer's'

Comment #217303 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 7:09 am

It is where they get the studs is what you want to think about.

492. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #217299 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 6:59 am

"i call myself atheist, not AN atheist. its a bit like how im a bit shorter than average but im not A short. "

I think that "You atheists" is broadly acceptable English and is equivalent to "you that are atheist". Although, for obvious reasons I'm no expert on English.

I don't see what your point has to do with it to be honest. Please explain?

493. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #217235 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 4:48 am

"many of you guys work that way"

What about the gals?

494. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #217233 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 4:47 am

#868

The answer is "Not all of us", but to me there is some truth in that. If anyone is self deluding enough to subscribe to a religion I automatically doubt their intellectual prowess.

Is that wrong?

495. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #217230 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 4:44 am

"Yeah, this atheist doesn't believe in the supernatural, and by extension, any deities, but just "God", with a captial letter, indicating the christian god.

You could say that to a hindu, and it would be accurate that they don't believe that, but it wouldn't make them atheists. "

I don't understand your point. I'd agree with you if I said "You people who don't believe in God are all atheists."

The sentence I used did not attempt to describe the whole gamut of the Atheist experience, just one aspect.

496. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #217229 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 4:43 am

"Not with that phrase, no, but you get what I was trying to say, I hope. "

Of course, but such terms are quite useful if you want to distinguish yourself as not being part of a group.

I've just thought, I've no idea what the collective noun for Atheists is.

497. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #217223 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 4:34 am

You atheists don't believe in God.

Problem?

498. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #217217 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 4:03 am

"If you follow what I write, you will know that I insist (much to the occasional annoyance of others) that to use phrases such as "you Christians" is inappropriate. Please return the courtesy. We are individuals. if you wish to discuss the views of specific people, please name them. "

I'm not sure that appeals to courtesy will have any effect Steve. The over-respect for feelings is something we have crossed swords on before but lets not go there.

The real reason I'm replying is about "you Christians". I see no problem with that as a defining term, so long as it is applied to the common aspects of Christian theology and the core tenets that all Christians claim to subscribe to.

In the same way, "you Atheists" is an acceptable term to describe people who adopt the position of atheism so long as it is used to describe the common attribute - lack of belief in spirits, gods etc.

(I'm making a general point, rather than addressing the specifics of this particular spat)

Perhaps something to discuss on your blog?

499. Cardinal accuses Anglican Communion of 'spiritual Alzheimer's'

Comment #217216 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 3:55 am

I thought, over lunch (guess my timezone), that I might have misjudged the article so I read it again.

"aided and abetted by well-known secret sects, Satanic groups and New Age movements" that revealed the "many ugly heads of the hideous anti-God monster". "

Apart from the oxymoron of well-known secret sects and the amazing paranoia that this reveals in this mans' mind, is he referring to the Illuminati conspiracy (guff)? Given it is "well-known", we shouldn't have much difficulty figuring it out. Anyone got any ideas?

I feel the need to listen to Root Of All Evil while I work again.

500. Cardinal accuses Anglican Communion of 'spiritual Alzheimer's'

Comment #217185 by Dr Doctor on July 24, 2008 at 2:39 am

It is a useful political mechanism. Get your underlings to say the controversial statement so if it backfires the organisational head can "tell them off" and say "they don't represent the organisation" with no damage done to the body politic.