451. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #134825 by annabanana on February 28, 2008 at 8:34 am

Hungarianelephant,

I've also heard that. It appears to have its origin in what our dear Veronique would call "wankery" - pseudoscience. A moment's contemplation of what Jenner got up to should dispel that notion.

Strangely, it seems to be accepted in the veterinary medicine community. I used to work for a vet who practiced with this philosophy. A quick google search confirms.

452. Fleabytes

Comment #134810 by annabanana on February 28, 2008 at 8:25 am

Quetzcoatl-

I'll see it...let's play...what are we playing again?

453. Fleabytes

Comment #134791 by annabanana on February 28, 2008 at 8:07 am

I'll see your badger and raise you two voles and a stoat.

I'll see your badger, voles, and stoat and raise you a lemming.

454. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #134783 by annabanana on February 28, 2008 at 7:54 am

Isn't there a hypothesis that vaccines cause over-stimulation of the immune system which results in autoimmune disorders such as allergies and asthma?

455. Fleabytes

Comment #134768 by annabanana on February 28, 2008 at 7:36 am

Oh! I want house cat!

456. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #134767 by annabanana on February 28, 2008 at 7:35 am

I would also like to note that much of the hesitance towards vaccines stemmed from the religious notion that vaccines caused autism which turned out to be false.

457. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #134761 by annabanana on February 28, 2008 at 7:27 am

The disparity between trial population and patient population means you're more likely to miss an adverse reaction which affects only a small proportion, but the small proportion can multiply out into a relatively large number.

I agree with you entirely here, but another thing to consider is the degree and range of the adverse reactions. If the the adverse reactions tend to be mild and don't cause any major problems, it seems more logical to risk the adverse reaction more than it would be to risk getting HPV and subsequently cervical cancer.

Another thing to consider with vaccines (or any drug for that matter) is that it is nearly impossible to predict the long-term outcomes without delaying approval of the drug or vaccine for a ridiculously long period of time. In an immediate sense, it may not cause any problems, but certain syndromes and problems may develop later down the line as a result.

458. Fleabytes

Comment #134749 by annabanana on February 28, 2008 at 7:06 am

Paul,

I think what they are referring to is that it is listed under "latest news" as opposed to "featured".

459. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #134738 by annabanana on February 28, 2008 at 6:45 am

Epinephrine, have you any proof or reason to believe that the vaccine is not safe? I'm not trying to imply that we should blindly trust the pharmaceuticals industry (don't get me started...), but as far as I know, the vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective.

460. Fleabytes

Comment #134734 by annabanana on February 28, 2008 at 6:37 am

Actually he is. It is his website and he is ultimately and legally responsible for what goes on here. Having run a website I know what that involves. Furthermore if he (or Josh) stuck to their own rules and removed all the irrelevant and off thread posts it would make it a much better site â€" never mind all the swearing and abuse. And if what you say is true, why was I banned several times and why were over 300 posts removed from the original thread?

I cannot speak on the legality issues surrounding running a website since I genuinely do not know. I can also not speak about how or why Richard and/or Josh decide to ban certain people from responding on the boards (although, Richard has already responded to you regarding this issue), but what I can say is that most of the people on this site do not just issue unwarranted insults. It is simply a response when they feel provoked. And what is the objection to swearing? These are words like any other. Sure they hold certain negative connotations, but many words and phrases that are not considered swearing hold just as much of a negative connotation if not more. That being said, you already know my opinion on how you carefully word your subtle insults whether you agree with me or not. Also, I have read TGD and I suppose how you interpret his language and tone is directly correlated with your position regarding theism and certain religions. When I read TGD, I was an atheist-leaning agnostic who had long since rejected the tenets of my Christian upbringing. I was not personally insulted at how he worded things, but I suppose I could see how you might. However, being that you are an adult, it would seem to me that if you thought Richard was being senselessly insulting with his words that you would have labeled this as childish and NOT resulted to the same tactics you accuse him of employing in your own response. Obviously, this is an emotional issue for you...one you have built your whole life around, I understand how you could be upset, but that's why it's appropriate to respond to something like that as far removed as possible. Or perhaps something else is the case. Perhaps, you, like Richard, didn't think that your language was particularly offensive since you are of the belief that your views are the right ones (as is Richard). Although, I believe the former to be the case.

Additionally, even if you were only giving the same sort of responses as is the tone you interpreted Richard to have in TGD, is it appropriate to carry that tone and extend it to others with whom you have not ever previously spoken? I don't think so. I have tried very earnestly to choose my words carefully when speaking with you and to leave the emotionally charged phrases behind and yet you still say things like the following that seems to convey a particular tone (correct me if I am wrongly assuming that you were being snide):

Try listening

I am listening very hard. As you can see from my above analysis, I try very hard to explore the meanings behind people's words and actions. I truly and earnestly try to imagine how and why people can believe the things that they do. This has played a major theme in my life. Genuinely, I and probably many others on this site, have a very hard time imagining what it must be like to believe in all of the tenets of a certain faith as we have very carefully, tediously, and conscionably rejected our own. No matter how many books you write or how long you come to this site and post, I will never be able to truly comprehend your faith and the same is probably true of you; no matter how many times each atheist here tells you their personal reasons (and note that there are many, not just one!), you will probably never ever understand it or comprehend it.

When an atheist says to you "you don't have any acceptable proof or evidence," this means nothing to you. When you say to an atheist "my faith is all that I need and the proof is within my personal experience and the Bible," well, conversely, this means nothing to the atheist. As Richard Morgan so eloquently explained above, we are speaking different languages to one another.

461. Evolving Mistakes

Comment #134258 by annabanana on February 27, 2008 at 1:35 pm

new development in virusology

Try virology, maybe? Ok, sorry, I just had to point that out.

462. Fleabytes

Comment #134253 by annabanana on February 27, 2008 at 1:22 pm

Wow, Diacanu, I think that's the longest post I've ever seen from you! But I certainly agree with you...I think this is why the dialogue between theists and atheists is so strained...it is difficult for one side to comprehend the line of thinking of the other...

463. Richard Dawkins on five of his favorite books

Comment #134248 by annabanana on February 27, 2008 at 1:16 pm

I'm so glad to see that a couple of others have listed The Master and Margarita...the chapter on Jesus is hilarious!

464. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #134223 by annabanana on February 27, 2008 at 12:30 pm

Teratornis,

I don't think al-rawandi is an online junkie. If you notice, he usually only posts during certain hours of the weekdays...i.e. while he's a work.

I think there are many of us that come to RD.net while at work to break up the monotony.

465. Fleabytes

Comment #134106 by annabanana on February 27, 2008 at 9:04 am

They seem to all have momentarily disappeared...

466. Fleabytes

Comment #134075 by annabanana on February 27, 2008 at 7:43 am

mlearnedfriend,

As Steve says, there are particular ways of wording things which are certain to elicit an emotional response. David must be aware of this since he's done it repeatedly and people have continually pointed this out to him.

Although, being that the fallacies of his religion have also been pointed out to him repeatedly and he still doesn't get it...maybe he honestly doesn't know...

467. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #134040 by annabanana on February 27, 2008 at 6:51 am

Richard, have you checked your PMs lately?

468. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #134026 by annabanana on February 27, 2008 at 6:38 am

hehehe...

469. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #134018 by annabanana on February 27, 2008 at 6:32 am

Did someone call?

470. Fleabytes

Comment #133988 by annabanana on February 27, 2008 at 5:51 am

Besides which, if you are genuinely concerned about nastiness etc do you think it is nice, generous and open spirited to allow people on this message board to tell me to F...off, issue death threats (even as jokes) and engage in the kind of meaningless invective that is so prevalent here?

Richard is no one's keeper here. We all come here on our own and he cannot be held responsible for what others say.

You must also admit that you have a particular way of wording things that immediately ruffles one's feathers. If you used language that didn't instigate such negative feelings in the posters, you most likely would get a quite different tone of response.

471. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133673 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 1:54 pm

I think you have a good point on the Stockholm Syndrome, Diacanu...

Humans like patterns in their brains and in life. So rituals of religions are appealing.

EDIT: By brain I meant mind...mine is clearly not working well right now for some reason...

472. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133649 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 1:09 pm

Well I guess they can do away with weight classes in boxing now.

That isn't what I was suggesting at all. In a sport like boxing where all things (including skill level) are assumed to be equal except for weight, then there should still be weight classes. BUT, when there is a larger guy (or girl) with a lower level of skill and a smaller guy (or girl) with a higher level of skill, a mismatch in size might be appropriate.

473. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133630 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 12:49 pm

No one here is overcoming any laws of physics or suggesting that Bruce Lee did. Simply saying that depending upon respective skill levels of fighters, a smaller (and potentially even significantly smaller) one may indeed "win" the fight.

474. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133610 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 12:34 pm

al-rawandi,

I do think you have some personal bias you're extending into your argument...

Of course, being that I'm tiny, I suppose I do as well...

Oh well, corylus, we'll form our own outsiders' club.

475. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133596 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 12:20 pm

Damn, I didn't get a mention, Richard?

Well, I guess I did forget all about that PM I owed you.

476. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133554 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 11:12 am

Who ever said I was puny? or a girly girl for that matter? I do triathlons, I wouldn't consider that puny or girly girlish...

At any rate, Canada's too cold. SC is almost too cold in the winter...but thanks for the offer.

477. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133539 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 10:29 am

Haha, thanks Geoff. I think I am probably going to move soon...I don't know if it will be to the U.K., but thanks for the offer.

478. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133526 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 9:44 am

Really, Frankus?

479. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133472 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 8:14 am

It's ok, Steve. Don't worry about it, please. I think we've all had our fair share of insensitivities and rude remarks from outsiders. Not to mention, I'd already had my feathers ruffled that day, so I was feeling particularly sensitive.

480. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133465 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 8:06 am

There are just SO MANY of these books, it's ridiculous. Fortunately, for us, quantity doesn't equal quality.

481. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133460 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 8:05 am

Yikes.

Sandwich, anyone?

Ok, I'll get my coat...

482. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133455 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 7:53 am

Oh yeah?

Talk nerdy to me, al-rawandi. ;-)

Hahaha

483. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133443 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 7:37 am

Hey, punctuate this!

(ok, I haven't really got anything for you to puctuate)

484. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133433 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 7:24 am

Steve,

So you'll have minty fresh breath when you tell us all to get back on topic?

485. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133424 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 7:15 am

Oh yes, I forgot...back to fattening my self up...

486. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133422 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 7:14 am

Irate's apparently turned into a sheeple, too...

487. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133418 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 7:12 am

You forgot your question mark. ;-)

488. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133416 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 7:11 am

Ummm....what was the topic again?

489. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133408 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 7:03 am

Lots of sugar, no milk (dairy allergy :-()

490. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133400 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 6:52 am

mother is religious and conservative.

I'm sorry. You're on your own, Epeeist. Good luck with that.

491. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133395 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 6:49 am

al-rawandi, I didn't know we were playing jeopardy...

492. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133393 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 6:46 am

AshtonBlack- "sheeple"...I like it. May I use this term?

493. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133389 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 6:43 am

Tea is always good. I have several cups a day, myself.

494. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133377 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 6:31 am

Don't forget, Huckabee's from Arkansas, too. Although, if you start in on Huckabee, you may as well go ahead with Tyler's suggestion.

495. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133376 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 6:30 am

He might use your name but I doubt that he'd be able to spell it.

Ah, yes. Too many 'n's and 'a's.

496. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133371 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 6:22 am

He'd probably try to use the vomit reflex as evidence for the existence of God.

Yes, but unintelligibly. I would only know to what he was referring if he used my name.

497. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133362 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 6:06 am

Epeeist, it depends on whether they're stereotypical Southerners or not, do you know?

If so...you can always go with the standard hunting and fishing talk.

498. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133352 by annabanana on February 26, 2008 at 5:37 am

rod, I don't know how many books these fleas are actually selling, but I do know that I went to a mainstream bookstore last night and it was absolutely overflowing with Christian books and it took me 15 minutes to find the science section! I was really annoyed about this! Of course, I live in the Bible Belt of the US right now so I don't know if they stock books according to some sort of demographic. (I almost vomited when I saw Dinesh's What's So Great About Christianity)

499. Richard Dawkins on five of his favorite books

Comment #133194 by annabanana on February 25, 2008 at 7:45 pm

Thanks Steve! Corruption and favoritism are so much fun...until the theists are in charge, at least.

500. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133016 by annabanana on February 25, 2008 at 2:11 pm

Not today. Tomorrow, perhaps, quetz.

Wyatt, I think perhaps Richard was simply pointing out that there are horrific stories in the Bible from which many people say morals should be and are derived. There are many Christians who believe that morality comes strictly from the Bible. Just because you don't happen to be someone who believes that morals are derived from the Bible doesn't mean that the argument is a straw man; it simply means that it doesn't apply to you, just like it doesn't apply to me.