Comments by Laurie Fraser

Comment #290194 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 7:32 pm

Comment #290193 by Brian English

Make sure you have a box of matches with you, Brian.

Comment #290190 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 7:27 pm

Comment #290180 by Fuller

Perfectly and concisely said, Fuller. Likewise with the anti-fluoridation crowd. Next we'll have the anti-soap crowd.

At my daughter's playgroup many years ago, a woman came to give a talk on the evils of "Big Pharma", and declared that "germs" were a fictitious conspiracy, and that true healing could only be carried out by practitioners such as herself who were trained in the art of "aura counselling". It caused a bit of consternation in the group when I called her a charlatan and told her to get her idiotic trinkets and fuck off.

703. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #290184 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 7:21 pm

Secondsoprano - I had a JW argue that because we can't see atoms, their existence was at least as tenuous as God's. I just had to belt him!

704. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #290182 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 7:14 pm

Comment #290181 by Frankus1122

I think DP's gone out for a smoko, Frankus.

705. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #290176 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 7:00 pm

You're probably right, Goldy - nobody would be silly enough to write stuff like that on this forum, surely?

Wouldn't they? ;)

706. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #290168 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 6:55 pm

Comment #290160 by jgirolamo

Have you seen the wind? No only the result of it. Do we understand how life is created? No. We know that an egg is fertilized and then begins to separate, How does that just start to happen? There are many things we believe by faith and because we see the result of it being real. The same with the supernatural, we see life, created, people healed, lives changed beyond our understanding, love. Why should these not point to God.

jgirolamo - you have the temerity to come onto this site, which is populated, generally, by people with superlative critical thinking skills, and believe that trite, asinine, infantile statements like the above will actually be received as "argument." You have a great deal of work to do yet, mate.

707. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289653 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 3:11 am

Well, I held out a bit of an olive branch to Bernstein - he hasn't responded, so I'm not convinced he has a "pure" agenda. Anyway, late here; goodnight all.

708. 'Probably' the best atheist bus campaign ever

Comment #289641 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 2:34 am

I've said this before, Roger, but one of my favourite images is the one of Methuselah, who, if you're into biblical genealogies like I, died at the age of 969 in the very same year of the Flood, hanging on to the gunwhale of the Ark with Noah kicking his knuckles, saying "Fuck off, Grandad - I already told you you can't come with us."

A nasty piece of work, indeed.

709. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289633 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 2:12 am

Comment #289628 by Bernstein

I think there is much room for common ground here, Bernstein. I am prepared to concede that atheism does not necessarily imply a concern for human rights - a quite obvious and trivial point, perhaps. But I would ask you to concede that, for many atheists, concern for human rights - all human rights - is a vital part of our program as rationalists, as well, and that our atheism is, if you like, a by-product of our rationalism. As someone who has been an activist in various areas of human rights, without ever being a "hard-line" supporter of gay rights, I still see those rights as fundamental to any emergent civil society. I'm sure that you, too, would feel empathy with the prosecution of the rights of any disenfranchised minority.

710. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289629 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 1:57 am

Philip, and Quetz - I want to say that with guys of your perspicacity, logic and good hearts around, at least one old bloke feels much more comfortable about the future. Well said, both of you.

711. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289620 by Laurie Fraser on November 24, 2008 at 1:43 am

Comment #289614 by Quetzalcoatl

You are wise beyond your years, Quetz. Brilliant comment.

712. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289487 by Laurie Fraser on November 23, 2008 at 7:27 pm

Titania, PM for you.

713. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289432 by Laurie Fraser on November 23, 2008 at 5:50 pm

Phew! Never get a Bluey riled up, Bernstein!

714. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289393 by Laurie Fraser on November 23, 2008 at 5:01 pm

Comment #289383 by Titania

Hey Titania, did you know that, in Australia, all redheads are called "Blue"?

715. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289391 by Laurie Fraser on November 23, 2008 at 4:57 pm

Comment #289389 by Bernstein

Nonsense, Bernstein. Most atheists are "rational", in the sense that they try to arrive at conclusions, about a host of issues, based on reason and evidence. It is therefore quite natural to be interested in why society discriminates, and to be appalled by discrimination. There is no "hidden agenda" in hoping for a society free of sexism, racism, homophobia, etc.

716. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289385 by Laurie Fraser on November 23, 2008 at 4:45 pm

Comment #289379 by Bonzai

Pretty much spot on, Bonz. I really like Saul as a writer, mainly for his courage in the "grand ideas" department. Voltaire's Bastards is a flawed masterpiece, in my opinion - although I'd be cautious about ascribing "straw man" to the thrust of his thesis. I think he sets out a definition of "reason" which, although unwieldy, is suitable for his task, which is to expose the morbidity of modern "rationalism". It's all in the title, methinks -bastards.

717. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289369 by Laurie Fraser on November 23, 2008 at 4:11 pm

It's the "uppity blacks" syndrome, Steve. Once you start giving those homosexuals any kind of rights approaching equality, they'll want the keys to the city. As one poor imbecile on youtube said, "See what happens? First they wanted to sit at the front of the bus, now one of 'em's President."

718. Just a little jab, won't hurt

Comment #289354 by Laurie Fraser on November 23, 2008 at 3:43 pm

We had a mobile clinic come to our college last year to give any and all young women the HPV jab. I had the job of going around rounding up girls and sending them down to the library, where the clinic had set up. Most of the girls were quite happy and went off to get the jab; a few declined, primarily because they "hated needles." A couple changed their minds when I pointed out what cervical cancer might do to them. I had no reports of adverse reactions from the 50 or so girls who were treated. Most of the girls have had the follow-up.

Now, that's what I call a "public service."

719. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288601 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 4:12 am

I know for a fact, Titania, that Steve hasn't slept for about three years! Look at that avatar.

720. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288592 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 3:58 am

We got it, Steve, we got it....bloody hell, it was lame, though :)

721. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288590 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 3:55 am

Titania - i just happen to have wombats, and at least one platypus, on my property.The platypus are rarely observable. I've been here 25 years and have only seen one once. However, we do have echidnas, wallabies, lots of different types of lizards, and brown snakes, black snakes carpet snakes, golden-crowned snakes, bandy-bandy snakes, death adders, tiger snakes and funnel-web spiders. Bring your nephew!

722. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288585 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 3:35 am

Interesting link, Titania. The Tamar wallaby is a small species found on Kangaroo Island. I got up close and personal with a couple of them earlier this year when I was down there, got a couple of DNA samples off them as Leigh and I were barbecuing them. OK, OK, joking.

723. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288583 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 3:26 am

They're not fucking kangaroos, Roger. They are pussies. Don't talk to me about kangaroos. Aussie kangaroos are twelve feet high and destroy Volvos. Trust me.

724. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288580 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 3:23 am

Comment #288576 by Titania

Treasure THAT moment, Titania. I had an epiphany when I was about his age... forgotten what it was all about, now. Might have had something to do with T.S. Eliot.... Hollow Men, maybe...

725. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288573 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 3:11 am

Was it Feynman who said that "if you think you understand quantum physics you don't really understand quantum physics"?

726. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288568 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 3:07 am

Jebus, JanChan - you're a regular polymath: biology, climatology, economics, history, quantum physics (I hope you'll specialise in Q.C.D.); we're going to be looking for great things from you, young man.

727. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288566 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 3:04 am

Whoo, Titania - 20 degrees F is -10 in my language; I would call that cold unto death.

Comment #288562 by Steve Zara
Droll, Steve, very droll.

728. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288547 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 2:36 am

Hi Titania - interesting evening, wot? Nicely said, by the way. Don't worry about me - atheist jon's just being ironic. Good on him - I was way over the top in my condemnation of JanChan last night, but cest la vie; we're all grown-ups. Most of us can take a bit of abuse. For goodness' sake, I've had experts abuse the fuck out of me on this site, as you know!

729. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288539 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 2:26 am

JanChan - every country runs a trade deficit, from time to time. There is nothing intrinsically harmful in this, unless it is allowed to run up to a considerable percentage of GNP without putting in place domestic recovery measures in economic activity. The Bush administration has been particularly guilty of allowing the trade deficit to blow out. Now why do you think that might be? (This is not a hard question, BTW.)

730. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288526 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 2:05 am

Why is the deficit ballooning, JanChan? Is it because the U.S. government has borrowed to put into place visionary infrastructure in areas such as education, health-care, communications, innovative technologies, and the like? No - in fact, the deficit has blown out precisely because successive U.S. federal governments have not done these things, with the result of declining manufacturing and high-tech industries, an education system which is a laughing-stock in the developed world, and the movement of trade ending up heavily in the favour of the Asian Tigers. The people of the U.S. are now paying for their fiscally stupid governmental decisions of over forty years. They were content to live in a fool's paradise of tax-breaks and Reaganomics. The chickens have come home to roost, and unless the U.S. re-invents itself, and its ridiculous attitudes towards wealth disparity, it will continue its slide, Rome-like, into oblivion.

731. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288517 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 1:55 am

Actually, JanChan, increasing taxes and minimum wages, as well as running a reasonable deficit, make perfect sense. See if you can explain to me why I might be wrong here.

732. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288515 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 1:52 am

Comment #288512 by Bonzai

Oh, absolutely, Bonz. There is no possibility of the U.S. having a government that could even vaguely be described as "left". It's conservatism all the way down. Or, rather, the Democrats' conservatism vs the Rethuglicans' right-wing extremism.

733. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288509 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 1:46 am

Funny how people equate the Democrats with "liberal" ideology. The Democrats are one of the most conservative, right-wing political parties on earth. They make the Australian Labor Party look like communist revolutionaries.

734. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288501 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 1:40 am

Comment #288491 by Steve Zara

As we've discussed several times before, Steve - the right-wing nut-job is a particular species that went off the evolutionary rails. One could say it is the living proof of unintelligent design. Mind you, I'll give JanChan the benefit of youthful vigour - if he's lucky he has a chance of divesting himself of his idiocy and learning from the wise (that's us, Jan).

735. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288492 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 1:35 am

Oh shuddup Fraser you sarcastic moron

That's more like it, JanChan; I love being abused by my betters.

736. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288486 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 1:31 am

As I said, stop it at the source, stop giving the stupid working men so much money.

Correct, JanChan. Keep them at poverty level. Money's not good for them; it gives them airs beyond their station. While we're at it, why not put their children back down the mines for fourteen hours a day?

Simple, we paid for foreign goods, which factories owned by American capitalists, who in a long overseas export chain get back our money. Although a significant portion of the money leaks out too.

Ah - should have seen it earlier. JanChan IS isthatclear.

737. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288477 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 1:23 am

A useful set of resources for understanding 19th and 20th century economics is John Ralston Saul's Voltaire's Bastards; The Unconscious Civilization; The Collapse of Globalism. I suggest you read them all, JanChan.

738. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288470 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 1:16 am

Are we going to learn something about economics from you now, JanChan? This I've gotta see.

739. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288459 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 1:05 am

I post here under my own name, and I am happy for anyone to quote what I say

No, I'm Spartacus!

740. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288449 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 12:55 am

your education is literary the butt of education jokes

Nice!

741. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288446 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 12:53 am

Comment #288443 by AtheistJon

Yippee yi yo ki yay.

742. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288445 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 12:51 am

Denying ACC is the equivalent of denying evolution. The body of science which, in an interdisciplinary fashion, proposes human activity as the strongest candidate for global warming is vast. Read the findings of that august (and rather conservative) body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Thousands of scientists from around the world who have done more research on CC than anyone else cannot be easily discounted by some trite assertion that it is all a result of sunspot activity - a claim that is demonstrably nonsensical.

743. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288435 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 12:39 am

Who would your rather trust, a guy who you know will always save his own butt, or some environmentalist?

Like Bush vs Suzuki, for instance?

744. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288428 by Laurie Fraser on November 22, 2008 at 12:31 am

And all your lovable environmentalists just enjoy simplifying the problem for scientists.

And you wouldn't have any ideological agenda, JanChan?

745. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288380 by Laurie Fraser on November 21, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Hey Titania - looks like your family has just about cornered the available market on red hair. Cuties, both of 'em.

746. Cheap plaster saint

Comment #288371 by Laurie Fraser on November 21, 2008 at 4:52 pm

Hi 2 - well, the little one's far more intelligent than the codger on the right. She tells me what to say and I just type.

747. Cheap plaster saint

Comment #288362 by Laurie Fraser on November 21, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Thank you, Jeeeeeeessssssuuuuuusssss!

748. I'm Not One Of Those 'Love Thy Neighbor' Christians

Comment #288336 by Laurie Fraser on November 21, 2008 at 3:06 pm

intelligent Aussies

Before anyone else does, let me point out your oxymoron, Decius :)

749. I'm Not One Of Those 'Love Thy Neighbor' Christians

Comment #288317 by Laurie Fraser on November 21, 2008 at 2:20 pm

I don't see the problem here.
1. Chances of life arising elswhere in the universe seem good.
2. No evidence, as yet, of that life, does not preclude such.
3. Whatever life we're talking about has to be purely naturalistic, of course. Believing in the possibility of other life is not equitable with believing in god(s).
4. Probably best to discount, for now, alien spacefarers equipped with ray-guns.

750. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288101 by Laurie Fraser on November 21, 2008 at 6:43 am

"Come to think of it, it isn't good blog debate etiquette to gang up on a single commenter."

It is when that commentator is a puerile git. Get over it - if you've got any evidence for your claims, present it. Otherwise, accept that you've been thoroughly taken down, and reformulate your position such that it coincides with reality.