51. Richard Dawkins at Conservative Party Conference 2008

Comment #264326 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 14, 2008 at 6:30 am

Fair cop, Hungarian, I can't answer that one. I'd just go along with my basic understanding that the restrictions on Banks and stock-market traders have not been good enough. Loosening those restrictions have given the British economy the freedom to do as it likes, and it's been able to give Britain some advantages, but financial de-regulation definitely didn't help when you consider where we are now. Tighter controls could have slowed the economy and given us problems over the 80s / 90s / 00s, but our financial institutions may have looked a lot sounder at this point.

You can tell I'm not an economist, can't you!

52. Richard Dawkins at Conservative Party Conference 2008

Comment #264324 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 14, 2008 at 6:24 am

Bigot! Ha ha!

53. Richard Dawkins at Conservative Party Conference 2008

Comment #264318 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 14, 2008 at 6:21 am

Did I mention that Thatcher is the only reason I'd really like to believe in something like hell?
Die, bitch! Die!

54. Richard Dawkins at Conservative Party Conference 2008

Comment #264315 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 14, 2008 at 6:17 am

Hungarian,

I would say part of the answer lies in the fact that she was the first person to really embrace Capitalism-proper. Truly proud of all the greed-is-good stuff. Deregulation and "choice" were her mantra. It made Britain look quite distinct compared to other European countries that seemed a little more interested in policies to help society. I particularly think that Britain is lacking a decent public transport system, something this country really needs now, and I put the blame firmly at her door.

55. Richard Dawkins at Conservative Party Conference 2008

Comment #264314 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 14, 2008 at 6:11 am

ukvillafan,
that sounds like a fair summary to me.

I would have imagined myself saying, like Richard, that I would never have voted Tory, but as the Blair years approached I found myself putting an X in the only box that could have stopped Tony destroying everything I thought Labour were about. I've voted Tory several times now. Even I find it hard to believe I did it.

BTW - is that "By far the greatest football team the world has ever seen" that you support?

56. Richard Dawkins at Conservative Party Conference 2008

Comment #264300 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 14, 2008 at 5:27 am

Steve

Yep, I know about all that Supremacist website stuff. I didn't like it, and I thought the fact he'd been there undermined what Fanusi had to say. But Styrer is saying that Fanusi can no longer post here, and I'm trying to work out why that is. As I said at the time, any posts he makes are going to be badly received because of what we know about that site, what was posted, and the lack of a response from Fanusi that truly explained why he was there and why he tolerated the despicable writings of others, with no comment of his own on that site to clarify that he distanced himself from such ideas. But, after all this, he still isn't banned from this site.

Anyway, I've PMed him.

57. Richard Dawkins at Conservative Party Conference 2008

Comment #264291 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 14, 2008 at 4:40 am

Styrer
Ok, in for a penny, in for a pound. I'll PM him.

58. Richard Dawkins at Conservative Party Conference 2008

Comment #264285 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 14, 2008 at 4:04 am

Styrer

Can you clarify why Fanusi isn't posting any more? Has anyone been in contact with him to find out why he posts nothing?

59. Richard Dawkins at Conservative Party Conference 2008

Comment #264280 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 14, 2008 at 3:25 am

I aint defending no Muslims. Just finding it difficult to find the time to post at the moment.

But I'm definitely not defending Islam. I don't defend anything done purely in the name of religion.

60. Citizen Enforcers Take Aim

Comment #263442 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 11, 2008 at 4:00 am

Surely justice isn't about revenge?!

Personally, I occasionally feel that revenge would be a good thing, and that's when I start shooting off about the death penalty for some offenders. But after a few moments I can put that aside and start thinking about real justice, which doen't involve revenge at all. Real justice gets offenders out of the way, removing them from causing the same problems and giving them a chance to "sort themselves out" before putting them back out - to possibly cause the same problem, but hopefully not.

I don't neccessarily see the "citizen's arrest", at the beginning of this article, as revenge. She saw injustice and may have a strong desire for justice - remove that aggressor from being able to do it again.

61. The camp that 'cures' homosexuality

Comment #262615 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 9, 2008 at 4:20 am

85. Comment #262610 by PERSON on October 9, 2008 at 3:42 am

They are influential, but do not define Christianity. Not yet, hopefully not ever

62. The camp that 'cures' homosexuality

Comment #262195 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 8, 2008 at 5:18 am

"How this helps his internet porn addiction is anyone's guess"

I bet that guy saw some breasts and once brushed his hand against his prick ... and then was labled a porn addict! Poor bastard. For crying out loud, rub it some more and enjoy yourself. Let it all out and stop it with all this repression.

I'm signing up to Carto's Ex-Straight Ministry. Solidarity!

63. 'Intelligent' computers put to the test

Comment #262143 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 8, 2008 at 3:38 am

Conversation-2 is definitely human. I saw Isthatclear have exactly the same sort of conversation on this site.

64. Two new fleas are discovered!

Comment #261283 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 6, 2008 at 3:48 pm

I bet he comes up with all sorts of elaborate, poetic, touchy-feely nonsense about why it might just be plausible to cling to some belief in God, But I also bet, no-where in his book, does he mention why the doubters out there should believe in magic-gobbledy-gook-talk, or why everyone should believe he and his mates can predict the future and heal the physically crippled. For Nicky believes in a Charismatic form of christianity.

And how on earth is he gonna explain why the doubters should believe that God was so angry that he wanted to kill everyone and demanded a ransom that couldn't be paid, so he sent down his son (who was himself) and only upon receipt of that death-payment did his anger subside?

That's it. Pussy-foot around the vague god-stuff, and then slowly suck them in to the most outrageous trickery-magic show in town.

65. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260313 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 5, 2008 at 8:13 am

It doesn't seem to matter that Palin is weak. It doesn't seem to matter that Palin hasn't got a clue and lost the debate.
Laurie said above:
"She is clueless about almost every issue, simply repeating apple-pie homilies"
But the TV news I've seen doesn't suggest she got roasted. Apple Pie homilies might just work.
I'm depressed!

66. Frog Jesus

Comment #260293 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 5, 2008 at 6:55 am

What was that all about?

I'm going to assume they didn't really nail a frog to a tree. Also, at the risk of throwing away my atheist credentials (yeah, yeah, I know, fair enough, I never had any credibility) I feel sorry for the guy in that Jesus story. In fact, because there were real people who stepped out of line and were crucified by Romans (Spartacus?) then I'd possibly feel more sad for this mortal man than some christians would.

67. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259414 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 10:38 am

Styrer,
I think Corylus is big enough (despite being a tiny, cute mouse) to sort this out without me wrecking it. Noting your silence may not have been the best "call", but I also believe that she may have been reacting to the trend to "Note" things during that argument. Everyone was "noting" some aspect of what was said / not said. What is that all about? It was like everyone had turned into Wolfie from "Citizen Smith" putting names in the book so that they knew that they would be the first against the wall come the revolution.

Be warned everyone, I've been noticing what you did and this will go down in your permanent record!

[Edit - I also love Cartomancer's posts. For me they are clever and humorous, but what makes it for me is the twist of melancholy. Superb]

68. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259397 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 10:14 am

Styrer,
I thought Corylus' recent post seemed to make quite a bit of sense. Why the resentment? There have been so many pages, I'm bound to have missed it.

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

Comment #259388 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 10:04 am

Caudimordax, no I didn't think those comments were directed against me. I was just apologising for even bothering to respond to them. Cheers.

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

Comment #259369 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 9:44 am

Fair point Caudimordax.
Sorry everyone. Had to double-post, it's the law-or-something with nutters.

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

Comment #259367 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 9:43 am

Why is it that all the nutters want a debate with Dawkins? Harun Yahya wants to debate with people to show that his religious thinking is correct. At the same time John Mackay (of Creation Research) has a different religion and wants to debate with people to show that his religious thinking is correct.

Now come on. Surely Harun Yahya can get in contact with John Mackay. You can both argue the finer points of your myths and the general public will get the benefit.

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

Comment #259363 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 9:40 am

Why is it that all the nutters want a debate with Dawkins? Harun Yahya wants to debate with people to show that his religious thinking is correct. At the same time John Mackay (of Creation Research) has a different religion and wants to debate with people to show that his religious thinking is correct.

Now come on. Surely Harun Yahya can get in contact with John Mackay. You can both argue the finer points of your myths and the general public will get the benefit.

73. Petition YouTube for Pat Condell

Comment #259343 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 9:24 am

For the record, I cannot see any good coming from formally accepting Sharia law as an alternative legal framework, even if it is for the smaller issues in life. If Jewish courts were recently being introduced I would hope that they would not be allowed any formal recognition. If people privately want to come to some agreement then that is fine with me - it's up to them.

But what's the benefit? You can state that the British legal system is imperfect - then fix it. We know we'll never get it right, but keep pushing to improve what we have rather than stepping back in time to accept some other way for other people. It "is" divisive, and it's wrong to think that the people immersed within their culture will not be pressured by their people to do it the way of their people. Why else do so many women wear the veil whilst stating how liberating it is. It's oppressive. Help them by giving "everyone" the same legal system - as fair to everyone as it can possibly be.

74. Petition YouTube for Pat Condell

Comment #259335 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 9:14 am

Distant source,
I'll agree with that. Free speech is an extremely important part of a healthy society. Some faiths do restrict it - in fact I'd go further and say that "all" faiths restrict speech (restrict thinking). Time and time again I've heard religious people say that they seek the truth and that they do look for evidence, but then some investigation in to the origins of life, origins of the universe, or stem-cell research comes up and they close off their mind and say that god did it and it's an area for god to know. Even if they don't actively discourage the quest for knowledge, they themselves have no desire to explain the strange events of their lives - safe in the cozy knowledge that god made it so.

75. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259268 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 7:47 am

Styrer,
I was one of those, as you would say, "bullies". But I didn't (and in fact I cant think who did) say that Fanusi should be banned from the site. I did say that I would give him a rough ride for anything that he posts because of where he was, at least potentially, "coming from".

I like this site because you do get to hear quite a few different views. There have been educational moments for me. I can't side with you on the Steve front. For me he's another contributor that I listen to and with whom I've agreed with quite a few times.

76. Petition YouTube for Pat Condell

Comment #259256 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 7:35 am

Unfortunately "Distant source" it's been said a hundred times in the last few months, so it's become cliched (and so it means little). Things is, which would you be speaking up for? Would you speak up for introducing Sharia as a way of bringing muslims into mainstream society, or would you try to keep Sharia out of effect because it's backward / faith-based and actually does more to alienate a section of society?

77. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259247 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 7:12 am

Welcome back Styrer,

I was wondering if anyone had seen you sneak quietly and gently in to the "Petition YouTube for Pat Condell" thread. You should have joined in earlier. In fact it was a pity we didn't have a couple of Fanusi comments (as long as it didn't then get de-railed in to the Fanusi show)

78. Petition YouTube for Pat Condell

Comment #259235 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 3, 2008 at 6:28 am

Peacebeuponme,

Well done, on the GoatBoy36 front.

As much as I've struggled to accept your defence of formally accepting Sharia to settle some disputes (and I admire the way you have argued for it), I do want to say how wholeheartedly I agree with your assessment GoatBoy36.

I swear, for the first 5 pages of this thread Steve was arguing for something that GoatBoy would have agreed with. As Mitchell said, it must be great to have a stalker. It tells everyone that Steve has "made it".

79. Petition YouTube for Pat Condell

Comment #258383 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 2, 2008 at 1:03 am

Petition signed

80. Petition YouTube for Pat Condell

Comment #258378 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 2, 2008 at 12:50 am

Nope. I can't use the link either, so haven't been able to sign the petition this morning

81. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #257811 by ColdFusionLazarus on October 1, 2008 at 6:34 am

483. Comment #257742 by Iftikhar on October 1, 2008 at 4:04 am

They face lots of problems of growing up in two distinctive cultural traditions and value systems, which may come into conflict over issues such as the role of women in the society, and adherence to religious and cultural traditions

82. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257282 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 9:19 am

Steve,
I think that says it all for me. Thanks for clarifying the issue. I'm off now. Bye.

83. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257267 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 8:58 am

Sciros,
I've said several times that Fanusi can post whatever he likes. I'm sure you've read them all. However, I've also said, twice, that his posts should be treated like Joe Moreale's. I don't even read Joe's posts because I know it's the same old shit every time. Joe isn't driven by a desire to consider more than one side and to educate people on several issues. Joe will quote science (and pseudo-science), but only the bits that support hsi twisted view on the world that Allah-did-it.

84. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257264 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 8:48 am

Comment #256893 by Fanusi Khiyal on September 29, 2008 at 4:58 pm

It was calling Misha out in the first place that made me an LC - it's a voluntary thing for the regulars. I have called most people out there on all sorts of issues - that usually earns me respect. In one argument about the influence of Christianity, I brought up Turing and the horrible effects of homophobia there (incidentally, the argument was about Christianity; I don't think I've seen a homophobic comment, beyond the statement that Christianity considers it sinful). Etc. etc.

85. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257252 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 8:39 am

I thought Fanusi himself said that he was offered "LC" because he had proven himself worthy by arguing so well amongst them?

86. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257249 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 8:36 am

Al,
Imagine someone called FGHI posted on this site and said some holocaust-denial stuff and argued that Judaism was as bad, if not worse, than all the other religions. There probably is the odd poster on this site, throwing in their Jewish conspiracy theories. But if that person were persistent, and they revealed an awful lot of information that many of us didn't know and entertained quite a few with heated debate about the dangers of ignoring what is going on as we sleep.

Then imagine someone revealed that FGHI participated in an Islamic organisation. Would that fact be of interest to you? Would you denounce the provider of such information as starting a Witch Hunt?

87. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257223 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 8:05 am

Not many have asked for Fanusi to be banned or censored, but quite a few believe that Fanusi has been caught with his trousers down! You don't get away with it simply by saying, "yeah, don't worry about it, no big deal, it's just a site where people let off steam and then go back to reading some feintly left-leaning high-brow newspaper"

Fanusi can say whatever he likes. He's an intelligent man, but his agenda is more revealed than it ever was before. For that reason I think he should be taken as seriously as Joe Moreale.

88. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257212 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 7:50 am

How about not so much rebutting his posts, but telling him that it's no longer possible to take him as a credible arguer for a rational solution because at the core of his thinking is the holy war he wants to take people to.

89. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257203 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 7:43 am

That's it then. I got no defence. I didn't realise it before, but I guess I must be a racist afterall. I'm every bit as shameful as Fanusi.

90. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257195 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 7:37 am

Al,

I'm clearly not "getting it". You're ignoring the site that Fanusi frequents. You're ignoring the disgusting hatred that site spreads. Fanusi could just come out and explain that he'd been thinking for a while about how vile it all was and that it was time to give up on it. He could have spelled out how much "that" is not what he is. Instead, I feel like there's a possibility that there some nut-job putting on the most sensible face he can muster, creeping in and trying to persuade people here that it's time to kill the invaders.

I just don't see where you coming from Al. I'm not sure why you can't see the nicedoggie site for what it is and why I don't want that site associated with me when I'm on this site.

91. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257116 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 4:38 am

No need to duck Laurie. I wouldn't neccessarily listen to such stuff, but I might attempt to pluck a couple of notes on a bass. Until someone tells me I'm not aloud: "What? No Smoke on the Water? Denied!"

Ah well. My bass playing days are over ... and they never really began.

92. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257112 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 4:34 am

I don't think Al was being that "tricky". It would be good for him to clear this up for us later. But even if that was his tactic, it was still worth acknowledging and arguing against. Comparing Laurie's comments to Fanusi's participation on a supremacist site was bullshit. Al should be told.

93. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257106 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 4:23 am

Laurie,
What a diverse bunch you have in your band. Any chance of letting in a fine Englishman (as I am ... well, actually I'm half-Polish) who once hit some notes of "Smoke on the Water" on a bass guitar? No? Ok - I didn't think so.

94. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #257092 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 30, 2008 at 3:55 am

Laurie,
Good to hear you've had a fine afternoon. I dunno how you restrained yourself from mass slaughter though. You extremist-liberal you!

95. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256877 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 29, 2008 at 3:58 pm

No. It's ok Titania. I should have skimmed less. You've done your bit. Get yourself gone. I'm off to bed too. Night everyone.

96. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256870 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 29, 2008 at 3:41 pm

Shit! 42nd most popular blog. You're a wealth of information and I'm in awe. Where'd'ya get that fact from?

97. The God Delusion's cameo in season premiere of 'Family Guy'

Comment #256860 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 29, 2008 at 3:28 pm

Here I am, all dressed up and no place to go. I can't even watch a clip of myself!

I do like Family Guy.

That's it. That's all I got.

98. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256848 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 29, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Al,

I got very little against Jews (not that I know of ... at least not until someone discovers the anti-semite site I used to post to). But do you think maybe it was a mistake to grant the Jews a homeland "right there". I know there was a desire to give those poor bastards a homeland, but it actually wasn't that sensible to give a dispersed race some land near to where they lost out many years ago. There are probably some good analogies that point out the bad idea, but the best I can come up with is gathering a load of Celts together and shoving them somewhere near Paris. It was as good an idea as invading Iraq because of their weapons of mass destruction. Are you sure any of this makes me anti-semitic? I'm still struggling to Label Laurie so.

99. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256830 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 29, 2008 at 2:56 pm

Al,
Laurie is probably more left-leaning than me and makes comparisons between one set of bastards and another set of bastards and appears to equate them. I'm not sure that I would make that "equality", but Laurie most definitely would not tolerate Hamas violence. The minute they do their irrational shit he'll tell you, and them, that it's nasty, irrational shit.

However, groups like Hamas do have historical grievances for fighting their war, and Laurie is probably just pointing out the fact that it's a war between agrieved parties. There are shits on both sides, it just needs you and I to decide which are the worst shits.

100. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #256812 by ColdFusionLazarus on September 29, 2008 at 2:34 pm

Fanusi,
Yep, there are "root causes", but the reason that I mentioned root cause was to say that the concept of absolute sin would have to lead you to a "devil". The ideas in scenarios, such as those in Lord of the Flies, show it's easy to be a bad person, it's easy to invent devils and it's easy to be irrational. You probably have good reasons for your deep-seated hatred, but I don't have to go down that way.

Al,
The minute Laurie vists a pro-Hamas website and starts telling us about the sub-human Jews and Kaffirs, then Laurie will be told to Fuck Right Off! But all I can see is that he might not despise those groups quite as much as you do.