Comments by Wosret

Comment #279631 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 8:01 am

794. Comment #279619 by zeroangel

I voted for a third party.

Then I think that you're naive and idealistic. More worried above standing on some imagined hill of principle than workable pragmatic plans that have a possibility of success. An "all or nothing" attitude unappreciative of what is actually reasonably achievable.

This much makes me worry about how well he will handle foreign threats and things related to the military. He has to flex his muscles IMHO.

A necessary evil that one should use frivolously -- apparently.

I served in the military and fought in Iraq, was what I did there contemptuous?

Unequivocally yes.

952. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #279617 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 7:49 am

I do think that you have to admit it Al -- that the fear of terrorism was what was winning votes for McCain, and it was the economic crisis that pushed Obama ahead.

Every political analyst I've listened to seem to think this.

I find it strange that fear of terrorist would result in more votes for Obama...why would you think that? Or do you mean something else?

953. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #279609 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 7:42 am

782. Comment #279602 by zeroangel

I think that it was a compliment to assume you supported one of the two candidates that had a possibility of winning...

I don't think it was fallacious reasoning, merely charitable reasoning.

954. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279587 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 7:28 am

249. Comment #279569 by Raiko

Because animals cannot offer consent, and there is an unfair power distribution. It is an inherently unequal relationship.

Not only is the consent an issue, but being something's guardian, and caregiver, creates a conflict of interest.

955. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #279573 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 7:19 am

761. Comment #279565 by zeroangel

I wonder why he made the mistake then.

He didn't, as he explained, you missed his point. If you look back through his posts you will see that he explains it.

He seemed to admit when he was wrong about something you said...just sayin'...

Also, yes, I do have contempt for military. I think that it is a dreadful thing, and I mourn its existence.

956. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #279563 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 7:07 am

746. Comment #279533 by zeroangel

Being Canadian, I doubt that he has such a notion "ingrained".

751. Comment #279548 by Bonzai

The suspense!

As for the enemies sighing in relief...yes, clearly we should always elect the craziest fuck we can find. So anyone that might screw with us are afraid to breath. Wouldn't want nuclear reprisals.

957. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #279528 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 6:40 am

740. Comment #279512 by Bonzai

Where's that avatar? You going to show off those boyish good-looks you keep telling me about?

I'm showing off my manly good-looks, and a nose you could ski down.

958. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #279524 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 6:37 am

739. Comment #279509 by al-rawandi

Obama is going to be a good president?

Depends on your standards. If he can offset, and do some damage control for the last eight years, and make no more problems, then I think it will be reasonable to say that he was a good president. It isn't as if he needs to unite the world in loving peaceful embrace to achieve that.

You think of all the people out there, all 300 million, he was the best man or woman for the job?

Not even close. He is no Stephane Dion. Sad how he got destroyed...

Better than Nader, Barr, Paul...

I think so.

But the problem I have is it is machine politics as usual, do you expect otherwise?

I strongly agree, both of our electoral systems need massive reform.

959. Religion: A Tool to Keep the Parasites Away?

Comment #279506 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 6:20 am

I believe I remember listening to something, where Steven Pinker disagrees with RD on the parents thing (perhaps he merely quantified RD's point, I can't recall) where he says that behavioral studies indicate that children get far more from their peers than their parents.

960. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279439 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 3:57 am

200. Comment #279426 by Quetzalcoatl

Yes, they do. Never heard of a marriage that didn't involve commitment. If you are implying that you can have commitment without marriage, then I agree, but it isn't a kind of commitment that is nearly as difficult to remove one's self from.

Clearly anything involving contracts, and legality implies a far higher level of commitment than merely spoken agreements.

961. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279422 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 3:28 am

I fear commitment. Marriages are a hassle to get out of. I highly doubt I'll ever marry.

962. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279398 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 2:45 am

Yes, no one is stopping gay people from having ceremonies, and calling each other by the relevant titles.

Many of the people I've discussed this with seem to conflate de facto and de jure. Homosexuals can get married de facto, just not de jure.

I simplified it by saying that it is the difference between tolerance and acceptance. When homosexuality was decriminalized, society agreed to "tolerate" it. Now homosexuals are seeking legal recognition. Which means the recognition, acceptance, and sanction of their marriage agreements as binding by the rest of society.

Marriage, to the extent that it is a religious ceremony only holds personal significance for the individuals involved. It is superfluous, and should not be conflated with the secular civil agreements of a marriage.

963. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279375 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 1:41 am

158. Comment #279369 by Philip1978

Yes, I know what you meant.

964. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279364 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 1:12 am

151. Comment #279357 by Philip1978

This, in my opinion, is a very evil and deplorable thing you can say to another human -

"You must not love that person!"

"No, we are the authority on the matter and we say who you can and can't fall in love with."

...Unless they're related -- apparently.

965. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279347 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 12:19 am

139. Comment #279343 by Steve Zara

I haven't been doing that, or at least not meaning to. My first response was to point out some pretty bad things that gay people have gone through that black people haven't. This was to illustrate the different nature of the oppression, and that it was significant.

I do suppose that DP was more saying that the oppressions were not even analogous. In which case he is clearly wrong, and you were completely justified in pointing this out.

I just misunderstood your point.

966. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279338 by Wosret on November 6, 2008 at 12:10 am

127. Comment #279331 by Steve Zara

I certainly agree that the bigotry against homosexuals is easily analogous to the nastiest forms of racism. I just don't think that anything is added to this by arguing over which group goes through the most.

Now that I said that, I'll go completely against it and say that -- for the record -- I think that women have probably gone through the most.

At least with groups of whole people they have support, community, and togetherness among themselves. Women appear to have been horribly oppressed by every group throughout history.

Racism, homophobia, Supremacy, misogyny... they all have differences between how they are practiced, and the ways in which they manifest, and the result of their manifestation -- but I think that they all are cut from the same cloth. An evil piece of fabric that needs to be burnt, and done away with.

967. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279329 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 11:45 pm

121. Comment #279321 by Steve Zara

I wouldn't get into something like that, Steve...

I know that my opinion as an average height, average weight, white heterosexual adult male doesn't really put me in a position to comment on oppression, segregation, and bigotry -- but, it isn't a contest. What does it matter which group has been through the most? I think the point should be that no one should have to go through anything like that, ever, for any reason.

At best the point is irrelevant, and extraordinarily awkward at worst.

968. Why do atheists care about what others believe when it doesn't affect atheists?

Comment #279324 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 11:39 pm

23. Comment #279317 by Steve Zara

I think that that is too rickety a bridge to cross.

Excessive physical and mental abuse is when I'm willing to interfere in how someone raises their kid.

I suppose if we are just talking about trying to talk people out of it, whether it is private or not, for their children's sake -- then I could see how I should adjust my stance.

Though, I don't agree with the notion that unwittingly teaching children something that mistaken is at all child abuse, and I am actually somewhat put off by this use of the term. I think that it trivializes real child abuse.

969. Atheists don't believe in anything

Comment #279310 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 10:49 pm

*Cocks eyebrow* Seriously?

...No... It isn't that I don't believe anything -- it's that I'm not willing to believe everything.

970. Why do atheists care about what others believe when it doesn't affect atheists?

Comment #279309 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 10:39 pm

To the extent that it doesn't affect me, I don't care.

Don't expect to be able to use it for support towards any social behaviors, education, policy, or anything else remotely public, where it does influence our world, our society, our community, and thus myself.

As long as it can be kept one hundred percent private, and free from me and others, then I do not care. I -- however -- do not think this possible.

971. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #279290 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 9:29 pm

Bah! I want to see Sam Harris debate again. I've heard all of Hitchens' arguments. It would be nice to see Sam have another debate.

972. Fred Phelps's son is an atheist: Running from hell

Comment #279273 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 7:52 pm

128. Comment #278885 by gmalcolm

No prob. (^_~)

973. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279271 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 7:48 pm

I think that people are too quick to link homosexuality with sex.

Almost everyone that I mention that I enjoy yuri to, and explain what it is thinks I'm talking about porn of some sort.

There is a whole lot more to being gay than having sex with members of the same sex. That is arguably not even a defining factor.

One of the sites I go to for yuri manga scanlations had an age poll taken, and ten percent of the people that visited purported themselves to be under fifteen. On the forums, people suggested that was a bad thing...as if anything involving homosexuals must automatically be for adults for some bizarre reason.

974. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279245 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 6:38 pm

90. Comment #279242 by BrandySpears

Unfortunately for such situations, most of us are not American.

975. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279234 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 6:11 pm

75. Comment #279226 by Cartomancer

Uber pwnage.

976. Gay Marriage Outlawed in California

Comment #279227 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 5:53 pm

36. Comment #279173 by Cartomancer

Why could we not have Snow White falling in love with a princess occasionally, or a male version of rapunzel locked in a tower letting down his beautiful blond hair for his prince to climb?

I have yuri versions of both of those stories actually, and several other famous ones!

Ruri Hozuki and Sakura Shio take famous fairy tales from around the world and yuri them up. They say that after reading them they realized that nearly 95% of them were actually yuri!

977. Stoning victim 'begged for mercy'

Comment #278960 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 12:53 pm

80. Comment #278955 by al-rawandi

A Muslim would not be required to follow Shariah...

That is just where they will learn to stop reading. Like the christians do with deuteronomy and the passage on homosexuals.

978. Stoning victim 'begged for mercy'

Comment #278942 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 12:31 pm

67. Comment #278865 by Steve Zara

I can't agree with "most" being moral people. Anyone who actively or tacitly supports the segregation of women and homosexuals is not a moral person.

979. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278621 by Wosret on November 5, 2008 at 12:13 am

439. Comment #278619 by windweaver

Regardless, I think that McCain's concession speak was excellent. I've never disliked McCain. I've disliked what he has pretended to be throughout this campaign, and the reckless and dangerous choices he has made -- putting America and the world at risk for selfish reasons.

980. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278614 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 11:31 pm

435. Comment #278613 by righton

I know that it is hard to believe. I just look shockingly similar to a group of animated cheerleaders dancing.

981. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278611 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 11:23 pm

431. Comment #278609 by mordacious1

ROFL! I didn't notice the typo...what can I say? They're always on my brain. My fingers love typing that word.

982. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278607 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 11:17 pm

428. Comment #278606 by mordacious1

Yes, you can go look back through my comments if you like, and find one you recognize. I wanted to change my name to the account name I use everywhere else. Just for consistency.

Sorry for any confusion. Hopefully I will get everyone up to speed soon, and things can just continue as normal.

(I'll likely have my characteristic cute girl avatars back pretty soon also. I decided to reveal myself cause everyone else was doin' it, and I'm a follower.)

983. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278603 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 11:04 pm

421. Comment #278597 by Cartomancer

...why are there not heterosexual couples clamouring to call their nuptials a civil union rather than a marriage?

I know this will not mean very much coming from me, but in a society where "marriage" is hi-jacked, and controlled by bigots, and the religious, I would opt for a "civil union" because I would want nothing to do with their concept of "marriage". I would not support their bigotry by even so much as agreeing to their terms.

I know that I both have the choice, and am both in a country where same-sex marriage is legal, and have no plans to marry, so my claim is entirely hypothetical, so of little value...but I feel that I should at say that in such a society, that is exactly what I would do, and I would suggest that this is the only option for any conscientious person.

(By the way, if you have not been informed, I am "Mitchell Girls" but I had my account name changed)

984. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278582 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 10:30 pm

No, prop 8 appears to be passing...this is a dark day for human rights.

985. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278533 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 9:18 pm

360. Comment #278529 by root2squared

Why stop at his money? I want his dishwasher, and his daughter's virginity.

986. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278528 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 9:13 pm

356. Comment #278525 by Ian Bamlett

No way! It's clearly an adjacent universe.

987. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278520 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 9:02 pm

320. Comment #278488 by Brian English

Numbers, mathematics, and things of that nature are abstractions by brains, and exist within brains. I certainly can point at brains, and they certainly do exist inside of space/time.

The guy you quoted is wrong.

988. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278481 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 8:34 pm

309. Comment #278477 by Brian English

Why do you keep saying that numbers and such are "outside spacetime"? I don't understand what you are basing that on. How so, and in what sense?

989. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278478 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 8:31 pm

300. Comment #278468 by Cartomancer

Yes, that one is a nail biter too. Perhaps we can tempt "fate" and hope for a win in both cases.

990. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278471 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 8:26 pm

293. Comment #278461 by MPhil

What about the quantum field of instability that physics predicts as a possible origin of the universe? That is a thing, isn't it? That existed while space/time had yet to, didn't it?

That is likely as close to "nothing" as we can go, and it isn't really nothing. Is it?

991. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278464 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 8:22 pm

DP must be having a stoke...turtled in the corner worrying about the money he'd lose if he made more money.

992. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278388 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 5:39 pm

Hope Obama wins!

993. 'Probably' the best atheist bus campaign ever

Comment #277753 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 5:34 am

512. Comment #277752 by Laurie Fraser

That's why I hide.

994. 'Probably' the best atheist bus campaign ever

Comment #277750 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 5:30 am

I love listen to women talk. Especially when it's about how great I am. I could listen to that all day.

995. People who've experienced God KNOW that God exists

Comment #277744 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 5:20 am

102. Comment #277742 by Titania

Really? That's strange.

I don't really talk to my mom very often, but when I do it usually is through e-mail, or IM. That is pretty well how I talk to everyone except for one of my brothers, and one of my sisters, because they are computer challenged. Everyone else I basically only talk to online.

I don't have Facebook, or anything like those profiles. Other than this site, everywhere else I go is full of hardcore fans of the same things I'm interested in, and I would think it was creepy if any of my family wanted to join me there.

996. People who've experienced God KNOW that God exists

Comment #277738 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 5:05 am

100. Comment #277732 by MPhil

A lot of those shows are long canceled. I watched Lost for the first season, all of the Star Trek series (but as you know I have a different take on the concept than you do) Fraiser, Sliders, and Friends. Watched them all. What, no Seinfeld? I have been following Heroes, but I didn't mention it because I think I'm going to stop. I think that the third season is pretty awful so far. If it doesn't get better soon I'm going to stop watching.

I used to watch South Park when I was younger, but they started getting pretty terrible when the (not very intelligent) writers decided to start giving their superficial and frankly moronic solutions to problems they just got done caricaturing and mocking. Showing no actual understanding of them.

Also the heavy racism in the show bothered me.

997. 'Probably' the best atheist bus campaign ever

Comment #277733 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 4:58 am

The Canadian borders plugged full when Bush won in 04.

998. People who've experienced God KNOW that God exists

Comment #277728 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 4:54 am

Daily Show, Colbert Report, and Family Guy is the only American TV I watch.

Daily Show I like the best.

999. People who've experienced God KNOW that God exists

Comment #277727 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 4:52 am

94. Comment #277719 by MPhil

No need to apologize. I didn't mean to come off snippy.

1000. Teaching hate in UK schools

Comment #277724 by Wosret on November 4, 2008 at 4:49 am

219. Comment #277720 by Titania

That was a "meh" of excited protest!