Comments by Wosret

1451. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #268774 by Wosret on October 22, 2008 at 8:55 am

7788. Comment #268768 by DarwinsPitbull

That must be your game too then. It all makes sense now!

1452. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #268761 by Wosret on October 22, 2008 at 8:41 am

7778. Comment #268756 by al-rawandi

Rofl! That's terrible.

1453. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #268755 by Wosret on October 22, 2008 at 8:30 am

7771. Comment #268746 by Peacebeuponme

Are you saying public figures are off limits?

Of course not. I'm just getting sick of seeing it, and everyone treating it as if it is the most retarded thing ever said, ever.

I personally think that it has more to do with the fact that she is a blond, and a beauty pageant contestant that said something stupid, than the level of the stupidity of what she said.

1454. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #268745 by Wosret on October 22, 2008 at 8:20 am

7769. Comment #268744 by hungarianelephant

Nah, I tend not to compete in anything, it wouldn't be fair to the other participants.

1455. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #268742 by Wosret on October 22, 2008 at 8:17 am

7763. Comment #268736 by Peacebeuponme

I don't think that it is fair to make fun of Miss South Carolina. She is put on the spot in front of a huge audience. Both present and television.

If I were in her position I'd probably say something retarded too. After vomiting and crying that is.

1456. The soul? It may all be in your mind

Comment #268638 by Wosret on October 22, 2008 at 4:33 am

89. Comment #268584 by Steve Zara

Admit it, Steve. You just want everyone to go Buddhist so that baldness becomes the norm and you will no longer be a member of a minority in that regard.

I'm on to you!

1457. The soul? It may all be in your mind

Comment #268257 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 3:39 pm

78. Comment #267997 by Bonzai

Hey I am 33 and tremendously cool. Not to mention very intelligent and cute. :)

Ha! While I'll vouch for the former two, but have to take your word for the latter one.

I was around 14 when I started reading "serious" books, not that I actually understood..

I couldn't even read until I was fourteen. Taught myself to read. I was, and remain a lazy person, so school didn't reach me, I was also in remedial classes that didn't make me do anything, so I was content. I learned to read over the span of a summer, when I first got a playstation, and proceeded to spend all day playing RPGs (roll playing games) like Final Fantasy. Which required that I be able to read.

My mother claims a friend of hers put white powder on the floor on the night her deceased grandfather was supposed to return and found footprints the next day.

My stepfather was killed in a traffic collision in 1998, I was fourteen, he bought me the playstation for Christmas 97. He died in march the following year, about a week before his birthday. My mother claims that his spirit visited her the night he died.

I don't feel comfortable calling my mother a liar...especially about something like that. It puts me in too awkward of a position for an already awkward individual like me, so I've avoided the subject.

I know she's lying though.

1458. All aboard the atheist bus campaign

Comment #268239 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 3:08 pm

102. Comment #268229 by Richard Dawkins

Well, that is fantastic.

I personally think that the only thing wrong with the slogan is the "GOD" part. I think that it is too exclusive, and appears to presuppose an Abrahamic conception of a god. As I said, I think that "probably are no gods" covers them all, and thus, in my opinion, speaks more to what atheism is about. The rejection of the asserted existence of any and all gods. Though I am certainly willing to endorse "almost certainly", in place of "probably", as well.

As for the pound sign, almost no signs or symbols work in these comment boxes. Including accents, Chinese characters, the plus sign I've also heard. These comment boxes are quite picky.

1459. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #268197 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 1:59 pm

The site has considerably reduced the allowed for avatar size, it would appear. Down from just under 1 mb, to less than a quarter of that, at 195kb. Lame. I had to increase the speed by 30%, and reduce the quality of this animation by 30%. It was sooooo much better before.

1460. All aboard the atheist bus campaign

Comment #268155 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 1:13 pm

I must admit, "There are probably no gods" would be more to my liking.

1461. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #268135 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 12:51 pm

303. Comment #268097 by NightHiker

Oh, the guy from the royal society. I have to admit, that I think he was promoting "teach the controversy" from what I heard of his comments, and since I don't believe Darwinism to be compatible for a theistic worldview, I do think that it disqualifies him from speaking authoritatively on the matter.

I also don't much like PETA's support of zoophilia. Animal rape is a bit of a problem for me.

Well, as I said, I get pretty emotional about the topic, last I argued it in depth on here, I deeply regret my behavior. It was months ago, and I was arguing it with Bonzai, it was getting pretty heated, he made a mistake, and I used it as a jumping off point to attempt a character assassination.

Before this I was completely sure that I had become a vegan for completely rational reasons, and because the argument convinced me that it was morally required. After examining how I behaved to confrontation about it, I became less sure that that was the case. I'm still thoroughly convinced that it is morally required, for several reasons, but I have apparently also become considerably emotionally invested in the position it would appear. This worries me.

I don't mind arguing it, but I'm worried that my arguments may be sloppy, and I can't see it.

I was convinced while reading over a several page thread about it on that philosophy forum I mentioned early, about two years ago. I've since expanded on them, and developed my own. There are some good environmental and economical ones too, but I am in it for the moral ones.

Basically I would argue that for equality to be consistent, and justifiable, it requires a standard, or a basis. A universal one, that is relevant to our emotional moral foundations, which are based on empathy, and a sense of justice. Both of which are natural attributes to all social mammals that we know of. As of yet I'm not talking about other species, I am talking about the goal of equality within the human species. Equal moral consideration, and what objective standard it is based on, and justified by. Now, any quality that we decide on has to be both relevant to morality/ethics, and either not vary within the human species, or its variance is ignored. Also, any variance the quality may have throughout the human species has to be ignored, to the point that it would cripple other qualities we consider relevant to our moral consideration, or else there could not be equal moral consideration within the human species.

These qualities I would argue are intelligence, cognition, self-awareness, a theory of mind, ability to experience fear and to suffer, and feel pain, lastly to harbour desires. All of these qualities, if you agree should be relevant to our moral considerations, and recognize that their intensity, levels varies between individuals within the human species, and that most, if not all other social mammals, birds, and to some extent, reptiles (fish maybe, I don't know), possess at least some of those qualities, then I think that it follows that you must either allot them some moral considerations, or establish an arbitrary cut off point that will leave members of the human species below the bar.

That is my basic premise.

1462. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #268093 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 12:04 pm

299. Comment #268081 by Steve Zara

I see nothing wrong with that, but ideas have to be tested against reality, and that means making models and testing them against both reasonable constraints and against evidence.

I agree, but that is a career, and one I did not choose. So I can either shut up about such things, and just be content with the fact that my musing will never definitely demonstrate a damn thing.

Perhaps if you re-instate your animated icons.

Which did you like?

1463. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #268078 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 11:47 am

297. Comment #268070 by Steve Zara

We could reach the wrong conclusion, or the correct one could be unreachable through conversation. This is true of almost everything about the objective world, it doesn't make discussing it a waste of time. Or, at least I don't think so.

Call it social bonding, I have no one to groom me Steve... won't you groom me?

As for the blog thing, I only talk about this sort of thing here, the rest of my time I spend discussing cute and fluffy things.

1464. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #268066 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 11:34 am

292. Comment #268051 by NightHiker

Well, you're talking to a rather dogmatic vegan, so there is plenty about PETA that I do support, though probably more about them that I don't. I think that their all around insanity does more to harm the fight for animal rights than any other group. No one wants to associate with the wingnuts, so they don't want to admit to agreeing with them on anything. I get rather annoyed every time someone says that I seem to intelligent to be a vegan. Because of PETA, I'm expected to be some ditsy, insane moron. Oh, bothersome. Now that is a topic that gets me emotional.

I don't know who Heiss is. I am really bad at remembering names, so even if I do know, I can't place the name.

I agree that a whole lot of self-professed rationalists around here seem to figure "not a supernaturalist = rational". They just reject the supernatural and call themselves rationalists.

I tend to agree with Sam Harris the most out of the "New Atheists" about what matters the most in this.

1465. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #268060 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 11:22 am

293. Comment #268059 by Bonzai

Until you submit it, and then it doesn't.

1466. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #268036 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 11:00 am

289. Comment #267994 by NightHiker

I try to be as objective as I can, and I find that the best way to do that is to first not pretend that I actually have accomplished objectivity.

290. Comment #267999 by NightHiker

I know, doesn't let you use Kanji either: 私はうまい - Boku wa sugoi dayo.

1467. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #267988 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 10:27 am

286. Comment #267981 by NightHiker

And I don't mean it in a personal way. It's possible for someone to be a very nice person and also a hypocrite on occasion. I probably am.

A nice guy on occasion? :D

1468. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #267983 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 10:19 am

284. Comment #267971 by NightHiker

I'm just hear to have conversations, and arguments with intelligent people. I find it fun. I gave up a philosophy forum for this site. I found the conversations here a lot more fun. On the philosophy forum, everyone I considered intelligent and knowledgeable I was constantly in agreement with, and were always on my side. I joke now that that is because I'm so great, but I can't help but feel that my judgments are undoubtedly swayed by the fact that we agree. I also joke that I am the standard by which all else is judged, but this is true. Of both me and you, what other standard do we have? I find a lot of incredibly intelligent people here that I often disagree with, so I find excellent discussions.

285. Comment #267974 by Steve Zara

I think that raising the bar so high before we can continue is doing just that. You know that we can't meet those standards.

Sure, we could discuss ourselves into a corner, or go down lots of dead ends in our discussion, but what's wrong with that? I'm not taking what I'm saying all that seriously, so it doesn't matter if I'm wrong or right in the end, my conclusion will not be accepted on the basis of an argument alone. It's all in fun.

1469. The soul? It may all be in your mind

Comment #267975 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 10:08 am

74. Comment #267902 by Bonzai

Late 80s? Damn, I don't know why, but I thought you were closer to my age, I was born in the mid 80s, and couldn't even read until the late 90s. I don't know why I thought that.

I was afraid of Alien abduction when I was a kid...damn X files. Though I don't count that as superstitious because aliens aren't supernatural.

My mother claimed to have seen lots of ghosts, and she also believes in everything. My dad claimed to see stuff too. I just didn't believe them. Frankly I knew them both, as well as my older brother and sister to be heavy exaggerators, to the point of dishonesty.

I remember now! I was afraid of dolls when I was really young. Especially clowns. Stupid Poltergeist! They are also so corpsey, that is freaked me out.

1470. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267969 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 9:57 am

255. Comment #267944 by Bonzai

Did you watch that daily show clip I linked you the other day (do you watch the daily show regularly?)? In it Jon Stewart calls the Canadian conservatives "Gay Nader Fans for Peace".

1471. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #267958 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 9:47 am

282. Comment #267937 by NightHiker

Well, I'm a amateur (until next fall) philosopher, not scientist, so all I do is engage in entertaining sloppy conversations.

You called me modest before, but I wasn't being modest. I am pretty deep in the lay woods. I barely have a high school diploma, (as I mentioned, I am going to get a BA in philosophy starting next year though). So I am always just sure to make it clear that I'm not pretending I know more about a subject than what I do.

Personally (and nothing against Steve, cause he's a great guy), I think that what Steve asks for is unreasonable, and is effectively just telling us to shut up. We can't offer such evidence, or models, and every time I hit the "submit" button, I'm not submitting my post for academic peer review, and thus should not be held to such standards. As long as I'm candid about the level of my knowledge, and the speculative nature of my assertions, I don't see what is wrong with discussing any subject. As long as one is intellectually honest about it.

I can understand if Steve doesn't want to waste time on a "sloppy" conversation, but I think there are better ways to exit the conversation then telling everyone to de facto shut up.

Lastly, Einstein was no kind of deist, he numerously, and specifically said that he did not believe in a god that was a person. Pantheist is the closest thing, and I disagree with that as well, from what I know of Spinoza, I would not call him a Pantheist (though I admittedly don't know a whole lot about him).

1472. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #267924 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 9:13 am

277. Comment #267921 by Steve Zara

Hey, if I said it, then it clearly needs no altering. Perfection would be too flawed a word to describe it.

1473. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #267922 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 9:10 am

275. Comment #267911 by NightHiker

I'm cool though, right?

1474. The soul? It may all be in your mind

Comment #267893 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 8:25 am

68. Comment #267872 by Bonzai

I personally have never understood all of this "self" buisness people go on about. I don't even know what they mean. Like, I'm a person, that isn't you? Or anyone else, but is me? Then, yeah, I think that...is that wrong?

I also don't understand the difficulty in not believing in Christianity. I've never believed it, and I didn't even know that was an option until I was in my late teens. No one I knew of my age group really ever mentioned religion, I was too busy spending all of my time getting high throughout all of my teenage years to give it a second thought really.

I always found religious people particularly strange though, I guess because in all of the circles I ran in, it was not pain never mentioned.

It wasn't until I sobered up and starting trying to actually be a member of society that religion came into my focus. Though I've never believed it, or ghosts, magic, or any of that nonsense. Not for anything other than intuitive reasons though, I guess. It just always appeared silly and obviously wrong to me. I was just a born unbeliever I guess.

I wasn't completely immune to superstitious action however. I was quite a superstitious gamer for a long time. I had certain protocols, and actions I would take purely because I thought they might increase my chances of finding something good. Where to kill stuff, when to kill stuff, the order in which to kill stuff, and so on. If I was doing something when I found something good, I would repeat those actions again and again.

So, thinking back, I'm not sure if I didn't understand probability, or just thought "couldn't hurt", when I was doing it.

1475. The soul? It may all be in your mind

Comment #267869 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 7:45 am

63. Comment #267866 by Steve Zara

I don't think that a "killer" for superstitious thought will ever come. For as long as we are stupid, fearful, irrational, primates, we will have a superstitious inclination.

1476. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #267846 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 6:49 am

7522. Comment #267842 by epeeist

Awesome, I'm going to show that to my dad. Now that I got him to give up such ideas, I got him Sam Harris' Books and Christopher Hitchens' on audio for him to listen to. I already had the God Delusion on Audio, which I'm going to lend him when he finishes listening to the ones I gave him.

1477. The soul? It may all be in your mind

Comment #267845 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 6:43 am

57. Comment #267831 by Steve Zara

That's just a classic example of ad hoc reasoning.

1478. Beyond Belief 3: Candles in the Dark

Comment #267814 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 5:48 am

I didn't even know this was here!! I can't believe it has been a year already. Sam Harris talks too!! o(^-^o)(o^-^)o *excited*.

1479. The soul? It may all be in your mind

Comment #267768 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 4:12 am

Also, Buddhists can do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqngiI51W2Y

1480. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #267758 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 3:57 am

273. Comment #267749 by Steve Zara

I accept your apology. (^_-)

1481. The Joke's on Him: Bill Maher could use a lesson in civility from Michael Moore

Comment #267741 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 3:31 am

266. Comment #267727 by Steve Zara

Not to rock the boat further, but based on what I've read of RD's opinions on this subject, doesn't he agree with me? Not you?

1482. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #267712 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 2:19 am

7473. Comment #267703 by Titania

I got up at 4:30 am, went to bed at midnight. I left my window open, and got a sore throat. Must have been snoring or something, so I woke up to get a drink, and tend to the fire, but couldn't get back to sleep. I'm up for the day now.

1483. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #267698 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 2:07 am

7470. Comment #267697 by Titania

Hermits that have no life, never leave the house, and don't exercise require very little sleep.

1484. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #267695 by Wosret on October 21, 2008 at 2:02 am

7456. Comment #267634 by Bonzai

Makes me feel better about it.

1485. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267555 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 5:03 pm

183. Comment #267547 by Bonzai

It doesn't have to be an IQ test. How about a compulsory course in civic education in high school? People who failed or don't complete the course would have to write a test to get their voting card. The test can be something like a citizenship test but involve some short questions (rather than just multiple choice)

Yeah, I'd support something like that. Voter turn out would likely be half of the tiny number it is already though, sadly. It would also likely work against me though. Generally the poor and uneducated vote more liberal than the middle class and slightly better educated.

Also, Al made a decent point about this perhaps unfairly resulting in a disproportionate number of minorities being denied the vote, who also tend to vote more liberally... so things like that would need to somehow be avoided.

If a person decides to vote against McCain because he has an awful smile I would think he should not be given the vote either.

He does have a pretty awful smile though, doesn't he?

1486. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267537 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 4:28 pm

See.

I have ESP, "extra stupid perception", I can tell when someone is really being stupid and faking it.

So you have been faking it all along? Well I learned something today.

1487. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267526 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 4:14 pm

165. Comment #267517 by DarwinsPitbull

Please. You went all into point form mode, which you seem to do when you get annoyed.

I have ESP, "extra stupid perception", I can tell when someone is really being stupid and faking it.

Pfft, "spidey senses", what are you? Four?

1488. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267514 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 4:01 pm

161. Comment #267512 by DarwinsPitbull

Hmmm...I like "paste eaters".

1489. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267511 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 4:00 pm

158. Comment #267508 by DarwinsPitbull

"fag·ot also fag·got (fāg'ət) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. A bundle of twigs, sticks, or branches bound together.
2. A bundle of pieces of iron or steel to be welded or hammered into bars." - Dictionary.com

1490. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267507 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 3:54 pm

152. Comment #267498 by DarwinsPitbull

You need to come up with another drink because republicans own the term "kool aid" drinkers and use it to refer to Obamaheads or obamanots. So maybe say "republican 7-up drinkers" or "republican dr. pepper drinkers" or something like that.

How about "paste eaters"?

1491. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267495 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 3:44 pm

150. Comment #267492 by DarwinsPitbull

Nah, why would I do that? You seem awfully paranoid. Why the unfounded suspicion?

1492. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267484 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 3:31 pm

141. Comment #267479 by DarwinsPitbull

You are all making my girlfriend jealous.

Wouldn't want to make your totally, and one hundred percent existent girlfriend jealous.

1493. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267475 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 3:24 pm

133. Comment #267466 by MaxD

The answer is clearly "Son Goku, of course".

1494. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267468 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 3:17 pm

How about "if Jesus had a gun, do you think he would have won?"

1495. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267454 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 3:06 pm

117. Comment #267445 by Quetzalcoatl

I'll merely get into my "withstand having three-tone boulder dropped on head" position. That's right, I have a position specifically for that, you will find that I have a position for everything.

1496. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267438 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 2:57 pm

105. Comment #267423 by Quetzalcoatl

Movement is for losers.

1497. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267419 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 2:33 pm

102. Comment #267415 by Quetzalcoatl

You think I don't gots skills? I gots skills. Tones of 'em. I can hold various positions while doing that "Om" thing. I count each position as a different skill.

It goes: Son Goku< me< everyone/thing else.

1498. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267413 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 2:27 pm

Tezcatlipoca, I gots that Buddhist thing going on. That makes me better than a god, so there.

1499. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267409 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 2:23 pm

95. Comment #267402 by al-rawandi

That's basically how my reasoning works, but I'm not sure if it translates properly for anyone else though. I am the standard by which all else should be judged, you see.

1500. A 'values' voter speaks her mind on Obama

Comment #267371 by Wosret on October 20, 2008 at 1:42 pm

60. Comment #267350 by al-rawandi

Oh c'mon... that's a little too Da'Vinci code reasoning for my tastes.

If A, then B, C, D, E, F, and G, thus If A then G!!

I agree with you for the most part, but I think you're taking it a little far.