RichardDawkins.net

301. Fleabytes

Comment #141532 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 3:05 pm

Cartomancer - PM awaiting you.
And I'll bet most of you can guess the nature of its contents.

MPhil :

Shutting up by popular demand now.

Good.
Composition is the art of placing silences.

302. Fleabytes

Comment #141420 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 11:25 am

Robotaholic

I'm wondering when/if Richard's tour stops will be televised

Actually, I don't have any tours planned for the moment, but as soon as....
Beg your pardon?
Waddya say?
Oh, you mean the other Richard.
Don't worry about it.
Happens all the time.

303. Seven new deadly sins: are you guilty?

Comment #141414 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 11:15 am

Just to clear things up a little here :

surveys showed 60 per cent of Catholics in Italy no longer went to confession.

According to quite serious studies and meta-analyses, almost 100% of non-Catholics fail to go to confession as well.
Yes, these are indeed worrying times.

an increasing number of people in the secularised West were "making do without God".

OK, all together now, once more, with feeling:
Got along withoutcha
Before I metcha
Gonna get along withoutcha now..

Colwyn Abernathy

Sautee until golden brown...serves 13.

As a French speaker, I was intrigued by the fact that you use "sautee" in the feminine form. What's the recipe for "Lusty Males a la Galloise"
Sleep of reason:

I have an eighth. Promulgating Bronze Age myths as Truth?

Hahahahahahahahahaha
Priceless.
"It is a mortal sin to believe that these sins are mortal."
You're not a lawyer by any chance, are you?

304. Fleabytes

Comment #141217 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 7:12 am

Steve Z

LOL. I CAN HAZ NUMBERWANG!

...er, what if we tried decaf for a few hours, huh?

305. Fleabytes

Comment #141210 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 7:07 am

mikejswalker

Are ya thinking a 6 followed by a 7 or just 13?

I wrote it as:
One measure/bar: 4/4,
One measure/bar : 5/8
But 13/8 would work almost as well. It just looks weird on the paper!
(6 followed by 7 doesn't work at all!)

306. The Salamander's Tale

Comment #141190 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 6:48 am

Steve Zara

We can discuss the exact nature of dragon wings, but without evidence for dragons...

What a nice definition of theology!
(Ssh!... but just don't tell my mother-in-law, ok?)

307. Out of the Blue

Comment #141172 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 6:32 am

stephenray

But since none of us can remember anything from our first few days (principally because the RAM has not yet been constructed)

Slow down here, please. I might have something to say: are you saying that there are no memories stocked somewhere, anywhere, or just that we are (apparently) unable to access those memories?

308. Out of the Blue

Comment #141143 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 5:30 am

Steve Zara :

I want to see the guide-O-tron device please, along with the instruction manual.

No problem, I'll ask my mother-in-law to send you a copy.

309. Out of the Blue

Comment #141141 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 5:28 am

dj2baduk

the interesting question is then, what reason would it have to learn?

Exactly.
The human brain is basically a survival-problem-solving gadget.
It wants to stay alive.
So the first thing you'd need for your Godputer is an over-riding need to avoid getting unplugged.
And, probably a need for coffee or tea. (So it wouldn't be a Mormon God!)

310. Out of the Blue

Comment #141129 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 5:09 am

Steve ZARA :

Please, stop me, someone....

Anyone tries to stop you, they'll have to get past me first!
ME!
King Cantankerous, remember!

311. Out of the Blue

Comment #141122 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 4:46 am

Steve Zara :

I would imagine that one would need a pretty large amount of computing resources to create God.

Really? According to some reading I have done (I think Atkins..) God wouldn't have had to have done much to get the show on the road.
Well, this show anyway - you know, life, the Universe, multiverses, sunsets, bad breath and everything.

However, clearing up the mess would take some pretty hefty computing resources I'm sure. We can't always just click on "Delete" can we?
We can?
Wow, tell me about it!

312. Fleabytes

Comment #141118 by Richard Morgan on March 10, 2008 at 4:14 am

clodhopper - I've sent you a PM re your request.

313. The Salamander's Tale

Comment #141050 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 9:23 pm

wipeout

I am reading this web page to look for some hope why these things HAPPENED TO ME.

Wrong question, my friend.
Bad things happen.
The question should be to know what to do with what has happened to us.
Judging from the tone of your last post, I think you would do well to start with some psychological help or support.
(I am saying this out of kindness - because even ass-holes have the right to be happy.)

314. When blasphemy bit the dust

Comment #141044 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 8:07 pm

Two new musical portraits:
"TNT -Truth not Tales" for Paula KIRBY

and
"Simply Steve Z." for Steve ZARA.

http://www.myspace;com/fleabytes

315. Out of the Blue

Comment #141041 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 7:16 pm

"Simply Steve Z."

Steve talks science and logic, enquiry and reason.
But if he held your hand, this is what you would feel.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

316. Crossing the Divide

Comment #141040 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 7:15 pm

"Simply Steve Z."

Steve talks science and logic, enquiry and reason.
But if he held your hand, this is what you would feel.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

317. Fleabytes

Comment #141039 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 7:14 pm

"Simply Steve Z."

Steve talks science and logic, enquiry and reason.
But if he held your hand, this is what you would feel.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

318. Richard Dawkins' US Tour begins this week

Comment #141029 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 5:27 pm

"Paula Kirby : TNT (Truth not Tales)"

Those of you who were expecting a pretty little tune for the musical portrait of Paula are going to be surprised. But not, I hope, disappointed.
This is a portrait of Paula making short shrift of the fleas, Paula wielding the hammer of truth, showing no mercy for lying fleas.
This is the Paula Kirby we all know and love.
It is only one facet of a complex personality, but since I compose with my heart, and the heart is rather more difficult to command than the head, I wrote the notes that I had to write.

I have composed this with a feeling of deep respect, and I offer it with love.

"Simply Steve Z."
Steve Zara talks reason and science, enquiry and truth.
But if he held your hand, this is what you would feel.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

319. Christopher Hitchens on Real Time with Bill Maher

Comment #141028 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 5:26 pm

"Paula Kirby : TNT (Truth not Tales)"

Those of you who were expecting a pretty little tune for the musical portrait of Paula are going to be surprised. But not, I hope, disappointed.
This is a portrait of Paula making short shrift of the fleas, Paula wielding the hammer of truth, showing no mercy for lying fleas.
This is the Paula Kirby we all know and love.
It is only one facet of a complex personality, but since I compose with my heart, and the heart is rather more difficult to command than the head, I wrote the notes that I had to write.

I have composed this with a feeling of deep respect, and I offer it with love.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

320. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #141027 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 5:25 pm

"Paula Kirby : TNT (Truth not Tales)"

Those of you who were expecting a pretty little tune for the musical portrait of Paula are going to be surprised. But not, I hope, disappointed.
This is a portrait of Paula making short shrift of the fleas, Paula wielding the hammer of truth, showing no mercy for lying fleas.
This is the Paula Kirby we all know and love.
It is only one facet of a complex personality, but since I compose with my heart, and the heart is rather more difficult to command than the head, I wrote the notes that I had to write.

I have composed this with a feeling of deep respect, and I offer it with love.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

321. Fleabytes

Comment #141022 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Geoff : Thank you very much.
Merci beaucoup.
Muito obrigado.
Diolch yn fawr.

322. Out of the Blue

Comment #141019 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 5:05 pm

"Paula Kirby : TNT (Truth not Tales)"

Those of you who were expecting a pretty little tune for the musical portrait of Paula are going to be surprised. But not, I hope, disappointed.
This is a portrait of Paula making short shrift of the fleas, Paula wielding the hammer of truth, showing no mercy for lying fleas.
This is the Paula Kirby we all know and love.
It is only one facet of a complex personality, but since I compose with my heart, and the heart is rather more difficult to command than the head, I wrote the notes that I had to write.

I have composed this with a feeling of deep respect, and I offer it with love.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

323. Crossing the Divide

Comment #141018 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 5:01 pm

"Paula Kirby : TNT (Truth not Tales)"

Those of you who were expecting a pretty little tune for the musical portrait of Paula are going to be surprised. But not, I hope, disappointed.
This is a portrait of Paula making short shrift of the fleas, Paula wielding the hammer of truth, showing no mercy for lying fleas.
This is the Paula Kirby we all know and love.
It is only one facet of a complex personality, but since I compose with my heart, and the heart is rather more difficult to command than the head, I wrote the notes that I had to write.

I have composed this with a feeling of deep respect, and I offer it with love.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

324. Fleabytes

Comment #141016 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 4:58 pm

"Paula Kirby : TNT (Truth not Tales)"

Those of you who were expecting a pretty little tune for the musical portrait of Paula are going to be surprised. But not, I hope, disappointed.
This is a portrait of Paula making short shrift of the fleas, Paula wielding the hammer of truth, showing no mercy for lying fleas.
This is the Paula Kirby we all know and love.
It is only one facet of a complex personality, but since I compose with my heart, and the heart is rather more difficult to command than the head, I wrote the notes that I had to write.

I have composed this with a feeling of deep respect, and I offer it with love.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

325. Out of the Blue

Comment #140987 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 12:50 pm

Dr Benway

"Look what I was thinking 300 milliseconds ago."

That would finally explain something for me : judging from the attention span of some of my students, they wouldn't qualify for being conscious.

326. Crossing the Divide

Comment #140961 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 8:07 am

AtheistAspy

judges will prefer eye witnesses over physical evidence.

Judges, perhaps, but my references concerned ordinary, untrained, jury members.
I am also wondering in what kind of situation there would be a real choice between eye-witnesses and physical evidence?
Could you tell me?
Because we're always having this kind of problem in debates with theists!!

327. Fleabytes

Comment #140898 by Richard Morgan on March 9, 2008 at 4:29 am

Steve Zara :

Does anyone have any ideas about the motivations of so many of the theists who post here?

I suppose there are at least as many reasons for neurotic behaviour as there are neurotics in the world.
It will be interesting to see if our theist visitors themselves notice your question, and are gracious enough to give their own, individual answer. (Though providing answers is not their strong point, is it?)
One also often has the impressions that the wooters and whatthe?s of this world fail to avoid the formula
"anonymyity plus audience = ass-hole".
They are doubly protected : the Holy Spirit and the one-click-escape-system.
Steve remarks

If it were me, I would slink away in embarassment, or at least just shut up.

.Well, no self-respecting christian would allow himself to be publicly embarrassed by his beliefs, would he?
In any event, whether or not they come here to sharpen their teeth and claws or not, it certainly keeps us talking among ourselves, and I suppose we should be thankful to them for that!
I imagine also that among the younger posters here (theists and atheists alike) there is this maddening, frustrating feeling of, "Why the heck can't they see that they're just plain WRONG? It's so OBVIOUS!"
It takes a little age and experience to be able to "let go" in the face of crass idiotic, self-contradictory ideas. And I'm sure that's how each side sees the other.
Even among some of my dear friends here, there is the occasional attempt to say, "Stop, everybody! Come here and listen : - I've got the absolutely ultimate argument / evidence / flea-spray, whatever. It's irrefutable. All you have to do is follow my reasoning. It goes like this..."
And afterward? Well, life continues, business as usual, the christians have gone back to praising the lord, we continue to try to expand our knowledge and understanding of the real world, renew our memberships for the Paula Kirby Fan Club*, marvel at lava lizards, herring gulls, good beer and rugby.
But there's probably more to it than that,isn't there?

* NOT snide - I'm a fully paid-up member myself. Heck, you didn't think I'd be discouraged by an avatar did you?

328. Fleabytes

Comment #140817 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 5:01 pm

clodhopper

maybe we are overplaying the rationality card a bit.

< sulkily >Why am I having an impression of deja vu?< /sulkily >

329. Fleabytes

Comment #140771 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 2:52 pm

Geoff

feed them to the goats?

Feed them to the goats?
Feed them to the goats?
Let me just ask you one simple question, and don't try to squirm out of it:
Does factoring over-fed goats into the Kolmogorov axioms of probability, and/or the mathematical definition of a stochastic process actually license deductively valid arguments for or against the existence of Thursday mornings, or guarana?
If you are unable to address this fundamental issue, I suggest you piss off.
(I've got a cafetiere full of piping hot Brazilian coffee, if you don't know where to piss off to!)

330. Fleabytes

Comment #140758 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 2:27 pm

veronad :

Thoughts?

Thoughts, like in... er,.. "thinking"?
If you're asking people to "think", I'm not sure you're in the right place on a Saturday night, after a fourth Welsh victory, Cartomancer hallucinating and Steve and Paula preparing to throw Christians and/or their ideas into the nearest waste disposal unit.

331. Fleabytes

Comment #140753 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 2:20 pm

Cartomancer :

Richard Morgan is a hermit monk living in the Outer Hebrides with a herd of goats

So, according to your descriptions, I am the only one in the bunch with a satisfying sex life?

332. Fleabytes

Comment #140701 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 11:43 am

Paula Kirby :

Ah, Steve, you surely weren't taken in by this innocent-looking exterior, were you?

Which innocent-looking exterior?
I can (and have done!) think of lots of adjectives I could use to describe the face you chose to reveal in your avatar - and "innocent-looking" is not one of them!
I won't list them here (unless asked, by yourself) - all will be revealed in your musical portrait!

333. When blasphemy bit the dust

Comment #140657 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 8:36 am

Off topic :
If you haven't been over to the Fleabytes Thread recently, you won't know about the musical portraits I've been composing.
Also, to be perfectly honest, if you haven't read this thread,then there's a whole pile of stuff you don't know!

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

Lotsa luvvies,

Richard (the other one).

334. Fleabytes

Comment #140654 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 8:31 am

clodhopper!!!!!
A phenomena?????
"A" phenomena?

why all the other religions are 'wrong'.

That's an easy one. It's for the same reason that in my (ex-)father-in-law's eyes, all his daughter's partners were worthless, good-for-nothing, lying,cowardly cretins.
I'm pretty certain that I don't approve of his reasoning, however....

335. Fleabytes

Comment #140650 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 8:20 am

PBUM : I'm sorry - I hadn't factored in the Joneses, so I stand corrected, reproved and humiliated.
But mostly humiliated, actually . Cos I quote enjoy that. You couldn't pop over here and actually flog me for a little while, could you?. I have a wonderful latex and leather collection of...

Oh sugar - wrong thread!
Excuse me folks - I've just been reading the FCOS forum, and it always does this to me.

336. Fleabytes

Comment #140647 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 7:56 am

Professor Dawkins - you don't need to reply to my question about "reverse evolution", thanks all the same. I've just read whatthe.?!'s post, and it quite adequately answers the question for me.

337. Fleabytes

Comment #140644 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 7:49 am

Storeo

What? No new evidence to support the belief in god?

You clearly were not watching the same match as me, boyo!

338. Fleabytes

Comment #140639 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 7:40 am

PBUM :

Lovely.

I think I agree, but just to make sure - was this a comment or your signature?
Though to be honest, at certain moments during the second half, I began to wonder quite seriously of the possibility of "reverse evolution"?
Richard Dawkins, please, is this possible during the Six Nations Tournament, or is it limited to Fundamentalist Evangelical Revivals?
I'm more of a sentimental musician than a biologist, you understand and your expert scientific appraisal of the situation would be much appreciated.

339. Fleabytes

Comment #140614 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 2:21 am

See you all later.
Six Nations Tournament and the shopping.

340. Fleabytes

Comment #140610 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 2:02 am

As you may know, I am having a passionate affair with Brazil. And that's a country where the word "fora" has a meaning that evokes so many happy moments for me!
I'll let you Google it - it'll keep you out of mischief for two minutes, at least.

341. Fleabytes

Comment #140606 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 1:43 am

Steve Zara

UGSOME

What a brillig idea! Oh, frabjous day!

342. Fleabytes

Comment #140604 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 1:34 am

Paula Kirby

Fora and Fauna

My, am I glad to see you're out of bed at last!
Up and posting - that's good news. But I need you over on the Crossing the Divide thread. I have got my knickers in such a twist over there, I can't remember what sex I am or why!!
Fora and Fauna! I love it!
The Richard and Paula Show? Ha!
Richer and Poorer, perhaps.
Or, thinking of my ex-wives "Richard and poor 'er".

343. Crossing the Divide

Comment #140600 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 1:27 am

Steve - it's PM time.

344. Crossing the Divide

Comment #140596 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 1:03 am

Steve Zara - glad we understand each other. Perhaps we can work as a team : you drive over people, and I'll come along with the ambulance.
(That's not as cruel as it sounds...)
(If it sounds too cruel I'll delete it.
There - click, click, deleted, sins washed away, never happened and all that.
Ah, if only life were that simple, huh?)
EDIT :I think reason can sway unconvinced believers. Check out the Converts Corner to see how many of the "conversion" stories include stuff like:

I do not know if I was ever a "true believer".

I had never fully believed in my upbringing faith of Christianity.

Despite these aggressive attempts at indoctrination, I had my doubts.

And yet, I could never believe there was a god.

I remember, even as a toddler of four, thinking to myself "something doesn't feel right".

I haven't properly believed in God since I was about nine.

You've guessed it - I have checked out ALL those stories.

EDIT :

I'll leave it for people who actually know something about this

As a teacher, I often say to my young colleagues : "The kids don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."
(I teach in a college - pupils in the 11 - 15 age range, in a very socially deprived part of town.)

345. Crossing the Divide

Comment #140591 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 12:45 am

Steve Zara : I agree that this guy's situation was somewhat unusual, but the issues being evoked are not all that rare. I'm talking about the whole "relationship/ emotions" thing here.
His thinking underwent a "sea change" in a particular set of circumstances. Agreed.
But the questions of:
"But reason alone is rarely enough to sway believers."
and
"We need to figure out among students changing their minds, what does that?"
and
"You can live your life just fine and not know squat about evolution."
really do go right to the heart of "the situation facing us."
The "us" in question being atheists who participate in this site and who by definition, can not be content to just let religion continue doing "business as usual."
We are confronted with, and must address all the distress that Godfrey and others have to face.
Without forgetting the cognitive dissonance that can make a person deaf to pure reason ( as ironical as that may sound.)
(You will have guessed that I, personally, have been through a living hell on account of religion. Do I have an agenda? You betcha, I do.)
With regards to your Penrose quotation, let me relate a little anecdote which is quite amusing and will probably help me to calm down.
When my sons were 4 and 6 years-old respectively, I was walking with them through the local cemetery as a short-cut to the supermarket.
The four year-old looked at the tombstones and asked me what they were. I explained to him about burying people when they died.
He stopped in front of a particularly ominous looking tomb, and asked, "But isn't it awfully cold when you're in there?"
His older brother, snorted unkindly and said, "Don't de daft! When you're in there, you aren't in there any more."
And that was the end of the discussion!

346. Crossing the Divide

Comment #140583 by Richard Morgan on March 8, 2008 at 12:13 am

PAULA - WHERE ARE YOU?
This article is crying out for a comment from you. It says so much, nearly everything in fact, about the situation facing us.

irate-atheist :

No vicars (except for close relations and friends) allowed.

Amazing!
Just how many of your close relations and friends are vicars? Sounds like one helluva family!

But reason alone is rarely enough to sway believers.

He drew a circle that shut me out--
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!

If that doesn't work, just call him a "fucktard" and resume normal posting as soon as possible.

For those immersed in, or close to the Mormon morass, try this technique.
Do what they do.
Put on a glazed, semi-trance-like expression and bear your testimony to them. You can repeat the exact same sentence several times, it will not diminish the effect, quite the contrary.
Are you ready?
1. Look the person in the eyes. This means fixing your gaze on the bridge of his nose, which gives the effect of looking into the depths of his soul.
2. In a very sotto voce tone of voice (which forces him to concentrate on what you're saying), repeat several times, "I know there is no god."
3. Since we're dealing with Mormons, you could also use : "I know that Joseph Smith was not a prophet of god." and:
4. "I know that Thomas S. Monson is not a prophet of god."
The use of the verb "know" rather than "believe" is very important here. Firstly, because that's what they do.
Secondly - studies have shown that in courts of law, juries tend to believe witnesses who are apparently convinced of the truthfulness of what they are saying, however implausible it may be, rather than people simply relating the facts, in a calm, reasonable manner.
I'll let the psychologists or Ted Haggard explain the whys and wherefores of all that - but it works with sickening frequency.

347. Fleabytes

Comment #140578 by Richard Morgan on March 7, 2008 at 11:02 pm

Steve Zara :

Has anyone used them regularly?

I haven't.
(This is what is called a useful, meaningful, thought-provoking post.)
(Or not).
Because posting here is rather like impulse buying. You just amble through the thread, and when you see something interesting or thought-provoking, Hop!, you post and move on.
Using a forum implies a rather more organised approach, like making a shopping list and knowing which shops you're going to and why.
And with whom.
And when.
And if you're too, too busy posting 2,800 comments here, well, I mean, who's got time for fora (or "forums" in Zara-speak)?

PS I had a sleepless night too.

348. Fleabytes

Comment #140568 by Richard Morgan on March 7, 2008 at 10:01 pm

robotaholic

am i doing something wrong?

That, my friend, is a dangerous question to ask in this thread.

349. Crossing the Divide

Comment #140540 by Richard Morgan on March 7, 2008 at 6:44 pm

But reason alone is rarely enough to sway believers.

"We need to figure out among students changing their minds, what does that?" says Jason Wiles

"You can live your life just fine and not know squat about evolution," he says.

Reading this article simultaneously broke my heart and fired up my determination to.....well,er....do something.
One thing, however, is sure : in the light of all this, Richard Dawkins.Net has a clear and unambiguous raison d'etre.

350. Fleabytes

Comment #140539 by Richard Morgan on March 7, 2008 at 6:32 pm

Steve Zara