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Author Topic:   How accurate is this email?
Nighttrain
Member (Idle past 3993 days)
Posts: 1512
From: brisbane,australia
Joined: 06-08-2004


Message 31 of 93 (385896)
02-17-2007 10:26 PM
Reply to: Message 25 by Rob
02-17-2007 11:13 AM


Re: Worth noting...
Congratulations, Rob. Only one Scripture quoted. Wasn`t too hard, was it? Now we can work on that Messiah complex.:-p

This message is a reply to:
 Message 25 by Rob, posted 02-17-2007 11:13 AM Rob has not replied

Dr Adequate
Member (Idle past 284 days)
Posts: 16113
Joined: 07-20-2006


Message 32 of 93 (386110)
02-19-2007 6:47 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Hyroglyphx
02-16-2007 1:22 PM


It reminds me of Creationism.
If you can't defend your own postition; and if you can't attack your opponents' views 'cos they're perfectly reasonable --- then the thing to do is obviously to invent some made-up opinions which no real person subscribes to; which are, indeed, to stupid for any real person to subscribe to; attribute them to your opponents, and then attack them for holding the imaginary opinions which you made up in your head.
I wrote a poem about it.
---
The Coultergeists
It’s tough for loonies on the Right
to find a battle they can fight,
or people who are dumber than themselves;
instead, they heatedly debate
the creatures they hallucinate,
like fairies, goblins, bogeymen and elves.
They treat with unaffected scorn
the dogmas of the leprechaun ”
a sensible procedure, you’ll agree;
and the cunning of some tricksy
brownie, kobold, sprite or pixie
cannot fool a right-wing loony, no sirree!
When they’re arguing with fairies,
their procedure never varies:
you can hear them any time of day or night,
explaining to some errant fay
how much he hates the USA,
and thinks that all al-Qaeda does is right.
You’ll often hear them try to talk
some kind of sense into an orc;
or claiming that a magic pixie’s erred.
They can show how the specific
errors made by some quite mythic
and imaginary creature are absurd.
They tell the little fairy folk
how their opinion’s just a joke:
they spell it out as plain as ABC.
It’s amazing just how risible
these magical, invisible
and non-existent entities can be.
You’ll hear the goblins, kobolds, sprites
and suchlike folks get set to rights
when any rightwing pundit froths and foams.
They point out all the fallacies
inherent in the policies
of dwergers, kelpies, bogles, imps and gnomes;
These fairy folk, which don’t exist,
are clearly wrong, as they insist
and demonstrate with logic which is deft;
so it seems an awful pity
that their arguments are shitty
when applied to human beings to their left.
I guess it’s wise of them to choose
to fight a battle they can’t lose
against the only creatures they can beat.
Their motto: “When the elves attack,
then show no fear in fighting back,
but if you glimpse reality ” retreat!”
It must console the right-wing coot
to think, that though he can’t refute
one word his real opponents may have said,
and though they always kick his ass,
at least he’s got more a bit more class
than stupid made-up creatures in his head.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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BMG
Member (Idle past 209 days)
Posts: 357
From: Southwestern U.S.
Joined: 03-16-2006


Message 33 of 93 (386172)
02-19-2007 11:46 PM
Reply to: Message 32 by Dr Adequate
02-19-2007 6:47 PM


The Doc is in...glad you're back.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 32 by Dr Adequate, posted 02-19-2007 6:47 PM Dr Adequate has not replied

FliesOnly
Member (Idle past 4145 days)
Posts: 797
From: Michigan
Joined: 12-01-2003


Message 34 of 93 (386191)
02-20-2007 8:02 AM
Reply to: Message 15 by Hyroglyphx
02-16-2007 11:57 PM


NJ writes:
That its ironic.
You may want to look up the definition of "irony"...as there is none in being against the death penalty but supporting a womens right to choose.

This message is a reply to:
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GDR
Member
Posts: 6202
From: Sidney, BC, Canada
Joined: 05-22-2005
Member Rating: 1.9


Message 35 of 93 (386210)
02-20-2007 10:43 AM
Reply to: Message 34 by FliesOnly
02-20-2007 8:02 AM


Here is an article about an infant born after a gestation period of 21 weeks. How many abortions happen after much longer gestation periods?
The thing is there is never any real discussion takes place on the issue. If there was a full discussion between both camps then maybe an agreement could be reached where abortions could be limited to the first trimester but we all know that discussion is just not going to happen.
Weighs less than 10 oz at birth

Everybody is entitled to my opinion.

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Replies to this message:
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Hyroglyphx
Inactive Member


Message 36 of 93 (386212)
02-20-2007 11:31 AM
Reply to: Message 17 by BMG
02-17-2007 12:29 AM


quote:
You think that Iran and North Korea have been trying to get hold of nuclear weaponry because of the invasion of Iraq? I'm not seeing the correlation. Can you connect the dots for me?
Iraq did not have nuclear weapons, and the U.S invaded. If Iraq had had nuclear weapons the U.S would very likely think twice about invading. If Iran and North Korea have nuclear weapons...
You think that Iran and N. Korea suddenly decided to expand their armament to include nuclear weapons because of the Iraq war..? That is pure fantasy. Making nuclear reactors, finding and synthesizing the necessary materials, arming the warheads, etc, is a long and arduous process. That means these programs have been going on for years and have no connection to the Iraq war. In fact, all nations were at relative peace with both these nations until they started their nuclear programs. This is a UN issue, not solely a US concern. Most nations have taken issue with these two countries because both have broken treaties.
quote:
Anthropogenic global warming is real. Its caused in part by carbon dioxide and methane gases. We should all stop breathing and eating beans in order to save the environment.
You probably know as well as I do that this is a straw-argument.
........ That was obviously a parody..... But if you want to actually stop breathing to mitigate global warming, don't let me stop you.
quote:
Just everything else associated with Jesus then?
Another straw argument. I don't believe liberals are against "everything associated with Jesus", but everything associated with Jesus on public property.
Hyperbole is for effect. It doesn't literally include everyone. Just those that take on asinine arguments, like, "Baby Jesus hurts my feelings."

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." -C.S. Lewis

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Hyroglyphx
Inactive Member


Message 37 of 93 (386213)
02-20-2007 11:35 AM
Reply to: Message 18 by ringo
02-17-2007 12:31 AM


What does homosexuality have to do with gender roles? Males are still males and females are still females.
The real question is why gender roles are something to look down on in straights, but something applauded in homosexuals. There seems to be some disparity. Why is that?

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." -C.S. Lewis

This message is a reply to:
 Message 18 by ringo, posted 02-17-2007 12:31 AM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 40 by ringo, posted 02-20-2007 12:18 PM Hyroglyphx has not replied
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Hyroglyphx
Inactive Member


Message 38 of 93 (386214)
02-20-2007 11:46 AM
Reply to: Message 19 by Jaderis
02-17-2007 12:51 AM


Pharmaceutical industry
quote:
Every pharmaceutical company in the world has vested interests in finding a vaccine. That's beau coup bucks for them.
I am not advocating any kind of conspiracy theory here, just posing a question.
Why would any pharmaceutical company interested solely in "beau coup" bucks (not saying they necessarily are...just following the line of thought) be interested in creating a vaccine or a cure which is a one time investment by individuals and would have to be priced relatively low over creating expensive medicines (cocktails of medicines, even) which have to be taken EVERY DAY by those afflicted.
Disease maintenance seems like it's more of a financial windfall than a vaccine or cure would be.
Good point. But even if they did come up with a vaccine that would wipe out the disease, the inoculation process would still generate a huge revenue. Plus, the company who invented the treatment would be in good standing with the public as great philanthropists. They would be looked to for the next crisis or crises.
But I've always wondered how much the pharmaceutical companies really want a complete cure. As you've shared it would be much more lucrative for them to come up with drugs that force the affected population to take them on a daily basis. Lets face it, they need sick people. I'm not suggesting that there is any kind of conspiracy. But I have wondered just how much they actually care about healing people from their ailments completely.

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." -C.S. Lewis

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Replies to this message:
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crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1467 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 39 of 93 (386216)
02-20-2007 12:13 PM
Reply to: Message 38 by Hyroglyphx
02-20-2007 11:46 AM


Re: Pharmaceutical industry
But I have wondered just how much they actually care about healing people from their ailments completely.
Well, compare how much pharmaceutical companies spend on research and development compared to how much they spend on advertising and marketing, and you'll begin to have your answer.
There's a very good reason that something like less than 20% of the development of new treatments for illnesses occurs in private pharmaceutical laboratories, and the vast majority of it occurs in university-affiliated public labs that receive Federal funding. Your mistake is in thinking that pharmaceutical companies are in the business of developing cures.
That's not what they do at all. Pharmaceutical companies develop chemical processes. They're chemical companies, basically. Figuring out which chemicals are therapeutic is largely done by public-sector university-affiliated research institutions.
I'm not saying there's a big conspiracy, nor am I saying that the work the pharmaceutical companies isn't important. Chemical manufacturing is how a molecule discovered at Johns Hopkins becomes a pill in your medicine cabinet. But it's important to have a clear idea about exactly who's working to develop therapies, and who's working to develop manufacturing processes.

This message is a reply to:
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ringo
Member (Idle past 412 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 40 of 93 (386217)
02-20-2007 12:18 PM
Reply to: Message 37 by Hyroglyphx
02-20-2007 11:35 AM


nemesis_juggernaut writes:
The real question is why gender roles are something to look down on in straights, but something applauded in homosexuals. There seems to be some disparity.
Fixed gender roles - whether male or female, gay or straight - are looked down on. Allowing people to choose their own "role" - whether male or female, gay or straight - is applauded.
Any disparity would "seem" to be only in your mind.

Help scientific research in your spare time. No cost. No obligation.
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This message is a reply to:
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Hyroglyphx
Inactive Member


Message 41 of 93 (386221)
02-20-2007 12:39 PM
Reply to: Message 20 by alacrity fitzhugh
02-17-2007 1:09 AM


Your message
quote:
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
Support both.
Look, I didn't write this piece so if you have any bones of contention, take it up with the writer. This is obviously supposed to be a joke. Its poking fun at how many people of a liberal persuasion unyieldingly support abortion for any and all reasons. Likewise, those same people seem to be against the death penalty which is reserved for homicidal offenders. The irony is that they condemn the innocent but free the guilty. Make sense?
quote:
You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens are more of a threat than nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Iran China and/or North Korea.
Own guns, in fact most of my family does.
Perhaps you do. But the fact remains that many leftist luminaries do not in any way support the Second Amendment.
The only ones who fall for gender roles are males who are worried about being emasculated.
No one is worried about the fall of gender roles because they can't stop nature. Gender roles have to do with natural predilections, whereas people avowed against them have to inevitably try and subvert nature and go right to nurture.
And conservatives feel that that same teacher who cannot teach 4th graders properly should try teaching religion.
Uhhh...... What?
You have to believe the ACLU is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while believing the NRA is good because it
supports allowing automatic weapons.
Converting a weapon to an automatic is remarkably easy. As long as they have a weapon that can convert I think they'll be happy.

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." -C.S. Lewis

This message is a reply to:
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Fosdick 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5500 days)
Posts: 1793
From: Upper Slobovia
Joined: 12-11-2006


Message 42 of 93 (386222)
02-20-2007 12:40 PM
Reply to: Message 18 by ringo
02-17-2007 12:31 AM


Gender Roles & Nature
What does homosexuality have to do with gender roles? Males are still males and females are still females.
I don't see your point. Why not ask, What does sexuality have to do with reproduction? Sperm is still sperm and eggs are still eggs. When sperm try to fertilize other sperm nature seems to know something about gender roles.
”Hoot Mon

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Replies to this message:
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crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1467 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 43 of 93 (386224)
02-20-2007 12:45 PM
Reply to: Message 42 by Fosdick
02-20-2007 12:40 PM


Re: Gender Roles & Nature
When sperm try to fertilize other sperm nature seems to know something about gender roles.
Those are sex roles, not gender roles. Gender roles are the socially-constructed stuff, like "men are doctors and women are nurses." Sex roles are the biological, nitty-gritty stuff like "men have penises and women have vaginas."

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
 Message 45 by Fosdick, posted 02-20-2007 1:11 PM crashfrog has replied

Hyroglyphx
Inactive Member


Message 44 of 93 (386226)
02-20-2007 12:54 PM
Reply to: Message 21 by tudwell
02-17-2007 1:29 AM


Answering the critics
quote:
You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
Two completely different issues. But as others have said previously, "So?"
I don't support either abortion or the death penalty, but the irony I was speaking of is that its the killing of an innocent life, but the sparing of a guilty one who has taken other innocent lives. That's ironic.
quote:
You have to believe that businesses create oppression but governments create prosperity.
I believe both can be, and often are, a source of oppression.
As with anything I guess.
I don't know about 4th graders, but I certainly think middle schoolers should have sex ed. Sex is a subject, just like math or history, that they need to learn, and who better to teach them than a trained professional?
Trained in what? Sex? Since when is sex an academic endeavor? If sex education was merely about physiology, there would be some science behind it. And in that way I see it as completely applicable. But sex education is more about telling kids to wear condoms and less to do with any actual academic standard. I don't think its the school's place to teach kids about things their parents should be doing.
Interesting to note, the site Percy linked to in Message 2 doesn't contain the word "gutting".
I'm simply relaying the email as it was sent to me. But I like Percy's link better because it pokes fun at both sides.
I don't think standardized tests are racist.
But a lot of people do. Which is pretty silly considering the root of 49 has nothing to do with race.
I do, however, think racial quotas are racist.
Agreed.
I don't think socialism will ever work.
Unless we heal ourselves on an individual level it just won't happen. The idealization of socialism and communism is great. I don't think anyone disagrees with the basic premise. Unfortunately, the ideology writes checks that it can't cash.

"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." -C.S. Lewis

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Fosdick 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5500 days)
Posts: 1793
From: Upper Slobovia
Joined: 12-11-2006


Message 45 of 93 (386231)
02-20-2007 1:11 PM
Reply to: Message 43 by crashfrog
02-20-2007 12:45 PM


Re: Gender Roles & Nature
Those are sex roles, not gender roles. Gender roles are the socially-constructed stuff, like "men are doctors and women are nurses." Sex roles are the biological, nitty-gritty stuff like "men have penises and women have vaginas."
Right, sort of, in your signature pedantic way. But if it's nitty-gritty you want, then "gender" is only a literary term, not a biological term. Now, maybe you'll agree with this statement: Sperm don't try to fertilize other sperm because nature has provided sex roles for them, in which the role of eggs becomes the necessary counterpart. So then we're back to male-female roles in nature, which have played out quite well for billions of years. I'd hate to see where we would be today if Nature had chosen homosexuality over heterosexuality as way to put her males and females into service.
Sorry for drifting off topic.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
 Message 49 by ringo, posted 02-20-2007 1:25 PM Fosdick has replied
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