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Comments by prettygoodformonkeys


1. Sharia law 'could have UK role'

Comment #204551 by prettygoodformonkeys on July 5, 2008 at 7:32 am

epeeist;

Thanks for the link; good assessment. I especially liked:

But the second claim that Lord Phillips endorses is more dangerous. Decoded, Dr Williams is saying that in a multicultural society it is fine for people within a culture to agree not to exercise certain rights, even if English law would allow them to.

This is a charter for male dominance. It's a charter for cultural bullying; for peer-group pressurising; for self-oppression. It's a charter against women and teenagers who cannot make wholly free choices because they have nowhere else to go; a charter against individuals whose circumstances have made it difficult to think outside the cultural box; a charter for discreet duress. I am sorry to hear the Lord Chief Justice endorsing it.
Quite sums up my own reservations. Good luck, UK.

2. Sharia law 'could have UK role'

Comment #204232 by prettygoodformonkeys on July 4, 2008 at 1:07 pm

Rachel Holmes

if racist BNP types want to settle a dispute by asking the biggest thug among them to give his verdict, why not?
Because of the power it gives to thugs?

If mediators/arbitrators impose a sanction that is contrary to English law (such as a beating), they'll be subject to being found out and prosecuted like any one else.
So why not use the law of your land to begin with?

3. Sharia law 'could have UK role'

Comment #204226 by prettygoodformonkeys on July 4, 2008 at 12:41 pm

Wiki:

"...under the common law a man/woman can do as they please as long as they do not violate another man, woman or child's natural rights, or breach any oaths contracts or agreements he/she has entered into with them. From a common law perspective, natural rights are so numerous that they cannot be listed specifically and thus can only be listed in three general categories, namely: the 'right to life, liberty and property'. Under these general categories come such rights as the natural right to keep and bear arms for defense; for if one has the right to life then one logically has the right to protect that life. It is also important to realise that governments do not grant natural rights, as these unalienable rights are inherent in every man/woman, and thus all men/women are naturally sovereign and have natural authority over and above their government (theoretically) --- provided they have not somehow forfeited any of their natural rights by some legal mechanism."

Not being a Brit, am I right in assuming that any arbitration, even by Sharia, has to fit this basic mold?

Or would 'legal mechanism' include muslim wedding vows, where the woman has forfeited her rights?

4. New Zealand man sells his soul to 'Hell'

Comment #204102 by prettygoodformonkeys on July 4, 2008 at 6:26 am

Side note (as usual) - this time true:

Hell, Norway, is frozen over for more than six months a year.

5. Evangelical Christians sign up to a 'Church within a Church'

Comment #203200 by prettygoodformonkeys on July 2, 2008 at 1:03 pm

Jism in the church? I thought they put a stop to that after they made all those apologies.

6. Obama Wants to Expand Role of Religious Groups

Comment #203192 by prettygoodformonkeys on July 2, 2008 at 12:58 pm

1. He doesn't need to pander. The religious right is already supporting him, but he needs to make a faith statement in his policies because it's America.

2. From an administrative point of view this may seem to make sense because these groups have tax-free status, and utilising them means maximising that as a service. 'Less government employees' is popular at election time.

However, I don't agree with the tax-free status, and I see faith as a weakness to be overcome, so it doesn't work for me.

7. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203110 by prettygoodformonkeys on July 2, 2008 at 11:27 am

Here is a pretty good definition of Islamophobia, even though it is a made-up word with no meaning....

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/Islamophobia.htm

8. Faith schools undermined by 'Government witch hunt'

Comment #201748 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 30, 2008 at 7:58 am

Stevie B:

Exactly. Not much different from ID complaining that 'Faiththeory' isn't being treated as science.

9. Aliens need Christ's redemption, too

Comment #201600 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 29, 2008 at 9:25 pm

John C Wright:

Reason is not antithetical to religion. Reason, if anything, is the powerful ally of the Church, and grows dangerous to her when, like anything, it is abused, pulled out of its proper role.
So you have assigned Reason a role in the Church, have you? And you don't see that as an abuse of reason?

Twat.

10. Aliens need Christ's redemption, too

Comment #201598 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 29, 2008 at 9:19 pm

HJ:

"The oxygen masks in the overhead compartment just dropped down that was so stupid."

11. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #199957 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 26, 2008 at 2:38 pm

Excellent device, using 'anousic' as the lead-in.

I hope it is read by the religious, and they are incensed by all these horrible beliefs and practices until they read on to find out it is their own religion that is being looked at. I'd love to be a fly on their wall at that point.

We need more of this.

12. Should We Rid The Mind of God? A Debate

Comment #199464 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 25, 2008 at 7:55 pm

drbreakfast,

I am a recovering theist/deist/buddhist (15 years without a prayer), and your third paragraph blew my mind. The others supported. Thanks!

PGFM

13. Should We Rid The Mind of God? A Debate

Comment #199405 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 25, 2008 at 5:52 pm

McGrath. Twat.

What a shame that shit plays.
Using body language that displays sincerity (I know, not to me either) and a mellifluous cadence that has gotten creeps elected, and will again.

Ironic: he's using his 'skills' to touch ancient emotional chords that resonate in others only because of the needs of DNA to replicate itself.

No powers of reason are required to get that message across, none required to receive them.

14. Science is not philosophy

Comment #198631 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 24, 2008 at 10:20 am

when everyone insists you are wrong about something it doesn't necessarily mean they're engaged in an elaborate conspiracy. You could just be wrong
Simple is always best.

I'm glad to see this talked about everywhere, not just in the science sections.

15. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies

Comment #198392 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 23, 2008 at 6:07 pm

Just want to echo the best sentiments here,

Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and (the inexplicably still included in our list of taboos - who the fuck are we?):

tits.

I will miss you George, thank you.

16. Christianity 'could die out within a century'

Comment #197331 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 21, 2008 at 6:52 pm

The Telegraph:

Buddhism however, proved more attractive than both Islam and Judaism, and was chosen by nine per cent of those questioned.

Aish ...said the results of the YouGov poll of 2,000 people were alarming.

"It clearly demonstrates that religion, including Judaism, is becoming unattractive to the British public.
Widely accepted that the fundamentals of Buddhism are not 'religious'. Interesting.

Telegraph again:
In contrast, the number of actively religious Muslims is predicted to increase from about one million today to 1.96 million in 2035.
Let's hope there is a firm stance on the non-religious side by this time, to counter the growing craziness.....

17. New discovery proves 'selfish gene' exists

Comment #197251 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 21, 2008 at 12:56 pm

bugaboo

Come to think about it isnt ALL DNA selfish?
Exactly the point. I never liked the term, and Richard talks about it in the prefaces to the more recent reprinting. There can't be anything selfish or unselfish about a blind process - natural selection.

I may be wrong, but RD has some regrets of the word choice, and it looks like this article has misunderstood its application to this discovery.

18. Should Strident British Atheist Richard Dawkins Dictate Education Policy to US States? Barbara Forrest Apparently Thinks So

Comment #197242 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 21, 2008 at 12:27 pm

Ken Mercer, R-San Antonio:

"There are issues in the evolutionary process that have been proven wrong," he said. "Evolution is not fact. Evolution is a theory and, as such, cannot be proven. Students need to be able to jump to their own conclusions."
Just came right out and said it, on the DI website.

19. Pastors Challenge Law, Endorse Candidates From Pulpit

Comment #196758 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 20, 2008 at 12:15 pm

Pierce Creek Church

"The Bible warns us .... lest God chasten us …"
What the hell are they worried about? When is the last time anyone's seen any thunderbolts coming from that quarter?

I mean, they're marrying gays in the sunshine in California, and yet the Midwest is being 'punished' by 'acts of god'.

20. The Mother, The Child, The School Board And The Psychic

Comment #196153 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 19, 2008 at 11:16 am

Yes to King Crimson.

No to psychics.

21. Oystein Elgaroy - the Christian defender who became an Atheist

Comment #195194 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 17, 2008 at 9:26 pm

tank

Let your thoughts go wherever they want to, and you will get some clues as to who you really are, and what you want to do, and be.

Don't worry; there is no one peeking through the ceiling to see if you are good enough, or are praising *him* enough - there's just us!

It's great, there's nothing like it!

22. Oystein Elgaroy - the Christian defender who became an Atheist

Comment #195030 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 17, 2008 at 3:10 pm

Suddenly I was free to use my energy on better things than defending self-contradictory religious dogmas and justify that I still called myself "Christian".
I hope he likes using his energy to dismantle these dogmas. We can sure use him.

23. Rapture site sends unbelievers their last chance ... via email

Comment #194920 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 17, 2008 at 12:05 pm

'raptureletters.com' does this for free.

I have been registered for a year or so, and have registered a few friends as a favor, and tell them so.

Then we have a great laugh.

24. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192363 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 12, 2008 at 9:45 pm

peacebeuponme:

That speech should be part of the school curriculum and then prettygoodformonkeys wouldn't say such silly things.
PGFM
"The Holocaust happened. Inciting people to believe other than the historical truth is illegal because it incites people to act on lies"
It is illegal in Canada, I never said it was right. The second part of my post just shows the hypocrisy of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

What part of "embarrassed about this law" was confusing?

Fuck.

25. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192145 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 12, 2008 at 1:43 pm

The commission's statement said:

"By portraying Muslims as all sharing the same negative characteristics, including being a threat to 'the West,' this explicit expression of Islamophobia further perpetuates and promotes prejudice toward Muslims and others."
The Koran said:
Kill disbelievers wherever you find them. If they attack you, then kill them. Such is the reward of disbelievers. (But if they desist in their unbelief, then don't kill them.) 2:191-2

Give us victory over the disbelieving folk. 3:147

Fight the disbelievers and hypocrites. Be harsh with them. They are all going to hell anyway. 9:73

"He maketh none to share in His government." Democracy is heresy. Allah shares his government with no one. 18:26
And much, much more.

*ahem*
Fuck Islam.

26. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192120 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 12, 2008 at 1:20 pm

A little embarrassed about this Canadian law.

It is a crime to deny the Holocaust in Canada, Germany and France
The Holocaust happened. Inciting people to believe other than the historical truth is illegal because it incites people to act on lies.

In the same vein:

The Koran actually exists, and it says the infidel must be killed. Inciting people to prosecute those who just report what it says should be illegal as well.

27. Holiday in Hellmouth

Comment #190043 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 8, 2008 at 9:22 am

thewhitepearl:

" Well Heather what do you have to say about the fact that one time I layed my hands on a man and prayed for him and his leg grew in my hand. Literally grew in my hand INCHES because I plead the blood of jesus christ and invoked the holy spirit..What do you have to say about that?"
I had the same experience once with an angel, except it was me invoking the name of jesus......

PGFM (music lover / bastard / c)

28. Stupid flies live longer: study

Comment #189088 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 5, 2008 at 11:44 am

This sheds some light on why the fundies are out-reproducing us..........

29. Darwin still causing waves after 150 years

Comment #188833 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 4, 2008 at 6:03 pm

It takes a long time to soak in, because it changes the person who's reading it. Sometimes who you've changed into has to read it again.

Just read everything you can get your hands on, and don't look for a quick fix.

It took 4.5 billion years, after all.

30. Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy

Comment #188832 by prettygoodformonkeys on June 4, 2008 at 5:58 pm

Quine:

Strengths: Explains the diversity of life.

Weaknesses: You have to be able to think to "get" it. (Easier if you can also read.)
Excellent!

31. Louisiana's latest creationism bill moves to House floor

Comment #186533 by prettygoodformonkeys on May 30, 2008 at 2:11 pm

The universe was created last Thursday, complete with fossils, written records, and memories.

Prove me wrong, or teach it in your classrooms.

32. UC Berkeley is going to court over Evolution website

Comment #180930 by prettygoodformonkeys on May 16, 2008 at 6:39 am

Teratornis:

Very succinct as usual. Frustrating to see testable predictions tested in common law instead of common sense (logic in this case).

Hope they get Judge John E. Jones III, and the laws can start catching up.

33. Scientists Know Better Than You--Even When They're Wrong

Comment #178346 by prettygoodformonkeys on May 11, 2008 at 9:32 am

Here we have an expert in the study of expertise, saying there are limits to expertise. Last one talking, please turn the light off.

I like the idea of an additional academic layer that studies the historical and sociological reasons for the changes Theology has gone through; a sort of "Study OF Theology", much like Comparative Religion.

Study the Hell out of them, show that they have just reacted to social changes and scientific discoveries in the creation of their skycastles, and never had anything to begin with. Sort of like studying the emperor's clothes until you see they're not there.

34. The detail in the Devil

Comment #176599 by prettygoodformonkeys on May 7, 2008 at 6:05 pm

Windweaver:

Thank you!

35. The detail in the Devil

Comment #176052 by prettygoodformonkeys on May 6, 2008 at 12:56 pm

The once properly spelled word "daemon" has evolved through usage into "demon" (I am told these things by my wife, who likes to correct my corrections, thinking she roots for the underdog. Though in this case it is the under-underdog). "I thought you liked Evolution", she says.

I haven't read that spelling for, well, it seems like aeons.

36. Dumb and Dumber: A discussion between Ben Stein and Glenn Beck

Comment #175650 by prettygoodformonkeys on May 5, 2008 at 7:30 pm

Dumber than a bag of unusually stupid hammers.

37. Pat Condell: Anthology DVD available now!

Comment #174113 by prettygoodformonkeys on May 1, 2008 at 4:41 pm

"If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all."
I prefer:

"If you can't say anything nice.....
well, come over here, dearie, and sit beside me!"

38. Religion a figment of human imagination

Comment #171511 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 28, 2008 at 2:28 pm

God, Satan...
put both those bitches on a leash.

39. Science leads to killing people

Comment #171015 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 28, 2008 at 8:37 am

I agree that Stein's a dangerous idiot.

Just one petty typo to point out - under the picture of the 'girl next door' it says:

"No more cheap Tshits?"

Just saying.

40. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169862 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 27, 2008 at 2:12 am

(edited)

41. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169765 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 26, 2008 at 5:58 pm

Bonzai:

I don't even see a problem in saying "this is so gay". I wouldn't think most people who say that are raving homophobes, it's just an expression.
This doesn't work; I would never say this to a gay friend. We all hate PC, but people need to feel safe. I thought my friend would love SouthPark's "Big Gay Al" sketch because he is so funny, but even mentioning it brought up all the confusing history for him, and he was open enough to say so. I never made the mistake again. There is a huge problem when you are gay: you think normal people hate you intrinsically, at a sexual identity level, in your formative years.

(PS: AllanW - I don't hate you)

42. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169762 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 26, 2008 at 5:46 pm

PGFM:

For or against the decision to allow the t-shirt?
lostpoet:
You're not reading my posts. Obviously AGAINST the t-shirt!!
Obviously you're not reading the questions (despite - or because of? - the two exclams).

43. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169756 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 26, 2008 at 5:36 pm

'AllanW - explain "dissonance", and I'll try to answer your many questions. Otherwise, no.'

Please yourself.
It would please me to not be questioned by people who won't answer them.

Teratornis: best laugh of the day - thank you!

44. Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

Comment #169700 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 26, 2008 at 3:43 pm

peacebeuponme:

All this talk of what the "founding fathers" wanted. Makes for stirring rhetoric, but not really relevant. What should matter is what the Americans who are alive today want.
Well, they wanted Bush in the White House for two terms. They seem to want a theocratic state. That OK? I mean, as long as they have the numbers?

45. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169661 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 26, 2008 at 1:42 pm

lostpoet:

If you don't like the sub-topic AllanW and I chose to discuss, say so without resorting to the dismissive "psychobabble" term.
The term is entirely appropriate. A sub-topic should be directly related to the topic, but a side-topic is a diversion, and this is my view.

For or against the decision to allow the t-shirt? I missed that part, so it seems you are equating this main topic with all the other comments etc. that adolescents have to put up with in public school, hence the 'psychobabble' comment.

If you think the T-shirt should be allowed, then you should be able to take the comment 'psychobabble', or should I put it on a shirt?

46. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169656 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 26, 2008 at 1:33 pm

AllanW - explain "dissonance", and I'll try to answer your many questions. Otherwise, no.

BTW: I didn't say it was more serious than racism, etc. (where is it you think I did - quote me please) I said it was more serious than being called "skinny"; "red-haired"; common bullying for wearing the wrong clothes, etc. I was pretty clear about this by referencing Steve Zara, and by not saying what you say I said.

47. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169646 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 26, 2008 at 1:24 pm

Sargeist:

Well I'm glad I didn't post my physical address.

BTW: I was bullied too, skinny, was baby-faced. Got by by making people laugh and growing a bit of armor, but it still stays with me as anger. But I know people I went to school with who were gay (not out) who suffered much worse. Later on I found a kinship with alternative thinkers (misfits) and discovered a lot of common ground, to the point that I now count a disproportionate number of gay people as my friends. It's called "gay-friendly" and news in the community travels fast. It's rare for them to meet people they trust, because of the reaction you describe to being singled out.

That said, I would never hang out with them in the city (they don't know this) because full-grown people, even established professionals, are beaten to death for being gay, and on the 'liberated' west coast of North America. This is not a fear of skinny people, or red-haired people, or people whose legs are too long.

I live in Brutish Columbia.

48. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169637 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 26, 2008 at 12:49 pm

AllanW:

BTW 'they', 'forbidden', 'helplessly', 'these people'; may just be careless phrasing but if not your dissonance is showing.
Pardon me? Explain.
Care to point out where anyone here is not defending same-sex attraction or the fact that we as humans are part of the animal kingdom?
The point is that allowing adolescent gay-bashing is much more serious than the navel-gazing, middle class angst you and PBUM seem to be equating it (and racism, after reading Steve's posts) with. You make some good points within that area, but it diminishes the importance of the problem to lump it in with, for instance, "being skinny".

49. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169582 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 26, 2008 at 10:56 am

lostpoet, AllanW -

Not being gay gives us the luxury of producing psychobabble about it. Left-handed? Ginger-haired? Being a girl? Please.

This is a forbidden sexual identity that they come by honestly and helplessly, and school is an adolescent hormonal stew that is under our responsibility.

We should at least stand up, and very clearly and unambiguously so, for the basics. I know these people, they live in fear and rightly so - you can still be killed for this in many places in Canada and the US.

A cursory study of biology shows us that same-sex attraction is normal behavior in many other species as well. Not defending it looks to me like we still don't accept

*shouts: "Fuck!"*

that we are animals.

50. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169544 by prettygoodformonkeys on April 26, 2008 at 9:10 am

I'm with Steve on this.

This is a "day of action" to raise awareness for the inclusion of people who can't help being different, and who have a history of being beaten, burned, and killed for it to this day.

Christianity responded with a "day of Truth", where the reaction is "Don't be Gay because God says so". Truth. Not opinion. Not awareness. And not in their church.

This occurs in the hormone-charged furnace of a (religion-free) Public School where societal attitudes towards sex are forged. They are forged at home and in the street as well, but here they are underlined and endorsed. This isn't a freedom of speech issue; the issue is that we have come to expect far too little from our public institutions, and assume these battles can only be fought by special interest groups on the basis of: "who is the majority?"

We have already won these battles (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, separation of church and state), but the wedge is being driven on all fronts by these superstitionists. I don't care how many of them there are.

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