1. Museums teach society lacking in science literacy

Comment #172849 by madShelly on April 30, 2008 at 6:06 am

I took my daughter up to Sudbury yesterday to visit Science North. She had a blast. Highly recommended.
There was at least four school bus loads of kids exploring, the exhibits, many of which are 'hands on'.
'Blue coats' are all over the place, ready to offer explanations, or to let a kid get a little closer to some of the live animals. My daughter is a fan of 'Peep and the big wide world', so a painted turtle she figured must be named 'Newton', was one of the days highlights for her.

I just discovered Science North also runs science camps., which look excellent.


And yet, (according to Angus Reid)
'[...] 22 per cent of respondents believe God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years, while 19 per cent are not sure.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/16178

I've seen worse stats for the province of Ontario, but don't have time at the moment dig for the scarier numbers. The following article does flesh this out a bit if anyone is interested.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A threat to geoscience education: creationist anti-evolution activity...-a0156291084

Edit: I can't seem to get that link to work, a cut n paste into the browser does seem to do the trick.

2. George Scales, War Hero and Generous Friend of RDFRS

Comment #111443 by madShelly on January 14, 2008 at 3:37 pm

Hi Mr Scales
My daughter is two years old. When she is my age, I have hope that the world will be a better place, in part because of the RDFRS.
Thank you for supporting Professor Dawkins.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

From
Trevor, Carmen & Sarah Hill
Parry Sound, Canada.

3. AAI Convention webcam

Comment #75046 by madShelly on October 1, 2007 at 12:47 pm

My name is Trevor Hill. I am not sure anyone who has read anything I have written would conclude that I am a 'nice guy', at least in my public assertions of Atheism. I doubt my Christian friends would anyway. That's right I actually have a few friends who some in this thread would conclude are idiots. Maybe that is the difference between the supposed nice guys and the supposed hard asses, the 'nice guys' don't' necessarily think believers are idiots, who knows though perhaps some of us just have more charitable or more 'idiotic' in their desire to love their enemy Christians in there lives, either way it is a 'lunacy' that I have benefited from.

I actually think that whole 'nice guy atheist', 'hard ass atheist' dichotomy you and your followers try to split the atheist world into is more than a little self serving, but I don't want to get further sidetracked.

I used to live in Mississippi, I currently reside in Canada.
I spent some time at your site a while back and was very enthusiastic about some of what I saw there. Mainly the blasphemy challenge, in so far as it opened the microphone up to average people who wanted to speak out.
I contributed funds, as well as books to one of your associates.

I also believe education is important, especially for people who set themselves up as leaders.

As I recall shortly after I made my donation I visited the my space page of your associate and was treated to his picture, with the smug comment beneath it, 'doing research so you don't have to', which I thought was a little bit crass. At the time, I wrote it off to youth, (in err actually, as many young people are not dicks).

Eventually my initial enthusiasm did dampen as I began to pay closer attention to why I was enjoying time at your site.
I am not going to go over my concerns again, as I made them at the time, on your website. To be honest, I did not hang around to witness whether or not my post was chopped up and or mocked, or whether your mods decided I was a Christian; It really didn't matter to me any more. I had decided that it had been a mistake to become involved with your group in even a limited way and so I left. As I stated a couple of days ago, if people want to learn what you guys are about, they should spend some time at your website. That would allow people to make up there own minds -- I have to wonder if Professor Dawkins actually did.
The knee jerk support and respect you people receive from some is a little disturbing.

Some of what you do is probably productive.
However, none of it is something that I want to be involved with.
I can't imagine why Professor Dawkins wants to be either.
On look at the 'Kent Hovind = Fucktard' video you promote, or the Sable Chicken response video would have been enough for me even if I wasn't aware of your other projects.

One of your groups little working myths is that what you do benefits the 'nice guys' in some way, in my estimation in doesn't, if I can say that without accepting the dichotomy in the first place.
But that's just me. I realize that many, especially those in your (in my estimation- steeped in group think) clique disagree with me.

I would not have even bothered commenting in this thread had not been for the persistent, predictable and slightly paranoid attempts to discredit any criticism of your group.
At one point someone actually said you guys could 'do no wrong' as long as you were getting results, and that cuts to the core of the problem for me.
Some of what you do is obnoxious and I think it doesn't benefit anyone, even if does feed your fans.
Some of what you do is irresponsible and I think it doesn't benefits anyone.

For example, encouraging people to make videos, hide texts, etc, inside churches. No matter how many disclaimers you make that is just flat out stupid and dangerous. I probably could remember more examples but I have wasted enough time on this already.

In the end, I think it is important that people outside of this 'big tent' realize that not everyone is behind what you do.

This deserves repeating:
'I don't really care how they use their money or how they dress. I care about how they treat people.'

4. AAI Convention webcam

Comment #74755 by madShelly on September 30, 2007 at 9:28 am

I see, so you have spent some time on the RRS site.
I am not a woman and I am not a Christian.
Very much an anti theist actually. I am not quite sure what any of that matters to what I wrote though.
I don't need support for any of my opinions from any one here,

Amazing how criticism of the RRS seems to bring out the 'you must be a Christian BS'.

I suggest you reread my post, I am afraid of that headline, something you clearly are not.
Which is in fact what makes zealots like yourself dangerous.

5. AAI Convention webcam

Comment #74748 by madShelly on September 30, 2007 at 8:46 am

Yorker, (I'm tempted to add 'you fucktard', are you going to go and provide legal funds for the first young person, (assuming it hasn't happened already) who throws a brick through a church window, spray paints a church, or burns one down in the name of your 'war'.

Are you not the least bit concerned about the anger that the RRS feeds on and generates. BTW, It doesn't matter how legitimate that anger is.
The potential for a RRS inspired zealot to eventually do something stupid is a pretty safe bet.
I am basing this opinion on what I saw on the boards some time ago, so perhaps things have changed, (I hope so, however RRS posts here would seem to suggest otherwise).
The RRS are 'loose cannons' in the oldest use of the expression.
While you, (or perhaps all of us to some degree) may appreciate that they fire 'hot loads' and score 'hits' on our 'enemies', I am a little concerned about what is going to happen when that cannon blows up in peoples faces, including the members of the RSS squad themselves, who I suspect, despite their attitude, are actually decent people.

If people want to channel the anger of young people, they aught to held to a high standard in both their approach , attitude and tactics.
Professor Dawkins, who I have a great deal of respect for, loses some of that respect, in embracing the RRS. Every time the RRS do something obnoxious it reflects on him (and everyone else who is a 'Proud member'.

Incidentally, given the number of American youth, (stadiums full) that are drawn to Evangelical rock concerts/extravaganzas the idea that all that appeals to young people is crassness & vulgarity seems to me a bit off.

In closing, your aggressive posturing on this board is getting really annoying to read, even for a lurker like myself.
Perhaps, someone aught to 'fuck some sense into you', (see 'God talk on the View", BTW one of your more obnoxious & sexist posts to date). May I suggest is that you take a handfull of atheist and political manifestos of your choice, go stand in front of the nearest church, and start yelling God is bullshit at people as they come out of the church.
You could film and put it up on U tube, it's your choice as to whether you wear your RRS badge while you do it.

6. Faith schools should not be tax-funded, and here's why

Comment #72441 by madShelly on September 21, 2007 at 5:42 am

I apologise for posting this twice or if this article/discussion has been posted elsewhere, but I think it is worth people reading and perhaps commenting on

Globe and Mail panel 'discussion' on Funding faith based schools in Ontario.
Panel contains no Atheist or Secular representation.

(I'm having trouble getting the link to work in this posts, Google Globe and Mail and look to the left of the web page).




Discussion is still 'open' at the Globe and Mail Website if people want to make a comment or complain about the lack of secular or atheist viewpoint on the panel.
I haven't been able to get anything past the censor but perhaps others might try.

The panel's essays are worth reading in and of themselves.
One of my favourite quotes from the contributed essays has to be this one from Lorna Dueck, whose essay is pretty much an ode to brainwashing.

'The Bible directs parents to take what is central to our Christian identity and "repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again." (Deuteronomy 6:6.7, NLT).'


Anyway, it would be nice to have some contributions to this 'discussion' from those willing to take a stand for secular - non faith based education in Ontario.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

- -- - -- - -- -- -
Post rejected by sensors at G&M.

Government should not be in the business of supporting any religion.
Tax dollars should not be used to fragment our society and communities.

The only identity that the education system should be used to reinforce is our shared Canadian identity. If people want there children to grow up with a religious identity it is their own responsibility.

Keep your religious crap out of the public education system.

If some religious people can not accept the idea that their child may have to sit next to a person of a different faith or an Atheist in a classroom they should take their child out of the public system and home school them.

I agree it is unfair that Catholics get funded. They shouldn't.
I would like to see a politician with the stones to take that stand.

While I would love to have a go at some of Lorna Dueck's ode to brainwashing, this comment by Mr Elkin deserves attention.

'There is no reason to believe, proponents say, that kids who attend public Jewish schools, for example, would be any less tolerant or less integrated in society than kids who currently attend regular or Catholic public schools, or kids who attend publicly funded arts-based schools or alternative schools for that matter.'

Actually Rabbi, there is very good reason to believe that they would be less tolerant.

In a study, the Israeli psychologist Tamarin put the story of Joshua's genocidal massacre at the battle of Jericho. 66% of the children approved of the actions of the Israelites in this story. 'Joshua did good because the people were of a different religion[..]'

When the control group was given the same story, with references to Judaism left out., the results skewed completely the opposite direction with only 7% approving of the genocide in the story. You can read about this study in 'the God Delusion', by Dr Richard Dawkins.

------------
(I probably should have left out the scatological ref. maybe it would have made it through then)

7. Youtube hater, I respect your right to free speech.

Comment #72150 by madShelly on September 20, 2007 at 12:38 pm

Sinful Messiah

I do not support the rational response squad.

However, if you're going to judge Sapients performance on that radio show, you should know that the format for the interview with Laura Ingram was complete BS; bullying, personal attacks and a continuous use of the mute button.
It's something to consider while listening to it.

If you want to get a better idea what they are about, hang around their website, you may not be impressed, (I wasn't) on the other hand, you will have a more accurate picture than what came across on the Ingram show.

8. Youtube hater, I respect your right to free speech.

Comment #70697 by madShelly on September 16, 2007 at 4:13 pm

Imaybewrong, How about the cartoon image of people lined up in front of a sign saying 'Rape Kent for Free Day' (in prison) , (1:56 in the video), .... Prison Rape, yeah that's funny & provocative, ....in an ugly, obnoxious, humanity denying sort of way.