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

Comment #175477 by skepticato on May 5, 2008 at 1:39 pm

Karlsson: What you're saying makes sense, but unfortunately we're dealing with people so dumb that they are completely unable to process rational arguments.

When dealing with such people, one must first try to pacify them and lead them away from panic-causing words ("nazi", "hitler", etc). (kind of like the stoning scene in Life of Brian - context makes no difference - whatever you do, don't say "Jehova").

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

Comment #168493 by skepticato on April 25, 2008 at 7:09 am

Oh please let him wear it. And please take lots of photos! By the time he grows up, the fact that he wore that T-shirt as a child will be about as offensive as someone who walked around in KKK regalia.

3. Hitchens V. Boteach

Comment #120421 by skepticato on February 1, 2008 at 4:01 pm

I was at this debate. If anything this review was too mild about how conclusive Hitchens' victory was. Hitchens was in top form. Boteach didn't have a chance...or a single coherent argument to offer. I was quite surprised at just how awful he was - it was almost embarrassing to watch and people were really feeling sorry for him.

My favorite moment was at the end when the line for Hitchens book signing snaked around the room and they kept making announcements saying if anyone at all was there to get a book signed by the Rabbi they could just go up to the front. I was in the line for around 30 minutes, not a single person walked up to Boteach in that time.

4. Mother Nature is Not Our Friend

Comment #107322 by skepticato on January 4, 2008 at 11:48 am

ianmkz -

Doesn't evolution require isolated breeding colonies for speciation(sp?) to occur? I'm not sure evolution by natural selection isn't over for us.

As I understand it, over time every species undergoes gradual changes due to selection criteria imposed by environment and sexual selection. If they have been isolated, they would evolve into separate species simultaneously (due to different selection criteria), but that shouldn't change the fact that generations of descendants change ever so slightly from their ancestors, eventually producing offspring that could no longer mate with ancient ancestors (and hence new species).

But maybe I'm wrong...maybe this is an opportunity for Dawkins to shed some light on our discourse.

5. Mother Nature is Not Our Friend

Comment #107270 by skepticato on January 4, 2008 at 10:48 am

Diacanu -

But you don't carve a turkey with an M-16.

I emphatically agree. But I sincerely don't see how that's a valid analogy at all.

6. Mother Nature is Not Our Friend

Comment #107265 by skepticato on January 4, 2008 at 10:43 am

Diacanu -

How much can you change something until it ceases to exist?

Humans are destined to eventually change into another species anyway - that's what evolution does. The point here is to have some say in the direction that evolution chooses to take us. Read Dawkins' "The Ancestor's Tale" for the answer to "how can you call that the survival of my grandchildren?".

7. Mother Nature is Not Our Friend

Comment #107259 by skepticato on January 4, 2008 at 10:34 am

Diacanu -

We have brains, and can make tools.

...and genetic engineering is one such tool, that our brains have graciously devised.

8. Mother Nature is Not Our Friend

Comment #107184 by skepticato on January 4, 2008 at 8:53 am

Diacanu, AshtonBlack -

I think you're reading more into this article than Harris is proposing. His course of action in this case is merely to propose a question

Many people think this project is fraught with risk. But is it riskier than doing nothing? There may be current threats to civilization that we cannot even perceive, much less resolve, at our current level of intelligence. Could any rational strategy be more dangerous than following the whims of Nature?

So far you have decidedly found fault with any "manipulation" given our current technological prowess and for specific examples (selecting for blonde blue-eyed people). I think that considering the question he poses as a viable strategy for beating the whims of nature could lead to technology and ideas that could make this strategy less risky than "doing nothing". For example, creating human beings capable of surviving harsher climates or atmospheres of other planets.

Engineering more beautiful people...well, if that's all that comes to mind, you are severely lacking in creativity.

9. God rest you merry atheist

Comment #99875 by skepticato on December 17, 2007 at 6:08 pm

Richard - I'm having a hard time understanding why you're so against songs/music/art that comes from a Christian tradition. Maybe you can clarify your position a bit so we know what about this particular issue is so offensive to you. Do you despise Michelango's work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling as well? Or can you appreciate that for it's artistic merits? Also, do you have a problem with "secular" christmas songs like "Here Comes Santa Claus" or "Silver Bells"?