Comments by J Mac

501. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #231018 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 2:35 pm

There is something that is/was odd about RDs language in the book. I think that is part of the point, if he were writing about ANYTHING other than religion no one would notice such "tone." But religion expects this odd "respect" that leaves it untouchable. Even many atheists try to demand such respect for religion. RD did not wear kid gloves in dealing with religion. He dealt with religion like one would deal with any other topic.

502. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230989 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 1:58 pm

Durant, prove with a logically compelling argument that you are not currently being raped by an invisible unicorn.

Until you can present an argument that convinces me I'm going to go around telling everyone we should take the proposition that you are a unicorn's butt puppet seriously.

503. Saudi Arabia Bans Dog Walking in Capital

Comment #230977 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 1:43 pm

He might be referring to TWP and the chicken...

504. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230960 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 1:15 pm

I think one can come up with some sophisticated arguments to support the possibility of some cosmic intelligence. Even though I think these arguments are flawed

So the fact that someone came of with flawed but sophisticated arguments for something means that we have to assume it might be possible?

Ever read the gospel of the flying spaghetti monster? Sure its flawed, but its sophisticated, so lets give the FSM a shot to.

OR... how bout we base our decisions of logic and rationality rather than the fact that some moron wants us to take his idea seriously.

505. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230946 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 12:56 pm

And let me clarify my disdain for agnostics. I have nothing against atheist who use the term agnostic just to avoid all the hassle; though I think they'd be doing the world a favor if they grew a pair of testicles and just said what they were.

The ones that bother me are the ones who actually are agnostic. They think that the question of god is a 50/50 toss up and cannot be addressed by any form of logic or reason.

506. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230944 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 12:53 pm

nIshruul, agnosticism is not simply being uniformed about a religion. I am not agnostic about evolution, even though I cant know every detail about it. I completely support evolution, I don't need to know EVERY detail to know it is true.

Similarly I don't need to know every detail about a religion to know that it is bullshit.

507. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230939 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 12:49 pm

HA!

"terminally inquisitive billy-goats" Oh that is a meme to reuse.

508. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230935 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 12:46 pm

"I've worked with some adult diaper crappers..."

Yes I realized shortly after posting that that comparing adult diaper crappers with agnostics was quite demeaning of diaper crappers.

While they are a minority there are numerous good reasons for an adult to wear a diaper. I cant imagine a reason for an adult to be an agnostic.

509. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230924 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 12:35 pm

Hey, let's not bash agnostics too much. I was one when I was 6 or 7. I just weighed the crap the church was tossing at me and what I was learning on my own, and eventually I realized that there was absolutely no proof of any supernatural being. I can't hold it against someone else if it takes them a little longer than it did me. I just would not dismiss someone like Richard, without at least reading most of his writings, and obviously Durant has not.

Fair enough. but the point is it sounds like you grew out of your agnosticism. 6 or 7 is one thing, an adult who would claim to be educated still claiming agnosticism is disturbing. I used to shit in diapers, yet I wouldn't say "hey lets go easier on the diaper crappers."

510. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230913 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 12:27 pm

Agnostics crack me up ;-) Always the same.

Agnostics just piss me off. To weak minded to even declare anything. I have much more respect (though still not much) for theists than I do agnostics.

A devote theist at least understands that there is an objective truth, they are mistaken about what IS true, but they don't puss out of actually observing and making conclusions.

Appleby:

Keep in mind we're talking about the average Joe here.

I feel no need to accept the average Joe's ignorance. We are all capable of reading a book and learning. laziness is no excuse. And for those who make the decision to be lazy and ignorant then so be it, but they should keep their damn mouths shut and not pretend that they know things when they don't.

511. Saudi Arabia Bans Dog Walking in Capital

Comment #230882 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 11:38 am

ah yes. Damn typos. Though if I said Four Week I would be on track.

"They could feel social pressure to pair with females and just have their gay sex on the side."

A fly-by of bi flies?

512. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230881 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 11:36 am

Yes, quite literally agnostic. A perfect fit for the definition of "without knowledge"

513. Saudi Arabia Bans Dog Walking in Capital

Comment #230877 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 11:33 am

How can gay fruit flies be a plague? If they're ALL gay they wont last more than one generation. And one fruit fly generation is quite short.

What a week plague.

:o)

514. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230874 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 11:29 am

Is this any surprise? It's likely because science (beneath its sugar-coated exterior of wonder) is so damn difficult.

Does it make the theists want to go poopie?

For instance, there apparently isn't a single science-fiction film in the history of the world that ever quite got its science right. Why do you think this is?

Um, because its FICTION. If it were true it would be called fact.

Humans need to feel wonder. And it's so, so much easier without science.

I completely disagree, however that is a subjective opinion. I suppose if science makes it hard for you to be feel wonder than so be it. I cant imagine a world without science, it would be dry and meaningless.

RD only portrays himself as disingenuous when he keeps pimping science as something anyone and everyone can and should enjoy. Let's be realistic for a change. The kind of appreciation *he* has for science takes a lot of hard work and study before yielding fruit.

And we can't actually expect people to THINK. What kind of world would that be where people had to actually engage their brain in order to get something out of life. Its much better to be spoon fed happy bullshit in a near comatose state every sunday morning.

515. Enemies of Reason: Available now on DVD!

Comment #230871 by J Mac on August 15, 2008 at 11:23 am

How can you look at Dawkins's phony "I am teh deStructorrr of delusions" expression on the dvd cover and not giggle a little?

First of all, learn to spell.

Secondly couldn't it be mild constipation and a bit of gas? Who the fuck made you the authority on reading into facial expressions. If RDs expression is the only thing you have to criticize... well, I suppose it is.

Durant, just tell us what evidence you think there is for intelligence that didn't evolve.

Intelligence didn't evolve in durant's ancestry, but I don't think that's quite what you meant.

516. God's Warriors

Comment #230550 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 8:55 pm

For shame, you're pointing out the Emperor has no clothes.

The way this is going I am worried that the emperor will not be alone in that.

So I'll be off... before the clothing is.

517. God's Warriors

Comment #230541 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 8:34 pm

I have a clear conception that Brian is shit faced. It must be thus.

Being Shit faced is good.

There is no objective good.

Brian does not objectively exist.

QED

518. God's Warriors

Comment #230535 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 8:12 pm

http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=eE7Fe1cGLPk

519. God's Warriors

Comment #230532 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 8:06 pm

I pee therefore I am?

520. God's Warriors

Comment #230529 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 8:02 pm

I drink, therefore I am

521. God's Warriors

Comment #230506 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 6:46 pm

Goldy:

I got funding for another 2 years - I'm still employed

Thats nothing. I just noticed, they actually call my funding a "Non-Working Fellowship."

Damn strait, they new I was coming and I'm not about to WORK.

522. Defend the Individual and So the West

Comment #230405 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 4:04 pm

And next off the grill is the McMuslim...

523. Saudi Arabia Bans Dog Walking in Capital

Comment #230404 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 4:03 pm

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love animals ... though not as much as muslims it seems... But I love animals, and we absolutely should treat animals ethically and appropriately. But getting a good meal is part of life. I do not regret eating for one moment.

524. Saudi Arabia Bans Dog Walking in Capital

Comment #230402 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 3:59 pm

Oooh a vegetarian debate...

VEGETARIANS ARE EATING THE RAINFORRESTS!

So, if it is immoral to kill an animal for food where exactly do we draw the line? Is it immoral to kill a plant for food? Life is life.

What about mushrooms? Can we eat mushrooms? They are closer related to us than plants after all.

Ever use a sponge to clean up around the house? Are you sure it was completely synthetic? Never used a natural sponge which is the dead carcass of a poor cute little sea animal.

There are a few decent reasons to be a vegetarian. Morality is not one of them.

525. Poll: Should the motto 'In God We Trust' be removed from U.S. currency?

Comment #230398 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 3:55 pm

3. Polymer notes...

There is no way the US could do that. As it is our money is not worth the paper it is printed on. The best use for a US dollar is as kindling.

526. Saudi Arabia Bans Dog Walking in Capital

Comment #230395 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 3:52 pm

They SAY this law is so that men cant use dogs to hit on women.

Considering what they do to all the goats with upturned tails... I suspect they have to get rid of the dogs because the men can't control their urges when they see a creature trotting along on four legs.

This is probably good for the dogs, keep them out of the hands of people who will do disturbing things to them.

527. The rebellion of the child-brides

Comment #230385 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 3:41 pm

The court eventually dissolved the marriage �" and awarded compensation to her husband in apology

COMPENSATION?! What fucking court compensates a rapist for not being able to get his rocks off before his victim runs away?

See what happens when they kill all the goats with upturned tails, they go around raping little girls. Best thing we can do is send them a bunch of goats in heat. If those sick fuckers need something to do...

Somewhat reminds me of the beginning of the RSPCA, they got all the dogs taken out of wheels and off of pulling carts. So the dogs were useless and got killed, and they put kids in the wheels and strapped kids to carts.

Fucking momo muslims have more respect for their goats than for their daughters.

528. God's Warriors

Comment #230374 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 3:30 pm

I knew a guy in college who considered himself a "christian soldier" as did many others in his group. He would quote-mine the bible finding passages saying that they should take over the world and destroy all non-believers. And, above all, his dream, his highest goal in life was to be killed for his faith.

He WANTED someone to kill him for being a christian.

I was quite tempted to oblige him....

529. Novel on prophet's wife pulled for fear of backlash

Comment #230359 by J Mac on August 14, 2008 at 3:12 pm

Wow, if that is really an excerpt from the book all I can say is the author needs writing lessons.

Looks like the page was used at TP for her verbal diarrhea. Nothing but wanna-be cryptic, yet meaningless, verbiage.

530. The God Delusion

Comment #229601 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 8:44 pm

All the smallish chain bookstores in my area have a section called 'Science/Religion'

What the hell? What other sections do they have?

'Cooking/Pornography'

'Travel/Mythology'

'Gardening/Politics'

531. The God Delusion

Comment #229596 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 8:36 pm

And then post 116 brings us back again to a subject that the poster is arguing should be left alone.

"All the attention of course encouraged him to get some more attention"

And yet you give it more attention still.

532. The Afterlife for Scientologists

Comment #229591 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 8:15 pm

A fool and his money are soon parted... but his faith he will keep.

533. The God Delusion

Comment #229589 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 8:13 pm

"and someone asked me where I could find the bibles. "

In every hotel room in america.

How about we start leaving porn mags in every hotel room. It'd be much more useful for the adults, and much less harmful to the children.

534. The God Delusion

Comment #229575 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 6:37 pm

I group mine by subject. But so many are cross-overs that it's hard to tell where to put them. Sure there's a progression from physics to chemistry to biology. But what about psychology, does that go after biology? If so which psych books go by biology, the physiological psych or the evolutionary psychology? Then don't get me started on philosophy, does it get its own section, or does philosophy of physics go with physics, etc...

Fiction is easy enough. Speaking of which...

I was at barnes and noble the other week browsing in the science and philosophy sections as usual. As in many B&Ns the philosophy section meets up with religion. So I was standing there looking at the shelf labels "religion" on one side of the row. I turned around and saw "religious fiction" on the other side. I had a little laugh to myself as I thought about asking a store employee exactly what the difference was between the two sections, and how they determined where such books should go.

535. The God Delusion

Comment #229563 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 6:26 pm

Some good purple binding books:

Steven Pinker "How the Mind Works"
Francis Bacon "Novum Organum" (P Urbach J Gibson translation)

and, if you have an interest in training working dogs William Koehler's "The Koehler Method of Dog Training."

536. The God Delusion

Comment #229554 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 6:18 pm

And if ever I worry about crossing a line, Goldy rushes passed going yet farther.

I'm gonna go puke now.

537. The God Delusion

Comment #229540 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 6:05 pm

She's a lady, she doesn't fart.

Goatse, sodomy, she's here, but farting is too much for her :o)

538. The God Delusion

Comment #229530 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 5:52 pm

I try to reach out and love them.

So, let me get this straight (no pun intended)...

Reaching out and loving someone is good, but...

Reaching around while loving someone is bad?

539. The God Delusion

Comment #229520 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 5:43 pm

Natural has many meanings. It's a context thing. It can mean pristine, untouched. It can mean following standard function of something. So, unless you define what you mean by natural, unnatural is pretty useless as a term....

I agree and there are many good usages of the word 'unnatural.' In terms of uncomfortable, or not standard, etc. It can be a useful word.

But it disturbs me when it is applied to behavior, as I cannot think of such a usage where it would not be used as a condescending judgement of something for which the speaker has a distaste:

"homosexuality is unnatural"
-Complete bullshit, it is quite natural. If one wishes to say it is disgusting, well that's odd, but fair.

"farting is unnatural"
-Same as above

I cannot imagine a behavior that could be called unnatural without such implications.

540. Al-Qa'eda in Iraq alienated by cucumber laws and brutality

Comment #229503 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 5:17 pm

So, I had to look up Haram to confirm it meant what the context implied. But I also found that it had a second meaning as well:

...mean an Islamic holy site of very high sanctity. The two sites whose Islamic sanctity is unchallengeably the highest of all are Mecca and Medina in Arabia

So... we now have an answer to that burning question of what do Mecca and goat-camel-toe have in common in the eyes of a muslim?

541. Al-Qa'eda in Iraq alienated by cucumber laws and brutality

Comment #229495 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 5:09 pm

HA HA! He had to marry a goat.

And Christians worry about the "institution of marriage" if they let to people of the same sex get married.

542. The God Delusion

Comment #229494 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 5:08 pm

unnatural

Oh how I love to hate that word.

It's complete bullshit, unless you are talking about fiction. Everything that exists in nature is natural. I think what you mean to say is that it is hideously disgusting which is a sentiment I would agree with, but it is a subjective sentiment which others may not agree with. Saying it is pornographic, or adult material, or not appropriate for a work computer are all fair and true.

543. Judge says UC can deny class credit to Christian school students

Comment #229472 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 4:46 pm

..Except for all the ex-hippies, of course, but nowhere's perfect. :-)

Isn't there an over abundance of scientology, homeopathy, and other new age crap there as well?

544. The God Delusion

Comment #229470 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 4:42 pm

Moxie, and level-. headedness. My ego is big enough without stroking, but thanks.

I did note however that their may be some surprise to the difference between my post above and my post on how we atheists should hold ourselves to a high moral standard in order to deflate foolish accusations against us. (In the thread on the Maher movie.)

I'll respond to that before anyone else brings it up (see how big my ego is, I think people might actually remember my posts). There I was standing ground that we should adhere to our OWN standards and behave in a dignified way, or in other words not stoop to the level of the theists. Here I am claiming there is no need for us to adhere to SOMEONE ELSE'S standards.

If KKelly says anything abruptly racist or in other ways disturbing in its own right then so be it - I'd be the first one to tell him off, but I will not use someone else's standards to judge his or anyone else's behavior.

545. The God Delusion

Comment #229460 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 4:11 pm

51, exploit my posts for what purpose with any consequence?

Closed minded fucktards could use your posts as excuses to hate gays....

wait, do they need excuses? And do we care what these closed minded fucktards think?

--------------

Steve, you make a bit of a point; but why pander to the foolish? How different is that than a publishing company refusing to print that book about muhhamed in fear of the reaction of other fucktards.

If KKelly is rude, which he might well be, then that can be addressed. But I find it odd that he should be censored due to the potential reaction of complete morons.

As an atheist I don't need to be worried about theists quote mining to find reasons to hate me. Fuck 'em, if they are that closed minded then I'll give them plenty of reasons to hate me, we shouldn't avoid these conflicts, we should meet them head on and win.

546. The God Delusion

Comment #229446 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 3:22 pm

you remind me of a naughty child who swears in front of adults to get a reaction. You are boring, pal

I have not followed the parts of this thread that lead up to this comment. But I can't leave that delicious irony alone: if you believe he is being naughty to just get attention then why are you giving it to him?

547. Al-Qa'eda in Iraq alienated by cucumber laws and brutality

Comment #229441 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 3:19 pm

This is a fun thread. Let's all tell some more jokes about people who slaughter indiscriminately (including children) while enforcing their rules. Fucking hilarious!

I bet you're all very proud of yourselves.

You win that bet. I am pretty proud of myself; I rejected the false ideas that were brainwashed into me throughout my life and now I laugh at those dumb enough to take them seriously.

But I am curious what you would have us do? The sarcasm of your post could be cut with a knife, yet sarcasm implies that we should NOT be laughing at them? We are to take them seriously?

548. The God Delusion

Comment #229436 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 3:13 pm

Wellllll, not wanting anyone to know that I was reading it, I covered mine with a brown paper cover that I fashioned out of a supermarket bag. I also carried it around in a non-descriptive brown paper sack as I became intoxicated with its contents...

In some areas of the US people may have to do this. While I was reading my copy I would display it with pride as I sat at the park or coffee shops. But there were costs. I would get dirty looks and over hear comments about me all the time. One time I was sitting in the park, minding my own business reading when two guys came by both wearing crosses around their neck - they saw the book, one grumbled and said something under his breath while glaring at me; the other spit at me.

I couldn't quite decide if I should have been offended or entertained at the irony. I shrugged it off and kept reading.

549. Al-Qa'eda in Iraq alienated by cucumber laws and brutality

Comment #229253 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 9:22 am

So can skinny women buy watermelons while really big girls are not allowed to?

This is just to stupid, prime example for Poe's law.

550. Al-Qa'eda in Iraq alienated by cucumber laws and brutality

Comment #229251 by J Mac on August 13, 2008 at 9:20 am

That would sketch a rather bizarre, albeit interesting picture.

"Salomon using wind to fly on a carpet muncher".

Only bizarre when you read the rest untranslated...

"Wind" of course refers to opium smoke, and to "fly on" someone, well that of course is a sexual euphemism.

So Solomon was simply getting the lesbos doped up in hopes of getting a piece. Same old story, just different language.

:o)