Comments by Steve Zara

Comment #247555 by Steve Zara on September 14, 2008 at 3:05 pm

Comment #247554 by Fanusi Khiyal

I have no hysterics, Fanusi. The point of my discussion here is so that the causal reader of the site is reminded that there are some of us who aren't willing to consider your ideas tolerable. Some of us are willing to stand up and be counted and declare you for what you are.

As with all nutters who post on this site, it helps for regular reminders to be posted of what their ideas truly are. It works with David Roberston and wooter. I intend using the same tactic with you.

602. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #247551 by Steve Zara on September 14, 2008 at 2:58 pm

Comment #247525 by Fanusi Khiyal

I have no doubt that this will just engender a huge repeat of cries of how fascist these policies are, but you asked for them and here they are.

No, you slimy git. Those proposals aren't the truly nasty facist ones, although some of them stink. You know full well where you cross the line into fascism. It is prosecution and expulsion and worse because people have certain ideas.

Your political strategy is a common one used by far-right wingnuts. You put forward what seem to be a broad and not unreasonable agenda, but then you want to sneak in Orwellian ideas of thoughtcrime and selective removal of human rights, and then you whimper and whine like some kind of victim, some lone hero trying to defend civilization, when people point out that your little "extra tweaks" to your agenda are fascistic and contrary to the core of civilized values.

You are too transparent, Fanusi. Diacanu is, as usual, right. You are going round in circles trying to sell your throughly disgusting agenda on a reputable site.

I admire the effort of good people like decius in trying to debate you. I am afraid I can't tolerate the stench of your fanaticism and bigotry to manage that.

603. Robert Winston criticises dangerous 'science delusion'

Comment #247380 by Steve Zara on September 14, 2008 at 11:12 am

I think it poo-poos other people's views of a universe about which none of us know clearly or absolutely."

That is why Dawkins' approach is so powerful and important, because he has the courage to point out that non-scientific approaches to understanding the universe simply have no foundation at all. No matter how deep or profound these approaches may seem, they all reduce to a belief that having a gut feeling, or a tradition, is a reasonable foundation for belief. They aren't.

I am afraid Robert Winston has shown his true colours here, and he has shown himself to be ridiculous. His criticism of Lewis Wolpert is outrageous.

604. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #247269 by Steve Zara on September 14, 2008 at 8:08 am

Comment #247230 by Vaal

A very late happy birthday.

I don't have too many worries about approaching my 50s. After all, 50 is the new 25 or something isn't it?

It is amazing how much one learns as one gets older. Recently I have learned that there are many attitudes that threaten society. You can tell them from the use of certain phrases...

"This is God's will"

"I don't condemn you, the Bible does"

"I know what true morality is"

"There are only two choices... my way, or doom"

605. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #246802 by Steve Zara on September 13, 2008 at 8:32 am

Comment #246789 by John Locke

I thought I would drop in for a peek at things, and it is all rather shocking. I doubt Fanusi is joking. His progression to far-right nutcase has been painful to watch.

I think for the sake of the site, as many of us as possible should post that his views are not acceptable. They are dangerous and unethical, and public promotion of them - such threats to fellow citizens - is possibly even illegal in the UK.

606. What does atheism say about the purpose (or the meaning) of life?

Comment #245527 by Steve Zara on September 11, 2008 at 3:58 am

Comment #245435 by David Kragt

I've been on a number of atheist web sites trying to convince them unsuccesfully that life has no meaning.

Good!

On a cosmic scale it simply doesn't matter what you do or don't do.

Good. Fortunately I am not some cosmic-scale galactic emperor. I don't think I would be very good at it. We live at a scale we share with other thinking and feeling beings. We can make the meaning we need there.

607. Atheists don't believe in anything

Comment #245525 by Steve Zara on September 11, 2008 at 3:51 am

Comment #245523 by Sherbrooke

Atheists believe many things, however mythology isn't one of them.

Oh yes they do. Well, some of them. There are millions of Buddhists who don't believe in deities but in a substantial mythology.

We need to be clear about terms. Atheism means nothing but a lack of belief in Gods. It does not imply rationalism or no belief in the supernatural. We should not assume that others arrive at a lack of belief in the same way most of us here probably have.

608. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245399 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 3:48 pm

Comment #245325 by al-rawandi

And then scolded me for assuming this meant any gun

Comment #245354 by al-rawandi

I truly don't understand how you fail to comprehend this very simple point. Gun rights in this country include both sporting and personal defense.

Sorry, but I am confused. Are you defending all gun ownership, or just sporting gun ownership?

I assumed that you accepted that owning concealable personal firearms was a bad idea.

609. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245392 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 3:31 pm

Comment #245381 by decius

I managed to pre-lose the hat before I left. It must be somewhere at home, but I have no idea where. Fortunately, losing it at home rather than on holiday means I am likely to actually find it again sometime.

610. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245372 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 2:56 pm

Comment #245370 by Quetzalcoatl

The mobile was fortunately neither lost not waterlogged.

611. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245369 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 2:53 pm

Comment #245363 by decius

It is replaceable. Just to illustrate the kind of guy I am, I also went swimming with my wallet in my swimming trunks pocket.

612. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245328 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Comment #245325 by al-rawandi

Al. I am sure you realise that there are fanatics who campaign for general gun ownership. If you don't qualify your position each time such discussions occur, then you will be identified with those. I know your position is more reasonable and thought out - I remember this from our last discussion. Not everyone will remember the subtleties of past discussions here.

613. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245323 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 1:57 pm

Comment #245317 by Quetzalcoatl

Regarding holiday- back from a mostly wonderful day on a mediterranean beach, swimming in warm seas. Unfortunately, probably as a result of sun-tan-oil, I lost my wedding ring, so not quite a perfect day.

614. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245313 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Comment #245309 by decius

I was thinking that each person should have the right to own some kind of tank-busting missle. Preferably a small one one that could be concealed under loose clothing. That would keep the damned tyrants at bay!

615. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245308 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 1:48 pm

Wow. Has this thread moved on.

I have a confession. I was wanting to see if Al remembered a previous discussion in which this gun matter was resolved reasonably amicably, and to see if he would stop generalising.

My objection is actually not about "guns", it is for me about personal firearms which can be concealed, not about hunting rifles.

Al. I would have expected better of you, but you continue to use simplistic generalisations. You attack "liberals" and "socialists" and "feminists" and now "anti-gun campaginers" as if we were all clones.

Life is more complex than that.

616. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245166 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 10:49 am

Comment #245159 by al-rawandi

So if you walk by a dead body you are more appalled if the cause was gun shot wound, as opposed to splattered through the windscreen in head on collision with a drunk?

Yes. I object to people being killed. But I also object to people buying devices specifically designed to kill or wound people. Not as a side effect, not through incorrect use, but as the primary purpose.

617. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #245155 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 10:11 am

Comment #245152 by al-rawandi

I am eager to hear your plans for banning alcohol, since I know you are a perfectly rational person and wouldn't dare object to deaths only caused by ONE preventable cause.

Erm. Alcohol isn't designed to kill or wound. People don't sit down and design portable alcohol dispensers that can fire gin at high velocity.

It is the absolute solipsism of the anti-gun crowd that astounds me beyond words.

"Absolute" solipsism? That is a very strange way to describe people who recognise that we are all fallible humans, and having free access in a society to weapons that allow someone to casually kill strangers is probably not a good idea.

Come off it Al, you are better than this. At least recognise that there is a debate to be had here.

618. Response to Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris

Comment #244988 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 2:31 am

Done the beach thing. Stuck indoors avoiding rainfall. Storms imminent (hears thunder).

Don't worry, I'll shut up again soon. Will be driving back home through France and Spain over the next week.

619. Response to Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris

Comment #244984 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 2:22 am

Comment #244980 by Vaal

Steve

Aren't you on holiday

Yes, but it is raining.

620. Response to Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris

Comment #244970 by Steve Zara on September 10, 2008 at 1:54 am

Comment #244954 by cerebate

If I were presented with three books all of which were based on the premise that the Earth has been taken over and we are being ruled by Reptilian Overlords, how much research would I be expected to do before I criticised the books?

First, show me the lizards, I would say. If someone said that they only appeared in ancient times and are now hiding, but we can see their subtle influence, it would be reasonable to call that person somewhat deluded (or perhaps "raving nutter" might be better).

The Bible and other holy books assume that the universe has been "taken over" by the supernatural.

Show me the Gods and spirits, I say. But we are told that they only appeared in person in ancient times, and are today discernable by subtle effects that you need the right kind of belief - faith - to see.

Well, sorry, but I am going to say "delusion".

(This reminds me, next time I encounter David Robertson, I must suggest he has a chat with David Ike and they sort out between them what is really going on behind the scenes)

621. Opening minds

Comment #242983 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 11:37 pm

In the beginning a probability density created the Multiverse and this Universe. This universe was without form and void and the black hole was hovering over space-time. Then an instability point was reached via Hawking radiation causing a big bang and tons of electromagnetic radiation!

I don't know what you are smoking, but it is probably illegal.

622. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242942 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 7:48 pm

Comment #242828 by Peacebeuponme

My posting rate is going to drop off a bit for a while as I am going on holiday today.. back late september.

(Also, I suspect that Al's post count must be approaching mine)

623. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242770 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 12:45 pm

Comment #242767 by Fanusi Khiyal

I still would like to know one thing that's puzzling me: why is it that the main opposition to Islam seems to come from the right?

Right-wingers seem more sure of their ideas, and less guilty about the past actions of their societies. Left-wingers can be more open to ideas, and more guilty. The problem is with far-left wingers who seem to make a virtue out of feeling guilt, to the extent where any alternative culture is considered more moral. People like the obnoxious George Galloway support such views. There are naive views on both sides. On the far right wing, it is that God and family values will solve everything, and on the far left wing, it is that if we tolerate everything, we will all live together in peace.

624. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242759 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 12:24 pm

Comment #242757 by Fanusi Khiyal

Oh dear. I never thought, after recent discussions that I would not only agree with you, but laugh out loud at one of your posts, but in this case, well done sir!

If we are going to have discussions, and even emotional disagreements here, let them at least be based on evidence and intelligence.

625. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242753 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 12:17 pm

Al, are all those alcoholic Native Americans you met in Alaska as pudgey as you?

I'm in trolling mood now.

626. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242748 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 12:15 pm

Comment #242737 by Fanusi Khiyal

It is pointless. You and I have deep disagreements, but I don't think you are going to even get "shallow" here.

At least when I argue with you, I get back something worth responding to.

627. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242731 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 11:57 am

Comment #242729 by al-rawandi

When you write your autobiography, you have at least one purchase from me.

628. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242727 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 11:54 am

Fanusi-

You don't seriously think that I bring my full powers of english to bear on a frickin' chat board, now do you?

*raises one eyebrow cynically*

*sarcastically, yet questioningly* This is the chat board of Richard Dawkins. Yet you call it merely "frickin'"?

I am impressed. If you have not used your full powers of english, then surely we must tremble before your full use of language.

(I'll leave you to add the appropriate annotation to that paragraph)

OK, so what I am saying, is if you want to say something, say it. Don't annotate it with crass attempts to add emotion. If you can't add that emotion in the text, just don't bother.

629. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242720 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 11:41 am

I think this Jon Stewart commentary is appropriate regarding Palin's experience:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah-palin-gender-card

630. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242716 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 11:38 am

Al-

I think you are wasting your considerable knowledge and experience on what I am increasingly thinking is a computer simulation of a troll. I detected an Eliza-like lack of direct response to a previous post of mine.

631. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242708 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 11:27 am

Comment #242697 by mordacious1

I agree. I see no justification for marking Brandy as troll.

He/She is simply out-classed by some of the fine minds who post here. As, indeed am I (in some areas).

EDIT: I take Al's point. Use of phrases like "McBush atheists" is just stupid.

632. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242691 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 11:11 am

Comment #242682 by mordacious1

One more thing about Fanusi, if he keeps the *dryly* thing up, he is going to desicate into a pile of dust and blow away.

You may note I have occasionally posted *moistly* or even *wetly* to try and compensate.

Maybe it is just me, but I expect people to be skillful enough in their use of language to avoid such annotations of text, otherwise I may have to add things like: *slightly wryly, but with a touch of sincerity*

633. Origins - The BIG Questions: 2008 Skeptics Society Conference

Comment #242683 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 11:01 am

Comment #242519 by SaintStephen

I'm still a rookie here, but don't ALL arguments founded on either creationism, theology, ID, and even panspermia -- simply crumble under the weight of infinite regress?

Theologians get out of this by claiming that God is the kind of thing that is necessary, and so has always been, and needs no cause.

The historical reason for this (I think) is that people had no idea what was involved for minds to exist, and so they asssumed that minds could be very simple things - almost pure essenses. Now we know that minds are the most complex things we know of, and consist of information processing in very organised substrates (such as brains).

634. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242532 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 2:58 am

Comment #242531 by Bonzai

I believe this is called the "Blazing Saddles" defence.

You point a gun at your own head and say "don't come any closer, or I'll shoot".

635. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242526 by Steve Zara on September 4, 2008 at 2:17 am

Comment #242522 by Fanusi Khiyal

Don't be silly Fanusi. That is standard prayer-type text mumbled by millions every Sunday.

You can't have it both ways, Fanusi. You can't say that Christianity is better than Islam because people don't have to mean what they say and they can "interpret" texts, and then assume literalism just because it supports your politics.

To say that Obama "thinks he is the messiah" is crass, and although I disagree fundamentally with your politics, I know you have a good brain, and you should be arguing better than this.

636. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242396 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 3:51 pm

Comment #242392 by quantum_flux

This isn't about rights, but wisdom. I am not sure if she is a Young Earth Creationist, but it she is, it is deeply worrying. She is not an expert on biology, physics or geology and yet she claims to know more about the truth of these than virtually all the world's scientists. She isn't just wrong, but incredibly arrogant. We need people in power who are prepared to admit their ignorance in some areas and consult the real experts. It would be unwise to vote for her.

637. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242369 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 3:24 pm

Comment #242367 by chewedbarber

So really it depends on what pig you're asking, and in this case every pig is in favor of bacon so long as it's from the other guys ham.

But that is not evolutionary stable, and so we end up with the evolution of altruist dislike of the idea of pork in general.

638. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242359 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 3:12 pm

Comment #242357 by chewedbarber

How about "would a pig argue in favour of the general concept of bacon"?

639. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242351 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 3:04 pm

Comment #242324 by BrandySpears

To quote what Clinton has said about the Republicans as evidence for what is true about the Republicans is rather like asking a pig what they think about the eating of bacon (does that work as an analogy?).

640. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242345 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 2:59 pm

Comment #242339 by jabber

I think the Royal Family is a really unfair institution. It is totally unfair that by accident of birth someone ends up being hounded all the time by the press, having your relationships speculated about, and not even able to make comments about GM foods or how plants listen to you when you talk without being widely ridiculed.

641. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242343 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 2:58 pm

Comment #242341 by Fanusi Khiyal

for the sole purpose of pissing off the Republicans

it's seen as a sign of weakness, another sign that the West will capitulate once the going get's rough.

It can't be a sign that the West will capitulate if the invitation was solely to piss off Republicans.

However, I do agree it is worrying.

642. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242337 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 2:51 pm

Comment #242330 by Fanusi Khiyal

I think the democrats were very unwise to invite such a person, but the Muslim is not their vice presidential candidate. There is no chance of that person coming into power. There is a real possibility of Palin gaining power.

643. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #241986 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 9:23 am

No one has told me anything about Obama's "change". I eagerly await being swept off my feet.

Lots of loose coins in your pocket? Isn't that something to vote for?

644. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #241971 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 9:05 am

Comment #241966 by al-rawandi

Wouldn't you rate Biden over Palin?

645. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #241963 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 8:58 am

Comment #241955 by al-rawandi

Doesn't matter if McCain and Obama were identical. The fact is that if something happened to McCain, we would be left with Palin. If something happened to Obama we would be left with Biden. Enough said.

646. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #241959 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 8:55 am

Comment #241940 by Fanusi Khiyal

You have jogged my memory, and google helped:

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=e2f15397-a3c7-4720-ac15-4532a7da84ca

Some researchers dug up the pre 1999 editions of newsletters that Ron Paul put his name to.

They have included some deeply troubling views. Racist, anti-gay and so on.

647. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #241951 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 8:50 am

Al-

If I were in the US, I would have to vote for Obama. I would rather have someone inexperienced but who has experienced advisors, and a very experienced VP, than someone who has a significant chance of not surviving a term (McCain), and that would leave the country to someone who is going to personally ask God what to do.

I would rather not vote at all than vote for a creationist.

648. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #241932 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 8:25 am

Comment #241925 by al-rawandi

I think a useful rule is given a people who are varying degrees of wing-nuttiness, vote for the less wing-nutty. There is irrationality and there is irrationality.

Creationism in an educated person is way out there in terms of wingnut-quality. I would not trust that kind of mind even if proposed quite sensible policies in other areas. After all, all it takes is God whispering in his ear....

Comment #241930 by squinky

I think whether or nut a candidate is nutty is at the very least an issue of primary concern.

649. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #241918 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 8:00 am

Comment #241909 by al-rawandi

Al-

That he is a creationist means he is not a rationalist. He relies on faith and revelation in a major area of understanding reality, rejecting clear evidence. That is deeply scary, and it isn't dogmatic to point that out.

650. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #241904 by Steve Zara on September 3, 2008 at 7:37 am

Comment #241892 by al-rawandi

If Ron Paul does not accept the evidence for evolution, which is overwhelming, why should we trust him to base any other of his opinions on evidence?