Comments by Tyler Durden

1101. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130262 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 7:50 am

hungarianelephant, and he's got to get to Pascal's Wager yet ;-)

1102. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130238 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 7:31 am

As Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

I thought it was the cheesemakers? Oh well, back to bible study for me :)

1103. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130211 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 7:14 am

Inane rambling #130200 by The Bishop:

their own pre-conceived ideas of sacrifice

Excuse me? I thought the bible was the word of your god?

Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.

Ho-hum. Argument from authority. You're gonna need something more substantial to convince me. Next!

1104. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130192 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 7:00 am

Comment #130186 by The Bishop:

Well, it was scientists who invented nuclear weapons.

Are you 12 years of age? Seriously. Turn off the PC and go do your homework or take out the garbage! Child.

1105. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130182 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 6:55 am

Comment #130176 by The Bishop:

Well, I take it that you are mostly ex-christians of one sort or another who have decided to find all the bits of the Bible which make you unhappy...

Did anyone here mention being unhappy? Argument from presupposition methinks!

The Bishop, have you read anything other than the bible?

1106. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130161 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 6:40 am

Well, I guess that is one way of winning converts!!

That's your game Bishop, I'm not interested in "converting" anyone.

So I take it you've read nothing of note on evolution? Darwin? Dawkins? Ridley?

1107. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130153 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 6:32 am

Inane rambling #130146 by The Bishop:

The Bible is the foremost authority on evolution. Genesis 1 gives a good description of how it all came about...

How life began is known as abiogenesis, not evolution. Get it right before you post. Yawn!

1108. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130140 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 6:15 am

So, a question for The Bishop:

I've read the bible, have you read anything on evolution?

I wouldn't be so bold or arrogant to say you need "courage" to read up on the subject, just an open mind.

You do have an open mind, don't you?

1109. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130132 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 6:08 am

Comment #130128 by The Bishop:

I don't think you have the courage!

Really? Shows what you know! I have been reading the bible since I was a child (brought up Catholic), studied it in school (went to Christian Brothes run high-school), went to bible-study class, and I currently have a copy of it on my bookshelf.

Why do you think I'm an atheist?

So, you were saying?

1110. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130127 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 5:59 am

Inane rambling #130118 by The Bishop:

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
Isaiah 40:31

Oh well, that just says it all really! Ok lads, the game is up, let's all go home and read our bibles!

Fucktard!

1111. Why Darwin matters

Comment #130112 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 5:34 am

Inane rambling #130095 by wooter:

Snowflakes speak for themselves.

Is that why we get talking snowmen?

I'll get my coat!

1112. State Approves Evolution As 'Scientific Theory'

Comment #130076 by Tyler Durden on February 20, 2008 at 3:23 am

He said the teaching of evolution in Florida's schools should include scientific criticisms of the controversial theory.

Controversial? Huh? It's only "controversial" in backwater-hicksville-redneck-dumbass-ignorant-cleutus-from-the-simpsons type areas of the ~~world~~ USA!!

Meanwhile, back in the real world... kids are being educated properly.

/rant over/

1113. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129531 by Tyler Durden on February 19, 2008 at 9:08 am

Comment #129527 by Gymnopedie:

The first kid needs to preach to the second kid about the evils of money.

Next on Celebrity Deathmatch :)

1114. Why do we believe in God? 2m study prays for answer

Comment #129529 by Tyler Durden on February 19, 2008 at 9:04 am

Comment #129523 by Geoff:

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could find a cure, though?

It would, but would (religious) parents want that for their offspring? I suspect not, check out the "Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers" video about the 3 child evangelists. Sad.

1115. Why do we believe in God? 2m study prays for answer

Comment #129458 by Tyler Durden on February 19, 2008 at 6:51 am

"Why do we believe in God?"

Researchers at the University of Oxford will spend £1.9 million investigating why people believe in God.

Because our parents told us to. Can I have my money now :)

1116. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129454 by Tyler Durden on February 19, 2008 at 6:46 am

Terry Durham @ 7:44 "I know that God was speaking to me 'casuse I could hear his voice, sometimes he sounds like me but I say no, it's God."

Haven't we been here before with Kardshovel?

1117. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129422 by Tyler Durden on February 19, 2008 at 5:32 am

Not sure what else the father of "crowd-pleasing Terry Durham" had to say for himself, but during that programme all he mentioned was money and making his son into a business.

Had he walked around with dollar-signs in his eyes a la the cartoons, it would not have seemed out of place.

Morons!

1118. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129402 by Tyler Durden on February 19, 2008 at 4:06 am

Oh no, worms are going to get me!

Wow, how much ignorance, stupidity and general fucktardness can you see in just 49 mins? Superb programme!!

Did Mr. Boutwell not see his son Samuel crying while "preaching" on the streets of NYC? He should be ashamed of himself. The phrase "small fish in a big pond" comes to mind.

1119. The argument from oranges

Comment #128880 by Tyler Durden on February 18, 2008 at 6:48 am

Orange you glad he's on their side? :)

I'll get me coat!

1120. The Search for Truth, God and Braver Scientists in 'Expelled'

Comment #128816 by Tyler Durden on February 18, 2008 at 2:47 am

Comment #128662 by Skep:

science has already lost the battle in the US.

Skep, no need to be so pessimistic, people's personal opinions about god does not negate the work of science. Science won in the Dover trial, and science will win again should it ever go to the courts because it has evidence and rationality on its side!

1121. Hitchens and Boteach Debate on God

Comment #126213 by Tyler Durden on February 12, 2008 at 3:49 pm

Lack of transitional fossils? Did the Rabbi not read about tiktallik?

Oh, and he just took the Darwin quote about the complexity of the eye out of context. Arrggghh. Read the entire paragraph you moron!!

1122. Hitchens and Boteach Debate on God

Comment #126210 by Tyler Durden on February 12, 2008 at 3:43 pm

50 mins in... Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is now trying to disprove theory of evolution by natural selection... and oh, yeah, Argument from Design!!!

1123. Hitchens and Boteach Debate on God

Comment #126201 by Tyler Durden on February 12, 2008 at 3:29 pm

I'm about 40 mins through this and Hitch is on fire!!

As for the Rabbi: "Argument from design! Argument from design! Argument from design! Argument from design! Argument from design! Argument from design!" Repeat ad nauseum...

1124. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #126156 by Tyler Durden on February 12, 2008 at 2:07 pm

Wow, I go to college for a few hours and I miss RD.net turning into a singles bar :)

Al (aka Duffman),

42 yr old, separated (not divorced), unsure of financial status but she had no problems buying me copious pints of guinness, and she was smoking hot!! Does this count? :)

1125. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125926 by Tyler Durden on February 12, 2008 at 9:20 am

Ian,

It's not about what may be going on in their brains that makes them have sexual desires for children.

Yes it is! Read my posts above.

It is about them not understanding the basic concept that you don't force your desires on unwilling participants.

They don't have the mental capacity to "understand", due to neurological imbalance, cycle of abuse, or combination of both.

Try telling an alcoholic/wino to "get over" his complusion to drink or "understand" it better - see how far you get without the right therapy!

1126. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125919 by Tyler Durden on February 12, 2008 at 9:03 am

Reverend,

I would say the "prevalent school girl fantasy" is a regression fantasy, a reminder of times past etc. paedophiles are not looking to "look back" because they've never actually moved on - as I mentioned above, it's a developmental disability due to certain inefficent formations of the brain.

Age regression fantasies are also common - does that make the consenting adult partner a paedophile by proxy?

No. This is becasue you know it's a fantasy, assuming all mental faculties are intact!

My alcoholic analogy: I could've used water, I used whiskey for effect. But I agree with you, either way, once the alcoholic stays off the alcohol he's fine. Whether it's zero-alcohol beer or water. He knows he can't cross the line or he's off the wagon. There is no substitute. Similar status with paedophiles, "kinky sex" with his consenting partner will not compensate for his desires as it's not a sexual fantasy, it's a mental disorder!

1127. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125912 by Tyler Durden on February 12, 2008 at 8:48 am

Comment #125906 by keith:

Is paedophilia different in kind from other sexual orientations like hetero-sexuality and homosexuality?

Keith, paedophilia is not a sexual orientation. It's a disease, a mental disorder. It can also be seen as a developmental disability due to certain inefficent formations of the brain.

Heterosexuality and homosexuality cannot be described in the same way.

1128. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125896 by Tyler Durden on February 12, 2008 at 8:29 am

Comment #125878 by The Reverend Dark:

Sexual fantasies are just that, fantasies. Perhaps paedophiles can't control their feelings, but they can seek to gratify those feelings through the proxy of a consenting, adult, partner; acting, costumes, make-up, etc.)

We studied this last year during behavioral analysis/personality mental disorders.

Reverend, can I just point out that paedophilia is a disease, much like alcoholism. Paedophilia is NOT, I repeat NOT, a type of sexual fantasy!!

Saying paedophiles can "gratify those feelings through the proxy of a consenting, adult, partner; acting, costumes, make-up, etc." is akin to saying alcoholics can gratify the desire for a beer by having a whiskey!!

The only way to deal with paedophilia is therapy, counseling, and sometimes in severe cases, drug therapy.

1129. Bill Maher on Larry King Live

Comment #125848 by Tyler Durden on February 12, 2008 at 7:02 am

Comment #125834 by GSP:

I would just say it takes little more than common sense to see that it is true.

Arguing your case from a point of "common sense" is spurious at best and illogical at worst.

Exactly whose "common sense" are you refering to? How do we measure "common sense"?

A concrete example I can give is the dramatic rise in cancer worldwide with the creation of nuclear power.

And global warming is happening due to the drop in the number of pirates around the world. It's true, look it up!

Correlation is not the same as causation. You'll need evidence, facts and research in order to back up your claims!!

And what of mental disease or disease due to intrinsic genetic factors? What of Parkinson's disease or Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus? Where does lifestyle/environmental factors come in there?

1130. Bill Maher on Larry King Live

Comment #125774 by Tyler Durden on February 12, 2008 at 3:05 am

Comment #125700 by GSP:

the majority of diseases are a result of lifestyle.

Really? So, lemme ask you:

Are you:
A. A medical doctor?
B. A geneticist?
C. A fucktard?

Answers on a postcard...

1131. Good people doing evil things

Comment #125241 by Tyler Durden on February 11, 2008 at 5:39 am

Nice summary of the main points at hand.

And just to be pedantic :)

Dawkins is a the professor of Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University and author of other controversial books such as The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker among others.

1132. Why multiculturalism must be abandoned

Comment #125231 by Tyler Durden on February 11, 2008 at 5:18 am

Comment #125188 by Ian Bamlett:

"how do you solve - a problem like Shareeeahhh?"

Actually, I was singing "I've just met a law named Sharia" from West Side Story :)

I'll get me coat!

1133. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124110 by Tyler Durden on February 8, 2008 at 11:41 am

Comment #124079 by samratpathania:

This person may be a college dropout (Bill Gates was one wasn't he) and he may have a ruined marriage. But what does that have to do with the credibility of his invention.

Ok, so let's see: Bill Gates was a college drop-out, went on to co-found the most successful software company of all time. Meanwhile, Thane Heins has spent 23 years in his garage, tinkering with magnets. Hmmm, not quite the same now is it?

And I'm guessing the reason he has a failed marraige is precisely because he has been tinkering around with his hobby horse in the garage all this time.

And what does that have to do with the credibility of his invention? Quite a lot really. If this thing did as he states ("What I can say with full confidence is that our system violates the law of conservation of energy," he says), shouldn't he and Bill be off on some yacht comparing stories while their wives shopped?

Prove the man wrong.

Doesn't the second law of thermodynamics already prove he's wrong? Isn't that why it's deemed to be a LAW. And surely the burden of proof is on him to show his invention works? If it works and changes the known world of physics forever, I'll eat my hat!!

1134. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124067 by Tyler Durden on February 8, 2008 at 9:15 am

Superman?

1135. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124060 by Tyler Durden on February 8, 2008 at 9:02 am

Heins has also been raising money for his invention, asking individuals such as former U.S. vice-president Al Gore, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, Tesla Motors chairman Elon Musk, and Google´s "ReCharge IT" project.

Classic bait and switch technique. Are we to infer from this that Gore, Branson and Google have given him money or that Heins has simply asked them for money and as such received a polite "Thanks, but no thanks!"

1136. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124052 by Tyler Durden on February 8, 2008 at 8:37 am

Last week, Heins demonstrated his machine to MIT professor Markus Zahn, an expert in electromagnetic and electronic systems.

MIT = Muppets in Training?

1137. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124047 by Tyler Durden on February 8, 2008 at 8:14 am

comment by anna:

just because the guy claims that it's violating the 2nd Law doesn't mean that he hasn't come up with something useful.

True, what with the price of scrap metal so high these days :)

Maybe if he put playing cards in the spokes it would work better!

Anyway... my flux-capacitor is on the fritz, back to the lab...

1138. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124039 by Tyler Durden on February 8, 2008 at 7:55 am

Godless, I do apologise. And I would apologise to Mr. Heins too if he happened to share the same planet as me.

Damn. I did it again!

1139. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124022 by Tyler Durden on February 8, 2008 at 7:12 am

During his spare time, Mr. Heins also enjoys attending Star Trek conventions dressed as Ferengi Chancellor #2, collecting vintage TV Guides circa 1967-1972, while also selling large tracts of the moon on eBay the report didn't say.

1140. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124014 by Tyler Durden on February 8, 2008 at 6:58 am

That's why 46-year-old Heins, a college drop-out from Ottawa who's been working on his project since 1985

Not a great starting point, is it?

Due to his obsession with his machine, he has suffered a failed marriage and lost custody of his two children, and is currently unemployed.

And we're done!

NEXT!

1141. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123948 by Tyler Durden on February 8, 2008 at 2:42 am

Comment #123940 by irate_atheist:

You hit the nail on the head with that one.

Stop, please, my sides are splitting :)

1142. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123933 by Tyler Durden on February 8, 2008 at 2:19 am

Keith, I'm sorry but you're mistaken. In actuality he's a goalkeeper. As the saying goes: Jesus saves! But Shearer scores on the rebound...

Aye, but he's brutal when it comes to dealing with crosses :)

Thank you. I'm here all week. try the veal.

1143. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123703 by Tyler Durden on February 7, 2008 at 2:20 pm

Comment #123688 by Kardashovel:

The only thing that I know for sure is that there is a God, and He actively participates in the world, and that He loves me and needs me.

Why would a supposed omnipotent being need you? What could you possibly bring to him?

I take Jesus as my savior on faith.

Surely you mean blind faith? Have you ever met this Jesus character?

Because Jesus, the father and the holy spirit are very much physical.

How can a "spirit" be "very much physical", that makes no sense whatsoever.

Once again, all we get is rhetoric - "The only thing that I know for sure is that there is a God" And you are? Argument from assumption and wishful thinking. Yawn!

1144. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123682 by Tyler Durden on February 7, 2008 at 2:00 pm

Comment #123460 by Kardashovel:

Lest y'all atheists forget, you are not only surrounded but massively outnumbered.

That all depends on where we live. If you're refering to global population, you are just as "outnumbered" as we:

http://adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

http://www.zpub.com/un/pope/relig.html

Christianity: 2.1 billion
Islam: 1.5 billion
Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
Hinduism: 900 million
Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
Buddhism: 376 million
primal-indigenous: 300 million
African Traditional Diasporic: 100 million
Sikhism: 23 million
Juche: 19 million

If you're refering to the U.S. of A, then you are correct:
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131

United States: Believe In God 73%, Agnostic/Atheist 18%

But not the case in Europe:

Great Britain: Believe In God 35%, Agnostic/Atheist 52%
France: Believe In God 27%, Agnostic/Atheist 64%
Spain: Believe In God 48%, Agnostic/Atheist 41%
Germany: Believe In God 41%, Agnostic/Atheist 45%
Italy: Believe In God 62%, Agnostic/Atheist 27%

And certainly not the case in the Netherlands:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_Netherlands

Christianity: 7,500,000 43.4 %
No religious affiliation: 7,230,000 42,7%

Of course, these are only numbers. What about trend?

In the states, the % of change from 1990 - 2000 is as follows:
http://atheistempire.com/reference/stats/

Christianity up 5%
Nonreligious/Secular/Humanist/Atheist up 163%

So, you were saying?

1145. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123498 by Tyler Durden on February 7, 2008 at 9:14 am

I really do consider religious people to be liars though.

Especially the higher up in the system they are. Must keep the money and perks rolling in.

1146. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123495 by Tyler Durden on February 7, 2008 at 9:07 am

Comment #123460 by Kardashovel

Al,

Argumentum ad fucktardum?

1147. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123492 by Tyler Durden on February 7, 2008 at 9:04 am

Comment #123476 by Kardashovel:

I would assert without proof

Yep, that about sums it up!

you are not only surrounded but massively outnumbered

This never worked in the playground when I was a child, it's certainly not going to work now!

Is that the best you've got?

1148. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123477 by Tyler Durden on February 7, 2008 at 8:45 am

Some rambling Comment #123460 by Kardashovel:

Lest y'all atheists forget, you are not only surrounded but massively outnumbered.

I'm sure you're trying to make some spurious point here, but for the life of me, I can't see it.

Perhaps it's argumentum ad alamo?

Anyway, my Da is bigger than your Da, so there!

1149. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123417 by Tyler Durden on February 7, 2008 at 5:53 am

ooops :)

1150. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123367 by Tyler Durden on February 7, 2008 at 3:42 am

If this is the kind of drivel that theists are coming out with now because of a few books on the subject of atheism, it smells of panic, sheer panic. They know the game is up, people are getting an education, making up their own minds, *gasp* thinking for themselves - and so, leaving bronze-age myths behind! Go science!

As for their plan "to stop the attrition the church must start teaching a christian view of the world from a young age" - our old friend Einstein had a thought on that:

Definition of Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein