Comments by Richard Morgan

Comment #148297 by Richard Morgan on March 22, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Don't miss "Sock on Stair Reel - Bullshit!"
at:

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

(Song NÂ° 1 in the "standalone" player)

152. Fleabytes

Comment #148290 by Richard Morgan on March 22, 2008 at 3:09 pm

TOCD :

You can be a chemist and be a murk.

chemist = science = reason
murk = feelings = "in spite of reason"
I've said it before, and I'll say it again : As a general rule, Reason and Sentiments are Non-overlapping areas of mental activity.
They often coincide, appear simultaneously, run in parallel, appear to issue from the same source, but they do not share the chair when it comes to decision-making.
And guess which one has the loudest voice?
( We, here, in Ardeeland "feel" better with reason-based functioning. You can't get away from it, however simplistic you may find me.)

153. Fleabytes

Comment #148231 by Richard Morgan on March 22, 2008 at 12:02 pm

Steve Zara :re Dr Benway's post.
Ditto.

154. Fleabytes

Comment #148212 by Richard Morgan on March 22, 2008 at 10:45 am

Steve Zara

I am sure I have had some influence on them simply by being gay, atheist and nice..

You can read lots of stories of people who have had their faith strengthened rather than weakened by terrible circumstances ( concentration camps, earthquakes and the like). However I have this feeling (no proof, of course) that if you put a Fundie with a bunch of "nice" atheists for long enough, his beliefs would evaporate eventually.
So, Steve, I'm sure you're right.
Though perhaps the ultimate lesson is the same as in any relational context - just be yourself. You have the advantage of being a nice guy, so you do what nice people do. Whereas somebody like myself....

155. No Admission for Evolutionary Biologist at Creationist Film

Comment #148110 by Richard Morgan on March 22, 2008 at 5:29 am

Gymnopedie

The Creationists need to be exposed over and over...

Yes... "over and over".
Because today's scandal in the media is forgotten tomorrow. And we mustn't forget that.

156. Discussion on PZ Myers being expelled from Expelled

Comment #148091 by Richard Morgan on March 22, 2008 at 2:56 am

I still find this quite hilarious!
And I do think that laughter is one of our greatest weapons in combating all that is bad in religion.

157. Fleabytes

Comment #148088 by Richard Morgan on March 22, 2008 at 2:35 am

Philip1978 (and still going strong)

David, I see despite numerous articles from Professor Dawkins plus the ACTUAL passage in The God Delusion you are STILL peddling misinformation and distortions of Professor Dawkins. You had the gall to ask me earlier about lies and distortions, well, voila!

In his debate with Madeileine Bunting RD said :

Child abuse : One is labelling children when they're too young to know and the second is things like hell fire, which terrify the daylights out of them.
... Most of these people are not nice people, they are telling children they are going to roast forever in hell!. I CALL THAT CHILD ABUSE.

In the sense that ALL monotheistic religions have a "Hell" threat, then abusing a child's mind with this kind of attitude is certainly as bad as sexual abuse. "Bad" in its consequences, because clearly, outwardly, it doesn't "look" as bad.
Voila!
I have said it, even if RD hasn't. (I suspect that he thinks it, however. Just my opinion.)
I once knew a Fundie lady who said that she taught her sons that if they had sex before marriage, their penis would drop off. She justified this by saying, "I'd rather tell them a lie than see them go to hell."
This is almost sexual abuse, when you think about it.(Desire to castrate etc etc thank you Sugmund.)

158. Fleabytes

Comment #147805 by Richard Morgan on March 21, 2008 at 9:48 am

Pathfinder

Love the Atheist approach to "evidence".

This sentence is just three words too long?
"Love the Atheist"?
Why not give it a try?
We're really quite lovable.

159. Fleabytes

Comment #147619 by Richard Morgan on March 21, 2008 at 2:01 am

Thank you clodhopper. I'm wondering if "Sock on the Stair Reel : Bullshit" is going to be banned on American radio...
If anybody is having difficulty downloading my music, just PM me with an e-mail address and I'll send you all the MP3s you request.

(This is NOT (and never will be) a commercial activity - you have realised that, haven't you?)

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

160. EXPELLED!

Comment #147615 by Richard Morgan on March 21, 2008 at 1:34 am

PJG

there are probably more people who think it is reasonable than who think it is funny.

In the USA, perhaps.
I wonder if the producers would dare try to screen it in France...
More seriously, I suspect that more real good has come of PZ Myers' being expelled than if he had been quietly allowed admittance. Let's just wait and see, and in the meantime, laugh along with PZ Myers.

161. Two More Fleas

Comment #147507 by Richard Morgan on March 20, 2008 at 6:45 pm

Jon_Socioliogist

Wormlike Lancelet -> Fish -> Amphibians - > Reptiles -> Therapsids -> rodent like creatures -> shrew like creatures -> Tarsier like creatures -> Lemur like creatures -> ancient monkeys -> chimp like creatures -> Australopithecus -> Homo habilis -> Homo ergaster -> Homo heidelbergensis -> modern humans

For us non-specialists, could you show us, approximately, where you would situate wooter in this list, please?

162. The Secular Conscience

Comment #147453 by Richard Morgan on March 20, 2008 at 1:02 pm

CALLING ALL SOCKTARDS!!!!

Music Update : The Sock on the Stair Reel.

(as requested) : Standalone Player - NÂ°1

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

163. God's cure for gays lost in sin

Comment #147452 by Richard Morgan on March 20, 2008 at 1:01 pm

CALLING ALL SOCKTARDS!!!!

Music Update : The Sock on the Stair Reel.

(as requested) : Standalone Player - NÂ°1

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

164. Fleabytes

Comment #147451 by Richard Morgan on March 20, 2008 at 1:00 pm

CALLING ALL SOCKTARDS!!!!

Music Update : The Sock on the Stair Reel.

(as requested) : Standalone Player - NÂ°1

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

165. Fleabytes

Comment #147391 by Richard Morgan on March 20, 2008 at 9:04 am

The other day, upon a stair,
I saw a SOCK, yes, it was there;
It's still there, again, today
.......

Oh, sock off, will you!

socktard: a person who insists on being "odd",refusing reason and logic, etc.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

166. Fleabytes

Comment #147303 by Richard Morgan on March 20, 2008 at 6:12 am

Quetz-the-Man :

if you're taking requests, how about a song about tea?

See my previous post :

I am only ever really inspired by profoundly spiritual questions.

Tea?
Tea?

167. Fleabytes

Comment #147298 by Richard Morgan on March 20, 2008 at 6:07 am

clodhopper :

Please can one commission an Irish jig to be called 'The Sock on the Stairs'? I also quite fancy 'The Fire Hose Reel'. When the muse hits....no pressure.....

No pressure?
You manipulative little sod, you!
You knew perfectly well I could never resist such a request!
It's 14h07 here : give me six hours. And It'll be "The Sock on the Stairs", (a reel, not a jig) because I am only ever really inspired by profoundly spiritual questions.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

168. Fleabytes

Comment #147295 by Richard Morgan on March 20, 2008 at 5:58 am

cartomancer :

(and I wonder why I've never had a boyfriend...)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
- I Corinthians (ch. XIII, v. 1)

"You talk the talk. Do you walk the walk?" Animal Mother in Full Metal Jacket
Also - see my avatar.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

169. Fleabytes

Comment #147291 by Richard Morgan on March 20, 2008 at 5:44 am

Well, well, well...
It's always fascinating to return to this thread( no, I didn't say "site", I said "thread" because it seems to be a self-sustaining entity!) and observe what I've been missing. This time it's :
David Robertson;
Latin, and
Socks!

NB Brian English - I would personally miss you a lot if you went away.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

170. Fleabytes

Comment #146982 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 4:03 pm

Brian English

I am the most important person that's ever existed.

When i think that for millions of years, the Universe was fined-tuned in order to avoid your existence.
What went wrong?
What went so dreadfully wrong?
Oh, Hal, thou shouldst be living at this hour...

171. Fleabytes

Comment #146917 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 2:51 pm

Steve Zara

according to John G. Cramers' transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics, the past is a negotiation with the future.

You're talking like my ex-wife's lawyer again...

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

172. Fleabytes

Comment #146477 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 5:57 am

Paula Kirby

http://www.sexinchrist.com/

Spoof or serious? Really - how could you possibly be sure?

Well thank you for the sexiest link on RD.Net.
So my wife, who doesn't speak much English, walks by the computer and asks me "What does "fisting" mean? Is this your serious debate?"
Get outta that!

173. Religion 'linked to happy life'

Comment #146468 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 5:48 am

Gordy:

(Caipirinha)
Cedida pelas cachaÃ§as: Lua cheia, Meia Lua e Paladar.

- 2 doses de cachaÃ§a
- 1/2 limÃ£o Taiti
- 2 colheres de chÃ¡ de aÃ§Ãºcar
Amasse o limÃ£o e o aÃ§Ãºcar em um copo, acrescente a cachaÃ§a
e sirva com gelo.

174. Fleabytes

Comment #146456 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 5:34 am

epeeist - believe it or not, there really are Christians who consider that without penetration, there in no "sexual relation". Witness the young unmarried Christian couples who get up to all sorts of shenanigans, but she remains a "virgin because he hasn't actually poked his thingummy inside her.
So they would say with complete honesty, "No, we have not had sexual relations."
Not only do you get Virgin births, but also non-sexual orgasms in Christianity.
And don't ask me how I know!

A quick, off-topic request : if your are addressing your remarks to me, could you call me "RichardM" or somesuch, so that the real Richard doesn't think you'e being rude to him.
We thank you in advance for that.
And all the fish.

175. Fleabytes

Comment #146451 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 5:22 am

_J_

Welcome to Fantasy Richard Dawkins Debates. Gentlepersons, start your speculation.

Great idea!
I made this sort of suggestion a while back, but there were no takers in those days.
Since religion's strongest points are the emotional ones, I imagine he would avoid science, philosophy, reason and Brazilian coffee and sex.
He would go out of his way to make sure that the magisteria don't overlap whilst giving the opposite impression.
He would try to appear as more "human" than Richard, thus more "in touch" with human reality "which can't be measured in a laboratory".
What do the rest of you think?
And don't forget - if you can't at least start to guess at what he might say, that probably means that you are not very well placed to argue with him.
(Except for Diacanu, of course, who can swear with the same ease at any and every one. More power to yer elbow, but don't expect to get invited to a Queen's garden party any time soon!)

176. Fleabytes

Comment #146438 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 4:53 am

Quetzy-baby : Thanks for the report. I found myself reading it with the same sort of guilty glee I used to have reading the News of the World "when nobody was looking". Shame on me.

I have little doubt that in a debate Richard Dawkins would Rip. Him. Apart.

Don't be so sure about that. Chameleons and all that. He'd probably know how adapt his approach.
Wouldn't make him right, though..
At least, I think it wouldn't.....

177. Religion 'linked to happy life'

Comment #146390 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 3:11 am

Gordy - wise counsel, as usual. Thank you for being there. I invite to partake of a caipirinha on Ipanema beach ( my favourite ).

178. Religion 'linked to happy life'

Comment #146383 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 2:57 am

I believe it was one of the Marx family who said "Religion is the Prozac of the people."
No?
Oh, I thought it was.
Still, it's a question that bothers me a little ; as long as you're not slitting throats, is it really (EDIT : always) preferable to be right but unhappy, rather than wrong and happy?
(And, please, spare me the "Get yourself a life and/or a cup of tea : face the facts and adjust your life accordingly." Of course I've thought about that!!!)

irate_atheist

....a drunk is happier than a sober man.

Of course.
< snidery > I've noticed that there's a lot of talk here about the merits of John Barleycorn and his relatives...< / snidery >

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

179. Fleabytes

Comment #146350 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 1:44 am

Bonjour tout le monde!
I'm just starting my third cup of coffee (Brazilian "Cafuso").
I just wanted to say that I was more than trifle disappointed to discover that a thread of this standing could degenerate into frivolities about tea.
I take this business of combating the fleas very, very seriously.
Tea, indeed!
Coffee, I could have understood, but tea...?
I don't love you any the less, of course...
Mas preciso do "cafezinho"
(OK - I've finished showing off for the day. Nice to see you all up and spitting playfullyÂ§)

180. 'Anonymous' takes anti-Scientology to the streets

Comment #146333 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 1:06 am

MUSIC NEWS

Due to the number of requests that I have had for the music I created to accompany an excerpt from The Lava Lizard's Tale, I have uploaded an MP3 of "Fingerprints ï¿½" past time" into a second stand-alone player on the Fleabytes Myspace.
This composition my be downloaded by:
1) Rationalists
and / or
Welsh persons, and / or
Musically gifted Lava Lizards.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

181. Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90

Comment #146330 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 12:54 am

182. First 'Rule' Of Evolution Suggests That Life Is Destined To Become More Complex

Comment #146328 by Richard Morgan on March 19, 2008 at 12:51 am

183. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #146299 by Richard Morgan on March 18, 2008 at 10:29 pm

MUSIC NEWS

Due to the number of requests that I have had for the music I created to accompany an excerpt from The Lava Lizard's Tale, I have uploaded an MP3 of "Fingerprints â€" past time" into a second stand-alone player on the Fleabytes Myspace.
This composition my be downloaded by:
1) Rationalists
and / or
Welsh persons, and / or
Musically gifted Lava Lizards.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

184. Religion 'linked to happy life'

Comment #146298 by Richard Morgan on March 18, 2008 at 10:28 pm

185. Atheists claim censorship by billboard company

Comment #146297 by Richard Morgan on March 18, 2008 at 10:27 pm

186. Fleabytes

Comment #146296 by Richard Morgan on March 18, 2008 at 10:27 pm

187. Fleabytes

Comment #146274 by Richard Morgan on March 18, 2008 at 9:31 pm

Goldy :

Then, of course, there's the Welsh... ;-D

That's amazing! I didn't know you raised herds of Welshmen down there! How do they compare with sheep?
Bryan English : is your sister free this week-end?

188. Fleabytes

Comment #145950 by Richard Morgan on March 18, 2008 at 11:50 am

Well, I don't know what sort of compliment that is : I suggest that Pathfinder is God, and people deduce that it's me.
I'm sorry, guys, but this is not going to help my psychoanalysis : I spent my childhood being ignored, and now you're all going to prove that I don't exist!
I cry out to the Universe : "Is there no Justice?"
(Richard Dawkins, voice off, sotto voce "Well, actually, no, there isn't.")
(Loud voice from al-rawandi : "Get yourself a life.")
(Soothing voice from Steve Zara, "...my money is safe.")
(Slurred voice from irate_atheist, "I'll drink to that!")
(Stage directions from Diacanu, *Raises left leg to a 45Â° angle, noisily expels impure methane gas.*)
(Dr Benway, insistent, in a rsisng pitch, "Never, never, never, never, never, never...")
(Cartomancer, from behind a ceiling-high pile of *****Cola cans, "Burrrrp.")
(Clearthinker: "And you call me a liar!")

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

189. Fleabytes

Comment #145887 by Richard Morgan on March 18, 2008 at 9:18 am

We don't know who Pathfinder is.
We have no reasonable explanation for him.
He just arrived, we know not from where.
His logic moves in mysterious ways.
Obviously, it's God.
Or at least the Holy Spirit.
There, that wasn't too hard was it?
Now at least we can seriously get down to proving he doesn't exist.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

190. Fleabytes

Comment #145742 by Richard Morgan on March 18, 2008 at 4:36 am

Steve Zara

Yes, Richard M. You may remember her from performances of Alan Bennett plays.

Thank you for that reminder, Steve.
But actually, it was somebody else who asked you the question...
But if you just felt like talking to me,well, that's fine!
Any time.

191. Fleabytes

Comment #145706 by Richard Morgan on March 18, 2008 at 2:57 am

epeeist

I mean Quetz really is a monotheistic god

You're going to have to help me out here. Quetz is a "one-god" god". As opposed to other gods which are...,
Hang on a sec, if Quetz is the only one, then there aren't any oth...
But if there are polytheistic gods, then monotheistic ones can't exi...
But "monotheistic gods" is an oxymor...
As I was saying : HELP!

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

192. New Atheists Are Not Great

Comment #145675 by Richard Morgan on March 18, 2008 at 1:32 am

None of the atheistic alternatives has survived because reason just doesn't make a satisfying god.

I've got to agree with this wholeheartedly.
In fact, I'm not sure what would make a satisfying god! I can't even find satisfying Brazilian coffee in France (I have to have it mailed to me from Brazil). But I promise, when I've solved the coffee problem, I'll turn my attention to the whole question of filling in the blank in :
" ********* - the God who Gives Satisfaction."
And I hope I do better than the Stones.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

193. Fleabytes

Comment #145653 by Richard Morgan on March 17, 2008 at 11:02 pm

kaiserkriss -Sorry to disappoint you, but I am NOT "clairpenser". And no self-respecting French speaker would have dreamed up "clairpenser" as a translation of "clearthinker".
"Le Clair Penseur" is no better.
I would have used "Penseur Lucide" - in French, the adjective is nearly always after the noun. One interesting exception is, in fact "libre-penseur" - free-thinker

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

194. Two More Fleas

Comment #145422 by Richard Morgan on March 17, 2008 at 3:01 pm

Comment #145403 by Calilasseia

Indeed, a remarkable post. Unfortunately, in order to fully appreciate it, I will have to save it and come back to it when I have mastered Lolspeak.
What?
Have I said something wrong?
Stop pushing me towards the door!
And I didn't bring a f***in' coat!

195. Fleabytes

Comment #145418 by Richard Morgan on March 17, 2008 at 2:51 pm

Just look around you, at our young, at the depravitty and FILTH in human nature!

Well, I looked around me and saw my wife and my two sons.
Oh,and "Ugly Betty" on the television.
You fail. (I hope!)

196. Fleabytes

Comment #145406 by Richard Morgan on March 17, 2008 at 2:42 pm

Steve Zara - I STAND REBUKD AN HANG MAH HED IN SHAIM
(Still can't work out where to put the circumflex accents...)

annabana Look what you have done to:

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

IZ YOR FOLT

197. Fleabytes

Comment #145364 by Richard Morgan on March 17, 2008 at 2:08 pm

annabanana

o hai, srsly.

When theists do it, it's bad spelling and bad manners; when we do it, it's Lolcat.
Just wanted to be clear on that point.

(Just joking, Anna! rly srsly Joe King)
Steve Zara :

I don't know much about Paula, but I am sure she is not a Dalek (well, pretty sure).

Evidence, please.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

198. Fleabytes

Comment #145307 by Richard Morgan on March 17, 2008 at 1:19 pm

Pathfinder

I take grave exepttion to the idea we crawled out of the PRIMEVIL slime.

We didn't all make it all of the way out. Well, not on a permanent basis. Just brief forays to come and post on this site.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes

199. New Atheists Are Not Great

Comment #145305 by Richard Morgan on March 17, 2008 at 1:16 pm

Silent Mike

al-rawandi

Please stop that. You'll give everybody here nightmares.

No, don't stop - it's not every day that we have eye-witnesses for miraculous events!

200. New Atheists Are Not Great

Comment #145293 by Richard Morgan on March 17, 2008 at 1:08 pm

al-rawandi

The guy slept with Ann Coulter.

There are some people who are lucky ebough to be able to go to sleep in the most trying circumstances.
I certainly think it's preferable to staying awake with her.

http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes