h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Sorry, couldn't help myself - agree to be cool?

Yeah right.


Meanwhile, we're doing okay here. Totally stressing with biz stuff but things seem to be coming together.


az

I thought it was quite funny. I just don't want her to go all hysterical on me again. Just trying to keep the peace.

What biz stuff would that be then?

Ste

<>



F119314?thread=831527&skip=0&show=20


az

For the record: I tend to shy away from a direct challenge ONLY IF you define a direct challenge as a direct flamewar.

Flamewars are often started by people saying profoundly offensive and bigotted things. You are not the innocent party here, Nerd. You may take some kind of twisted pride in offending people with your beliefs/opinions but it is something to be ashamed of.

Ste

are you referring to the comment I made that I do not like gays? I don't like gays, you don't like Christians, whats the difference?

At NO POINT have I ever stated a dislike for Christians. I particularly admire them. My Father-in-law is a priest and we are very close.

This is another way to start flame wars - by making totally unfounded and offensive accusations. You seem to be an expert.

Ste

didn't mean you personally, I meant you people on your side of the argument on the other thread in general. I could easily have yiksed about a dozen of other people's posts. I think next time I'm talking about issues on a debatingish thread I'll probably make more use of the Yikes button

<> (Nerd)

Nerd, you actually said, replying to Ste - "I don't like gays, you don't like Christians, whats the difference?"

If you didn't mean Ste personally, um . . .? There's only Ste and me and sometimes Noggin on this thread.

Meanwhile, I have known you to shy away from direct challenges quite often. And not when you were being 'unfairly attacked', though it seems to be a typical defense thing for some Christians to resort to accusations of being persecuted just because they are Christian.

Which is basically why I gave up trying to debate with you ages ago.

Why are you here on this thread, btw?


az

As Az sez (), you were directly referring to me. I don't share a lot of opinions with "my side". Including some of the more anti-Christian sentiments. Either talk to me or do not. Choose.

You shy away from debates and salient points on a regular basis. If you cannot, or do not want to, respond to a point of debate you simply ignore them and move on. It's a classic bait and switch tactic that the right-wing use all the time.

When I tried to repeatedly press you on these points you ignored me a few times and then claim you have already answered them after a while. It's quite pathetic.

The next step in the "Nerd Technique" is to ignore all the progress made in the debate and re-state the original question, as if nothing has happened, and as if nobody had spent considerable chunks of their lives responding to your drivel.

Ste

<>

'As az has' sounds even funnier. I think kelli once used that in a sentence and commented on its amusing qualities . . .

Hmmm . . . perhaps the " ***** Technique™" needs a more generic name as more people seem to be using it.


az

F99517?thread=2026579

How bizarre!

Sounds like a sock puppet to me. The last one was an '*' rather than a '.'

Isn't it weird to realise just how many people lurk on one's PS threads?


az

I know. I feel stalked.

Hey "." (if that IS your real name). F*ck off!

Here is the '*' . . . U1251445

The '.' sounds like a relative, or at least relatively similar. Or perhaps it is a totally new trollish sort . . . ?

Curious to note on the '*' thread - he has no recent postings but is subscribed to recent threads, many of which are mine (as well as SoRB's and Ben's). Somewhat obsessed, don't you reckon?

The '*' also sent me some vile email awhile ago - we traced his IP number and know which city he lives in. The h2g2 Eds were also given this information.

So, I doubt that it is you who is being stalked. It seems that for some reason or other certain sick weirdos choose to stalk me and you just happened to be in their line of fire.

Sorry about that . . .

az

I have answered every freaking question anyone has asked, responded to every point, repeatedly demonstrated the invalidity of alleged "proof" and the response has been to completely ignore the evidence I have presented for my rather moderate argument that evolution and creation are contraversial. If you can't even acknowledge the obvious fact that not every scientist believes in your theory, I'd say it would be you who has shied away from a direct confrontation of evidence. (i.e. the link to the list of scientists that nobody will click on)

It seems to me that this hostility to openness in public education to questinos of origin on the part of evolutionists indicates several things, including that evolutionists aren't confident that students will see the truth of their theory when confronted with both side's evidence. Creationists on the other hand, seem confident that anyone who gives both sides a fair and open hearing will come to agree with their view. Because of that, creationists seem like more reasonable people to me than evolutionists in general - "reasonable" meaning interested in reasoning.

I joined this thread because somebody linked me to it and when I read it, I realized you were talking about me behind my back.

The point of what I was trying to say wasn't that Ste specifically doesn't like Christians, it was that I don't see the difference between the many negative comments made about Christians on h2g2 and my comment about homosexuals that got yiksed. I am not saying the Christians are being systematically abused on h2g2, merely that homosexuals seem graced with a higher level of protection from moderators.

That said, I should have just kept my big mouth shut that time but I'd had a bad day and was unloading that negativity into a completely unrelated venue, something I really need to quit doing. However, I honestly do not like homosexuals, think homosexuality is morally wrong and that homosexuality, like any sexuality, is a chioce that a person makes. I do not deny the idea that some people have stronger homosexual tendancies than others, but I believe that ultimately, being a homosexual is a chioce that a person makes. It is a question of deciding whether to take action that defines a homosexual, the same way that deciding not to take action defines a nonsexual.

And another thing, I don't understand why you seem to think that ...
...you have some kind of "duty" to argue at me. (as opposed to debate with, which would refer to a discussion with some mutual respect involved)
...I have some obligation to "prove" any of my beliefs to you. Sometimes a statement of opinion is just that: an opinion. It is allright to say "I personally think X" (where X would be creationism in this case) without trying to prove X.
Nerd42

"I have answered every freaking question anyone has asked..."

If you had people wouldn't be persistant in trying to squeeze one out of you in an attempt to move the discussion forward. For example, you still haven't answered why evolutionary biology is different from other science when it comes down to proof. I gave up. You don't have to answer that. You don't have one.

In science, evolution is bog-standard and not controversial. I know. It's a fact. There is no opinion here. If you choose not to believe me there is plenty of evidence to back me up. Also if you choose not to believe me I no longer care.

I did look at the list of scientists. You know why everyone has ignored it? Because it is really dumb. Here's why: a scientist may believe in any form of creation, but that is NOTHING to do with him being a scientist. As soon as ANYONE (including that list of scientists) leaves the natural world for the supernatural to explain things then it ceases to be science and becomes religion! Just because they claim to be scientists, doesn't mean that what they are talking about is science. I am a scientist, my beliefs on the merits of Nottingham Forest Football Club carry no more weight than other people, nor do I use science to decide upon my misguided support for that mess-of-a-football club. It is a different realm of philosophy. As we discussed. As you ignored.


"It seems to me that this hostility to openness in public education to questinos of origin on the part of evolutionists indicates several things..."

Discuss religius mythology in a religion class. Discuss science in a science class. Easy. You seem to have trouble with this overwhelmingly simple idea. Creationism is a non-scientific BELIEF. Forcing children to learn this in a secular environment is not only VERY stupid, but also VERY wrong.


"I joined this thread because somebody linked me to it and when I read it, I realized you were talking about me behind my back."

Yep. On MY PERSONAL SPACE. Also in public for allllll to see. You ought to see what goes on in emails *really* behind you back.


"The point of what I was trying to say wasn't that Ste specifically doesn't like Christians, it was that I don't see the difference between the many negative comments made about Christians on h2g2 and my comment about homosexuals that got yiksed..."

Homophobia is not socially acceptable. Questioning Christianity is. I agree that some people take this too far. If you don't like something yikes it. I have been known on more than one occassion to leap to the defence of the faithful.

Homosexuals are a persecuted minority that need defending from hateful people like your good, Christian self.


"However, I honestly do not like homosexuals, think homosexuality is morally wrong and that homosexuality, like any sexuality, is a chioce that a person makes..."

You persist in that BELIEF because it would otherwise be morally wrong to hate and persecute a group of people who had no choice in the matter of their sexuality. Some people are jusy gay. It happens. Hey, even you might be gay. You might not be. If you talk to gay people, and this is the overwhelming concensus elsewhere too (including science), homosexuality is something you are born with.

Only people who feel the need to gay-bash deny this. Strange, huh? Well no, but you get the idea (I hope).


"...you have some kind of "duty" to argue at me..."

Argue/debate mean the same thing. Argue doesn't mean "an aggressive debate". When you "argue a point" you are not shouting it. I have a duty because in a year or so I will have a PhD in evolutionary genetics. The word "Doctor" means "teacher". Therefore it is my duty to inform the ignorant about these matters. I have since labelled you a Child Left Behind. Oh well.

"...I have some obligation to "prove" any of my beliefs to you..."

If you're going to place religion and science in the same ballpark in an attept to argue for it being included in science classes then you better damn well expect your religious beliefs to come under scientific scrutiny. Did it burn under that magnifying glass?, you seem rather hurt.

"... Sometimes a statement of opinion is just that: an opinion. It is allright to say "I personally think X" (where X would be creationism in this case) without trying to prove X..."

Ohhh, you're sh*tting me, right?

I tried like HELL to simply get you to say "I think X because I believe it is so". You REFUSED. I knew your opinions/beliefs are based on nothing but beliefs, and now you come here and tell me so. Beliefs/opinions are FINE, by the way. But if you want to argue for your beliefs/opinions to be taught as fact you HAVE TO give some decent evidence. You can't play the religious persecution card on this one.


See ya.
Ste

<>

This is the usual argument put forth by homophobes - that sexual orientation is a choice. As if the sex act is the only thing going on - as if it's only about f******.

How little you know, Nerd. And how content you seem to be to never learn any more. As Ste called you, a Child Left Behind.

In so many ways.

So you automatically dislike people who lives their lives differently to you. How extremely un-Christian of you. And you also seem to prefer living in ignorance about other people and other ways of life - to just judge everyone who isn't just like you as people you don't like,

Boring . . .


az

who *live* their lives . . .


az

Ste you are the one being close-minded here.