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alienist
Skeptic Friend
USA
210 Posts |
 Posted - 04/03/2011 : 05:47:38 [Permalink]
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| I suggest ignoring BngBuck unless he says something that contributes to the topic. Behavioral therapy works well with dogs, toddlers and irascible adults. |
The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well! - Joe Ancis |
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bngbuck
SFN Addict
USA
2437 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2011 : 11:42:02 [Permalink]
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Alienist said:
| I suggest ignoring BngBuck unless he says something that contributes to the topic |
Finally! An appraisal of common sense, truth, and clarity that illuminates the childish fiasco that these forums devolve into almost every time a topic that hints of "woo" is introduced. Whether it is extraterrestrial visititation, alien abduction, psychic phenomena, ghosts, or whatever; these are topics that many "skeptics" just can't handle rationally for very long.
The topics are so anathematic to the precepts of Critical Thinking that they are seen as taboo by many trained in CT application, and the affect of the subject matter significantly hinders the exercise of rationality when thinking about the subject. Frequently, the discussion degrades into personal attack and argument ad hominem (which I understand to be a logical fallacy.)
Perhaps all such topics should be banned here, because several of the members obviously cannot handle such material. Another approach would be to ban any person or member that dares to introduce such a topic. That seems to work, at least it kills the topic thread - as in Le Penseur's case.
Kil, and even Dave seemed to realize that the robotic calls for Evidence coming from many in the crowd were useless. Yet, LP ended up martyring himself (with a lift to the Cross by Dave] and the thread ended. Some expressed relief that it was over. This would seem to bolster the argument that taboo topics be banned in advance. Better ban topics than people. Maybe.
I am an outlier. That is no secret. I am alternately amused and annoyed by the antics of some members and have intentionally reduced myself to the level they displayed because I enjoy the exercise, much as I enjoy chess. Also, because it angers me to be attacked and I crave catharsis of those emotions as much as any human being does. This is admittedly childish on my part. At least elfish! There was a time when I struggled to control the child in me. At my current age, I enjoy him too much to put him down. That is a failing.
However, I agree with Kil that pissing contents are not contributory to the stated goals of SFN. I really do not belong here in the club of evidence-demanding, critical-thinking, logic-revering folks. However there is a subgroup of evidently wiser members that are conspicuously absent in the intellectual penis-size contests. So, not all of the frequently-posting members' limbic systens go into orbit when a taboo topic shows up. Their owners simply abstain. A la Alienist's suggestion! They are topic purists, or just not interested, and that is a completely appropriate choice for them to make. Beats me and Humbert duking it out!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Critical Thinking. It is just that it is not the end and all of existence. Much of the more fascinating puzzles of the Universe can, at least in part, be profitably explored by the methodology of CT and the Scientific Method.
But I have difficulty in understanding why, when an interesting member like LP comes along, and the "evidence" mantra has been chanted to him many times, and leaders like Kil and Dave have clearly seen that "evidence" is very difficult to obtain; why he must be either manuvered into quitting or else banned (OK, suspended), rather than given a chance to get the emotional need to retaliate to attacks out of his system - and then allowed to talk at length about his topic?
The member (Alienist) that has suggested to one and all to ignore my off-topic commentary is absolutely correct. Try to direct the more productive functions of the frontal cortex to override the emotional tsunamis of the hypothalamus! Alienist is a highly educated medical specialist in psychiatry, with years of actual patient therapy under her belt. She is a much more capable commentator on psychodynamics than probably anyone here - most particularly me! All I would add to her comment is: Just ignore anyone who is more interested in insult exchange than in pursuing a topic discussion!
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13476 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2011 : 13:25:21 [Permalink]
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Okay Bill. You have a bug up your ass about le Penseur and other things. Fine. You do know you can start a thread about that, right? This is not the place. I resent your hijacking this thread so you can air your grievances. Open another thread and we'll address your grievances and criticisms there. Can't say how it will go, but at least it will be dedicated.
And Bill. I'm not asking. While I consider you a friend of mine, I consider SFN my baby. |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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Dude
SFN Die Hard
USA
6891 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2011 : 18:51:39 [Permalink]
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bng said:
| But I have difficulty in understanding why, when an interesting member like LP comes along, and the "evidence" mantra has been chanted to him many times, and leaders like Kil and Dave have clearly seen that "evidence" is very difficult to obtain; why he must be either manuvered into quitting or else banned (OK, suspended), rather than given a chance to get the emotional need to retaliate to attacks out of his system - and then allowed to talk at length about his topic? |
No one attacked that delusional twit. He started slinging shit and had some thrown back in his face.
But really, he was never here to do anything other than throw a giant bucket of shit at us anyway. He ignored virtually every request for info and details, no matter how politely worded, and indulged the very first opportunity to start being an asshole when he was confronted with very gentle criticism (initially) of his nonsense.
The only thing he wanted to do was pick a fight. He didn't want to talk to anyone or share anything, just fight. So really, screw that guy. Hope he gets abducted and painfully probed, even if it is all in his head.
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Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.
-- Thomas Jefferson
"god :: the last refuge of a man with no answers and no argument." - G. Carlin
Hope, n.
The handmaiden of desperation; the opiate of despair; the illegible signpost on the road to perdition. ~~ da filth |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13476 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2011 : 20:10:58 [Permalink]
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Thanks Dude.
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Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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Dude
SFN Die Hard
USA
6891 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2011 : 20:43:40 [Permalink]
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............ errrr..... my bad.
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Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.
-- Thomas Jefferson
"god :: the last refuge of a man with no answers and no argument." - G. Carlin
Hope, n.
The handmaiden of desperation; the opiate of despair; the illegible signpost on the road to perdition. ~~ da filth |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26020 Posts |
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"Shadow Matter,Psychic Phenomena and Possible Surv
