tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post5582476760481896209..comments2023-10-08T05:13:18.117-07:00Comments on wikifray: Weekend Off TopicWikiFrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07420433870074751645noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-69101906871002731402007-02-15T13:42:00.000-08:002007-02-15T13:42:00.000-08:00Re. game-show metaphysics. Bob Harris's Jeopardy ...Re. game-show metaphysics. Bob Harris's <A HREF="http://keifuswrites.blogspot.com/2006/11/review-prisoner-of-trebekistan-by-bob.html" REL="nofollow">Jeopardy book</A> was an enjoyable read. I have to thank Schad for ever mentioning the guy. <BR/><BR/>See how it all comes full circle? Kum ba ya, kiddos. <BR/><BR/>KKeifushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00287358319899471490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-62252351050344031662007-02-15T13:20:00.000-08:002007-02-15T13:20:00.000-08:00Free speech my ass. This is politics, people. Ed...Free speech my ass. This is politics, people. Edwards was trying to position himself to take some portion of the south. In fact, he's the only Dem who's expressed any interest in the South whatsoever. Members of his staff taking potshots at religion is for him the equivalent of Dukakis in a tank or Kerry goin' huntin'. It's a disaster. <BR/><BR/>I'm sure a different candidate might have "stood up for free speech" -- not because they are inherently more interested in the constitution, but rather because appearing to stand up for free speech against religious groups would have mobilized their respective bases.augusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042512777302374341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-52098829862457018582007-02-15T12:30:00.000-08:002007-02-15T12:30:00.000-08:00[poking my head out from under the covers...]Schad...[poking my head out from under the covers...]<BR/><BR/>Schad: thanks, that's the reaction I was aiming for. <BR/><BR/>As an aside, I should probably point out that some people consider the purest manifestation of "g" to be one's ability to access random bits of information in response to stimulus accurately and quickly (though this is probably also a composite variable, made up of activation, suppression, indexing, etc., or modulation if you prefer - subsumes analogical reasoning*).<BR/><BR/>If this is true (I think it probably is), one of the best real-life implementations of this attribute is probably on that damn show (though I prefer Ben Stein to Trebek).<BR/><BR/>So if you could beat that guy 3/5 (and you'd know better than I would), then I am impressed.<BR/><BR/>Mostly, I pointed him out as representing some of the people I grew up around - demonstrably more intelligent, and demonstrably more deluded (no intended parallel on this dimension to present company should be implied).<BR/><BR/>Before I go hide my head again [work & personal stuff], I've been thinking about what Switters said in his GCW post [dude, you're not leaving the blog, are you?]. I think he and I share a belief about solutions - that an optimal (or acceptable) solution has to subsume extremes of the argument beneath it. <BR/><BR/>I dunno if Agnosticism could qualify, but it might just serve as a handy label for all sorts of explanations, independent of the degree to which they've been thought out.<BR/><BR/>Back to the unpleasantries of life, I'm afraid. <BR/><BR/>I'm glad you chose not to take offense. I hope you liked that second link?<BR/><BR/>[Pulling the covers back over my head]<BR/><BR/><BR/>*I'm sure Ghost could make some accurate observation about dated conclusions, though I should point out bleeding edge observations often turn out to be misinterpreted or wrong, and it most often behooves applied people to skeptically stick with the tried and true, though blunted, instruments that feel comfortable in their grip, and which they know won't turn or break under pressure.TenaciousKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16329335294478431462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-24244333465609619822007-02-15T10:18:00.000-08:002007-02-15T10:18:00.000-08:00TK:I had a scathing response, but I'll just let it...TK:<BR/><BR/>I had a scathing response, but I'll just let it go at quiet amusement.<BR/><BR/>(As a for the record aside, I'm pretty sure I could beat Ken Jennings 3 out of 5)Michael Daunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17882263663318068988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-5856961089267920612007-02-14T16:26:00.000-08:002007-02-14T16:26:00.000-08:00Arch, it was the way I went on about links and stu...Arch, it was the way I went on about links and stuff, right? Caught that user interface just right?<BR/><BR/>(Consider posting sober? It works occasionally for me.) More seriously, I think I'll dig that one out tomorrow morning and post it on my blog if I got someone actually interested (possibly before your time). I reallly do shudder at "old Keifus" though.<BR/><BR/>K (I'm trying to say thanks)Keifushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00287358319899471490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-60233067486287536882007-02-13T21:33:00.000-08:002007-02-13T21:33:00.000-08:00If knowing all the answers could only mean you wer...If knowing all the answers could only mean you were always right...[sigh]<BR/><BR/><BR/>But then that <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Jennings " REL="nofollow"> Jennings fella' </A> would be some sort of guru, or president or something, wouldn't he?<BR/><BR/>Oh wait - he's a Mormon? That can’t be right, <A HREF="http://www.mydatabus.com/public/fieldingbandolier/z/SouthParkHell.wmv" REL="nofollow"> can it</A>?TenaciousKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16329335294478431462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-56133951824370831032007-02-13T17:50:00.000-08:002007-02-13T17:50:00.000-08:00TK:What you have yet to realize is that I really d...TK:<BR/><BR/>What you have yet to realize is that I really do know (almost) everything.Michael Daunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17882263663318068988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-71467303964384797552007-02-13T16:58:00.000-08:002007-02-13T16:58:00.000-08:00Keifus, once again I read a post that you've writt...Keifus, once again I read a post that you've written that's exactly like something I would say, only said so much better than I would say it.Archaeopteryxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10627784327758008867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-84434942439213016352007-02-13T16:46:00.000-08:002007-02-13T16:46:00.000-08:00Ender,nevermind. question answered. swit,I'll ad...Ender,<BR/><BR/>nevermind. question answered. <BR/><BR/>swit,<BR/><BR/>I'll add the MBTU's.augusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042512777302374341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-28504781838452894192007-02-13T14:47:00.000-08:002007-02-13T14:47:00.000-08:00Schad: You have no idea. Seriously. You’re an od...Schad: You have <A HREF="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q206/FieldingBandolier/TKveiled.jpg" REL="nofollow">no idea</A>. Seriously. You’re an odd one to be making allusions about someone’s <A HREF="http://askthygoddess.blogspot.com/2007/01/while.html" REL="nofollow">genitalia</A>, though.<BR/><BR/>Take three deep breaths and practice saying, "I don’t really know everything.” over and over until you believe it.<BR/><BR/>Agnosticism is atheism, minus the overconfidence.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Switters: very good list (esp. Shrieking Violet, one of my all-time favs, and notabel). Iso's not on the list?<BR/><BR/>What SoGal said.TenaciousKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16329335294478431462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-44748518466375510172007-02-13T14:17:00.000-08:002007-02-13T14:17:00.000-08:00As long as the Left allows the Right to define the...As long as the Left allows the Right to define them, then no, the Democrats will not win.<BR/><BR/>Why the Left did not learn this with Dean and Kerry I do not know(?) but thankfully it didn't work for the Right in the 2006 midterms.<BR/><BR/>If Edwards did cave to the likes of these bullies then he doesn't deserve to be President,imo.<BR/><BR/>I feel that if the blogger thing offended so-called Christians [I say so-called because most so-called Christians live their lives totally contrary to the teachings of Christ] so much it's because they wanted to be offended. <BR/><BR/><I>[Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log in you own eye? Mt 7:3, RS]</I> <BR/><BR/>What's interesting is the Right has no problem supporting liars and those who practice abominations from their own party. Hypocrisy? I think so.<BR/><BR/>Twiff said...<I>one of the aspects of christian thought i find galling is the idea that words speak louder than actions. you can be an extraordinarily good human, but if you act in such way simply because you believe it proper, not because god told you to, you're still damned. because you didn't accept god, you were simply a good soul.</I> <BR/><BR/>This also galls me. Many so-called Christians judge others who are not of their sect or those who are not religious as being damned and will be tortured in the so-called Christian's so-called hell for all eternity whether the others did fine works in their life or not.<BR/><BR/>These so-called Christians are certainly entitled to the religions but please don't try to foist them off on others who do not feel or believe the same and for God's sake, stop judging others...God doesn't like judgers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-63432935479917763732007-02-13T13:24:00.000-08:002007-02-13T13:24:00.000-08:00Ender -Is it just a matter of adding a magnolia bo...Ender -<BR/><BR/>Is it just a matter of adding a magnolia bookmark with tag "wikifray," or is there an additional step (enabling RSS, sending to group, etc.)?augusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12042512777302374341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-16909019162461109672007-02-13T12:28:00.000-08:002007-02-13T12:28:00.000-08:00Ender: more MBTUs to add:not_abelIsonomisteigenvec...Ender: more MBTUs to add:<BR/><BR/>not_abel<BR/>Isonomist<BR/>eigenvector<BR/>Shrieking_Violet<BR/>Moloch-Resurrexit<BR/>Quirinus<BR/>O_Hellenbach<BR/>AG60<BR/>mfbenson<BR/>ed37<BR/>Watt4Bob<BR/><BR/>(Sorry for any misspellings. Say, you know what we really need around here? <I>Trusted_Users!</I> [I guess that'll be my next new fray nic.])swittershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14271393212302533995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-78817643278524662942007-02-13T12:26:00.000-08:002007-02-13T12:26:00.000-08:00Schad,Offense is obviously in the eye of the behol...Schad,<BR/><BR/>Offense is obviously in the eye of the beholder -- I'm never going to be able to convince you it's offensive; you're never going to be able to convince me it's not a big deal. On that, we're agreed.<BR/><BR/>And I'm not one to go hinting for things to be offended by. If Amanda Marcotte wants to run a blog and run down Jesus, Joseph, and the Blessed Mother, go ahead and have fun.<BR/><BR/>Putting aside the offensiveness question, her post was bad argument. What person who accepts the Church's teachings would reader her post and reconsider, after she opens with that stupid Holy Spirit line? It's not an argument, it's a sneer.<BR/><BR/>And this is one of the things that the Bush Administration has done -- don't repectfully engage the opposition, but make jokes out of them and point and laugh at how ridiculous they are.<BR/><BR/>Maybe this works to get 51% of the vote, but it won't work to bring the country together to work to solve the problems we face.<BR/><BR/>I want something better.<BR/><BR/>Probably time to lighten the mood with another "Great teams" post.JohnMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476537916134121570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-83285102047062238342007-02-13T12:25:00.000-08:002007-02-13T12:25:00.000-08:00ender, Re. the recommended column:Less than thrill...ender, Re. the recommended column:<BR/><BR/>Less than thrilled about a double-stop to get to whatever. Can they link directly to the actual site of the favorite item, rather than a bookmark which then links there. I don't think I'm alone in eyeballing the printed link text on the bottom of my browser before I decide to go there.<BR/><BR/>Also would personally think it'd be best if it advertises stuff outside the wiki neighborhood, but that may just be my thing.<BR/><BR/>And the rest: Weenie? I've been called worse. I enjoy some aspects of corporality--eating, sex--and if some nondescript "spirituality" is one of them, seems harmless enough to indulge it a little.Keifushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00287358319899471490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-55697994449980382032007-02-13T12:08:00.000-08:002007-02-13T12:08:00.000-08:00It’s likely we will surpass 10,000 visits today.Re...It’s likely we will surpass 10,000 visits today.<BR/><BR/>Recommended: I assume you all read the bit about it in Joining WikiFray. I’ve switched the service we’ll use to <A HREF="http://ma.gnolia.com/" REL="nofollow">ma.gnolia</A>. This is one of those ideas that I like very much, but will remove if it doesn’t prove its worth (y’all don’t take to it). I’ve thrown in a variety of examples to give you an idea of what it’s good for.Edwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01779339791093367175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-83526648066229186382007-02-13T12:05:00.000-08:002007-02-13T12:05:00.000-08:00JohnMcG:You know I generally respect you, but you'...JohnMcG:<BR/><BR/>You know I generally respect you, but you've got to have a sense of humour, even about Jesus. That's just a non-Christian's sarcastic way of saying, "I don't buy it."<BR/><BR/>TK:<BR/><BR/>You have no balls. Really.<BR/><BR/>Take three deep breaths and practise saying, "I actually, really know something.", over and over until you believe it.<BR/><BR/>Agnosticism is a way of pretending to think without doing any of the actual work.Michael Daunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17882263663318068988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-31764792609281460402007-02-13T11:49:00.000-08:002007-02-13T11:49:00.000-08:00ab·er·rant (ăb'ər-ənt, ă-bĕr'-) adj.1. Deviating ...ab·er·rant (ăb'ər-ənt, ă-bĕr'-) <BR/>adj.<BR/>1. Deviating from the proper or expected course.<BR/>2. Deviating from what is normal; untrue to type.<BR/>The problem is, in this case, the reaction wasn’t aberrant enough. Standing up for freedom of thought, speech etc. would be refreshing and unique. Sometimes different is good.<BR/><BR/>Rigid beliefs are an indicator of closed-mindedness (not the same is firm beliefs). Agnosticism is a way of admitting you don’t know everything.TenaciousKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16329335294478431462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-5994341328630444502007-02-13T11:48:00.000-08:002007-02-13T11:48:00.000-08:00Well, I think the "white sticky Holy Spirit" thing...Well, I think the "white sticky Holy Spirit" thing was in aberration, but the resignation was in response to her <A HREF="http://pandagon.net/2007/02/11/review-of-children-of-men" REL="nofollow">review of <I>Children of Men</I></A>, which had the same attitudes without quite the vitriol.<BR/><BR/>She seems to see everything through the prism of her freshman women's studies course. Everything is motivated by misogyny.<BR/><BR/>She has the right to believe that of course, but that attitude is not an asset to a campaign.JohnMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476537916134121570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-80311288005206345122007-02-13T11:40:00.000-08:002007-02-13T11:40:00.000-08:00Atheism is not believing. Agnosticism is not carin...Atheism is not believing. Agnosticism is not caring. (not literally, just my definitions). I used to be agnostic, but now I care. No certainty, but a desire for the search (which is by all accounts better than finding out anyway. Finding out = death). <BR/><BR/>Most Catholics didn't care about the flap. I care less about it than I care about the Church's negligence vis a vis the safety of children.rundeephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13268692799782942178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-19799519973944944752007-02-13T11:26:00.000-08:002007-02-13T11:26:00.000-08:001. Agnosticism is for weinies.2. Aberrant behavio...1. Agnosticism is for weinies.<BR/><BR/>2. Aberrant behaviour is indicative of an underlying character flaw (in this case, ther aberrant behaviour was in not standing up for freedom of thought, speech, etc., thereby proving that Edwards is unfit to be President).Michael Daunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17882263663318068988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-38798664094259249172007-02-13T11:19:00.000-08:002007-02-13T11:19:00.000-08:00Thus revealing only one of the most problematic as...Thus revealing only one of the most problematic aspects of modern American politics: Over-reaction to an isolated, aberrant behavior, under the assumption it indicates a broader character flaw.TenaciousKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16329335294478431462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-16795753329716609102007-02-13T11:10:00.000-08:002007-02-13T11:10:00.000-08:00twif,I don't think that's a universal Christian be...twif,<BR/><BR/>I don't think that's a universal Christian belief.<BR/><BR/>In case you haven't seen, Marcotte resigned. The whole thing probably turned out as bad as possible for Edwards. The netroots will think he caved, and we won't get credit for standing up for decency. I'd say he's close to doomed. <BR/><BR/>Don't think he would have beaten Clinton and Obama anyway.JohnMcGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476537916134121570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-45806039762399702302007-02-13T10:46:00.000-08:002007-02-13T10:46:00.000-08:00agnositicism is such a vague term, isn't it? i've...agnositicism is such a vague term, isn't it? i've finally admitted that i'm an atheist, as i don't believe in a god. spiritual component of the universe? sure. god(s) as defined by the various religions of the world? nope. <BR/><BR/>one of the aspects of christian thought i find galling is the idea that words speak louder than actions. you can be an extraordinarily good human, but if you act in such way simply because you believe it proper, not because god told you to, you're still damned. because you didn't accept god, you were simply a good soul.<BR/><BR/>that's fucked up. i'd like to think that, if it turns out there is an omniscienst, omnipotent being controlling the universe (or multiverse, for that matter), it's a bit wiser than that.twifferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07019975906761715327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4760967123218143470.post-28829848555836208942007-02-13T08:40:00.000-08:002007-02-13T08:40:00.000-08:00Oh, religious belief is inherently irrational. Th...Oh, religious belief is inherently irrational. This quality has led to a lot of interesting thought and writing, however, by a few eminently rational people (and much, much more uninteresting thought and writing, by eminently irrational people). <BR/><BR/>I find it sort of fascinating (in a morbid sense) that people find virtue in their certainty. Despite all of the potential pratfalls associated with an active and open mind, this certainly seems preferable to refusing to consider anything that contradicts conclusions one refuses to examine.<BR/><BR/>Seems people will go to great lengths in the service of avoiding such re-examinations, too often at the expense of other people, whose pesky refusal to stop mentioning inconvenient observations and ideas can prove so vexing to the deliberately concrete.<BR/><BR/>That's a maddening (and in some circumstances, deadly) quality, regardless of who acts on it.<BR/><BR/>So I was kidding. Judgment day will surely find me firmly planted firmly on the top of a fence somewhere, while I contemplate the alternative interpretations of thermonuclear annihilation as the wrathful hand of good, or the ultimate proof of humanity's folly.TenaciousKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16329335294478431462noreply@blogger.com