tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.comments2013-01-25T06:35:25.151-08:00Freedom from DogmaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04025404621960228054noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-53379554510105357142013-01-25T06:35:25.151-08:002013-01-25T06:35:25.151-08:00"There are no bad words. Bad thoughts. Bad In... <br /><br />"There are no bad words. Bad thoughts. Bad Intentions.<br /><br />And words, you know the seven don't you? Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker, and Tits, huh? Those are the heavy seven.<br /><br />The reason Piss and Cunt are on the list is that a long time ago certain ladies said 'Those are the two I am not going to say. I don't mind Fuck and Shit, but P and C are out. P and C are out.' Which led to such stupid sentences as 'OK, you fuckers, I am going to tinkle now.'" The Original Seven Dirty Words, G. Carlin.<br /><br />Igorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04561482982374328820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-73516823898630874542011-10-15T22:59:56.484-07:002011-10-15T22:59:56.484-07:00"There's a time and a place for both tact..."There's a time and a place for both tactics, and I think that when we demonize each other, we all lose."<br /><br />I certainly agree with that as far as any demonization does occur on either side. I don't know if you were around for the <i>You're Not Helping</i> accommodationist debacle with Wally Smith, but hopefully you do and know what I mean when I say I'm sure glad that's over!Aratina Cagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05191120796865740975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-84569396897701165252011-10-15T12:28:28.565-07:002011-10-15T12:28:28.565-07:00I think it was PZ who said that he would like to s...I think it was PZ who said that he would like to see religion as a side dish, but not the main course. I know it was PZ who said that when entering a science classroom, people should leave their religious beliefs at the door. I agree with him in this sense -- there is no compromise between science and religion, and any religious practice should be so personal as to not infringe on the rights of others, including one's children. I think the argument between "accommodationists" and "confrontationists" is silly, though. There's a time and a place for both tactics, and I think that when we demonize each other, we all lose.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025404621960228054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-23548794815549435072011-10-14T09:33:25.232-07:002011-10-14T09:33:25.232-07:00Eradicating religion isn't really something I ...Eradicating religion isn't really something I would necessarily want either (although I would want to see some <i>forms</i> of it gone, like Ultra-Orthodox or fundamentalist <i>anything</i>). I just want to have it seen for what it is--a form of entertainment, like the Power Rangers TV series or, as Sastra wrote once on Pharyngula, like a sports team--than as a source of truths about reality.Aratina Cagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05191120796865740975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-40259005132682827382011-09-07T15:20:54.476-07:002011-09-07T15:20:54.476-07:00Never look at the trombones, it only encourages th...<i>Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them.</i> -- Richard StraussDave Rickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03131126038425198891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-44989571912235194692011-09-04T21:04:43.620-07:002011-09-04T21:04:43.620-07:00I agree with you, khendar. Words can and do cause ...I agree with you, khendar. Words can and do cause pain, but it's how they're perceived and intended that matters; without meaning (including progressive change in meaning), words are nothing more than the sounds we make.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025404621960228054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-35623183952637946502011-09-04T20:30:32.704-07:002011-09-04T20:30:32.704-07:00To me words are just words. Its society that assig...To me words are just words. Its society that assigns positive or negative connotations to them. The words themselves are not offensive, they're just collections of sounds, its the way people interpret them that makes them offensive.<br /><br />Its interesting how closely tied to culture the perceived offensiveness of certain words is. The classic one is the word c*ck. In the US this is a regarded as highly offensive word and is probably restricted on television to post-watershed programming. In fact its one of the classic "dirty words" that got comedian Lenny Bruce arrested for obscenity. Whereas in the UK, its a much more civilised word and is frequently uttered on such "family-friendly" shows as Top Gear and QI. Same word, essentially the same meaning, but vastly different perceptions.khendarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10888128299198923520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-27062290709001168442011-09-01T10:32:16.177-07:002011-09-01T10:32:16.177-07:00I'm new here(I saw your link on Emma's fb ...I'm new here(I saw your link on Emma's fb page) but I wanted to say that this is an excellent post. I think it's important to remember that language is an ever evolving thing that only has power over us when we relinquish it. Not only does this stifle our freedom of expression, it stifles our ability to move on from painful moments in our history, which dishonors the work of so many who fought and died so that we could be where we are now. <br />Just my two cents. :) <br /><br />WesleyWeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04874181401182942277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-24120049986688607992011-09-01T07:38:37.320-07:002011-09-01T07:38:37.320-07:00Just mentioned you over at my blog. Something you ...Just mentioned you over at my blog. Something you said here tied in with the topic. :)Scented Nectarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10462461381858605576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-14983394316510449712011-09-01T04:14:06.063-07:002011-09-01T04:14:06.063-07:00I agree 101%+
I could hardly have put it more pas...I agree 101%+<br /><br />I could hardly have put it more passionately!<br />Intent counts.<br />The package in which it comes barely registers.<br /><br />Those who consider the wrapping to be more important than the content are usually under 3 years of age, no matter how physically decrepit they may be.Michael Kingsford Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15610344772081162910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-53684641879047443542011-08-29T21:42:50.209-07:002011-08-29T21:42:50.209-07:00Oops, Kirth as it were. My mistake. :)Oops, Kirth as it were. My mistake. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025404621960228054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-1635585723400648092011-08-29T17:42:10.437-07:002011-08-29T17:42:10.437-07:00@Keith I wrote so much in response to you, that I ...@Keith I wrote so much in response to you, that I decided to make it a separate blog post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025404621960228054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-66942354557509044872011-08-26T08:13:44.662-07:002011-08-26T08:13:44.662-07:00Hi! I linked here from Russell Blackford's blo...Hi! I linked here from Russell Blackford's blog, and I see a lot of potential here. <br /><br />One thing I have noticed is that, while nobody likes to be told not to rant about their pet peeves, members of the atheist community tend to be exceptionally prickly about it, given the fact that in many places (including the U.S.), they're basically told all the time to shut up and not talk about things that seem obvious to them. Getting up in arms over something like Elevatorgate (which I agree should have been a non-incident) is possibly a symptom of this.<br /><br />A question, too, if I may: who are these "prominent atheists" who want to eradicate religion? People mention them all the time, but never by name -- and somehow I never seem to meet them. Aside from the general insanity and sock-puppetry, the downfall of the infamous "You're Not Helping" blog was in making these sorts of assertions and then refusing to give specific examples that could be independently verified. As skeptics, we're skeptical of ALL claims that can't be checked!Kirth Gersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13771084733414305421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-1722713382985609142011-08-25T07:49:38.907-07:002011-08-25T07:49:38.907-07:00Russell & anyone else -- I have my old poetry ...Russell & anyone else -- I have my old poetry blog linked to this one (it's on the blogroll, called "Random Sighs and Musings." I generally like that kind of writing much better; but right now I feel like I have too much to say that isn't poetic, romantic, or musical.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025404621960228054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-37751542920094814412011-08-24T19:13:54.743-07:002011-08-24T19:13:54.743-07:00Phil: Try going to the home page and clicking &quo...Phil: Try going to the home page and clicking "Subscribe to: Posts" at the bottom. Copy and paste the URL of the page that opens into your RSS Reader.khendarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10888128299198923520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-64441348677732729512011-08-24T19:10:27.063-07:002011-08-24T19:10:27.063-07:00Good luck, new blog!Good luck, new blog!Russell Blackfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12431324430596809958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-9139785270155776422011-08-24T18:00:40.188-07:002011-08-24T18:00:40.188-07:00I would love to suscribe, but the process seems to...I would love to suscribe, but the process seems to be a bit more complicated here than at Justi's...Phil Giordanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453215966658147755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-11710183185498867922011-08-24T17:32:46.783-07:002011-08-24T17:32:46.783-07:00Glad to see you too, Mary. My poetry/random musing...Glad to see you too, Mary. My poetry/random musings blog is also in this Blogroll. And then, of course, thre's always twitter.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025404621960228054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-9896255982489624622011-08-24T10:46:33.579-07:002011-08-24T10:46:33.579-07:00hey blu...
congrats on setting this up. I've...hey blu...<br /><br />congrats on setting this up. I've enjoyed reading your opinions elsewhere...look forward to following you here since I don't do FB etc...<br /><br />Marymaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02397692552404843589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-80580349141423389742011-08-24T09:05:54.150-07:002011-08-24T09:05:54.150-07:00Hi Brad and Justy. Kisses.Hi Brad and Justy. Kisses.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025404621960228054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-62381854384458319322011-08-24T05:03:43.123-07:002011-08-24T05:03:43.123-07:00Me too, er, three.Me too, er, three.Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01920821021889814871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-17707661876498588872011-08-24T04:10:02.036-07:002011-08-24T04:10:02.036-07:00Same as Justi :)Same as Justi :)Phil Giordanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453215966658147755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-17938713535921118532011-08-24T04:03:16.410-07:002011-08-24T04:03:16.410-07:00I'm just stopping by to say hello and welcome ...I'm just stopping by to say hello and welcome to blogsnot!Justicarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11271259122971289909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-64826721020462825762011-08-24T00:50:51.845-07:002011-08-24T00:50:51.845-07:00Please feel free to subscribe to the blog or to th...Please feel free to subscribe to the blog or to the RSS link (or both). I look forward to chatting with you moreAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04025404621960228054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3480705730714319619.post-692777831470361182011-08-24T00:15:41.951-07:002011-08-24T00:15:41.951-07:00I am interested in your ideas and wish to subscrib...I am interested in your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.khendarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10888128299198923520noreply@blogger.com