If thou gazest long into the Pit, the Pit will also gaze into thee

Reap wrote: Does Melody say "Everyone has to follow the harassment policy PRIOR TO and during the conference" How does that work? If you EVER violate the harassment policy then you are not allowed to attend? What is the scope of this control over a persons actions? I hope she means threats and such but if I go on an ass-grabbing spree the night before and it doesn't involve anyone attending does that mean I'm banned from the conference?

Tony Parsehole wrote: It's so dead it doesn't even know it

Reap wrote:

UnbelieveSteve wrote:I'll just leave this here.
http://i.imgur.com/KrZ2aVR.jpg
and
http://i.imgur.com/8C0kHwL.jpg
Oophie realizes it's her own damn fault for RTing a parody tweet.
:lol:

Does Melody say "Everyone has to follow the harassment policy PRIOR TO and during the conference" How does that work? If you EVER violate the harassment policy then you are not allowed to attend? What is the scope of this control over a persons actions? I hope she means threats and such but if I go on an ass-grabbing spree the night before and it doesn't involve anyone attending does that mean I'm banned from the conference?

UnbelieveSteve wrote:

Reap wrote: Does Melody say "Everyone has to follow the harassment policy PRIOR TO and during the conference" How does that work? If you EVER violate the harassment policy then you are not allowed to attend? What is the scope of this control over a persons actions? I hope she means threats and such but if I go on an ass-grabbing spree the night before and it doesn't involve anyone attending does that mean I'm banned from the conference?

No. You're perma banned by Hensley because you are a [edit] "Rebecca Watson".

TheMan wrote:

Metalogic42 wrote:

ERV wrote:Ive just made three women uncomfortable in OKC Atheists group by challenging their anti-vax/anti-GMO positions.

SEXISM!!!!

I understand why people might be anti-vax; I know they're wrong, but I get it - needles and strange substances are scary. But I could never figure out the anti-GMO movement at all. Why are people afraid of fucking tomatoes?

Cause it's not just tomatoes it's tomatoes with fish and cow bum DNA...so while it may look like a tomato it really isn't. Then, when you eat them and marvel at their intense flavour you can't help but feel like you've been in some way violated by being forced to eat DNA of cow bum...and it's worse when you are a vegetarian. Also, once digested, the special magic used to fuse the DNA together dissolves and mingles with your own DNA and tomatoes come growing out of your belly button...true that. Just saying......

Reap wrote:

Skeptic_Duh wrote:So with that tweet shown above by Melody Hensley - she lays out her plan on stopping JV from attending WISCON2. "Prior" violations of this cons harassment policy will result in banning...

The Fuck?

I predict that she will let him get to the door, then make this big production on how "his kind isn't welcomed here" - and then ban him - wasting money and time.

Then she will go in for the group hugs and say how she is a brave warrior - fighting the injustice.

Yea I can see that happening. If she does try any of that crap I'm gonna be pissed. That is the kind of shit that needs to stop.

CommanderTuvok wrote:Fucking Hell. Scented Nectar's EYES.

:scared-eek:

Za-zen wrote:People in the skeptic movement called them out for spouting shit, and they're women!!!

I was amused lately to be reminded of this debate between John Cleese and Michael Palin, on one side, against Malcolm Muggeridge and Mervyn Stockwood, the Bishop of Southwark, on the other — arguing over The Life of Brian…in 1979. It’s two smart, open-minded people with the ability to critically evaluate truth claims against a pair of pompous old farts who are indignant at the lack of reverence for their ridiculous dogma.

Reap wrote:

UnbelieveSteve wrote:
No. You're perma banned by Hensley because you are a [edit] "Rebecca Watson".

Ha ha I was wondering if anyone was gonna mention that. I thought it worked quite well.

BarnOwl wrote:Someone drank the Kool-aid ...

http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p60 ... 950aea.png

So what "happened" to them? :roll:

BarnOwl wrote:

Za-zen wrote:People in the skeptic movement called them out for spouting shit, and they're women!!!

ZOMG that's terrible!

Disappointing that so many skeptics actually believe Ophelia's woe-is-me martyrdom bullshit. It would be interesting to hold her accountable for her day-to-day activities, which I'm guessing would reveal a good deal of privilege and leisure. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am - many of her own blog posts seem to confirm my suspicions.

VickyCaramel wrote:...We just had this thing in the UK with burgers being contaminated with horse meat which caused some people (my daughter) to freak out...

Za-zen wrote:Hey okie demon, watched your latest godcast, good to see you're an Ulster zombie too, i'll send you tickets to ravenhill.

POLICY ON HOSTILE CONDUCT / HARASSMENT AT CONFERENCES
Purpose and Scope of Policy

The Center for Inquiry (CFI) and its affiliates, including the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Council for Secular Humanism, are educational organizations. As part of our educational mission, we hold conferences from time to time. To ensure that everyone attending our conferences is able to participate in them fully, CFI and its affiliates are committed to providing a safe and hospitable environment at our conferences. Accordingly, CFI and its affiliates prohibit intimidating, threatening, or harassing conduct during our conferences. This policy applies to speakers, staff, volunteers, and attendees.

“Conferences” for purpose of this policy includes any educational meeting or gathering organized or sponsored by CFI or its affiliates to which nonemployees are invited. In other words, this policy applies to local or regional meetings, not just national conferences.

This policy supplements the policy on harassment set forth in the CFI employee handbook, which governs the conduct of CFI staff; it does not replace or supersede that policy.

Prohibited Conduct

In general, prohibited conduct includes any abusive conduct that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with another person’s ability to enjoy and participate in the conference, including social events related to the conference.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, yelling at or threatening speakers or attendees, or any significantly disruptive conduct. By way of example, repeated interruption of a speaker by an attendee is prohibited.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected group status, as provided by local, state, or federal law. By way of example, abusive conduct directed at someone because of their race is prohibited.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment. By way of example, unwelcome sexual attention, stalking, and physical contact such as pinching, grabbing, or groping are prohibited.

Critical examination of beliefs, including critical commentary on another person’s views, does not, by itself, constitute hostile conduct or harassment. One of the underlying rationales of this policy is to promote the free exchange of ideas, not to inhibit it.

Consequences of Hostile or Harassing Conduct

CFI and its affiliates have a zero-tolerance policy for hostile and harassing conduct. If a person engages in hostile or harassing conduct, appropriate remedial action will be taken, which may include, but is not limited to, expulsion from the conference. Threats of hostile conduct that are made prior to a conference may result in exclusion from the conference.

The exact remedy for hostile or harassing conduct will depend on an evaluation of all relevant circumstances, such as the severity of the conduct and prior violations by the person engaging in prohibited conduct.

When there is a reasonable basis for believing the conduct is illegal, appropriate law enforcement authorities will be notified.

Reporting Hostile or Harassing Conduct; Investigations

Persons who are the targets of, or witnesses to, hostile or harassing conduct should contact conference staff. At smaller meetings, conference staff, including the person(s) in charge of the meeting, will be introduced at the beginning. At larger conferences, conference staff will wear identification and/or will be identified in the conference program.

At larger conferences, phone numbers for hotel/venue staff, local law enforcement, and local emergency medical personnel will be provided to conference attendees to facilitate prompt response to complaints and/or requests for assistance.

Reports of hostile or harassing conduct will be promptly addressed. On some occasions, where conference staff are witnesses to the prohibited conduct, immediate remedial action may be taken. Where a report of hostile or harassing conduct is made to conference staff after the conduct has occurred, reasonable measures will be taken to establish the facts. This will typically include discussion with witnesses, if any, and the person accused of engaging in the prohibited conduct. Inquiries into hostile or harassing conduct will be carried out as confidentially as possible given the circumstances.

Record-Keeping

CFI and its affiliates will make a written record of all complaints/incidents as soon as practicable. These records will be used in connection with implementing this policy. These records will be maintained in the Office of the President & CEO of CFI and will not be disclosed to individuals outside of the organization except as required by law.

Lsuoma wrote:

Tony Parsehole wrote: It's so dead it doesn't even know it

[Randy Newman video]

Za-zen wrote:If you have an hour to kill, this is an example of two slyme, ranting at victim.

[spoiler][youtube]Q99J9df7inE[/youtube][/spoiler]

Tigzy wrote:

VickyCaramel wrote:...We just had this thing in the UK with burgers being contaminated with horse meat which caused some people (my daughter) to freak out...

I recommend sticking to burgers which are clearly labelled as having no added Shergar.

Dick Strawkins wrote:According to that policy Justin Vacula has grounds to request the exclusion from the conference of serial harrasser Stephanie Zvan!

SenorBeagle wrote:

Tigzy wrote:

VickyCaramel wrote:...We just had this thing in the UK with burgers being contaminated with horse meat which caused some people (my daughter) to freak out...

I recommend sticking to burgers which are clearly labelled as having no added Shergar.

And now I'm imagining a(n even more) miniature Willie Carson riding me dinner round the living room...

Tigzy wrote:

SenorBeagle wrote:

Tigzy wrote:

VickyCaramel wrote:...We just had this thing in the UK with burgers being contaminated with horse meat which caused some people (my daughter) to freak out...

I recommend sticking to burgers which are clearly labelled as having no added Shergar.

And now I'm imagining a(n even more) miniature Willie Carson riding me dinner round the living room...

I'll have a Big MacCreight, please.

:whistle:

By doing mass blockings of people they don't like, the targets are getting their accounts shut down since it triggers a spam alert if one is blocked by too many people at once. Twitter always reopens the accounts, because it was not spam. They are doing another mass blocking today. Every Saturday they manage to get accounts shut down. Please stop them from doing this, or at least make it so that it doesn't auto-trigger the shutdown of accounts. The above tweet link (and tweeter @aratina) is just one in the group who are doing the #blocksaturday campaign. Thanks in advance for looking into this.

TheMan wrote:

Michael K Gray wrote:

AnonymousCowherd wrote:That implies you have also fixed the continuing growth in resource consumption issue. Reduce the population as far as you like. As long as it is non-zero, if the resource demands continue to rise year on year then you eventually exceed whatever limit you put on them.

Now, that is just being disingenuous there, oh Custardy Coward.
If I reduce it to the extremum of just one human, then makes a mockery of your scenario.
There was once a time when the human population was sustainable. This (again) demolishes your above assertion.
This is a continuum, not black & white, sir.
'Fess up and admit that I am correct.

Your "As long as it is non-zero..." nonsense is a travesty against mathematics, physics, poetry & common sense.
Leave it out, sunshine.

Sorry but at what time were things sustainable? I'm not aware of a time in history that there were no famine, starvation etc.

Even in indigenous cultures tribes went through phases. Progressed from nomadic to settlements then eventually to specialised processing to the present industrialised food production process.

I suggest nothing needs to be done. Once we reach that point where the depleted resources don't sustain the way we are living we adapt or die off...paving the way for some other life form (intelligent or not). It's always been this way and always will unless humans are the cause of ALL life to be eliminated and earth becomes a dry lump of a rock like our rocky planets in our solar system.

Natures checks and balances is supreme and I don't think humans are immune from those forces. ( sounds pantheistic I know). I'm not concerned if humans end up becoming extinct as unlikely as that may be.

Scented Nectar wrote:Just went to https://support.twitter.com/forms/abusiveuser and submitted the following (along with details):

By doing mass blockings of people they don't like, the targets are getting their accounts shut down since it triggers a spam alert if one is blocked by too many people at once. Twitter always reopens the accounts, because it was not spam. They are doing another mass blocking today. Every Saturday they manage to get accounts shut down. Please stop them from doing this, or at least make it so that it doesn't auto-trigger the shutdown of accounts. The above tweet link (and tweeter @aratina) is just one in the group who are doing the #blocksaturday campaign. Thanks in advance for looking into this.

Anyone else who's sick of the false flaggings and account shutdowns, might want to also submit a report.

Dick Strawkins wrote:The 'Women in Secularism 2' harrasment policy is here:
http://www.womeninsecularism.org/policy.html

[spoiler]

POLICY ON HOSTILE CONDUCT / HARASSMENT AT CONFERENCES
Purpose and Scope of Policy

The Center for Inquiry (CFI) and its affiliates, including the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Council for Secular Humanism, are educational organizations. As part of our educational mission, we hold conferences from time to time. To ensure that everyone attending our conferences is able to participate in them fully, CFI and its affiliates are committed to providing a safe and hospitable environment at our conferences. Accordingly, CFI and its affiliates prohibit intimidating, threatening, or harassing conduct during our conferences. This policy applies to speakers, staff, volunteers, and attendees.

“Conferences” for purpose of this policy includes any educational meeting or gathering organized or sponsored by CFI or its affiliates to which nonemployees are invited. In other words, this policy applies to local or regional meetings, not just national conferences.

This policy supplements the policy on harassment set forth in the CFI employee handbook, which governs the conduct of CFI staff; it does not replace or supersede that policy.

Prohibited Conduct

In general, prohibited conduct includes any abusive conduct that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with another person’s ability to enjoy and participate in the conference, including social events related to the conference.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, yelling at or threatening speakers or attendees, or any significantly disruptive conduct. By way of example, repeated interruption of a speaker by an attendee is prohibited.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected group status, as provided by local, state, or federal law. By way of example, abusive conduct directed at someone because of their race is prohibited.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment. By way of example, unwelcome sexual attention, stalking, and physical contact such as pinching, grabbing, or groping are prohibited.

Critical examination of beliefs, including critical commentary on another person’s views, does not, by itself, constitute hostile conduct or harassment. One of the underlying rationales of this policy is to promote the free exchange of ideas, not to inhibit it.

Consequences of Hostile or Harassing Conduct

CFI and its affiliates have a zero-tolerance policy for hostile and harassing conduct. If a person engages in hostile or harassing conduct, appropriate remedial action will be taken, which may include, but is not limited to, expulsion from the conference. Threats of hostile conduct that are made prior to a conference may result in exclusion from the conference.

The exact remedy for hostile or harassing conduct will depend on an evaluation of all relevant circumstances, such as the severity of the conduct and prior violations by the person engaging in prohibited conduct.

When there is a reasonable basis for believing the conduct is illegal, appropriate law enforcement authorities will be notified.

Reporting Hostile or Harassing Conduct; Investigations

Persons who are the targets of, or witnesses to, hostile or harassing conduct should contact conference staff. At smaller meetings, conference staff, including the person(s) in charge of the meeting, will be introduced at the beginning. At larger conferences, conference staff will wear identification and/or will be identified in the conference program.

At larger conferences, phone numbers for hotel/venue staff, local law enforcement, and local emergency medical personnel will be provided to conference attendees to facilitate prompt response to complaints and/or requests for assistance.

Reports of hostile or harassing conduct will be promptly addressed. On some occasions, where conference staff are witnesses to the prohibited conduct, immediate remedial action may be taken. Where a report of hostile or harassing conduct is made to conference staff after the conduct has occurred, reasonable measures will be taken to establish the facts. This will typically include discussion with witnesses, if any, and the person accused of engaging in the prohibited conduct. Inquiries into hostile or harassing conduct will be carried out as confidentially as possible given the circumstances.

Record-Keeping

CFI and its affiliates will make a written record of all complaints/incidents as soon as practicable. These records will be used in connection with implementing this policy. These records will be maintained in the Office of the President & CEO of CFI and will not be disclosed to individuals outside of the organization except as required by law.

[/spoiler]

Reap wrote:

Scented Nectar wrote:Just went to https://support.twitter.com/forms/abusiveuser and submitted the following (along with details):

By doing mass blockings of people they don't like, the targets are getting their accounts shut down since it triggers a spam alert if one is blocked by too many people at once. Twitter always reopens the accounts, because it was not spam. They are doing another mass blocking today. Every Saturday they manage to get accounts shut down. Please stop them from doing this, or at least make it so that it doesn't auto-trigger the shutdown of accounts. The above tweet link (and tweeter @aratina) is just one in the group who are doing the #blocksaturday campaign. Thanks in advance for looking into this.

Anyone else who's sick of the false flaggings and account shutdowns, might want to also submit a report.

Nice. Yea I love the way people try to just shut others up any way possible. Really progressive thinking there people. You should never force on others what you would consider unfair when done to you. Kindergarten knowledge, get some

Scented Nectar wrote: Here is an example of Dobkin's "music". Trigger warning for ear pain and misandric words.

d4m10n wrote:

Za-zen wrote:How much notice will that give him?

Effectively none, but perhaps enough to spare him the bus trip.

Chilly P. wrote:

Scented Nectar wrote: Here is an example of Dobkin's "music". Trigger warning for ear pain and misandric words.

Damn you, SN. I totally musically rubbernecked by clicking that.

I always pondered what might happen if we gave various separatist groups a portion of isolated Federal Lands or some Atolls in the Pacific to settle, and let them have what they wanted. Something like "The Village". I don't think most of them would last very long. The only caveat would be that they have cameras in public places and meeting places, so we can watch and hear the fireworks as they fall apart or descend into tyranny.

Chilly P. wrote:

Scented Nectar wrote: Here is an example of Dobkin's "music". Trigger warning for ear pain and misandric words.

Damn you, SN. I totally musically rubbernecked by clicking that.

I always pondered what might happen if we gave various separatist groups a portion of isolated Federal Lands or some Atolls in the Pacific to settle, and let them have what they wanted. Something like "The Village". I don't think most of them would last very long. The only caveat would be that they have cameras in public places and meeting places, so we can watch and hear the fireworks as they fall apart or descend into tyranny.

d4m10n wrote:

Dick Strawkins wrote:The 'Women in Secularism 2' harrasment policy is here:
http://www.womeninsecularism.org/policy.html

[spoiler]

POLICY ON HOSTILE CONDUCT / HARASSMENT AT CONFERENCES
Purpose and Scope of Policy

The Center for Inquiry (CFI) and its affiliates, including the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Council for Secular Humanism, are educational organizations. As part of our educational mission, we hold conferences from time to time. To ensure that everyone attending our conferences is able to participate in them fully, CFI and its affiliates are committed to providing a safe and hospitable environment at our conferences. Accordingly, CFI and its affiliates prohibit intimidating, threatening, or harassing conduct during our conferences. This policy applies to speakers, staff, volunteers, and attendees.

“Conferences” for purpose of this policy includes any educational meeting or gathering organized or sponsored by CFI or its affiliates to which nonemployees are invited. In other words, this policy applies to local or regional meetings, not just national conferences.

This policy supplements the policy on harassment set forth in the CFI employee handbook, which governs the conduct of CFI staff; it does not replace or supersede that policy.

Prohibited Conduct

In general, prohibited conduct includes any abusive conduct that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with another person’s ability to enjoy and participate in the conference, including social events related to the conference.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, yelling at or threatening speakers or attendees, or any significantly disruptive conduct. By way of example, repeated interruption of a speaker by an attendee is prohibited.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected group status, as provided by local, state, or federal law. By way of example, abusive conduct directed at someone because of their race is prohibited.

Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment. By way of example, unwelcome sexual attention, stalking, and physical contact such as pinching, grabbing, or groping are prohibited.

Critical examination of beliefs, including critical commentary on another person’s views, does not, by itself, constitute hostile conduct or harassment. One of the underlying rationales of this policy is to promote the free exchange of ideas, not to inhibit it.

Consequences of Hostile or Harassing Conduct

CFI and its affiliates have a zero-tolerance policy for hostile and harassing conduct. If a person engages in hostile or harassing conduct, appropriate remedial action will be taken, which may include, but is not limited to, expulsion from the conference. Threats of hostile conduct that are made prior to a conference may result in exclusion from the conference.

The exact remedy for hostile or harassing conduct will depend on an evaluation of all relevant circumstances, such as the severity of the conduct and prior violations by the person engaging in prohibited conduct.

When there is a reasonable basis for believing the conduct is illegal, appropriate law enforcement authorities will be notified.

Reporting Hostile or Harassing Conduct; Investigations

Persons who are the targets of, or witnesses to, hostile or harassing conduct should contact conference staff. At smaller meetings, conference staff, including the person(s) in charge of the meeting, will be introduced at the beginning. At larger conferences, conference staff will wear identification and/or will be identified in the conference program.

At larger conferences, phone numbers for hotel/venue staff, local law enforcement, and local emergency medical personnel will be provided to conference attendees to facilitate prompt response to complaints and/or requests for assistance.

Reports of hostile or harassing conduct will be promptly addressed. On some occasions, where conference staff are witnesses to the prohibited conduct, immediate remedial action may be taken. Where a report of hostile or harassing conduct is made to conference staff after the conduct has occurred, reasonable measures will be taken to establish the facts. This will typically include discussion with witnesses, if any, and the person accused of engaging in the prohibited conduct. Inquiries into hostile or harassing conduct will be carried out as confidentially as possible given the circumstances.

Record-Keeping

CFI and its affiliates will make a written record of all complaints/incidents as soon as practicable. These records will be used in connection with implementing this policy. These records will be maintained in the Office of the President & CEO of CFI and will not be disclosed to individuals outside of the organization except as required by law.

[/spoiler]

It’s missing the part where people can exercise the Hysteric’s Veto: “He disagrees with me and makes me uncomfortable therefore *POOF* he's off the list.”

another lurker wrote: QFT.

And speaking of population, I just love how silly liberals and conservatives love to say 'oh, population growth isn't a problem, the earth can easily support 12 billion people, we just have to grow more food!!!'

Yeah, like people aren't gonna be greedy, or fight over access to these future resources!? And just look at the famine in Somalia - how 'easy' was it to feed the starving people? Oh, not easy at all, was it? Little problem of armed bandits stealing all the food to sell for profit!

justinvacula wrote:

d4m10n wrote:

Za-zen wrote:How much notice will that give him?

Effectively none, but perhaps enough to spare him the bus trip.

It's a damn shame there even needs to be a discussion.

Scented Nectar wrote:

Lsuoma wrote:

Tony Parsehole wrote: It's so dead it doesn't even know it

[Randy Newman video]

Back in the 80s, I went to a talk by the most awful folk wimmin's musicians ever. Alix Dobkin. She gave a lecture all about how Randi Newman was a horrible sexist because of his lyrics in some song.

Here is an example of Dobkin's "music". Trigger warning for ear pain and misandric words.

"Every Woman Can Be a Lesbian (Alix Dobkin)"

Reap wrote:You should never force on others what you would consider unfair when done to you.

Reap wrote:

Skeptic_Duh wrote:So with that tweet shown above by Melody Hensley - she lays out her plan on stopping JV from attending WISCON2. "Prior" violations of this cons harassment policy will result in banning...

The Fuck?

I predict that she will let him get to the door, then make this big production on how "his kind isn't welcomed here" - and then ban him - wasting money and time.

Then she will go in for the group hugs and say how she is a brave warrior - fighting the injustice.

Yea I can see that happening. If she does try any of that crap I'm gonna be pissed. That is the kind of shit that needs to stop.

Al Stefanelli wrote:

ReneeHendricks wrote:So...new thread and Renee is drunk off her ass...

Care for a cuppa coffee in my hotel room?

Lsuoma wrote:

Scented Nectar wrote:

Lsuoma wrote:

Tony Parsehole wrote: It's so dead it doesn't even know it

[Randy Newman video]

Back in the 80s, I went to a talk by the most awful folk wimmin's musicians ever. Alix Dobkin. She gave a lecture all about how Randi Newman was a horrible sexist because of his lyrics in some song.

Here is an example of Dobkin's "music". Trigger warning for ear pain and misandric words.

"Every Woman Can Be a Lesbian (Alix Dobkin)"

Randy Newman's been catching shit for decades from people who don't understand irony (i.e. 98% of all Americans). Stand-outs are "Short People"

[video]

and "Rednecks"

[video]

I remember reading a review of Rednecks (Rolling Stone, I think) and they complained about his use of the phrase "smart-assed New York Jew" saying it was anti-Semitic (Newman is a Jew, BTW) and completely missed the obvious irony that Newman was displaying. Fucking, fucking stupid.

Chilly P. wrote:I have a question about "Pre-Patriarchy", the alleged time prior to roughly the invention of agriculture.

One assertion is that people didn't connect having sex with pregnancy. I find this very hard to believe that people who organized mammoth hunts, built fish dams, figured out that thirsty monkeys lead you to secret water holes, etc. didn't make the connection between the idea that not having sex resulted in not getting pregnant and vice-versa.

Anybody know of any isolated hunter-gatherers, like barely-contacted New Guinea Highlanders, who believe that sex and babies aren't correlated? I mean, is there any ethnology of groups still around in the modern era that supports this claim?

d4m10n wrote:Hypothesis: CFI has turned their backs on their founding principles of free inquiry and rational debate, in favor of the dogmatic approach of creating 'safe spaces' wherein certain theories cannot be questioned, by preemptively banning anyone who disagrees.

irkthepurists wrote:It felt a bit like turning up on your first day at university and entering the third years' common room by mistake. Who are these people? Where did they come from? Do they know one another in 'real life'? Are they considered 'experts'? If so, why? And so on. Nothing wrong with that at all, but it unnerved me slightly, and I can see why it might unnerve others.

Onamission5 wrote:Thing is, to me, that means the forum is working. This place was constructed explicitly for the purposes of those 3rd+ year student types so they would not have to continue to rehash 1st year level shit over and over and over again, and could move forward from there. The board has I&A for the uninitiated, the rest of the forum for everyone else. AND, we're not all the same level of knowledge on every topic. Someone who's at post-grad level on ableism with a doctorate in feminism might be at second year level on racism and might have little working knowledge on ageism whatsoever. Unnerving? Yes. Challenging people to overcome their privilege blinders isn't going to be exactly comfortable all the time, nor should it.

Mykeru wrote:

Reap wrote:

Skeptic_Duh wrote:So with that tweet shown above by Melody Hensley - she lays out her plan on stopping JV from attending WISCON2. "Prior" violations of this cons harassment policy will result in banning...

The Fuck?

I predict that she will let him get to the door, then make this big production on how "his kind isn't welcomed here" - and then ban him - wasting money and time.

Then she will go in for the group hugs and say how she is a brave warrior - fighting the injustice.

Yea I can see that happening. If she does try any of that crap I'm gonna be pissed. That is the kind of shit that needs to stop.

A sweep stakes or betting odds can be generated for this scenario. There are enough different outcomes to lay down some bets on the varying outcomes. I'll put down a dollar on the long shot that MH keeps her mouth shut and JV enjoys the event with no bitching from the Hensley entourage. Those odds surely have to be around 250 to 1.
.
By the way, its my first post here. I've been a long time reader and fan of the SP. Hello boys and girls. Some of you pitters are familiar thru the tweet world.

Cheers, Charlie



Not to be dramatic, but the woman is a dime-store Stalin.

Mykeru wrote:

Reap wrote:

Skeptic_Duh wrote:So with that tweet shown above by Melody Hensley - she lays out her plan on stopping JV from attending WISCON2. "Prior" violations of this cons harassment policy will result in banning...

The Fuck?

I predict that she will let him get to the door, then make this big production on how "his kind isn't welcomed here" - and then ban him - wasting money and time.

Then she will go in for the group hugs and say how she is a brave warrior - fighting the injustice.

Yea I can see that happening. If she does try any of that crap I'm gonna be pissed. That is the kind of shit that needs to stop.

A sweep stakes or betting odds can be generated for this scenario. There are enough different outcomes to lay down some bets on the varying outcomes. I'll put down a dollar on the long shot that MH keeps her mouth shut and JV enjoys the event with no bitching from the Hensley entourage. Those odds surely have to be around 250 to 1.
.
By the way, its my first post here. I've been a long time reader and fan of the SP. Hello boys and girls. Some of you pitters are familiar thru the tweet world.

Cheers, Charlie



Not to be dramatic, but the woman is a dime-store Stalin.

dougal445 wrote:

John Greg wrote:_____________
@ ... AndrewV69

Seeing as how you have Natalie's ear, do you think you could try to explain to her that in point of fact we are not trying to help her in order to score points against FfTB, et al. We are trying to help her because we are humanists and she is a human being in need -- certainly more in need than someone who wants a new laptop, or sending ToiletBowl to some conference.

Do you think you could do that Andrew?

She's just pissing all over those of us who would like to help her out in her time of need, and that's only going to create bad blood. And it is most certainly not going to make anyone here look kindly on her if she should happen to need help sometime in the future. If she really gets a kick out of burning potential bridges, well ... more power to her, but she's only hurting herself.

Aside from the fact that she has now requested no further help, when I read her bullshit about scoring points, I immediately decided I was not going to continue in my endeavour to help her out. I can't imagine how those who have helped must be feeling right now.

JeeZus Pickles; what an ungrateful bitch.

Wow! Just fucking wow!

Natalie HAS expressed her gratitude!
She's also done the decent thing and let it be known that her needs are covered and would not wish to accept more.
She has spoke of the needs of others (even tho there may be some raised eyebrows over that)
And finally she (consistantly) made it clear that she does not want to be a pawn n the ftb/slyme wars.
For fuck sake what is wrong with that?
Why don't you just ask her for your donation back because you didn't manage to buy her alligence.

I said before that there was an unpleasent whiff of lets show up ftb about all of this.

Your post here really does not come acrosss as just human concern.

No good deed goes unpunished.

Chilly P. wrote:

another lurker wrote: QFT.

And speaking of population, I just love how silly liberals and conservatives love to say 'oh, population growth isn't a problem, the earth can easily support 12 billion people, we just have to grow more food!!!'

Yeah, like people aren't gonna be greedy, or fight over access to these future resources!? And just look at the famine in Somalia - how 'easy' was it to feed the starving people? Oh, not easy at all, was it? Little problem of armed bandits stealing all the food to sell for profit!

Also "Nature will take care of it" means a painful death from starvation for mother, father, and child. Isn't it better to shrink the population with birth control and tax/government policy in the first place?

As for catastrophic economic collapse following a drop in population, it seems to me Europe after the Black Death boomed - shortage of labor = more freedom for ordinary people, better standard of living, and ever-increasing investment in labor saving technology because it was now cost effective given the high cost of scarce labor. China had everything necessary to have an industrial revolution ahead of Europe, but never did because the abundant population and low cost of labor made adopting labor-saving technologies cost-ineffective.

The top .1% love a big population, keeps labor costs low but demand sky high for their land, the basis of rent. They ain't making any more land, we can't have it shipped FOB from China "Hi, this is Sam in Texas. I need 1000 more acres added to expand the Austin city limits. How much? 1 Million? Does each acre include several trees and can I get a couple of streams with this large parcel? Excellent. Yes, expect my letter of credit from RBS shortly."

cm's changeable moniker wrote:strange gods, yeah, I owe you (and others) an apology for baiting. Some meatspace stress got through the human-computer interface. Sorry about that.

strange gods before me ॐ wrote:Cool, thanks cm.

Nerd: you are cleared for saying “Your unevidenced OPINION is *POOF* dismissed as fuckwittery” again. False alarm.

d4m10n wrote: Pretty much every group in freethought claims to be “grounded in the open discussion and exchange of ideas” and that includes FtB and CFI. I would agree that the Pyt tends to live up to it a lot more, as we saw with Louis, for example, not to mention all the running disagreements among regulars.

p.s. SUFTU!