Nerds. Nerds EVERYWHERE...

[deLurch]

My second thought is that there is a deep problem with the government forcing people to change their preferences. I can see the case for enforcing laws to protect a group from things like Jim Crow. I just can't see it as a good plan to force people to stop wearing their religious clothes. I imagine that French Jews can wear the scull cap. How can it be right to allow a Jew to wear a Yamika and a Muslim cannot wear a burka?

The pro ban issue boils down to the perception that the wearing of burkas is forced on some women. Making it illegal is an attempt to put a stop to that enforcement. If that issue wasn't at play, I don't think many people would care in most cases.

On the other side of the coin, there are women who say they like to wear the burka.

It is a mixed bag.

[Jiminy Cricket]

I don't think it's reasonable to label the U.S. Libertarian Party as right wing. On all social issues they are more left wing than most Democrats.

Noooo, that's not how left-right works nowadays. Left and right only pertain to economic issues. Social issues form a different axis.

The left is epitomized by the saying, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." The right wants varying degrees of unfettered economic potential for the individual.

Social issues form a libertarian-authoritarian spectrum.

US libertarians are very right-wing economically and near the middle on the social spectrum. They're only libertarian relative to the rather authoritarian culture in federal politics. For example, Ron Paul, long considered a libertarian star in the US, is a centrist on social issues and almost as right-wing as it gets.

We're probably in violent agreement, simply using different left-right scales. To double check my memory, I looked up the Libertarian Party Platform (http://www.lp.org/platform). With respect to social issues it says:

"Individuals have the freedom and responsibility to decide what they knowingly and voluntarily consume, and what risks they accept to their own health, finances, safety, or life."

"We support full freedom of expression and oppose government censorship, regulation or control of communications media and technology. We favor the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. We oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion."

"Libertarians advocate individual privacy and government transparency. We are committed to ending government’s practice of spying on everyone. We support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, property, and communications. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records."

"Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships."

"We favor the repeal of all laws creating 'crimes' without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes, since only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes."

"We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied."

Those all seem like traditional liberal views to me. If the current "left" in the U.S. doesn't support them, maybe they're not so left after all.

[John D]

Empty skin flaps are actually a health issue because they can get sweaty and cause infections.

My wife is preparing to have bariatric surgery in March and this already has her worried. She is also worried that we are going to break up afterwards because it has happened to everyone she knows. Note it's the person who has the surgery that breaks it off. So if anyone has a couch I can crash on in the near future......

She is not getting her teeth whitened as well is she? My friend is a dental hygienist and she thinks there is a high correlation between teeth whitening and divorce.

Good luck to your wife.... and your relationship.

[free thoughtpolice]

Mossad did it. No one got shot- all staged:
http://forums.islamicawakening.com/thre ... aps.71870/

[John D]

My second thought is that there is a deep problem with the government forcing people to change their preferences. I can see the case for enforcing laws to protect a group from things like Jim Crow. I just can't see it as a good plan to force people to stop wearing their religious clothes. I imagine that French Jews can wear the scull cap. How can it be right to allow a Jew to wear a Yamika and a Muslim cannot wear a burka?

The pro ban issue boils down to the perception that the wearing of burkas is forced on some women. Making it illegal is an attempt to put a stop to that enforcement. If that issue wasn't at play, I don't think many people would care in most cases.

On the other side of the coin, there are women who say they like to wear the burka.

It is a mixed bag.

My wife sort of forces me to go to work every day... so yeah... there is that!

[comhcinc]

Empty skin flaps are actually a health issue because they can get sweaty and cause infections.

My wife is preparing to have bariatric surgery in March and this already has her worried. She is also worried that we are going to break up afterwards because it has happened to everyone she knows. Note it's the person who has the surgery that breaks it off. So if anyone has a couch I can crash on in the near future......

She is not getting her teeth whitened as well is she? My friend is a dental hygienist and she thinks there is a high correlation between teeth whitening and divorce.

Good luck to your wife.... and your relationship.

Lol nope not yet and thanks. Our Health insurance doesn't cover it so we are taking a trip to the happiest place on Earth. Tijuana! By car too. It's going to be fun or awful. Anyway that is why I am holding off on going back to work if anyone is wondering.

[Parody Accountant]

Remember kids. Claim you're a minority and you can abuse people as much as you like and still get an apology.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8669/156 ... f2cb_o.png
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8570/156 ... 99b5_o.png
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8564/156 ... b8ed_o.png
Some people need to grow a fucking spine.

Amazing. 10/10 would vinegar stroke with troll cum again. :cdc:

[Parody Accountant]

I first saw Godfrey Elfwick on one of the recent blog threads mentioned here. I thought he was satirizing the SJWs there. Frankly, I think he's doing it on Twitter, too. Is there some suspicion that he's for real?

He's for real. He's just completely bonkers. Apparently he's a woman today.

[Lsuoma]

Empty skin flaps are actually a health issue because they can get sweaty and cause infections.

Just like @SpongyPissFlaps?

[Matt Cavanaugh]

"only the government can do [bad thing]"

Gee, I didn't know Nerd was a libertarian.

The current government, that is. The future Benevolent Dictatorship of the Social Justice, otoh, will be infallible.

[Xenu]

Charlie Hebdo has released it's latest cover. (REAL)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7LjdVmCMAEVRCZ.jpg

[Steersman]

And the father of one of them is heavily involved in promoting democracy in Indonesia and the SEA region. Someone (you?) mentioned earlier that Islam is supposedly antithetical to democracy. Go figure.

The Steersbot may wish to peruse a decade's worth of writings on this topic from Razib Khan, of Bangladeshi Muslim descent. (The search term, "Theological Incorrectness", refers to a book that Khan has been deeply influenced by, and which he references frequently.) ….

In other words, Steers, I suspect you might find evidence, from a decidedly non-SJW-progressive viewpoint, to persuade you that "The Quran clearly says X, therefore Muslims clearly believe Y (ergo we should deport them all)" is a facile and overly rationalistic way to look at Islamic violence.

Paging Dr. Carrier. We may have found your soul-mate (though maybe not an intellectual one):

Addendum: And in the interest of frankness, I will also admit that though comments can be highly informative, I don’t listen closely when someone decides to lecture me on the nature of religion because it is rare than I encounter anyone with as much breadth of knowledge as me in this domain (i.e., I have read economic, sociobiological, cognitive, and historical models of religion). If I seem to dismiss your opinion, that’s probably because I don’t think much of your ideas because you likely know far less than I do.

Though he’s certainly “not a stupid man” – so to speak.

But thanks for the link – Khan certainly seems rather knowledgeable on the topic of religion – particularly Islam, and quite a prolific author. Impressive site too, not least for an impressive (more or less) search facility, although Git may not find it so as “Juan Cole” seems to be a blogger there.

However (natch), my point is less about the specifics about what various Muslims believe than that a rather large percentage of them – between 50% and 75% of American Muslims according the Pew Forum (Q38), and probably 90% of those outside the US – believe that the Quran is the “Word of God, taken literally word for word”. Which I at least find rather “problematic”. As do many others, notably Joseph Hoffmann who had this to say:

To acknowledge the connection between Islam and violence is not the same as saying all Muslims are violent, or that Islam is inherently a violent religion. But accepting the connection, it seems to me, is the first step in putting the bait’ Ullah – the house of God – back in order. ....

But if religious extremism has taught us anything, it has taught us that everything is not beautiful – that some people’s image of God is not just deficient but repugnant, and that most of the people who have this image and act on it are Muslims. That aroma you smell? It’s Aleppo and a girls’ school in the Sindh, burning, the sizzling remains of a suicide bomber who has just chanted Allahu akbar! That is the world we live in and these are the images that suffuse our view.

While there is, I think, some justification for arguing that the problems that many Western nations are facing due to “Islamic radicalization” is partly their own fault for insufficient “integration”, it is hard to deny that many Islamic immigrant populations are their own worst enemies in trying to insist on retaining their own beliefs when many of them are clearly antithetical to the democratic principles of the cultures which have allowed them entry.

[Parody Accountant]

That Elfdick guy has got to be a troll? Please?

Anyone asking people to retweet a picture of his lunch to show support for the victims of the paris shooting is a poe:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B6wxtpqIgAEhF0Z.jpg:large

And this proves it:

I've shaved my pubes to show solidarity with any #muslims experiencing #racism .
#CharlieHebdo
#ParisShooting

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B6wrdNvIMAAI0uz.jpg:large

Best part, SJW's dont' get it. They think he's one of them.

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/ori ... 75/6dd.jpg

[Matt Cavanaugh]

They are serious enough that, when a client tells me that they have “constant suicidal thoughts,” there is an entire protocol I’m required to follow in order to ensure that they are safe and receive appropriate care if they accept it.

Well, she does have first hand wrist experience with those protocols.

... she has clients telling her about suicidal thoughts? She, the psycho herself, is maybe treating people? WTF? I have no idea what she does, but the thought that she is in any way connected to psychology or has anything to do with people is just frightening.

She's still in grad school, so she's certainly not licensed. IIRC, she volunteers on some crisis hotline or something. Besides, shrinks & therapists are all nuts themselves. She'll fit right in.

[Lsuoma]

They are serious enough that, when a client tells me that they have “constant suicidal thoughts,” there is an entire protocol I’m required to follow in order to ensure that they are safe and receive appropriate care if they accept it.

Well, she does have first hand wrist experience with those protocols.

... she has clients telling her about suicidal thoughts? She, the psycho herself, is maybe treating people? WTF? I have no idea what she does, but the thought that she is in any way connected to psychology or has anything to do with people is just frightening.

She's still in grad school, so she's certainly not licensed. IIRC, she volunteers on some crisis hotline or something. Besides, shrinks & therapists are all nuts themselves. She'll fit right in.

In the US there is a legal requirement to dob someone in if you are involved in counseling them, and you believe that they are at risk of topping themselves. I think this is also true for a volunteer hotline, but even if it's not legally required, you can bet you left testie that volunteer organizations will mandate it to avoid liability.

[Steersman]

Relative to my recent banning at Pharyngula ["what? again?"] - under the username "OaringAbout" - I see that PZ mentioned that the IP I had used was the same one as a previous one. So, I'm wondering what are the pros and cons of using, for example, various proxy servers; any recommendations, caveats?

[Billie from Ockham]

Religious signs are forbidden only if they are ostentatious.

Again, in school. In public spaces, only garments covering the face and preventing the identification of a person are forbidden. It also includes deep hoods, motorbike helmets (when entering a supermarket, for example), scarves across the face... Only exceptions are during carnival, Halloween...

[bold added]

Now you tell us. After I had to listen to that fucking song every hour for ten months.

[Dick Strawkins]

Relative to my recent banning at Pharyngula ["what? again?"] - under the username "OaringAbout" - I see that PZ mentioned that the IP I had used was the same one as a previous one. So, I'm wondering what are the pros and cons of using, for example, various proxy servers; any recommendations, caveats?

oolon highly recommends TOR (I got the impression that he had a lot of experience with it)
I tried it. It's pretty easy to set up and should allow you to evade any of Myers IP bans.

I'm not sure but I think that Rape Paden used TOR when he we doing hie regular tweaking of Big Bloggers nose.

[ROBOKiTTY]

We're probably in violent agreement, simply using different left-right scales.

I'm a fan of the Political Compass system, which I've posted in the past. However, I think it's still not sufficiently nuanced in light of the SJW phenomenon. A lot of people think SJWs are authoritarians. This might be true on a certain level, but it doesn't always translate to a desire for greater government interference and reduction of civil rights, which is generally what authoritarian means in politics.

From my perspective, SJWs and right libertarians actually have a fair bit in common--for one, they generally make a distinction between a nebulous entity of unparallelled power (which may be called 'the state', 'society', or 'patriarchy') and powerful groups composed of individuals. They tend to treat the former as, for all intents and purposes, all-powerful, inherently oppressive, and in need of dismantling, but consider the latter limited and less capable of oppression.

This distinction allows SJWs to be wary of big government as much as libertarians but, without contradicting their own beliefs, also to band together to silence opposition on Twitter or on university campuses and even to lobby for harrassment codes and legislation. To them, they're just acting as groups of individuals fighting the good fight, and since their enemy is an all-powerful entity, their actions simply cannot compare in magnitude and therefore all the authoritarian actions they're committing are insignificant and not infringing on anybody's rights.

This is similar to how right libertarians can rationalize the power of big corporations: corporations are simply groups of individuals who band together to interact with market forces, and no matter how powerful they get, consumers always have the choice to take their business elsewhere, while the state is vastly powerful, always hungers for more power, and must be checked at all costs.

I reject this distinction of insuperable power and individual power as fantasy. Even an all-encompassing entity like a dictatorial state or society is ultimately still a group of individuals, and power arises from such humble beginnings. Furthermore, any kind of group can serve as a power amplifier for its hierarchy, allowing it the capability to step on the rights of either ingroup members or outgroup enemies. The difference between such a group and the state is only a matter of size and degree.

[KiwiInOz]

Look down his twitter stream... he's definitely a poe.

So which of you fuckers is it?

It was this guy. ;)

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/50 ... 0x400.jpeg

But Sid is dead.

[Parody Accountant]

Relative to my recent banning at Pharyngula ["what? again?"] - under the username "OaringAbout" - I see that PZ mentioned that the IP I had used was the same one as a previous one. So, I'm wondering what are the pros and cons of using, for example, various proxy servers; any recommendations, caveats?

Check your pm's

[Kirbmarc]

I think the mgtow whinging is pointless, especially since mgtow is such a small group anyway and they owe most of their success to the non-mgtows who happen to be living the anti-marriage thug lyfe. Some of the complaining may be a coping mechanism. Keep in mind a lot of these guys have either already been through the divorce wringer or are waking up to the realities of the family courts system and how they basically have to forgo a permanent female companion (common law marriage is still marriage) if they want a good shot at retaining their money, business and quality of life.

I can understand that, and if they just complained in their "safe spaces" about their specific troubles I could sympathize with them a little bit more. It's the "I'm awesome, you will regret losing me" rhetoric and the idea that they're a "movement" that puts me off. It's the same thing that I find grating in fat activists, SJW feminist and keyboard warriors in general. If you want to say that you're beautiful, great and adorable, go ahead and do it. Keep telling it to yourself, and it will help your confidence. Post in your personal blog if it helps.

But if you go around spamming your account of your very personal woes for everyone to see and try turn them into a "movement"for a different lifestyle making a huge fuss about how the world is going to miss you, you won't look like an activist or a brave fighter of injustice. You'll look like a narcissistic twat.

Because let's face it, most of us aren't really that important. If I died tomorrow my family would mourn me for some years and my close friends would mourn me for some months, and maybe some acquaintances would be a little sad for a day or a few minutes (depending on how well they know me) but more than 99.9999 % of the world won't even notice my death. This is true for a huge majority of humanity.

So my personal problems might be important to me and to people who know me, but are pretty annoying for the rest of the world. For example, I'm asexual or demisexual or whatever, just not very interested in sex, and I've learnt to cope with the fact that this means that I'll probably be alone for the rest of my life (since I'm romantically attracted to some women and most women want at least some sex from a relationship). It's one thing to talk about them in a forum of people who have got to know me at least a little. You make fun of me (as you should), I take it in stride and laugh, and that's it.

But if I posted on tumblr about how "poor little asexual me is oppressed by the Evil Patriarchy!!!11!1!1" or how "I'm a forever alone guy who's NEVER EVER going to find True Love!!!!1!1!1!" , I'd be a narcissistic twat, and people would be justified if they either trolled me for laughs or rolled their eyes in annoyance at yet another immature idiot who can't keep his shit to himself.

[Steersman]

Relative to my recent banning at Pharyngula ["what? again?"] - under the username "OaringAbout" - I see that PZ mentioned that the IP I had used was the same one as a previous one. So, I'm wondering what are the pros and cons of using, for example, various proxy servers; any recommendations, caveats?

oolon highly recommends TOR (I got the impression that he had a lot of experience with it)
I tried it. It's pretty easy to set up and should allow you to evade any of Myers IP bans.

I'm not sure but I think that Rape Paden used TOR when he we doing hie regular tweaking of Big Bloggers nose.

Thanks. I see that Wikipedia has an article on TOR so maybe has some extra credibility. But I've also checked out http://www.publicproxyservers.com/ which seems to have some credible recommendations, notably the amusing "HideMyAss VPN".

[Steersman]

Relative to my recent banning at Pharyngula ["what? again?"] - under the username "OaringAbout" - I see that PZ mentioned that the IP I had used was the same one as a previous one. So, I'm wondering what are the pros and cons of using, for example, various proxy servers; any recommendations, caveats?

Check your pm's

Ta.

[Suet Cardigan]

I first saw Godfrey Elfwick on one of the recent blog threads mentioned here. I thought he was satirizing the SJWs there. Frankly, I think he's doing it on Twitter, too. Is there some suspicion that he's for real?

I've heard that Godfrey Elfwick is some guy called Victor Ivanoff.

[Aneris]

Why do you really want to post where you aren't welcome? Nothing against a bit of unruly subversion once in a while, but I don't think it's a good idea to force commentary on them they don't want to hear. Just calculate in that these people are a lost cause and see in what way they even are a problem. Obviously spreading lies in mainstream media, that are demonstrably false and smearing are a big problem, but their idiot views not necessarily. Big surprise, some people are wrong on the Internet.

[JackSkeptic]

Why do you really want to post where you aren't welcome? Nothing against a bit of unruly subversion once in a while, but I don't think it's a good idea to force commentary on them they don't want to hear. Just calculate in that these people are a lost cause and see in what way they even are a problem. Obviously spreading lies in mainstream media, that are demonstrably false and smearing are a big problem, but their idiot views not necessarily. Big surprise, some people are wrong on the Internet.

I do not post at FtB but it serves a useful purpose of keeping them aware that their beliefs are not universally acceptable or, as they like to say, righteous just because their echo chamber says they are.

[Aneris]

Why do you really want to post where you aren't welcome? Nothing against a bit of unruly subversion once in a while, but I don't think it's a good idea to force commentary on them they don't want to hear. Just calculate in that these people are a lost cause and see in what way they even are a problem. Obviously spreading lies in mainstream media, that are demonstrably false and smearing are a big problem, but their idiot views not necessarily. Big surprise, some people are wrong on the Internet.

I do not post at FtB but it serves a useful purpose of keeping them aware that their beliefs are not universally acceptable or, as they like to say, righteous just because their echo chamber says they are.

So what?

[Southern]

First is the fact that France has so many laws regulating how you dress. I think you can probably go topless but can't wear a hijab.

I stopped reading right here.

The only dress-styles that are forbidden in France are the niqab and the burka. The hijab is totally ok.

Simple reason: niqab and burka cover your face and thus you can't be identified. You could be a man under the garment. There even was a robbery quite a few years back with two men in niqab, in Marseille, IRRC.

It's basic security.

What about motorcycle helmets? Down here you are required to wear one when driving a motorcycle (no shit, Holmes!), but most places can (and will) bar you from entering if you're wearing one. Same principle, right?

[Southern]

Mostly what I've heard from the MGTOWs I've listened to is that they feel marriage is generally a bad deal and not worth it, and that sexual relationships are similar. If a person believes those things, then declining participation seems like a reasonable response.

I wouldn't have any problem with that, but too many of them are making a big deal out of how the world is going to miss them, how tragic it is that they're no longer looking forward to marriage, how women are going to regret "letting all the good men go away", yadda yadda yadda.

I think that they're yet another movement more interested in pandering to hurt feelings and resentment than in real activism for a concrete goal. I don't mind people who don't want to marry or have relationships, but it's still their free choice to "go their own way", and their whining and moaning about how great they are and how big of a loss is their departure is pretty pointless and get grating very quickly.

If you want to leave, leave, but don't expect the entire world to care.

Exactly. I refused to enter the dating scene many years ago, because playing videogames all night is easier when you're the only person you have to care about, and I don't regret it. But I also don't go around telling women that they're losing this fine specimen of alpha male that is just doesn't want to submit to them. I don't envy the couples' life, but I also don't preach the single life like a retarded aspie in search of self-assurance.

I'll let them women find it out what they're missing by themselves! Such man titties aren't for unworthy, degenerated women of today, you know?

[Southern]

I think John started talking about schools, so I'm a bit confused he seems to have expanded the area here. In schools, all visible religious hardware is forbidden, isn't it?

Religious signs are forbidden only if they are ostentatious.

Again, in school. In public spaces, only garments covering the face and preventing the identification of a person are forbidden. It also includes deep hoods, motorbike helmets (when entering a supermarket, for example), scarves across the face... Only exceptions are during carnival, Halloween...

Oh, you already answered my question about the helmets.

[ConcentratedH2O, OM]

I first saw Godfrey Elfwick on one of the recent blog threads mentioned here. I thought he was satirizing the SJWs there. Frankly, I think he's doing it on Twitter, too. Is there some suspicion that he's for real?

I've heard that Godfrey Elfwick is some guy called Victor Ivanoff.

Yeah, and he's promised to reverse-pickpocket a token of his choosing into Opheliar's mimsy should the two ever meet IRL.

[Lsuoma]

Religious signs are forbidden only if they are ostentatious.

Again, in school. In public spaces, only garments covering the face and preventing the identification of a person are forbidden. It also includes deep hoods, motorbike helmets (when entering a supermarket, for example), scarves across the face... Only exceptions are during carnival, Halloween...

[bold added]

Now you tell us. After I had to listen to that fucking song every hour for ten months.

This one?

[youtube]cKnoffPV8m0[/youtube]

[Parody Accountant]

Why do you really want to post where you aren't welcome? Nothing against a bit of unruly subversion once in a while, but I don't think it's a good idea to force commentary on them they don't want to hear. Just calculate in that these people are a lost cause and see in what way they even are a problem. Obviously spreading lies in mainstream media, that are demonstrably false and smearing are a big problem, but their idiot views not necessarily. Big surprise, some people are wrong on the Internet.

Two reasons:

1) Trolling.

E.g. Kribmarc recently rustled so many jimmies he deserves a medal. The Meritorious Silver Parsehole of Distinction OM.

2) Subterfuge.

Look at that 'cannibal' at Atheism+. After initially having mixed reception... they welcomed a freaking cannibal into their safe space. SAFE SPACE. CANNIBAL. Yeah... It wasn't outed as a poe until several months later, IIRC.

What if pharyngula started to doubt each other in a similar fashion?

------------------------------------------

I'm reminded of an anecdote I heard criticizing the military response to international terrorism like al-qaeda.

In the 60's and 70's the IRA was bombing discotheques and crowded markets. Instead of simply relying on military might, the response was to infiltrate heavily with spies. Within a decade, the IRA seemed to have every fourth member as a spy. They were unable to trust each other, and quickly lost their decades of momentum.

I'm not comparing FTB to terrorists, obviously. I'm just saying it's a valid tactic to shut down toxic ideological groups.

I also don't care if the above is 100% factual historically speaking (wrt IRA and spies etc), it was just an anecdote in a news story I can barely remember... probably spoken by some idiot. Who cares. It's the concept that I'm describing, and I believe it would be very effective.

Imagine what one could accomplish with a small group of pharyngula regulars that were over the top like We Are Plethora (the otherkin with headmates). Imagine what one could accomplish with a small group of vicious in-group attackers, where one could stir the pot and one could divide the regulars against each other.

If one were so inclined...
http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/wp-cont ... 2ab995.jpg

Just a thought... or is it? DUN DUN DUN.

[Lsuoma]

Relative to my recent banning at Pharyngula ["what? again?"] - under the username "OaringAbout" - I see that PZ mentioned that the IP I had used was the same one as a previous one. So, I'm wondering what are the pros and cons of using, for example, various proxy servers; any recommendations, caveats?

oolon highly recommends TOR (I got the impression that he had a lot of experience with it)
I tried it. It's pretty easy to set up and should allow you to evade any of Myers IP bans.

I'm not sure but I think that Rape Paden used TOR when he we doing hie regular tweaking of Big Bloggers nose.

Make it easy - download a bootable tails distro: https://tails.boum.org/

[Southern]

Mossad did it. No one got shot- all staged:
http://forums.islamicawakening.com/thre ... aps.71870/

Did they visited /pol/ recently?

[Suet Cardigan]

Kathleen Johnson's latest post at Patheos:

I've read every post and will continue to do so and I've been given a lot to think about. However, I simply am not going to go down a bottomless rabbit hole to argue or defend anything I said because there is enough of that going on already (i save that effort for religionists). Besides, I think that a few folks here are having more fun dressing up a straw man like me, putting words in it's mouth, and then working to score points off stuff I never actually said. There's no way the real me could top that. Anyway, this has been an interesting exercise.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2015 ... community/

If she doesn't want to discuss the issues then why did she write a blog post about them in the first place?

[James Caruthers]

Why do you really want to post where you aren't welcome? Nothing against a bit of unruly subversion once in a while, but I don't think it's a good idea to force commentary on them they don't want to hear. Just calculate in that these people are a lost cause and see in what way they even are a problem. Obviously spreading lies in mainstream media, that are demonstrably false and smearing are a big problem, but their idiot views not necessarily. Big surprise, some people are wrong on the Internet.

Some people just want to watch the forum burn... ;)

Aside from ye olde freeze peach, some folks get a charge from raucous debate.

Once I realized FTB et al aren't really amenable to conceding any ground, ever, on any discussion, I pretty well decided to shun their website and all stupidity associated. The atheist-skeptic conference circlejerk isn't worth wasting my time trying to "defend" from the SJW hordes.

On the other hand, I for various personal reasons do feel the obesity epidemic in the western world and subsequent attempts to rationalize/normalize it (fat activism, haes etc) are potentially harmful enough to the future of our planet that some opposition is appropriate. Even if I am intruding into areas where I am not welcome, or I offend some people when I'm laughing at SJW tumblrinas trying to argue that 400 pounds of morbidly obese diabeetus is the picture of health.

We all have pet issues that we feel compelled to argue for, even if the consensus is against us. Free speech is mine. I'll happily argue to a room filled to the brim with pro-censorship SJWs and "won't someone think of the children" shitlibs as to the necessity of unfettered free speech. I don't need any consensus for my opinion on free speech and I'll happily defend it alone against any number, because I'm confident in how right I am. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Why would you go somewhere you're not welcome? Well, why wouldn't you? The very concept of free speech is to speak your mind, say your piece, and damned what anyone else wants to hear.

If your question is "what does this accomplish," then nobody can really answer that. Sometimes discussions between pitters and FTBloggers bring new posters to the slymepit. Maybe it's not so much about convincing the other side, but arguing in good faith for the benefit of 3rd party lurkers.

Arguing ANYTHING on the internet is a huge fucking waste of time. But so are most other online activities. People can spend their time however they choose. :)

[Matt Cavanaugh]

Perhaps the key disagreement I have with his video, regardless, are the clowns in Congress since I was a kid, has represented the two parties.

I dispute the notion that two distinct parties even exist, as opposed to one duopoly that serves the plutocracy and has divvied up the knee-jerk rage-inducing demagoguery (e.g. abortion rights; gun rights) to jointly keep the mob angry, ignorant, and hoodwinked.

[Southern]

Charlie Hebdo has released it's latest cover. (REAL)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7LjdVmCMAEVRCZ.jpg

I like it. It works on so many levels of irony, and it's a slap with a silk glove on some faces that are deserving it. Very French.

Anyway, from 60k to 3kk magazines printed, in 4 languages. Such a job well done, terrorists. Such a job well done.

[James Caruthers]

Can I wear a motorcycle burka in a bank in France?

[Matt Cavanaugh]

I know...I know...you're right. I'm taking some oxygen to calm down. (Or would CO2 be a better calmative? I don't know.)

I hear CO has a decided soporific effect. Might wanna give that a try.

[Old_ones]

I think the mgtow whinging is pointless, especially since mgtow is such a small group anyway and they owe most of their success to the non-mgtows who happen to be living the anti-marriage thug lyfe. Some of the complaining may be a coping mechanism. Keep in mind a lot of these guys have either already been through the divorce wringer or are waking up to the realities of the family courts system and how they basically have to forgo a permanent female companion (common law marriage is still marriage) if they want a good shot at retaining their money, business and quality of life.

I can understand that, and if they just complained in their "safe spaces" about their specific troubles I could sympathize with them a little bit more. It's the "I'm awesome, you will regret losing me" rhetoric and the idea that they're a "movement" that puts me off. It's the same thing that I find grating in fat activists, SJW feminist and keyboard warriors in general. If you want to say that you're beautiful, great and adorable, go ahead and do it. Keep telling it to yourself, and it will help your confidence. Post in your personal blog if it helps.

But if you go around spamming your account of your very personal woes for everyone to see and try turn them into a "movement"for a different lifestyle making a huge fuss about how the world is going to miss you, you won't look like an activist or a brave fighter of injustice. You'll look like a narcissistic twat.

Because let's face it, most of us aren't really that important. If I died tomorrow my family would mourn me for some years and my close friends would mourn me for some months, and maybe some acquaintances would be a little sad for a day or a few minutes (depending on how well they know me) but more than 99.9999 % of the world won't even notice my death. This is true for a huge majority of humanity.

So my personal problems might be important to me and to people who know me, but are pretty annoying for the rest of the world. For example, I'm asexual or demisexual or whatever, just not very interested in sex, and I've learnt to cope with the fact that this means that I'll probably be alone for the rest of my life (since I'm romantically attracted to some women and most women want at least some sex from a relationship). It's one thing to talk about them in a forum of people who have got to know me at least a little. You make fun of me (as you should), I take it in stride and laugh, and that's it.

But if I posted on tumblr about how "poor little asexual me is oppressed by the Evil Patriarchy!!!11!1!1" or how "I'm a forever alone guy who's NEVER EVER going to find True Love!!!!1!1!1!" , I'd be a narcissistic twat, and people would be justified if they either trolled me for laughs or rolled their eyes in annoyance at yet another immature idiot who can't keep his shit to himself.

I agree, whiny people are annoying, and so are pathological nacissists. The MGTOW thing has some resonance for me, but not the parts you are talking about. For me its partly about being put off by feminism and its weird perspectives on what men should be in relationships; its also partly what you said. I'm asexual and don't like the performance aspect of a relationship anyway, and personally I find them a little weird and stifling. So its also a lifestyle I find relatively inoffensive.

I don't really expect my not being in relationships/marriage to have some earthshaking effect on humanity, and I don't know if the people who do it solely for the movement aspect will ever actually accomplish anything. Here's my personal MGTOW spiritual guru on MGTOW/MRM strategy though. To me this is one of the least stupid and more amusing perspectives on the issue.

[youtube]znuJN2OrjJg[/youtube]

[CaptainFluffyBunny]

Why do you really want to post where you aren't welcome? Nothing against a bit of unruly subversion once in a while, but I don't think it's a good idea to force commentary on them they don't want to hear. Just calculate in that these people are a lost cause and see in what way they even are a problem. Obviously spreading lies in mainstream media, that are demonstrably false and smearing are a big problem, but their idiot views not necessarily. Big surprise, some people are wrong on the Internet.

I do not post at FtB but it serves a useful purpose of keeping them aware that their beliefs are not universally acceptable or, as they like to say, righteous just because their echo chamber says they are.

So what?

The Steersbot is implacable, unstoppable, relentless. Plus, better over there than here, amirite? (Kidding, Steers )

[Southern]

Perhaps the key disagreement I have with his video, regardless, are the clowns in Congress since I was a kid, has represented the two parties.

I dispute the notion that two distinct parties even exist, as opposed to one duopoly that serves the plutocracy and has divvied up the knee-jerk rage-inducing demagoguery (e.g. abortion rights; gun rights) to jointly keep the mob angry, ignorant, and hoodwinked.

Having a lot of political parties isn't much better, either. Down here we have literally DOZENS of registered political parties, and all of them are shit: corrupt, inept, all they care is to be in power, no matter what. There's one of them, PMDB, which is in power since 1985. When the social-democrats won in 1994, they jumped the wagon and made an alliance with them; when the Worker's Party won in 2002 (the political adversaries of the social-democrats), they made an alliance with them and kept themselves as part of the government. There's guy who was they mayor of São Paulo in 2006 running by the Democratic Party (down here the Demos are what passes for "right"; the truth is, they're a bunch of robbers like everyone else). Then he left the party, created his own party in 2010 to oppose the Worker's Party, and now he's one of the Ministers of the Worker's Party government. This kind of flip-flop happens all the fucking time. It's utter shitte.

TL;DR; few parties or lots of parties, politics is shit and only cares about itself.

[free thoughtpolice]

Relative to my recent banning at Pharyngula ["what? again?"] - under the username "OaringAbout" - I see that PZ mentioned that the IP I had used was the same one as a previous one. So, I'm wondering what are the pros and cons of using, for example, various proxy servers; any recommendations, caveats?

Next time don't use such an obvious nym- make them work to figure it is you. Try "ABoringLout". :rimshot:

[Parody Accountant]

Why do you really want to post where you aren't welcome? Nothing against a bit of unruly subversion once in a while, but I don't think it's a good idea to force commentary on them they don't want to hear. Just calculate in that these people are a lost cause and see in what way they even are a problem. Obviously spreading lies in mainstream media, that are demonstrably false and smearing are a big problem, but their idiot views not necessarily. Big surprise, some people are wrong on the Internet.

snip...

If your question is "what does this accomplish," then nobody can really answer that. Sometimes discussions between pitters and FTBloggers bring new posters to the slymepit. Maybe it's not so much about convincing the other side, but arguing in good faith for the benefit of 3rd party lurkers.

Arguing ANYTHING on the internet is a huge fucking waste of time. But so are most other online activities. People can spend their time however they choose. :)

I'm pretty sure that was her question. I tried to answer it upthread, but it was probably tl;dr. I disagree with you that nobody can answer that. My answer isn't the only one, obviously, but here goes:

1) Toxic ideology should be opposed. Subterfuge is one way to oppose a relatively small community of toxic ideologues. One could effectively shut down their babbling and cause them to be suspicious, or angered so they Just. Can't. etc...

2) Stop the spread. Toxic ideology is also viral. Ensure that onlookers and newcomers are quickly able to detect that they arrived in a looney bin. Get a bunch of We Are Plethora's arguing with shitselves, and voila. You remove any respectability to their comments section.

One could say they are doing it to themselves already. I would say NOT FAST ENOUGH.

[Lsuoma]

I think the mgtow whinging is pointless, especially since mgtow is such a small group anyway and they owe most of their success to the non-mgtows who happen to be living the anti-marriage thug lyfe. Some of the complaining may be a coping mechanism. Keep in mind a lot of these guys have either already been through the divorce wringer or are waking up to the realities of the family courts system and how they basically have to forgo a permanent female companion (common law marriage is still marriage) if they want a good shot at retaining their money, business and quality of life.

I can understand that, and if they just complained in their "safe spaces" about their specific troubles I could sympathize with them a little bit more. It's the "I'm awesome, you will regret losing me" rhetoric and the idea that they're a "movement" that puts me off. It's the same thing that I find grating in fat activists, SJW feminist and keyboard warriors in general. If you want to say that you're beautiful, great and adorable, go ahead and do it. Keep telling it to yourself, and it will help your confidence. Post in your personal blog if it helps.

But if you go around spamming your account of your very personal woes for everyone to see and try turn them into a "movement"for a different lifestyle making a huge fuss about how the world is going to miss you, you won't look like an activist or a brave fighter of injustice. You'll look like a narcissistic twat.

Because let's face it, most of us aren't really that important. If I died tomorrow my family would mourn me for some years and my close friends would mourn me for some months, and maybe some acquaintances would be a little sad for a day or a few minutes (depending on how well they know me) but more than 99.9999 % of the world won't even notice my death. This is true for a huge majority of humanity.

So my personal problems might be important to me and to people who know me, but are pretty annoying for the rest of the world. For example, I'm asexual or demisexual or whatever, just not very interested in sex, and I've learnt to cope with the fact that this means that I'll probably be alone for the rest of my life (since I'm romantically attracted to some women and most women want at least some sex from a relationship). It's one thing to talk about them in a forum of people who have got to know me at least a little. You make fun of me (as you should), I take it in stride and laugh, and that's it.

But if I posted on tumblr about how "poor little asexual me is oppressed by the Evil Patriarchy!!!11!1!1" or how "I'm a forever alone guy who's NEVER EVER going to find True Love!!!!1!1!1!" , I'd be a narcissistic twat, and people would be justified if they either trolled me for laughs or rolled their eyes in annoyance at yet another immature idiot who can't keep his shit to himself.

I agree, whiny people are annoying, and so are pathological nacissists. The MGTOW thing has some resonance for me, but not the parts you are talking about. For me its partly about being put off by feminism and its weird perspectives on what men should be in relationships; its also partly what you said. I'm asexual and don't like the performance aspect of a relationship anyway, and personally I find them a little weird and stifling. So its also a lifestyle I find relatively inoffensive.

I don't really expect my not being in relationships/marriage to have some earthshaking effect on humanity, and I don't know if the people who do it solely for the movement aspect will ever actually accomplish anything. Here's my personal MGTOW spiritual guru on MGTOW/MRM strategy though. To me this is one of the least stupid and more amusing perspectives on the issue.

[youtube]znuJN2OrjJg[/youtube]

Fuck me, but his arms are HUGE!

[Skep tickle]

FTBCon3 is on!

(I last checked on Friday Jan 9; Thibeault posted an announcement on Saturday Jan 10, & the websites were updated then)

https://ftbcon.wordpress.com/2015/01/10 ... ticipants/

FtBCon 3: Confirmed Participants

January 10, 2015 by lousycanuck Leave a comment

Here’s a preliminary list of confirmed participants for Freethought Blogs’ FtBConscience 3. This list is subject to change, but at time of writing, all participants have confirmed their availability for panels and talks for the conference.

FtB Bloggers:

Alex Gabriel
Ed Brayton
Heina Dadabhoy
Jason Thibeault
Kaveh Mousavi
Miri Mogilevsky
PZ Myers
Richard Carrier
Russell Glasser
Sikivu Hutchinson
Stephanie Zvan

Invited Guests:

Adam Lee
Ben Blanchard
Caleb Harper
Cara Liebowitz
Cerberus
Chana Messinger
Chelsea DuFresne
Dan Fincke
Dan Linford
Danny Samuelson
Dan Proulx
David Diskin
Donald Wright
Ed Cara
Elizabeth
Franklin Veaux
Harry Shaughnessy
Hemant Mehta
HJ Hornbeck
James Croft
Jared Axelrod
Jessica Kirsner
Jess Whittlestone
Julia Galef
Karen Hill
Kassiane
Kay Vee (Kim Veal)
Kit Partin
Hiba Krisht
Leigh Honeywell
Luke Muehlhauser
M. A. Melby
Matthew Ferguson
Matt Lowry
Michael Damian Thomas
Misha Greenbaum
Misty Taylor
Monette Richards
Muhammad Syed
Neil Wehneman
Nick Stancato
Niel Bowerman
Niki Massey
Olivia James
Raina Rhoades
Reem Abdel-Razek
Richard Dewey
Rich Wisneski
Sakeena Almulhida
Sarah Morehead
Scott Lohman
Stephanie Crampin
Susan Porter
Tim Farley
Trina Gardinier
Tristan
Wesley Ferenza

We hope to add more to our roster as panels are finalized in the run up to the convention. Hope to see you there!

Lanyrd currently lists 42 speakers & 46 attendees:
Main page - http://lanyrd.com/2015/ftbcon-august/

Attendee list (so far, & only those the lanyrd site has been told about) - http://lanyrd.com/2015/ftbcon-august/attendees/

Speakers (a subset of the Attendee list) - http://lanyrd.com/2015/ftbcon-august/at ... aking=true

No session titles or topics yet listed AFAICT. However, it looks like there's no panel planned with Ms Benson, Ms Ilesanmi, and PZ Myers' top commenters sharing their views on race, Islam, and free speech.

[John Greg]

Aneris said:

Why do you really want to post where you aren't welcome? Nothing against a bit of unruly subversion once in a while, but I don't think it's a good idea to force commentary on them they don't want to hear....

Everyone, regardless of their ideology, background, religion, and so forth and so on, should have the opportunity to be exposed to contrary opinions, differing points of view and experience, and so forth and so on, whether they request it or not.

It's called education, and expanding one's mind/knowledge/database.

And one of the best, perhaps the best way to really learn something is to be exposed to information, opinions, and experience to which you have never been exposed before, and/or to which you might have some range of differing or contrary view.

We can comfortabley sit back and say, Oh, those ignoramuses are so stupid, and they just don't want to hear differing POVs, so fuck 'em. But that is not how people learn, really learn. And I suspect a small majority, perhaps just a large minority of people are too frightened, insecure, and so on to willingly and intentionally open that door themselves.

Almost everything I consider important that I know and have learned in my life comes from new experience, and being presented with information that I either did not know, or to which I carried some disagreement.

[Really?]

Why do you really want to post where you aren't welcome? Nothing against a bit of unruly subversion once in a while, but I don't think it's a good idea to force commentary on them they don't want to hear. Just calculate in that these people are a lost cause and see in what way they even are a problem. Obviously spreading lies in mainstream media, that are demonstrably false and smearing are a big problem, but their idiot views not necessarily. Big surprise, some people are wrong on the Internet.

You are mistaken. Steersman was not posting at FTB. OaringAway or whatever was. The pyrsyn behind both of these avatars seems to have been genuinely interested in rational argument. The Horde did NOT feel that OaringAway was unwelcome--any more than any other freethinker--until Peezy Mee pointed out that he was an unperson.

[Skep tickle]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/1 ... howing-you

"The Charlie Hebdo cartoons no one is showing you."

[Lsuoma]

Those lovely, lovely Muslims!

Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria estimates Baga deaths at 150.

This is on top of using a ten-year-old girl as a suicide bomber.

Evil fuckers...

[Really?]

Kathleen Johnson's latest post at Patheos:

I've read every post and will continue to do so and I've been given a lot to think about. However, I simply am not going to go down a bottomless rabbit hole to argue or defend anything I said because there is enough of that going on already (i save that effort for religionists). Besides, I think that a few folks here are having more fun dressing up a straw man like me, putting words in it's mouth, and then working to score points off stuff I never actually said. There's no way the real me could top that. Anyway, this has been an interesting exercise.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2015 ... community/

If she doesn't want to discuss the issues then why did she write a blog post about them in the first place?

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/ ... 02-475.jpg

[Pitchguest]

I don't know, Godfrey. I don't think you're using the right pronouns. "Xis" or "xer", please.

[bovarchist]

http://i.imgur.com/F0OBhlw.jpg

If his head isn't abnormally small, scaling from that means his arms are almost big as my waist -- as wide, but not quite the depth. And that's frightening.

Yeah but I'm betting you can outrun him.

[jugheadnaut]

[youtube]hwqhoVIh65k[/youtube]

Found this via twitter.

I have my disagreements over parts of this guy's history, but I did find his video very well done, amusing, and provides some food for thought. Perhaps the key disagreement I have with his video, regardless, are the clowns in Congress since I was a kid, has represented the two parties.

Fuck that guy. Really. Pretending he didn't understand that the republican party became the home of the southern democrats after the Civil Rights Act and since then a lot of the power of the party then shifted to the south. Pretending that the Republicans didn't accept those racist with open arms.

Grrrr bad history makes me mad.

Most of that video is accurate, IMHO, but I agree that that last part is contrived nonsense. Does he really believe that racist Southern Democrats stayed within the Democratic Party after the initial Civil Rights Acts but changed their position from being in favor of public and private racial discrimination to favoring a welfare dependency system that would keep blacks 'enslaved'? That's just crazy. It's absolutely clear that, as a group, the white Southern Democrats gradually moved over to the Republican party in the post-CRA era. However, over the intervening decades, their views moderated from featuring virulent racism. Instead of being in favor of so-called 'separate-but-equal' public establishments and laws that required or enabled racism in public accommodations, this electoral group now tends to be anti-welfare state (contra the video) and anti-affirmative action, which are quite defensible positions.

I'm confident Bill Whittle (the guy in the video) knows this. He just wanted to keep things simple and have continuity between "the Democratic Party used to be the party of racists" and "the Democratic Party is now the party of slavery-like welfare dependency advocates". But there is no continuity between these, they were two very separate historical threads involving very different people. I also very much object to equating welfare dependency with slavery. There are excellent arguments in this vein against the welfare state, but this is grossly hyperbolic rhetorical hogwash.

I actually like Bill Whittle and posted an excellent video of his on the Pit a while back defending the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He's really good at getting to the heart of an issue. And most of this video is pretty good, too. But he completely went off the rails at the end.

[Southern]

Those lovely, lovely Muslims!

Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria estimates Baga deaths at 150.

This is on top of using a ten-year-old girl as a suicide bomber.

Evil fuckers...

Hey, I ninjaed about this on Saturday, because fuck the Shabbath.

But yeah, those fuckers are really trying to answer the very important question: can they be any worse pieces of shit that they already are by killing people and kidnapping girls to make them into sex slaves? You would think it's impossible, but they did found a way: using 10-years old as human bombs!

Next thing will be baby bombers, then pregnant women bombers, then 12-years old pregnant bombers (which they impregnated by rape, of course). Then... then what?

[bovarchist]

Look down his twitter stream... he's definitely a poe.

"Gettin' figgy wit' it' is cultural appropriation.

[bovarchist]

Apparently The Weeknd was arrested for punching a cop in the head.

Why is it that nobody wants to give white people credit for the times a black guy punches a cop in the face and DOESN'T get shot?

http://www.rap-up.com/2015/01/12/the-we ... e-officer/