Jim the Pleb Made Me Do It

[Garlic]

Many have asked whether I would be attending TAM and have also encouraged me to attend TAM.

I've evaluated my options and explored what the costs would be if I were to start a low-estimate fundraiser which would assist in my attendance. I'd be interested -- once again -- in seeking interviews, live-tweeting, and providing some of the first liveradio reporting via Brave Hero Radio. I also would provide various additional perks to donors. The fundraiser goal would be the same as the goal I had set for #WIScfi.

Here are the results:

Estimated costs:
Registration - $375
Hotel - $360
Flight - $511
Food and misc. expenses - $150
Fundraising cut of 4 to 8%

Total: $1500

Thoughts?

Send someone else. Like Mykeru!

No shit.

Justin is getting addicted to the teat, and his using a completely vague assertion like "many people told me they want me to go to TAM" as an excuse for him to stick his hand out yet again and expect others to fill it up with cash is galling and repugnant to me. What exactly is to be gained by sending a charity case like Justin to con after con? All it does is let Justin pad his atheoskeptic CV on other peoples' dime. Fuck that.

Now Mykeru going, on the other hand, is a great idea. Any dolt can live tweet from a con. Mykeru would actually do something useful and entertaining.

I would need a couple grand extra to buy a really good HD flash memory camera.

Hey this is fun!

So... #Vaculamustrenounce going to Dublin?

[ReneeHendricks]

Continuing with picture of steep hills, here's my contribution. E. Roy Street in Seattle, WA. From 25th to 26th street, it is suppose to have a 21% slope:

eroystseattle.JPG

(161.34 KiB) Downloaded 285 times

[Mykeru]

Many have asked whether I would be attending TAM and have also encouraged me to attend TAM.

I've evaluated my options and explored what the costs would be if I were to start a low-estimate fundraiser which would assist in my attendance. I'd be interested -- once again -- in seeking interviews, live-tweeting, and providing some of the first liveradio reporting via Brave Hero Radio. I also would provide various additional perks to donors. The fundraiser goal would be the same as the goal I had set for #WIScfi.

Here are the results:

Estimated costs:
Registration - $375
Hotel - $360
Flight - $511
Food and misc. expenses - $150
Fundraising cut of 4 to 8%

Total: $1500

Thoughts?

Send someone else. Like Mykeru!

No shit.

Justin is getting addicted to the teat, and his using a completely vague assertion like "many people told me they want me to go to TAM" as an excuse for him to stick his hand out yet again and expect others to fill it up with cash is galling and repugnant to me. What exactly is to be gained by sending a charity case like Justin to con after con? All it does is let Justin pad his atheoskeptic CV on other peoples' dime. Fuck that.

Now Mykeru going, on the other hand, is a great idea. Any dolt can live tweet from a con. Mykeru would actually do something useful and entertaining.

I would need a couple grand extra to buy a really good HD flash memory camera.

Hey this is fun!

So... #Vaculamustrenounce going to Dublin?

Correct. All extant funds should be funneled directly to me.

[Tribble]

speaking of being a bit overweight, and I realise I have a dreadful double standard between men and women, Hitch (most certainly) and Gandolfini were quite sexy. I haven't a problem with their extra weight, it does not faze me.

Everyone's entitled to their choice of what they find attractive. I'm even fine with you acting on it as long as everyone's a consenting adult.
The double standard seems to kick in around the demands of the McEwans of the world that we all pretend we find them alluring. Fat guys don't do that. They own their bulk and don't seem to give a shit what the rest of us think about it.
I don't have an interest in anyone's weight unless, maybe, they sit next to me on a plane. I used to think fatties were a drain on the healthcare system but someone here pointed out they tend to die early and actually cost the system less. I looked into that claim and found the evidence to be persuasive.
As an aside, my ex-wife was into Gandolfini too. Maybe that's what doomed the marriage - I wasn't a fat Guido.

On reflection, that was probably a long way down the list of causes.

I did the same thing with smokers when the tobacco companies were being sued by the various US States.

Yes, their diseases are expensive, BUT they die younger and in many, many cases they're really just dying of different expensive diseases. For example, a smoker might die at 62 of cancer instead of at 71 for a heart attack. So the State saves on not treating heart attack victims, and saves on early die-off with general Medicare, but looses-out on more cancer victims...

I could only use public data and mortality, but from what I computed it was close to a push on costs. For some reason the tobacco companies never really pursued the avoided-costs issue (only haggling over the incurred costs) in their settlement like I thought they should.

[jjbinx007]

And what's this about? Is there an actual warrant? Or is it a threat that one will be filed if Myers shows up?

Pogsurf is a little... odd. I doubt very much there's a real warrant, I think Pog is just entertaining himself by trying to troll them as much as possible.

Still, it was quite amusing to see him write letters to the speakers listing his real name and phone number. Sure enough, the FTB left comments on how to follow the trail of online breadcrumbs to find out his name, home address and phone number. If they were stupid enough to ring him then they walked right into his trap.

[Tony Parsehole]

If I was a troll like Pogsurf I'd send dodgy letters out to all the usual suspects with somebody elses name, phone number and address attached, preferably somebody who I know would react with an equal amount of venom and spite or somebody who you just don't generally want to mess with, and watch the baboons get mired in a two-way shit-storm all the while cackling manically at my master skills of manipulation and deceit.

Did not one person over there think that's what Pogsurf might actually be doing?

[Gumby]

Many have asked whether I would be attending TAM and have also encouraged me to attend TAM.

I've evaluated my options and explored what the costs would be if I were to start a low-estimate fundraiser which would assist in my attendance. I'd be interested -- once again -- in seeking interviews, live-tweeting, and providing some of the first liveradio reporting via Brave Hero Radio. I also would provide various additional perks to donors. The fundraiser goal would be the same as the goal I had set for #WIScfi.

Here are the results:

Estimated costs:
Registration - $375
Hotel - $360
Flight - $511
Food and misc. expenses - $150
Fundraising cut of 4 to 8%

Total: $1500

Thoughts?

Send someone else. Like Mykeru!

No shit.

Justin is getting addicted to the teat, and his using a completely vague assertion like "many people told me they want me to go to TAM" as an excuse for him to stick his hand out yet again and expect others to fill it up with cash is galling and repugnant to me. What exactly is to be gained by sending a charity case like Justin to con after con? All it does is let Justin pad his atheoskeptic CV on other peoples' dime. Fuck that.

Now Mykeru going, on the other hand, is a great idea. Any dolt can live tweet from a con. Mykeru would actually do something useful and entertaining.

I would need a couple grand extra to buy a really good HD flash memory camera.

Hey this is fun!

So... #Vaculamustrenounce going to Dublin?

No, but he needs to grow up and realize that he needs to start paying his own way, like the adults do.

Continually expecting others to fund your jetting to cons all over the map, for accomplishing nothing in return, is what useless parasites like PZ, Greta, Rebecca and Ophelia do.

[Kareem]

If I was a troll like Pogsurf I'd send dodgy letters out to all the usual suspects with somebody elses name, phone number and address attached, preferably somebody who I know would react with an equal amount of venom and spite or somebody who you just don't generally want to mess with, and watch the baboons get mired in a two-way shit-storm all the while cackling manically at my master skills of manipulation and deceit.

Did not one person over there think that's what Pogsurf might actually be doing?

Which is the danger with Doxxing. This should have been made clear when Spike Lee tried to Dox George Zimmerman or when Laden tried to Dox Mykeru. No matter what you think of the person, you're potentially opening up someone to harassment, someone who may not even know you.

[Dave]

Justin is getting addicted to the teat, and his using a completely vague assertion like "many people told me they want me to go to TAM" as an excuse for him to stick his hand out yet again and expect others to fill it up with cash is galling and repugnant to me. What exactly is to be gained by sending a charity case like Justin to con after con? All it does is let Justin pad his atheoskeptic CV on other peoples' dime. Fuck that.

Now Mykeru going, on the other hand, is a great idea. Any dolt can live tweet from a con. Mykeru would actually do something useful and entertaining.

Im not sure he would do anything useful, but it would certainly be entertaining.

[windy]

Many have asked whether I would be attending TAM and have also encouraged me to attend TAM.

I've evaluated my options and explored what the costs would be if I were to start a low-estimate fundraiser which would assist in my attendance. I'd be interested -- once again -- in seeking interviews, live-tweeting, and providing some of the first liveradio reporting via Brave Hero Radio. I also would provide various additional perks to donors. The fundraiser goal would be the same as the goal I had set for #WIScfi.

Here are the results:

Estimated costs:
Registration - $375
Hotel - $360
Flight - $511
Food and misc. expenses - $150
Fundraising cut of 4 to 8%

Total: $1500

Thoughts?

See how much of your 'cushion' is left over after the Dublin trip and use that for starters.

[Percentage]

Ah, who am I kidding. They are all fawning over their little in-group alpha male. If he dropped out of their equation, I suspect the radicalization of FtB would quickly disentagrate, and all that would realistically be left would be Rebecca Watson & her skepchick fans.

I'm not sure I totally agree with this, but it is interesting to contemplate what would happen if Myers dropped out of the community for whatever reason. He is definitely their lynchpin to a dangerous extent- that is, he singlehandedly gives them a much louder voice than they would otherwise have.

The number two is obviously Watson, and she definitely has her own cadre of sycophants, but she just doesn't have the legitimacy that Myers does. Watson's weakness is that this SJW crap is really her only claim to fame; fairly or not, a lot of people sort of perceive her as a one-trick pony. PZ is a credentialed scientist, he's known for his intelligent and informative posts on biology, he's been a major contributor to anti-creationist efforts; bascially, he was a big name before Elevatorgate. Watson is notable mostly by chance and the fact that Myers supports her.

Although at the same time, the SJW train has left the station at this point. People are into the idea, and they would rally even without their Maximum Leader. So I think that if Myers dropped out, it would be roughly akin to cutting the head off of something that could grow it back.

[Gefan]

If I was a troll like Pogsurf I'd send dodgy letters out to all the usual suspects with somebody elses name, phone number and address attached, preferably somebody who I know would react with an equal amount of venom and spite or somebody who you just don't generally want to mess with, and watch the baboons get mired in a two-way shit-storm all the while cackling manically at my master skills of manipulation and deceit.

Did not one person over there think that's what Pogsurf might actually be doing?

What do you think?
This is not a band of devoted Sun Tzu students we're discussing here.

[Tribble]

Now, of course, I could be off base somewhat on the interpretation of the sense of humour that is applicable there. But it seems unless you can demonstrate or provide some justification why something similar to that is not possible, I kind of think you have conclude that his comment wasn’t any kind of an insult, and that the charge of hypocrisy has to be dismissed.

What diminishes the charge of hypocrisy more than anything in the joke per se is passage of time. It's hard to level a charge of hypocrisy when the act and the charge are separated by a number of years and the person's philosophy might have changed. So I have to generally disagree with the conversation, the object here isn't to point out hypocrisy, it's to embarrass. It's a tit for tat thing, since it's just the type of thing that Myers would do to someone else.

That it would constitute hypocrisy if uttered by him today I think is self evident. It has nothing to do with its joking nature and everything to do with how Myers himself would interpret a similar thing, spoken by someone else. He would condemn it as misogynistic. Is there really any doubt about that?

I don't think that that is steersman's argument.
I think he is simply suggesting that we should interpret Myers words in the most charitable light we can.

I don't buy off on that concept, though Steersman is welcome to live his life that way. It's a funny old world and it'd suck if we were all drones doing and believing the same exact shit.

I believe in provisional respect and compassion, but, ultimately judging them as they judge you. I have found that any other course of action leaves you either over-reacting (being too judgmental/suspicious on the outset) or makes you the subordinate victim to their abuse parade (too much compassion/charitable interpretation of events).

As for the question of the passage of time argument, that only applies if we are talking about a situation where someone has claimed they have a new way of thinking. Does that really apply here?

As far as I can see Myers doesn't claim to be a new convert to feminism. He's not (publicly claiming to be) like the artist of sinfest who seems to have changed to a sex negative radfem outlook almost overnight. He claims to be a long time feminist, and his rules about splash damage are there to point out timeless 'facts' about the potential damage of gendered and ableist insults.
Has he ever once admitted that he frequently used misogynistic language in the past and has now changed the way he talks?

Actually, they are new. He adopted them a few years ago after consulting with some radfem whose name escapes me making back-tracking to the post too difficult at this time (though I did do some searches, but I'm not going through 66K hits).

As for the 'charitable light' question we face the dilemma that Myers has no choice but to interpret his opponents in the worst possible light (for example calling Ed Clint a rapist on skepchick) and likewise freaking our when the same standard is applied to him or his allies. Any right of him being seen in a positive light disappeared when he started comparing us to Marc Lepine and Stormfront.

Actually, for me, it started long before Elevatorgate. It started long before A+ and the circular firing squad. It just took understanding he'd turned himself into a ranting polemic (like that Catholic League guy) who spent much of his time inventing outrage for whatever gains seem to motivate him - power, fame, money, who knows....

[ReneeHendricks]

Anyone read Crommunist's bit on "Witch of the Week/Witch Hunts" (post is called Abused meme roundup: “Witch Hunts”)?

Freezepage: http://www.freezepage.com/1371739236DJIYUVFNTT

It's a very, very long bit of 'splaining. Whatever would we do without people like Crommunist informing us of the true meaning of "witch hunt"?

[Gefan]

No, but he needs to grow up and realize that he needs to start paying his own way, like the adults do.

Continually expecting others to fund your jetting to cons all over the map, for accomplishing nothing in return, is what useless parasites like PZ, Greta, Rebecca and Ophelia do.

I guess it doesn't bother me because the I find the allure of a long-ish commercial flight to attend a weekend of baboon shit-flinging to be decidedly elusive.
If someone offered to send me I'd wonder what I'd done to make them that pissed off.

[Dick Strawkins]

Ah, who am I kidding. They are all fawning over their little in-group alpha male. If he dropped out of their equation, I suspect the radicalization of FtB would quickly disentagrate, and all that would realistically be left would be Rebecca Watson & her skepchick fans.

I'm not sure I totally agree with this, but it is interesting to contemplate what would happen if Myers dropped out of the community for whatever reason. He is definitely their lynchpin to a dangerous extent- that is, he singlehandedly gives them a much louder voice than they would otherwise have.

The number two is obviously Watson, and she definitely has her own cadre of sycophants, but she just doesn't have the legitimacy that Myers does. Watson's weakness is that this SJW crap is really her only claim to fame; fairly or not, a lot of people sort of perceive her as a one-trick pony. PZ is a credentialed scientist, he's known for his intelligent and informative posts on biology, he's been a major contributor to anti-creationist efforts; bascially, he was a big name before Elevatorgate. Watson is notable mostly by chance and the fact that Myers supports her.

Although at the same time, the SJW train has left the station at this point. People are into the idea, and they would rally even without their Maximum Leader. So I think that if Myers dropped out, it would be roughly akin to cutting the head off of something that could grow it back.

I don't think so.
Without PZ Myers pushing things this whole mess would never have begun.
If he disappeared now who is left?

Marcotte? She's always been on the periphery.
Svan? She is no leader and thinks she's far smarter than reality suggests.
Ophelia? She will slink off back to those she's stabbed in the back, hoping they've forgotten her treachery.
Greta Christina - back to porn (shudder :| )
Rebecca Watson? Sink without trace. There is nothing behind the mask.

PZ is key to everything that has happened in the past two years.

[Tribble]

Really, really bored with this hammering with a screwdriver discussion.
New topic! What do people think about the American Medical Association declaring obesity to be a disease?
McEwan at Shakesville declares it "eliminationist', so are we going to see US government fat camps? On the plus side, think of all the soap and lampshades they could make.

WTF is eliminationism? Does it involve laxatives?

One of the minor consequences of increasing obesity in the US is that there are fewer cadavers available for medical education and research. Can't use bodies that won't fit in the tanks. Some are already so heavy that it's difficult to push down the levers to raise the platform they're on within the tank.

My oldest daughter is in her MS for Occupational Therapy and just finished up gross anatomy this spring semester. She had a really fat male cadaver as one of the cadavers she had to dissect.

She said it was incredibly difficult to work with it was so heavy and there were no men on her team so moving the cadaver around on the table was difficult due to the weight. Plus the fat was constantly in the way and they had to scoop it out of the body cavity to get to the organs they looking for. And during all this the tissue disposal bucket would fill up quickly and they'd have to empty it instead of dissecting...

She wasn't very happy about it.

Fat old white dudes oppress women even when they're dead! Misogyny!!!

Ah, you made me laugh. Good on you!

[Dick Strawkins]

Anyone read Crommunist's bit on "Witch of the Week/Witch Hunts" (post is called Abused meme roundup: “Witch Hunts”)?

Freezepage: http://www.freezepage.com/1371739236DJIYUVFNTT

It's a very, very long bit of 'splaining. Whatever would we do without people like Crommunist informing us of the true meaning of "witch hunt"?

It's also quite, quite stupid.

So when you want to use the “witch hunt” example to describe a thing you object to, you should be able to demonstrate two things: that the subject of the censure is, in fact, being treated like a ‘witch’, and is being threatened with ‘fire’. In the absence of either of those elements, your accusation is specious.

[Voryn]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013 ... supported/

JT has a very long post up about the CFI Kerfluffle. I'm not done reading it yet, but I've learned that Vacula is our cruel-hearted chieftain. JT has spent a good amount of the post covering his ass by saying how evil we all are. What I find really interesting is that JT and Justin are actually a lot more alike than they realize, but on different sides of the spectrum, and that includes the fact that Vacula is far less hardcore/angry. Anyway, it's a bit amusing how much he has to say he hates us, we'll see if that works in his favor..

Hail Chieftain Vacula!!(?)

[bovarchist]

http://www.panoramio.com/photo_explorer ... er=1677938

Queens Ave, New Westminster.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10673248

[Kareem]

Breaking Ellenbeth news:
ATHEIST ACTIVIST TO ATHEISTS OF FLORIDA: PAY YOUR BILL!
So much wtf in one story alone.

[Southern]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013 ... supported/

JT has a very long post up about the CFI Kerfluffle. I'm not done reading it yet, but I've learned that Vacula is our cruel-hearted chieftain. JT has spent a good amount of the post covering his ass by saying how evil we all are. What I find really interesting is that JT and Justin are actually a lot more alike than they realize, but on different sides of the spectrum, and that includes the fact that Vacula is far less hardcore/angry. Anyway, it's a bit amusing how much he has to say he hates us, we'll see if that works in his favor..

Hail Chieftain Vacula!!(?)

Chieftain Vacula? So, that's what Blizzard is preparing after the next World of Warcraft patch, when Garrosh Hellscream will be taken down from the position of Warchief of the Horde?

I'd think the Horde would never accept the moustache (specially the sissy Blond Elves and their perfectly shaved faces), but who knows.

[Dick Strawkins]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013 ... supported/

JT has a very long post up about the CFI Kerfluffle. I'm not done reading it yet, but I've learned that Vacula is our cruel-hearted chieftain. JT has spent a good amount of the post covering his ass by saying how evil we all are. What I find really interesting is that JT and Justin are actually a lot more alike than they realize, but on different sides of the spectrum, and that includes the fact that Vacula is far less hardcore/angry. Anyway, it's a bit amusing how much he has to say he hates us, we'll see if that works in his favor..

Hail Chieftain Vacula!!(?)

:lol:

I also think that most of the people who inhabit the slymepit are, well, slime. I read some of their comments upon my engagement and it was elementary school rage at a social enemy’s happiness all over again. I have no love for that group. Chief among them is Justin Vacula who I consider to be one of the most childish, obtuse, and despicable atheists on the planet. He’s a cruel person and I don’t like him. I’m not here to defend Justin Vacula or his ilk.

I'm no ilk of Vacula! :hand:

That whole post was hilarious.
Justin Vacula is the most despicable person in all of atheism?
Stalin and Pol Pot anyone?

What a maroon! :D

[Gumby]

Anyone read Crommunist's bit on "Witch of the Week/Witch Hunts" (post is called Abused meme roundup: “Witch Hunts”)?

Freezepage: http://www.freezepage.com/1371739236DJIYUVFNTT

It's a very, very long bit of 'splaining. Whatever would we do without people like Crommunist informing us of the true meaning of "witch hunt"?

Well, you know how it is. Anything that casts the baboons in an unfavorable light must be redefined so they are no longer cast in that unfavorable light.

You'd think a bunch of proud liberals would be a little more aware of Orwell's lessons, but nooooo...

[Zenspace]

Not boring at all to me, but I think I may have just heard Steersman's head hitting his desk. :lol:

The good news - I'm actually familiar with about 90% of what you provided above, so we are on pretty solid ground between us. I've seen first hand the effects here in the US of oil prices and your figures are spot on. Once the local price at the pump hits $4 a gallon the economy cycles downward again, so yes - we have already hit the upper limit of the oil/economy relationship. Right now we are locally at $3.75 per gallon and are kind of in the top functional slot of economic cruise control. Global competition for the limited resource is in a fixed feedback loop now and will only get worse, so this window is certainly not an open ended condition.

How about this: lets side-step the boring numbers part as it appears we may not need to drag everyone else down with that part. Instead, lets go right into short-term speculation and maybe others can join in. With that in mind:

Given the geographical location of the primary fossil fuel assets outside of the territories of the greatest consumers (primarily USofA and China - both of whose economies are irretrievably intermingled and cannot function without said fuels), how do you see the global scenario playing out in the near future, say the next decade or two?

The global is system is far too complex for speculation on an overall outcome to be meaningful. If I could do that kind of thing I'd have shorted the right stocks and be on my own private island by now. I actually saw the housing crash coming in the US but didn't have the capital (or the balls) to cash in (for an excellent read on those who did see Michael Lewis' "The Big Short").
There are a few things that seem fairly easily predictable, however.

1. Globalization is fucked. It's dependent on low transportation costs. I was involved for the last six years in setting up and managing a production operation in Vietnam (and am still stuck consulting for it part-time). The effect of oil prices on our cost-structure is significant and I have a reasonably good idea of the number where the whole operation goes tits up.

2.Some people say great, it brings the jobs back home.
2(a). These people are idiots.

3.The big oil producers are in great shape. They're going to be awash in cash and they'll run out last. A country's oil exports drop much faster than its production. The influx of cash drives domestic growth that drives domestic consumption (Russia's about to become the biggest car buyer in Europe).
3(a). The new divide in the world will be between oil importers and oil exporters.

4. Russia's in good shape. It probably does fairly well out of climate change and no-one can fuck with it militarily (this makes a certain segment of the US political elite apoplectically angry which, in turn, tends to make the Russians amused).

1. Agreed. Globalization is clearly only viable due to the availability of cheap fuel. I've often wondered where the tipping point might be, but have no related experience/ data to reference.

2. , 2(a). Jobs will come back home, but what will they be? If the rebalancing is due to wage equalization (unlikely, I think), they might be equivalent manufacturing jobs, but much of the US manufacturing infrastructure has fallen into disrepair. If due to the lack of cheap fuel, the effects will be far more complex and far reaching. Manufacturing jobs will not be a majority of them. We might see a return to increasingly manual agriculture. This will feed people, but the manufacturing based economy will be dead on arrival.

3., 3(a). Agreed. The fuel producers will always have a market and there reach goes deep into global governments. This relationship will be the engine that drives the deep fundamental changes coming to societies: growing class divisions based on wealth. Oil importers are going to be seriously fucked.

4. Agreed. I'm Merkin and even I can appreciate the irony of that.

[Kareem]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013 ... supported/

JT has a very long post up about the CFI Kerfluffle. I'm not done reading it yet, but I've learned that Vacula is our cruel-hearted chieftain. JT has spent a good amount of the post covering his ass by saying how evil we all are. What I find really interesting is that JT and Justin are actually a lot more alike than they realize, but on different sides of the spectrum, and that includes the fact that Vacula is far less hardcore/angry. Anyway, it's a bit amusing how much he has to say he hates us, we'll see if that works in his favor..

Hail Chieftain Vacula!!(?)

:lol:

I also think that most of the people who inhabit the slymepit are, well, slime. I read some of their comments upon my engagement and it was elementary school rage at a social enemy’s happiness all over again. I have no love for that group. Chief among them is Justin Vacula who I consider to be one of the most childish, obtuse, and despicable atheists on the planet. He’s a cruel person and I don’t like him. I’m not here to defend Justin Vacula or his ilk.

I'm no ilk of Vacula! :hand:

That whole post was hilarious.
Justin Vacula is the most despicable person in all of atheism?
Stalin and Pol Pot anyone?

What a maroon! :D

Kind of obvious people have to paint the slymepit as slime because they don't want to upset the people who want it, and anyone who post here, portrayed that way. But this...
If this is what it takes to be approved of, then don't you have to wonder about those whose approval you're seeking?

[Gefan]

Continuing with picture of steep hills, here's my contribution. E. Roy Street in Seattle, WA. From 25th to 26th street, it is suppose to have a 21% slope:

eroystseattle.JPG

http://24.media.tumblr.com/2b9da1d639de ... o1_500.jpg

[Dick Strawkins]

Anyone read Crommunist's bit on "Witch of the Week/Witch Hunts" (post is called Abused meme roundup: “Witch Hunts”)?

Freezepage: http://www.freezepage.com/1371739236DJIYUVFNTT

It's a very, very long bit of 'splaining. Whatever would we do without people like Crommunist informing us of the true meaning of "witch hunt"?

Well, you know how it is. Anything that casts the baboons in an unfavorable light must be redefined so they are no longer cast in that unfavorable light.

You'd think a bunch of proud liberals would be a little more aware of Orwell's lessons, but nooooo...

Crommunist, naturally, gets his own entry in the misogyny archive.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=328

You know, I haven't found a single prominent individual on the FTB side who hasn't said something online that they now deem as evidence of misogyny.
Not a single one.

I thought I'd get one or two of them but even I was surprised that EVERY ONE OF THEM have used (female) gendered slurs in the recent past that are simple to track down online.

If I was cynical I might think that they've only jumped on this 'gendered slurs are misogynistic' bandwagon just within the past two years. :think:

[Trophy]

I don't think so.
Without PZ Myers pushing things this whole mess would never have begun.
If he disappeared now who is left?

Marcotte? She's always been on the periphery.
Svan? She is no leader and thinks she's far smarter than reality suggests.
Ophelia? She will slink off back to those she's stabbed in the back, hoping they've forgotten her treachery.
Greta Christina - back to porn (shudder :| )
Rebecca Watson? Sink without trace. There is nothing behind the mask.

PZ is key to everything that has happened in the past two years.

It's the toxic combination of PZ + Rebecca. PZ brewed the nasty and content free vapid form of arguments and championed the virtues of "being a dick" as well as allowing (and encouraging) his minions to get away with most kinds of insults. But his vitriol was directly mostly at Christians, republicans, and creationists. It was only when Rebecca was added to the mix that the shit begun. And she has been the kind of person for whom any criticism is personal and must be dealt with harshest possible response. So now, Rebecca directs and PZ bites, a very happy symbiotic relationship I presume.

And this is really what bothers me more. When Crommunist rushes to defend Rebecca and her boycott of CFI and ignores their silence towards the law suit directed at AA, he implicitly shits on top of a black woman. That's most frustrating: black women being ignored because the high mighty white queen of blosphere must have her revenge because she got compared to N. Korea.

[windy]

So when you want to use the “witch hunt” example to describe a thing you object to, you should be able to demonstrate two things: that the subject of the censure is, in fact, being treated like a ‘witch’, and is being threatened with ‘fire’. In the absence of either of those elements, your accusation is specious.

That 'logic' sounds familiar...

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md80c ... o1_500.gif

[ERV]

:lol:

I also think that most of the people who inhabit the slymepit are, well, slime. I read some of their comments upon my engagement and it was elementary school rage at a social enemy’s happiness all over again. I have no love for that group. Chief among them is Justin Vacula who I consider to be one of the most childish, obtuse, and despicable atheists on the planet. He’s a cruel person and I don’t like him. I’m not here to defend Justin Vacula or his ilk.

I'm no ilk of Vacula! :hand:

First of all, TEY AHHH MAH ILK!

Secondly, I will be *happy* to bring up JTs 'engagement' again!

He is a nauseating attention whore who used a position of authority (his speaking platform) to make sure each and every non-heterosexual in the audience knew he was better than them. "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME GETTING MARRIED! LOL U CANT GET MARRIED, HOMOS! LOL REMEMBER THAT TIME I FUCKED A MARRIED WOMAN! SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE LOL U CANT GET MARRIED! LOL LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! LOL IM DOING THIS IN MISSOURI, A STATE WHERE THEY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AGAINST HOMO MARRIAGE! AND I CALL MYSELF AN 'ALLY" LOL! MEEEEEEEEEE! MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Ive said this for decades-- Its abominable that any heterosexual would get married (ie add value) to an institution that is not open to everyone. It is not an instance where exercising the unfair right helps those who dont have it (eg using my ability to vote to get others the right to vote). Its bullshit. And, marriage is a religious institution anyway. Why the fuck are atheists getting married, if not for the financial and legal benefits the contract provides, by the state (which homosexuals cannot have in many states in the US).

I think its bullshit when anyone does it.

Its exponentially bullshittier when a A†heist, who cares oh-so-more about homosexuals than EVERYONE ELSE (derp) does it.

[Jonathan]

Justin, it's official.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RM5JzpkpQBU/T ... fyduck.JPG

[Mykeru]

If I was a troll like Pogsurf I'd send dodgy letters out to all the usual suspects with somebody elses name, phone number and address attached, preferably somebody who I know would react with an equal amount of venom and spite or somebody who you just don't generally want to mess with, and watch the baboons get mired in a two-way shit-storm all the while cackling manically at my master skills of manipulation and deceit.

Did not one person over there think that's what Pogsurf might actually be doing?

Which is the danger with Doxxing. This should have been made clear when Spike Lee tried to Dox George Zimmerman or when Laden tried to Dox Mykeru. No matter what you think of the person, you're potentially opening up someone to harassment, someone who may not even know you.

I have guns. I got me a Mossberg. I got me an M1 carbine. I got me a Springfield Armory 1911A1 Mil Spec .45 ACP. I instruct fat preppers in long knife and tomahawk because I read a book once. and if I run out of bullets in my bug out bag I got me a (modern) Damascus steel sword. I am a muscular guy and I kick ass generally.

Honestly if I couldn't get the right wingers to make good on their threats, what good are threats from Greg Laden?

People totally over play the idea of doxing as a threat. Mostly the purpose is to be annoying.

And to disappoint me

[welch]

No, but he needs to grow up and realize that he needs to start paying his own way, like the adults do.

Continually expecting others to fund your jetting to cons all over the map, for accomplishing nothing in return, is what useless parasites like PZ, Greta, Rebecca and Ophelia do.

I guess it doesn't bother me because the I find the allure of a long-ish commercial flight to attend a weekend of baboon shit-flinging to be decidedly elusive.
If someone offered to send me I'd wonder what I'd done to make them that pissed off.

I actually know people near-ish dublin, so fuck the conference, I'd be visiting real people and having fun.

[welch]

Anyone read Crommunist's bit on "Witch of the Week/Witch Hunts" (post is called Abused meme roundup: “Witch Hunts”)?

Freezepage: http://www.freezepage.com/1371739236DJIYUVFNTT

It's a very, very long bit of 'splaining. Whatever would we do without people like Crommunist informing us of the true meaning of "witch hunt"?

It's also quite, quite stupid.

So when you want to use the “witch hunt” example to describe a thing you object to, you should be able to demonstrate two things: that the subject of the censure is, in fact, being treated like a ‘witch’, and is being threatened with ‘fire’. In the absence of either of those elements, your accusation is specious.

It's crommunist. Of COURSE it's stupid, poorly written, and lacking cogent points. It's what the little twat does.

[welch]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013 ... supported/

JT has a very long post up about the CFI Kerfluffle. I'm not done reading it yet, but I've learned that Vacula is our cruel-hearted chieftain. JT has spent a good amount of the post covering his ass by saying how evil we all are. What I find really interesting is that JT and Justin are actually a lot more alike than they realize, but on different sides of the spectrum, and that includes the fact that Vacula is far less hardcore/angry. Anyway, it's a bit amusing how much he has to say he hates us, we'll see if that works in his favor..

Hail Chieftain Vacula!!(?)

Blah, blah, blah, I write like oolon only worse, blah, blah, blah.

Can any of those fucksticks other than Myers get to the point in under a chapter? Hell, even Steersman isn't that longwinded. That may be why Myers is their leader, he's the only one who can make a point before people start stabbing themselves to make it end.

[Remick]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013 ... supported/

JT has a very long post up about the CFI Kerfluffle. I'm not done reading it yet, but I've learned that Vacula is our cruel-hearted chieftain. JT has spent a good amount of the post covering his ass by saying how evil we all are. What I find really interesting is that JT and Justin are actually a lot more alike than they realize, but on different sides of the spectrum, and that includes the fact that Vacula is far less hardcore/angry. Anyway, it's a bit amusing how much he has to say he hates us, we'll see if that works in his favor..

Hail Chieftain Vacula!!(?)

:lol:

I also think that most of the people who inhabit the slymepit are, well, slime. I read some of their comments upon my engagement and it was elementary school rage at a social enemy’s happiness all over again. I have no love for that group. Chief among them is Justin Vacula who I consider to be one of the most childish, obtuse, and despicable atheists on the planet. He’s a cruel person and I don’t like him. I’m not here to defend Justin Vacula or his ilk.

I'm no ilk of Vacula! :hand:

That whole post was hilarious.
Justin Vacula is the most despicable person in all of atheism?
Stalin and Pol Pot anyone?

What a maroon! :D

I don't agree with all of it, but Justin is certainly Childish and obtuse.

[Dick Strawkins]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013 ... supported/

JT has a very long post up about the CFI Kerfluffle. I'm not done reading it yet, but I've learned that Vacula is our cruel-hearted chieftain. JT has spent a good amount of the post covering his ass by saying how evil we all are. What I find really interesting is that JT and Justin are actually a lot more alike than they realize, but on different sides of the spectrum, and that includes the fact that Vacula is far less hardcore/angry. Anyway, it's a bit amusing how much he has to say he hates us, we'll see if that works in his favor..

Hail Chieftain Vacula!!(?)

Blah, blah, blah, I write like oolon only worse, blah, blah, blah.

Can any of those fucksticks other than Myers get to the point in under a chapter? Hell, even Steersman isn't that longwinded. That may be why Myers is their leader, he's the only one who can make a point before people start stabbing themselves to make it end.

I was playing about with the waybackmachine last night when I decided, on a whim, to have a look at the old Pharyngula.
Not the www.scienceblogs/pharyngula, but the previous, original, pre 'famous blogger' pharyngula.

It's here if anyone is interested:

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.pharyngula.com

It's almost sad reading it to realize how he would turn out seven or eight years later.

One funny thing I noticed was a comment from someone named Amanda which linked to a small blog called mouse words.
It was Marcotte, back in the days before Pandragon. She was a feminist then but actually came across as someone who you could actually talk to without the fear of receiving a pepper-spraying.

[Dick Strawkins]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013 ... supported/

JT has a very long post up about the CFI Kerfluffle. I'm not done reading it yet, but I've learned that Vacula is our cruel-hearted chieftain. JT has spent a good amount of the post covering his ass by saying how evil we all are. What I find really interesting is that JT and Justin are actually a lot more alike than they realize, but on different sides of the spectrum, and that includes the fact that Vacula is far less hardcore/angry. Anyway, it's a bit amusing how much he has to say he hates us, we'll see if that works in his favor..

Hail Chieftain Vacula!!(?)

:lol:

I also think that most of the people who inhabit the slymepit are, well, slime. I read some of their comments upon my engagement and it was elementary school rage at a social enemy’s happiness all over again. I have no love for that group. Chief among them is Justin Vacula who I consider to be one of the most childish, obtuse, and despicable atheists on the planet. He’s a cruel person and I don’t like him. I’m not here to defend Justin Vacula or his ilk.

I'm no ilk of Vacula! :hand:

That whole post was hilarious.
Justin Vacula is the most despicable person in all of atheism?
Stalin and Pol Pot anyone?

What a maroon! :D

I don't agree with all of it, but Justin is certainly Childish and obtuse.

That is true, but those are hardly the kind of qualities that should make him the most despicable person in atheism - they just make him annoying.

[Remick]

I don't think Justin is a bad guy, I just figured he wouldn't keep making the same stupid mistakes by now. Since he hasn't seemed to figure it out really, I would prefer he shut the fuck up publicly, maybe take a fucking debate class, SOMETHING to learn how to not fall for so many obvious traps before he continues to keep such a public profile.

It is a simple problem really. Most people know fuck all of about skepchic, they just know Rebecca Watson, Most people don't know fuck all about FTB, but they might have some awareness of PZ myers. Most people don't know fuck all about the slymepit, but the baboons will be quick to point out something stupid Justin did or said and have it represent all of us. It sucks, and we can restate "no one represents the pit" but that doesn't make it true. We don't always get to decide that shit.

[Whig]

Many have asked whether I would be attending TAM and have also encouraged me to attend TAM.

I've evaluated my options and explored what the costs would be if I were to start a low-estimate fundraiser which would assist in my attendance. I'd be interested -- once again -- in seeking interviews, live-tweeting, and providing some of the first liveradio reporting via Brave Hero Radio. I also would provide various additional perks to donors. The fundraiser goal would be the same as the goal I had set for #WIScfi.

Here are the results:

Estimated costs:
Registration - $375
Hotel - $360
Flight - $511
Food and misc. expenses - $150
Fundraising cut of 4 to 8%

Total: $1500

Thoughts?

Send someone else. Like Mykeru!

Thoughts? This is why you don't feed strays. I'm just waiting for someone to claim the best way to annoy Cancun is to send The Stache there.

Ding ding ding!

Also, I will need a small powerful laptop to edit and upload on the fly.

And, I might add, hookers don't pay for themselves.

It's Vegas so if you're asking for more than three grand for hookers you're just trying to take us for a ride.

[Southern]

#vaculamustdenounce Justin Vacula as the most despicable, hateful, mysoginistic, evil, ill-mannered, poop-eater person in the entire atheist movement.

[Trophy]

I don't think Justin is a bad guy, I just figured he wouldn't keep making the same stupid mistakes by now. Since he hasn't seemed to figure it out really, I would prefer he shut the fuck up publicly, maybe take a fucking debate class, SOMETHING to learn how to not fall for so many obvious traps before he continues to keep such a public profile.

I used to criticize Justin harshly but after I heard his talk with David Silverman I changed my mind. Justin's best quality IMO is that he can keep cool even when attacked repeatedly. That's a really really important and valuable skill to have. The summary is that if the undecided listen to that interview, they will consider Justin the reasonable and the Silverman the clown/loudmouth.

I doubt many in the pit could do that. People said Mykeru should go to TAM but I doubt Mykeru can restrain himself that much.

[Ericb]

PZ's book is supposed to be published in August. I don't know how Amazon moderates its review board but I doubt PZ will have any control over the page. The commentary there could prove to be interesting.

[Whig]

If I was a troll like Pogsurf I'd send dodgy letters out to all the usual suspects with somebody elses name, phone number and address attached, preferably somebody who I know would react with an equal amount of venom and spite or somebody who you just don't generally want to mess with, and watch the baboons get mired in a two-way shit-storm all the while cackling manically at my master skills of manipulation and deceit.

Did not one person over there think that's what Pogsurf might actually be doing?

Which is the danger with Doxxing. This should have been made clear when Spike Lee tried to Dox George Zimmerman or when Laden tried to Dox Mykeru. No matter what you think of the person, you're potentially opening up someone to harassment, someone who may not even know you.

I have guns. I got me a Mossberg. I got me an M1 carbine. I got me a Springfield Armory 1911A1 Mil Spec .45 ACP. I instruct fat preppers in long knife and tomahawk because I read a book once. and if I run out of bullets in my bug out bag I got me a (modern) Damascus steel sword. I am a muscular guy and I kick ass generally.

Honestly if I couldn't get the right wingers to make good on their threats, what good are threats from Greg Laden?

People totally over play the idea of doxing as a threat. Mostly the purpose is to be annoying.

And to disappoint me

How is the M1 carbine? It's been on my wishlist for years. I've only got a Mauser K98 at the moment and it kicks like the dickens.

[Dick Strawkins]

I don't think Justin is a bad guy, I just figured he wouldn't keep making the same stupid mistakes by now. Since he hasn't seemed to figure it out really, I would prefer he shut the fuck up publicly, maybe take a fucking debate class, SOMETHING to learn how to not fall for so many obvious traps before he continues to keep such a public profile.

It is a simple problem really. Most people know fuck all of about skepchic, they just know Rebecca Watson, Most people don't know fuck all about FTB, but they might have some awareness of PZ myers. Most people don't know fuck all about the slymepit, but the baboons will be quick to point out something stupid Justin did or said and have it represent all of us. It sucks, and we can restate "no one represents the pit" but that doesn't make it true. We don't always get to decide that shit.

The worst true accusations about the slymepit are all associated with things that Vacula has himself done - doxxing Surly Amy, along with a photo of her apartment, writing an article for AVFM and speaking with them while failing to confront them over the really shitty things they do (i.e. their hit list), the constant pestering of Ophelia Benson by tweeting @her.
I agree than none of these things are particularly bad themselves but they only serve to give ammunition to his detractors.

[Mykeru]

Many have asked whether I would be attending TAM and have also encouraged me to attend TAM.

I've evaluated my options and explored what the costs would be if I were to start a low-estimate fundraiser which would assist in my attendance. I'd be interested -- once again -- in seeking interviews, live-tweeting, and providing some of the first liveradio reporting via Brave Hero Radio. I also would provide various additional perks to donors. The fundraiser goal would be the same as the goal I had set for #WIScfi.

Here are the results:

Estimated costs:
Registration - $375
Hotel - $360
Flight - $511
Food and misc. expenses - $150
Fundraising cut of 4 to 8%

Total: $1500

Thoughts?

Send someone else. Like Mykeru!

Thoughts? This is why you don't feed strays. I'm just waiting for someone to claim the best way to annoy Cancun is to send The Stache there.

Ding ding ding!

Also, I will need a small powerful laptop to edit and upload on the fly.

And, I might add, hookers don't pay for themselves.

It's Vegas so if you're asking for more than three grand for hookers you're just trying to take us for a ride.

They should be just expensive enough to pretend they like it.

[Gumby]

PZ's book is supposed to be published in August. I don't know how Amazon moderates its review board but I doubt PZ will have any control over the page. The commentary there could prove to be interesting.

Hopefully the comments will be honest and mainly by people who have actually read the book. Anything else is childish trolling.

I'm actually hoping It's a good book. He used to write pretty well when he wanted to back before he turned into a self-styled feminist messiah, and I'm not going to wish failure on his book just because of his current douchiness.

[Zenspace]

Many have asked whether I would be attending TAM and have also encouraged me to attend TAM.

I've evaluated my options and explored what the costs would be if I were to start a low-estimate fundraiser which would assist in my attendance. I'd be interested -- once again -- in seeking interviews, live-tweeting, and providing some of the first liveradio reporting via Brave Hero Radio. I also would provide various additional perks to donors. The fundraiser goal would be the same as the goal I had set for #WIScfi.

Here are the results:

Estimated costs:
Registration - $375
Hotel - $360
Flight - $511
Food and misc. expenses - $150
Fundraising cut of 4 to 8%

Total: $1500

Thoughts?

Send someone else. Like Mykeru!

Thoughts? This is why you don't feed strays. I'm just waiting for someone to claim the best way to annoy Cancun is to send The Stache there.

Ding ding ding!

Also, I will need a small powerful laptop to edit and upload on the fly.

And, I might add, hookers don't pay for themselves.

OK, I'll go for it, but the venue has to be the AI Women's Conference in Ireland, not TAM. :whistle:

[Mykeru]

If I was a troll like Pogsurf I'd send dodgy letters out to all the usual suspects with somebody elses name, phone number and address attached, preferably somebody who I know would react with an equal amount of venom and spite or somebody who you just don't generally want to mess with, and watch the baboons get mired in a two-way shit-storm all the while cackling manically at my master skills of manipulation and deceit.

Did not one person over there think that's what Pogsurf might actually be doing?

Which is the danger with Doxxing. This should have been made clear when Spike Lee tried to Dox George Zimmerman or when Laden tried to Dox Mykeru. No matter what you think of the person, you're potentially opening up someone to harassment, someone who may not even know you.

I have guns. I got me a Mossberg. I got me an M1 carbine. I got me a Springfield Armory 1911A1 Mil Spec .45 ACP. I instruct fat preppers in long knife and tomahawk because I read a book once. and if I run out of bullets in my bug out bag I got me a (modern) Damascus steel sword. I am a muscular guy and I kick ass generally.

Honestly if I couldn't get the right wingers to make good on their threats, what good are threats from Greg Laden?

People totally over play the idea of doxing as a threat. Mostly the purpose is to be annoying.

And to disappoint me

How is the M1 carbine? It's been on my wishlist for years. I've only got a Mauser K98 at the moment and it kicks like the dickens.

Very nice. Light, flat recoil. I started with the standard wood stock, have a folding paratrooper stock and in the BOB I use an Owenstock composite.

Make sure it is a GI surplus or Korean War retrofit (original has the flat bolt and flip over sight). The more Inland GM parts the better. Mine is a Blue Sky Alexandria retro fit. Traded out the Rockola, Saginaw et. al. parts for Inland over the years.

Do not buy Universal or Iver-Johnson. They can be of uneven quality and use different tolerances.

Stock up on ammo and ignore the asshats that claim it has no stopping power.

[Cunning Punt]

Walking always brings the worry of leaks, especially when one of those mini-floods happen mid-step. Ugh.

Bullshit. As you've probably noticed I'm a bit of an expert on your "moon time" and ladies problems in general. I've seen all those adverts on the telly, so I know for a fact that when you've got the painters in the first thing you do is run out and start skateboarding/skydiving/bungee jumping.
If there's anything you need to know on the subject, just ask.

Where does a woman's blue liquid come from?
And why do they like yogurt so much?

And why do they always wear white clothes?

[Zenspace]

Justin is getting addicted to the teat, and his using a completely vague assertion like "many people told me they want me to go to TAM" as an excuse for him to stick his hand out yet again and expect others to fill it up with cash is galling and repugnant to me. What exactly is to be gained by sending a charity case like Justin to con after con? All it does is let Justin pad his atheoskeptic CV on other peoples' dime. Fuck that.

Now Mykeru going, on the other hand, is a great idea. Any dolt can live tweet from a con. Mykeru would actually do something useful and entertaining.

Im not sure he would do anything useful, but it would certainly be entertaining.

Depends on what you consider 'useful'.

[JackSkeptic]

Oh nearly forgot.

It took me 2 minutes to confirm that phone number for Pogsurf. He has not made much effort to hide his identity I have to say. Much less than our boy Anthony K apparently.

So, I doubt our boy Pogsurf is going to be too intimidated by being doxxed. ...

Follow up from Pogsurf, from his blog. Dude is playing hardball.

Reminder that he had mailed a letter to some or possibly all of the speakers for the upcoming Dublin conference, asking in quiz form which conference speaker made rape threats, apparently signing Pog's real name and giving his real phone number, as well as emailing PZ, who posted part of Pog's phone number & PZ's commentariat filled in missing details about how to find the rest of the phone # & other info).

Besides the 2 posts linked below, he's also got a couple of posts up "Cataloguing threats", seems to have concluded that PZ Myers is The One who has allowed threats to be published (though his research may still be proceeding)

June 18 post: http://pogsurf.blogspot.com/2013/06/cat ... rwork.html

He [Pogsurf] will mostly be sorting out his paperwork, so if you'd like to phone him at home, or on his mobile, during daylight hours, please feel free to do so.

PZ Myers is far to chicken to call himself, which is why he is trying to motivate his horde to harass Pogsurf.

An Garda Síochána* have already advised that should PZ attend Dublin 2013 he will be arrested under a EU-wide arrest warrant for 'inciting or coercing others to commit a felony'. Enjoy you conference from behind bars, PZ!

*Ireland's National Police Service

June 20 post: http://pogsurf.blogspot.com/2013/06/abusive-calls.html
Pogsurf claims he received 727 harassing phone calls on June 18th, and that:

All calls are now being auto-diverted to Scotland Yard's Anti-Harassment Unit, logged and monitored. Suspects are being interview by local police forces where appropriate.

:shock: :shock:

:popcorn:

I can't take his funny charts seriously, and I'm only familiar with US laws. How legit is this? Is he just having fun, or are the authorities literally planning to nab PZ?

Definitely a poe in my opinion. He's taking the piss.

It's all made up of course. The obvious clue is the comment he made about the dental receptionist.

[Remick]

I don't think Justin is a bad guy, I just figured he wouldn't keep making the same stupid mistakes by now. Since he hasn't seemed to figure it out really, I would prefer he shut the fuck up publicly, maybe take a fucking debate class, SOMETHING to learn how to not fall for so many obvious traps before he continues to keep such a public profile.

I used to criticize Justin harshly but after I heard his talk with David Silverman I changed my mind. Justin's best quality IMO is that he can keep cool even when attacked repeatedly. That's a really really important and valuable skill to have. The summary is that if the undecided listen to that interview, they will consider Justin the reasonable and the Silverman the clown/loudmouth.

I doubt many in the pit could do that. People said Mykeru should go to TAM but I doubt Mykeru can restrain himself that much.

Most of us don't bother trying to do that. Keeping cool and collected is step one. It's taken justin what? 2 years to reach this point. I commended him for it too, but that doesn't mean that things are great now. If Silvermann had reeled it in a bit, he would have dominated Justin, basically Justin's only accomplishment was sitting there and doing nothing and letting Silverman commit unforced errors. That doesn't always work, Justin let Silverman get away with a lot, and had he not gone to 11, Justin would have come off as a weak idiot who can't back up his own ideas.

[Zenspace]

Its exponentially bullshittier when a A†heist, who cares oh-so-more about homosexuals than EVERYONE ELSE (derp) does it.

Term filed away for future use... :dance:

[cunt]

I don't think Justin is a bad guy, I just figured he wouldn't keep making the same stupid mistakes by now. Since he hasn't seemed to figure it out really, I would prefer he shut the fuck up publicly, maybe take a fucking debate class, SOMETHING to learn how to not fall for so many obvious traps before he continues to keep such a public profile.

It is a simple problem really. Most people know fuck all of about skepchic, they just know Rebecca Watson, Most people don't know fuck all about FTB, but they might have some awareness of PZ myers. Most people don't know fuck all about the slymepit, but the baboons will be quick to point out something stupid Justin did or said and have it represent all of us. It sucks, and we can restate "no one represents the pit" but that doesn't make it true. We don't always get to decide that shit.

The worst true accusations about the slymepit are all associated with things that Vacula has himself done - doxxing Surly Amy, along with a photo of her apartment, writing an article for AVFM and speaking with them while failing to confront them over the really shitty things they do (i.e. their hit list), the constant pestering of Ophelia Benson by tweeting @her.
I agree than none of these things are particularly bad themselves but they only serve to give ammunition to his detractors.

Agreed and the most annoying thing about all that is that Justin, for the longest time, essentially just used the slymepit as a dumping ground for links about Justin.

I'll give him this though. Asking for $1500 for another conference just over 2 weeks after he got $3500 for Dublin proves without a doubt that he's sitting on balls the size of space-hoppers.

[Remick]

I don't think Justin is a bad guy, I just figured he wouldn't keep making the same stupid mistakes by now. Since he hasn't seemed to figure it out really, I would prefer he shut the fuck up publicly, maybe take a fucking debate class, SOMETHING to learn how to not fall for so many obvious traps before he continues to keep such a public profile.

It is a simple problem really. Most people know fuck all of about skepchic, they just know Rebecca Watson, Most people don't know fuck all about FTB, but they might have some awareness of PZ myers. Most people don't know fuck all about the slymepit, but the baboons will be quick to point out something stupid Justin did or said and have it represent all of us. It sucks, and we can restate "no one represents the pit" but that doesn't make it true. We don't always get to decide that shit.

The worst true accusations about the slymepit are all associated with things that Vacula has himself done - doxxing Surly Amy, along with a photo of her apartment, writing an article for AVFM and speaking with them while failing to confront them over the really shitty things they do (i.e. their hit list), the constant pestering of Ophelia Benson by tweeting @her.
I agree than none of these things are particularly bad themselves but they only serve to give ammunition to his detractors.

They are just stupid. People who continue to do stupid things and not understand the reaction that happens are stupid.

[cunt]

Ugh that's terribly written. Fuck it.

[Garlic]

:lol:

I also think that most of the people who inhabit the slymepit are, well, slime. I read some of their comments upon my engagement and it was elementary school rage at a social enemy’s happiness all over again. I have no love for that group. Chief among them is Justin Vacula who I consider to be one of the most childish, obtuse, and despicable atheists on the planet. He’s a cruel person and I don’t like him. I’m not here to defend Justin Vacula or his ilk.

I'm no ilk of Vacula! :hand:

First of all, TEY AHHH MAH ILK!

Secondly, I will be *happy* to bring up JTs 'engagement' again!

He is a nauseating attention whore who used a position of authority (his speaking platform) to make sure each and every non-heterosexual in the audience knew he was better than them. "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME GETTING MARRIED! LOL U CANT GET MARRIED, HOMOS! LOL REMEMBER THAT TIME I FUCKED A MARRIED WOMAN! SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE LOL U CANT GET MARRIED! LOL LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! LOL IM DOING THIS IN MISSOURI, A STATE WHERE THEY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AGAINST HOMO MARRIAGE! AND I CALL MYSELF AN 'ALLY" LOL! MEEEEEEEEEE! MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Ive said this for decades-- Its abominable that any heterosexual would get married (ie add value) to an institution that is not open to everyone. It is not an instance where exercising the unfair right helps those who dont have it (eg using my ability to vote to get others the right to vote). Its bullshit. And, marriage is a religious institution anyway. Why the fuck are atheists getting married, if not for the financial and legal benefits the contract provides, by the state (which homosexuals cannot have in many states in the US).

I think its bullshit when anyone does it.

Its exponentially bullshittier when a A†heist, who cares oh-so-more about homosexuals than EVERYONE ELSE (derp) does it.

:shock:

Forgive this non-native speaker for missing the subtleties, but... this post is satire, right?

[Dick Strawkins]

I don't think Justin is a bad guy, I just figured he wouldn't keep making the same stupid mistakes by now. Since he hasn't seemed to figure it out really, I would prefer he shut the fuck up publicly, maybe take a fucking debate class, SOMETHING to learn how to not fall for so many obvious traps before he continues to keep such a public profile.

It is a simple problem really. Most people know fuck all of about skepchic, they just know Rebecca Watson, Most people don't know fuck all about FTB, but they might have some awareness of PZ myers. Most people don't know fuck all about the slymepit, but the baboons will be quick to point out something stupid Justin did or said and have it represent all of us. It sucks, and we can restate "no one represents the pit" but that doesn't make it true. We don't always get to decide that shit.

The worst true accusations about the slymepit are all associated with things that Vacula has himself done - doxxing Surly Amy, along with a photo of her apartment, writing an article for AVFM and speaking with them while failing to confront them over the really shitty things they do (i.e. their hit list), the constant pestering of Ophelia Benson by tweeting @her.
I agree than none of these things are particularly bad themselves but they only serve to give ammunition to his detractors.

Agreed and the most annoying thing about all that is that Justin, for the longest time, essentially just used the slymepit as a dumping ground for links about Justin.

I'll give him this though. Asking for $1500 for another conference just over 2 weeks after he got $3500 for Dublin proves without a doubt that he's sitting on balls the size of space-hoppers.

http://chalkhills.org/images/non/BagsOfFun.jpg