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 Swami
Eggshell Walker
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 15,413
Loc: In the hen house
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 Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic  [Re: Tannis]
#624224 - 05/01/02 05:11 PM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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It was the darkest time I have ever known. I was suicidal, and began to carry a weapon because I started to distrust everyone. I was out of control with drugs and alcohol and was headed for a criminal life style.
Your personal history is interesting, but has nothing to do with rational examination.
I have faith in nothing outside myself, yet have never carried a weapon nor thought of nor engaged in criminal activity (outside the WOD). I would be surprised if evolving, Sir TripsaLot or Schlorch are gun toters. I would make a large bet that religious people own more weapons than atheists.
I became a person who helps others...
I am a skeptic and a Big Brother. I help people all the time - I still see no relationship between the two. As I stated previously, I have a loud bark here, but no bite. I have never struck another in anger (past grade school).
I am glad that you found what works for you, but to extrapolate that is fallacious.
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The proof is in the pudding.
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Sclorch
Clyster
Registered: 07/12/99
Posts: 4,805
Loc: On the Brink of Madness
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 Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: Swami]
#624415 - 05/01/02 09:42 PM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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Surprise, surprise!
I frequently exercise my right to bear my AR-15.
Yup, I just tote that fucker to class... to church (hehe)... to the mall...
It usually doesn't go over well and I have to lay down some lead, but there are those precious momenst when a curious, young lad will come up to me and ask me to show him how to shoot. It makes me smile to think that I was the one who taught so many young children how to hold the gun correctly (firmly against the shoulder), SQUEEZE (not pull) the trigger, and brace for the recoil. *tear in the eye*
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Note: In desperate need of a cure...
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Swami
Eggshell Walker
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 15,413
Loc: In the hen house
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: Sclorch]
#624437 - 05/01/02 10:11 PM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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Awww - I believed in YOU brother Sclorch...
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The proof is in the pudding.
Edited by Swami (06/07/03 10:33 PM)
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Anonymous
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: JustFootsteps]
#624457 - 05/01/02 10:35 PM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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skeptics make their own worlds drab, mechanical, predictable and violent. skeptical argument is a form of violence. conveying something of one's inner state using dead, dead, dead words (killed imo by advertising jingles)...
they perceive themselves in this role, only rob people of their vocal cords. by pretending there is such a thing as non-poetic speech, they place barriers on communicative effort that can be bridged only perilously and with great effort...
What do you base all this hogwash on? Overgeneralization, oversimplification... nay, pure sophistry. The only ones that may 'rob people of their vocal cords' (metaphorically speaking) are themselves. Don't blame skeptics for your ineptitude in formulating cogent explanations for the ideas you are trying to convey.
Skeptical argument is a form of violence? Fuzzy heading thinking, emotionalism, mysticism these are all what lead people to war, suicide bombings, cult behaviour, mass delusions, and following leaders like Hitler, Stalin, Arafat and GWB. Fools follow and believe without critical analysis, skeptics carefully pick their own way.
Edited by evolving (05/01/02 10:39 PM)
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Swami
Eggshell Walker
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 15,413
Loc: In the hen house
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: ]
#624473 - 05/01/02 10:52 PM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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*APPLAUSE*
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The proof is in the pudding.
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 JPAtanat
member
Registered: 04/17/02
Posts: 101
Last seen: 20 years, 11 months
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: ]
#624475 - 05/01/02 10:54 PM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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I just want to point something out:
skeptic:"skeptics make their own worlds drab, mechanical, predictable and violent. skeptical argument is a form of violence. conveying something of one's inner state using dead, dead, dead words (killed imo by advertising jingles)...
they perceive themselves in this role, only rob people of their vocal cords. by pretending there is such a thing as non-poetic speech, they place barriers on communicative effort that can be bridged only perilously and with great effort..." just footsteps
believer: "Fuzzy heading thinking, emotionalism, mysticism these are all what lead people to war, suicide bombings, cult behaviour, mass delusions, and following leaders like Hitler, Stalin, Arafat and GWB. Fools follow and believe without critical analysis..." -evolving
of course evolvings statement did not spcifically mention the word believer, but i think that's what he was implying...
But need I even say that both of these definitions are not only generalizations, but are pure bullshit? Maybe you can attach these definitions to the words skeptic and believer, but in that case I bet there are no skeptics or believers to be found at the shroomery. This has elevated to a gross level. If not fuzzy headed thinking, emotionalism and mysticism, it is this very thing that is going on in the shroomery that leads people to war, suicide bombings, cult behaviour, and mass delusions.
Both sides are guilty of rigid, unwavering thinking. both sides are guilty of over-generalization, over-simplification and emotionalism. I do not mean to seperate myself from these accusations, I am just as guilty as every one else. But maybe it's time to let down our guards little bit and see if we cant start to even just try to understand where the "other" is coming from, because as it is going there is no end in sight (nuclear war, maybe).
Peace Earthlings.
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Anonymous
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: JPAtanat]
#624485 - 05/01/02 11:15 PM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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I meant what I said. I did not say believer because not all belief is based on fuzzy heading thinking, emotionalism and mysticism. It is possible, and very often does happen, that people arrive at a point of belief in something after utilizing critical analysis.
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Tannis
ZoneTrooper
Registered: 12/13/01
Posts: 508
Loc: MD.USA
Last seen: 20 years, 6 months
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 Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: Swami]
#625601 - 05/03/02 09:54 AM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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The original question was : What's wrong with being a skeptic? And then added in other words, make your own responses, not what someone else said.
I answered the question for me alone. I'm not implying anything about skeptics in genneral. I simply stated that for me, when I lost "faith" became skeptical I began to head down a road that would have killed me. The only cautionary "implication" in my post is that if you become skeptical like I did and "lose hope" that could lead you to a place similar to the one that almost killed me.
If you are skeptical and don't lose hope, then hey, peace be with you.....but many of the skeptics I have know do get really negative in their outlook.
Of course, as I've stated, I'm not ready to swallow just any false hope...say for a spaceship to come and deliever us all....or anything like that.....but belief works for me....and it keeps me from looking at the rest of the world like enemies that I have to kill in order to be safe.
And just as a side note, I grew up with guns, and have one loaded and ready in my house......its for those in denial....who would break in to my house to attempt to steal, kill, or destroy.
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Swami
Eggshell Walker
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 15,413
Loc: In the hen house
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: Tannis]
#625611 - 05/03/02 10:08 AM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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And just as a side note, I grew up with guns, and have one loaded and ready in my house......its for those in denial....who would break in to my house to attempt to steal, kill, or destroy.
*Sigh* As predicted. Believers do not really believe in the "friendliness" of the universe nor the watchful protection of God, but instead live in fear. For me to own a deadly weapon would be inconceivable.
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The proof is in the pudding.
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Anonymous
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: Swami]
#625628 - 05/03/02 10:43 AM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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Swami, doesn't a martial artist own deadly weapons in the form of his own body and the skills he has acquired?
Can't one be convinced of the overall goodness in his fellow man yet be realistic enough to understand that a certain percentage of people may have bad intentions (some all the time, some at just a certain point in their lives or some who just feel desperate)?
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Swami
Eggshell Walker
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 15,413
Loc: In the hen house
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: ]
#625640 - 05/03/02 11:06 AM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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My body is not a deadly weapon - LOL!
What about the point of creating your own reality, that you attract what your most fear?
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The proof is in the pudding.
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_JJ_
PsychedelicRevolutionary
Registered: 06/12/01
Posts: 369
Loc: NSW, Australia
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
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 Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: seeker]
#625694 - 05/03/02 12:18 PM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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I find this argument silly.. you will always have skeptics and you will always have 'true believers'.. they go hand in hand and you can't have a healthy society without both. If you only had skeptics then nothing would be doable.. if everybody placed their faith in true belief then we'd find ourselves out on a limb and quite probably destroy ourselves. Balance is best.
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Swami
Eggshell Walker
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 15,413
Loc: In the hen house
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: _JJ_]
#625879 - 05/03/02 04:20 PM (21 years, 5 months ago) |
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I understand balance, but do not understand your application of the principle in this discusion. Do we really need people willing to kill each other in the name of Allah / God?
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The proof is in the pudding.
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infidelGOD
illusion
Registered: 04/18/02
Posts: 3,040
Loc: there
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 Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: seeker]
#1610356 - 06/05/03 02:45 AM (20 years, 3 months ago) |
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Whats wrong with being a skeptic
bad things. TERRIBLE things!
that's what I hear
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Zero7a1
Leaving YourWasteland
Registered: 10/23/02
Posts: 3,594
Loc: Passing Cloud
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: seeker]
#1610838 - 06/05/03 08:20 AM (20 years, 3 months ago) |
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maybe one day... there will just be people. People who true believers of truth... and are skeptical of misinformation. Those who will live together and search for a common understanding. A unified human goal. Im not talking about a generic class of mongrals... or something. maybe a harmonius soceity of free individuals. you know like the different parts of a beatiful piece of music coming together.... but until then it seems its black and white. you vs me. Slap bitch soft motherfucker. I dared to ask questions... but i very rarely get responses. Im like a dirty paint pallete... with all the colors smeared together... someone could paint a picture for me Damnit! no no... its all good... you dont have to if you dont want to.
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What?
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Anonymous
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: Swami]
#1617189 - 06/07/03 07:52 PM (20 years, 3 months ago) |
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What you failed to mention is that after the guy grabbed your cock, it got hard.
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Adamist
ℚṲℰϟ✞ЇѺℵ ℛ∃Åʟḯ†У
 
Registered: 11/23/01
Posts: 10,211
Loc: Bloomington, IN
Last seen: 8 years, 6 months
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 Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: seeker]
#1617204 - 06/07/03 08:08 PM (20 years, 3 months ago) |
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I have learned to appreciate and even embrace skepticism.
Although sometimes skepticism can inadvertantly turn into fear... I think this is the skepticism that most people dislike; the mistrust and suspicion, which are born out of fear.
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 { { { ṧ◎ηḯ¢ αʟ¢ℌ℮мƴ } } }
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Swami
Eggshell Walker
Registered: 01/18/00
Posts: 15,413
Loc: In the hen house
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: Adamist]
#1617363 - 06/07/03 10:32 PM (20 years, 3 months ago) |
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the mistrust and suspicion, which are born out of fear.
The only fear in this skeptic is from die-hard believers interfering in my life (such as the W.O.D and the "moral right".
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The proof is in the pudding.
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Anonymous
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: Swami]
#1617391 - 06/07/03 10:54 PM (20 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
I am a skeptic and a Big Brother. I help people all the time - I still see no relationship between the two. As I stated previously, I have a loud bark here, but no bite. I have never struck another in anger (past grade school).
Swami
what matters most is love. love is the relationship you cant seem to see, you help people out of love, even if you dont call it that, its what it is. you have a loud bark but no bite because you are a peaceful person, you arent violent, you know that its wrong, you wouldnt want it done to you.
so even if you dont believe in anything, if you live a good life, you arent going to be disappointed 
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Sev
Astropath
Registered: 06/06/03
Posts: 1,426
Loc: NY
Last seen: 8 years, 11 months
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Re: Whats wrong with being a skeptic [Re: Swami]
#1617409 - 06/07/03 11:06 PM (20 years, 3 months ago) |
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There's nothing wrong with being a real skeptic, which is really something quite different from the assholes out there who call themselves skeptics, but who really are as biased in their worldview as any jesus freak out there.
I'm a skeptic. This means that I question reality and take little on faith.
I'm also something of a strange cross between a Catholic, Wiccan, and a chaos mage. I belive in the supernatural. But I don't believe anything until I've seen evidence enough to convince me of it, and I'll be skeptical of anything that sounds too good, even from 'trusted' sources.
Skepticism as a way to approach the world is a good thing. Skepticism, as in a hard-core evangelical atheist philosophy is soul-destroying.
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"Do we want the stars? We can have them. Can we borrow cups of fire from the sun? We can and must and light the world." --"On the Shoulders of Giants", Ray Bradbury
All of my posts are full of fiction and blatant lies.
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