Hortensia

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Posts by Hortensia

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  47

  Hi Guys, I'm new here...

  by Mikado in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  been lurking for years, but couldn't log on.

  for some reason, my email spam filter is inaccessable, and ended up having to open another account, simply to become a member... wonder how many others have had a similar problem.. its been an eye opener reading everyones life experiences, often so similar.. i was almost a born in, with a hardcore family.

  abusive stepfather who was one of the original jws in the area, so much so, that it was called the xxxxx family religion.... been out for 25 years, am glad every day for that!!.

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  Hortensia

  Hi Mikado, nice to have you here!
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  219

  An important difference between atheists and true believers

  by Hortensia in

  1. social
  2. current

  true believers, whether christian, muslim or whatever, want to convert you, they want you to believe what they do, and they're willing to go to extremes to make it happen.

  atheists don't really care what you believe, and don't go out of their way to convert someone.. http://ow.ly/vn1jz an example of what believers in power do to suppress any difference in thought.

  http://ow.ly/vraeo an example of why believers want to suppress different ideas (because they can't win in a fair fight, that's why).

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  Hortensia

  While I have no problem and enjoy decontrusting the idiocy of the WBTS claims to absolute truth, I do not agree that the same approach should be adopted for mainstream religions.

  Why not? Those religions affect our daily lives, by getting laws passed to support their dogma, for instance, and by insisting on preferential treatment such as tax exemption. If it affects us, we have a right to challenge it.

  I reread my original post and don't see it as "holier than thou," more just a reflection of my impatience with people who live their lives by patently false fairy tales, and who insist on sharing those fairy tales with me. I'm especially impatient with the ones who expect me to believe the way they do, with absolutely no evidence to support their beliefs.

  Still, this has been an interesting discussion.
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  219

  An important difference between atheists and true believers

  by Hortensia in

  1. social
  2. current

  true believers, whether christian, muslim or whatever, want to convert you, they want you to believe what they do, and they're willing to go to extremes to make it happen.

  atheists don't really care what you believe, and don't go out of their way to convert someone.. http://ow.ly/vn1jz an example of what believers in power do to suppress any difference in thought.

  http://ow.ly/vraeo an example of why believers want to suppress different ideas (because they can't win in a fair fight, that's why).

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  Hortensia

  Hortensia - you seem to be an ultra-rationalist to the point that it is almost an ideology.

  Not sure what that means exactly. I hope I'm a rationalist, I know I'm mostly pragmatic and a realist. I like learning new stuff as much as possible, but I've gotten to an age and level of experience that makes me question everything. I want to know why you believe something, what is the evidence that convinces you. "I believe" isn't evidence, faith isn't evidence, it's just wishful thinking.

  It's funny that a thread I started really as a bit of whining has lasted several days and gotten so many comments.
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  40

  Ladies - how often should you wash your hair??

  by quellycatface in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've cut my hair washing from every 2 days to every 4 days and this week, i've left it 7 days.

  it's been growing much better and is in great condition!

  any tips for growing your hair lush and lovely?.

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  Hortensia

  One advantage of washing your hair every other day instead of every day is that you cut your exposure to chemicals in shampoos by 50%. Check out some of those ingredients on the Environmental Working Group's website: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
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  219

  An important difference between atheists and true believers

  by Hortensia in

  1. social
  2. current

  true believers, whether christian, muslim or whatever, want to convert you, they want you to believe what they do, and they're willing to go to extremes to make it happen.

  atheists don't really care what you believe, and don't go out of their way to convert someone.. http://ow.ly/vn1jz an example of what believers in power do to suppress any difference in thought.

  http://ow.ly/vraeo an example of why believers want to suppress different ideas (because they can't win in a fair fight, that's why).

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  Hortensia

  so, was my post rude or just an honest report of my feelings?

  I see everyone started playing their tapes. Conversation on this forum is often not much different than conversation with some of the whackdoodles who live around here and believe there are invisible doorways that gypsies use to escape the police. A favorite comment of many around here is, "well, that's just YOUR reality. I have my own reality." WTF? How can you have any discussion with folks who believe reality isn't real? They are enchanted with their ideas, which is OK, but living as though those fantasies are in fact true makes them a bit crazy. Lots of people are enchanted with their religious ideas, too, but they don't seem to care whether the foundation is real or can be proven.

  The only one who challenged what I said in an interesting way was Laika.

  I don't much care what other people believe. I just don't want to listen to it very much.
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  219

  An important difference between atheists and true believers

  by Hortensia in

  1. social
  2. current

  true believers, whether christian, muslim or whatever, want to convert you, they want you to believe what they do, and they're willing to go to extremes to make it happen.

  atheists don't really care what you believe, and don't go out of their way to convert someone.. http://ow.ly/vn1jz an example of what believers in power do to suppress any difference in thought.

  http://ow.ly/vraeo an example of why believers want to suppress different ideas (because they can't win in a fair fight, that's why).

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  Hortensia

  I describe myself as a "non-practicing atheist". It's an atheist KOAN; dig it?

  I dig it!

  Nicolau, very funny!

  Not so cranky today, have recovered from overexposure to fairy tales.
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  266

  There Was No First Human

  by cofty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this excellent 4 minute video will help to clear up a few common misunderstandings regarding evolution.. ....

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  Hortensia

  thanks cofty -- nice video, very helpful
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  30

  what is the answer to the old question about the immovable object and the irresistible force?

  by Hortensia in

  1. social
  2. current

  i know isaac asimov's answer, which makes sense to me.

  anyone else have any answer to the question about what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?.

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  Hortensia

  well, that went weird pretty fast
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  30

  what is the answer to the old question about the immovable object and the irresistible force?

  by Hortensia in

  1. social
  2. current

  i know isaac asimov's answer, which makes sense to me.

  anyone else have any answer to the question about what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?.

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  Hortensia

  I know Isaac Asimov's answer, which makes sense to me. Anyone else have any answer to the question about what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?
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  219

  An important difference between atheists and true believers

  by Hortensia in

  1. social
  2. current

  true believers, whether christian, muslim or whatever, want to convert you, they want you to believe what they do, and they're willing to go to extremes to make it happen.

  atheists don't really care what you believe, and don't go out of their way to convert someone.. http://ow.ly/vn1jz an example of what believers in power do to suppress any difference in thought.

  http://ow.ly/vraeo an example of why believers want to suppress different ideas (because they can't win in a fair fight, that's why).

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  Hortensia

  well, OK, I was generalizing, I know that there are some religious people who are not out to convert everyone. Over-reaction due to the company I keep around here!

  I brought up the guy in the middle east who says atheists are terrorists. I thought someone would bring up chairman Mao who thought ministers were terrorists, or at least spies for western governments. I guess I'll have to debate with myself, eh?

  I have a really low threshhold for bullshit, unfortunately, and tend to get cranky when exposed to too much of it. People who believe fairy tales are true. Argh.

  I like the point that atheists have had to give up some comfort in order to face reality. It's true. Reality includes each person's demise, life isn't forever. It's a sad truth, but one we can face and then we can get on with enjoying life as much as possible.