Posts by DJS

18

DON'T PANIC — Hans Rosling showing the facts about population

by cantleave in

an incredible lecture that uses statistics to show that the world is much better than many people think.. the challenge of population explosion - has been solved.. the challenge of extreme poverty is within our grasp.. the challenge of climate change - well that's something we need to focus on,,,,,,,,, take an hour watch this, it dispels the doom and gloom preached by many.

.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fack2knc08e.

DJS

TOH,

I'm not certain what it is you are trying to say, but it comes across as irrational knee jerk cherry picking responses to the anomalous and the abhorrent. Kinda like someone who won't fly because when jets crash people die, even though flying is the safest form of transportation. Or the irrational responses to vaccinations by some, even though vaccinations are the most studied issue in history and there has been no linkage from vaccines to the types of hysterical accusations by Jenny McArthy and the other You Tube types. Bad things sometimes happen. Overall, the planet is improving by almost every important standard or measure. If that isn't what you are trying to say please say it more succinctly.

56

Can the world condition be worse than this?

by abiather in

the innocent civilians being attacked is the norm of the day.

attacking hospitals too are happening frequently.

now schools being attacked is becoming a regular affair (last of its kind massacred 150 children in peshawar on december 16, 2014)..

DJS

Abiathar,

I'm sorry the human race has harmed you so. We are a pathetic species in many ways, it is true. But we are also capable of wonderful things, and we seem to be getting more wonderful with each passing year. Whatever gets you through the night, is alright. Or, put another way that you might better understand, from the bible: "One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment."

56

Can the world condition be worse than this?

by abiather in

the innocent civilians being attacked is the norm of the day.

attacking hospitals too are happening frequently.

now schools being attacked is becoming a regular affair (last of its kind massacred 150 children in peshawar on december 16, 2014)..

DJS

Cherry picking atrocities is all Abiather, the Dark Lords and the other End-of-Timers can do these days to keep the rank and file rank. And filed. The evidence that the world is improving is overwhelming. Focusing on the anomalies and the abhorrent is the only strategy they have.

It's similar to focusing on incidents such as Sandy Hook Elementary as being a sign of the end while ignoring the fact that crime of nearly every type has been steadily decreasing for decades.

18

DON'T PANIC — Hans Rosling showing the facts about population

by cantleave in

an incredible lecture that uses statistics to show that the world is much better than many people think.. the challenge of population explosion - has been solved.. the challenge of extreme poverty is within our grasp.. the challenge of climate change - well that's something we need to focus on,,,,,,,,, take an hour watch this, it dispels the doom and gloom preached by many.

.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fack2knc08e.

DJS

Thanks Cantleave,

Priceless gem for Mr. Rosling: "The problem is not lack of knowledge it's preconceived ideas".

Hans Rosling illustrates what the data has clearly shown for decades. Improving life expectancies with access to health care and improved infrastructure such as water/wastewater systems, improving quality of life with a combination of private/public support in jobs and social safety nets and most importantly, improving education and access to education solves a lot of entrenched problems such as poverty, childbirth rates, crime, etc.

Imagine that.

Priceless gem from Mr. Kenny: Increased beer consumption is a sign of better times.

12

Stephen Fry on God: What would you say to him if he did exist?

by Simon in

great answer to a stupid question - what would you say if you're wrong, if god does exist and you go to meet him when you die?.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwnysqo.

DJS

I would tell the big girl two things:

1. You owe me an explanation; and

2. You owe me and everyone else an apology

Then I would tell her to fix all of the problems she caused or to take her best shot.

Bitch.

8

Great answer by a great intellect!

by lurkernomore in

i found his logic and succinct explanation of his position fantastic.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwnysqo.

.

DJS

And Kate,

I have the people who make certificates on speed dial. Just say the word and I will order it.

8

Great answer by a great intellect!

by lurkernomore in

i found his logic and succinct explanation of his position fantastic.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwnysqo.

.

DJS

Thanks Lurkernomore. Lots of us feel the same way.

70

Be nice to theists - they are victims of their genes

by cofty in

identical twin studies show there is a strong inheritable component to religiosity.

thomas bouchard studied identical and fraternal twins raised apart and tested them on religious attitudes.. the correlation for the former turned out to be 62% compared to just 2% for the latter.

his colleague.

DJS

Another example:

Consider Maslow's hierarchy and the Myers Briggs Personalty Type Indicator. There are 4 major personality types, and Guardians make up almost half of the total. Artisans and Idealists? Not so much. That is exactly what would be predicted when you consider the struggles to pass along DNA that have existed for 100,000 years. Those with the personality type to protect themselves and their offspring, and excel at safety/security/food (the bottom rungs of Maslow's hierarchy) would be the 'fittest' in the early parts of the homo-sapien journey (and get the girls).

Civilization likely had to be more firmly stablished before idealists and artisans, who sit at the top of Maslow's pyramid in the self-actualization categories, could flourish - and live long enough to pass along their DNA (and get the girls).

70

Be nice to theists - they are victims of their genes

by cofty in

identical twin studies show there is a strong inheritable component to religiosity.

thomas bouchard studied identical and fraternal twins raised apart and tested them on religious attitudes.. the correlation for the former turned out to be 62% compared to just 2% for the latter.

his colleague.

DJS

An example: The poison used to kill cockroaches worked effectively for a while. It was laced with sugar to make it more appealing to the cockroaches. The cockroaches who did not like sugar didn't eat it; the ones that liked sugar, the majority, did and died.

After a few generations, in cockroach land that's a short time period, the majority of cockroaches had the gene for an aversion to sugar and the poison didn't work because they wouldn't eat it.

It would be nice to think that the cockroaches talked with each other, sent out bulletins, talked with each other on their tiny cell phones, etc. to avoid the damned sugar, but the reality of it is the 'fittest' cockroaches, in this instance those with the fairly rare aversion to sugar, survived, and the others died.

I sometimes use the same expressions about adapting, but I don't mean it in the same context.

46

How did you get through mind numbing meetings?

by minimus in

jw
friends

as an elder, i used to find a legitimate reason to wander.

DJS

Bull Sh** Bingo is awesome! I'm only pis**d that I didn't think of it!! And Rebel8, girl you rock. We can see why you picked your screen name.

One thing I noticed during my Borgian days: There is a huge difference between being bored, which I was for most of the years within the cult, and reaching the point where you know it is BS and that the FDS/GB are evil, dark hearted, control freaks. The meetings for me, once I reached this point, became surreal. Every control related comment, and there are always many at any cult meeting, felt like a knife in my brain.