Posts by DJS

291

Evolution is a Fact #1 - Protein Functional Redundancy

by cofty in

i intend for this to be one of a series of bite-sized ops on the evidence for evolution.. introduction to dna genes are sequences of dna made up of words (codons) each of which are three letters (bases) long.

there are only four letters in the genetic alphabet (acg&t) each word or codon is the recipe for one amino acid.

there are 20 different amino acids in living organisms.

DJS

sowhatnow,

I can't wrap my tiny brain around a lot of science either, such as quantum physics, some of the minutia associated with evolution and what's up with girls, for examples. Thankfully there are a lot of very smart people engaged in such studies, however, and we can learn from them.

What you can do My Highness of Clean, is closely evaluate your feelings and beliefs about such topics, especially religion. To swallow the entire religious manifesto hook, line and sinker means that you are tied with steel cables to your most basic human factor. Your emotions. As Fraulein Maria said (sang?). Let's start at the very beginning. That's a very good place to start.

Even better: Decide today that you will live an evidence based life. You won't regret it. The rest will take care of itself.

291

Evolution is a Fact #1 - Protein Functional Redundancy

by cofty in

i intend for this to be one of a series of bite-sized ops on the evidence for evolution.. introduction to dna genes are sequences of dna made up of words (codons) each of which are three letters (bases) long.

there are only four letters in the genetic alphabet (acg&t) each word or codon is the recipe for one amino acid.

there are 20 different amino acids in living organisms.

DJS

SSC and Cofty,

You each point out the primary issues with this site and between the religious and the non-religious in general, regardless of the topic. The only thing required for sentient (barely?) beings to believe is to feel. For thousands of years religions have made quick converts from the illiterate and uneducated by giving them a bowl of rice, a 'miracle' or a promise of a paradise wherein all of their problems will be gone.

Whatever thinking or knowledge the religious typically consider is confirmationally biased with one intention - to maintain and confirm those feelings and beliefs. The highest rung on our evolutionary ladder is one they avoid at all cost; that rung is to consider the full breadth, depth and width of our knowledge on a particular subject and scientifically or empirically test that knowledge to see if it stands up to scrutiny.

It is too scary for them, as they would rather resort to the only tools they have to respond to such knowledge, and that is almost always name calling or red herring arguments and a myriad of other debating tactics employed by those who have no evidence, no facts and who cannot refute the evidence and facts presented.

Like junkies, they are addicted to their emotions and they don't even know it. Religion and confirmation bias are two of the most damaging aspects of our species.

76

What is your relationship with ALCOHOL?

by nicolaou in

here in the uk new drinking guidelines have been issued which suggest "no more than 14 units a week - equivalent to six pints of beer or seven glasses of wine.".

another piece of the advice which is getting a lot of attention is that "if people drink, it should be moderately over three or more days and that some days should be alcohol-free.".

already people are making cries of "nanny state!

DJS

Nicolau,

Like many, I have a family and extended family with drug and alcohol dependency and abuse problems. It has caused great strife in their lives and the lives of their families. In addition, the US government has spent a lot of $ on drying some of them out (ultimately to no avail), confining them (again, to no avail), and subsidizing the health care costs associated with the various ailments and issues that drug and alcohol abuse can cause, as well as other benefits related to broken families (food assistance, etc.). No doubt the UK government has done the same.

Just a bit of research reveals the costs to society for alcohol abuse and dependence. To think that a responsible government wouldn't issue guidelines, etc. is ridiculous. Those who don't control themselves will usually be controlled by someone else.

39

Hello, I'm new here too!

by redpilltwice in

jw
friends

hi everybody, 1st post here.

20 years jw, elder for 6 years, regular pioneer for 3 years, have always been following the 2012 candace conti abuse case with much interest, especially since the case suddenly disappeared from www.watchtower.com's news section (thanks brother j. r. brown, office of public information, because it led me to "worldly" websites for more info), leading to more and more dissatisfaction , leading to jwfacts, jwsurvey, ad1914, wtdocuments etc., leading to my awakening about 4 months ago, now fading faster and faster to zero meetings and zero field service...and you know what?

it feels good!.

DJS

Welcome 2 red pills. Excellent.

6

Slim nd Cofty are both right.....

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

i haven't had anything to contribute for a while so i have been lurking, which is a pleasant pastime.. anyway i have really enjoyd slimboyfats way of thinking, and i don't think such thinking needs discharge from the mental asylum.

i guess i am out of ammunition to argue with coftys may i say more rational thinking.. so whilst i find it difficult to refute what cofty says, i also find slimboyfats thinking refreshing, and that's why i say they are both right.

maybe a better explanation would be i once worshipped an organisation which was referred to as " mother" and it wrapped me up in baby diapers.. as far as i am concerned both slim and cofty are independent thinkers, no longer controlled by the insane thinking and rhetoric of other people.

DJS

The Rebel,

Nice OP. Thanks.

47

Hello, this is my first post

by noralee in

jw
friends

hello, this is my first post, i would like to introduce myself and say thank you to every one on this forum, you have been a lifeline to me these last few years.. i had been a jw for 30 years when i walked away a few years ago disgusted by the treatment victims of child abuse, domestic abuse and rape receive from the wtbts.. at first i thought it was a local problem, elders personal opinions, the way they handled the situations, imperfect men etc., until i checked out jehovahs witnesses and child abuse/domestic abuse online.

that's when i realized they had the same modus operandi worldwide.

that led me here, tbuo this forum, and then to crisis of conscience, jw facts, watchtower documents, jw survey, old watchtower literature and cd s, reading a couple of steve hassans books, and more recently exiting the jw cult.. the feelings of shock, betrayal, anger at the wtbts, angry with myself for being so gullible, depression, reflection, loneliness, have taken their toll.

DJS

Welcome noralee

51

Your Opinion Pleeease

by thankyou in

jw girl non-jw guy.

tenuous boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.

what is more likely to strengthen a relationship?.

DJS

Ouchie

I mean, Ouch.

So mom is limiting your internet access again, huh Wire Rider? You are still forgetting to delete butt f**k from your browser history, aren't you. Moms are like that.

In addition to world class analysis that I asked but you have yet to refute or even address because you can't, I have creatively provided:

A reference to a Brad Pitt/Edward Norton movie

A reference to a Madonna movie

Two references as to the location in the brain where scientists believe obsessions reside and where I am currently living rent free in yours. I would like to paint and put up some art; is that OK?

A not so veiled reference to the way you are acting, gurlfriend

An extremely creative reference to you being an alter ego (I know, this is doubling the Fight Club reference but come on! This is gold, dude)

An urban slang reference to slices of bread that signifies destruction (can you find it??)

And you have responded with off the shelf, common and uninspired name calling. This is my last response to you on this, out of respect for thankyou (who I think is probably a very nice person) and that you present absolutely no challenge and have no arrows in your intellectual quiver. You will have the last word; at least be creative.

62

Umbertoecho here.

by umbertoecho in

hello people.. i'm tired and a bit sick at the moment but i can't let anyone think that this is going to go away.... i am able to tell you a few things in order to prevent any confusion in the minds of those who are thinking that nothing will come of this arc;that nothing will effect the wtbts in america and other places.. i have been there and given my testimony.

helen milroy and her assistants were there along with another group of people who are there to lend assistance if you crack up at any time during or after the hearing.

i did not crack up but can see how this happens.. security is tight and anonymity is sacred to them as they want to protect all who come forward.

DJS

Umbertoecho,

I hope you get the justice you deserve. Thank you for your courage; what you are doing will likely help people all around the globe, in ways that we can't begin to know at the moment.

75

Have we become what we despise so much?

by Tenacious in

the majority of members who tend to join this forum have been hurt possibly even traumatized sometimes to the point of wanting to end their lives.

upon joining the forum, new members are welcomed with open arms, welcome messages start pouring in, "likes" are freely given, a false sense of security is promoted where a member is free to speak his mind without having to worry about the wt gestapo.

again, similar to how potential converts are welcomed and "love bombed" upon entering a kh for the first time.

DJS

Sowhatnow,

I am your biggest fan. We all learn from one another; the smart ones amongst us learn quietly and silently. And from others' mistakes.

Before coming on this site, I learned valuable lessons from what had trapped me in the Dark Tower. Teaching at two colleges helped solidify that; say something biased or not supported in class and you will hear about it immediately from students and perhaps later from administration. I exhausted gallons of red ink on students' papers that were replete with opinions, certititudes and definitive statements which were unsupported by empirical data. The problem is widespread.

Very shortly after joining this wonderful site (thank you Simon), I learned another valuable lesson; don't tug on Cofty's cape.

75

Have we become what we despise so much?

by Tenacious in

the majority of members who tend to join this forum have been hurt possibly even traumatized sometimes to the point of wanting to end their lives.

upon joining the forum, new members are welcomed with open arms, welcome messages start pouring in, "likes" are freely given, a false sense of security is promoted where a member is free to speak his mind without having to worry about the wt gestapo.

again, similar to how potential converts are welcomed and "love bombed" upon entering a kh for the first time.

DJS

Tenacious,

This is an example of a specious OP; it sounds good on the surface but when analyzed it doesn't hold up. First of all, the walking wounded (and we were all like that) ARE treated with amazing kindness and deference when they arrive and for as long as they show they need such tenderness.

I have not seen anyone do otherwise. That is far different than someone who begins either preaching and proselytizing to us or who attempts to influence everyone with their hysterical, emotional, erroneous or delusional opinions over matters they typically know absolutely nothing about, other than what they have read on their biased sites or have heard from their cherished former playboy bunny (I'm not knocking that as I used to work for them, protecting people such as Ms. Mcarthy) or talking FoxNews head.

There shouldn't be ANY place for that on this site; it is what we escaped from. Everyone of us should respect debating protocols, the topic, ourselves, the other posters and foremost the lurkers amongst us to make sure we do not intentionally and narcissistically or egotistically spread our personal infection.

Respectfully present such biased views as your opinion, one open for discussion and alternate views. That is the appropriate thing to do. Otherwise, you get what you deserve.