After you read the linked article, try this one on for size and you'll come to learn how we're heading in the absolute wrong direction to raise the next generations in a way that will enable them to avoid the bias and problems raised by the boston.com piece.

There are fifty who can reason synthetically for one who can reason analytically.

When a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of deductions, it invariably proves to be capable of bearing some other interpretation.

It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.

- Sherlock Holmes, who would (if real) have a heart attack trying to discuss modern politics or religion.

Tatsuma: Holy shiat, this thread title, and Bevets makes an appeareance! This is like Channukah months earlier!

Seeing you here, pointing at Bevets, is like Mothra jumping out and saying, "Holy shiat! It's Godzilla!"

deciusmaximus: Hey, this is BULLSHIAT. Who says people on the internet NEVER change their minds? I mean, there was, you know, that guy, in 1994, on the AOL Pokemon forum who ADMITTED he was wrong and that Pikachu was totally more badass than Warturtle.

well, he later recanted but still ...

Bullshiat. Pokemon Red/Blue weren't released until 1996.

Also, it's "Wartortle".

//played way too much Pokemon as a kid

trappedspirit: No discussions allowed on the topics of rape, religion, politics or rape.

But... those are all the same thing!

Holy shiat, this thread title, and Tatsuma makes an appeareance! This is like the 4th of July, slightly late!

Cpl.D: But... those are all the same thing!

You said rape four times!?!??

This may be my first bookmark in a thread with no boobage potential

Facts are facts - until they aren't.

Beliefs are beliefs - until they change.

Sometimes those two share common ground. Many times, they don't.

Liberals/conservatives claim they both have a lock on matching beliefs with facts - neither actually do --- because both facts and beliefs are subject to change.

Tatsuma: halfof33: Holy shiat, this thread title, and Tatsuma makes an appeareance! This is like the 4th of July, slightly late!

This would be funnier if I never changed my mind, or admitted I was wrong when presented with contradicting facts, though

It would be way funnier if it was printed on a t-shirt that was being worn by a clown!

/a crying clown, wearing no pants, who was also a lady clown.
//I'll be in my bunk

VendorXeno: If you don't regularly and honestly consider your beliefs from the point of view that they're wrong, then you're destined to be ignorant. The most important thing any thinking person can do is be their own devil's advocate.

When I hear people say "people never change", I can't help but laugh. Sure, if you are a willfully ignorant narcissist you will never change.

I look at my beliefs at 25 vs. now and I barely recognize myself, so much has changed. I expect to be able to say the same thing 20 years from now.

And that's why "atheism" isn't a religion. If you show any reasonable atheist irrefutable evidence of a god, s/he'll not be an atheist any more.

/still waiting.

Wet Toilette Paper: 2wolves: Some folks just love fallacies because change is evil.

And they use anecdotes because they're right!

And you know the old economics joke, right?

What do you call a collection of anecdotes?

Data!

Ahahahahahahahaha. But seriously, I still find that to be a hilarious joke.

novaraz: And that's why "atheism" isn't a religion. If you show any reasonable atheist irrefutable evidence of a god, s/he'll not be an atheist any more.

/still waiting.

So people who don't want to change their minds seldom change their minds when asked to do so.......amazing!

meat0918

Find the other four elements and let's see what happens!

Wasn't this posted a day or two ago?

abb3w
Un bon mot ne prouve rien. - François-Marie Arouet d'Voltaire


but they're clever and fun!

"Convictions are a greater threat to truth than lies could ever be."

M-G: Wasn't this posted a day or two ago?

This.

genner: So people who don't want to change their minds seldom change their minds when asked to do so.......amazing!

That Facebook example in the comic is not a tautology

halfof33: genner: So people who don't want to change their minds seldom change their minds when asked to do so.......amazing!

That Facebook example in the comic is not a tautology

....and yet xkcd fans will argue that point to the death.

abb3w
Un bon mot ne prouve rien. - François-Marie Arouet d'Voltaire


I always get a kick out this when I see it quoted here without a hint of the irony in that quote. Voltaire was the undisputed champion of the "bon mot" otherwise know as the "epigram" until Oscar Wilde came onto the scene a century later and gave him a run for his money.

Si Dieu nous a faits à son image, nous le lui avons bien rendu.

If God has made us in his image, we have returned him the favor.

Il est encore plus facile de juger de l'esprit d'un homme par ses questions que par ses réponses.

It is easier to judge the mind of a man by his questions rather than his answers.

Voltaire

M-G: Wasn't this posted a day or two ago?

I believe so.

abb3w: deciusmaximus: I always get a kick out this when I see it quoted here without a hint of the irony in that quote.

The historical irony in the quote is a bit drowned by the irony of using a witty quote about witty quotes as an argument against someone who argues in quotes.

Bevets: Richard Lewontin

Revolutionized evolutionary theory. His criticism of Darwinian-style evolution is that it was too much like religious dogma.

Bevets: ~ Roger Lewin

Despite early criticisms of evolutionary biologists for being too protective of their beliefs (which can be traced back to Darwin's chief rival Richard Owen), Roger Lewin has conceded that the evolutionary evidence we have now is the current best explanation for the diversity of life on earth. On the other hand, he is a good check on scientists getting too dogmatic, a check that religion not only doesn't have and doesn't need, but one which would destroy religion as we know it if one were implemented.

Bevets:

IlGreven:

Bevets: Richard Lewontin

Revolutionized evolutionary theory. His criticism of Darwinian-style evolution is that it was too much like religious dogma.

Bevets: Roger Lewin

Despite early criticisms of evolutionary biologists for being too protective of their beliefs (which can be traced back to Darwin's chief rival Richard Owen), Roger Lewin has conceded that the evolutionary evidence we have now is the current best explanation for the diversity of life on earth. On the other hand, he is a good check on scientists getting too dogmatic, a check that religion not only doesn't have and doesn't need, but one which would destroy religion as we know it if one were implemented.

You seem to miss the point.

That's good; I don't want to be impaled on your quote-mining equipment.

Cookbook's Anarchist: I don't get why people latch onto their ideas like they'll perish if any one is proven false

This is exactly the dynamic at play. That they WILL perish if their ideas or beliefs are proven false.

Seriously, though, I think it's way past time for the god to get her black ass down here and press the reset button.

"People are morons."

M-G: Wasn't this posted a day or two ago?

Yes. Yes it was.

I quote the awesome, always-full-of-win Lewis Black:

'Whenever someone says they believe the earth was created in 7 days, I grab a fossil and say, "Fossil!" And if they keep talking, I throw it just over their heads.'

I have close friends who are intelligent in every other way I can think of, who really believe that Earth was created only about 5000 or 6000 years ago (and in 7 days, no less!) and that every bit of what they call "so-called scientific evidence" is either made up out of nowhere or can be easily fit into the "Earth in 7 days" context. And, there's no telling these people otherwise, no matter the massive amount of material you present to support your belief. I just find that so soul-crushingly sad.

Fleet: The only reason I'm commenting is to congratulate subby for properly using "couldn't care less".

Except "I could care less" IS correct usage. It's sarcasm, you twit.

Now go and ignore my fact.

novaraz: And that's why "atheism" isn't a religion. If you show any reasonable atheist irrefutable evidence of a god, s/he'll not be an atheist any more.

/still waiting.

Actually, I seriously doubt that.

If Jesus came down on a chariot of fire, healed cripples, raised the dead, walked on water, and then turned a loaf of bread into enough food to feed 10,000 people, my guess is, 90% of the people who were atheists the day before would still be atheists the next day. They'd be busily blogging about how it was all a trick.

Atheists aren't bad people, but they aren't any better than anyone else, either.

Man who worship World Of Warcraft smell like spoiled chicken.

I've long considered one of the key signs of an intelligent person is a willingness to change their mind when presented with another point of view, new evidence etc.

It's remarkable how hard it is for some people to admit "I've chaneged my mind on that issue".

cwolf20: Man who worship World Of Warcraft smell like spoiled chicken.

"at least I have chicken".
- Leeeroooyy Jennkinnnnsss