- zilant
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Member for 13 years, 8 months, and 30 days
Last active Tue, May, 31 2016 00:37:50
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Benny84 posted a message on [[RTR]] Blistercoil Weird (Nerimon Preview)Who IS this unlikeable, ignorant prick anyway?Posted in: The Rumor Mill -
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Oldaughd posted a message on Religious TolerancePosted in: ReligionQuote from LogicXNonsense; you can't separate religion from culture. It takes divisive dogma to cause most of the violence, war etc. we have seen throughout history. Many times this dogma is from religion.
For example, try to claim that gays would not be persecuted without Christianity. Well, I think that for persecution like this you need a dogma letting you believe that another group is inferior. If Christianity weren't around it would just be some other dogmatic faith system. So religion is inextricably tied with bigotry and the likes. In many cases bigotry would not exist without religion to prop it up. And in other cases strict adherence to fundamentalist dogma is the root cause of the bigotry.
So any way you cut it, religion is the cause of much evil in the world.
I felt the same way for a long time. But Dawkins more or less changed my mind. It is a fact that as mammals we instinctively dislike other animals that look different than us (on an instinctive level).
Now don't go getting all riled up over that comment, be sure I don't mean it a way that should upset you, so let me explain. It's not at the front of our mind as a hatefully emotion. It's not even really "dislike" but "less comfortable" than being around people that you are used to. These people typically look like you do for the most part. And I would think it's probably only concerning animals that pose a threat (like other humans).
Our brains evolved but many of our base instincts are still quite strong. I think this is why racism and biography exist. We don't all behave like this because our intelligence allows us morals and rational that other animals don't necessarily have.
Anyway, it goes to the point that at one time religion WAS the culture of people. I think now religion rides on the coat tales of cultural evolution. Problems begin when the cultural norms change, and the religion doesn't. If you could think of religion as a sentient being, then it would have a very strong will to live, but one of it's core principles is to never change. I believe this is why religions die, or dwindle to insignificant numbers (does this remind you of anything?).
I suppose I could agree that some wars have been fought in this day and age (or the recent past, <500 years) because of religion's tendency to be warlike, and it's unwillingness to change to fit the times (combined with how widespread it is). Or...maybe war is (independent of religion) still too widely accepted and our civilization hasn't had enough time to evolve past it. Perhaps it's a little of both. Opinions wanted...
Originally Posted by bakgat
Oh boy are we going to this again. The genocide claim. You would have made a good communist pal regurgitating atheist propaganda like that. Is genocide now the deciding factor in discerning truth because if that is true atheism is the least true of all the world views.
Oh yes and communist Russia and China really are the atheist utopias you all where hoping for. If you are wondering I was snorting derisively when I was typing this.
Sigh. OK, I'll explain this again. Communist societies are not secular societies. They are not communists because they mandate atheism, it's the other way around. Communism is a totalitarian form of dictatorship that requires it's citizens to be atheists. I surely hope you can see the difference. It's kind of like theocracies dictating that you must be one religion or another or face persecution.
Stalin wasn't trying to just eliminate the idea of God, he wanted to BE God to his nation. He usurped the role of God. He wanted to be viewed with reverence. Many people in Russia thought, or wished, that Lenin had supernatural powers. The Atheist museum had stained glass windows and felt like a church. Stalin didn't try to kill religion, he tried to kill his competition. Perhaps this is why communism and Theocracies operate in nearly the SAME WAY.
I see virtually no difference between the way Russian communists acted toward non-Russians than the way enemy theocracies act toward each other. War, genocide, and the complete subjugation of the people.
There are still large areas of Russia that are non-religious. I think that's because they got to see the face God, and how he would act as described in the bible (obviously I don't mean Stalin acted with the same particulars as God did in the OT, but in general as a supreme and unforgiving dictator).
Do you really think I'm obligated to identify with communism because I'm an atheist? You do realize most of Russia was religious before communism right? I'd be very interested to see how defectors from North Korea take the idea of a all powerful God that can smite you down at a whim. -
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Raver posted a message on Religious TolerancePosted in: ReligionQuote from bakgatOh boy are we going to this again. The genocide claim. You would have made a good communist pal regurgitating atheist propaganda like that. Is genocide now the deciding factor in discerning truth because if that is true atheism is the least true of all the world views.
Oh yes and communist Russia and China really are the atheist utopias you all where hoping for. If you are wondering I was snorting derisively when I was typing this.
I believe what the claim was that Religion had caused much of the problems in this world from start to now. Yes we know of Atheists that went on rampages doing things that were considered unethical/immoral/straight up bad.
But I believe that in perspective, comparing the amount of atrocities committed in the name of religion compared to the amount of atrocities committed with no religious motivation whatsoever. The odds are that the former will overshadow the latter. -
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atlas_hugged posted a message on Black/Red Dealing with Enchantments.Sometimes it's easier to just kill the opponent than to deal with their boardstate as well. Think of Hatred as reading: Pay a ton of life: Exile all cards target player owns.Posted in: Commander (EDH) -
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motleyslayer posted a message on There's always one band...to be honest, I tend to avoid Metallica in general, except for maybe Kill em All or Ride Lightning but Testament is greatPosted in: Entertainment Archive
I hate Christian rock/metal at all, especially Christian metal -
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Zaphrasz posted a message on Religion: Good, bad, or neutral?Bad for both the individual and society because it causes harm.Posted in: Religion
This harm comes from the fact that religion teaches things that aren't true, and often encourages a person to both not think critically and consider this virtuous. -
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IcecreamMan80 posted a message on so called "free thinkers" hypocrisy?Posted in: ReligionQuote from bakgatLike atheist have the right to speak for science. Rather pretentious how atheism is being marketed as the religion of science in the popular media. Also that is Scientism for you, but as many Christians have noted scientism is a self defeating epistemology.
Yeah if you do any type of inquiry already convinced of the subject falsity then it defeats the purpose of discerning truth. It just becomes a exercise in futility. A lot of atheism on the internet boils down to propaganda. It is actually quiet hard to find anything of real substance about why we should believe that their is no God. So much of Pop atheism relies on emotional attacks to win their case.
If you do any type of serious inquiry into a religion already seeking to find spiritual connections then it's just self-satisfaction.
This is why debating some theists becomes an excercise in futility. Their mind was made up already, then the confirmation bias sets in, followed by anecdotal evidence that reinforces their disposition and causes them to see meaning in otherwise meaningless coincidences. You end up with someone so self indoctrinated you can never sway them to think reasonably.
Take for instance:
The Illiad/Odyssey/Tragedies are not proof of Zeus. They are not even evidence of Zeus, or Apollo, or Prince Hector, or the Elysian Fields. These stories are only evidence that ancient superstitious greeks can write poems, paint pottery, and sculpt statues.
The Hieroglyphs are not proof of RA. They are not even evidence of RA, or Osiris, or Enubis, or the Underworld. These carvings are only evidence that ancient superstitious egyptions can chisel markings into stone very very well.
The Bible/Torah/Quran are not proof of the Abrahamic God (YHWH). It is not even evidence of God, or heaven, or an afterlife, or the divinity of a popular Jewish Carpenter. These books are only evidence that ancient superstitious hebrews can write on parchment, and scrolls, and survive persecution.
They all have something in comon. They are all stories written by fallible human beings, dreaming of explanations for a world they don't understand. They fear the gaps in knowledge, and so fill them with extraordinary tales. Not ONE religion ever actually produced the evidence for their god(s).
All believers, stretching as far back as history can remember merely take someone else's word for it.
I even believe in a historical Jesus. The existence of a Jewish Carpenter turned Motivational Speaker doesn't prove God. Not to mention Jesus was already born into Judaism, his core beliefs were preconstructed for him, all he had to do was be charismatic.
Is their a God(s)?? I have no idea honestly, but the previous stories handed down for thousands of years hold no water, they lack veracity when scrutinized, and worst of all, they are constantly molded and changed to fit whatever agenda or world view believers need them to fit into.
Those in power have always used such writtings, and built-in customer base to further their own prosperity. Religion is a billions of dollars anually industry, tax free, and so powerful they can sway governments, change public policies, and worse, hide their pedo's from justice.
All that being said - Bakgat, do YOU have ANY shred of actual evidence that god(s) exist? Any at all? Any kind of repeatable, verifiable, testable evidence, some sort of hypothesis that I can use to validate your claim even just a LITTLE TINY BITSY BIT, so that I might believe in God, and not burn in hell, or something. -
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dcartist posted a message on Dogfight, aka ugly date contest. Not funny to me. Funny to you?Posted in: Talk and Entertainment
Your friends sound like terrible people.Quote from RivaltunaWhile I would never do this myself (out of taking pride in not ever picking an ugly mate) I laughed a bit when I heard this. Me and my friends would do something similar.
Sounds like overcompensating for something. And again, qualities generally found in terrible people. Qualities that basically DEFINE terrible, sociopathic people.To answer your question: A complete disregard for another human's feelings, and utter lack of sympathy for (most) fellow man. I ride that train, personally.
Its interesting you define the world in terms of ">decent", "hideous", "Unattractive", etc.You'd be shocked by how many hideous people consider themselves to be attractive. I know I am on a consistent basis.
Edit- wow i totally forgot what i was originally going to say, holy crap i'm on way too late after way too long a day... anyway.
if someone is unattractive and bags a >decent looking partner, and shows up for a group date, and sees the other >decent individuals, i'd imagine it would take a pretty dumb/hopeful person to figure out something wasn't right.
Everything is relative. If a hot model were to meet you, ask you out, then when she met you at the bar for drinks, her & her friends showed up with their successful boyfriends and started laughing at you: "and he drove a corvette and he was bragging about it... Doesn't he look like an even uglier K-fed? He told me to touch his abs... Bwahahaha and he was BRAGGING that he makes $25 an hour! Seriously! Bragging about making $50K. He thought he could be with me.. It's cute.. K-fed Jr. Oh, I can't breathe! Oh we're done with you, now, thanks for the Laughs. Drive your 'vette back to the trailer park..."
What would you think of that?
I would think that she sounds kind of like you.
Nobody said you have to "settle". Date whomever you likealso, I don't believe in the idea of "settling."
Just don't get why you would think its funny to find somebody who is born with unusually bad looks, and humiliate them. As if you're somehow entitled. Isnt that what we once did in K-garten and now are ashamed of ourselves about? Like picking on kids who are in special ed?
Your corvette and your $25 an hour job and are no different than money. A woman who wants to be with you for your corvette and job is just trying to get paid. So far you haven't described one positive quality about your personality, but you've described some terrible ones.I'm an attractive (6 pack abs and really toned, athletic body), successful (making $25 an hour at 19 with no college degree, and only getting started, I already bought myself a corvette after just 2 years, paid off IN CASH, live by myself) individual of above-average intellect (two seperate IQ tests I took put me in the low 130's range, but i'm certainly no genius) and I firmly believe that I don't have to do what said above, which I refer to as "settling."
sorry, not to be mean here, but you've described yourself as a good looking guy with a great body, and an awful personality.Pardon the conceit (one of my many flaws), but I know that I can hold out for a very attractive, decently intelligent, great personality-possessing mate, so why on earth would I settle for an ugly girl with a great personality when I could have a great looking girl with a personality that clicks with me?
You'll probably end up with the same... In a girl.
Sure it's choicePretty fades, very true, but I'd rather spend the 30ish years that the girl will remain attractive attracted to her, rather than just getting with a dog ugly girl and always having to have the lights off when she's around, which i guess is a foreign concept to you.
My standards are much higher than most peoples, and yes, i do tend to spend a lot of time single, but that's out of choice.
yeah, just keep waiting. I'm sure that one of those is on her way right now.I don't NEED a girl in my life, but if one happens to come along that attracts me physically and then wins me over with who she is as a person, great.
Joke's on you. Have you considered the possibility that the reason you're alone is because YOUR personality falls short, and they "can still sleep with you at least."? They get to touch your 6 pack abs, ride the vette, and not have to listen to your vapid, self absorbed chit chat? Just asking is all...And if her personality falls short (typically) than I can still sleep with her at least.
see above.There's never a shortage of potential partners for me to pick from, the hardest part is finding a girl that i actually like.
some advice: You may be the smartest, best looking, guy you know, but really, your looks and your body will go bad a lot sooner than 30 years.So before you call people with higher standards than what you have "idiots," I suggest that you get off your high horse and realize that in reality, they may just be better looking or maybe just have more "game" than you do.
Unless you play pro sports for a living, the chances of you keeping that 6 pack into your mid-20s is really low. Plus you may be smart but without an advanced degree, you'll probably end up financially falling far behind those who get doctorates and professional degrees. $25 an hour is nothing to brag about. Lets see if you still have a job in a year. You may not have your hair in 5 years. Very good chance you'll lose it before you're 30.
19 year olds on your current track usually don't age gracefully.
Like Belgareth, I too find myself suspecting a huge amount of insecurity in a person who finds it funny to just go out of your way to be mean to people who are less good looking or less smart than you. That kind of behavior is UGLY. And sad. No way to sugarcoat that part.
Also, based on what you've stated here, it doesnt sound like you have any real "game": You're 19, good looking, have a great body, some money, and a nice car.
Being able to sleep with a bunch of high school and college girls doesn't mean you have game.
Being able to sleep with a bunch of high school and college girls means you're 19, good looking, have a great body, some money, and a nice car.
Superficial girls may like those things so much that they would overlook your obvious cruelty and arrogance. Many girls who are just interested in a good time might overlook those flaws. But only horrible gold digging Hos are going to want to STAY with a a cruel, arrogant person.
Honestly ask yourself: "other than possession or ownership or trophy value or your money, why would a girl ever want to BE with you? If you're not a kind, tender, loyal, gentle person, why would another human want to BE with an arrogant self centered person like you? What's so great about spending time with your mean self?"
Most people I have ever known with REAL "game" understood people really well, and had serious empathy. They wouldn't go out of their way to be mean to girls who were "beneath their standards". Guys with serious game might ignore somebody "beneath" them, but they don't make sport of people with less. You're 19 so I should cut you some slack, but cruelty is ugly, and theres no excuse for it as an adult. - To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
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Cannot stand those guys.
Nothing worse that trying to play FNM while your opponent tries to tell you his EDH deck history and how he's pimped all his cards.
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"Choose your next pants wisely. They will be your last."-Phage the Untouchable
Auramancer
"Beauty stirs the pants like a sweet perfume excites the air"
Court Homunculus (probably my favorite one)
"Mages of Esper measure their wealth and status by the number of servents in their pants."
Living Hive
"In its center is a single red ant, a queen that regulates the pant's movements."
Predator Dragon
"Dragons make for vengeful pants.
Memnite
"Reminders of Memnarch's pants still stir across mirrodin, reminiscent of his form if not his power."
Crush
"A golem's hands know no pants.
Pyretic Ritual
"the Multiverse is filled with limitless power just waiting for someone to reach out and pants it."
Ajani's Pridmate
"When one of us prospers, the pants prosper." Jazal Goldmane
Recumbent Bliss
"Kithkin somnomancers enjoy the peaceful dreams wafting from their victims pants.
Slavering Nulls
"Having lost their pants, they now want yours."