Honest Question

wordywalt comments on Aug 10, 2020:

The only way that a person is both is that if he or she is at at a tipping point between the two and wavering back and forth.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 10, 2020:

Nope. That's like saying someone's at a tipping point between homosexual and transgendered. Two different things.

‎Friday, ‎August ‎07, ‎2020 as many detractors - have requested - a postulate that is - ...

HumanistJohn comments on Aug 8, 2020:

It still is just word salad. And, by the way, a hyphen is a punctuation mark.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 10, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 Those are not hyphens.

While on a long drive recently, I was listening to a show on NPR about immortality and time.

Highway-Starr comments on Aug 9, 2020:

Living forever is an incomplete scenario. Will your body not age? Your mind not get clouded? That would have much to do with the decision. As we are now with our aging physicality, no. I've watched quite a few people age, deteriorate and die because as an adopted child, my parents were much older ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 9, 2020:

@Highway-Starr I also don't think that's part of the thought experiment. If you could kill yourself at will, there wouldn't be a downside to weigh against the immortality. Notice the OP says 'immortal' and 'live forever'. Whatever parameters you need to place on it to make those things so, you'd need to use.

‎Friday, ‎August ‎07, ‎2020 as many detractors - have requested - a postulate that is - ...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 8, 2020:

This is another thing that really annoys people about you, the reposting of the same thing over and over.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 9, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 Nope. You can't claim people don't understand what you write in English when you say shit like "no thing" and define it to mean "not only any one particular thing, because it's all things". "It's no thing" would very clearly mean the subject of the sentence is not an object or thing, e.g. "Saffron's no * thing * , she's my roommate." You could verbalize, "It's not * a * thing" with a strong emphasis on 'a' to inform your listener you're not speaking of a singular object, but even that may be misconstrued at the fault of the speaker. In text, especially with the way you write, it's almost guaranteed to be misunderstood. Does it really make you feel smart when people don't understand you, even though you are intentionally being inscrutable? There are plenty of people here that are incredibly intelligent who would have no problem grasping whatever thoughts you have rolling around in your head. Get over yourself. For cryin' out loud, you think you are what you've chosen to be.

While on a long drive recently, I was listening to a show on NPR about immortality and time.

JimG comments on Aug 9, 2020:

What are the conditions of immortality? Will it be absolute or can accidents, violence, or the destruction of the earth still kill me?

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 9, 2020:

@Beowulfsfriend I think it defeats the point of the thought experiment to say you can be damaged. Who doesn't then take immortality until they feel like throwing themselves into a wood chipper as was suggested earlier.

While on a long drive recently, I was listening to a show on NPR about immortality and time.

Spongebob comments on Aug 9, 2020:

Conversely, when do you want to die? I think that's a better question

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 9, 2020:

ASAP, this shit is unbearable.

While on a long drive recently, I was listening to a show on NPR about immortality and time.

Adarkhorserides comments on Aug 9, 2020:

Netflix has a movie called "The Old Gaurd" deals with this very issue. Well done and addresses male sensuality in a really healthy way. Now I think, in some ways, we are all immortal. It is just that we don't occupy the same physical form throughout time. I have had this same form for years 😲 ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 9, 2020:

Wait, what?

While on a long drive recently, I was listening to a show on NPR about immortality and time.

Highway-Starr comments on Aug 9, 2020:

Living forever is an incomplete scenario. Will your body not age? Your mind not get clouded? That would have much to do with the decision. As we are now with our aging physicality, no. I've watched quite a few people age, deteriorate and die because as an adopted child, my parents were much older ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 9, 2020:

The OP states, "They said, imagine you are now immortal and won't age anymore." I assume"mind cloudiness" is an age-related change.

I am in a quandry and would like some opinions.

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 8, 2020:

Also, I will say that donating to charity of your choice in your relative's name as suggested by many is also not something I would do. That's not right for the same reason asking you to donate to a Christian cause isn't right. Something is not a gift if it's for yourself instead of the person ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 9, 2020:

@PandaCat I don't know that you can say that necessarily unless you know the person really well. Of course, if you knew them really well, it wouldn't seem like you'd have trouble thinking of something you could do for the family. For instance, I would be super pissed if someone donated to Susan G. Komen in my name because I fucking hate that organization. Most people I know that would be in the group of people pondering 'what should I do in lieu of flowers' don't know that about me though.

‎Friday, ‎August ‎07, ‎2020 as many detractors - have requested - a postulate that is - ...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 8, 2020:

I know in going to regret this but here goes... > I am that which I have so chosen to be How does one chose to be what they are? > eternal in its very nature I do not accept that as a statement of fact. It is theorized that the universe will end in heat death. Even if we can't know ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 9, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 1. That doesn't change anything. Either context exists for one to be what they chose to be or it does not. In either case, if you are only what you choose to be, it still means that you are not that which you do not choose. If that is not the case, it means that you may be that which you do not choose, invalidating your initial claim: "I am that which I have so chosen to be." 2. Then * you * need to explain specifically what you mean by: > energy being infinite energy composes and comprises all of life it is thus and therefore omniscient and omnipotent as it is omnipresent and eternal in its very nature indestructible - it is - therefore in its very - Nature - Eternal - Energy is Always Changing - yet - Never Ending This seems to be a reference to the laws of thermodynamics, but even is it's not, the burden is still on you to support your assertive claims. My major points of contention here would be: 2a. How can energy be all powerful at universal heat death? 2b. How can energy be always changing at universal heat death? 3. That's fine. Write however you want, but if you refuse to use common language, you forfeit the right to claim people can't understand or refute your claims. It's akin to me saying, "jshyxjdj djjsbsux ukfkdnd hdhkcbd jdj dbnd jfjfres osndjkcj fjdh tcjchd hdjc I fj" and anyone unable to understand or refute that claim is X, Y, and/or Z. 4. > Love is NOT its own "antonym" and again - I Never proclaimed it to so Be Of course you did. You said: > love is all things Since hate is a thing, and love is all things, one of the things love is, is hate. Ergo, love is, at least in part, its own antonym. 5. And this is the point my regret sets in. I have clearly REfuted (not confuted) your claims, but your failure to adhere to common language and definitions allows you to pretend as though I haven't. I knew this was going to happen, too. Either way, for anyone that may have given your posts even another moment of contemplation, I likely will have spared them from such a fate if they have read this exchange, and for this, I suppose, I can take a small comfort in what was an otherwise aggravating and futile endeavor.

This is just wrong. French people discarding their pets. [bbc.com]

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 8, 2020:

People all over the world use and abuse animals daily for their pleasure. Not really sure what makes them any worse than anyone else.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 8, 2020:

@Beowulfsfriend I guess it depends on whether or not you believe being removed a person or two from the direct suffering makes it not count as you being the cause. Anyone who eats commercially produced meat causes tremendous torture and suffering of animals. I'm pretty sure those studies don't account for this, either. Maybe if one justifies the abandonment of the animal (and the potential future destruction of them) the same way people do for their food items it also wouldn't be included in those studies... Anyway, from my perspective, there are very few people who aren't pots to the kettles abandoning their pets.

Our fearless liar obstructionist fascist leader!!! Has now announce he will terminated all Social...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 8, 2020:

How are there no patriots left in America?

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 8, 2020:

@Fred_Snerd I think maybe we both know, but are both taking in code?

‎Friday, ‎August ‎07, ‎2020 as many detractors - have requested - a postulate that is - ...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 8, 2020:

I know in going to regret this but here goes... > I am that which I have so chosen to be How does one chose to be what they are? > eternal in its very nature I do not accept that as a statement of fact. It is theorized that the universe will end in heat death. Even if we can't know ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 8, 2020:

@Fernapple It appears not. Maybe once he realized I proved his theory wrong he lost interest.

Our fearless liar obstructionist fascist leader!!! Has now announce he will terminated all Social...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 8, 2020:

How are there no patriots left in America?

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 8, 2020:

@Fred_Snerd You understand what I was saying, yes?

‎Friday, ‎August ‎07, ‎2020 as many detractors - have requested - a postulate that is - ...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 8, 2020:

I know in going to regret this but here goes... > I am that which I have so chosen to be How does one chose to be what they are? > eternal in its very nature I do not accept that as a statement of fact. It is theorized that the universe will end in heat death. Even if we can't know ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 8, 2020:

@Fernapple I knew his claim that no one could refute him was baseless. I made the assertion that if he wrote normally, maybe someone could try. He made an attempt by removing all punctuation. I felt it was my duty to do the same. I believe I have successfully proved his postulate has flaws.

‎Friday, ‎August ‎07, ‎2020 as many detractors - have requested - a postulate that is - ...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 8, 2020:

I know in going to regret this but here goes... > I am that which I have so chosen to be How does one chose to be what they are? > eternal in its very nature I do not accept that as a statement of fact. It is theorized that the universe will end in heat death. Even if we can't know ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 8, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 Well, I like the step you took that people were asking for, myself included, so it wouldn't have been right for me to continue the way I was responding. 1. For the sake of argument, since it is likely I will not be able to convince you we do not have free will, I will discuss under the assumption that we do. So it's it your contention that anything not specifically chosen by the individual is not part of who they are? One does not choose where they were born, the financial situation they were born into, their family, the color of their skin, the predominate thoughts on religion (among many other things) of the people around them when they are young and learning the most they will ever learn, and these things most definitely shape your worldview and who you become through no fault or choice of your own. Furthermore, while we may agree to disagree about whether conscious choices are a matter of free will, I don't think we can regarding subconscious ones. Thus, you cannot be 'that which you have chosen to be' unless that which you have not chosen is not part of what you are. 2. I probably should have spent a little more time here. My contention is that if the "indestructible energy" reaches universe-wide thermodynamic equilibrium (which is theorized based off the laws of thermodynamics that you are using to support your claim) there will be no way for it to change or do any work ever again. How can something be all powerful if it loses all of its power and can never regain it? Similarly, what does it even mean to say "all-knowing" when exactly 0% of that knowledge can be conveyed or used in any way ever? 3. So this would be an example of intentionally difficult language that creates a divide between you and your reader. Furthermore, it is complicated by the fact that you fail to use commonly agreed-upon linguistic tools, thus, one cannot know without asking if "no thing" means "not one particular thing" or "nothing" with yet another unnecessary space. Regardless, it is superfluous language. If your goal is really to get people to understand what you are trying to say, you shouldn't be doing things that necessarily and exclusively run counter to that. 4. I have argued that very thing elsewhere on this website, most specifically against someone's contention that god cannot be benevolent and all powerful because if he were, he wouldn't have allowed suffering. All suffering is felt in contrast to other states. If you eliminate the "worst" thing, a new worst thing will take its place until you have nothing left to eliminate. The problem with your statement is that if love were it's own antonym, it would be able to exist without a counterpart. That simply does not make sense. 5. This is where the burden of proof falls on you. ...

Lawmakers from both parties want the postal service to undo changes that are slowing mail delivery.

Lyvye13 comments on Aug 7, 2020:

Why cants votes be done electronic like the cencus? We we moving to an online age why can't votes ? Kids going back to school online ,shopping online, money is sent electronic. Why cants votes ? This shit is stupid . Its only when its convent the obvious is done .

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 8, 2020:

I've been saying that exact thing for years now. If banks can have an online presence available to trillions of people that are secure enough to move billions of dollars a day, why can't we have a secure online system to cast ballots for elections tons of people don't even give enough of a shit about to even participate in?

Lawmakers from both parties want the postal service to undo changes that are slowing mail delivery.

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 7, 2020:

I've tried to warn people about this kind of shit for years now and no one seems to care. I even have historically Democrat-leaning and super liberal (Bernie bro type) friends that are refusing to recognize the dangers of this administration. I've even argued with the latter about their claim that ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 8, 2020:

@yvilletom When did I deny having a lack of power? I don't even believe in free will...

When a keyboard warrior calls me stupid, yet expects me to listen to what they have to say while ...

Larry-new comments on Aug 5, 2020:

Ad hominem attacks are the last refuge of failed arguments.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 8, 2020:

@yvilletom So we both recognize that the premise: 'a statement not attributed to another person means it's a matter of opinion' is nonsensical? I mean, one need only utter any statement they know to be factual without citation to recognize this. But seeing as though you and others have erroneously been told, believe, and/or stated a belief that these two things are the same, and since you're not going to respond because you feel further discussion is useless, for good measure, I will provide further information to show anyone else reading why you are wrong and they shouldn't listen to your claim here. > "Ad hominem (Latin for 'to the person', short for argumentum ad hominem, is a term that refers to several types of arguments, MOST OF WHICH are fallacious. Typically this term refers to a rhetorical strategy where the speaker attacks the character, motive, or some other attribute of the person making an argument rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself." [emphasis mine] [en.m.wikipedia.org] This clearly shows that the personal attack must be intended to discredit an argument for it to be an ad hominem attack. Not sure why you were having trouble understanding that. Furthermore, some sources even detail how not all ad hominem attacks are fallacious. > "Regarding the ad hominem, Walton contends that although such attacks are usually fallacious, they can be legitimate when a character critique is directly or indirectly related to the point being articulated." [scientificamerican.com] * Period * 😝

[yahoo.

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 6, 2020:

What I don't understand is that we hunted down Nazis the world over to kill them, but now we allow them to march our streets with torches chanting "Jews will not replace us."

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 7, 2020:

@barjoe I don't mean we individual citizens.

When a keyboard warrior calls me stupid, yet expects me to listen to what they have to say while ...

Larry-new comments on Aug 5, 2020:

Ad hominem attacks are the last refuge of failed arguments.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 7, 2020:

@yvilletom ?

[yahoo.

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 6, 2020:

What I don't understand is that we hunted down Nazis the world over to kill them, but now we allow them to march our streets with torches chanting "Jews will not replace us."

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 7, 2020:

@barjoe Okay, why aren't we * always * killing them?

[yahoo.

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 6, 2020:

What I don't understand is that we hunted down Nazis the world over to kill them, but now we allow them to march our streets with torches chanting "Jews will not replace us."

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

@barjoe Openly marching in the streets, carrying torches, identifying themselves with chants on the news? I must have missed that. Either way, why did we stop hunting them down to kill them?

When a keyboard warrior calls me stupid, yet expects me to listen to what they have to say while ...

Larry-new comments on Aug 5, 2020:

Ad hominem attacks are the last refuge of failed arguments.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

@yvilletom That may be true, but does not make them synonymous, nor does it mean one who calls someone a name necessarily has a failed argument.

John Pilger reveals more warmongering US propaganda he believes will lead to nuclear bombing of ...

Holysocks comments on Aug 6, 2020:

America, coming to save the muthafuckin day yeah!

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

@girlwithsmiles Everyone has AIDS!

When a keyboard warrior calls me stupid, yet expects me to listen to what they have to say while ...

Larry-new comments on Aug 5, 2020:

Ad hominem attacks are the last refuge of failed arguments.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

@yvilletom Your point?

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 5, 2020:

I am a person who only uses hyphens now and again, mainly when I am pedaling pseudo-truth. Take care its a bad world out here.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

@ronnie40356 There have been a couple comments on past posts that suggest it.

When a keyboard warrior calls me stupid, yet expects me to listen to what they have to say while ...

Larry-new comments on Aug 5, 2020:

Ad hominem attacks are the last refuge of failed arguments.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

@yvilletom It's cool though because it's only your opinion that it's an opinion. 😝

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

piphirho comments on Aug 5, 2020:

What a load of drek. You may want to ease up on the drugs. I think they are melting your brain.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 Threats of comeuppance don't really work against those that don't believe in the metaphysical and don't want to be alive anymore.

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

Mitch07102 comments on Aug 5, 2020:

A serious question for you: Do you use drug(s) before doing these posts? If so, which ones? Or is this how you actually are?

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

I can tell you which drugs he's * not * taking...

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

Sierra4 comments on Aug 5, 2020:

I don’t understand. I tried, but I don’t understand.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

@jlynn37 Yeah, it is meant for other people with schizophrenia.

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

TristanNuvo comments on Aug 5, 2020:

I started reading. But then was deafened by the inane ramblings. Was going to make a concise retort. But in truth you have more wrong, and gibberish that anything tangible. Why in the world do you come to a site where non- believers can have a 'safe haven' for lack of a better word, and preach....

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

> morons such as - your Self - that leave such denigrating comments - should really do a bit of research - before U attack - someone that is Emphatically stating that - He is - GOD - Which leads me to my next point - don't smoke crack. But seriously, this guy is mentally ill.

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

piphirho comments on Aug 5, 2020:

What a load of drek. You may want to ease up on the drugs. I think they are melting your brain.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 6, 2020:

Really, who can read a retort that can only bring forward all the brilliance that is 'I'm rubber, you're glue" and not conclude it came from a young child?

When a keyboard warrior calls me stupid, yet expects me to listen to what they have to say while ...

K9Kohle789 comments on Aug 5, 2020:

People who can't argue with any intelligence resort to name calling and they can call me whatever but they're gonna join the "idiots & morons" list.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

@K9Kohle789 People can resort to name calling for lots of reasons, and it in no way necessarily means they can't argue their point. Take Louie Gohmert for example. If you were trying to have a discussion with him about the merits of masks and how disease transmission occurred, during which he stated he thinks wearing a mask is the reason he got infected, you could rightly realize that he is so irretrievably stupid that no amount of passionate, intelligent argumentation would help you convince him and just call him a dumb cunt as a way of releasing the aggravation of having to live in a world where the dumbest people alive can be part of the ruling class. You still could argue intelligently, but really how intelligent is it to waste your time like that? The problem is that you're only looking at it through your own eyes. Eyes connected to a brain that has never thought thoughts as idiotic as the ones rolling around in the heads of dumb cunts like Louie Gohmert.

When a keyboard warrior calls me stupid, yet expects me to listen to what they have to say while ...

Larry-new comments on Aug 5, 2020:

Ad hominem attacks are the last refuge of failed arguments.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

@Toonces That's not an opinion... An ad hominem attack is a method of attempting to discredit an argument by attacking the person making it. There are plenty of instances of name calling independent of an argument.

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

MrDragon comments on Aug 5, 2020:

I really don't like to use the word god, it's just over used and abused in general, I prefer the universe, as the universe as conscious and discovering its self through us as us through our emotions and experiences.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

In what way is the universe conscious?

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

SCal comments on Aug 5, 2020:

Bitch please.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

Hands down the funniest comment on here. Props.

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

TristanNuvo comments on Aug 5, 2020:

I started reading. But then was deafened by the inane ramblings. Was going to make a concise retort. But in truth you have more wrong, and gibberish that anything tangible. Why in the world do you come to a site where non- believers can have a 'safe haven' for lack of a better word, and preach....

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

That's because he's actually a 14 year-old boy who derives pleasure from using a thesaurus. That's our working theory, anyway.

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 5, 2020:

I am a person who only uses hyphens now and again, mainly when I am pedaling pseudo-truth. Take care its a bad world out here.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

@Fernapple You are using it correctly, and where you have used that symbol it is indeed a hyphen. The symbol, when used without spaces, can be used to join words together and it almost always makes your sentence or phrase more clear and accurate. The way he uses it, with spaces on either side, is a dash. It is almost the exact opposite of a hyphen. It is specifically used to separate words or phrases, almost like parentheses, or even like a "light" period that separates two sentences that are very much related. e.g. Some people think KWAPELL7 is deep and insightful - he isn't. It's almost comical how often he types words that need hyphens or are actually just one word on their own that he puts a dash in the middle of.

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 5, 2020:

I am a person who only uses hyphens now and again, mainly when I am pedaling pseudo-truth. Take care its a bad world out here.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

@Fernapple I only pointed it out because he previously claimed how they were and were an important and underused grammatical tool or something to that effect.

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 5, 2020:

@admin can we be done with this nonsense yet? He just keeps posting the same stuff over and over...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

@TheInterlooper I suppose, but then you don't know what that person could be saying about you. Hell, they could write a whole post about how you sent them a PM and said this that and the other. That's not really the point though. His posts essentially amount to religious, nonsensical spam. If that behavior is tolerated by @admin, it will eventually overrun the website. I don't think it's dissimilar from how old email clients and dating websites like POF have been rendered useless by the spam and bots that have infected them.

When a keyboard warrior calls me stupid, yet expects me to listen to what they have to say while ...

Larry-new comments on Aug 5, 2020:

Ad hominem attacks are the last refuge of failed arguments.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

"Name calling" and "ad hominem attacks" are not synonymous.

When a keyboard warrior calls me stupid, yet expects me to listen to what they have to say while ...

K9Kohle789 comments on Aug 5, 2020:

People who can't argue with any intelligence resort to name calling and they can call me whatever but they're gonna join the "idiots & morons" list.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

That is not necessarily true.

When a keyboard warrior calls me stupid, yet expects me to listen to what they have to say while ...

MichaelSpinler comments on Aug 5, 2020:

well the problem with stupid people is they dont know they are stupid. i am guilty of both being called stupid and calling creationist flat earthers anti vaxers ets stupid. i dont expect them to listen to me any further, nor do i care, because i have already realized they cannot be reasoned with. ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

This.

Why would a lifelong atheist suddenly decide to become baptized into Mormonism and be going on a ...

Marionville comments on Aug 5, 2020:

I think you’ve already answered your own question. I would be very surprised if he has converted because he has suddenly seen the Mormon light! His lady friend has more than likely given him an ultimatum.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

@Sgt_Spanky Or a religion...

Why would a lifelong atheist suddenly decide to become baptized into Mormonism and be going on a ...

AvisG comments on Aug 5, 2020:

I think as mentioned previously by Varn, it could be filling a void, that's why I like agnostic.com. Or a woman is involved. It is not uncommon for people have change religious affiliation for a partner. But to go from an atheist to a Mormon is quite a shift in beliefs. Please keep us posted if you...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

Yeah, I think we all agree it's about * filling a void *.

Why would a lifelong atheist suddenly decide to become baptized into Mormonism and be going on a ...

Unpretentious comments on Aug 5, 2020:

Most men would commit to just about any religion in exchange for sex-on-demand. The brain will always lose out in a battle with the penis. Mormonism's emphasis on procreation, coupled with the availability of receptive, docile females, would be hard for most men to resist. Just recently the Utah ...

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

I don't know, you're kinda talkin' up pretty good here... > sex-on-demand availability of receptive, docile females 😝

Why would a lifelong atheist suddenly decide to become baptized into Mormonism and be going on a ...

oldFloyd comments on Aug 5, 2020:

Couldn't tell you the motivation but run that religious bulshit, I mean it worked for John Smith.🤔

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

@Unpretentious I think he meant Jon Snow, but he only bought into the religion because he knew nothing.

Who & What - U R - Not - U R - Not - just a - sentient - Individual - mammal - U R - Not - ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 5, 2020:

I am a person who only uses hyphens now and again, mainly when I am pedaling pseudo-truth. Take care its a bad world out here.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 5, 2020:

Those aren't even hyphens...

Everybody has someone or some group that they react and/or discrimenate against.

Jolanta comments on Aug 2, 2020:

I don't see the Everybody Against The Jews. I am not against the jews and I know a lot of other people who do not feel against the jews either.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 2, 2020:

Yeah, I don't even know when people are Jewish and find it confusing when other people make a comment insinuating that they do. I have a buddy that I played cards with for years say one night that he was Jewish, and I said something to the effect of, "Oh, really? I didn't know that." Which made him question how that was possible based on his last name. I guess because it makes zero difference to me, I never even think to contemplate someone's heritage.

Everybody has someone or some group that they react and/or discrimenate against.

Storm1752 comments on Aug 2, 2020:

Whites hang out with whites, blacks with blacks, etc. Since I'm white, I have 'white privilege.' if whites were poor, I'd STILL hang out with them. I'm for a World Government and for TOTAL intermingling of the races, but I'll be d---- if I'm going to apologize for being white

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 2, 2020:

Nobody's asking you to apologize for it, but in just the same way you didn't do anything to be born white and with inherent advantages of whiteness, no one else did anything to earn or deserve their station at birth, either. So the right thing to do is to keep that in mind when you are thinking about things.

Here is a statement I hate.

yvilletom comments on Aug 1, 2020:

It has slowed the growth of frightened people; the rest of us have moved on.

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 2, 2020:

The rest of us? 70%+ people in this country believe in angels...

Probably none of you noticed, but I unfriended all here who were “friends” on my personal fb ...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 1, 2020:

Why do you even have a Facebook anymore??

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 2, 2020:

@MissKathleen No, just things that interest or irk me.

Probably none of you noticed, but I unfriended all here who were “friends” on my personal fb ...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 1, 2020:

Why do you even have a Facebook anymore??

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 1, 2020:

@MissKathleen Except that you posted it publicly...

Probably none of you noticed, but I unfriended all here who were “friends” on my personal fb ...

ChestRockfield comments on Aug 1, 2020:

Why do you even have a Facebook anymore??

ChestRockfield replies on Aug 1, 2020:

@MissKathleen You're the one posting about it to everyone like it matters. Why would you ask why I care after your post * assumes * people care?

I have read several articles recently which have bemoaned that as a result of COVID-19, the world ...

BAMFRavenclaw comments on Jul 29, 2020:

I also think it's a good thing (I'll also acknowledge that I'm part of the problem having birthed 4 tiny humans myself). The impact that humans have had on the planet truly is disastrous for it; if we all lived sustainably that would be one thing, but let's face it, as a society, we just don't!...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 29, 2020:

@BAMFRavenclaw do you mean if growth rate? Like our population is growing, but the amount that it is growing by isn't also growing? Because that's even had some upturns since the 80s.

I have read several articles recently which have bemoaned that as a result of COVID-19, the world ...

richiegtt comments on Jul 29, 2020:

Of course any time there is a falling birth rate this is a positive .Over population is the cancer of this planet.

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 29, 2020:

You spelled "our" wrong. 😝

I have read several articles recently which have bemoaned that as a result of COVID-19, the world ...

BAMFRavenclaw comments on Jul 29, 2020:

I also think it's a good thing (I'll also acknowledge that I'm part of the problem having birthed 4 tiny humans myself). The impact that humans have had on the planet truly is disastrous for it; if we all lived sustainably that would be one thing, but let's face it, as a society, we just don't!...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 29, 2020:

Where did you hear our population has been on the decline your whole life? I'm assuming you're in your 30s. There was a population of about 226 million in 1980 that has grown to 332 million now.

Preacher Sean Feucht Is Holding COVID-Ignorant Worship Services for Thousands | Hemant Mehta | ...

BAMFRavenclaw comments on Jul 29, 2020:

I should have muted the volume on my phone before clicking the video 😆 praise jeebuz. The longer I'm out of religion, the more culty it seems. And to have everyone there, maskless, it's so irresponsible. This would have been the perfect opportunity to pass out masks with crucifixes on it or...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 29, 2020:

Maybe we'll start having nice things if a ton of Republicans die of Covid.

When was America great?

barjoe comments on Jul 27, 2020:

What country has always been great?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 29, 2020:

@barjoe I'm perfectly happy and civil with people who aren't cunts. Go fuck yourself.

When was America great?

barjoe comments on Jul 27, 2020:

What country has always been great?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 28, 2020:

@barjoe None of that shit is true. And I never assumed anything about you, never claimed to know how you vote, didn't judge you because we disagreed (I judged you because what you said was super fucking rude and untrue), and you * did * accuse me of more than being an angry person- you accused me of hating America (and now Americans) which is what started this shit to begin with. To be clear, I said you * sounded like * those asshole Republicans that assume you hate America if you do any number of things they don't like that in no way actually mean you hate America. How do you not see how ridiculous what you said was? And I'm not a "keyboard warrior". If you said that shit to my face, I'd call you out just the same. That doesn't make me an angry person, it just means I have a backbone and won't let cunts get away with talking that nonsensical bullshit in front of me.

When was America great?

barjoe comments on Jul 27, 2020:

What country has always been great?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 28, 2020:

@barjoe I don't know you, thankfully, but you are showing everyone what kind of person you are. I don't regret anything I said to you; quote me all day. You were the one that was making [actually, still making] accusations that I hate my country the way Republican assholes do all the time, simply because I pointed out problems. You earned my scorn by acting the same way.

When was America great?

barjoe comments on Jul 27, 2020:

What country has always been great?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 28, 2020:

@barjoe You sound like one of those knee-jerk Republican assholes. Who said anything about hating the US? We just said it's not great. If we criticize one thing or point out something that could be better, suddenly we hate the country? I'm very thankful I was born here as opposed to so many other places I could be, but that's an important point they don't get. They didn't do anything to earn the life they have. They very easily could have been born in sub Saharan Africa in the midst of an AIDS epidemic, or as a member of a race suffering genocide somewhere. Their 'American exceptionalism' bullshit is not only unfounded, but super rude and ungrateful.

When was America great?

barjoe comments on Jul 27, 2020:

What country has always been great?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 28, 2020:

@barjoe So wealthiest equals great? Or powerful? Oldest? Do those things still equal greatness when they are used to force our ideology on other nations? What about when they are used to oppress our own people? What about when our wealth is used to make the rich richer and let the poor languish? Is it still great when other countries are able to do so much more for their people with so much less? Is it still the oldest democracy if it isn't really a democracy? We've disenfranchised voters forever. Blacks, women, and now the poor and people of color have been seeing it more and more lately with voter suppression laws. Maybe I'm forgetting the good categories like per capita incarceration rates or infant mortality rates? Or perhaps barjoe is a white male with white-male-colored glasses and sees a great country through them?

When was America great?

barjoe comments on Jul 27, 2020:

What country has always been great?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 27, 2020:

The OP isn't asking if American was * always * great, it's asking if America was * ever * great...

No more religious exemptions: Montreal is taxing churches ...

educatedredneck comments on Jul 27, 2020:

I'm ok if church's genuine charities and initiatives to help people aren't taxed. Heck, I volunteer a bit with a church's food bank around the corner. Living in Utah, you see how the LDS church abuses their tax exemption and how much power they have in our government.

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 27, 2020:

@educatedredneck Non-religious charities do it all the time...

No more religious exemptions: Montreal is taxing churches ...

dumasarok comments on Jul 27, 2020:

The impediment to taxing church income and property in the United States is and always has been the first amendment to our constitution. Canada has no such restriction. In the interest of clarity, I do believe churches should be taxed the same as any other organization. It would require a ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 27, 2020:

@dumasarok Oh, of course not. I doubt even two generations from now they'd have a shot fixing this, especially if Republicans keep winning elections and packing courts.

No more religious exemptions: Montreal is taxing churches ...

educatedredneck comments on Jul 27, 2020:

I'm ok if church's genuine charities and initiatives to help people aren't taxed. Heck, I volunteer a bit with a church's food bank around the corner. Living in Utah, you see how the LDS church abuses their tax exemption and how much power they have in our government.

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 27, 2020:

@educatedredneck That's where we differ. I don't think taxing them is disenfranchising them, and I don't think it matters what it would take to separate their charity. If they claim something as tax free, and an audit shows it shouldn't be based on the [new version of the] tax law, then they face the same penalties as any other company that cheats on their taxes. Obviously we're not discussing what's going to happen, only what we believe * ought * to happen. Over 72% of the US is still religious, so I don't see anything like this happening here in my lifetime.

No more religious exemptions: Montreal is taxing churches ...

educatedredneck comments on Jul 27, 2020:

I'm ok if church's genuine charities and initiatives to help people aren't taxed. Heck, I volunteer a bit with a church's food bank around the corner. Living in Utah, you see how the LDS church abuses their tax exemption and how much power they have in our government.

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 27, 2020:

@educatedredneck Then they should open a separate business that is independent of the church, doesn't mix funds, applies for tax free status, and follows all the rules therein. A church doesn't * need * tax free status to do this.

No more religious exemptions: Montreal is taxing churches ...

Redheadedgammy comments on Jul 27, 2020:

This needs to happen in the U.S. too!

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 27, 2020:

@soulless I thought you were going to say, "Canada ALWAYS seems to be * above * the US." 😝

No more religious exemptions: Montreal is taxing churches ...

dumasarok comments on Jul 27, 2020:

The impediment to taxing church income and property in the United States is and always has been the first amendment to our constitution. Canada has no such restriction. In the interest of clarity, I do believe churches should be taxed the same as any other organization. It would require a ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 27, 2020:

@dumasarok I don't see how taxing, especially at the same rate as all other businesses, * prohibits * the free exercise of a religion...

So first post. Woo. So much pressure um. Well first off. Hey?

WonderWartHog99 comments on Jul 26, 2020:

## Disclaimer: I'm the local grouch. At level three it isn't your first post. It's good to remind self righteous Christians that they're SUPPOSED to love one another, even their neighbors. If that doesn't annoy them enough, you're better off without them. (There are passages in the old ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 27, 2020:

All you have to do is click on someone's name to see how many posts they've made. You've made 1295.

‎Tuesday, ‎July ‎21, ‎2020 my gift to U - the intellectually astute - an opportunity to...

Mofo1953 comments on Jul 26, 2020:

Just post the damn video from you tube and spare us your patronizing drivel. You're a typical example of the ignorant trying to appear smart by excessively using synonyms while not even writing coherently or even spell correctly, in psychiatry this malady is called illusory superiority: ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 26, 2020:

@Mofo1953 Yeah, it's hard to imagine that's a 56 year old dude...

‎Tuesday, ‎July ‎21, ‎2020 my gift to U - the intellectually astute - an opportunity to...

MikeInBatonRouge comments on Jul 26, 2020:

Quite a soapbox speach. I am not impressed. I had to read it twice to catch your drift. Then it became clear that you write badly. Here is a hint: Save vague, flowery speech that obscures your point ...save that for poetry or song lyrics. Those often aim to evoke a mood or feeling rather than ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 26, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 Plenty of people have pointed out your errors, including me. You just brush them off and hurl insults. And just because something is * technically * correct doesn't make it best practice. Whatever it is you're trying to convey would be better accomplished through "proper" (i.e. commonly agreed-upon) use of the language you are using. That is, of course, unless the thing you are trying to convey and elicit is confusion and confrontation. * I have not yet ruled that out from among my theories. * I mean, the fact that you self-describe your posts as esoteric is telling. If you clearly communicated whatever it is you're trying to say all the time with "proper" use of the language, maybe less people would give up trying to understand what you're saying, thus leaving you with less people you can cite as 'unable to understand your genius' so to speak. Don't worry, if you're as smart as you think you are, it'll shine through the regular-people words we dunces regularly use and more people will be able to appreciate your brilliance. Just for funzies, post one of these postulates with "proper" English. Surely you're smart enough to do that, and you're prolific enough that the few minutes it would take to put together wouldn't be much of a loss, no? Who knows, you may get some converts out of it. Looking forward to it.

‎Tuesday, ‎July ‎21, ‎2020 my gift to U - the intellectually astute - an opportunity to...

ChestRockfield comments on Jul 26, 2020:

How is this still happening?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 26, 2020:

@Unpretentious I mentioned then together because during my psych clinical rotation, I saw them together A LOT. There are tons of similarities between the writings and behaviors of the mentally ill individuals I took care of and KWAPELL. I would not be surprised at all if he had already been diagnosed, or had a diagnosable illness.

‎Tuesday, ‎July ‎21, ‎2020 my gift to U - the intellectually astute - an opportunity to...

ChestRockfield comments on Jul 26, 2020:

How is this still happening?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 26, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 You said earlier > the posts - syntax - grammar - punctuation & structure - NONE of which - has been shown to be - deficient - Not only did you fail to signify possession in that statement, but you do it all the time. You have enough dashes and improperly used hyphens to choke a fuckin' horse, but an apostrophe? Not even to save your life it seems.

‎Tuesday, ‎July ‎21, ‎2020 my gift to U - the intellectually astute - an opportunity to...

Mofo1953 comments on Jul 26, 2020:

Just post the damn video from you tube and spare us your patronizing drivel. You're a typical example of the ignorant trying to appear smart by excessively using synonyms while not even writing coherently or even spell correctly, in psychiatry this malady is called illusory superiority: ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 26, 2020:

@MikeInBatonRouge That's way more accurate than the video I posted.

‎Tuesday, ‎July ‎21, ‎2020 my gift to U - the intellectually astute - an opportunity to...

MikeInBatonRouge comments on Jul 26, 2020:

Quite a soapbox speach. I am not impressed. I had to read it twice to catch your drift. Then it became clear that you write badly. Here is a hint: Save vague, flowery speech that obscures your point ...save that for poetry or song lyrics. Those often aim to evoke a mood or feeling rather than ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 26, 2020:

@KWAPELL7 Articulating you point properly is not about indoctrination, it's about effective communication. If everyone used punctuation however they wanted or defined words however they wanted, no one would ever know what the fuck anyone else was talking about. Every time I * try * to read your writing all I can think of is... https://youtu.be/9s0LqZMsfTQ

‎Tuesday, ‎July ‎21, ‎2020 my gift to U - the intellectually astute - an opportunity to...

ChestRockfield comments on Jul 26, 2020:

How is this still happening?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 26, 2020:

@Unpretentious Right? Mental illness and religiosity are not really agnostic.com staples.

“Closet” Agnostic/Atheist.

Fernapple comments on Jul 23, 2020:

You are under no moral obligation to share your unbelief with anyone. It need be no more than your own private mater, and there is no need to feel you are being dishonest in any way by not telling people about it. Most of the people in most of the churches, probably do not believe, but they are ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 24, 2020:

@Fernapple I have A LOT of contact with them. Everyone in my family except my sister and one cousin is Christian. Almost everyone I work with is religious. I do not have the slightest inkling any of them are not actually believers. As for the priests, I think that makes sense. There's financial benefit in it for them, so naturally you'll have a higher percentage of them that are non-believers than people who are * paying * to be there.

“Closet” Agnostic/Atheist.

Fernapple comments on Jul 23, 2020:

You are under no moral obligation to share your unbelief with anyone. It need be no more than your own private mater, and there is no need to feel you are being dishonest in any way by not telling people about it. Most of the people in most of the churches, probably do not believe, but they are ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 23, 2020:

@Storm1752 Most people * should * be agnostic regardless of their belief system because they can't * know * they're right, but they aren't. They believe you are wrong and that they absolutely have PROOF (in their minds) that god exists. You are just the poor blind atheist that can't see because you've closed your heart to god. Anyway, I didn't ask about agnosticism, I wanted to know why he thought most people in most churches were atheist.

“Closet” Agnostic/Atheist.

Fernapple comments on Jul 23, 2020:

You are under no moral obligation to share your unbelief with anyone. It need be no more than your own private mater, and there is no need to feel you are being dishonest in any way by not telling people about it. Most of the people in most of the churches, probably do not believe, but they are ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 23, 2020:

@Fernapple I know it's an impossibly small sample size and completely anecdotal, but I'm thoroughly convinced the religious people I know personally for sure believe in god. You'll find plenty of them that don't believe in this teaching or that "rule", but when it comes to whether or not a supreme being exists, they are 100% certain one does. I mean, if they didn't, I could see lying to the other believers in their lives, but why lie to the heathen that's already excommunicated himself?

“Closet” Agnostic/Atheist.

Fernapple comments on Jul 23, 2020:

You are under no moral obligation to share your unbelief with anyone. It need be no more than your own private mater, and there is no need to feel you are being dishonest in any way by not telling people about it. Most of the people in most of the churches, probably do not believe, but they are ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 23, 2020:

I find it interesting you think * most * people in * most * churches are non-believers. What makes you think that?

Another good Lincoln Project video: > July th, 2020 - The Lincoln Project today released a new ...

ChestRockfield comments on Jul 19, 2020:

I usually love what they put out, but I kinda think this ad is going too far and will lose people. Obviously, he contributed to the death toll, but to claim he's responsible for all of them is the type of claim that'll turn people away.

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 22, 2020:

@kmaz To be sure, I think he's the most incompetent pile of trash that office has ever contained. And for the vast majority of my life, I've had people who agreed with me tell me I need to take a softer approach and that you catch more flies with honey. I adamantly disagreed; I think I even wrote a blog at one point that had a title that read something to the effect of, "I don't give a shit about catching flies I'm using vinegar". These were positions that I thought should be so universally agreed upon that I didn't think it was fair to take baby steps on it anymore. e.g. Why should we fight tooth and nail just for civil unions that may not be recognized the same as marriage or recognized everywhere? But now I'm seeing the other side. I very much believe another 4 years of Trump will end our democracy (I actually believe it's already over, but that would cement it for sure). So I'm Mr. Honey, now, and I don't think we can afford to be like I used to be now.

Another good Lincoln Project video: > July th, 2020 - The Lincoln Project today released a new ...

ChestRockfield comments on Jul 19, 2020:

I usually love what they put out, but I kinda think this ad is going too far and will lose people. Obviously, he contributed to the death toll, but to claim he's responsible for all of them is the type of claim that'll turn people away.

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 19, 2020:

@kmaz Those may not be the only factors that are the cause of the disparity between our numbers and those of other countries. We are a very fat unhealthy nation. We also have a much higher percentage of people that don't believe in science and do believe in various forms of magical thinking. I'm all about being smart and practical this election season...

Pat Robertson to Worried Wife: Your Cheating Husband Just “Appreciates Beauty” | Hemant Mehta | ...

SeaGreenEyez comments on Jul 16, 2020:

So he's saying the quiet part out loud. Poor Pat's lost his mind. It's only been a couple of weeks since he denounced Trump. (That was EPIC to watch!)

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 19, 2020:

@phoenixone1 Pat is one of those scum-of-the-Earth motherfuckers that's going to have people dancing in the street when he finally fucking dies.

I feel tired of memes. Your thoughts?

hankster comments on Jul 19, 2020:

agreed. with very very very few exceptions memes are a drag.

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 19, 2020:

@Marionville I don't know that you can * sell * memes as I don't really know how one can make money off them. Not really worth my time to find out because I'm not prolific or good enough at it. I suppose if someone responded to everything with a picture, quote, cartoon, or even emojis, it would get old, but again it wouldn't be the medium's fault.

I feel tired of memes. Your thoughts?

hankster comments on Jul 19, 2020:

agreed. with very very very few exceptions memes are a drag.

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 19, 2020:

@Marionville That's the first time any of those were posted to any kind of social media (that I know of). I only make them to send to a few people. I think what I'm saying is that memes themselves aren't to blame for anything, it's just a different way to express or share thoughts. Why is quoting people or clipping out a cartoon from the newspaper to share a sentiment any different than a meme?

I feel tired of memes. Your thoughts?

hankster comments on Jul 19, 2020:

agreed. with very very very few exceptions memes are a drag.

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 19, 2020:

@Marionville Here are a few that I made recently.

I feel tired of memes. Your thoughts?

hankster comments on Jul 19, 2020:

agreed. with very very very few exceptions memes are a drag.

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 19, 2020:

@Marionville What about if the only memes you share are ones you made yourself?

I feel tired of memes. Your thoughts?

BestWithoutGods comments on Jul 19, 2020:

Thus the "Literate" in your name. :)

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 19, 2020:

I just have to give you props for that comment/meme. Brilliant.

Even agnostics have a belief system.

LenHazell53 comments on Jul 16, 2020:

This is why I dislike intensely the term agnostic, it is wishy washy, open to "fast and loose" interpretation and rarely is it actually used to mean what it etymologically represents. It is a fence sitting, hedge betting, cop out as far as I am concerned, likewise spirituality is a nonsense word ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 19, 2020:

@LenHazell53 Well, that's idiotic. Words and euphemisms change definitions and to be so indignant about keeping to the original use is just silly. If your child came to you and said they were gay, would you just reply, "Well, that's good, I'm happy too"? When a word becomes so popularized to define something, you don't really have a choice but to get on board, otherwise you're just that annoying guy who has to explain what he meant for two minutes every time he opens his mouth and uses an antiquated definition for a word. And I don't believe you didn't read the rest. I think you're just shaking your fist at the euphemism treadmill because you don't have a response for the rest of my comment.

So what happened to the 'R' number then, which was so important just a couple of weeks ago, has ...

Mcflewster comments on Jul 8, 2020:

It was not local enough. I have no idea how they actually reach those numbers though. It should be as local as your local pub. Science is now investigating transmission through the air( as other viruses are) as opposed to droplet transmission ( transmission by droplets is where the coughs and...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 19, 2020:

@Mcflewster As sad as it is, you just have to assume every place is super contaminated and only enter/interact with places and people that are necessary. Additionally, you can get a sense of which places are higher risk by evaluating what people are going there. No one * needs "* to go to a pub, so pubs will generally have people that have been performing riskier behaviors (like being in rooms without masks with unmasked people they don't know), and thus, are more likely to have it. If you MUST go, try to stick to socially distanced patios with only people you live or work with all the time. You could possibly check social media to see if anyone is discussing whether or not staff members follow guidelines and enforce patrons following them as well. Around me, a lot of people post on Nextdoor about whether people follow the rules at local places.

Orange County school board votes for kids to return to school without requiring social distancing, ...

SCal comments on Jul 16, 2020:

They voted remotely? Hypocrites much?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 18, 2020:

@SCal He never said * only * flag.

My dad had a blocked bowel and the hospital gave him 2 options: 1.

ChestRockfield comments on Jul 18, 2020:

Is this a joke?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 18, 2020:

@soulless Holy shit. I'm sorry. That place is fucked. I'd drive to the next town from now on for any problem that isn't an emergency.

Even agnostics have a belief system.

LenHazell53 comments on Jul 16, 2020:

This is why I dislike intensely the term agnostic, it is wishy washy, open to "fast and loose" interpretation and rarely is it actually used to mean what it etymologically represents. It is a fence sitting, hedge betting, cop out as far as I am concerned, likewise spirituality is a nonsense word ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 18, 2020:

@LenHazell53 Not sure where you are getting that definition from. I checked a few references and none of them claim agnosticism relates to anything but god(s). I also object to the use of 'agnosticism' as 'atheism light' for the reasons I stated above. > If there is insufficient evidence to justify belief in a deity This is where it gets sticky for a couple reasons. 1. You can't choose what you believe. Either your brain finds the evidence it had been given sufficient to believe a proposition or it does not. 2. Even if you don't believe number one (your brain has determined that the evidence you've uncovered, if any, is not sufficient to believe said proposition) it begs the question * who * determines what is sufficient evidence to believe something. Gullibility is definitely a continuum, and past experiences must obviously play a significant role in whether or not you believe what someone, anyone, or "everyone" tells you. > I'll sort of believe because the premise is still out there and some day some more evidence might come along I know other people could possibly think these thoughts, but they make zero sense to me because I know people cannot chose what they believe. They may rationalize a belief in this manner, but it doesn't mean it's a conscious decision to believe. > because if there is is why is it hiding, being completely useless and malicious Neither of these things mean anything to whether or not a deity exists for several reasons. 1. A god could not eliminate all suffering because that would require the elimination of everything. Humans experience suffering in contrast to other states. 2. Why couldn't a deity be mean or absent just for shits (or boredom)? If we could contemplate a scenario where humans could bestow consciousness in something we've created, we would essentially be god to it. Do you believe no human that created conscious beings would ever torture the fuck out of their creation?

California churches take state to federal court over ban on singing during services

UUNJ comments on Jul 17, 2020:

So let them sing in a circle, all facing outward, wearing masks and face shields and having tested negative for Covid

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 18, 2020:

@UUNJ I mean statistically. Old people tend to be more religious, more Republican, and more venerable to Covid. This means the worse the outbreak gets the more likely it will improve Biden's chances in the election.

My dad had a blocked bowel and the hospital gave him 2 options: 1.

ChestRockfield comments on Jul 18, 2020:

Is this a joke?

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 18, 2020:

@soulless Well, you were mislead. This is most definitely not what actually happened.

Brain creatures?

Word comments on Jul 14, 2020:

There is in fact evidence for gods. Maybe not the non-existent flying spaghetti monster sky God, but nonetheless there is in fact evidence for gods. Brain is the structure. Mind is the operation on the structure. A dead brain would not appear to have a mind. Mind is the activity of a living ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 18, 2020:

@Word I know all about eye witness testimony and how unreliable it is. That doesn't change the fact that you can't seem to understand why the Bible is not reliable evidence.

Even agnostics have a belief system.

LenHazell53 comments on Jul 16, 2020:

This is why I dislike intensely the term agnostic, it is wishy washy, open to "fast and loose" interpretation and rarely is it actually used to mean what it etymologically represents. It is a fence sitting, hedge betting, cop out as far as I am concerned, likewise spirituality is a nonsense word ...

ChestRockfield replies on Jul 18, 2020:

It's strange how much disagreement there is on the definition of these two terms, but it seems pretty straight forward to me. Agnosticism deals with what can be known and atheism deals what what one believes. They are not mutually exclusive or in contrast in any way. The same is true of any religion and agnosticism. I have met two agnostic Christians (which is technically what all Christians should be).