Are you an absurdist?

skado comments on Mar 18, 2023:

No, I’m not. What’s absurd to me is making up a concept (meaning) and then claiming “life is absurd” because it doesn’t contain the thing I made up!

Fernapple replies on Mar 19, 2023:

That is very true, though I think that perhaps A. Camus was a little deeper than that, and would be well aware of the logical irony. Indeed it may have been his intent to make it plain, though perhaps overdoing it, to build a whole philosophy around it.

Stinkin’ facts just get in the way

Thibaud70 comments on Mar 17, 2023:

And in literature, and in art. In certain corners of politics too...

Fernapple replies on Mar 19, 2023:

@Gwendolyn2018 That is very true. But I think that it is over simplified and that human nature and its relationship with culture and literature is far more complex than that. For at least four reasons. Firstly. Because the lines between fiction and hard history or science are not always clear cut. Secondly. Because long attention given to ideas and ways of thinking, can and does alter our minds and reinforces our prejudices, even though we may not notice it and may be well aware that it is fiction. Thirdly because other peoples misunderstandings may be picked up second hand. And fourthly. Because it can ack as a distraction, taking peoples time up, and preventing enough study of, history and science etc. thereby creating ignorance. To take an example. Leo Tolstoy's, War And Peace, is a book which I greatly love, and it makes real points of wisdom. But it does pose as in part history, and many people including many Russians take it as their main source of history about the period. Even if they do not do that, they still live in a culture where the attitudes to history expressed by it are the norm. So that there can be little doubt, that the idea of Russia as firstly, an inevitable natural nation and common culture, is reinforced by Tolstoy. That it is a natural victim, always under threat, and that it is naturally threatened from western Europe, are all inevitable prejudices made stronger in a culture which knows and is familiar with Tolstoy's work. It is therefore without doubt, that Putin's present invasion of Ukraine, owes something to the prejudices, ideas and attitudes, some true and some not, which were formed in Russian culture by a work of literature.

Why do people use euphemisms like "passed away" instead of saying "died"?

Fernapple comments on Mar 18, 2023:

Or because they are afraid that other people are afraid of the truth. Times change, back in the nineteenth century, death was quite an acceptable subject, but other things were not. So they had a euphemism. "Going to the gates of death." Can you guess what it was for ? Answer. ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 19, 2023:

@MsKathleen Sadly that was true.

Thoughts on this one?

Fernapple comments on Mar 18, 2023:

Having served on a couple of juries, in a country where the justice system is held up to be a subject of national pride. I can assure you that that statement, is literally true, in the most brutal and simple terms.

Fernapple replies on Mar 18, 2023:

@Thibaud70 It is mandatory / compulsory.

Stinkin’ facts just get in the way

Thibaud70 comments on Mar 17, 2023:

And in literature, and in art. In certain corners of politics too...

Fernapple replies on Mar 18, 2023:

@Gwendolyn2018 Every work of literature, creates an alternate universe, a fictional universe. In which the laws of nature are made by the author, who has god like authority within that universe. So that is why it is unwise to treat literature as a source of literal truth. If you do, then you can believe that a man, told you to stone none virgins to death, with absolute god given authority. While the proof of that authority was that he miraculously led a people out of slavery with that gods aid. Even though the people probably never existed, and they probably never made that migration. While in modern times many people believe that, (And I have heard the argument used many times by apologists. ) Fyodor Dostoyevsky, conclusively proved that civil humane society can not exist without sacred law, because he was able to construct a world in which a failing of humanity took place, and could be justified, within a novel. Richard Dawkins made a big mistake when he proposed the idea that religions are an infection of the mind. Because he failed to see that all of human culture is in fact an infection of the mind. Including and especially the arts, which are the generators of culture. The reason for that, is that evolution can not pre-adapt creatures for new environments which they may move into. So that all creatures are to some degree ill adapted, it just depends on how recent and how large the change of environment was. And few creatures made such a massive, or recent, change of environment as humans did, when we started to use language, and began to tell stories around the camp fire. So that we moved from a natural world to a cultural one, and we simply have no adaptions to cope with that. We are not by nature in any way equipped to cope with, or even understand the effects that culture has on us. Which is why it is wise, to treat all human culture, especially the narrative arts, with the greatest suspicion.

I wanted to share my joy at finally getting a place of my own.

Fernapple comments on Mar 17, 2023:

Good, that's great. Don't worry about the size, my home is about a thousand square feet, and it is really too big for a single person, I have two rooms that I don't use. Smaller homes mean less cleaning, cheaper heating, and less to repair.

Fernapple replies on Mar 17, 2023:

@Petter I only have two, but I closed the door on one about five years ago. The spiders are welcome to it, I am not cleaning up after them.

What happened to the common good ?

wordywalt comments on Mar 16, 2023:

The concept of common good still exists. The problem is that the right wing igores it.

Fernapple replies on Mar 16, 2023:

Yes, though I think that it was always a stronger idea with the left. Though i favour of the rights view, there is some value in the idea that the common good, can be left to take care of itself. But that will become less likely to be valid in today's world, where technology give the individual huge power, both economic and physical to do harm.

Can ethics be based on science ?

Fernapple comments on Mar 14, 2023:

It is a common to the point of banality, for Christian apologists to state that. "You can not derive morality from science and reason." But of course you can quite easily, as my quote below makes plain. What the apologists are actually saying of course is, that you can not derive Christian ethics ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 16, 2023:

@Thibaud70 No I did not saty science, I said science and reason. I accept the need for philosophy indeed that is what my comment is about.

".

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

How nice that you linked to an article, which directly contradicts one of your main philosophical views. I quote. "The science of the biological world, for example, is much more than a topic of intellectual curiosity – for some atheists, it provides meaning and comfort in much the same way that ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 13, 2023:

@skado Not many fortunately. I tend only to back away when I meet, statements, pictures and prayers supporting or taken from Christian ethics and values. But also especially the horrible relativism of the , "All religions amount to the same things" philosophy.

".

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

How nice that you linked to an article, which directly contradicts one of your main philosophical views. I quote. "The science of the biological world, for example, is much more than a topic of intellectual curiosity – for some atheists, it provides meaning and comfort in much the same way that ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 13, 2023:

@skado Perhaps yes. Though I do not see any value in reverencing tradition, quite the opposite.

I have a papaya tree which is prolific at bearing fruit.

Fernapple comments on Mar 12, 2023:

I do not think that there are ways to sex seedling plants, at least not without expensive equipment. Perhaps you could grow male and female clones from cuttings.

Fernapple replies on Mar 13, 2023:

@FrayedBear It does not, you start with a female for the female clones, and a male for the male ones. If you grow your first stock from seed, then you will get some of each, thereafter you take cuttings of the sex you want in the percentages you want.

Is there such a thing as "toxic masculinity"?

AnneWimsey comments on Mar 12, 2023:

Be a PERSON first, treat others as People first, forget all that 'should' Crap you were taught.

Fernapple replies on Mar 12, 2023:

You mean like. I saw a coat, ideal for riding my bike in, the other day. It is a ladies coat, buttons up the wrong way. Is that going to worry me ? Nah.

I have a papaya tree which is prolific at bearing fruit.

Fernapple comments on Mar 12, 2023:

I do not think that there are ways to sex seedling plants, at least not without expensive equipment. Perhaps you could grow male and female clones from cuttings.

Fernapple replies on Mar 12, 2023:

@FrayedBear You don't, you start with what you want.

".

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

How nice that you linked to an article, which directly contradicts one of your main philosophical views. I quote. "The science of the biological world, for example, is much more than a topic of intellectual curiosity – for some atheists, it provides meaning and comfort in much the same way that ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 12, 2023:

@skado And I have never said that religion is entirely harmful either, indeed if it was, it would hardly survive, all things retained by human culture bring some benefit to some. Even Communism and Fascism brought some benefits, though often false and deluded ones. And I find the strawmaning of myself and many others who are critical of it, as if they are people who are blind to its benefits, both false and annoying. Believing there are bad apples in the barrel, is not the same as believing that there are no good ones. But I do however think that some of the harms done by religion are inherently part of its essential nature, and can not be separated from it. The main one only coming it is true, mainly from my personal definition of religion, which although personal, is I think a useful one which could be more widely used to everyone's benefit. And that is. “Religion is a synonym for the proof from authority fallacy.” Which means that I define a large part of human culture, (Not just literal belief in a theist god.) as essentially religion. Including such things as faith in tradition, nationalism, and alternate truths such as artistic truth. And the problem with the false authority fallacy is that, although it may sometimes support truth and goodness, it makes no distinction, nor does it have any mechanism to make distinction, between those things and the false and harmful. Which makes the natural link between religion, in both the common and my sense of the word plain. Because if you wish to make true and good statements, then you can easily find good evidence, logic, reason and even good authority on your side. The only people therefore who truly NEED religion in all its forms, apart from natural religious awe, are those wish to promote falsehoods, or if you like the criminally intended. And that also makes plain the link to human progress, since as we do to some degree, often haltingly, and only sometimes, progress forward into the realms of, reason, evidence and logic. The need for good people to look to religion for support, fades all the time, while the need for the ill intended and most of all, those who oppose all progress, to use religion as their weapon grows. Religion may therefore be bad in parts now, and good in parts. But if the human species does continue to progress, especially morally and scientifically, then should you come back in a hundred years, then I am sure you will find something truly horrible. You seem pleased to state that religion is growing in numbers, and hurry to refute those who argue the opposite. I do not much care either way, since I think that that is just an argument about the Ad Populum fallacy, and I care little for childish number scoring one way or the other. But though happy to accept the facts, I...

".

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

How nice that you linked to an article, which directly contradicts one of your main philosophical views. I quote. "The science of the biological world, for example, is much more than a topic of intellectual curiosity – for some atheists, it provides meaning and comfort in much the same way that ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 12, 2023:

@skado Religious naturalism without the religious aspects would just be naturalism, yes. But what would and does make it religious, is treating naturalism with religious awe and reverance, which is what I find in writers like U. Goodenough. And works wonderfully I find, because naturalism pure, is all the more lovely, and all the more a sourse of humility to set against the narcissism which is religion.

TAUTOLOGY.

Petter comments on Mar 12, 2023:

Are we being tautly taught about tautology? 🤣

Fernapple replies on Mar 12, 2023:

When the rope pulls taught, you know its all over, and they have got you. Is that a tautology?.

I have a papaya tree which is prolific at bearing fruit.

Fernapple comments on Mar 12, 2023:

I do not think that there are ways to sex seedling plants, at least not without expensive equipment. Perhaps you could grow male and female clones from cuttings.

Fernapple replies on Mar 12, 2023:

@FrayedBear You start with a known male or female plant, and you take cuttings, layerings, or microprop them. I do not know if Papaya can be done from cuttings, since they are not something that I have grown, but it should be possible to clone them some way.

I have a papaya tree which is prolific at bearing fruit.

Fernapple comments on Mar 12, 2023:

I do not think that there are ways to sex seedling plants, at least not without expensive equipment. Perhaps you could grow male and female clones from cuttings.

Fernapple replies on Mar 12, 2023:

@Kurtn It is probably possible with some seeds but not others of course.

Your Science is Bought and Paid For [youtu.be]

Fernapple comments on Mar 11, 2023:

It just misses one important point. Which is that. The only reason she now knows that doctors and scientists, were mistaken, or deceptive, about things like the link between smoking and cancer, is because other scientists and doctors discovered it and exposed them. If you distrust all science, then ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 12, 2023:

@FrayedBear I don't know. Though I do recall, that when the big push against tobacco began, many years ago, it was said that cigars and pipe smoking, were less harmful than cigarettes. Cigars and pipe tobacco presumably being more natural and free of chemicals and paper, but they did not say they were harmless. Having said which, I think that all smoke is dangerous, and I am told that wood smoke, as from a garden bonfire, is twenty times more dangerous than tobacco.

".

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

How nice that you linked to an article, which directly contradicts one of your main philosophical views. I quote. "The science of the biological world, for example, is much more than a topic of intellectual curiosity – for some atheists, it provides meaning and comfort in much the same way that ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 11, 2023:

@skado 1. Never said that it did, stop you addressing those aspects. Only that you are very fast to criticize others for doing so. 3. You say. "When scientific evidence happens to find some overlap with folklore and tradition, it does not seem wise to me to deny the evidence for fear of being seen as endorsing the non-overlapped portion, " That is quite simply the most stupid statement I ever heard anyone make, so I hardly going to bother addressing it. Why on earth would anyone deny the evidence ? 4. I did not say that you made such a claim, the statement was rhetorical, about my position. 5. The fact that Dr Lee's claim is non majority, does not mean that it is not capable of becoming majority, nor does it make it maladaptive. Not to mention that does by default make a dismissal of DR. Lee's statement. As to your rest. Yes of course I am talking about the Augustinian view. And the way that I enjoy religious naturalism, without the religious aspects of it, is by firstly by yes not taking it literally or seriously, but more importantly, not accepting the elements of it that come from traditional theist religions, only those which come from science, and by fighting to keep it clear of those religious aspects for the benefit of others.

First the Southern US, now the British isles, having extreme cold weather and snow.

Fernapple comments on Mar 8, 2023:

Yep it is cold here, especially on the east coast where I live.

Fernapple replies on Mar 11, 2023:

@Petter Deep envy. Had I not got so many obligations to friends and family, my dream would be to live half the year in Iberia. (Portugal in my case.)

Flowers in the snow.

HippieChick58 comments on Mar 10, 2023:

To me it is always sad when the spring flowers get snowed on. Mother Nature has some sick ideas.

Fernapple replies on Mar 10, 2023:

But they are evolved to survive it. That is why for example most spring flowers have hanging heads, it keeps the weather out of the working parts.

First the Southern US, now the British isles, having extreme cold weather and snow.

Fernapple comments on Mar 8, 2023:

Yep it is cold here, especially on the east coast where I live.

Fernapple replies on Mar 10, 2023:

@Petter 30 C is more than enough for me.

First the Southern US, now the British isles, having extreme cold weather and snow.

Fernapple comments on Mar 8, 2023:

Yep it is cold here, especially on the east coast where I live.

Fernapple replies on Mar 9, 2023:

@Petter Ouch, that is hot.

".

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

How nice that you linked to an article, which directly contradicts one of your main philosophical views. I quote. "The science of the biological world, for example, is much more than a topic of intellectual curiosity – for some atheists, it provides meaning and comfort in much the same way that ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 9, 2023:

@skado No you entirely misrepresent my position on religion, and especially religious naturalism. Firstly you seem to forget that I come from the UK, where the metaphorical, non literal, view of religion, which I believe you espouse, is the main and dominant form, at least among the semi-educated. And it is the form in which I was educated in within a C. of E. institution, I am therefore well familiar with that interpretation of religion, and was a great enthusiast for it for many years during my youth. I am also a long time follower of the religious naturalism movement, have belonged to its groups and still enjoy religious naturalism as a big part of my life. However. Firstly. That does not stop me from addressing the harms caused by mainstream literalist religion. Secondly. Nor am I so simple minded as to think that all of religions harmful effects come from simple literal belief in a personal god. And that merely taking that out of the religious equation, is enough to change what is often a very harmful and dangerous culture, into a benign one. Indeed as someone who has lived all his life under institutions, governed by the metaphorical non literal religious interpretation, perhaps far more so than any American can imagine, I can assure you, that it is a religious form which leads to just as much hypocrisy, financial greed, privilege, arrogance, and indifference to the sufferings of others, as many literalist churches. Thirdly. I am not so simple minded as to suppose that I can indulge in non literal religion, and not help support, foster and promote institutions, in which literalism and its many evils will find a home and a rich area for growth. And that I can do so without being guilty of promoting that growth. Fourthly. You can not claim that the biological comforts, spoken of by Dr Lee are not part of religious naturalism, indeed they are for many the core of it. Five. You can not dismiss Dr Lee's claims on the ground that they are a minority view, and yet dismiss, mainstream literalist religion as a suitable definition of religion, because you have a minority alternative, that is just not consistent.

First the Southern US, now the British isles, having extreme cold weather and snow.

Fernapple comments on Mar 8, 2023:

Yep it is cold here, especially on the east coast where I live.

Fernapple replies on Mar 9, 2023:

@MsKathleen, @Organist1 Has been a very mild winter so far, then the cold comes with the spring.

First the Southern US, now the British isles, having extreme cold weather and snow.

Fernapple comments on Mar 8, 2023:

Yep it is cold here, especially on the east coast where I live.

Fernapple replies on Mar 9, 2023:

@MsKathleen That would be far more than I deserve. But you would be most welcome.

There are two things people can't hide.

Fernapple comments on Mar 7, 2023:

Being old and having a bad back.

Fernapple replies on Mar 7, 2023:

@duchessa1 That depends on how old and grumpy you are.

Messaging appears to no longer be active on this site.

FearlessFly comments on Mar 6, 2023:

I just sent you a 'message'. Did it get there ?

Fernapple replies on Mar 7, 2023:

@MsKathleen So did I. So obviously it is not working.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

hankster comments on Mar 4, 2023:

doomed to failure or destined for success of what? where is the difference made in the larger scheme?

Fernapple replies on Mar 7, 2023:

@hankster Yes but there you miss the point, the dishonesty is there to start with, yes, but then it is passed on. By teaching people to accept things without questioning, which is needful for religion to succeed, by teaching them to value parroted learning over experience and evidence, to undervalue science, and to honour the trappings of fake authority, it trains them in all the skills they need for self deceit and thereby dishonesty. Am I really to suppose that someone who has been taught to mindlessly respect sham authority, and never to question received folly, in one aspect of life, is not going to carry those same customs and habits of thinking forward into all other aspects of life ? Or that someone who is imbued deeply with the following of one cult, is going to have, by habit, the level of critical thinking skills needed to avoid falling for others, and passing on that folly to more victims ? Partial self deceit is one of the really good con artists most useful weapons, and learning how to do sham authority, and how to suppress questioning, by example from early youth, one of their most important skills.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

hankster comments on Mar 4, 2023:

doomed to failure or destined for success of what? where is the difference made in the larger scheme?

Fernapple replies on Mar 6, 2023:

@hankster But is not religion just a tool of "money, hunger, power, survival and selfishness etc. ?

Messaging appears to no longer be active on this site.

Julie808 comments on Mar 6, 2023:

Yes, I fear you might be right. Since you friended me on FB, a few others did too, though I interact more here than on FB. To be honest, because of the feeling of anonymity, I have shared more of my true self here than on my public social media presence, where I don't want to ruffle feathers....

Fernapple replies on Mar 6, 2023:

@Kurtn Looks better than most of the alternatives I have seen to this site.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

hankster comments on Mar 4, 2023:

doomed to failure or destined for success of what? where is the difference made in the larger scheme?

Fernapple replies on Mar 6, 2023:

@hankster So I take it that you do not believe that, the main prevailing part of a culture, most probably its religion, has any effect on the behaviour of the individual ?

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

Thibaud70 comments on Mar 5, 2023:

First of all, pure altruism exists, and it is nothing special, and it is not an "extreme behaviour" (millions of people in France alone donate money or blood every year). Everybody who makes donations like this is an altruist by definition (costs for the altruist + benefits for someone else) ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 6, 2023:

@Thibaud70 As I said to jack above. Thibaud above states that. "we are all sinners, that the flesh is weak". But of course the flesh is not weak, the flesh is merely a given. As well adapted to our needs as evolution could make it, but ultimately value free. (Though it may include moral instincts.) No more weak or strong, or to be judged than a rock or a pile of sand The fact that such phrases are so easily used as a commonplace shows just how deeply ingrained is the idea of a failed creature, in need of forgiveness, that we do not even stop to think about the indoctrination behind that, or how the religion has implanted it.

They have lots of new phones and apps now and you need to change, the woman told me.

Fernapple comments on Mar 5, 2023:

I only just gave up on my Blackberry, because the battery was done for. I got a new phone mainly for emergencies, which lives in the glove compartment of my van, and is hardly ever turned on, but I still miss the Blackberry. Like you I use refurbished computers all the time, why can't people ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@DenoPenno Penny Mobile is the full name.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

Thibaud70 comments on Mar 5, 2023:

First of all, pure altruism exists, and it is nothing special, and it is not an "extreme behaviour" (millions of people in France alone donate money or blood every year). Everybody who makes donations like this is an altruist by definition (costs for the altruist + benefits for someone else) ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@jackjr It is also setting up the ideas of absolute values. No nobody really wants, or expects to be a saint today, but then nobody wanted or expected in the tenth century to be a fearless viking warrior out of the sagas. But a societies idealized models are used, like it or not, to punish those who that society considers do not live up to what it wants of them, by using guilt, among other things. And since wants, all wants, even societies wants, are often limitless, failing is always inevitable, soiety will always say, why did you not do more. Except for the lucky few who are seen as saints and heros. Thibaud above states that. "we are all sinners, that the flesh is weak". But of course the flesh is not weak, the flesh is merely a given. As well adapted to our needs as evolution could make it, but ultimately value free. (Though it may include moral instincts.) No more weak or strong, or to be judged than a rock or a pile of sand The fact that such phrases are so easily used as a commonplace shows just how deeply ingrained is the idea of a failed creature, in need of forgiveness, that we do not even stop to think about the indoctrination behind that, or how the religion has implanted it.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

hankster comments on Mar 4, 2023:

doomed to failure or destined for success of what? where is the difference made in the larger scheme?

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@hankster Yes but a culture trained in the acceptance of high levels of cognitive disonance, as not only Christian morals, but also Christian belief requires. Has had its whole value system lowered a notch, without even being aware of it. The one thing that native peoples most often noted about western explorers, and empirialists on first encounter, time after time, was how incredibly dishonest they were, compared with "normal" people.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

Thibaud70 comments on Mar 5, 2023:

First of all, pure altruism exists, and it is nothing special, and it is not an "extreme behaviour" (millions of people in France alone donate money or blood every year). Everybody who makes donations like this is an altruist by definition (costs for the altruist + benefits for someone else) ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@Thibaud70 Exactly, you have just stated my case yourself. ( PS. I grew up proestant, see below under yvilleton.)

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

yvilletom comments on Mar 4, 2023:

How does your “pure altruism” differ from ordinary altruism?

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@Thibaud70 It was drummed into me at a Christian school. That, as a teacher put it. "The church offers forgiveness because we are all sinners for falling short of Christs total sacrifice. "

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

ASTRALMAX comments on Mar 5, 2023:

Setting people up with demands that are impossible to fulfil ensures that they fail in their attemtps.

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@Thibaud70 We are all altruists, but we also all fall short of total self neglect, and that creates the thin wedge needed to bring guilt to the table, and for it to be quite unreasonable unjustified guilt.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

Thibaud70 comments on Mar 5, 2023:

First of all, pure altruism exists, and it is nothing special, and it is not an "extreme behaviour" (millions of people in France alone donate money or blood every year). Everybody who makes donations like this is an altruist by definition (costs for the altruist + benefits for someone else) ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

Yes ordinary everyday altruism, is quite normal, healthy and I do indulge in it just like everyone else. But the idea of total neglect of self interest certainly does exist in Christian dogma, as exampled by making the saints objects of praise and sainthood the ultimate goal. And while it is perhaps easier to defend many of the requirements of that dogma, than many of the harmless sins, set up by the church, such as respecting the sabath. It is none the less true, that altruism is seen as an absolute limitless goal, for which the church does pose as the only institution able to offer forgiveness, for falling short of the absolute. And it no doubt gains much power from that.

They have lots of new phones and apps now and you need to change, the woman told me.

Fernapple comments on Mar 5, 2023:

I only just gave up on my Blackberry, because the battery was done for. I got a new phone mainly for emergencies, which lives in the glove compartment of my van, and is hardly ever turned on, but I still miss the Blackberry. Like you I use refurbished computers all the time, why can't people ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@DenoPenno I use a company, called Penny for my phone service, it is, pay as you go, and only costs me thirty five pounds about fifty dollars per annum. You can still get those sort of deals for low users if you shop around.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

LovinLarge comments on Mar 4, 2023:

Altruism is unrelated to religion. I attest to the fact that altruism exists. Details unavailable. In my opinion, altruism is the highest form of human conduct and is properly the ultimate human goal. Please distinguish between altruism and "pure altruism".

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@LovinLarge Oh yes certainly, indeed I think that it is widespead and important. A lot of people seem to have missed, the fact that I was making a point about specifically "pure altruism" as demanded by religion, where you are not even suppossed to get the satisfaction of feeling good about helping, or think that your society may benefit, and altruism generally. This is my fault, I should know better by now than to write quickly late at night after a couple of drinks.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

LovinLarge comments on Mar 4, 2023:

Altruism is unrelated to religion. I attest to the fact that altruism exists. Details unavailable. In my opinion, altruism is the highest form of human conduct and is properly the ultimate human goal. Please distinguish between altruism and "pure altruism".

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@LovinLarge Exactly.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

waitingforgodo comments on Mar 5, 2023:

I just had an unholy thought : all my posts here are either altruistic or not.

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

They may be altruistic, but not purely so.

Who of you would self-identify as nihilist?

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

I would yes. Or at least a "happy nihilist" or "post nihilist" . In so far as I have found that ironically, the abandonment of all belief in meaning, is the best route to meaning. If you would like enlargement, here goes, I have put this up here before, but I think before your time. Here for...

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@Gwendolyn2018 Yes altruism is limited and it is good that it is. Which is why Christianity loves to ask for unlimited altruism, thereby setting people up to fail.

”Life is tragic simply because the Earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day,...

Fernapple comments on Mar 4, 2023:

Yet for the most part the fear of death, only exists because the theist religions feed the narcissism, which makes people think that immortality is the only way to attain the inflated expectations they are programmed with by that same religion. Fear of death does not seem to exist in many ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

@callmedubious Possibly that may be an intended irony, but of course lions also bring pain, possible wounding, physical disablement, steal your food, and look threatening when attacking. One of the main points is that we probably have natural fears, of things like fire, high places, and large threatening animals. Which serve the evolutionary purpose of keeping us alive, and natural instinctive fear of death therefore would be redundant, and unlikely to have evolved in most animals. Since most of them have no concept, or at least deep understanding of mortality, or even of self, except for perhaps some of the great apes and maybe elephants. And since most of our instincts probably go far back into our evolutionary past, they predate our understanding of mortality, or even self.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Mar 4, 2023:

Altruism is based on empathy; largely, humans are kind because we know how it feels to be in a position that is sad or scary. Many, if not most of us, feel better in some degree when others are kind to us. I am gregarious and speak to people when I go out (I am also a misanthrope and a nihilist, ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

Yes I agree, I do not have a problem with altruism as such, by "pure" I mean the total neglect of all self interest, as encouraged by Christian dogma.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

hankster comments on Mar 4, 2023:

doomed to failure or destined for success of what? where is the difference made in the larger scheme?

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

It perhaps makes no difference either way in the great scheme, it is just a problem for the individual. Though it may even be that a large part of the success of western Christian culture, is due to its training its people well in the arts of dishonesty. I do not have a problem with altruism as such, by "pure" I mean the total neglect of all self interest, which may though be harmful, since it means that the best able to understand peoples needs, themselves, are not taking care of those needs which can be to everyone's cost.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

racocn8 comments on Mar 4, 2023:

Numerous examples of altruism as performed by other species are documented. The presence of this behavior explains our own behavior. However, in our society we see that fundamentalists commonly lack empathy to the point of being psychopathic, and this does seem to be caused by religious ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

Yes I agree, I do not have a problem with altruism as such, by "pure" I mean the total neglect of all self interest, as required by Christian dogma.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

bbyrd009 comments on Mar 4, 2023:

im skeptible that you would not choose at least certain little children over yourself, were the situation to arise, fern

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

Yes I agree, I do not have a problem with altruism as such, by "pure" I mean the total neglect of all self interest.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

Julie808 comments on Mar 4, 2023:

I've always felt that altruism exists because it's the right thing to do, not out of duty or reward, but because we care about others as much or more than about ourselves. We do get a good feeling about ourselves when we do good for others, even if it diminishes our own pleasure in life, but it's a...

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

Yes I agree, I do not have a problem with altruism as such, by "pure" I mean the total neglect of all self interest.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

Druvius comments on Mar 4, 2023:

So what do you consider the behavior of those who chose to shelter their Jewish neighbors against the Nazi Holocaust? Is that not altruism?

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

Yes I agree, I do not have a problem with altruism as such, by "pure" I mean the total neglect of all self interest, as demanded by some theist religions.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

yvilletom comments on Mar 4, 2023:

How does your “pure altruism” differ from ordinary altruism?

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

I do not have a problem with altruism as such, by "pure" I mean the total neglect of all self interest, as required by Christian dogma. Which can be very costly to society at large, which has to deal with the mental health and family trauma problems which result.

I have never really believed in pure total absolute altruism, neither that it exists, or that it ...

LovinLarge comments on Mar 4, 2023:

Altruism is unrelated to religion. I attest to the fact that altruism exists. Details unavailable. In my opinion, altruism is the highest form of human conduct and is properly the ultimate human goal. Please distinguish between altruism and "pure altruism".

Fernapple replies on Mar 5, 2023:

Yes I agree, I do not have a problem with altruism as such, by "pure" I mean the total neglect of all self interest, traditionally demanded by Christian dogma. Which can be very costly to society at large, which has to deal with the mental health and family trauma problems which result.

Tierra del Fuego national park. Argentina.

Thibaud70 comments on Mar 4, 2023:

why do you post your pictures upside down ?

Fernapple replies on Mar 4, 2023:

Things like that happen on this site.

Who of you would self-identify as nihilist?

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

I would yes. Or at least a "happy nihilist" or "post nihilist" . In so far as I have found that ironically, the abandonment of all belief in meaning, is the best route to meaning. If you would like enlargement, here goes, I have put this up here before, but I think before your time. Here for...

Fernapple replies on Mar 4, 2023:

@Gwendolyn2018 It seems you are probably right about him, since he seems to have disappeared. Though he did have a run in with another member, which was quite nasty, and that may simply have scarred him off being new here. Which is sad, because I at least was enjoying his company. I have never really believed in pure altruism anyway, neither that it exists, or that it would be a good thing if it did. It only really exists in the Christian/Islamic moral systems, where it seems to exist in order to set up impossible demands on people, so that they are bound to fail. Which then means that they have to resort to the church, which controls a monopoly on moral forgiveness. Setting people up to fail with fake beliefs in what is required of them, is perhaps the nastiest of all religions crimes. Though even with Christians the idea often fails, so that instead of going to the church in search of forgiveness, they find way to distort and manipulate the moral system to mean anything they want, so that the Christian religion in the end trains its people either to guilty and depression, or trains them and accustoms them to extreme dishonesty. Either way it destroys their humanity. I like this may post it. Thank you for the inspiration.

I'll get to eight with a little help from my friends😉

glennlab comments on Mar 4, 2023:

05

Fernapple replies on Mar 4, 2023:

Love the last one, that is me.

I really never address the flat earthers.

Organist1 comments on Mar 4, 2023:

There were flat earthers way before there were computers, though. They don't listen to logic, either.

Fernapple replies on Mar 4, 2023:

True but most of the flat earthers in my youth, saw it as a joke, where now many seem to be serious.

".

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

How nice that you linked to an article, which directly contradicts one of your main philosophical views. I quote. "The science of the biological world, for example, is much more than a topic of intellectual curiosity – for some atheists, it provides meaning and comfort in much the same way that ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 4, 2023:

@skado The one that myth/religion are needed for human wellbeing because they meet basic needs like "meaning and comfort" not obtainable from objective thinking. Of course.

Who of you would self-identify as nihilist?

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

I would yes. Or at least a "happy nihilist" or "post nihilist" . In so far as I have found that ironically, the abandonment of all belief in meaning, is the best route to meaning. If you would like enlargement, here goes, I have put this up here before, but I think before your time. Here for...

Fernapple replies on Mar 4, 2023:

@Gwendolyn2018 You may be correct, but I have been debating and commenting with him for a while now, and I think that he is genuinely interested in our conversation here, and is an agnostic. He only joined a short while ago, and is I think really interested in finding out about the community, so that could be why he is asking about core ideas.. I know that Skado confessed that, his main intent was to gather information for a book for Christians, but we would be unluck to get two.

India's Croney Capitalism : Modi Government Gave Adani Special Privileges to Boost Coal Business: ...

barjoe comments on Mar 3, 2023:

Narendra Modi is a real fascist. If GOP takes over America the whole world will be run but right wing despots. World's largest democracy is doomed as is the oldest continuing democracy. We think of USA as a young country, but no existing democracy has remained this long. Very sad.

Fernapple replies on Mar 4, 2023:

@barjoe Oldest in one form.

India's Croney Capitalism : Modi Government Gave Adani Special Privileges to Boost Coal Business: ...

barjoe comments on Mar 3, 2023:

Narendra Modi is a real fascist. If GOP takes over America the whole world will be run but right wing despots. World's largest democracy is doomed as is the oldest continuing democracy. We think of USA as a young country, but no existing democracy has remained this long. Very sad.

Fernapple replies on Mar 3, 2023:

@barjoe Iceland not Ireland. Having both been democracies for more than five hundred years.

Who of you would self-identify as nihilist?

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

I would yes. Or at least a "happy nihilist" or "post nihilist" . In so far as I have found that ironically, the abandonment of all belief in meaning, is the best route to meaning. If you would like enlargement, here goes, I have put this up here before, but I think before your time. Here for...

Fernapple replies on Mar 3, 2023:

@Thibaud70 There are many sources of morality which do not need to be derived from an supreme outside purpose. For example, simple selfishly motivated logic. "Do I want to be happy, safe, content and enjoy human dignity ?" A. "Yes." "Am I more likely to be those things, if I live in a world where happy, safe, dignified and content, is the general rule for most people ?" A. "Yes" " Then is it worth my while to make some investment in everyone else ?" Of course. Plus the thought that even if happy and prosperous now, I may one day be at the bottom of the social pile, as may anyone. And therefore it is better for all, if the bottom of the pile is not too bad a place to be. The third reason, is simple animal instinct. We are social animals, and therefore things, including others, matter to us. Indeed all the moral systems in the world would not exist unless they were driven by some animal instinct and emotion, since reason alone with nothing to drive it, or aim for, produces nothing. Nobody started cooking because scientific evidence, or religious belief, made them think it made food healthier, or even showed them why they should value health at all. Nobody would have invented morality without some motivation, and if that does not come from god or some supernatural origin, then it must be hard wired into us, even though the outputs of that hard wiring may vary greatly between cultures. It will probably happen that under the effect of civilization those instincts will decline, since they were made to help us survive in family groups on the plains of Africa, and we no longer need them. In a civil world, where technology can provide our needs and safety, evolution favours the selfish and the cheat. And it is probable that our ironically named "humane" instincts, like those of empathy etc. have already declined a lot, so that we are morally degenerate animals, fast falling below the social mammals in the caring instincts. But happily it will, because evolution is slow, probably take many thousands of year for them to erode completely, so we may enjoy the benefits of them for a long while yet. It is true that none of these will get you to a Christian morality, of absolute altruism. Which many people confuse with morality, being because they are indoctrinated to think of moral, and Christian as synonyms. But I find Christian morality, to be deviant, and unhealthy anyway, even if only because I despise absolutes, end time values, and I think that a complete lack of self care, even in favour of others is unhealthy for society.

".

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

Rationality and reason in individuals is not the point, the point is, whether the belief system itself is rational and reasonable. Good people may believe some bad things for the wrong reasons, and bad people some good things for the right reasons. Life is complex, and we all get some things ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 3, 2023:

By human wellbeing, and the personal learning curve. I did say in the other line that although I am a nihilist to large meaning, and purpose, that only opens the door to smaller personal objectives. There are few absolutes. And relativism ( at least as I would frame it ) is concerned with knowledge rather than meaning, there are few absolutes, and therefore we can never have final truth, but that you can never perfectly reach a goal, does not mean that you can not get nearer to it. I pragmatically accept, that to ever believe that you have final perfect truth, is arrogant and dangerous and that wisdom comes, as with the scientific method, in always being able to change a belief, when presented with better evidence. But at the same time to believe that there is no truth and all ideas are equally valid, leaves you dead in the water. Indeed if you were a true relativist, then you could not be a nihilist, since all beliefs are equally good, and therefore even the rejection of belief is just a belief like any other.

Yeah yeah.

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

You live in a very weird country.

Fernapple replies on Mar 3, 2023:

@barjoe The feeling is mutual.

Does anyone still have access to a copy of that nasty article Admin wrote about the liberals on this...

Fernapple comments on Mar 3, 2023:

No, I don't even remember that sorry. But would like to see it, if you find it, please send me a link.

Fernapple replies on Mar 3, 2023:

@LovinLarge Thank you.

Who of you would self-identify as nihilist?

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Mar 2, 2023:

I am a happy nihilist. While I understand that everything is ultimately meaningless and we actually have no purpose, I live in this body and this body likes comfort. My mind likes to be entertained. I love people even though we will ultimately be dead and forgotten. Someday, the sun will become...

Fernapple replies on Mar 3, 2023:

Exactly.

India's Croney Capitalism : Modi Government Gave Adani Special Privileges to Boost Coal Business: ...

barjoe comments on Mar 3, 2023:

Narendra Modi is a real fascist. If GOP takes over America the whole world will be run but right wing despots. World's largest democracy is doomed as is the oldest continuing democracy. We think of USA as a young country, but no existing democracy has remained this long. Very sad.

Fernapple replies on Mar 3, 2023:

Switzerland, Iceland.

Priest Says Hell Is Fake And Religion Is About Control! - YouTube

skado comments on Mar 2, 2023:

Well a priest said it, so it ***must*** be true! 🤣

Fernapple replies on Mar 2, 2023:

Don't worry its metaphorical.

Priest Says Hell Is Fake And Religion Is About Control! - YouTube

Fernapple comments on Mar 2, 2023:

He's almost, almost here with us. But then so are a lot of priests, who are known to have a low level of belief compared to the people sat in the pews, but who mainly chose to be dishonest.

Fernapple replies on Mar 2, 2023:

@jlynn37 The difference between them, is that a politician sells lies that he will attempt to defend, and that he expects to be questioned. The priest has given up on the task of validation, and only want the lazy lies, that he can claim it is mistaken to question. A priest is as dishonest as a politician, but a coward as well.

Religion has never won an argument with Atheism and science. [tiktok.com]

TXLerins comments on Mar 2, 2023:

I agree. But this guy should take a chill pill and relax a bit. People are lied to from an early age. Damaged people act in different ways. An atheist bashing a theist yields the same results as a theist bashing an atheist. Education along with understanding and compassion could go a long ...

Fernapple replies on Mar 2, 2023:

I agree with your first two but no, sorry I disagree, with the last. Philosophy is the ancestor of science, and philosophy was created to address the failing of what can be called, received folly, A.K.A. religion, when it was obvious that it no longer did its job. Had religion not failed, then the ancients would never have created philosophy, because there would have been no need, and then natural philosophy, (the old name for science) would not have been born either.

Priest Says Hell Is Fake And Religion Is About Control! - YouTube

Fernapple comments on Mar 2, 2023:

He's almost, almost here with us. But then so are a lot of priests, who are known to have a low level of belief compared to the people sat in the pews, but who mainly chose to be dishonest.

Fernapple replies on Mar 2, 2023:

@jlynn37 Digging ditches is making a living. Selling lies for money, is stealing other peoples livings.

First traces of Homo sapiens DNA in a Neanderthal | Earth Archives

BDair comments on Mar 2, 2023:

Neanderthals had larger brains than modern humans, and likely had increased cognitive abilities. They had more developed memory and logic centers.

Fernapple replies on Mar 2, 2023:

Not really like MTG at all then.

What do y'all think about the strange things going on in the world like the wealther, time speeding ...

Fernapple comments on Feb 28, 2023:

Time can and does speed up, and slow down, all over the place all of the time, that is just called "normal". While in another sense, our local time, is just a function of how we measure it, so that if its speed changed, so would the speed of our clocks, and therefore we would not be aware of it....

Fernapple replies on Mar 1, 2023:

@anglophone I don't think that taylortee knows.

(Zelensky Says Ukraine Is Preparing to Attack Crimea) He has to be talking through his hat.

Fernapple comments on Feb 28, 2023:

Do you really think that Zelensky would tell everyone his plans in advance. He may not be the best commander in history, but even he would not be that stupid. Deliberate disinformation.

Fernapple replies on Mar 1, 2023:

@ASTRALMAX Tried again.

(Zelensky Says Ukraine Is Preparing to Attack Crimea) He has to be talking through his hat.

Fernapple comments on Feb 28, 2023:

Do you really think that Zelensky would tell everyone his plans in advance. He may not be the best commander in history, but even he would not be that stupid. Deliberate disinformation.

Fernapple replies on Mar 1, 2023:

@Druvius He is doing it because he know that it is what Putin expects him to do, in the way of disinformation. Then when that is out of the way he can put the disinformation that Putin does not expect, along with any real information he can not conceal, then Putin has to start guessing.

I don't want to burden you with yet more problems, but this one should not be forgotten.

Ryo1 comments on Feb 26, 2023:

As far as Britain is concerned, here is another, somehow less pessimistic, perspective by Jeff Ollerton, an ecological scientist. :) Have honey bees declined in Britain? Ollerton says the answer is a resounding NO! He says if you want to 'save the bees', or otherwise support pollinators, focus ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 26, 2023:

Yes that is what is in the video too.

Hate-preacher: Gays should be executed with stones "melted down into a bullet"

Flyingsaucesir comments on Feb 25, 2023:

The preacher doth protest too much! (Is he projecting his self-hate over his own latent homosexual fantasies?)

Fernapple replies on Feb 26, 2023:

quite possibly.

If the story was real, why can't true "christians" see it this way?

anglophone comments on Feb 26, 2023:

Christians, along with Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Pastafarians, have by definition abandoned all reason.

Fernapple replies on Feb 26, 2023:

@anglophone Quite. I love reason, but I am amazed by the number of people who run away waving their hands in the air, at the mere mention of it.

If the story was real, why can't true "christians" see it this way?

anglophone comments on Feb 26, 2023:

Christians, along with Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Pastafarians, have by definition abandoned all reason.

Fernapple replies on Feb 26, 2023:

Reason is difficult, reason takes work, and reason sometimes tells you things you don't like.

Wow.

Word comments on Feb 25, 2023:

You are not completely "deconverted" if you call yourself agnostic or atheist. You have just swung to the other side of the god delusion. The philosophical spaghetti monster sky God construct causes the God delusion and there is both the Christian side and the illogical atheist side to the ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 26, 2023:

@Omnedon Yes some people call it strong atheism vers. soft atheism. Word though likes to taunt atheists all as though they were strong atheists. For your position, (and mine) I believe the correct technical term is "agnostic atheist", though I am not much into labels either.

Wow.

Word comments on Feb 25, 2023:

You are not completely "deconverted" if you call yourself agnostic or atheist. You have just swung to the other side of the god delusion. The philosophical spaghetti monster sky God construct causes the God delusion and there is both the Christian side and the illogical atheist side to the ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 26, 2023:

@Omnedon Word believes that agnostic is the only logical conclution. Since both belief in god, and non belief in god are beliefs. The agnostic "I dont know." being the only true non belief.

“No one is born with greed, prejudice, bigotry, patriotism and hatred; these are all learned ...

Fernapple comments on Feb 25, 2023:

I will go with that, except perhaps greed.

Fernapple replies on Feb 25, 2023:

@Marionville No I think moderation is learned behavior, the baby wants everything it can get, it would hardly survive if it did not. I am not so sure about hate either, I know a mother of twins, who fought viciously all their life, and she swears that she could feel them fighting even in the womb.

It's obvious many Russians want to get out of Russia and some of them have the resources to get all ...

Petter comments on Feb 24, 2023:

Needs a subscription.

Fernapple replies on Feb 25, 2023:

@Druvius The Russian government "says" he is very popular, and that is only among those who chose to stay. When the war started it is certainly true, that the border posts with Finland and the other baltic states were almost swamped.

remember that the things you take for granted, you do, because they were meant to be.

Fernapple comments on Feb 23, 2023:

Fortunately, I do not take much for granted. Not even life. So I can fairly well claim to be free of meaning as well.

Fernapple replies on Feb 24, 2023:

@hankster Not at all, I found your post and comments most interesting. But now I will stick my neck out and risk your ire, by saying that I think there may well be a cultural difference. In that on the American side of the Atlantic, it seems to me, there exists an attitude of believing that, what we have, is what we have earned and deserve. While in Europe it is much more likely that you will encounter people, who are ready to admit that they have far more than they have earned or deserve, in terms of wealth, health and happiness etc. and who would happily admit that happiness is not a state that you deserve as a natural right, but is merely a fortunate fluck for the fortunate few.

A really thoughtful video, about some very interesting creatures, I did not for example know that ...

Buttercup comments on Feb 23, 2023:

Crazy, look how little space is left for the mother's heart and lungs

Fernapple replies on Feb 24, 2023:

@Garban Indeed. I was making the point that, if the male does some of the work then she can invest more. All animals will naturally tend to invest the maximum amount possible in reproduction. And where the males do the sitting, then of coures the females are in competion for that service, so there must be occassions when males are not monagomous, and only one of the two or more hens gets the service. So since it is possible that the largest egg is more desirable to the male, there is an evolutionary pressure to lay the biggest egg, even beyond that of providing the greatest food for the chick.

remember that the things you take for granted, you do, because they were meant to be.

Fernapple comments on Feb 23, 2023:

Fortunately, I do not take much for granted. Not even life. So I can fairly well claim to be free of meaning as well.

Fernapple replies on Feb 24, 2023:

@hankster In the small sense yes, I may overlook the odd peice of good fortune that comes my way. But in the big picture, though I have many failings, I do not think that I am one of those people who mistakes good fortune for something that I have earned or am owed. Indeed I am quite convinced that life has given me far more than I deserve or could even reasonably want.

A really thoughtful video, about some very interesting creatures, I did not for example know that ...

richiegtt comments on Feb 23, 2023:

Amazing how the large egg sac does not require the mother to feed the hatchlings .The New Zealand Kakapo the worlds largest non flying parrot is another bird I find quite interesting.

Fernapple replies on Feb 24, 2023:

Coming soon.

A really thoughtful video, about some very interesting creatures, I did not for example know that ...

Buttercup comments on Feb 23, 2023:

Crazy, look how little space is left for the mother's heart and lungs

Fernapple replies on Feb 23, 2023:

It is also probably why the male hatches the eggs, when the female has put so much investment into them. And also giving the male a large egg with a lot invested in it already, is a good incentive to keep him working.

Creepy as Fuck!

Tejas comments on Feb 21, 2023:

And Madonna dates men 30 years younger than her

Fernapple replies on Feb 21, 2023:

@Tejas That's getting towards creepy yes.

Creepy as Fuck!

BDair comments on Feb 21, 2023:

What exactly is creepy about this? 14 year old girls can have boyfriends. While I don't personally believe anyone should get married at 18, there is nothing wrong with two people that love each other doing so.

Fernapple replies on Feb 21, 2023:

It may well be that they have a perfectly good relationship, but it could also be a case of an innocent being manipulated in ways she is still too young to understand. I agree with you that people on social media should not, and can not, judge effectively, but they are free to speculate and bet on the likely readings. This is not a court of law, and nobody is on trial.

Creepy as Fuck!

Tejas comments on Feb 21, 2023:

And Madonna dates men 30 years younger than her

Fernapple replies on Feb 21, 2023:

Yes, but thirty years younger than Madonna is still quite old.

Creepy as Fuck!

Pralina1 comments on Feb 21, 2023:

He looks like early 30s. Yikes 🤢. And where is her stupid mother 🙄🙁

Fernapple replies on Feb 21, 2023:

Sadly, her stupid mother is probably in his church, thanking god that her daughter is with a godly man.

41/2 yrs later , here we are , snail made it to level 9.

Fernapple comments on Feb 20, 2023:

Laughed at your jokes, smiled at your joys, felt your pains, absorbed your wisdom, and still want more. A life shared is a life lived more than once.

Fernapple replies on Feb 20, 2023:

@Pralina1 You think too much of me, but thank you. Though I can be mean and selfish, just like most people.

We all came from Africa. [m.facebook.com]

Pralina1 comments on Feb 20, 2023:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRnJJASq/ 100%

Fernapple replies on Feb 20, 2023:

Great little talk by R. D. he does explain things well.

"I want to see that your breasts aren't hanging in your pockets," he said.

Fernapple comments on Feb 18, 2023:

The bottom line on, on-line dating, is that, men are easy. Most men are so highly motivated to mate, and relate to women, that they will readily roll over and play dead, and turn any trick for any woman who asks. While women network well, so that information and introductions to any good available ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 19, 2023:

@AlbertSchepis I am sure Literates stats are quite correct. But in fact they are strong evidence, could not be stronger, that my main point is correct. Men are highly motivated to seek relationships with women, and that does probably mean that it is easy for women to pick out the really good ones quickly, so that only the rejects get as far as dating. And that if a woman therefore wants a high value man, she would be much better to network among other females, than to go online dating.

Is There a Global Resurgence of Religion?

Fernapple comments on Feb 18, 2023:

So it is nice to know that R. Inglehart favours the things which drive high birth rates, and religion, like poverty, low womens rights and poor education, and that he thinks overpopulation is a benefit. Me thinks, that his misogyny and racism are showing a bit.

Fernapple replies on Feb 19, 2023:

@skado Perhaps who knows. We are all infected with cultural racism to some degree. Here is a short summing of the World Values Survey findings, are not concerned with those issues at all. It is perhaps not wise to cherry pick statements by individuals out of context. "Much of the variation in human values between societies boils down to two broad dimensions: a first dimension of “traditional vs. secular-rational values” and a second dimension of “survival vs. self-expression values.”[9] On the first dimension, traditional values emphasize religiosity, national pride, respect for authority, obedience and marriage. Secular-rational values emphasize the opposite on each of these accounts.[9] On the second dimension, survival values involve a priority of security over liberty, non-acceptance of homosexuality, abstinence from political action, distrust in outsiders and a weak sense of happiness. Self-expression values imply the opposite on all these accounts.[9] Following the 'revised theory of modernization,' values change in predictable ways with certain aspects of modernity. People's priorities shift from traditional to secular-rational values as their sense of existential security increases (or backwards from secular-rational values to traditional values as their sense of existential security decreases).[9] The largest increase in existential security occurs with the transition from agrarian to industrial societies. Consequently, the largest shift from traditional towards secular-rational values happens in this phase.[9] People's priorities shift from survival to self-expression values as their sense of individual agency increases (or backwards from self-expression values to survival as the sense of individual agency decreases).[9] The largest increase in individual agency occurs with the transition from industrial to knowledge societies. Consequently, the largest shift from survival to self-expression values happens in this phase.[9] The value differences between societies around the world show a pronounced culture zone pattern. The strongest emphasis on traditional values and survival values is found in the Islamic societies of the Middle East. By contrast, the strongest emphasis on secular-rational values and self-expression values is found in the Protestant societies of Northern Europe.[10] These culture zone differences reflect different historical pathways of how entire groups of societies entered modernity. These pathways account for people's different senses of existential security and individual agency, which in turn account for their different emphases on secular-rational values and self-expression values.[10] Values also differ within societies along such cleavage lines as gender, generation, ethnicity, religious denomination, ...

"Experience is the main reason we are here, I think, in the world - to gain experience.

KateOahu comments on Feb 16, 2023:

I do not think we are here for any reason other than that evolution put us here. What we need to understand is that we are part of the whole and need to start being responsible to and for the whole. As the supposedly most highly evolved entity on the planet, we should realize our responsibility ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 19, 2023:

@MsKathleen No evolution is not that fast even among bees. But it has been observed on a human life time scale among some creatures. The moths for example who developed a dark coloured form to cope with soot, in the industrial North of England, which stanined the tree trunks on which they hid black. Who are now reverting to their original grey colour now that anti-polution measures are place. Evolved twice in just a couple of centuries. While fish are now known, to be evolving to be smaller in size and the breed at a younger age, because that helps them to slip though the standard sized holes in fishing nets. While evolution in bacteria , which often have life cycles measured only in minutes, have been observed evolving in test tubes, in a mater of only days. Ten or twenty generations seems to be about right for minimum changes that are testable if not, easily observed, and if the selective pressures are high. Such as fish nets which kill more than half the fish. While major changes will take perhaps a thousand generations or more, at least, especially if the pressures are low, such as things which kill only one percent or less.

"Experience is the main reason we are here, I think, in the world - to gain experience.

KateOahu comments on Feb 16, 2023:

I do not think we are here for any reason other than that evolution put us here. What we need to understand is that we are part of the whole and need to start being responsible to and for the whole. As the supposedly most highly evolved entity on the planet, we should realize our responsibility ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 18, 2023:

@MsKathleen Exactly. So because they are short lived, they are subject to more selective events than larger creatures. You can only die or fail to breed during your life, once. You only get one life. So because bees fit many more lives into the years than we do, evolution by natural sellection can do more work over that time.