What the actual fuck?

Petter comments on Sep 18, 2019:

How crass! A vain and, I hope, futile attempt at marketing by a company seeking to profit from the tragedy of others.

Flowerwall replies on Sep 18, 2019:

"How crass!" Great way to define large swaths of Amercan culture. Thank you.

Its a known fact that history is written by only the winners.

Gareth comments on Sep 14, 2019:

I hate that "history is written by the winners" trope. Usually it's used to excuse Nazi Germany and it's not even true otherwise we'd be reading Russian histories of WWII, Vietnamese histories of the conflict there and Mongol accounts of their own empire.

Flowerwall replies on Sep 18, 2019:

@JesseThompson I never heard of Operation Paperclip before. Have heard of the American financial ties especially at the beginning of the war, not sure if that continued as the war progressed? There will always be this corrupting influence of money and power that needs to be fought against. I suspect now in the US this corruption is just getting worse and worse.

Why does the beauty of the world, the order (and chaos) we discovered that underlies the universe, ...

Flowerwall comments on Sep 15, 2019:

Because they do exist.

Flowerwall replies on Sep 16, 2019:

@Seeker3CO Did I use improper grammar AGAIN? Well what I am trying to say is that there is definitely a force behind everything we see that is above our level of understanding. There is more to this. There has to be; it's the only explanation that makes sense.

How do you answer the question often put by theists, that a view of a purely material world where we...

Flowerwall comments on Sep 11, 2019:

Where is the poetry from ?

Flowerwall replies on Sep 12, 2019:

@Fernapple I understand how you meant it now.

How do you answer the question often put by theists, that a view of a purely material world where we...

Flowerwall comments on Sep 11, 2019:

Where is the poetry from ?

Flowerwall replies on Sep 12, 2019:

@Fernapple You are not an atheist, correct? It would seem certain that the author of this poem believed in God.

How do you answer the question often put by theists, that a view of a purely material world where we...

Flowerwall comments on Sep 11, 2019:

Where is the poetry from ?

Flowerwall replies on Sep 11, 2019:

@Fernapple It's very nice.

Anybody buy this crock of excrement? I wouldn't buy it on sale. [godtube.com]

Flowerwall comments on Aug 28, 2019:

How would it make you feel if it were true?

Flowerwall replies on Aug 30, 2019:

@TheoryNumber3 Well I really hope you get that TV then. 😁

Anybody buy this crock of excrement? I wouldn't buy it on sale. [godtube.com]

Flowerwall comments on Aug 28, 2019:

How would it make you feel if it were true?

Flowerwall replies on Aug 29, 2019:

@TheoryNumber3 A close encounter with an omniscient diety who sees into the very corners of our souls is what we all need, isn't it?

Another mass shooting.

Flowerwall comments on Aug 5, 2019:

I wonder, in these instances of mass shootings and domestic terrorism are people tasked with studying what has actually happened to the perpetrator that the perpetrator gets to a point where he now perceives this as acceptable course of action? Is there underlying psychopathology in most, if not all...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 28, 2019:

@LucasfromGR Okay this is old news already, but I have to follow up. Just found a book that approaches this issue from exactly the perspective I am thinking. It's written by someone holding a masters in forensics psychology and explores the various occurances of mass shootings going back to first one 1949. Not light reading though.

I think he's onto something

Flowerwall comments on Aug 4, 2019:

Oh wow, who is this man?

Flowerwall replies on Aug 27, 2019:

@Marionville I deleted my reply when I should have just edited it. Yes it would be something to learn more .

The writings of the "New Atheists" are certainly not meant to give you a warm and cuddly feeling.

WilliamFleming comments on Aug 21, 2019:

Please don’t go to Belgium.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 26, 2019:

@WilliamFleming Yes I was just thinking I need to not be so caught up in it. These are the same questions everyone has to work through.

The writings of the "New Atheists" are certainly not meant to give you a warm and cuddly feeling.

WilliamFleming comments on Aug 21, 2019:

Please don’t go to Belgium.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 26, 2019:

@WilliamFleming I am not strong or courageous just thoroughly bewildered and trying to work through it, but I appreciate your positivity. You are right overall. I don't know that it is correct to say belief or no belief are of no significance however. I'm not sure. I need to work on this, on myself.

The writings of the "New Atheists" are certainly not meant to give you a warm and cuddly feeling.

WilliamFleming comments on Aug 21, 2019:

Please don’t go to Belgium.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 26, 2019:

@WilliamFleming I don't know what my problem is. I lean toward atheism one minute, am at heart an agnostic, but then I believe in God, or feel I'm starting too. This makes NO SENSE! I almost prefer going back to the past where I was a steady atheist because at least I knew what I believed then. I think hearing "supernatural mysticism" that term it sounds like someone who is oblivious to the factual world, so it doesn't sit well with me. Just talked to some people the other day who relayed having supernatural experiences and I think, "Who am I to say?" But that seems illogical.

The writings of the "New Atheists" are certainly not meant to give you a warm and cuddly feeling.

Flowerwall comments on Aug 22, 2019:

Matias, are you okay? You don't sound okay.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 22, 2019:

@WilliamFleming I just learned about the assisted suicide there. I don't understand. It sounds so alarming. Yeah I could probably stand to calm down. Take up a new hobby. Knitting or something similar.

I am having an awful day today.

Davekp comments on Aug 21, 2019:

It becomes easy when we make it so. We are the architects of our own responses to the world.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 22, 2019:

I've always struggled with being able to design. But I do appreciate your positive perspective.

The writings of the "New Atheists" are certainly not meant to give you a warm and cuddly feeling.

WilliamFleming comments on Aug 21, 2019:

Please don’t go to Belgium.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 22, 2019:

@WilliamFleming What is the "put down" saying mean? I am not up on a lot of current phrasing and how it's used. Supernatural mysticism? What is that? Are you attempting to speak derisively of belief in God? Please don't. What awareness? Awareness of what?

At eight years of age Helen Keller had some deep questions that she wrote down for her teacher: ...

Flowerwall comments on Aug 21, 2019:

There was a quote of Helen's, I wish I could recollect it. That quote held so much importance for me. Her life story should be be required reading for every human being. Not that I have read her whole biography, but I did learn some about her. You can compare her contemporaneous blindness and ...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 22, 2019:

@WilliamFleming You think I am on to something then? Well it's a very weird place I am in right now. I am agnostic, but feel I am growing in belief. It's strange to be here. I have seen movies about her or atleast one. It's just been quite a while. Hopefully soon I can go back to reviewing more about her. I hope they did an honest portrayal of her family too, but isn't that an older movie? I should remember more. I think it's okay though. If you get a chance to watch it I would be interested to hear what you think. Let me know.

I am having an awful day today.

AncientNight comments on Aug 21, 2019:

Who said that life was supposed to be easy? I don't think that anyone ever promised us some kind of Rose Garden and I don't think we'll ever get one. What kind of headaches do you get? Regular tension headaches? Or Migraines? If it's the first kind, take some Ibuprophen and it'll go away. If ...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 21, 2019:

It's okay now, but thank you for asking.

The writings of the "New Atheists" are certainly not meant to give you a warm and cuddly feeling.

WilliamFleming comments on Aug 21, 2019:

Just because some people describe the world in those bleak terms doesn’t mean it’s really that way. It’s best to ignore those people IMO. They don’t really know what they are talking about. There’s way more to reality than meets the eye, and no one alive understands it. Physicalism is a ...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 21, 2019:

You are very well-spoken here.

I am having an awful day today.

LeighShelton comments on Aug 21, 2019:

check out Omen6_Actual 32M last post. it looks interesting

Flowerwall replies on Aug 21, 2019:

I did. Reading someone is not a Trump supporter is a good thing. My headache feels better already.

I am having an awful day today.

RavenCT comments on Aug 20, 2019:

Some days are worse than others. And headaches? Those make it a worse day. It's hard to clear your head of negativity if it hurts right? I always have a good fabric covered gel cold pack (2 actually) in the freezer - and take something effective. Maybe give yourself a day off from the ...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 20, 2019:

I am backing off right now.

I am having an awful day today.

demifeministgal comments on Aug 20, 2019:

I am not sure... I think never in my case heh

Flowerwall replies on Aug 20, 2019:

Oh, I'm sorry to hear you say that. I am sure that's not true.

[alternet.

ProudMerrie comments on Aug 16, 2019:

If the day ever comes that guns are banned in the U.S., the NRA will be largely responsible because they refuse to compromise on anything.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 19, 2019:

@ProudMerrie Well that would not mean that just because they fight they are the cause of guns being banned. It means the other side has to fight harder for some common sense restrictions.

Chinese Cartoonist, Collaborator Arrested for Unpatriotic Comics

Flowerwall comments on Aug 16, 2019:

That photograph next to the artist's work feels like dishonest representation of her message and an insult to the individuals pictured.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 19, 2019:

@altschmerz I think my first impression was my own projection. Really I don't know anything about this artist and her message. Still think it comes across as insult.

I feel upset about something right now.

LucasfromGR comments on Aug 17, 2019:

I was once very irritable and i hated it. Now i feel like i have better tools. If your a reader i could send you some links. I learned that when i was irritated, it was me that was making myself suffer longer than i should because i did not accept the world was unfair. I needed to learn this ...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 18, 2019:

You can send me links if you like. I will definitely look them over and appreciate your thoughtfulness. I just wish I could honestly express the inside of my head right now to someone, but that's impossible. It's okay though, I know everything is going to be fine.

[alternet.

ProudMerrie comments on Aug 16, 2019:

If the day ever comes that guns are banned in the U.S., the NRA will be largely responsible because they refuse to compromise on anything.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 16, 2019:

Can you elaborate on that? I am not familiar. What specifically have they refused to compromise on? Please don't get me wrong I am not a member of the NRA, have heard bad things about them, but I am interested in the spefics you are referring to.

Digital phenotyping: A revolution or a privacy breach? - MedCity News

brentan comments on Aug 16, 2019:

That seems a very liberal way to use the word phenotype - adapting it to mean a type of behaviour instead of a type of organism. Anyway, it might well be completely correct. On a more layman level, I was surprised that understanding other people did not bring about the wholly positive results that ...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 16, 2019:

Your right, that word, it sounds, is that the right word? Profiling would be a better word, but that sounds bad too. Or we could just be honest and call it Big Brother. Yes, I think the internet can bring out a lot of negative qualities in people. I can see how things like this could lead to whole other sets of problems.

I feel upset about something right now.

citronella comments on Aug 15, 2019:

Irritated can be the catalyst for change. That (dormant?) anger may motivate you to change what you do, how you approach another person, how you approach a situation, whatever. And changing your approach may give you more of a sense that you are in control of the situation. Good luck and congrats...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 15, 2019:

I hope it winds up being something positive like that. I was feeling better earlier and now no. But thank you for the positive message.

I feel upset about something right now.

demifeministgal comments on Aug 15, 2019:

Perhaps you have identified a new trigger which has caused your anxiety to peak? Worth considering once you have stabilized and see it as a learning experience :)

Flowerwall replies on Aug 15, 2019:

Thanks for taking the time to post that. I think I'm just stressed. Been feeling better in small amounts today. I think it will be okay soon.

I feel upset about something right now.

AncientNight comments on Aug 15, 2019:

I'm glad to hear that you recognized whatever it was that irritated you. Now, the next step is to take the appropriate actions to relieve the irritation. If you feel so inclined, post more details here. There might be someone here that has been through what you've experienced and is able to give you...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 15, 2019:

It's just something I need to mentally work through. I often feel like the answer to most things is read more.

I feel upset about something right now.

bobwjr comments on Aug 15, 2019:

Chill shit happens you will feel better tomorrow

Flowerwall replies on Aug 15, 2019:

Thank you. It is tomorrow and I do and I don't feel better. I think I need more time.

Apparently Epstein left a note ...

Pamscwf1 comments on Aug 10, 2019:

You have to be a certain age to appreciate that.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 10, 2019:

What is the reference? I completely didn't get that.

Mexican Petunias

djs64 comments on Aug 8, 2019:

This is an incredibly invasive species in Florida that does not actually provide much nectar or pollen to butterflies and bees. You are better off finding a native petunia for your region.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 9, 2019:

How do you go about doing that, finding native petunias? Last year I had a really beautiful insect that was attracted to my petunias, this year no. In the midwest though.

Another mass shooting.

Flowerwall comments on Aug 5, 2019:

I wonder, in these instances of mass shootings and domestic terrorism are people tasked with studying what has actually happened to the perpetrator that the perpetrator gets to a point where he now perceives this as acceptable course of action? Is there underlying psychopathology in most, if not all...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 9, 2019:

@LucasfromGR I hadn't heard that was a common thread. I did hear just like yesterday that in virtually all of these cases the perpetrators have interest in committing a mass shooting previous to doing it. Seems like a very straightforward, obvious clue. Hopefully some of these red flag type laws can stop people like this.

We finally got some much needed rain yesterday.

MikeInBatonRouge comments on Aug 6, 2019:

Good it was only half-dead. If it were "mostly" dead you'd have to apply the fireplace bellows on it. (Sorry. Princess Bride involuntary reference. ...couldn't help myself)

Flowerwall replies on Aug 8, 2019:

I think I may have the vaguest recollection of that part, or I could just imagine I do. It's been a very long time.

Any ideas on a topic?

Flowerwall comments on Aug 6, 2019:

I've never used clicker training myself, but have heard it can help. I use a similar approach to what you describe - just a general use of language and expecting my dogs to understand what I am saying and follow my commands. It works for the most part. I've never taken it beyond just home use ...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 7, 2019:

@K9Kohle789 I think humans are the "top dog" in their relationships with pets when those relationships are going the way they are supposed to. In your human mind you are a human relating to a pet, but in the dog's mind you are part of it's "pack". In order for the human/dog relationship to work the way it is supposed to the dog has to exhibit "submissive to human" behavior.

Any ideas on a topic?

Flowerwall comments on Aug 6, 2019:

I've never used clicker training myself, but have heard it can help. I use a similar approach to what you describe - just a general use of language and expecting my dogs to understand what I am saying and follow my commands. It works for the most part. I've never taken it beyond just home use ...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 7, 2019:

@K9Kohle789 Sorry to hear you got bit like that, sounds painful. The one time I saw Cesar get bit was with a food aggressive dog. Dog appeared to be okay, had retreated, and then, Wham!, right into his hand. Yes I do think there can be a genetic component to some of this aggression. And right, if the owners aren't consistently working to rid the dog of unwanted behavior, or if dog gets rehomed and there is that lack of consistency during the transitional phase or in the new home, yeah it will create problems. I see what you mean with clicker training. It seems like it would only be useful in very specific behavioral circumstances, training a very specific action, as it can also possibly ingrain other unwanted behavior unwittingly. Good behavior in dogs is a process learned over time by interacting with their humans and working the bad behaviors out through continuous correction.

We finally got some much needed rain yesterday.

AstralSmoke comments on Aug 6, 2019:

Only half dead? You've got this one licked.

Flowerwall replies on Aug 6, 2019:

I don't know. Some of them are still not looking too good. I guess I need to up my gardening skills.

This October will mark 2 years as an Atheist.

Flowerwall comments on Jul 28, 2019:

Curious to know about the podcasts and YouTube vids. Are they specific to atheism?

Flowerwall replies on Aug 6, 2019:

@Iam_Godrey I'll probably check some of these out, though i'm not not looking to be a full blown atheist. I feel I did fall under more of an atheist perspective for some years, now I am back to agnostic, leaning more toward belief. The universe is a wonderous place and atheism is just very flat for my taste. Thanks for the video suggestions though. Appreciated.

Another mass shooting.

Flowerwall comments on Aug 5, 2019:

I wonder, in these instances of mass shootings and domestic terrorism are people tasked with studying what has actually happened to the perpetrator that the perpetrator gets to a point where he now perceives this as acceptable course of action? Is there underlying psychopathology in most, if not all...

Flowerwall replies on Aug 6, 2019:

You'll hear in news reports following these instances snippets of information, "Investigators say..." But are there full reports, comprehensive analysis of events? Since this seems to be a growing threat to the public's sense of safety, we need to be studying this further. People can then come along and take events such as these and manipulate the reality of what has actually occurred which can cause further fear and terrorization. I think with full case studies made accessible to the public it's much easier to debunk false rumors. Certain aspects of these situations may appear forever questionable, as some of the information relating to previous incidents appears to have not been fully known or can not provide specific answer for. However, in general given overall full information of the scenario you can accept it as the truth. Some of these cases just come across as not making sense. I don't know. I think we are owed more disclosure in this cases.

About a year ago, the long-serving president of American Atheists, David Silverman, was asked to ...

Flowerwall comments on Jul 24, 2019:

Wait did you write that you had someone who was accused of sexual misconduct write on ethics? Must have misunderstood that part. Something about voodoo. Made absolutely no sense to me.

Flowerwall replies on Jul 24, 2019:

That's a lot of reading. I skimmed briefly and reallly loved to hear the expression of this idea -"When a member of our community falls, perhaps offer a hand instead of a mean word." So, my original thought process on this isn't much changed. Writing authoritatively on ethics is perhaps not well-suited to this individual, as it appears at this point he is more in the stage of student rather than teacher.