Why is it okay to wish death on some, but not others?

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

I don't wish death on any of those poeple. I wish justice on them all.

If you could buy an artifically intelligent robot, would you want it to have some measure of free ...

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

I'd need to address the moral question first of all. Should I be able to pay money for an inteligent being and should I have the choice to subjugate it's will? There's a lot of unknowns in this hypothetical. How for instance is artificial intelligence acheived? So often I've found myself with many things that I wanted to but not enough time for them all. What if I woke up one day and found that I was a cloned intelligence uploaded to a computer and there was a real me out there? I think I might me more cool with it if I knew that my memories could be reintigrated back into meat space after I'd finished writing those letters, booking those appointments, paying those bills and sending those invoices.

You Won’t Believe What Obama Says In This Video! ? - YouTube

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

We need critical thinking lessons in schools. Perhaps now more than ever.

Cannabis supporters

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

I haven't smoked for years but don't think people should be criminalized for a bit of puff. I'm with Dr Nutt. Policy should be driven by harm reduction. Removing revenue from organised crime and removing the cost of policing and imprisoning people for the victimless crime of possession and use are both good reasons to support decriminalisation.

I'd like to know what your thoughts are about the book, "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins.

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

I always enjoyed his science books, particularly the selfish gene which blew my mind as a 12 year old particularly the iterated prisoners dilemma experiments. The God Delusion was preaching to the choir when I read it many years later but I found the clarity of exposition satisfying. Sent my first edition off to my MP as part of a campaign on Pledgebank. http://www.pledgebank.com/church-and-state

Do you Google?

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

A tweet that has stuck with me for a long time. "Why do people with smartphones ask me questions that Google can answer?" https://twitter.com/gselevator/status/472602589536600064?lang=en

Jus seconds ago I was visited by two very nice young men, Mormon missionaries.

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

+1 for civility. Hope you balanced it out later by eating a baby ;-)

T-shirts........................

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

Or shake it all about.

I have recently familiarized myself with the new age spiritual awakening concepts of enlightenment ...

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

As another physics person I can tell you that I enjoyed reading the Tao of Physics. There are parallels but neither validates the other.

Name THREE things about yourself and one not true. Let me guess which one's not true.

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

I can solve a Rubiks cube. I once stood on Peter O'Toole's toe. I've slept in more than one graveyard. I once designed a solar sailed space probe.

I don't remember where I heard this, but I still like it a lot.

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

I've always liked that one. Yet turns out that infinity is not a number, let alone an odd number or an even number.

Name the first word(s) that comes into your mind when someone says "scientism".

MattHardy comments on Apr 18, 2018:

Faith

Objectivism in the freethinking community

MattHardy comments on Apr 17, 2018:

A simplistic philosophy - attractive to the young and naive. Many go through that phase, most thankfully grow out of it.

Quick questions... or maybe not... How does everyone feel about marriage?

MattHardy comments on Apr 17, 2018:

Mine's great.

Well this should be interesting. What is bothering you today?

MattHardy comments on Apr 17, 2018:

One colleague treating another like his PA.

I just sneezed at work and a few people replied bless you, which I say as well when someone sneezes.

MattHardy comments on Apr 16, 2018:

Another one for "Gesundheit" - got into the habit after watching the original "Talking of Pelham 123"

Is it hypocritical for me, as an atheist, to celebrate religious holidays?

MattHardy comments on Apr 16, 2018:

Seriously dude you're fine. You're not pretending to be anything you're not. You're just respecting long held customs. It's not like God's going to be mad at you for turning up to his party uninvited. "Yeah yeah I'm a mate of Dave's"

How much omphaloskepsis is healthy?

MattHardy comments on Apr 16, 2018:

Good word "omphaloskepsis" Had to look it up. Word I was thinking of was Ouroboros a different thing entirely. Or maybe not entirely if your see what I mean... You can't feast solely on yourself.

How do you like your spuds?

MattHardy comments on Apr 16, 2018:

All the spud, especially the mash...

I made a mistake and am now being shamed for it, I went out with a couple of friends because it was ...

MattHardy comments on Apr 16, 2018:

What on earth do you think was a mistake here? Celebrating senior prom? Drinking? Do you think all your friends were also making mistakes then. I don't think so. Not sure what the drinking age is where you are but here 18 is old enough to vote, to marry, to die for your country to buy booze and certainly to drink it. And if you had drank too much and passed out from over indulgence then you wouldn't be the first or last to test your limits. But it doesn't sound like that's what happened. If you're drink was spiked that's not your fault. Yeah sure there's some valid advice out there to be aware of the risks, to keep an eye on your drink and various tips to deter and detect those who'd take advantage. However whether you did all of that or not, it's still not your fault. Hospital first, police next and if your dad want's to obstruct justice ask him why he's on the side of the rapists.

Women and the old love songs by the great saxophonists. What more does a man need?

MattHardy comments on Apr 16, 2018:

I think Maslow might have missed that out of his famous heirarchy of needs. Perhaps level three should be "Love and Sax." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krLYZmPRtnc&t=977s

Who knows about socks?

MattHardy comments on Apr 16, 2018:

I've been considering cashmere. Anyone know if they're worth it?

Do you think anything can be accomplished by hard work?

MattHardy comments on Apr 7, 2018:

Here’s my theory. Most people work hard. It's a prerequisite for success but the successful like to think it's the differentiator between them and the less successful. It makes them think they deserve all the rewards they’re getting and they can feel less guilty about having more than the less successful. They can rationalise that if those people had worked just as hard, then they'd be just as successful. It's a daft idea but with success come a voice. We listen to their delusional nonsense and place value in it and hope that doing so will help us to become successful. And in doing so we somehow manage to ignore how hard nurses, teachers, police and shopkeepers work.

What makes a person a dog lover or cat lover or both?

MattHardy comments on Apr 7, 2018:

Archetypal dog story is of a creature so loyal that when their master dies the dog sits at the graveside and pines away too. If you're a cat owner and you die the cat will eat your face.

The smarter you are, the less need you have to follow a religion...

MattHardy comments on Apr 6, 2018:

"The smarter you are, the less need you have to follow a religion..." Well I've certainly seen evidence of a correlation between Atheism and academic achievement but as they say: "correlation does not imply causation." It could be the other way round. e.g Not having easy answers on tap is what drives the less religious to strive for the harder answers. Or it might be that Christianity specifically negatively correlated with smartness. Atheism and other systems of belief would then receive an apparent boost because of that. Note also the disproportionate number of Nobel laureates brought up in the Jewish faith. It could be that both measures are being simultaneously influenced by some other cultural factors.

A Third of Young Millennials Are Confused About This Incontrovertible Fact

MattHardy comments on Apr 6, 2018:

When I was in my twenties I'd observed all kinds of eclipses. Sailed across the North Sea, observed navigation buoys appearing and disapearing over the horizon and used the known height of their lights and the curvature of the earth to confirm our distance from them on a chart. Yet nothing was more convincing and directly apparent to show me the curvature of the earth than looking out from the summit of Ben Nevis and seeing a church spire in the distance reaching for the sky at a distinct angle. On the one hand it's tempting to reflect on that, to look down on today's millenials and pity them for not having lead the life I've lead and had enjoyed the same wide range of educational experiences of the real world. However I do recognise the smug sense of self satifaction this gives me and note how well that sense seems to correlate with being totally wrong about things. So its even more tempting to reject that point of view entirely and admire today's millenials for their complete and utter contempt for the role of the survey taker. Hail Eris young millenials you're the first generation to have constant, free communication with friends in all timezones. I don't believe for one second that this survey reflects what you believe but I totally respect your right to wear bullshit as a badge of defiance.

Why this need to pass on our genes?

MattHardy comments on Apr 6, 2018:

Our desires aren't necessarily innate. They may be inherrited but they may also be cultural. I was both a desendent of, and brought up by people who wanted to pass on their genes. I'm not sure which is more influential in my sense of fulfillment in doing the same.

I don't believe my life has purpose, per se.

MattHardy comments on Apr 6, 2018:

It's up to me to give my life purpose. I don't think I do too bad a job of it.

Have you encountered a Flat Earther?

MattHardy comments on Apr 6, 2018:

I debated a Hollow Earther online once. Learnt a lot about seismology. Never engaged a Flat Earther though. However I have read Flat Earth: The History of an Infamous Idea by Christine Garwood https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flat-Earth-History-Infamous-Idea/dp/1447272463/ref=sr_1_7 Found it absolutely fascinating especially the spat between the Zetetic Astronomers and the Biblical Creationists.

Agnostic or Atheist

MattHardy comments on Apr 6, 2018:

That's not what Atheist means to me. I don't worship or even believe in any god. That makes me an Atheist. I don't know for certain there isn't a God. That makes me Agnostic. My understanding is that the two terms need not be mutually exclusive.

Does anyone else think that the very pillars of religion like original sin, universal forgiveness, ...

MattHardy comments on Apr 5, 2018:

I guess it's possible. In my experience most believers don't take that sort of thing too seriously and I'm not sure if those who act up and explain why in religious terms would be much better behaved had they never heard of God However as Stephen Weinberg said of religion: "With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." I couldn't say for certain which of the lessons in our main religions is the most dangerous but surely a contender for the top spot is the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac? This great Patriarch is held up as an immensely holy man for overriding his own conscience and carrying out an act that he knew should be considered evil but believed he was being devout for carrying out a religious instruction without question.

Does it make you angry when someone gives all the credit to god for healing the ailing instead of ...

MattHardy comments on Apr 5, 2018:

As long as they recognise that the doctors are necessary part of the process I don't mind them shoehorning a little God in there too. It's when they start choosing the Magic over the Medicine I get angry. That leads to unecessary suffering.

Little Free Libraries Are Turning Into Ground Zero for Religious Proselytizing – Friendly Atheist

MattHardy comments on Apr 5, 2018:

There's one not too far from me, where I walk my dog. Never knew that's what they were called though. Think if I were in the position of the author I'd pop up kingdom hall with a month's supply of what's being dropped off and ask the Elders if they thought that this sort of thing was worthy of their witnesses or if dropping off literature that's not going to be accepted shouldn't count on the field report.

How do you do on this test?

MattHardy comments on Apr 5, 2018:

210

I know this has been asked but my answer has changed and new members here.

MattHardy comments on Apr 5, 2018:

My Mum

The protection of Terrian nature is a human obligation, because the humans are the most evolved ...

MattHardy comments on Apr 5, 2018:

Actually we've been evolving for just as long as every other species. We all started at the same point. Our responsibility to the planet comes from two sources. 1) Our awareness, we alone have this pre-requisite for an informed response to the threats that are faced by our ecosystem 2) Our precarious dependence on this ecosystem. You see "nature" isn't under threat. Certainly we're losing individual species at an alarming rate but there is a precident for that. Nature will continue with the remaining species and their decendents will cope just fine as they adapt to whatever new normal we might leave behind whether that's Global Warming or Nuclear Winter. What's in the balance is whether humanity's decendents will be counted amongst them.

Can anyone think of a good disclaimer or warning label for the Bible and other religious texts?

MattHardy comments on Apr 5, 2018:

"Other sources of absolute truth are available."

What's your zodiac sign ?

MattHardy comments on Apr 4, 2018:

I don't know my start sign for certain. According to the standard dates I'm a Pisces but on the cusp so to be certain I'd need to check my exact time of birth and see when the exact transition was that year. Used to be that if I was reading a newspaper or magazine and it was open on the horoscope page someone around might ask - what does it say for Aries (or whichever) For a while I used to say - tell you what I'll read out two and you tell me which you think was yours. No-one's asked for a very long time now. That might be because my experiments illustrated what a load of Taurus the horoscopes were and I've stamped out belief in my local circle. Or it might be that now I get a curated news feed direct to my phone I haven't so much as laid eyes on a horoscope since the year of the Rat.

An Atheist clergy.

MattHardy comments on Apr 4, 2018:

"We chatted and I was no help at all except just talking, more letting her talk and cry." I suspect this is a perfect example of the "Overwhelming expection"

A photo that perfectly sums up Britain in 2018...

MattHardy comments on Apr 4, 2018:

Change is definitely due.

Hi folks. What do you think of what has been called (the god gene) ?

MattHardy comments on Apr 3, 2018:

I'd say it's a poor name for what is probably an interesting discovery.

Does someone have to be college educated to be intelligent?

MattHardy comments on Apr 3, 2018:

In my opinion Intelligence is like a muscle, if you don't use it then it just wastes away. College is like a gym for the mind and it also provides the Shiboleths by which the intelligent recognise each other. This is important in later life as when we leave college it provides the support system by which we challenge each other to keep sharp. College is by no means the only way this can happen but without something to replace is all you have is the aptitude, not actual ability. Also, at the risk of stretching the gym analogy to breaking point - there's people who take out a membership, buy all the kit and learn the lingo yet remain oblivious to their own ineptitude by virtue of never engaging in any form of challenge.

What does an Atheist believe we come from? Where are we going?

MattHardy comments on Apr 3, 2018:

I came from the kitchen with a coffee and when I've drunk it I'm going to take my dog for a walk.

Who's your favorite atheist comedian?

MattHardy comments on Apr 3, 2018:

Got to put in a mention for Dave Allen, and who doesn't love Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.

Am I being a paranoid conspiracy theorist about a national grocery store chain and condoms?

MattHardy comments on Apr 2, 2018:

You're right there's something wrong with this story, it just doesn't check out.

I have heard many religious people state that Atheists do not have moments of awe because they do ...

MattHardy comments on Apr 2, 2018:

Conways game of life. Pure mathematics so even the most ardent Theist would have trouble shoehorning in god's wisdom and majesty but from these few simple iterated rules, the most complex and amazing patterns emerge.

Can some answer the question of AD/BC in measuring years when the likelihood that Jesus never ...

MattHardy comments on Apr 2, 2018:

What's the question... should we call it CE and BCE instead?

Home espresso drink fans?

MattHardy comments on Apr 2, 2018:

Aeropress at work, simple stovetop espresso percolator at home.

Does anyone shy away from using a company who promotes religious ideals?

MattHardy comments on Apr 2, 2018:

No problem at all. So long as the're tollerant of other beliefs why shouldn't I be? Now if they want to treat their customers differently based on our beliefs (or lack) then that's a different story.

How would everyone feel about being refused a date because you’re an atheist?

MattHardy comments on Apr 1, 2018:

You can't win them all, nor can you expect other people to find the same things important in a partner as you do. At least they haven't rejected you for something you yourself feel bad about. So you're more spiritually evolved then them. That's like being rejected to being too funny, clever or attractive.

There seems to be a lot of smarty pants on this site, so I thought I would share this video.

MattHardy comments on Apr 1, 2018:

I haven't clicked on the link (sorry paranoid) but surely without a belief in the divine, then "Divine Inspiration" is just "Inpiration." Personally I have no problem with using the word "divine" as a superlative without supernatural connotations just as I'd dicuss a the muses in a similarly metaphorical matter. If someone is sersiously arguing that seemingly new ideas cannot come from the subconcious only from an alien intellect then I have a very low opinion of the alien intellect that came up with that one.

Time to see who stands on which side of the line over Brexit.

MattHardy comments on Apr 1, 2018:

Brexit is certainly not good for me. I voted stay and certainly don't want to see this rushed ill considered Hard Brexit further screw up this country. However I don't consider the referendum to be null and void. It was a close run thing that clearly could have gone either way. The government should respect that the result showed that far more people supported what Cameron had banked of being a demonstrably fringe idea yet should equally respect approximately half the voters wanted to stay in the EU. My ideal response to the referendum would have been an immediate general election where a mandate was sought for an orderly and gradual withdrawal via treaty renegotiation rather than the Article 50 circus that put us immediately on the back foot with a ticking bomb deadline. The progress of a gradual and tentative Brexit could be affirmed or rejected then through a series of general election mandates giving the Brexit side the opportunity to coalesce on a single plan rather than trying to be all things to all leavers. I would hope that under that scenario as the inevitable problems came to light either acceptable compromises could be found given time or the consensus might swing back in favour of keeping our membership intact. However none of that is going to happen. Perhaps it's the leave camp's fear of what care and consideration would lead to that is behind this hell for leather charge of the Right brigade. However there's no significant opposition to Brexit within the House of Commons and now that the Article 50 trigger has been pulled, it would take something exceptional for Brexit to not happen. The biggest lie of the Brexit campaign was the Brexit could be quick and easy.

What WON'T you do?

MattHardy comments on Apr 1, 2018:

I would do anything for love, but I won't do that

Friends trying to "save" me!!

MattHardy comments on Apr 1, 2018:

Mostly I'm live and let live when it comes to the religious. But that depends on it being a reciprocal arrangement. It's not that I don't want to dicuss religion but I find that when people open up a dialogue about it, with me they soon regret it. Shame I would enjoy the oportuinty to respectfully discuss my opinions on religion more often. Some pity the Jehova's Witness who knocks when I have time on my hands, I consider it my public duty to occupy their attentions in fruitess banter.

I use Google+ a bit, and there are several professed Christians who troll many atheist posts as a ...

MattHardy comments on Apr 1, 2018:

Quite right, turn the other cheek.

Do Atheiests/Agnostics Celebrate Easter?

MattHardy comments on Apr 1, 2018:

Well I'm not a believer in either Goddess Eostre or magical Bunny Rabbits. But if christians can hijack the spring festival for their own rebirth myth I've no problem encouraging my children in a family tradition of solving riddles to find chocolate.