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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.
What emotional satisfaction do you get from being an agnostic or atheist?
MattHardy comments on Oct 24, 2019:
Well agnostic means not knowing. Not knowing is ignorance and ignorance is bliss. I mean sure it's not the wishful delusion of the happy clappy Christian but at least we're not faced with the horrific Lovecraftian truth that the universe is in fact a droplet of Yog-Sothoth's ball sweat. Sorry must go - it's time to trick the unwitting thralls into believing I've taken my meds. Phweeb!
Text message from my marijuana dispensary: "Tired of driving around looking for toilet paper and...
MattHardy comments on Mar 15, 2020:
I like the idea but if it left me with a dry cough...
Tricky situation so feedback accepted.
MattHardy comments on May 10, 2018:
Yes that's tricky alright. On the one hand I'm sure it is of comfort to the dying to know that their final wishes are in safe hands and lying to him is unlikely to be as convincing as making it the truth. We leak information in so may way's that we're only beginning to understand. On the other hand my experience is that a service at the Crematorium is more usual. Also a religious service even at the crematorium sounds like it would serve the dead more that the grieving. Perhaps find the appropriate church and vicar and ask the vicar's advice. You mention that your father in law is only a "vague" C of E. If he's not regular congregation then a church service might not even be an option.
I'm afraid to check my Schrödinger's lottery tickets, I fear I will not like what I find when I ...
MattHardy comments on May 10, 2018:
Glad I'm not the only one. I carry around £2 worth of hope in my wallet for weeks before I crack and just have to peek. Then (so far) the hope vanishes and I have to wait for the jackpot to rise to crazy levels again before I'll allow myself to buy another ticket.
3 words only..
MattHardy comments on May 3, 2018:
His daughter eloped
Feeling Introspective Today.
MattHardy comments on Oct 12, 2018:
So they say that a man is his own yard stick. We tend to measure by our own experience. We look at an alligator and in human terms it's not much of a thinker, engineer, artist or poet but when it looks back at us it thinks "yummy! soft, juicy, just needs little drowning and let it rot down for a day or two and it'll be perfect"
Money TRUMPs life and the means of life.
MattHardy comments on May 20, 2019:
Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk And said goodbye to the circus Off she went with a trumpety-trump **Trump, trump, trump**
[youtu.be] Shazam Trailer
MattHardy comments on Jul 24, 2018:
Looks like it has potential. More fun that all the gritty DC - noir movies we've had recently.
My "daughter" is turning 15 today, she recently told me that she feels transgender so I'll complete ...
MattHardy comments on May 10, 2018:
One curious piece of advice I heard from someone else going through this. It sounds strange but I've heard that it can be therapeutic to hold a funeral for your daughter. No doubt you'll love your new son just as much as the daughter you used to know but it makes sense that there should be a sense of loss which should be acknowledged and processed. Your mileage may vary as they say.
End economic slavery! Create equality for all!
MattHardy comments on Jul 12, 2018:
Imagine a society that allows ignorant people to elect anyone?
I came across the word "soul" in a book I'm reading and wondered if the word (aside from relating to...
MattHardy comments on Jul 11, 2019:
There are certainly non supernatural interpretations of the word. "Their team played with soul", "he was the life and soul of the party" are pretty unambiguous. It can also be used poetically to describe the essential essence of one's character. That said even if the author is clearly using the word in its magical sense I don't have much of a problem reading about either fantasies or other people's perceptions of the universe.
Trump attacks media over viral photo that was actually shared by Merkel – ThinkProgress
MattHardy comments on Jun 17, 2018:
What has it come to when "US President tells bare faced lie" Is no longer newsworthy.
Hustler publisher Larry Flynt dies at 78
MattHardy comments on Feb 11, 2021:
Very much enjoyed the movie https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117318/ but don't know much more about him. If that's a halfway faithful retelling to Larry's story then it's a sad loss.
Though Atheism is not a religion, which one of them are more generous? :)
MattHardy comments on Jun 14, 2019:
I had a friend who died earlier this year. I'm really very sad that I can't share this with him. He'd have loved it. http://lazybeggers.com/en/index.html
The famous "Monkey Trial" was begun this day in 1925.
MattHardy comments on Jul 10, 2019:
It was just creationism then. Now we have flat earthers, anti vaxxers, and climate skeptics.
How would you feel about hearing this: You have exceeded expectations in this position for the ...
MattHardy comments on Jun 9, 2018:
Glad that I live in a country with workers rights. Encouraged that I'm confirmed as good at my job at a time when I'm going to look for a new one and angry whilst I visualised all the physical harm I'd visit onto the person I heard this from if I weren't so week willed, feeble and law abiding. That said, I did experience something similar a long time ago. I'd signed up for temp work at an agency and they got me a gig at a factory filling in for someone on maternity leave. They'd been off for a month or two and there was quite a backlog. At the end of the week I was told. "I'd love to have you back any time as you're a good worker. Unfortunately you've completed all the work so we don't have anything else for you to do."
Today I heard from a very religious family member that you are very miserable and have no reason to ...
MattHardy comments on Oct 10, 2019:
Best response to that might be some kindly indulgent laughter. Don't argue just demonstrate with conspicuous cheer that whoever put such a daft interpretation on those muddled old pages cannot possibly be correct.
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.
What belief system should you follow?
MattHardy comments on Jul 14, 2019:
Is that domain name in the backgroup rolytaco.com - doesn't seem to work?
Respecting movies that are musicals
MattHardy comments on Jul 13, 2018:
26th Most popular musical movie on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/search/title?genres=musical=feature Behind plenty I haven't heard of.
Am I alive or dead?
MattHardy comments on May 1, 2018:
Yes
This popped up on another site. Does anyone know anything about this study?
MattHardy comments on Dec 24, 2019:
Just clicked through to the original study, it appears to have been retracted at the authors' request https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/S0960-9822(15)01167-7.pdf?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982215011677%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
London: Massive Crowds Gather to Hear Geert Wilders Demand Tommy Robinson’s Release ...
MattHardy comments on Jun 9, 2018:
Breitbart - must be true
Do you all have FIRE tv yet?
MattHardy comments on Jun 10, 2018:
Yes, I enjoy Lucifer on it
One of my co-workers (she's Catholic) commented during lunch that those that do not have faith have ...
MattHardy comments on May 12, 2018:
You could start with "That's an interesting and controversial opinion, tell me, why would you think that?"
The scientific method remains the most reliable method that we have for knowing things.
MattHardy comments on Jun 6, 2021:
For some background on the replication crisis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42QuXLucH3Q
How great is cheese?
MattHardy comments on Jun 10, 2018:
With the application of a certain sharpness, you can make a cheese greater. Buhdoom tish! I'll get my coat...
This will never happen.
MattHardy comments on Aug 10, 2019:
Who's that one at the front?
Amazing proof: Polytheism and Scientism both dealt a logical blow
MattHardy comments on May 22, 2018:
Reminds me of Gödel's incompleteness theorems. Also interesting that one of the predicates is "In the same universe" It seems that two beings that existed outside of the universe could know everything about our universe so long as the information only flowed in one direction. What they couldn't know about each other would be irrelevant. That said, it's difficult to see why we should pay any attention to a god (or gods) who know everything but can't or don't act in our universe. Unless maybe the gods are Yanny and Laurel deciding on which afterlife we are due to enter depending up whether we uphold the sacred truth of the White and Gold dress or the heretic Black and Blue interpretation.
So, my wife and I have six sons.
MattHardy comments on Jun 13, 2018:
Because when comparing the two sentences the same word has different meanings. In the description above you state that it was meant and taken ironically. In the other, there's little room for that interpretation.
How Atheists Pray [agnostic.com] .
MattHardy comments on Jul 24, 2020:
I guess meditation distills out the worthwhile parts of prayer from the supernatural malarkey. Not sure contemplating the Mysterium Cosmographicum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysterium_Cosmographicum is a particularly worthwhile focus of meditation. Kepler was a dude and his laws a planetary motion were spot on. The value of the platonic solids in planetary science, not so much.
Why should I pay taxes on my property?
MattHardy comments on May 29, 2018:
Because otherwise all the people who are giving you a free ride will cheer as you get arrested and punished.
Is this America now
MattHardy comments on Jun 17, 2018:
I'm sure George Washington would be very proud.
Is it correct that Atheists are smarter than religious?
MattHardy comments on Apr 23, 2019:
I think Gervais is exaggerating for comic effect but it's while since I looked at the numbers. An inverse correlation between academic achievement and religiosity has been noted. Though causation could run either way. Could be argued that a many forms of religious upbringing deters academic or pursuits particularly the scientific. Could be that education damages faith. A lower than proportionate number of atheists exist in the prison population. However again this is open to interpretation. Arguments that prisoners "find God" either as a way of coping with troubling times or in as a means to demonstrate the rehabilitation that the parole board will be looking for, have been countered by examining the pre arrest religiosity of fist time offenders. The effect is reduced but still significant. However confounding variables such as a link between poverty and both religiosity and incarceration rates may come into play.
Question. How do you feel about needing to put your hand on a bible in court to be sworn in?
MattHardy comments on Jun 10, 2018:
Well if it's jury service I'll just tell them that it's not my holy book and ask them instead to fetch a copy of the Necronomicon and the menses of a virgin goat. If it's something I want to do I'd rather just affirm but would swear on a bible if required.
So much physical labor all week I just want to sleep on the weekend.
MattHardy comments on Jun 17, 2018:
My wife's got one of those massage chairs. I can't stand it.
Only in America.
MattHardy comments on Jun 15, 2019:
Ah the USA, the land of gun care and health control.
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.
Right before I left the office today I was told to not come in if I’m hot, so I’m not going ...
MattHardy comments on Mar 14, 2020:
That's one of the running jokes in our marriage, each time my wife remarks on the temperature with "I'm hot" I reply "Damn right baby!"
I am new to this site, and I see that I can earn points for making a post.
MattHardy comments on Jul 9, 2022:
You also earn points when someone replies to your post. Welcome to the site.
Should we all become teetotalers because there are alcoholics?
MattHardy comments on Jun 18, 2019:
I suspect that those who are confronted with intolerance from religious institutions may tend to produce an equal and opposite reaction. I've been lucky that this is rare in my society. Religions wither and die of their own accord I don't feel any need to help them along. However where they demand religious privilege then efforts to oppose that are fair and just.
If You Could Change The Color Of Your Skin, Would You?
MattHardy comments on Aug 9, 2019:
Well there's body paint and there's tattoos but mostly there's spray tan. I could do any of them but I don't. So I guess the answer is no. Says this straight, white cisgendered male.
If you think it is the right thing to "respect other's beliefs", please tell me why?
MattHardy comments on Dec 27, 2019:
When confronted with the belief that we should respect all beliefs I have been known to voice the contrary belief that any belief other than my own is a steaming pile of donkey droppings. And then question whether they wish the respect that belief or not. That of course is a provocative statement made to expose the inherent daftness in respecting all beliefs and not my true philosophy. In truth I respect beliefs on their merits and many people despite their beliefs. I see value in the mantra of having strong opinions, loosely held.
What is this? Day 34 of Trump's government shutdown? Also known as a temper tantrum.
MattHardy comments on Jan 24, 2019:
How about the house presents a bill where they put up the money for the wall the day after Trump publishes his tax returns and divests his businesses.
Prayer at extended family meals
MattHardy comments on May 7, 2018:
I'd handle prayer at meals in the same way that I handle broccoli. Let the people who want it have it so long as no-one's pushing it down my throat.
Saudi Arabia declares all atheists are terrorists in new law to crack down on political dissidents:...
MattHardy comments on Aug 8, 2019:
I guess I won't be visiting there then.
[lcdviews.com] New Years honours list
MattHardy comments on Dec 28, 2019:
Brilliant. The bells are ringing in St Petersburg
Imagine being a bride in India and you must kiss this on the head! And not get bit! Some messed up ...
MattHardy comments on Jun 17, 2018:
There's snake handlers everywhere - crazy.
I am a pagan atheist: I believe in no deities, but am passionate about myth and nature.
MattHardy comments on Sep 23, 2022:
Your word Chaosist puts me in mind of the Discordians https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discordianism Hail Eris!
The Department of Energy is calling fossil fuels “molecules of freedom” and “freedom gas”
MattHardy comments on May 30, 2019:
Proof that even in the country with the highest incarceration rate in the world, freedom does still exist if only on a molecular level ;-)
Have a most wonderful day!
MattHardy comments on Jun 17, 2018:
thanks.
Godless Kids and Altruism
MattHardy comments on May 1, 2018:
Amused to see that the study was sponsored by the nice folk from the Templeton Foundation.
What is the biggest change since your childhood in the way people behave or express themselves?
MattHardy comments on Sep 15, 2019:
The way that smoking is being gradually removed from public life. When I was young, non-smoking areas were a novelty. Then in my teens there was only one carriage on a train where you could smoke, In my first job people smoked at their desk. In my second there was a smoking room. Every job after that had completely non smoking.offices. Then that became the law. Even in pubs.
Love this image.
MattHardy comments on Feb 3, 2019:
That's awesome.
What are your thoughts on “You can never be sure 100% that there isn’t a ” Well I’d like ...
MattHardy comments on May 10, 2018:
Solipsism is easy. The universality of doubt can only be a starting point. Yes you've stated that we're not 100% certain of X but also that we're not 100% certain of anything. This alone would simply put X in the same category as everything else in the entire universe. However our degrees of knowledge are not so black and white. Can we not say that though we cannot be 100% certain that Ted Bundy was a murderer we can find more reasons to believe it than to believe that the tooth fairy is real. Different claims have different qualities of evidence supporting them. The question of whether we can be 100% certain of something can be a meaningless distraction unless we build upon it to ask how reasonable it would to doubt it. How much evidence, and what quality of evidence would we need to discount in order to apply such doubt.