Why the paranormal is like WMD's

[Ed]

Because one keeps looking and making excuses. The difference is that with WMD's, eventually you give up.:D

[Ed]

I have auto-rated (tm) this thread 5 Stars since, for the first time ever, the War in Iraq has been artfully conjoined with the paranormal on this board. Notice, I said "On this board".:D

Kudos to me, EdGod for brilliant insight.

What is a kudo, exactly, and do I really want one (or more)?

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Ed
Because one keeps looking and making excuses. The difference is that with WMD's, eventually you give up.:D
Not so, Eddie my Lord. With WMDs and paranormal claims, the fact that a specific claim has been proved wrong does not keep the claiments from contending that the phenomenon is still true. In fact, I can't tell any differences at all. :D

[Yahzi]

My fundy at work asserts that Iraq did have WMDs when the CIA said they did, thus justifying our invasion. He says that the mere fact that we can scour the country now and not find them does not mean they weren't there.

When I asked if there was any concievable evidence that we could ever find that would demonstrate the CIA was wrong, he said "No."

But he objected when I pointed out that made the CIA claim unfalsifiable. He knows thats a bad thing. Of course he couldn't explain how a claim could not be shown to be false under any possible circumstance, and yet still qualify as falsifiable.

This is an example of what I call the "bleeding" effect. You can't walk around telling yourself that God is believable and reasonable even though the concept is unfalsifiable, and not start to apply that reasoning to other issues. This is how religion harms me: it makes idiots out of my fellow citizens, whose votes affect my life in a material and significant way.

[RichardR]

Originally posted by Ed
Because one keeps looking and making excuses. The difference is that with WMD's, eventually you give up.:D Actually that's not quite true. We do at least know that WMD exist somewhere, just not in Iraq.

[Ed]

Originally posted by Tricky

Not so, Eddie my Lord. With WMDs and paranormal claims, the fact that a specific claim has been proved wrong does not keep the claiments from contending that the phenomenon is still true. In fact, I can't tell any differences at all. :D

Well.....when the presidency changes we will stop looking, hit ourselves in the head and say "D'oh". Lucianarchy, however, goes on forever.:D

[Ed]

Originally posted by RichardR
Actually that's not quite true. We do at least know that WMD exist somewhere, just not in Iraq.

Well..... Ours are NOT WMD's, they are a means of strategic deterrence. A fine difference, very small, almost as big as Psi, which as we all know, is real:D

[Thanz]

Originally posted by Yahzi
This is an example of what I call the "bleeding" effect. You can't walk around telling yourself that God is believable and reasonable even though the concept is unfalsifiable, and not start to apply that reasoning to other issues.
Not so. You over-generalize here. All that is needed is the realization that you believe in God despite the fact that it is unfalsifiable, and that this is called "Faith". I don't apply this to other issues.

[thaiboxerken]

Originally posted by Thanz

Not so. You over-generalize here. All that is needed is the realization that you believe in God despite the fact that it is unfalsifiable, and that this is called "Faith". I don't apply this to other issues.

The same can be said of any paranormal claim. Faith is never rational.

[Jeff Corey]

Originally posted by Ed
Kudos to me, EdGod for brilliant insight.What is a kudo, exactly, and do I really want one (or more)?
A kudo is a small rare species of mammal in the Rodentia family, closely related to the Nauga.
Its hide is greatly prized by the Bushmen of Texas for its resemblence to fine Corinthian leather.
"You look mahvelous, simply mahvelous."

[Ed]

Originally posted by Jeff Corey

the Bushmen of Texas

Is this a sexist fraternal organization?