The historic and original "Welcome new posters! Introduce yourselves here!" thread

[Spidey13]

This thread is busy lately. Welcome to all the new members, except for the ones who were at TAM4. I hate all of you. ;)


Xin
aka "Not Jon"

Of course you're not Jon. I'm Jon. Nobody else could possibly be Jon.

[Mr. Gruff]

Hello! I joined these forums after a recommendation. I have a particular interest in homeopathy and alternative medicines, and also the dental amalgam debate.

[Mashuna]

Hello all,

I've decided that I'm not wasting nearly enough time at work, so I should join these forums rather than just lurking.

I'm not sure how much I'll be posting, as the general level of knowledge present on the site far outweighs my own, but I'm confident of learning a lot from (some) of the arguments on the threads.

Having just finished watching most of TAM 3 dvds, I'm massively envious of those of you who attended the latest one.

I found my way here via the Bad Science website, and it's good to see some of the same contributors over here.

[Genesius]

I'm not sure how much I'll be posting, as the general level of knowledge present on the site far outweighs my own, but I'm confident of learning a lot from (some) of the arguments on the threads.


Don't let that stop you! There's plenty of people on this board who know a lot more than I do and can argue rings around my feeble attempts at making a point, but I still am able to make a hairy nuisance of myself and have fun doing it! No guts, no glory!

:D

[Jon.]

This thread is busy lately. Welcome to all the new members, except for the ones who were at TAM4. I hate all of you. ;)



Of course you're not Jon. I'm Jon. Nobody else could possibly be Jon.

Ahem?

[Spidey13]

Ahem?

Imposter!!

[direlect]

My name is Ron; i live in midwest USA. Political Ideology: Anti-Ideological. Philosophy: Hedo-Progressivism.

[Spidey13]

My name is Ron; i live in midwest USA. Political Ideology: Anti-Ideological. Philosophy: Hedo-Progressivism.

Yet another Not Jon, though Ron is awfully close. You better watch it.

Welcome to the place I like to call "here".

[Dfoot]

Hello. Glad to be here.

Since I must post 15 times before I can use attachments I feel I have no other choice but to bombard this thread with multiple posts that signify nothing.

I needth my attachments.

Therefore I must apologize for what I am about to do. God bless us all.

- Dfoot:cool:

[Dfoot]

very true.

[Dfoot]

I could not agree more.

[Dfoot]

Hold on a sec...

[Dfoot]

... Rats. Forgot what I was going to say.

[Dfoot]

That's okay... I feel pretty certain that I would not be that interested.

[Dfoot]

How many more times do I have to do this?

[Dfoot]

Well, this is post 10.

[Dfoot]

Yeesh.

[Dfoot]

Keep going.

[Dfoot]

13 yay.

[Dfoot]

One more after this... c'mon....

[Dfoot]

Whew. Last one. Let the attachments flow!

[direlect]

May I do that?

[Piscivore]

No.

[Spidey13]

There are many fun ways to get your post count up while having a better interaction with other forum members.

Examples:

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=48975
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=11353
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=12746
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=37822

[Ducky]

There are many fun ways to get your post count up while having a better interaction with other forum members.

Examples:

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=48975
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=11353
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=12746
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=37822



Nah. Direlect has already enjoyed boosting his post count by trolling.

[BatBoy]

I find it funny that I have been reading this forum for years. And as a skeptic. I have become somewhat notorious (and sometimes hated) with paranormal web sites. And I've also a frequent contributor to the Bulls*** forum. Isn't it strange I find it difficult at to communicate with those who are like-minded. Funny how the human mind works.

I did attend The Amazing Meeting Four. I can now feel the icebreaking.

Your pal, BatBoy

PS, the reason I chose BatBoy is because years ago. A psychic told me that in a past life. I was a vampire bat. This of course was after I caught her cold reading.

[Ducky]

I find it funny that I have been reading this forum for years. And as a skeptic. I have become somewhat notorious (and sometimes hated) with paranormal web sites. And I've also a frequent contributor to the ******** forum. Isn't it strange I find it difficult at to communicate with those who are like-minded. Funny how the human mind works.

I did attend The Amazing Meeting Four. I can now feel the icebreaking.

Your pal, BatBoy

PS, the reason I chose BatBoy is because years ago. A psychic told me that in a past life. I was a vampire bat. This of course was after I caught her cold reading.


Did we meet at TAM 4? I was the loud irritating bugger with the laptop and microphones...

Glad to have you here! Welcome!

[BatBoy]

I'm not quite sure, I met a lot of great people there. A friend of mine told me that there could be many people there who knew me from the ******** forum. So I wrote my screen name BatBoy on my badge. I felt very silly about it at first, but there were several who had read my posts.

Thank you for the welcome.

[Spidey13]

Nah. Direlect has already enjoyed boosting his post count by trolling.

Holy crap, that boy's been busy.

[Overman]

Hey all

Overman here! A total newbie, not only to this forum but to all online posting forums. I have been a JREF reader since 2002/3 but it a white collar job where I have access to the net to get on here. I'm down with talking about anything, it gets slow here sometimes.

I missed TAM4 but will get the DVD!

I am a worker by day and a rockstar by night. A Madden champ when I need to be. No girlfriends (its hard meeting reasonable women). A joker. A writer of songs. I live in a house with my band, two of which are skeptics with me, and overall life is pretty good right now.

Does anyone have any posting tips for me?
How do I put a pic in my profile?

How are all of you?!?!?

Peace,

Overman

[tim]

Hey all

Overman here! A total newbie, not only to this forum but to all online posting forums. I have been a JREF reader since 2002/3 but it a white collar job where I have access to the net to get on here. I'm down with talking about anything, it gets slow here sometimes.

I missed TAM4 but will get the DVD!

I am a worker by day and a rockstar by night. A Madden champ when I need to be. No girlfriends (its hard meeting reasonable women). A joker. A writer of songs. I live in a house with my band, two of which are skeptics with me, and overall life is pretty good right now.

Does anyone have any posting tips for me?
How do I put a pic in my profile?

How are all of you?!?!?

Peace,

Overman

Welcome to the forum!
You get an avatar when you have 50 posts. They soon mount up!
Hmmm - posting tips.
Think what you're saying before you post, and reason out your argument.
If you post something you can't back up with evidence, don't be surprised if people call you on it.
Be civil - if you're rude, a) it will not advance your argument, merely make you look like a horse's (cough) and b) earn the wrath of the evil moderators (erm, that would be people like me).
Stick to the membership agreement.
Within those parameters, enjoy yourself!

[joeybernard]

Well, I guess I should introduce myself here. I'm a very odd duck. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and a second Bachelor of Computer Science degree. I'm an atheist Druid. I don't believe in gods/goddesses or the paranormal, but I do believe that my spiritual side is important so I nourish it with a naturalistic reverence of nature through the myths and legends of Druidry. I think ofmyself as a natural philosopher. And when I start to take myself too seriously, I watch a few episodes of Penn & Teller's ******** :D

Hope to see lots of other odd ducks here.

Joey

[artful dodger]

I love this site. I'm such a skeptic, I'm not even sure that I exist!

[Hutch]

I'm an atheist Druid.

:eye-poppi Now that is something you don't see every day. The folks in the Religion sub-forum would like to talk to you...;)


Hope to see lots of other odd ducks here.

Joey

well, we have a fowl(sound), but mostly monkeys, not many ducks..;) :cool:

Wecome to the Forum

[Hutch]

I love this site. I'm such a skeptic, I'm not even sure that I exist!

Yeah, yeah, like we haven't heard that line before...:rolleyes: :D

Welcome and enjoy.

[joeybernard]

:eye-poppi Now that is something you don't see every day. The folks in the Religion sub-forum would like to talk to you...;)

Well, once I get a feel for the forums, I'm sure I'll be arguing with the best of them :-)

[Storm Warning]

well, we have a fowl(sound), but mostly monkeys, not many ducks..;)
You neglected to mention the wombat...although he's been ducking quite a bit lately :D

Oh, and welcome, joey.

[Storm Warning]

I love this site. I'm such a skeptic, I'm not even sure that I exist!
I'm such a skeptic that I DEMAND proof that you exist. The only proof I will accept is a personal delivery of a Coke. It's in the fridge. Right over there. I'll be waiting here in my chair. :D

...and welcome to the insanity.

[tim]

You neglected to mention the wombat...although he's been ducking quite a bit lately :D

Oh, and welcome, joey.

I have not! :p
Some of us have to work, you know!
Anyway, last night I was out for dinner with Lynn, Girl 6, Fengirl and Darat, so :p :p :p ;)

[Storm Warning]

I have not! :p
Some of us have to work, you know!
Anyway, last night I was out for dinner with Lynn, Girl 6, Fengirl and Darat, so :p :p :p ;)
Ah.....so you were the token wombat? :D

[curt]

Hi everyone. I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Matt and I am a "Research Scientist" for a pharmaceuticals company in Fort Lauderdale. My girlfriend and I attended TAM 3 and TAM 4 (I was wearing the white hooded fleece/ Stewie for Family Guy tee). We thoroughly enjoyed both events, and intend to attend future events.
Anyway, long story short, I thought I'd become active in the forum.
The End.
Hi Matt - I think I sat next to you at lunch. I have to check my notes...was I supposed to email you something?

Curt

[tim]

Ah.....so you were the token wombat? :D

Well.... yeah. There always has to be one, doesn't there? At least Girl 6 didn't shave me this time....... :eek:

[Roadtoad]

Yeah, well, Peggy was asking to make sure you didn't get shaved this year. She keeps telling me how cute wombats are, and, gee, how terrible it is that someone thought it was a good idea to shave a wombat, and how she just HAD to make sure no wombats were shaved....

*Sigh*

(I'll probably hear more of the same when it comes time for TAM V...)

[tim]

The truth is, RT, that after the appalling way I was abused at TAM3 I couldn't face returning to Vegas.......(sob).
And what happens? Girl 6 comes here instead! She tracked me down to my home town, no less! If I hadn't had my cohort of protectors I have no doubt she would have tried to repeat the frightful cruelty she inflicted upon me just a year ago............. :eek:

[Wowbagger]

Greetings, puny humans!

I call myself Wowbagger, because I intend to live forever, and insult everyone else while doing so!*

*Ha, ha! Just kidding! I know perfectly well that my chances of living forever are close to nil, especially if I just insult people all the time.

I have only started becoming a hard-core skeptic in the past few years. I attended TAM3 and TAM4, but otherwise joining this forum is the only community-based action I have taken so far, in this field.

I am a software developer for a major financial institution, by day. But, an amateur writer and filmmaker by night!

My long-term goal (besides living forever**) is to produce movies that appeal to mainstream audiences, yet manage to communicate scientific and skeptical attitudes. For now, I'm just doing klutzy comedy/sci-fi shorts. (I gotta start somewhere.)

**I know, this was only funny the first time. I promise to quit the immortality jokes now.

NOTE: I told a few folks, at TAM4, that I might use the name SpacemanSpiff as my User Name for this forum. But, I decided yesterday that Wowbagger would be a better name, and changed it.

Anyone seen any good, clear thinking, movies, lately, by any chance?

-Mitch

[Lukretius]

Hi everyone. I've been following JREF for about a year, as well as the sceptic community in my country. I am especially conserned about religion and conspiracy theories.

Would like to thank everyone for making me feel less "alone in the world". The last couple of years - upon detecting the sceptic society - was growing increasingly solitare.

Nice to have a few fellows around the world - even though most of you may be far, far away.

All the best
Henrik

[Lukretius]

Anyone seen any good, clear thinking, movies, lately, by any chance?

-Mitch

The best movie I've ever seen is "My life without me". It's not new, but exeptionally different from all other movies of our time. It takes it's time, and has something at heart. Just great.

[Wowbagger]

The best movie I've ever seen is "My life without me".

Looks worth checking into. Thanks!

[Serenity]

Is it too late to introduce myself? Life-long skeptic here. First introduced to the skeptic world through CSICOP, but never joined any groups until now. I attended TAM4 but didn’t get a chance to interact with the forum people much. I guess I was a bit distant being a newcomer and all, but hope to change all that at TAM5.

[Jas]

The best movie I've ever seen is "My life without me". It's not new, but exeptionally different from all other movies of our time. It takes it's time, and has something at heart. Just great.
I quite liked it. Sarah Polley is one of my favourite actresses, and she's fabulous in it.

[Lukretius]

I quite liked it. Sarah Polley is one of my favourite actresses, and she's fabulous in it.
It IS wonderful. But I havn't seen her in anything else I think. Have she been in something else that might have made it across the atlantic? (Actually I think I wanna see it again soon)

[Roadtoad]

It IS wonderful. But I havn't seen her in anything else I think. Have she been in something else that might have made it across the atlantic? (Actually I think I wanna see it again soon)

You can find out more here. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001631/)

[Lukretius]

Heeeyyyyyyyyy, why can't I put up an avatar? Do you have to do something special (like posting a million posts before you can have one)??????

[Katachresis]

50

[Spidey13]

Heeeyyyyyyyyy, why can't I put up an avatar? Do you have to do something special (like posting a million posts before you can have one)??????

Hey, at least you can already do colored text.

[Lukretius]

Hey, at least you can already do colored text.

And I'm GLAD I can. No fun without colored words. Also much more fun than an avatar. I'm sticking to the colors. :rolleyes:

[tim]

And I'm GLAD I can. No fun without colored words. Also much more fun than an avatar. I'm sticking to the colors. :rolleyes:

You need to reach 50 posts...........
Welcome!

[Lukretius]

You need to reach 50 posts...........
Welcome!

Thx's Tim - Did I get it?

[Lukretius]

Thx's Tim - Did I get it?
AAAARRRRHHHHH, NOOOOOO - I'm going to sleep. Somebody really hates me here. Nooeee avatar. :(

[Spidey13]

But you've got colors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lukretius]

But you've got colors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D

[WanderinWTF]

hello everyone im a new member here juz joined on 02 06 2006 im a male in my 20s living in northern california i feel iam blessed to have found this sight especially since i feel that i can do probability and sequence to me all iknow is numbers as you can see i cant write i can see feel and read energys of people around me also i also give massages to releive people of their negative energys in other words i absorb all their stress anger and nasty mixed emotions into myself to later release it in a way for it to just go away to vanish into thin air did i mention i like the colors blue and purple lol i call em BLURPLE :) have a great day everyone see you all soon and pls James Randi get well

[Spidey13]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh welcome I guess Mr. Wanderinrunonsentence.

[Metullus]

Welcome WanderinWTF, to the nuthouse.

Have a BLURPLE day!

[lawman]

Hello , I have been watching from the sidelines , until I finished my research into Scientology and its marrage with chiropractic, i now feel that I have enough empirical knowledge to make comments on these two subjects, i also have a unique insight into the day to day workings of a chiro's office , the strange and wonderful marketing "Tech", brought to the wonderful world of chiropractic quackery by none other than L Ron Hubbard, and his legacy the Church of Scientology, more specifically a "Doctor of Chiropractic" (sounds impressive? it is not) from CA by the name of Prescott... run to your search engines and look up lori prescott,CA.... more fun to follow...Lawman

[WanderinWTF]

do you like chiro work lawman

[Roadtoad]

hello everyone im a new member here juz joined on 02 06 2006 im a male in my 20s living in northern california i feel iam blessed to have found this sight especially since i feel that i can do probability and sequence to me all iknow is numbers as you can see i cant write i can see feel and read energys of people around me also i also give massages to releive people of their negative energys in other words i absorb all their stress anger and nasty mixed emotions into myself to later release it in a way for it to just go away to vanish into thin air did i mention i like the colors blue and purple lol i call em BLURPLE :) have a great day everyone see you all soon and pls James Randi get well

Welcome. I think...

Where in Northern California are you?

[Ducky]

Welcome. I think...



No, he doesn't think. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=1431127#post1431127)

[WanderinWTF]

I Live In The 209 Right By Stockton

[Roadtoad]

Don't you mean the 205, which would put you near Tracy and Manteca?

[WanderinWTF]

i know where the 205 is thats the freeway the 209 is the area code for manteca tracy where are you from

[Roadtoad]

I'm in the 916 area code, in North Highlands.

Normally, when someone asks for a location, they're looking for cross streets and the like. Not telephone area codes. Just for future reference.

[Jon the Geek]

Oops. I've been here on and off for a while, but I never got around to posting in here.

My name's Jon. I'm a geek.

I write and produce educational multimedia. I'm currently writing a general chemistry textbook (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=51749). I spend too much time on irc, occasionally.

That oughta do it :)

[MattusMaximus]

I've been a longtime supporter of JREF, but I didn't join the Forum until I met so many cool folks at TAM4... so here I am!

See ya'll around...

Cheers - Mattus

[Ducky]

I've been a longtime supporter of JREF, but I didn't join the Forum until I met so many cool folks at TAM4... so here I am!

See ya'll around...

Cheers - Mattus


Welcome. We own your soul now.


(hanging at TAM was awesome. you are very welcome here.)

[The Meteorologist]

First post to the forum. Sceptics beware! Can I name names yet?

The Meteorologist

[Hutch]

First post to the forum. Sceptics beware! Can I name names yet?

The Meteorologist

Name away. But be warned--we bite.

[The Meteorologist]

Name away. But be warned--we bite.

Thanks - off to the quack-whacking threads then.

The Meteorologist

[Marquis de Carabas]

Good, a meteorologist; I've always wanted to meet one of you people. When's the last time you did anything with a meteor? Have you ever even seen a meteor? Do you people get off on misleading the public with your fancy-sounding meteor titles?

:p

Welcome.

[Barneyman]

Having considered myself the consummate lurker for so many years, I feel strangely compelled to finally register, in order to offer a heartfelt get well soon to one of my Top Ten favourite human beings of all time.

[kmortis]

Having considered myself the consummate lurker for so many years, I feel strangely compelled to finally register, in order to offer a heartfelt get well soon to one of my Top Ten favourite human beings of all time.
Well, gee thanks. I didn't know that you cared. Garsh. I found out it was just indigestion.


You do know that Randi isn't feeling well either?

Welcome, Barneyman, but only if you have no relation to a certain Blurple dino....

[Aristides]

Greetings. I've been following the skeptic community for a few years now, mostly through things like Skeptic magazine and Skeptical Inquirer. To give a brief idea at how I arrived here:

Roman Catholic >> Doubt >> "Scientific American" >> looking into Humanism >> Skepticism.

Don't worry about the details. I may or may not have been guilty of reading some Sylvia Brown and John Edwards books shortly after I moved away from the church. I make no admissions.

I'm currently 22, a senior at a liberal arts college majoring in history and classical studies, and I'm watching my bank account hemorrhage cash as I apply to graduate programs for an MA in classics/philology/ancient history.

For the record, though I'm sure it's been said before, there's a whole lot of mushy brains (full of, as I think I've seen it called in Swift, "woo-woo," or as Penn and Teller would say or mime, respectively, (you get the idea)) seeking BA degrees. It's bad, very bad. Last semester we even hosted a lecturer on Eco-Feminism, which is just as bad as it sounds. Take anti-establishment non-scientific support of environmental causes, wed it to a Gaia-based goddess religion, and there you have it.

Lastly, the name. My name's Ed, very simple. "Aristides" was one of the men famous enough to have been immortalized in the writer Plutarch's "Lives." Working in the first century AD in Greece under Roman rule, Plutarch wrote biographical/moral stories about famous Greeks and Romans in parallel. Aristides, in his Life, is characterized not as the smartest Greek, nor the most courageous, but the most just in his relations with other men. It sort of struck a chord with me - our actions toward each other are one thing we can be entirely responsible for.

[Katachresis]

Hi Aristedes,
It's been a while since I've welcomed anyone, so...
:welcome3

[Dr Adequate]

Lastly, the name. My name's Ed, very simple. "Aristides" was one of the men famous enough to have been immortalized in the writer Plutarch's "Lives." Working in the first century AD in Greece under Roman rule, Plutarch wrote biographical/moral stories about famous Greeks and Romans in parallel. Aristides, in his Life, is characterized not as the smartest Greek, nor the most courageous, but the most just in his relations with other men. It sort of struck a chord with me - our actions toward each other are one thing we can be entirely responsible for.I like a man who likes his classics. Though when it comes to the Lives, I think you can't beat Timoleon of Corinth.

Welcome and enjoy!

[Zbu]

Hey everybody! I'm Zbu, a latecomer to this introductory thread! I'm currently doing undergraduate work at Uni and I live in Michigan, work at a library, and spend most of my day helping people and reading the back commentaries as well as some political stuff. I'm mostly interested in general science, books, film, and critical thinking. And I'm deeply in love with logical fallacies.

So far, I'm using 'strawman' constantly when arguing politics with my friends who like to use that method of discussion when dismissing my views. I look forward to posting here.

[Hutch]

Welcome Zbu, but be warned; strawmen get scattered to the four winds in Politics in this place.

Share and enjoy.

[SaintDymphna]

Hello. I'm a long time lurker and having admitted that, I'll also have to admit that I love reading here but I seriously doubt I am intelligent enough to post anything here. Other than this greeting and a Get Well Message to Randi.

This forum is fascinating. But you all know that already.

Peace,

Saint Dymphna

[Ducky]

Hello. I'm a long time lurker and having admitted that, I'll also have to admit that I love reading here but I seriously doubt I am intelligent enough to post anything here. Other than this greeting and a Get Well Message to Randi.

This forum is fascinating. But you all know that already.

Peace,

Saint Dymphna


Hello and hearty welcome!

I wouldn't worry about whether you are intelligent enough to post. I'm pretty sure I'm not, but they never stopped me from posting...

Welcome again. :)

[SaintDymphna]

I shall probably lurk a long time yet. But thank you for making me feel welcome.

What temporarily took away my fear was reading about Mr. Randi's surgery and my wanting to post a get well to him.

Peace.

[Spidey13]

I'm a complete idiot and I post all the time.

Welcome all the new guys and/or gals.

[Shevek-72]

I've been reading these forums for a few months now and decided it was a good Saturday to finally get rid of the "We notice you haven't yet posted on our forums" header.

I'm not so sure if I'm ever going to have a chance to post on another thread as you people are usually quicker to post the relevant and witty points in the discussions :). Doesn't matter, I'll just wait for my turn and enjoy the reading.

Greetings from Germany

[tim]

I've been reading these forums for a few months now and decided it was a good Saturday to finally get rid of the "We notice you haven't yet posted on our forums" header.

I'm not so sure if I'm ever going to have a chance to post on another thread as you people are usually quicker to post the relevant and witty points in the discussions :). Doesn't matter, I'll just wait for my turn and enjoy the reading.

Greetings from Germany

Good morning, and welcome to the forum. You may be surprised how quickly you get into posting here. But beware - it can take over your life! :eek: ;)

[stupidquestion]

Hi. I'm a skeptic. I look forward to proving whether the rest of you exist.

[tim]

Hi. I'm a skeptic. I look forward to proving whether the rest of you exist.

Oh, WE exist alright - we're not sure about you, though. (CFLarsen mode) Evidence?
Welcome to the forum!

[Thomas.Donnelly]

Hello, my name is Thomas.

[tim]

Hello, my name is Thomas.
Hello Thomas! Do you want to tell us a little about yourself?

[Meri]

Hi! I just registered here. After reading Rani's commentaries for the last year or so, I decided it was time to move into the forums. Also, it was a way to put off writing an essay on the Roman Baths. I'm an undergraduate at College of Charleston in Charleston, SC. However, I'm currently spending a semester at the University of Northampton in Northampton, UK. I'm a Political Science major, and I tend to lurk more than post in forums. I think that's it, unless anyone has any questions.

[Maxwell's Demon]

Hello!
I've been a long time lurker around this site - mostly just reading Randi's commentary at first, but I have recently been reading the forum with much interest.

Don't know how much posting i'll be doing for a while - I'm currently preparing for my PhD viva (which will be in March) so time's a bit limited, but after that I hope to make a fuller contribution.

My PhD was in physics (optical semiconductor microcavities to be precise) so I might be of some use around here, but you guys always seem to post more quickly than I come up with the answers! Anyway, after 6 years of research I've changed my career direction and now apply my brain power to unravelling the problems facing the UK health service, so I hope this forum will give me a chance to keep using my scientific training. Also, I hope it will be a constant source of inspiration for me to keep debunking the junk science and ridiculous beliefs I seem to encounter daily.

Look forward to debating with y'all!:)

[tim]

Hi! I just registered here. After reading Rani's commentaries for the last year or so, I decided it was time to move into the forums. Also, it was a way to put off writing an essay on the Roman Baths. I'm an undergraduate at College of Charleston in Charleston, SC. However, I'm currently spending a semester at the University of Northampton in Northampton, UK. I'm a Political Science major, and I tend to lurk more than post in forums. I think that's it, unless anyone has any questions.

Welcome to the forum and to the UK! Actually you're just up the road from me - I'm near Bedford. We occasionally get together IRL in this neck of woods. Look out for threads......

Welcome to Maxwell's Demon. Interesting choice of name......

[Maxwell's Demon]

Welcome to Maxwell's Demon. Interesting choice of name......

Yes, it was inspired by reading one of the threads on ID proponents invoking the Second Law as an argument against evolution, and I wondered if they had ever heard of the idea of Maxwell's Demon (or indeed, even understood the implications of its refutations!)

[Unholy_Mackerel]

At the moment, I'm lurking and getting up to speed by reading posts (new and old). I'll do my best to fit into the "nuthouse" environment.:boxedin:
BTW -- How many posts do I need before I qualify as avatar-worthy? :D

[Meri]

Welcome to the forum and to the UK! Actually you're just up the road from me - I'm near Bedford.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out, although I'll be back in the US in april. I was just in Bedford yesterday. Well, in the bus station anyway, on my way to Cambridge.

[stupidquestion]

Oh, WE exist alright - we're not sure about you, though. (CFLarsen mode) Evidence?
Welcome to the forum!

Darn, should've used "TuringTest" as my handle. :)

[Hutch]

At the moment, I'm lurking and getting up to speed by reading posts (new and old). I'll do my best to fit into the "nuthouse" environment.:boxedin:
BTW -- How many posts do I need before I qualify as avatar-worthy? :D

Welcome, Sinful Fish...;) SOme creative names here recently (Maxwell's Demon, et. al.). As for fitting in, depends if your a nut or a house...

I think the total is 15 (or is that for posting links?) or 50. Either post a lot in community or take a day off to start an argument in Politics (I suggest Israel or Arabs as topics, either side, will get you to 50 in a day).

Again, Welcome

[Overman]

Darn, should've used "TuringTest" as my handle. :)


I thought you didn't exist...

[lawman]

Hello to All,
I am new to this site , typing for myself, and the PC in general.

What I do know about is the law...... and....
I am keenly interested in exposing Chiropractic for what it is, a scam to enrich the DC a the expense of the so-called patient. When I say "expense" I mean that on a number of levels, financial, health, and the cost to us all , resulting from the payment for the generally worthless treatments chiroprators provide in exchange for the money paid to them by everyone in the form of insurance costs and the taxes used to pay government benefits(medicare/medicade etc) these "frauds" (noun and verb) receive for their so called health care.
Interconnected with the "chiro shame health care scam" is the interconnection between Chiropractors and the Church of Scientology.
Until about 18 months ago I ignored and knew little about these two subjects. However I gradually educated myself. The things these people are doing were enough to get my close attention. I worried that the marketing of chiropractic was on the edge of criminal. In some cases these activities are criminal . At the least civil frauds are commited by the hour. The selling of chiropractic by scientologist DC's and Scientologist marketing groups are my primary ares of interest.
I am interested in exposing the "scams" these two seperate but inter-related activities,(Chiropractic and Scientology) are engaged in. In the pherhaps futile effort to put the two groups out of business by exposing them to the light of knowledge, I will share my research and information with anyone who cares to dicuss-pro or con- these two general areas.
If there are any chiropratic defenders out there,or any Scientologist, or anyone for that matter who would care to debate the relative vices and virtues of either group, I will be here..... bring it on?
Lawman

[dougsmith]

Hi Folks,

Glad to get a start on this board. A little background: I did a BA, MA, Ph.D. in Philosophy a few years ago, with emphasis on philosophy of science, and philosophy of religion. Been a 'skeptic' for a long while, for which I can thank Carl Sagan's Cosmos back when I was a kid, as well as long afternoons in my university library reading through back issues of Skeptical Inquirer.

Loved seeing the NOVA show with Randi when it first aired, and keep hoping they'll bring it back. Well, at least Cosmos gets shown now and again on cable ... IMO in the running for the greatest documentary series ever made. Anyhow I have a number of Randi's books at home ... he's great, a real institution, and of course I wish him the best in his recovery!

[Hutch]

Hello to All,
I am new to this site , typing for myself, and the PC in general.
Lawman

welcome lawman.

The Scientology /chiropratic link is one I have never heard of much. Get thee to the Science and Medicine subfora and you'll find plenty of folks to discuss it with.

And no chiropracters or Scientologists that I know of post here--but I bet some of our posters can tell you where to seek them out...:eye-poppi

Go get-em.

[Hutch]

Hi Folks,

Glad to get a start on this board. A little background: I did a BA, MA, Ph.D. in Philosophy a few years ago, with emphasis on philosophy of science, and philosophy of religion. Been a 'skeptic' for a long while, for which I can thank Carl Sagan's Cosmos back when I was a kid, as well as long afternoons in my university library reading through back issues of Skeptical Inquirer.

Philosophy of Science and Religion, eh? I'd like to introduce you to a couple of posters named Interesting Ian and Icaahus. Play nicely with them, OK? :cool: ;)

Loved seeing the NOVA show with Randi when it first aired, and keep hoping they'll bring it back. Well, at least Cosmos gets shown now and again on cable ... IMO in the running for the greatest documentary series ever made. Anyhow I have a number of Randi's books at home ... he's great, a real institution, and of course I wish him the best in his recovery!

Sounds like you need to start making plans for TAM5...and welcome to the Forum

[vaylor]

My name is Vaylor Trucks. I am apparently new to the forum (though I could swear I have posted here before... odd). I've been an admirer of Randi's for at least a decade and a JREF member for half that (I think - did I renew this year yet?)

Typically, I am the lone skeptic in an overly credulous group of friends and co-workers. Translation: I'm a bit of a smart-ass (so they say). My degree is in physics but I work for a software company.

I've got a 3 year old little girl who is the coolest person on the planet. For real. I've had her tested, and I have the certificate: "coolest person on the planet."

I'm also something of a musician. I currently play in 2 different trios - Bonobos Convergence and The Yeti Trio. You can contact me for the URL's for both/either band if you are so interested. Apparently I am not allowed to post URL's yet.

I am actually trying to (re-)engage myself in this forum after listening to the most recent "Skepticality" podcast and hearing their interview with Jeff Wagg. Does that make me a fanboy?

In any event, it's nice to be here. You seem to be a lively bunch. This should be fun.

[dougsmith]

Philosophy of Science and Religion, eh? I'd like to introduce you to a couple of posters named Interesting Ian and Icaahus. Play nicely with them, OK? :cool: ;)

Sounds like you need to start making plans for TAM5...and welcome to the Forum

Thanks Hutch. Don't know anyone here yet ... I have to admit to being a bit leery of discussions in philosophy of religion ... tends to bruise sensibilities, and it can be reeeeally hard to get folks to talk sense.

:D

TAM5 is a definite possibility!

[Mercifull]

I'm new too.

My name is Matt Sims and i normally go by the alias Mercifull which i regret a little because its a bit too close to merciful (one L) and if i put on google ads anywhere my name gets picked up and all religious spiel gets advertised lol.

I've been a regular visitor to the site for bloody ages but just send of my money to the JREF yesterday and thought id sign up to the forum too.
I'm a Researcher for Wiltshire County Council and studying for my Profesisonal MRS Certificate to make me a proper researcher, at the mo im just a glorified IT assistant lol.

I'm quite an obvious atheist and ppl sometimes accuse me of being a bit nihilistic but i dont really take offence to that. It does annoy me sometimes when peop-le accuse me of worshiping the devil like some stupid idiot as Vegas airport saud when i was getting tickets for Penn and Teller hehe. I also dont belive in any of the homeopathy rubbish thats rife everwhere these days but i will confess now that I do occasionally go to the chiropractors. I am under no illusions that its a magical cure for all but they do a bloody good massage and it definitly makes my back feel better after it so im not ashamed.

Don't really know what else to put. I dont really like these "introduce yourself" posts to be honest because you onyl really get a true representation of someone when youve been speaking to them a little while rather than a few paragraphs of one way text but i wrote one anyway hehe :P

I'll try to drop in occationally but id rather just read about all the good work lots of other people are doing and exposing these scammers for what they are. My box for example just paid £80 for a CD thats completely silent but it supposed ot have some special waves to energise you or something lol.

well thats it
cya

Matt

[tanto]

Hi,

Im a 26 year old male from Stockholm, Sweden. My profession is System Engineer (working with servers, programming etc.). Not religious but have an interest in asian culture and philosophy. Like meditation, relaxation techniques , Bonsai, Japanese swords etc.

How it begun: A friend tried to get me to join a MLM scam (Didnt know what that was at the time) tricking me to come to one of their presentations. The meeting left me feeling uneasy and anxius, something is wrong. All the pieces fell to place after watching a video with Mr. Randi explaining how to trick but most importantly how we trick ourselves.

Result: Broadening my critical using it on all aspects on life instead of just accepting that science cant explain it all and look for answers some place else. Learning how to recognize methods and structures under the gullible surface when it comes to scams. I have saved lots of time and money not joining questionable martial arts classes just becouse it looked cool standing in unusable stances or had a nice touch of mysticism like chi/qi or worse.

A couple of years later i joined the forum mostly becouse you cant search without being a member. :rolleyes:

Thank you Randi and JREF.

[Rachel1031]

Hi everyone. I'm new, but I've spent a little time reading before posting. I'm in Washington State, I'm a 39 year old woman. I work as a lawyer (although my family doesn't listen to me *ever* when it comes to scams - I feel like Cassandra). I personally believe that much grief could be avoided if people learned basic critical thinking tools, and I believe that we need scientists in government (or at least folks who respect science).

I've never been in a forum before, but I think that will probably be obvious.

[Ducky]

F***!!! Who let the lawyer in?

There goes the neighborhood...













WELCOME!!!! :D

[Rachel1031]

Thanks - I am available to sign affidavits for the Challenge!

[Ducky]

Oooh! PM KRAMER and let him know.

[Smiling Custard]

Hi folkes! A skeptic here, but I do have an open mind as to whether the "super natural" exists or not.

[screw_dog]

Hi all,
I'm an Australian with a keen interest in critical thinking and education, particularly with illiterate clients. I'm an atheist, a mathematician and strongly against alternative medicine, psychics, astrology, etc. I try to be patient with woo-woos but I often have difficulty :)

I'm also new to message boards in general but I've had a good lurk around and I think I'm going to like it here.

[Steve]

Hi all,
I'm an Australian with a keen interest in critical thinking and education, particularly with illiterate clients. I'm an atheist, a mathematician and strongly against alternative medicine, psychics, astrology, etc. I try to be patient with woo-woos but I often have difficulty :)

I'm also new to message boards in general but I've had a good lurk around and I think I'm going to like it here.

It's always great to see a new hound in the kennel. Welcome aboard screw_dog.
(PS - no butt sniffing):D

[Eos of the Eons]

(PS - no butt sniffing):D


Awwwwwww....

[screw_dog]

Thanks dogguy and Eos. Just itching to get my avatar up!

[Ducky]

Thanks dogguy and Eos. Just itching to get my avatar up!



Do you have an electric body part to put up? Is there going to be an avatar war between my Spine of Woo Terror and Doom(TM) and your avatar? Perhaps the Feared Shins of Poultergeist Apocalypse(TM)?





(welcome.)

[screw_dog]

Actually I just want an avatar that is a cross between a cute puppy and an ordinary screw.

Maybe I could throw in some electricity... Hmmm. Maybe "The Incredi-Sharp Electro-Death Puppy Dog Tail"?

[Ducky]

Actually I just want an avatar that is a cross between a cute puppy and an ordinary screw.

Maybe I could throw in some electricity... Hmmm. Maybe "The Incredi-Sharp Electro-Death Puppy Dog Tail"?



I fully support this. As Treble_head nicely and he may design the flashing electricity for you...

[screw_dog]

And then perhaps I will be part of an electric, woo-torturing pack of hungry puppy dogs augmented with fixings! My plan is coming to fruition! [maniacal laugh]

[Ducky]

And then perhaps I will be part of an electric, woo-torturing pack of hungry puppy dogs augmented with fixings! My plan is coming to fruition! [maniacal laugh]



I f***ing like this guy.

Rock on, screw_dog.

[screw_dog]

I'm almost halfway to my 15 post mark! Time to move on to a new thread to wreak havoc there.

[Ducky]

I'm almost halfway to my 15 post mark! Time to move on to a new thread to wreak havoc there.



I suggest these threads to boost post count:

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=48975
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=11353
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=20615http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=50472

[Jmasley1]

Anyone goping to see Daniel Dennett at Caltech on the 26th?

[Spidey13]

I don't gope. ;)

[tim]

I don't gope. ;)

I do. Often. And in public.

[Angus McPresley]

Been here for a few weeks, but never introduced myself.

Real name's Mark. I'm an American, but have been living in Melbourne Australia with my (American) wife for a year and half now, after a year and a half stint in Singapore. We love it here, and may never leave. We also have a dog who's half lab, half nuts.

Skeptically speaking, I was introduced to skepticism by my excellent college biology professor. I went to a free thought/humanism meeting once, but found it an exercise in religion bashing, so didn't go back. I was active on Usenet's sci.skeptic board for a while in the past.

I work in IT, and recently contributed to an O'Reilly book, which is geek nirvana. I've also won the IOCCC six times. For fun, there's soccer, guitar, travel, and of course the internet.

[Chaos]

I do. Often. And in public.

I don´t think anyone here wants to know about that. :covereyes

[wollery]

I do. Often. And in public.Lynn, have a word! :nope:

[tim]

Now look here, you two - yes, Chaos and Wollery, it's you I'm talking to - if I want to gope in public it's nothing to do with you. Goping is a perfectly natural thing for a wombat to do. We enjoy doing it and that's all there is to it. It may frighten the horses, but that's just tough luck. So let's have a bit more tolerance of other species around here!

[Orangutango]

After being a silent lurker perusing these message boards for the past, few weeks, I have finally decided to become a member.

Why, you may ask...? Mostly due to the fact that I'm a highly-opinionated, sarcastic cynic with delusions of being much more knowledgable, witty and intelligent than I really am, coupled with a burning need and desire to deliver my always unique and insightful viewpoints to you, the unwashed masses... preferably through the liberal use of repeatedly bashing those that don't agree with said unique and insightful viewpoints into their collective craniums with the hard hammer of pure logic and truth... or with a wet noodle, depending on my mercurial mood (and depending if my medication has kicked-in).

For those of a religious bent, allow me to rephrase the above paragraph thusly: Less thee have thy fragile beliefs and tentitive grasp on what thou perceive to be true in this g*d-forsaken world forever shattered, I suggest thou not gaze upon thine posts for fear of having thy paper-thin reality torn asunder! REPENT, SINNERS!! Amen.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, for without their help, this post would have appeared more like the drunken ramblings of an lobotomized, blind orangutan pounding away at a keyboard.

Jen

P.S. I'm was only joking about that last part. I can see perfectly well, thank you very much.

[JLam]

After being a silent lurker perusing these message boards for the past, few weeks, I have finally decided to become a member.

Why, you may ask...? Mostly due to the fact that I'm a highly-opinionated, sarcastic cynic with delusions of being much more knowledgable, witty and intelligent than I really am, coupled with a burning need and desire to deliver my always unique and insightful viewpoints to you, the unwashed masses... preferably through the liberal use of repeatedly bashing those that don't agree with said unique and insightful viewpoints into their collective craniums with the hard hammer of pure logic and truth... or with a wet noodle, depending on my mercurial mood (and depending if my medication has kicked-in).

For those of a religious bent, allow me to rephrase the above paragraph thusly: Less thee have thy fragile beliefs and tentitive grasp on what thou perceive to be true in this g*d-forsaken world forever shattered, I suggest thou not gaze upon thine posts for fear of having thy paper-thin reality torn asunder! REPENT, SINNERS!! Amen.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, for without their help, this post would have appeared more like the drunken ramblings of an lobotomized, blind orangutan pounding away at a keyboard.

Jen

P.S. I'm was only joking about that last part. I can see perfectly well, thank you very much.
You're gonna fit in just fine here, madam.

Welcome :D

[Orangutango]

Thanks, Jlam! It's a relief to know that I can be my usual, smartarse self and still be loved and respected for my views and opinions.... hey.... HEY! My views and opinions are up here. Perv.;)

Oh, I forgot to mention in my 1st post... I'm totally in love with Piscivore. I'm going to have his babies. He just doesn't know it yet... :lovestruck:

[Roadtoad]

Now look here, you two - yes, Chaos and Wollery, it's you I'm talking to - if I want to gope in public it's nothing to do with you. Goping is a perfectly natural thing for a wombat to do. We enjoy doing it and that's all there is to it. It may frighten the horses, but that's just tough luck. So let's have a bit more tolerance of other species around here!

Hey, even in California, nobody gopes in public! :eek:

Lynn, please! He's forgotten his meds again!

[Chaos]

Now look here, you two - yes, Chaos and Wollery, it's you I'm talking to - if I want to gope in public it's nothing to do with you. Goping is a perfectly natural thing for a wombat to do. We enjoy doing it and that's all there is to it. It may frighten the horses, but that's just tough luck. So let's have a bit more tolerance of other species around here!

:p

I´m an inveterate, unrepentant primate-centric bigot! Other species can just [rule8] themselves. :eye-poppi

[Hawk one]

Oh, I forgot to mention in my 1st post... I'm totally in love with Piscivore. I'm going to have his babies. He just doesn't know it yet... :lovestruck:


This is, without a doubt, the absolutely scariest thing I've ever read on this forum. :eek: :eye-poppi :jaw-dropp

[Orangutango]

This is, without a doubt, the absolutely scariest thing I've ever read on this forum. :eek: :eye-poppi :jaw-dropp

I should have also added that my girlfriend doesn't know it yet, either.;)

Anyway, it's not like I'm some Glenn Close/Fatal Attraction type of person... being a lesbian, I merely want him for his superior, genetic material in order to have his oragutan love-child. (this will all make much, more sense once I get my avatar. Trust me on this):)

[AnotherSillyAlias]

I should have also added that my girlfriend doesn't know it yet, either.;)

Anyway, it's not like I'm some Glenn Close/Fatal Attraction type of person... being a lesbian, I merely want him for his superior, genetic material in order to have his oragutan love-child. (this will all make much, more sense once I get my avatar. Trust me on this):)

No way could anyone ever claim that this forum is boring!

[Numenaster]

Well, I was prompted to post a first message here, so here I am!

[Orangutango]

From one new fish to another, welcome! :w2:

Jen

[Ducky]

From one new fish to another, welcome! :w2:

Jen



Don't let Jen fool you.

She posts like a pro.






Ok well except for this. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=1456302#post1456302) seriously Jen, you did well except for that one craptastic moment. Please try to control yourself.

[Orangutango]

Don't let Jen fool you.

She posts like a pro.

If you could see my cheeks blush a nice fire engine red right now...:blush:

Coming from you, that is a high compliment indeed (I had been a silent lurker for the past, 2 weeks before joing up here, and have read many of your posts).


Ok well except for this. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=1456302#post1456302) seriously Jen, you did well except for that one craptastic moment. Please try to control yourself.

I blame those darned hormones.:o

The "Piscivore Incident", as it will most likely be called in the history books, had to do with that I found him to have a killer sense of humor. His sometimes smartarse one-liners almost without fail made me laugh. So, my comment was, in my own, unique way, my own warped tribute to him.

I promise that from now on I'll take a cold shower 1st before posting...;)

[Ducky]

If you could see my cheeks blush a nice fire engine red right now...:blush:

Coming from you, that is a high compliment indeed (I had been a silent lurker for the past, 2 weeks before joing up here, and have read many of your posts).




I blame those darned hormones.:o

The "Piscivore Incident", as it will most likely be called in the history books, had to do with that I found him to have a killer sense of humor. His sometimes smartarse one-liners almost without fail made me laugh. So, my comment was, in my own, unique way, my own warped tribute to him.

I promise that from now on I'll take a cold shower 1st before posting...;)



By all means hit on anyone you wish, just not Piscivore. Seriously. (worst lay on the forum. I've seen green algae with more sexual intuition.)

If you've read many of my posts, you know I'm a blathering clown. You need to read Roadtoad, Delphi_ote, kmortis (well, not really. kmortis is a self inflated ass like me) slingblade and meg's posts. I am merely their Ed McMahon (and less funny than McMahon too!)

[Orangutango]

By all means hit on anyone you wish, just not Piscivore. Seriously. (worst lay on the forum. I've seen green algae with more sexual intuition.)

Understood. (guys are icky anyway. Present comapny excluded, of course.);)

If you've read many of my posts, you know I'm a blathering clown. You need to read Roadtoad, Delphi_ote, kmortis (well, not really. kmortis is a self inflated ass like me) slingblade and meg's posts. I am merely their Ed McMahon (and less funny than McMahon too!)

To be honest, it was also your sense of humor in some of your posts that I had stumbled across that made you stand out amongst the other posters (The same goes for Belz, Piscivore, and El Greco, to name just a few).

As for Meg... she has already impressed me beyond words in the "Injured by religion" thread. (I have already thanked her for her stance in defending gay marriage... a topic, as a lesbian, that is important to me).

As for Roadtoad... after reading his then ongoing account of his friend's child passing away, I cried harder than I could remeber in the past, few months. I have made it a priority to let him know how much his plight had moved me, and how much respect I have for him as a human being.

As for Delphi_ote, Kmortis and slingblade, all three names are familiar to me, but since it is 2am and I had just pulled a 9 hour driving shift, I'm having trouble remembering much about their posts.

Another side effect of posting while exhausted is that I tend to ramble on and on, it seems...:blush: So, I'll end this by saying... if I had not already done so... thank you for making me feel welcome here in the JREF community.

See ya in the threads.:)

Jen

[tim]

Understood. (guys are icky anyway. Present comapny excluded, of course.);) snip.

Jen

I see. Nice to be described as "icky" by a new poster. Thank you. Unless of course you prefer to believe I'm a real wombat.................

Welcome to the forum all the new folk. Just remember, the mod team will be watching you. Some more than others, of course.

[Ducky]

Do not scare the n00bs or I will shave you with an old rusty razor.

[Orangutango]

I see. Nice to be described as "icky" by a new poster.

Actually... the term I wanted to use was that boys are "testosterone-poisoned pains in my posterior", but I figured I would be overstating the obvious. :halo:

Nice to meet you, Tim.:)

[tim]

Do not scare the n00bs or I will shave you with an old rusty razor.

Don't push your luck, titanium boy........

[tim]

Actually... the term I wanted to use was that boys are "testosterone-poisoned pains in my posterior", but I figured I would be overstating the obvious. :halo:

Nice to meet you, Tim.:)

Well, that's ok. I'm fifty-five years old and one of the elders here...........
Nice to meet you too. Enjoy the forum!

[SnowFlower]

Hi all

Not sure if I should even be here as I seem to be what most posters would call "gullible". However i've been reading for so long that I feel I almost know some posters so thought I should show myself :)

[Roadtoad]

Do not scare the n00bs or I will shave you with an old rusty razor.

I would have helped, except Peggy stole my old rusty razor and threw it out.

Plus, she won't let me shave wombats. Says it's unnatural.

[Orangutango]

Hi all

Not sure if I should even be here as I seem to be what most posters would call "gullible". However i've been reading for so long that I feel I almost know some posters so thought I should show myself :)

Hi, SnowFlower! Welcome! :w2:

Oh... by the way... your zipper is down. Ha! Gotcha! Boy... you really are gullible!;)

Never mind me... I'm a Miss Smartypants. Just ask the wombat and icky Tim.:D

[themyst]

Hi

Well I have been prompted to introduce myself, so here I am.

I used to be a normal Christian who grew out of that to become a Pagan. One of the paths I tried was that of Chaos Magician, which is a very similar concept to that of a skeptic but without the requirement of a proper scientific method in one's investigations.

In the end I became a skeptic.

I am currently reading a Richard Dawkins book and I had a thought. (You will learn to fear my thoughts).Because I did not study science and don't have a degree in anything related I pretty much have to take the concepts presented to me on faith.

A skeptic studding evolution requiring faith to believe in something he has no self ability to investigate himself.

Oh yea, I also live in South Africa.

[screw_dog]

Welcome themyst!

Don't let not knowing about a subject stop you from posting long opinion pieces on it, many other posters do just that!

Seriously though, I've found this forum to be a great place to listen to a wide range of views on many different things. I always learn something, just not from Roadtoad or fowlsound! :D

Hang around, we need more from the southern hemisphere.

[Jon.]

Hi, SnowFlower! Welcome! :w2:

Oh... by the way... your zipper is down. Ha! Gotcha! Boy... you really are gullible!;)

Never mind me... I'm a Miss Smartypants. Just ask the wombat and icky Tim.:D

And did you know that "gullible" isn't even a real word? Seriously. It's not in the dictionary. Go check. I'll wait.
































Gotcha.
:D

[Jon.]

A skeptic studding evolution requiring faith to believe in something he has no self ability to investigate himself.

To a certain degree, this may be true. I take it on faith that people like Dawkins are telling the truth about their observations, experiments, etc.

However, it's not really faith. If Dawkins says X is true because experiments A B and C show it to be true, then he knows that someone else can come along, re-do experiments A B and C and, if that person gets different results, publish and contradict him. It's called the scientific method, and it relies on human nature (competitiveness, the desire to out-do one another and seek fame, etc.) to keep scientists honest.

If a preacher, on the other hand, tells me that X is true because God has told him so, I have no way of checking that. No-one can contradict it or even present an alternative explanation. That is what is really meant by taking something on faith.

[Orangutango]

And did you know that "gullible" isn't even a real word? Seriously. It's not in the dictionary. Go check. I'll wait.
































Gotcha.
:D

Son of a.... that's the 8th time in a row you got me with that one!:mad: :p

Oh, and a "Hi!" to Themyst! :w2:

[themyst]

Thanks for the welcome screw_dog.

[themyst]

that someone else can come along, re-do experiments A B and C .

That is true but until someone else does come along and re-do those experiments/re-view those observations, I, as a layman, have to take what is said as truth through faith.

It is true that faith is based on a long relationship with the author whose experiments have proved true in the past.

Oh and Hi Orangutango. and yes I did go and look up "gullible" in a dictionary, is that not what a good skeptic does :-)

Gullible - adjective
1.Naive and easily deceived or tricked
2.Easily tricked because of being too trusting

[Naik Clarke]

Hi. First post on the forum, although I have been reading the commentaries for a couple of years now.

I'm UK based so first became aware of James Randi from a series he did (must have been in the mid-eighties) over here, and this was the first time I remember somebody looking at various claims in a rationilist way (a few years prior to that I had been watching Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World which took a rather more open-minded/gullible approach, I seem to recall).

Glad to read that Mr Randi is recovering well, though also glad that we get the chance for a column by Mike Shermer, whose book "Why People Believe Wierd Things" was an absolute rivetting read and probably led me ino hunting down things like JREF on the net.

Hope to see you somewhere soon. :)

[LUi]

Hi! guys this is LUi from anahiem California. I finally decided to joined the Club. I found JREF was very interesting. In fact I've already learned a lot...
I met a strange guy from Sweden when I was in Las Vegas a month ago... We kind a hang out for a short while and finally found out his one of the member of JREF's group. He even took me to the chocolate challenge party on that saturday night then I found my self one of the judges and a big chocolate eater after all...luckily I didn't gain a lot of weight ...I admit he was right that I will find this site quit interesting.
Anyway I hope to get to meet more friends all over the world!!!
Always LUi

[Hutch]

Zzzzzzz...snakgneouble,...Zzz..ummmm, whaaa...Oh, drat, it's my turn to welcome the nebies again...grumble, grumble, grumble...;) ;)

Welcome naik, you add yet another British voice to a rather large community over there. Be sure to make contact with them, they are good folks, one of these days a TAM-Britain may yet happen...

And welcome Lui, did you get one of my gift bottles at the Forum party? Seems I remember giving a couple to women I didn't know but figured that the law of averages was probably on my side...:cool: :D

If not, I guess you'll just have to pester me at TAM5...

OK, can I go back to sleep now? Ahhhhh....Zzzzzzzz

[Orangutango]

<A woman dressed in a white tuxedo and a midgit orangutan likewise dressed in a white tuxedo wait for a sea plane to land>

Orangutan: "Oook! Oook! Ook eeek! Ook eeek!" (translated: "Boss! Boss! Da plane! Da plane!)

<Two, new posters disembark from the plane where leis are placed about their neck and fruity, tropical drinks shoved into their hands>

Hello, Naik Clarke and LUi. I am your host, Miss Rourke. Welcome to Skeptic Island!:)

[Jimbo07]

I've been posting around the boards here and generally reading throughout the days...

It occurred to me a few minutes ago, as I was on my hands and knees looking for a Junior(R) Caramel I dropped on the floor, I felt that I should reassure people that, yes, indeed I do do real work! :eye-poppi

Leaving JREF open in the background and posting during the day is my revenge on my department for making me crawl through almost 300 MSDSs on-line and entering bits of information such as the weight percent of Disodium ethylenediaminetetracetate dihydrate in a given compound, in a spreadsheet. For all that I want to stick forks in my eyes, I'm making rapid progress! :D

[Marquis de Carabas]

Rapid progress? How many forks are you up to now?

[Katachresis]

That's nothing, try Trisodium ethylenediaminetetracetate dihydrate.

[Hawk one]

I'm look at your avatar right now, Orangutango.

And if your posts hadn't already proved it, I can now say with absolute certainty that it's not going to be Piscivore that will bring the superior genes should you bear his children.

[Jimbo07]

That's nothing, try Trisodium ethylenediaminetetracetate dihydrate.

Is it just me, or does the sequence etetracetate make anyone else think etcetera etcetera?

And Marquis de Carabas, for your little jest, you can just fork off! ;)

[Kea]

When I was ten, I asked my oldest brother how it was possible to measure the distance to a star. He told me, that one must use two measuring points, as wide apart as possible, and measure the angles to the star from those points. I then asked him where those measuring points on Earth could be, but he refused to answer. He said that I had to find that out by myself. It took some time, but suddenly I realized that the measuring point was not point A and point B on the Earth surface, but two points in the Earths orbit around the Sun, six months apart.

That happened almost fifty years ago. I've always been grateful to my brother, for not answering my question, because from that moment I've been a questioning, thinking, pondering child that appreciate knowledge just for fun.

This was my presentation. What's more to say? I live in Sweden - that little frosty (or more like snowy) country to the east from Norway (which is smaller). I'm not very good at writing in English, so please excuse me for all misspellings and grammatical flaws, but I understand the language fairly well.:boxedin:

[Jimbo07]

This was my presentation. What's more to say? I live in Sweden - that little frosty (or more like snowy)

Aha! I hold you responsible for all the IKEA furniture my wife keeps buying. :p

[Mr. Skinny]

I've been posting around the boards here and generally reading throughout the days...

It occurred to me a few minutes ago, as I was on my hands and knees looking for a Junior(R) Caramel I dropped on the floor, I felt that I should reassure people that, yes, indeed I do do real work! :eye-poppi

Leaving JREF open in the background and posting during the day is my revenge on my department for making me crawl through almost 300 MSDSs on-line and entering bits of information such as the weight percent of Disodium ethylenediaminetetracetate dihydrate in a given compound, in a spreadsheet. For all that I want to stick forks in my eyes, I'm making rapid progress! :D
Well, if it makes you feel any better Jimbo, I'm one of the people that occasionally have to read those MSDS's. They are probably only slightly less boring to read than they are to create, so I can understand where you are coming from.

BTW, I'm a safety engineer in a laboratory complex containing 8 or 9 thousand line items of chemicals. My generic names for a lot of the compounds are 1-2-1 nastybads**t or methyl ethyl death since I can't pronounce most of the real names.

Anyhow, welcome to the forum!

[Kea]

I have a whole bunch of newly fledged kids without driver's licenses (or car). They use me to drive them to and from IKEA...:faint:

[Ducky]

When I was ten, I asked my oldest brother how it was possible to measure the distance to a star. He told me, that one must use two measuring points, as wide apart as possible, and measure the angles to the star from those points. I then asked him where those measuring points on Earth could be, but he refused to answer. He said that I had to find that out by myself. It took some time, but suddenly I realized that the measuring point was not point A and point B on the Earth surface, but two points in the Earths orbit around the Sun, six months apart.

That happened almost fifty years ago. I've always been grateful to my brother, for not answering my question, because from that moment I've been a questioning, thinking, pondering child that appreciate knowledge just for fun.

This was my presentation. What's more to say? I live in Sweden - that little frosty (or more like snowy) country to the east from Norway (which is smaller). I'm not very good at writing in English, so please excuse me for all misspellings and grammatical flaws, but I understand the language fairly well.:boxedin:



This is by far one of the coolest introductions from a new poster I have ever seen.


WELCOME!!!!!!!

[Orangutango]

I'm look at your avatar right now, Orangutango.

And if your posts hadn't already proved it, I can now say with absolute certainty that it's not going to be Piscivore that will bring the superior genes should you bear his children.

:D

[Orangutango]

When I was ten, I asked my oldest brother how it was possible to measure the distance to a star. He told me, that one must use two measuring points, as wide apart as possible, and measure the angles to the star from those points. I then asked him where those measuring points on Earth could be, but he refused to answer. He said that I had to find that out by myself. It took some time, but suddenly I realized that the measuring point was not point A and point B on the Earth surface, but two points in the Earths orbit around the Sun, six months apart.

That happened almost fifty years ago. I've always been grateful to my brother, for not answering my question, because from that moment I've been a questioning, thinking, pondering child that appreciate knowledge just for fun.

This was my presentation. What's more to say? I live in Sweden - that little frosty (or more like snowy) country to the east from Norway (which is smaller). I'm not very good at writing in English, so please excuse me for all misspellings and grammatical flaws, but I understand the language fairly well.:boxedin:

Welcome, Kea! :w2:

Wow... I envy you. When I was 8, I asked my sister what the sound of one hand clapping sounded like. She said that I would have to figure it out for myself.

28 years later, I'm still trying to figure that god[rule8]ed one out...:rolleyes: ;)

[BigHeathenMike]

Hi everyone. I'm happy to finally be in here and looking forward to catching up on the forums and talking to everyone soon.

[Orangutango]

I was just about to head off to bed, but I wanted to welcome you to the boards 1st, BigHeathenMike! :w2:

Now that that's out of the way, I'm off to get my beauty sleep. What... you think looking as sexy as I do in my avatar photo comes naturally...?:p

[GregC]

Finaly, Hello all. I signed up the other night and every time I tried to say hello something less importaint would come up. 1:35 am and the wife, dog, cats and fish are all asleep... no interuptions.

I've been reading quite a few of the posts for the last few weeks, and finaly decided it was time to throw my dimes worth in. I'm 49, originally from Connecticut and transplanted in Maine. I enjoy astronomy, APOD is my first stop in the morning - after the coffee pot, I'm a college baskeball nut, I have an interest in religion but I do not find any proof of the existance of any god.

Theres the nutshell version of me.

G

[HopperUK]

Hi all. I'm just getting interested in the skeptic movement in a serious way (just in time for Randi's operation, good for me!). Moving away from my foggy Catholic-rooted faith and into an atheistic point of view. I'm a physicist by education and a retail clerk by occupation. The quantum, the maths, it hurt my brain. :)

Cheers - hope to talk to you all soon.

[tim]

Hi! guys this is LUi from anahiem California. I finally decided to joined the Club. I found JREF was very interesting. In fact I've already learned a lot...
I met a strange guy from Sweden when I was in Las Vegas a month ago... We kind a hang out for a short while and finally found out his one of the member of JREF's group. He even took me to the chocolate challenge party on that saturday night then I found my self one of the judges and a big chocolate eater after all...luckily I didn't gain a lot of weight ...I admit he was right that I will find this site quit interesting.
Anyway I hope to get to meet more friends all over the world!!!
Always LUi

Welcome, LUi!
One of the things about JREF is that you DO get to meet friends from all over the world. I'm in the UK - we have quite a few members here. But in addition to that, when folk we know from the forum visit we like to make them welcome. Lynn (my wife and also a poster here) and I went out to Brazil last October to see Luciana and Jens - much respected posters here. It's very handy having a home grown guide of your own to show you Rio de Janeiro......:D :D :D

[tim]

Finaly, Hello all. I signed up the other night and every time I tried to say hello something less importaint would come up. 1:35 am and the wife, dog, cats and fish are all asleep... no interuptions.

I've been reading quite a few of the posts for the last few weeks, and finaly decided it was time to throw my dimes worth in. I'm 49, originally from Connecticut and transplanted in Maine. I enjoy astronomy, APOD is my first stop in the morning - after the coffee pot, I'm a college baskeball nut, I have an interest in religion but I do not find any proof of the existance of any god.

Theres the nutshell version of me.

G

Welcome! Another person over 40, thank dog! Enjoy yourself here!

[tim]

Hi all. I'm just getting interested in the skeptic movement in a serious way (just in time for Randi's operation, good for me!). Moving away from my foggy Catholic-rooted faith and into an atheistic point of view. I'm a physicist by education and a retail clerk by occupation. The quantum, the maths, it hurt my brain. :)

Cheers - hope to talk to you all soon.


Hi Hopper!
Welcome to the forum. Where are you from? We have quite a lot of people here in the UK!

[GregC]

Welcome! Another person over 40, thank dog! Enjoy yourself here!

Over 40 ain't bad once you get past some of those aches you didn't know existed at 20.

[tim]

Over 40 ain't bad once you get past some of those aches you didn't know existed at 20.
Wait until you get to 55......... :eek:

[HopperUK]

Hi Hopper!
Welcome to the forum. Where are you from? We have quite a lot of people here in the UK!

I'm from St Albans, but I currently reside in sunny Milton Keynes. :cool:

Actually it's a rather nice place to live. I was startled.

[rhaas]

Eric Rapp raised a very interesting and important question in last week’s commentary: Can someone hold an erroneous belief and still be considered a skeptic? I believe the answer to this is yes but, and this is important, note that I use the word erroneous and not illogical. An individual may be in the possession of information that is in error or incomplete but still draw a logically consistent conclusion from the information at hand. If this person remains open to changing or revising his views as new facts are made available to him then he may be considered a skeptic.

Now let us examine the case of Mr. Bidlack. Eric asks why Mr. Bidlack is not allowed his belief in God and still call himself a skeptic. Certainly, no one is denying him his right to believe in God or anything else he wants.
Bidlack’s crime against skeptical thinking is not his belief in God as such, but his admission that that there is "no evidence and no rational reason for his belief". You cannot hold a belief which you admit goes against evidence and reason, a belief which you admit is based on faith alone, and still have the presumption to call yourself a skeptic. The two are mutually exclusive. Not only is it not skeptical, it is not even rational. "A casual stroll through any lunatic asylum shows that faith proves nothing."

Skeptical thinking is after all not so much what you believe, but a process, a way of thinking in which you base your beliefs on rational and logical thinking and not on faith. And if you permit Bidlack’s faith based beliefs in his "comfortable myths", how can you deny others? What of the individual who is skeptical in all areas but holds a strong belief in UFOs and alien abductions? Why stop at one foolish belief? Why not allow the person who believes in God, Satan, angels, communication with the dead and aliens to call himself a skeptic? After all, even the most ardent of "committed believers" is skeptical about some things.
I am reminded of the story of the little Dutch boy who found a small leak in the dyke which was protecting the village from the fury of the ocean. He plugged the hole with his finger until the hole could be repaired. Even he realized that a hole no matter how small could grow, cracks could develop, and soon the whole dyke might collapse destroying the town. Like that little boy we must remain ever vigilant against even the smallest breach of logical thought and reason, for what else do we have to protect us from the chaos of irrationality and false conceits.
The fact that you can’t prove that God doesn’t exist is no reason to believe that he does. After all you can’t prove that fairies, leprechauns, demons or hundreds of other cultural myths don’t exist either. The onus for proof is on the individual making the claim and not on the individual denying it. This is the way it has to be since you can’t prove a negative. As Carl Sagan said "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."

Contrary to what Eric says, you can’t prove that the Loch Ness monster doesn’t exist either. As the old Hollywood saying goes "accept the premise and you must accept the storyline". Perhaps she is a migratory animal and swam to the open ocean only to return after your exploration was completed. Possibly she is a soft bodied creature and after laying her eggs and carefully covering them with silt she died and decomposed leaving no trace of her existence. After your survey her eggs hatched giving rise to a whole new generation of Nessies.

As David Hume the English philosopher said several hundred years ago: "A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence." This is as true today as it was in Hume’s time.
Yes I would deny Hal Bidlack’s desire to call himself a skeptic. He may be skeptical of some things but he doesn’t demonstrate the open mindedness. and willingness to change beliefs based on logic and reason which are the hallmarks of a true skeptic. The hare may enjoy the conceit of calling himself a fox, but that doesn’t make him one.

"I admit that reason is a small and feeble flame, a flickering torch by stumblers carried in the starless night,-blown and flared by passion’s storm,- and yet, it is the only light. Extinguish that, and nought remains."
Robert Green Ingersoll, -1887

Richard Haas
Ottawa Canada

[wollery]

I'm from St Albans, but I currently reside in sunny Milton Keynes. :cool:

Actually it's a rather nice place to live. I was startled.I'd personally prefer St Albans, but that's just because I know a couple of good watering holes there. :alc:

[megafly]

Richard,
I'm afraid I must disagree with your belief that one cannot hold illogical, unfounded beliefs and still be a skeptic. As long as one recognizes that unreasoning faith is the only reason for a belief, one has met the critical requirement of separating the reasonable from the unreasonable. Any skeptic who has engaged in a game of chance knows what it is like to "feel lucky" or "unlucky" even if we acknowledge that there is no reason for our feelings, your argument is that if we have at all then we aren't skeptics?

[Dr Adequate]

I'm going to have to think about that one.

In the meantime ...

:welcome3

[DierdreAlwyn]

Hello! My name is Kat. I've been lurking for a very long time, and I finally decided to introduce myself. What can I say? I'm unbelievable shy, and my youth makes me feel a little out of place.

I'm an amatuer artist from the little known state of Delaware. Currently unemployed. No college. (Don't know what I want to do with myself yet.)

I never went to church with the exception of weddings, but I was always under the belief that I was a Christian as a child. Then one day I became very curious as to what my "religion" actually was and borrowed my sister's bible. When I read it, it seemed no more realistic than the fantasy books I liked to read. From that point I became agnostic . . . Became (very embarassingly) interested in Wicca when I hit my early teens. After researching that for a while, I eventually became an atheist and have been that way ever since.

I'm not sure how much I'll post. :) I'm not the most knowledgeable person in the world, but I'm always willing to read and learn.

[Orangutango]

Hello and welcome all newcomers. Just make sure you wipe your feet 1st before entering. I just vacuumed... :w2:

[wollery]

Hello! My name is Kat. I've been lurking for a very long time, and I finally decided to introduce myself. What can I say? I'm unbelievable shy, and my youth makes me feel a little out of place.Greetings, don't worry about the age thing, one of our most respected poster is Yahweh, and he's really young! It's not about age, it's about what you say.

I'm not sure how much I'll post. :) I'm not the most knowledgeable person in the world, but I'm always willing to read and learn.
As you may have noticed from your lurking, knowledge, intelligence, common sense and ability to communicate are by no means interrelated qualities!

Just try to have fun, and if you learn something on the way then so much the better.


ps, Orangutango, I'm afraid I just made a bit of a mess in the kitchen. Sorry. :p

[tim]

Eric Rapp raised a very interesting and important question in last week’s commentary: Can someone hold an erroneous belief and still be considered a skeptic? I believe the answer to this is yes but, and this is important, note that I use the word erroneous and not illogical. An individual may be in the possession of information that is in error or incomplete but still draw a logically consistent conclusion from the information at hand. If this person remains open to changing or revising his views as new facts are made available to him then he may be considered a skeptic.

Now let us examine the case of Mr. Bidlack. Eric asks why Mr. Bidlack is not allowed his belief in God and still call himself a skeptic. Certainly, no one is denying him his right to believe in God or anything else he wants.
Bidlack’s crime against skeptical thinking is not his belief in God as such, but his admission that that there is "no evidence and no rational reason for his belief". You cannot hold a belief which you admit goes against evidence and reason, a belief which you admit is based on faith alone, and still have the presumption to call yourself a skeptic. The two are mutually exclusive. Not only is it not skeptical, it is not even rational. "A casual stroll through any lunatic asylum shows that faith proves nothing."

Skeptical thinking is after all not so much what you believe, but a process, a way of thinking in which you base your beliefs on rational and logical thinking and not on faith. And if you permit Bidlack’s faith based beliefs in his "comfortable myths", how can you deny others? What of the individual who is skeptical in all areas but holds a strong belief in UFOs and alien abductions? Why stop at one foolish belief? Why not allow the person who believes in God, Satan, angels, communication with the dead and aliens to call himself a skeptic? After all, even the most ardent of "committed believers" is skeptical about some things.
I am reminded of the story of the little Dutch boy who found a small leak in the dyke which was protecting the village from the fury of the ocean. He plugged the hole with his finger until the hole could be repaired. Even he realized that a hole no matter how small could grow, cracks could develop, and soon the whole dyke might collapse destroying the town. Like that little boy we must remain ever vigilant against even the smallest breach of logical thought and reason, for what else do we have to protect us from the chaos of irrationality and false conceits.
The fact that you can’t prove that God doesn’t exist is no reason to believe that he does. After all you can’t prove that fairies, leprechauns, demons or hundreds of other cultural myths don’t exist either. The onus for proof is on the individual making the claim and not on the individual denying it. This is the way it has to be since you can’t prove a negative. As Carl Sagan said "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."

Contrary to what Eric says, you can’t prove that the Loch Ness monster doesn’t exist either. As the old Hollywood saying goes "accept the premise and you must accept the storyline". Perhaps she is a migratory animal and swam to the open ocean only to return after your exploration was completed. Possibly she is a soft bodied creature and after laying her eggs and carefully covering them with silt she died and decomposed leaving no trace of her existence. After your survey her eggs hatched giving rise to a whole new generation of Nessies.

As David Hume the English philosopher said several hundred years ago: "A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence." This is as true today as it was in Hume’s time.
Yes I would deny Hal Bidlack’s desire to call himself a skeptic. He may be skeptical of some things but he doesn’t demonstrate the open mindedness. and willingness to change beliefs based on logic and reason which are the hallmarks of a true skeptic. The hare may enjoy the conceit of calling himself a fox, but that doesn’t make him one.

"I admit that reason is a small and feeble flame, a flickering torch by stumblers carried in the starless night,-blown and flared by passion’s storm,- and yet, it is the only light. Extinguish that, and nought remains."
Robert Green Ingersoll, -1887

Richard Haas
Ottawa Canada

Welcome to the board Richard. You might want to repost this in R & P.....

[tim]

I'd personally prefer St Albans, but that's just because I know a couple of good watering holes there. :alc:

Hey Wollery, are you in China? What's the beer like.....?

[tim]

Hello! My name is Kat. I've been lurking for a very long time, and I finally decided to introduce myself. What can I say? I'm unbelievable shy, and my youth makes me feel a little out of place.

I'm an amatuer artist from the little known state of Delaware. Currently unemployed. No college. (Don't know what I want to do with myself yet.)

I never went to church with the exception of weddings, but I was always under the belief that I was a Christian as a child. Then one day I became very curious as to what my "religion" actually was and borrowed my sister's bible. When I read it, it seemed no more realistic than the fantasy books I liked to read. From that point I became agnostic . . . Became (very embarassingly) interested in Wicca when I hit my early teens. After researching that for a while, I eventually became an atheist and have been that way ever since.

I'm not sure how much I'll post. :) I'm not the most knowledgeable person in the world, but I'm always willing to read and learn.

Hi Kat! Glad to see you here.
I bet you aren't our youngest poster. Kitten2 was 14, I seem to remember. (She's older now).
Quite a few folk are shy here at first - it can be quite daunting. You sound like you have the neccessary skills in critical thinking though, so you'll be fine.
This place teaches you to think about what you say before you say it. It's a good skill to have in real life, too...............:D

[tim]

I'm from St Albans, but I currently reside in sunny Milton Keynes. :cool:

Actually it's a rather nice place to live. I was startled.

Ah, I'm just up the road from you in Biggleswade, near Bedford. Milton Keynes isn't so bad, really - some parts are royugh, but others are nice. It just doesn't have the identity yet. St Albans has been there for ever, and it feels sort of...... welcoming?

[wollery]

Hey Wollery, are you in China? What's the beer like.....?Ah, yes, ahem.

I should have been, but my start date was put back a month, something to do with Chinese new year and internal bureaucracy. So I'm in the UK for another 3 weeks or so.

[tim]

Ah, yes, ahem.

I should have been, but my start date was put back a month, something to do with Chinese new year and internal bureaucracy. So I'm in the UK for another 3 weeks or so.

Hmmm. Are you going to have a fairwell drink like Athon? Same place, perhaps?

[GregC]

Hello and welcome all newcomers. Just make sure you wipe your feet 1st before entering. I just vacuumed... :w2:

Thanks for the welcome, Orang. The only problem I think we'll have is I'm a surveyor and the first thing I do when I get a new pair of boots is go for a walk in the mud. It just ain't right, a surveyor without mud on his shoes.

G

[Jimbo07]

BTW, I'm a safety engineer in a laboratory complex containing 8 or 9 thousand line items of chemicals. My generic names for a lot of the compounds are 1-2-1 nastybads**t or methyl ethyl death since I can't pronounce most of the real names.


Safety engineer? Is that anything like Homer's job? :D

[wollery]

Hmmm. Are you going to have a fairwell drink like Athon? Same place, perhaps?
Ooh, now there's a thought! That's a distinct possibility. :alc:

[Roadtoad]

Just remember, Newcomers: The wombat shaving starts at dawn. :D

[Kelly]

Hello all,

I'm not completely a newbie, but close. I was "broken in" on the General Skepticism and The Paranormal subforum and had a very warm welcome, other than one silly troll who may have been killed off by one of the other members by this time.

Anyway, drama aside, (cough, cough) I've always had an interest in things "spooky" and unusual. As children, my brothers and I liked to scare other kids with tales of ghosts, other creatures, and space aliens. There were times we even had other parents complain that we gave their kids nightmares! We loved all the horror and science fiction movies and TV shows. (You are herby warned that I have a little mean/mischevious streak from growing up sandwiched in between two brothers.)

As a teenager, I discovered ESP, Ouija boards, and prophecy. At one time, I believed the silliness about the world ending long before now, as stated by the "Late Great Planet Earth" author, Hal What-his-name. I even had my little brother scared to the point of tears with that one.

I grew up, (maybe) married, and had 2 sons. (I've been married to the same man for over 25 years now.) I now work performing tech support for a weather data system. I am surrounded by radar screens all day long, but don't ask me for a weather report because I'm too busy taking phone calls about the system to worry about the current temp. I also started a nonprofit organization and work on that in my (ha) free time.

I still wonder if ghosts and aliens exist and if I visited Loch Ness, I'd see 'ol Nessie. I think the mysteries of life keep us on our toes, always seeking the answers. I would hate for there not to be mysteries...life would be very boring if we had it all figured out!

Unfortunately, I have a mystery in my life that I'd really like to solve, as described on the "Psychics and Missing People" thread. This mystery, coupled with my disdain for what psychics do to people like me and the people we work for with the nonprofit, brought me here. The welcome and the assistance given me has been most appreciated.

Not to worry though, all is not gloom and doom, as I have my sense of humor intact and ready to go at a moment's notice. I do indeed love life and embrace it all.

Kelly

[Mr. Skinny]

Safety engineer? Is that anything like Homer's job? :D
Well, I'm also the Radiation Safety Officer for my laboratory. Unlike Homer, I don't leave work with radioactive materials in my pocket.

Actually, it's scientists and engineers who act like Homer that keep me in a job. I could tell you some interesting stories (if it weren't for those crazy govt. security regulations).

[Orangutango]

Hi, Kelly!

I'm happy to hear that you already received a warm welcome...

...cuz' that means we can really get to work on tearing your thoughts and opinions to shreds... ahhh... I mean...

Welcome...? (j/k):)

Jen :w2:

[De_Bunk]

Hi everyone...

Im De_Bunk.

I'm great...!

Thanks for coming...

DB

[Ducky]

Hi everyone...

Im De_Bunk.

I'm great...!

Thanks for coming...

DB


*kicks De_Bunk in the nuts.

[De_Bunk]

Its the least i deserve...!

DB

[GregC]

Hi everyone...

Im De_Bunk.

I'm great...!

Thanks for coming...

DB

Thanks for letting me know. With so many great people around it's hard to tell who's great any more.

[nirmalrao]

iam dr.nirmal very much great to be here

[Mr. Stick]

Hello everyone,
I finally took the time to write my first post. I have been reading Randi's commentary for years, but have only recently begun to follow the threads in the forums. In the beginning it was more or less just to read about all the crackpots that are out there, but KellyJ's thread about psychics and missing people was a real eye opener. This is also about real people being hurt, and real damage being done. That, more than anything else made me decide that I had to sign up and join the forums.
I probably won't be posting much until a little later, because I have a term paper due in two weeks (I'm studying to become a land surveying technician). Looking forward to getting active in the forums. :)

[tim]

Wrelcome to the forum, Mr. Stick!
We have quite a few posters from Denmark.......

[Orangutango]

Welcome, Mr. Stick!:w2:

[Kelly]

Hello everyone,
I finally took the time to write my first post. I have been reading Randi's commentary for years, but have only recently begun to follow the threads in the forums. In the beginning it was more or less just to read about all the crackpots that are out there, but KellyJ's thread about psychics and missing people was a real eye opener. This is also about real people being hurt, and real damage being done. That, more than anything else made me decide that I had to sign up and join the forums.
I probably won't be posting much until a little later, because I have a term paper due in two weeks (I'm studying to become a land surveying technician). Looking forward to getting active in the forums. :)

Welcome! I love your siggy line, BTW. Perhaps when you finish your term paper, you can come and help us out.

I am sure that during and after the blog series, I am going to be swamped with pleading psychics, ("I'm real, trust me!") even though I warn them not to write to me.

[Porterboy]

Greetings. This looks like an interesting Skeptics' site. I've heard of James Randi; who hasn't!?

Well, I'd better clear the air right now and come out with it: I am NOT a skeptic. However I wouldn't call myself gullible; I don't just believe anything. I need a good reason (by my standards, not Mr Randi's) to think something is true. I've spent quite a lot of time on skeptics' forums; it's always wise to look at both sides of the arguement.

Anyway, look forward to talking to you all. Hope we can have a few good discussions. I'm happy to talk about anything and don't mind admitting when I'm wrong. But I'm pretty damn stalwart if I think I'm right!

[wollery]

Greetings. This looks like an interesting Skeptics' site. I've heard of James Randi; who hasn't!?

Well, I'd better clear the air right now and come out with it: I am NOT a skeptic. However I wouldn't call myself gullible; I don't just believe anything. I need a good reason (by my standards, not Mr Randi's) to think something is true. I've spent quite a lot of time on skeptics' forums; it's always wise to look at both sides of the arguement.

Anyway, look forward to talking to you all. Hope we can have a few good discussions. I'm happy to talk about anything and don't mind admitting when I'm wrong. But I'm pretty damn stalwart if I think I'm right!I'd say that not believing something without good reason (evidence?) is kind of the definition of a skeptic.

Anyway, welcome to the forum, get over to Phil's pub and have a pint, but remember to avoid getting dripped on by the thing on the ceiling. And if you have any curly straws I'm sure Boo would appreciate them, she'll be under the table.

[Chet29]

Hi All,
Glad to be aboard with all of you. I'm just another physicist with an ear to the ground, trying to learn more even at this late age in my life(80 yrs. old). From what I have seen, this seems to be the place for me to sit on the sidelines and absorb. I have been retired for 19 years now and still would like to be kept abreast of many of our latest accomplishments. Thank you... . Chet:)

[GregC]

Hi Chet29

[Spidey13]

Hello, Chet. Nice to see an internet savvy octogenarian.

[zenotype]

Hello,

This forum seems interesting, home to skeptics and optimists alike. Can one be a critical thinker as well as religious/spiritual? That's what I'd like to find out...

I am mostly a lurker who enjoys reading everyone's opinions, but I'll try to participate from time to time.

Cheers.

[Dr Adequate]

This forum seems interesting, home to skeptics and optimists alike. Can one be a critical thinker as well as religious/spiritual? That's what I'd like to find out... Well, we've discussed this at leangth, and you will be pleased to know that we've come to a complete and unanimous consensus concerning this issue, namely ...

* is suddenly eaten by a freak crocodile *

[Hutch]

Hello,

This forum seems interesting, home to skeptics and optimists alike. Can one be a critical thinker as well as religious/spiritual? That's what I'd like to find out...

I am mostly a lurker who enjoys reading everyone's opinions, but I'll try to participate from time to time.

Cheers.

Unlike Dr. A, I'm only going to say (1) See posts by kittynh, Mlynn, and ceo_esq and most if not all of the Religious subfora.

**Throws remainder of Dr. A's remains to still-hungry crocs and exuents stage left**

[Numenaster]

From one new fish to another, welcome! :w2:

Jen


OK, this is funny. Two lesbian Jens, in the same thread. What are the chances? Wait, don't answer that.

[zenotype]

Point taken...

However, I should have been a little more precise with my question: by religion, I meant a process/path one chooses to follow with the belief that it may bring one closer to God, a universal truth, or self-betterment and happiness. Philosophers, and thinkers seek for truth through critical thinking, reflection, and observation of the world around them... others through self-absorption in their creative work. To me, this means that many people who do not consider themselves as religious in the traditional sense, or who not belong to some mainstream religion, are in fact the sorrowful bearers of light. I find that it is those who are intellectually lazy or emotionally crippled that do not question what is told to them, nor bother looking into the matter with charity... they are the deceivers. Those the like of Pat Robertson, who would make you believe he selling you the truth for a few bucks, no thinking needed. This is why I like the discussions in this forum, as they strive for clarity and honesty.

[rhaas]

Hi Megafly:

Thanks for your reply, but I really must disagree with you. I think we both agree that if someone holds a belief because of evidence reason and logic then they may call themselves a skeptic. Your statement however that an individual holding an illogical belief may also call themselves a skeptic if they simply admit that they hold this belief on the basis of faith alone opens the door to anyone and everyone. You may believe in demons, goblins, werewolves and vampires but by saying that you believe this on faith then you are a skeptic. The problem with this is that it makes everyone a skeptic. Since you can only hold a belief on the basis of evidence and reason or on the basis of faith everyone falls into one of these two categories. Therefore everyone is a skeptic so the word skeptic becomes meaningless.
Richard

[Dr Adequate]

OK, this is funny. Two lesbian Jens, in the same thread. What are the chances? We find it's easier to order new posters in jobs lots.

The next batch will be a trio of foot-fetishists called Gerald.

[Darat]

:sehelloooo: :sewelcome:

[Spidey13]

Should we change the name of this thread to "Darat Shows Off New Smilies"?

[Darat]

:seenglish: :sewub:

[Spidey13]

Yep, we definitely should.

[Orangutango]

OK, this is funny. Two lesbian Jens, in the same thread. What are the chances? Wait, don't answer that.

Actually, she's the good twin. I'm pure evil. :hit:

And a big "howdy" to all the new members! :w2:

[rakettfua]

not religious, I'm spritual. I don't believe in everything, but I try to go with what my feelings tells me. I'm interested in people and why people become sceptic to spirituality. I'm sceptic too - to f.ex. fluoride and health directorates.

Don't let me scare you, I (usually) don't bite.

[screw_dog]

Welcome rakettfua!

You'll probably find many people here who disagree with spirituality, and maybe some who'll agree. Either way, I hope you enjoy your time here!

[Hutch]

Welcome, rekettfua. From your description I expect to see some interesting posts from you in the Religion and Philosophy areas of the Forum--but stop by Community now and then...

Don't let me scare you, I (usually) don't bite.

Be warned, some of our posters do:

http://www.globi.ca/images/sc_t-rex.jpg

[Orangutango]

not religious, I'm spritual. I don't believe in everything, but I try to go with what my feelings tells me. I'm interested in people and why people become sceptic to spirituality. I'm sceptic too - to f.ex. fluoride and health directorates.

Don't let me scare you, I (usually) don't bite.

I'm not scared... you actually seem like a nice persoOHMYGOD!!YOUSTUFFEDABABYSEALINTOAGLASSBOX!!! YOUSICKSICKMONSTER!!!:eek:

Oh, and welcome!:w2:

[Numenaster]

[QUOTE=Orangutango;1478675]Actually, she's the good twin. I'm pure evil.

This is absolutely true. I'm not actually sneaking up on anyone with a concealed water balloon, not at all.

:duck:

[Orangutango]

[Actually, she's the good twin. I'm pure evil.

This is absolutely true. I'm not actually sneaking up on anyone with a concealed water balloon, not at all.

:duck:

My best friend Jen from California is also a lesbian... hey! We three should join forces and start our own, little world domination societ... I mean, "social club"....:cool:

[Spidey13]

OK, so let's rename the thread "Darat shows off new smilies to lesbians named Jen."

[Numenaster]

OK, so let's rename the thread "Darat shows off new smilies to lesbians named Jen."

Nah, don't want to blow our cover. Oops! Drat.

[Orangutango]

And we would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling skeptics!:scooby-do

[JayT]

Hello,

This forum seems interesting, home to skeptics and optimists alike. Can one be a critical thinker as well as religious/spiritual?
Cheers.

Welcome - regardless of the dirt the tabloids are spreading about you.

LOL


That's a loaded question.

Being a hard core scientific factualist, I have no choice but to consider all supernatural considerations outside the domain of science, since no possible scientific means of physical analysis or study is applicable to them.

Proper science is 100% physical in all that it investigates. If the physical tools of science cannot be used in any way, then science has no

A critical thinker MUST, by definition, be ready to accept and concede to the possibility that a theory could be wrong. In matters of faith, like religion, no such null provision is allowed. You are expected to simply believe something, and many do, regardless of any facts one way or another. The possibility a faith-based belief being false is not an option open to consideration, except by heretics.

Since truth has no valid reason to fear inquiry, we should be able to question the foundations of any assumed belief without exception. To a rational mind, doubts are directly proportional to experiential wisdom.

My personal opinion is that religion serves as a psychological placebo to people who desperately feel they need to believe in something. Many cannot accept the notion that the universe and all within it was NOT created especially for them. They seem to need to feel special and favoured above all other creatures. Apparently, the idea that they serve no special place in the scheme of things is most unacceptable and often the core of their argument against secular science that needs no gods to explain what it does or does not understand.

I have no problems with religions that don't preach doom and inflict threats of violence and death upon those who do not share similar beliefs.

:)

[wollery]

snip.....
This forum seems interesting, home to skeptics and optimists alike.
.....snip
Hmmm, are you saying that skeptics are pessimists by definition?

[zenotype]

Hmmm, are you saying that skeptics are pessimists by definition?

No, like I said, I was rather informal with my introduction. From personal experience, I've just been around many pessimistic, and skeptical people...


A critical thinker MUST, by definition, be ready to accept and concede to the possibility that a theory could be wrong. In matters of faith, like religion, no such null provision is allowed. You are expected to simply believe something, and many do, regardless of any facts one way or another. The possibility a faith-based belief being false is not an option open to consideration, except by heretics.


I agree with you, perhaps spirituality is better term to use here.

An interesting thread: (I can't directly link it, because I have not posted enough on the board yet, so if someone else wants to, it would make it convenient)

Can a Skeptic Believe in God? Responses to Panel Discussion
h**p://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=51236

[Kopji]

Welcome zenotype and general noobs. The harp seal in a box is adequately horrific. :rolleyes: Should fit right in here.

sorrowful bearers of light

bearers of candles in the dark