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

[BrianSI]

Well, let's just say "we'll see" and leave it at that.



I'd expect nothing less from a skeptic.

[Mr. Skinny]

Hi everyone!

I've been led to believe that new users are encouraged to make their first post here. This is an indirect result of being nagged by that "Hello gdtbiker, We notice you haven't yet posted . . .Why not make your first post .... in the Welcome new... thread?

I say indirect because I must have clicked that pseudolink a dozen times only to get some such nonsense about "If you have followed a valid link to get here, please notify the administrator". Now, the problem on my end, as I see it, is that I was somewhat taken aback by the nagging suspicion that I obviously did NOT follow a Valid link and yet I was still being presented with the distinct implication that somehow folks sometimes get to that point by following a Valid link. I was confused! How is this possible? Hmmm....

And then it hit me! Slapped me right upside the ole noggin it did! This is the entry level test for all new posters!! Sadly, I am ashamed to say, my critical thinking cap was shrinking in the wash at the time and would not be available for donning in time to apply to this puzzle.

So, I winged it. And ended up here finally, after tracking down the appropriate thread the hard way - by looking. Of course that was after considering one of mottos: "It at first you don't succeed, try it again - you never know when the laws of physics and the universe might change!
You're one of the quicker to catch on. Welcome. :)

[Arg9]

Heeeelllo Everyone! It's good to be back. About 2,000,000 minutes ago I was here for a short time. Don't remember who I was though (no I didn't get kicked off). A little background about myself:

Met Randi about 20 years ago when I was a little guy doing magic - he was a guest for our group. Years and more years passed and I stumbled across him in a magazine article and I did the whole "I remember him!". A little more research about him and I discovered they had a name for how I think. Don't know for sure if he had anything to do with me becoming a skeptic but he did impress the crap out of us with his magic. Anyway, hats off to skeptics - it seems we're a rare breed but I think we influence more than we know - even if the marital status goes down the toilet because of it! :boggled:

[juryjone]

Anyway, hats off to skeptics - it seems we're a rare breed but I think we influence more than we know - even if the marital status goes down the toilet because of it! :boggled:
Sounds like a story! I love stories.

Welcome back, whoever you were! Try and stick around a little longer this time. Even if you don't have the time to post as often as some here, this place is a blast! (No, I'm not talking controlled demolition.)

[Hyver]

Y Helo ther!

I'm a noob here, but hopefully that will pass. I'm a philosophy student at the University of Utah and I first got interested in the whole skeptic thing after seeing James Randi on "BullSh!t". I found my way here sort of by coincidence, (I can just hear George Noory saying "there's no such thing as a coincidence!") I was reading a rebuttal to "Loose Change" and it linked to the CT section of this forum so I started lurking around here and decided that I wanted to stick around. Anyway, here I am, I hope I can contribute something interesting.

[Hutch]

Welcome hyver, I think we have a few other Utah folks around the Forum (If you are Mormom/ex-Mormon, we have some compatriats here also).

As for:

Anyway, here I am, I hope I can contribute something interesting.

Don't worry, it has never stopped anyone else on the Forum to date, so jump right in.

[Bododio]

bododio, it appears you got missed in the Official "Welcome to the Forum" Derby, given the number of new posters and greeters. So allow me to fomally welcome you to the JREF Forum, you old doubter you.

Thanks for noticing that I exist. But I'm just a fig newton of your imagination since I don't exist and neither do you. :boggled: Had this been a real life, we would been given further instructions about where to go and what to do. ;)

[BrianSI]

Thanks for noticing that I exist. But I'm just a fig newton of your imagination since I don't exist and neither do you. :boggled: Had this been a real life, we would been given further instructions about where to go and what to do. ;)

I think that's why someone invented meditation. So you don't care anymore about doing anything.

... but I suck at meditation.

Or is it pot I'm thinking of?

Hmm ... don't have any.








But I do have the JREF forum!!

[Dr Adequate]

Y Helo ther!

I'm a noob here, but hopefully that will pass. I'm a philosophy student at the University of Utah and I first got interested in the whole skeptic thing after seeing James Randi on "BullSh!t". I found my way here sort of by coincidence, (I can just hear George Noory saying "there's no such thing as a coincidence!") I was reading a rebuttal to "Loose Change" and it linked to the CT section of this forum so I started lurking around here and decided that I wanted to stick around. Anyway, here I am, I hope I can contribute something interesting. Hi. If, as your post suggests, you're a Mormon, there's already a Mormon on these forums with the username "Sword_Of_Truth", who sticks up for truth and science against the nutty nonsense of the CTs, and who does this very well indeed.

Welcome to the forums!

[Mr. Skinny]

Welcome to the new posters.

Gotta say that when I read posts from Arg9, Hyver, and Bod.., it does sorta make me feel like the forum supports the E part of JREF (education). I'm glad that folks found the forum because of Randi's name.

Hope the noobs enjoy it here.

Skinny

[Arg9]

Sounds like a story! I love stories.

Welcome back, whoever you were! Try and stick around a little longer this time. Even if you don't have the time to post as often as some here, this place is a blast! (No, I'm not talking controlled demolition.)


Thanks for the welcoming all. It's nothing too dramatic, but once I get a little more time on here I'll probably start a thread about my experience. I'm curious how many other folks have gone through the same situation or can relate to it. I'm very confident I'm not the only one. I haven't come across the topic of skeptics and relationships in a forum yet. Atleast, not that I've seen yet.

[Katana]

Welcome to all of the noobies (although I still feel like one myself)!

Since people of varied forum experience come in and out, I figured I'd ask this here.

How do you change the name of a website link in a post? For example going from www.msnbc.com to "Look Here"?

Thx.

[Mr. Skinny]

Welcome to all of the noobies (although I still feel like one myself)!.
You should feel like one, noob. :)

Seems like just yesterday I was welcoming you to the forum. Then again, I've been around long enough that I considered everyone a noob at some time or another (except, of course, the folks that joined in the 4 months before me).

Can't wait for the first De_Bunk vs. Robinson debate, BTW.

[Katana]

You should feel like one, noob. :)

Seems like just yesterday I was welcoming you to the forum. Then again, I've been around long enough that I considered everyone a noob at some time or another (except, of course, the folks that joined in the 4 months before me).

Can't wait for the first De_Bunk vs. Robinson debate, BTW.


Awww! You remember me? Really? You really do? http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/happy/050.gif

I agree with you on the debate, BTW. Should be good!

[f0rTyLeGz]

Thanks to the posters from here who went over to courttv message boards and locked horns with the woo woos enamoured with the tv show Haunting Evidence. Great stuff!

[Dr Adequate]

Welcome to all of the noobies (although I still feel like one myself)!

Since people of varied forum experience come in and out, I figured I'd ask this here.

How do you change the name of a website link in a post? For example going from www.msnbc.com to "Look Here"?

Thx. Look Here (www.msnbc.com)

Quote my post to see how it's done.

[infidelguy]

Hello all, new guy here (obviously). I'm Reggie. More well known as the infidelguy. I am in my eight year of internet broadcasting in which my show focuses on science, religion, social issues, philosophy and skepticism. I used to work for the Psychic Network and I'm a US Army Veteran. LandoverBaptist.com has dubbed me "America's most Dangerous Black Atheist!" hee-hee.. I love that site!

I'm married with 3 kids. We might have seen my family on ABC's WifeSwap. They did a very creative editing job on us.. but oh well we survived.

My website is: infidelguy.com and my podcast page is: infidelguy.libsyn.com

Anyway.. enough about me. Hi.

[Christopher7]

Hi this is my first post here.
The 5 second video of wtc7 falling straight down was enough to convince me that it was a controlled demolition. Since then i have done al lot of research on the whole 9-11 thing and i have now come to the conclusion that 9-11 was in inside job. As i undersdand it, that's not a very popular point of view arround here. I have no illusions about changing anybodys mind but i would like to perhaps get some to think about the evidence and logic that i bring to the table.

I just tried to copy and paste a post of 30 firemens quotes but it paste doesn't work. on post reply. How do i do this?

[Foolmewunz]

Hi this is my first post here.


I just tried to copy and paste a post of 30 firemens quotes but it paste doesn't work. on post reply. How do i do this?

Well, you've come to the right place! You shall not suffer from lack of attention if you're trying to post THIRTY quotes on your introductory message.

The first thing us close-minded skeptics are going to think in response to that request is "Phew! Saved by the technical glitch...."

If you haven't already located it, take a stroll over to Conspiracy Theories and read some of Chrisophera's material, and Killtown's so that maybe you won't just rehash their same opinions. Mandatory reading - the Loose Change threads.... Unlike the Loose Change site, you can actually read DIFFERENT opinions - your side and our side.

Enquiring minds want to know:
Are you an independent or are you going to keep referring us to one of the various nutbar threads?
Do you have a blog all nice and ready to link us to?
Are you a GP or a specialist isolating on one particular element that you feel proves "way" beyond a doubt that this was an insider conspiracy?

You don't have to answer any of the above - but if CTists would just state up front what their particular slant on things is, it'd sure save us a lot of prodding posts.

I'm a new guy, too (more or less). The people here are civil if you have something of value to add and will actually listen to coherent argument and respond with your comments, evidence, opinion, etc.... If you go over the edge and just proceed with post after post of pure opinion and unsubstantiated or already disproven evidence, you may find it gets pretty hot around here.

Welcome and here's hoping you're sincere and really want to discuss or learn or educate!

[Fosca]

Howdy, y'all.

I'm a Yankee scientist (training in biology as well as psychology--all about animal behavior) stuck in the backwater that is the panhandle of Florida. I've already had several students try to convert me, as well as get very angry when I don't believe everything they believe and/or I present information that bursts their bubbles. I guess I'm doing my job!

Which is hard in this environment--the head of our local school board believes we should be teaching creationism, for instance, and has lobbied for that to be done. Luckily, no one else is really listening to him, but I doubt there'd be much of an outcry in the community outside of the faculty of my school, and not all of them would be against it (one of my fellow professors is a creationist too, for instance).

I've been reading the records of people who've tried for the $1M . . . it really is sad that there are this many deluded (and marginally literate) people out there. Not surprising, just sad.

I look forward to learning from you, and hope to contribute what I can.

[SusanB-M1]

Just thought you might be amused to know that my screen reader pronounces your name as(with the fy as in fie): infydergwee!!!

[robinson]

Can't wait for the first De_Bunk vs. Robinson debate, BTW.

heh

[robinson]

To further the introduction, and say hello to the other new bees. In the irony of life, just when ready to jump in with both feet flailing, I moved, went out of town, started a new project, and injured myself, all in less than a week.

Bah! As I soaked my finger in DMSO, awash in the soothing warmth and freedom from pain that brings, my thoughts jumped to this forum, and my mind, that mythical thing we agree exist, even when nobody can prove it, my mind wondered, almost of its own accord, is there anybody here dumb enough to think DMSO is woo?

Hmmmm ...


I also have spent hours watching Randi on video (gotta love the Google/youTube/Yahoo video revolution), and despite being off topic, I became aware that Randi is really really after the fakes of the world, (of which I am 100% behind him), but also would love to see something really unexplainable, (100% behind that as well).

And yes, the run-on quality of the preceeding was not lost, I'm just feeling a little crazy from overwork, pain and missing the buzz of being online.

Since I am slagging off work for half a day, my intuition told me to stir the pot a little, which seems like a really good idea sometimes, but then it also seems like work, so screw it.

Screw spellchecking, screw worry, screw it. Just spew some words out there and hope somebody gets a laugh.

Cause I am about enjoying life. The cynic lacks a sense of humor, the true believer as well. I like the middle road, laugh when you can, and don't take yourself too damn seriously.

But thats just me.

Now all that being said, can some old-timer give me an example of something that has NOT been beat to death, debunked, and holds a chance of being something new to science, yet seemingly woo?

Cause if not, I got a couple of aces up my sleeve.

[graviton]

Hi.

I'm yet another new guy. Greetings to you all from Prague, Czech Republic.

I watched the Atheist video in today's Swift and couldn't help noticing that E.O.Wilson was included as an atheist. I don't think he considers himself to be one:
(link not permitted, just google: wilson neimark)

Maybe this would be more adequate as a separate topic, but I'm just getting to know the forum software (and so far I doubt it likes me).

[Meffy]

Hi, Fosca and graviton. Welcome to one of the world's last bastions of rational scientific thought, where reality is taken straight up, no chaser.

*waves a paw* =^_^=

[Arg9]

I'm married with 3 kids. We might have seen my family on ABC's WifeSwap. They did a very creative editing job on us.. but oh well we survived.
.

Ahhh. Probably not a good idea on this thread but it'd be interesting to hear how they manipulated it. I've always wanted to hear stories of how it REALLY happened with those "reality" shows.

[Meffy]

Not "straight up with no chaser," I'm guessing.

[Katana]

Look Here (www.msnbc.com)

Quote my post to see how it's done.

Thank you!:)

And welcome everyone since my last post!

Edited to add greetings

[Sagger]

Hello all,

A friend of mine recommended I check out this site, and here I am. I few years back I graduated from a straight chiropractic college from the deep south. I never did manage to get indoctrinated enough to take their philosophy and mysticism to heart, so I ended up taking the skeptical road and have withdrawn completely from the Chiropractic profession.

[Meffy]

Greetments and felicitations, Stephen. You picked the right road -- though you hardly need me to tell you that!

[Kopji]

Hoooyah! Welcome all.

Infidel guy! Awesome. Those black helicopters hovering around are only there to verify your identity. :D I hardly watch any reality tv, and only listen to the local metal rock station on the radio. I hear good things about you though.

christopher7

Hi this is my first post here.
The 5 second video of wtc7 falling straight down was enough to convince me that it was a controlled demolition. Since then i have done al lot of research on the whole 9-11 thing and i have now come to the conclusion that 9-11 was in inside job.

Well welcome too! It makes perfect sense to me that someone who could conclude by watching a five second video that the building was a controlled demolition - would also conclude it was an elaborate CT. That goes together like Cheese Whiz and Coke.

Your evidence might be posted already around here somewhere, I think I remember seeing it.

Clever of the Bush Administration to add those two jetliners and jumping people as a smokescreen for explosives.

[Pipirr]

This is my second post but my first introduction. I think the last time I posted on an internet forum was back in the year 2000, at Urban75.com. That site was famous for being the originators of the ‘slap a spice girl’ game, and later, for having their entire web design stolen by the scientologists for their loony drug program website. It was quite the scandal at the time, let me tell you.

Anyway, less digresssion, more introduction. I have just returned from a trip to the arctic, where I was doing some biology and being paid for it to boot. It was my first trip that far north. The tundra in summer is just beautiful. I almost have a PhD, but that’s almost, so at the present time, my critical thinking skills are intact and I can still say ‘I don’t know’. :)

I was delighted to find so many serious hardcore critical thinking ninjas like your good selves, all in one place, and look forward to spending some time here. In recent times the JREF has kept me going: even scientist colleagues can be woos and the Commentary was a welcome relief. Its high time I joined in with the Forum, so felicitations everyone, and see you around.

[scottder]

Just dropping a quick hello to my fellow skeptics. There is a LOT of Bunk out there.


Scott

[Meffy]

Hi, Pipirr and scottder. May your stay at JREF forums be productive, entertaining, enlightening, and/or more fun than a barrel of non-critical thinkers.

[Joe Bloggs]

Just a quick hello. Lurker for 3 years, finally decided to post. Just getting my courage up to take on the big boys in the politics and current events forum...... u know where I got killed if I dont report back :-)

[Dr Adequate]

Surely not ... the Joe Bloggs?

I've heard so much about you!

[Meffy]

*salute* We'll send someone after you. Pvt. Ryan -- where are you?

[Joe Bloggs]

Yup, the original Joe Bloggs. Spending my life on the Clapham Omnibus. Just inflitrated the Politics section and got back in one piece. Natives friendly so far!

[Mr. Skinny]

Yup, the original Joe Bloggs. Spending my life on the Clapham Omnibus. Just inflitrated the Politics section and got back in one piece. Natives friendly so far!
Surely, you can't be talking about the JREF Politics section. :boggled:


And welcome!

[Zombie-Boy]

Just saying hello to everyone out there. I have been reading the threads for hours and I just can't seem to get enough.

[Meffy]

Hi, Zombie-Boy. Can't get enough? That must mean you're o/~ not dead yet! o/~ It's a common ailment, quite chronic. Be sure to remember to eat and stuffs.

[GCoastian]

Well, howdy from the Deep South. (how deep are you? - thankyou verymuch)
Well, my former house a block from the Gulf of Mexico was pretty torn up last year during Katrina, but we had just moved a quarter-mile or so inland so we were ok.

Very interesting stuff on the boards here - I can't say I agree with all of what I see; but, I look forward to seeing more.

I am, as you might guess, interested in what others have know about Hurricane Katrina. That was not what drew me to the site - I was impressed by the thorough research and background work done to debunk "Loose Change" and similar 9-11 conspiracies.

[icantlogoff]

A big hello to you all from a misplaced Brit. been in the US for 2 years now, and after a month of local churches bombarding me with offers for jesus to save me... i decided to do some research myself into certain claims by religion.
That was shock number 1, how easy i found errors nd lots of them, second was how many others had found the same. I was brought up never to question anything to do with god...i now see why.

Anyway i love this forum, some great view points, always a good read.

oh a little about myself,
I am 35, now question eveything, have an unhealthly obsession with mentalism ( concertrate on the spoon bending, watch it bend ( in a slightly foriegn accent)).
Oh and am one of the world worst spellers, and proof that growing up with spellchecker was a bad thing.

regards

steve

[LibraryLady]

A big hello to you all from a misplaced Brit. been in the US for 2 years now, and after a month of local churches bombarding me with offers for jesus to save me... i decided to do some research myself into certain claims by religion.
That was shock number 1, how easy i found errors nd lots of them, second was how many others had found the same. I was brought up never to question anything to do with god...i now see why.

Anyway i love this forum, some great view points, always a good read.

oh a little about myself,
I am 35, now question eveything, have an unhealthly obsession with mentalism ( concertrate on the spoon bending, watch it bend ( in a slightly foriegn accent)).
Oh and am one of the world worst spellers, and proof that growing up with spellchecker was a bad thing.

regards

steve

Welcome to the forum and the US. Sounds like you're a great addition to both.

Edited to add two mandatory questions:

What is your position on budgies? (see avatar)

Have you returned your library books?

[Meffy]

Hi to both of you. Deep South to Pine Barrens -- that covers a good big swath of territory!

[Fundamentally Flawed]

Hello, one and all!
I'm Brian, from Philadelphia, PA.
The forums on this site look great. I am sure they will soon syphon a great deal of my free time.
One of my primary concerns in today's society is the manner in which religious fundamentalists are trying to impose their will upon the rest of the nation. I am opposed to "faith based" legislation, as well as the presentation of mythos as a valid alternative perspective to science.
I run a modest little blog. Then again, who doesn't?
I look forward to talking to everyone!

[Mr. Skinny]

Well, howdy from the Deep South. (how deep are you? - thankyou verymuch)
Well, my former house a block from the Gulf of Mexico was pretty torn up last year during Katrina, but we had just moved a quarter-mile or so inland so we were ok.

Very interesting stuff on the boards here - I can't say I agree with all of what I see; but, I look forward to seeing more.

I am, as you might guess, interested in what others have know about Hurricane Katrina. That was not what drew me to the site - I was impressed by the thorough research and background work done to debunk "Loose Change" and similar 9-11 conspiracies.
Welcome, GCoastian.

You'll get bored with this place in about 4 years. (who knows)

Anyhow, welcome aboard.



*listening to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones*

[Mr. Skinny]

Hello, one and all!
I'm Brian, from Philadelphia, PA.
The forums on this site look great. I am sure they will soon syphon a great deal of my free time.
One of my primary concerns in today's society is the manner in which religious fundamentalists are trying to impose their will upon the rest of the nation. I am opposed to "faith based" legislation, as well as the presentation of mythos as a valid alternative perspective to science.
I run a modest little blog. Then again, who doesn't?
I look forward to talking to everyone!
Welcome, Brian. Yep, it can become a black hole of time if you allow it.

It can be quite fun though, as well.

Tread lightly at first, but be yourself.

Welcome to the assylum.

[scotriani]

Hello, scotriani here.......

Just popped in to make my first post. Is there anyone from Australia on the forum?

Cheers.

[The Atheist]

Hello, scotriani here.......

Just popped in to make my first post. Is there anyone from Australia on the forum?

Cheers.

Absolutely NOT, and if there are, they'd better leave now before I find them.

[Oldpossum]

Absolutely NOT, and if there are, they'd better leave now before I find them.

Because we all know that South Australia is not considered a part of Australia now, dont we?:)

[Marc Lurie]

Hi all,

I'm the newbie. My name's Marc, and I'm in Johannesburg, South Africa. I'm a vociferous skeptic (sceptic) who refuses to pull his punches when it comes to discussing the paranormal. I had the pleasure of having lunch with James Randi a few years back, when he was on a visit here.

I've looked around this forum a bit, and decided I'd join after I saw a TV program last night in which a man in South Africa claimed that he was able to track a person (or body) anywhere in the country just by using a sample of that person's DNA. This was "substantiated" by three or four "case studies" where the man was shown to miraculously track down missing persons with a briefcase-shaped gadget and a piece of the persons hair.

The program itself wasn't what prompted me to join the forum. What made me join the forum was the closing interview of the program where the Minister of Safety and Security stated that the SA Police Services are very enthusiastic about this new crime-fighting technology, and the intimation was that they would be putting loads of money into funding what, to me, looks like a confidence trick or scam.

Not only do we have a Minister of Health (dubbed Dr. Beetroot at the International Aids Conference in Toronto last week) who believes that she can cure HIV/Aids with lemons, garlic, olive oil and African potatoes, but it seems that we now have a Minister in charge of the police who believes that it is possible to somehow possible to do a cross-country track down of a crime suspect from his DNA sample.


I will be starting my own thread about the DNA tracking gadget so that I can start to get my head around how this (I suspect) charlatain is doing his trick, and I am confident that I will find answers on this forum.

I feel that it is my duty to do as much as possible to counteract any con or scam in this regard before enormous amounts of energy and time are wasted in the pursuit of pseudo-science instead of using those resources to do something concrete.

I've just read through my post, and in retrospect it looks like a bit of a rant. I apologise for this, but I am really riled by the issue.

I'm looking forward to reading all interesting views here, and contributing in whatever way I can to the forum.

Regards,
Marc - Johannesburg

[Chinaski]

I've been a lurker for a long time.
The reason I finally decided to register is so
when the next thread starts about "why or how
you became an atheist/agnostic",
I can say-

FROM READING THE LOGICAL THINGS YOU B@ST@RDS POST ON THE JREF FORUM!!!


Uh, well I guess I dont have to wait for that thread starter anymore.

[The Atheist]

I've just read through my post, and in retrospect it looks like a bit of a rant. I apologise for this, but I am really riled by the issue.

Don't be apologising, you're 100% right - this kind of witchcraft needs to be stopped in its tracks.

When any type of official assistance is given to people like this, the world goes back in time by about 500 years.

[Mr. Skinny]

I've been a lurker for a long time.
The reason I finally decided to register is so
when the next thread starts about "why or how
you became an atheist/agnostic",
I can say-

FROM READING THE LOGICAL THINGS YOU B@ST@RDS POST ON THE JREF FORUM!!!


Uh, well I guess I dont have to wait for that thread starter anymore.
Welcome, Chinaski. Good to have you here.

Your post is interesting because many of us here have wondered whether the forum here at the James Randi Educational Foundation actually helps educate anyone. Your post gives me a bit of hope, not because I'm also atheist, but because it apparently helped you refine your thinking in some way.

While a large percentage of us here are atheist/agnostic, it's certainly not a requirement. We have a few members here (kittynh and stamenflicker come instantly to mind) who are believers/deists/whatever and are wonderful people and great additions to the forum. Sadly, Hal Bidlack (a deist, IIRC) no longer posts here. He was a great guy also.

Again, welcome.

[Mr. Skinny]

(deleted) double post.

[Mr. Skinny]

Hi all,

I'm the newbie. My name's Marc, and I'm in Johannesburg, South Africa.
(snip)

Welcome, Marc.

We have at least one other poster from SA, Evil Biker. I think he is in CapeTown.

Plus, I think one of our most famous trolls was from SA (Paul Bethke). He was a hoot! Do a search on Paul... (even if my memory was faulty).

[EvilBiker]

Welcome, Marc.

We have at least one other poster from SA, Evil Biker. I think he is in CapeTown.

Plus, I think one of our most famous trolls was from SA (Paul Bethke). He was a hoot! Do a search on Paul... (even if my memory was faulty).

It's:

1. EvilBiker
2. Cape Town

Wandering spaces can be the devil, I know :)

Last I heard on Mr. Bethke, he was wandering around in the Namib area. I cannot confirm whether he was wearing a camel-hair coat on or not...

Welcome, Marc. May you not get as frustrated as I when dealing with the local populace.

We have a couple of SA people on here. LucyR and Anacoluthon64 both hail from your neck of the woods, I believe.

[Meffy]

Wandering spaces can be the devil, I know

Oh, "walkabout" -- I understand Australia has some big wandering spaces. SA too, hm? =^_^=

[Mr. Skinny]

It's:

1. EvilBiker
2. Cape Town

nag, nag, nag!!!

BTW, isn't my new avatar sweet?:D

[Meffy]

Sweet as a Pixy Stix and not much wider.

[Mr. Skinny]

Sweet as a Pixy Stix and not much wider.
Thanks, Meffy. EvilBiker created it for me. :D

[FXMacLeod]

Hi. So this is where the Introduction topic was! I probably should have looked at each search result more carefully instead of just skimming through it. :p

I registered here awhile back but I never posted until someone posted in the "Nipping ‘energy healing’ in the bud" saying that they were doing healing energy. stuff. It gave me a reminder of what I used to believe. Anyways, I'm hoping to do a lot of learning, I have a lot of time to make up for.

[EvilBiker]

Thanks, Meffy. EvilBiker created it for me. :D

It involved much rack and pinion work before I could get the model into the right shape :)

[Harpoon]

Hello.
This is my first post. I found this site yesterday by accident while googling-- Google! Please don't nag me about Google being a registered brand name and not a verb -- while googling for the lyrics to an old folksong, "Engine 143."
One of your strings came up that discussed the possible history behind the song and I wanted to add a few things I know. Until I signed up, I wasn't aware of the skeptical purpose of the site. I haven't had to the time to peruse it yet. I used to read the "Skeptical Inquirer," but haven't seen a copy since just after Asimov died. Well, I have to find that "Engine 143" struing again and make my post.

[Mr. Skinny]

Hello.
This is my first post. I found this site yesterday by accident while googling-- Google! Please don't nag me about Google being a registered brand name and not a verb -- while googling for the lyrics to an old folksong, "Engine 143."
One of your strings came up that discussed the possible history behind the song and I wanted to add a few things I know. Until I signed up, I wasn't aware of the skeptical purpose of the site. I haven't had to the time to peruse it yet. I used to read the "Skeptical Inquirer," but haven't seen a copy since just after Asimov died. Well, I have to find that "Engine 143" struing again and make my post.
Welcome, Harpoon.

Would this be the thread? http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=55132&highlight=engine+143

[wollery]

Harpoon, welcome. And don't worry, google is often used as a verb round here.

[Confuzzled]

Shoot, I need 15 posts before I can do the image host thing huh.... well, oh well

[wollery]

Was that all you came here for?

[Marc Lurie]

Thanks for the welcome. I hope that I will be able to contribute to discussions.

Regards,
Marc

[Chinaski]

[QUOTE=Mr. Skinny;1870539]

Your post gives me a bit of hope, not because I'm also atheist, but because it apparently helped you refine your thinking in some way.

[QUOTE]



Shoot, I'd say it was more like a major overhaul.
And not just the way I think about religious and philosophical things, but also the way I approach normal everyday problems.
This place was very intimidating at first. A lot of smart people with a lot ideas that challenged the way I viewed the world. I was never in that type of atmosphere before.
I could make a long list of the reasons I kept lurking, but these two sum it up.



Someone had this quote for their sig-

"So the Universe is not quite as you thought it was.
You had better rearrange your beliefs, then.
Because you certainly can't rearrange the Universe."
Isacc Asimov and Robert Silverberg, Nightfall

That really bothered me, in a motivating kind of way.


once, I read a post that went something like:
"I have never felt as much freedom as I do now" (after becoming an atheist)
When I first read that, I could barely begin to understand where he/she was coming from. It seemed such an odd thing to say.


but.............




I kept reading the forum, did outside reading, did some thinking.
I guess the gradual thing kicked in, because there really wasnt a specific revelation,
but one day, I just "got it"
and I understood where a lot of posters were coming from.
The internal conflicts I had just seemed to vanish, and I felt good and happy about it, I pretty much..........
felt free.

[Dale]

Hello all. That's my real name (Dale) and this is my first post. I've been visiting the JREF website for some time and have contributed a couple of items that Randi saw fit to pass on by including them in his commentary. The most memorable (for you old-timers who've been around awhile) was the "Vibe-Machine". It resembled a big coleman lantern and for twenty bucks the victim sat in front of it and was bathed with healing "rays" (right down to the DNA level yet.) Touted as a cure for everything that ailed you. "Invented by a man who has been in the electronics business for twenty years" the add said. Turned out he owned a TV store in Boulder, CO, the nonsense capital of the state.
I'm a retired, senior citizen and have been observing, reading about, collecting information on and in general keeping an intellectual finger on the pulse of phenomena that fall under the general heading of "paranormal" for about 45 years. It's been fun, at times frustrating but always interesting. I joined the forum specifically to pass along some info I've gathered dealing with that inexplicably enduring medical cult homeopathy. It will follow in a later post. Cheers, Dale

[Tanstaafl]

Welcome to the forum Dale, you sound like an excellent addition.

[SilverBee]

Thank you for the warm welcome. I'm one of those young-minded old folks who just can't stop thinking about the nature of the universe. As such, I enjoy reading and participating wherever people are seeking knowledge. James Randi certainly keeps thinking and knowledge and reality in our faces, so I'm glad to be here.

I live in the central coast of California about 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean on a ranch in a canyon. I'm surrounded by beautiful scenery, all kinds of wildlife, have gorgeous weather most of the year--in short, perfection. I've exhausted the supply of "Skeptical Inquirer" magazines at the town library and found the articles helpful in my online debates. Since my health isn't wonderful, these online connections are a lifeline for me. I'm looking forward to "meeting" everyone here.

[Meffy]

Hello, SilverBee, and welcome. Fair warning -- you're going to be deluged with demands for photographic proof of this paradise in which you claim to live. Preferably really spectacular photographic proof, as much so as possible please. :-}

[SilverBee]

Thanks, Meffy. And I do have the photographic proof, which I will post as soon as I'm allowed to--and as soon as I learn how to do it on this site.

[SilverBee]

Hello, SilverBee, and welcome. Fair warning -- you're going to be deluged with demands for photographic proof of this paradise in which you claim to live. Preferably really spectacular photographic proof, as much so as possible please. :-}

Never fear, Meffy. The proof is just waiting until I am allowed to post it.

And thanks.

[Tempest Storm]

Hi... I'm Miguel from Portugal. I'm an Atheist (a very recent one)... and sorry if my English sucks...

[The Atheist]

Hi... I'm Miguel from Portugal. I'm an Atheist (a very recent one)... and sorry if my English sucks...

No problem with the English, mate.

I bet your English is better than many to whom it's a first language - and a hell of a lot better than my Portuguese!

[robinson]

Cumprimentos Miguel! Welcome to the forum. Now prove you are from Portugal!

:) .... pesarosos se meu português fundir ....

[SusanB-M1]

No problem with the English, mate.

I bet your English is better than many to whom it's a first language - and a hell of a lot better than my Portuguese!

There's a book called 'Portuguese Irregular Verbs; by Alexander McCall-Smith (of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency' fame) which is gently funny. I listened to the CDs. I must put this on the Audio Books thread in 'Literature', along with its two companion titles.

[gambling_cruiser]

Hi, I am new here (but a long-time lurker).
I am going to TAM5 (my wife bought me this trip as birthday gift!)
At my job I have to handle magneto-phobic customers (electro-smog!!!).
I am leading the department of high-voltage (110kV and 380kV) power grid planning at Vienna utilities.

[tim]

Welcome, Gambling! (may we call you that? or perhaps GC?)
If you're going to TAM5 I'll probably see you there!

[gambling_cruiser]

Thank you for the welcome tim,
in real life I am "Franz from Vienna, Austria", but you can call me as you like

[tim]

I went to Vienna when I was a young man, but that was nearly forty years ago. It was great...............
I'll see you at TAM. Keep an eye open for a thread giving details of forum members attending. There should be quite a lot.

[OSS 117]

Hi, this is my first post here.

I learned of this site through the great work done on the Loose Change documentary. I felt compelled to know more and I like what I've read so far.

I hope to learn much and contribute to the best of my ability.

Cya all!

[Rev. BigDumbChimp]

I have no idea why it took me so long to register but her I am. I drink way too much, eat pork, listen to funk and jazz (and alot of the time Jazz Funk), watch all manor of sports, am a raging Atheist (and ***hole and liberal, goes hand in hand doesn't it?), work as an IT manager (nerd) for a 200 mil a year wholesale building supply company, live in Charleston SC (via NC, WY, CO), just finished hand building a house for my wife and I (13 months of sweaty ass hot SC humidity will drive anyone to be an atheist), I blog and did I mention I love pork (Lexington style BBQ please).

If you didn't understand any of that, it's ok, you're probably a Yankee or from Texas.

Just kidding.... well not really.

[Meffy]

Hello, 117 and Reverend. Welcome to the home of expert bull detectors and eradicators. There are people at JREF forums who can spot every falsehood and dishonest trick in an argument and fire back with valid logic. Then there are skunks who make lame jokes. Something for everyone!

[Floyd]

Hi kids,
This is my first post and I'm not too computer-savvy so you'll have to forgive me. I live in Auckland, New Zealand and am a member of the NZ Skeptic Society. I'm also rabidly anti-religious, having been brought up a catholic.
I love the work James Randi does, and look forward to being a part of this forum community.
Until I figure out how to put those little quotes at the bottom of messages, I'll start with this: "By the cold and religious we were taken in hand. Shown how to feel good, and told to feel bad."

[Foolmewunz]

Welcome Floyd... Below is form the FAQ that you can click on any time.

Once you've made 50 posts the options to upload or choose an avatar and to create a signature will appear in your "User Control Panel" - which is accessed by clicking on "UserCP". Note: Once you've reached 50 posts it may take up to an hour before the options become available.

Seems to be an influx of Kiwis of late. You guys just bored 'cuz the All Blacks can't find anyone else to trounce in Rugby? :p It's like 18 months or so since the last World Cup and everyone's fallen apart.

ETA: I love the "it may take up to an hour". At first I thought it was silly that anyone would be so impatient, but then saw so many newbies asking about it in various threads that I realized it was evidently a big concern. If you're dying to ratchet up the count, don't concern yourself with making sense for a while and go to humor and just start in on any older/longer thread. They welcome "new meat".

[Chromium-6]

Hey there. I'm not very good at this, so I'll do the standard as defined by every single first day of X activity ever, complete with story time.

I have been reading the comments on the main page for a while, but only really stumbled onto the forums after looking for support in showing why that "Loose Change" movie was BS. Excellent place, and I am especially interested in those "natural" cures and big bad government conspiracies.

I've encountered an "alternative therapy" guy in person before, he was invited to speak to my advanced Health class when I was a senior in highschool. Did everything you'd expect from someone like that: Trumped up his "body as a garden" ideaology, made sinister implications about scientists preventing these miracle cures from being widely used, bogus demonstrations, etc.

He actually did a demonstration on me, trying to show that he could manipulate "chi" or lifeforce or whatever it's called these days. Had me hold my arms out, and when my chi was normal he couldn't push them down (as he looked like he was trying hard but wasn't putting much effort into it on top of pushing at the shoulders.), stood back and did his groove thang hand gesture and moved the "chi" to my feet, then pushed my arms around easily, mostly because he was pushing at the wrists. I don't think anyone was impressed, which was good.

[The Atheist]

Hi kids,
This is my first post and I'm not too computer-savvy so you'll have to forgive me. I live in Auckland, New Zealand and am a member of the NZ Skeptic Society. I'm also rabidly anti-religious, having been brought up a catholic.
I love the work James Randi does, and look forward to being a part of this forum community.
Until I figure out how to put those little quotes at the bottom of messages, I'll start with this: "By the cold and religious we were taken in hand. Shown how to feel good, and told to feel bad."

Mate!! As you'll find, there are a few other Kiwis in here, including a couple of Jafas, myself included. Welcome.

hey, and a quick P.S. for all the Kiwi/Japie/Aussie new posters who seem to be coming forth with the Spring - make sure you go to the cricket thread - unless you don't like cricket, in which case you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves!

[Floyd]

Thanks for the welcome guys.
The All Blacks just lost to the Springboks yesterday, but we'll win the world cup next year (I hope!).

[Alareth]

This thread is just a silly excuse to get people exposed to the Globalist conspiracy.

No one in thier right mind would reveal themselves in such a manner.

To do so ..... Oh crap .... Now I'm on the radar.

Son of a ...

[idunno]

hwy

[idunno]

im the new kid on the block

[tim]

Bloody forum's being over-run by Kiwis...............
Welcome, all! :D

[kc440_]

Hello. My name is kc440_. I haven't looked around to all the forums on this site. I will tell you that I'm a "Conspiracy Realist." I believe, with all the intelligence that God gave me, that President Kennedy was murdered as a result of a conspiracy. I also believe that 2 men were using the identity of Lee Harvey Oswald. If you look at Oswald's pictures, you can tell he looks different in some of them. Harvey was killed by Jack Ruby and Lee may still be alive. Lee helped frame Harvey. I don't know if anyone on this site believes in conspiracy behind Kennedy's murder, but it should make for interesting posts.

I do not belong to any Kennedy sites. I used to belong to jfkresearch.com, but I'm a blogger now and, as such, am independent.

I cannot give my blogger link as it is against the rules.

I can remember the Amazing Randi since I was a kid. I know he's a great debunker. I always liked him.

I hope to enjoy the other topics on this forum -- science and philosophy. I just saw someone's avatar under philosophy, I think. "Shemp." I'm laughing out loud -- it's great.

kc440_

[The Atheist]

Hello. My name is kc440_. I haven't looked around to all the forums on this site. I will tell you that I'm a "Conspiracy Realist." I believe, with all the intelligence that God gave me, that President Kennedy was murdered as a result of a conspiracy.
I cannot give my blogger link as it is against the rules.

I can remember the Amazing Randi since I was a kid. I know he's a great debunker. I always liked him.
kc440_

Welcome. This is a fascinating subject as I know two people who aren't completely looney who will agree with you.

Just type your blog link in normal script.

[Azazelbird]

I've been around for 3 years, though I rarely post. I enjoy art, ornithology, and debunking BS and I have several pet birds, one of whom is named Azazel.

[SkeptiKilt]

Pieter B here. Those of you who were on the cruise or at TAM 4 will know who I am from my handle. Well, no. If you were on the cruise or at TAM 4 I was the oldest guy in a kilt.

[kozz]

New blood has arrived ... and it has Slavic flavour. ;)

[belinda]

I've been around since the JREF forums started, although I didn't get a log in until about a year later. As you can see I rarely post, so I thought I should at least introduce myself (which I have never done).

I'm an aussie born and bred, originally from Queensland but now down south in Sydney (and I can't stand the cold - I liked it back in the warmth :) ). I make my money out of being an IT manager, but my love is skeptically investigating anything (not debunking, I don't like that term). I even did a water divining trial which I posted here once.

Family wise - I have a life partner and I have procreated (once) and I have no intentions of having any more.

And yes, my avatar is a photo of my own tattoo.

[JG3]

Uhoh..................I bet I'm the only one like me here.

[The Atheist]

Uhoh..................I bet I'm the only one like me here.
Well, since you're in a sceptics' forum, you'd have to qualify that statement!

[Fitter]

Hi all,
Another long time lurker who finally joined both JREF and the forum. Also have registered for TAM V which of course will be my first. Looking forward to meeting many of you there. I just have to convince my boss that I have to have the time off as I've already registered.
Fitter

[Meffy]

Hello to y'all new posters. Welcome, set a spell, take y'r shoes off, meet Jethro and Ellie Mae- erm, I mean: hi.

[nadiasiddiqui]

Hello

[JG3]

Well, since you're in a sceptics' forum, you'd have to qualify that statement!

I'm from T E X A S.

[The Atheist]

I'm from T E X A S.

Well, cover me in dirt and call me a termite mound! You will be a one-off. I was drinking at the pub there only a couple of months ago, say hi to Clarrie from the Kiwi git next time you're in there, he'll know who you mean. (But duck, just in case he hasn't gotten over the witchety grubs yet.)

[cadmar]

Hi, my name is Cadmar. I do alot of unusual thinking. I start from the simple and its becomes simpler. For example, once I realized that in the brain all "thoughts" , "words" are dead, like a typed word on a page. Each dead to the others, then it doesn't matter what one "believes" or "thinks" as one dead word is no different than any other dead word, or one belief, no different from any other belief. It is the chemical reactions (emotions) that are attached to the words (I call values) that we get from experiences. As a brain, it, like all other physical things, can only "react" to other physical things.
These are the sort of things I think about.

[rwp]

I have practiced magic tricks for over twenty years and became interested in Randi as a magician early on. I once saw Randi on television debunking astrology and psychics and was pleased that someone was showing the magic trick behind both.

[Stray Cat]

Hello to everyone
A bit about me?
Well I got here because I was looking for good REAL information regarding 9/11 having seen the incredibly bad CT film Loose Change 2 (which is the biggest BS to hit the internet since Loose Change 1) and when fending off the CT crowd it is good to have accurate FACTS at hand instead of having to say "But it's BS someone said on TV that a large percentage of thingies were not even whatsit"... Which as I'm sure everyone will agree is just doing what the CT crowd are doing.
I have been a magician for about 7 years (late starter but always had an interest). My interest in Magic and my total scepticism about the paranormal has resulted in my admiration of James Randi and meeting Penn in Vegas and purchasing the Bull***t DVD's (what a howl) broadened my perspective of what there is out there that needs exposing and debunking.
I have also spent the last three and a half years investigating Crop Circles here in the UK and getting into some heated debates with those who still cling on to the belief that they are made by aliens (!!!!!!!). As a Freelance Designer the designs of the crop circles have always interested me and I see the whole phenomenon as a social/political one with some really good art at it's core.... Mostly the crop circle enthusiasts are more worth studying than the crop circles themselves.
I have spent (and still do spend) many nights star gazing, but not to figure out my horrorscope, I used to look for UFO's but now I mainly look out for shooting stars (a UFO would be a bonus but I'm not holding my breath).
I have spent nights in haunted houses and yet never had a close encounter of the dead kind (or for that matter even a far off encounter). I was brought up a Christian (forced by parents), when I left home I studied Paganism, Wicca and other occult magic (all of which are 99% BS, including Christianity)... I guess that leaves me with a big spiritual gap in my life that needs filling with REALITY.
I also sing and play guitar in a band, perform on a regular basis and try to inject humour into everything (specially where it's most inappropriate :))

So the threads in this forum are immense..... If anyone bothers to read this (I'm sceptical that they will), perhaps someone could point me in the direction of a thread they think would fit somehow with the interests I have mentioned above.

[The Atheist]

I have also spent the last three and a half years investigating Crop Circles here in the UK and getting into some heated debates with those who still cling on to the belief that they are made by aliens (!!!!!!!)..

Nice start, you have evidence that crop circles aren't alien in origin - go ahead and prepare to die.

If anyone bothers to read this (I'm sceptical that they will), perhaps someone could point me in the direction of a thread they think would fit somehow with the interests I have mentioned above.

Oh yes, we're watching....
http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/1037744ff4a2d3699f.gif (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=1343)

Lots of good places to go, I'd recommend cruising all of them. Fan of Stray Cats, maybe?

Cheers

[Sinisterdan]

Hi.

I've been lurking here for quite a while unregistered - I really need to tip my hat to the community.

I'll try and work up the nerve to contribute and not come off like a complete lackwit.

[Stray Cat]

Nice start, you have evidence that crop circles aren't alien in origin - go ahead and prepare to die.

I have evidence that SOME aren't Alien in origin, then there's always null hypothesis, and then weight of verifiable fact ie: People can flatten crops, people can design complex patterns, people can flatten complex patterns into crops. AGAINST: Aliens = No verifiable facts available. Plasma Vortex Energy Systems = No verifiable facts available. Non Human involvement = No verifiable facts available. Unless you know different?


Oh yes, we're watching....

Mmmmm.... Nice pic... is it real? :D

Lots of good places to go, I'd recommend cruising all of them. Fan of Stray Cats, maybe?

Cheers

Yes I am... Been following them (and the BSO) since 1980... Thanks I'll have a nosey round and stick my opinions in where they may (or may not) be wanted.... Cheers.

[Meffy]

Hello, hello, and hello. Welcome and stuffs. :-}

[BrianSI]

I'm from T E X A S.

I'm from Texas, but I left. I actually like to challenge myself with different views of the world, much unlike a lot of Texans (in the national, this-is-the-only-place-on-earth sense). Not sure in what way you might think you're unique here, based on the "from Texas" thing, unless you are Baptist or something.

[jwr4a]

Yet another long time lurker here. But since I've come out of the woodwork a little lately, I guess I'll introduce myself properly.

I live on the east coast of the US, have an undergrad degree in physics, and hope to someday have a degree in biomedical engineering or regenerative medicine. I'm currently working in a research lab doing some programming and systems administration (I'm a linux fan).

Guess that covers the basics. So, "hello" to everyone and thanks for providing me with many hours of thought-provoking reading for the last year or so.

ETA: As a skeptic: I was born methodist - am now hard atheist. I believe there is no such thing as "alternative" medicine - only medicine (which works) and quackery (which doesn't). And I believe that if anything paranormal actually existed, we'd have more than blurry pictures and questionable anecdotes by now. But I'm more than willing to be proven wrong :)


--
jwr

[The Atheist]

Yes I am... Been following them (and the BSO) since 1980... Thanks I'll have a nosey round and stick my opinions in where they may (or may not) be wanted.... Cheers.

Good luck, mate! (assuming you surivive the plasma ray aimed at your house)

[SusanB-M1]

Yes I am... Been following them (and the BSO) since 1980... Thanks I'll have a nosey round and stick my opinions in where they may (or may not) be wanted.... Cheers.

Just wondering what BSO is? The one familiar to me is Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

[Stray Cat]

Just wondering what BSO is? The one familiar to me is Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

In context with what was directly preceding it (a mention of the Stray Cats), BSO is the (Grammy Award Winning) Brian Setzer Orchestra :)
But it would be funny to get all dressed up for a night of Jump, Jive and Wail and end up sitting and listening to a nice symphony in Bournemouth.

[The Atheist]

In context with what was directly preceding it (a mention of the Stray Cats), BSO is the (Grammy Award Winning) Brian Setzer Orchestra :)
But it would be funny to get all dressed up for a night of Jump, Jive and Wail and end up sitting and listening to a nice symphony in Bournemouth.

Here's another for you in that vein.

Thirty-odd years ago, at the height of punk, a church group in NZ ran a popular TV program entitled "Youth for Christ". At the same time, a local band named itself "Youth for Christ". Many young christians turned up to a concert by the band. They didn't stay long when they found to their total dismay that Youth for Christ the band were an anarchist punk band which had chosen the name as being the complete opposite of what they were! Absolutely hilarious stuff ensued as the christians tried - unsuccessfully - to get the band to stop using the name. Despite the good publicity this all gave the band, they soon folded because they were crap.

[Stray Cat]

I always fancied calling my band 'Cancelled' - I thought it would be interesting to see if anyone ever turned up to see us as the posters would read:
TONIGHT'S LIVE BAND
CANCELLED

Infact I went so far as to write this as a true story as if it was part of our history into our literature - Goes to show that some people will believe any old crap doesn't it? :)

[bigdoggy]

I only caught the end of this segment so can't comment with authority, but there was Uri Geller, up to the same bull as back in the seventies but this time on Brainiac: Science Abuse (UK late August 06). If you haven't seen the show it's a childish version of Mythbusters, but with some good features of its own. Here though, the regular presenters were sitting on a sofa with Geller while he urged the viewers to bend spoons with their minds and make old watches start again (by winding them and heating them up!). Like I say, I may have missed something but what I saw l looked like a science show promoting mumbo jumbo. I'll stick to Mythbusters from now on...

[joemailman]

I'm brand new here also and hope to be here for some time to come. I've listened to Randi several times and have always admired him and his honesty. I'm a hard-nosed Atheist and mechanist but I'm more than willing to sit and listen to other points of view as long as the other guy is close to or equally tolerant. There are millions of human beings who honestly need acceptance and the god thing or whatever metaphysical philosophy they are involved in is their avenue and their direction. Trying to change that with words and debate rarely, if ever, accomplishes that intent. Rather I think if you were to watch what they do and not what they say you'll find that the great majority of people on this planet do not honestly buy the god package. When push comes to shove they always depend on the physical, the measurable world. Even the so-called 9/11 hi-jackers actually depended on an aircraft to do what they felt must be done to achieve their goals. Actually I'm also a big time conspiracy buff. Where trillions of dollars are at stake you can be sure that some guy with a few million dollars is probably not soley responsible for the WTC disaster. Neither was Oswald a crack shot with an Italian bolt action. And neither was a N Vietnamese gun boat any threat to the US Navy in the Gulf of Tonkin. These were all lies and the American population bought it with great gusto or at the very least an apathetic glance. We live in a world of competition and the threat of scarcity. It is only appropriate for a boneheaded great majority to support ************.

[The Atheist]

I'm brand new here also and hope to be here for some time to come. ..... Actually I'm also a big time conspiracy buff. Where trillions of dollars are at stake you can be sure that some guy with a few million dollars is probably not soley responsible for the WTC disaster. Neither was Oswald a crack shot with an Italian bolt action. And neither was a N Vietnamese gun boat any threat to the US Navy in the Gulf of Tonkin. These were all lies and the American population bought it with great gusto or at the very least an apathetic glance. We live in a world of competition and the threat of scarcity. It is only appropriate for a boneheaded great majority to support ************.

Oh, you are going to have fun here!

[GlennB]

Another new boy here, from over the pond in the UK.

I've had what was probably a fairly standard intro into the 9/11 CT business -
1. years of not questioning the standard explanations for the Twin Towers collapse
2. seeing #7 coming down on film (very recently, in fact about 10 days ago)
3. getting all hot under the collar and waving my arms around a lot
4. settling down a bit and actually reading the anti CT sites and reading reports
5. trying to gather some reasonable evidence and wondering if it all makes 'conventional' sense

I'll try very hard not to post anything utterly crass.

Sometimes, late at night after a quart of rough Bulgarian wine, it's hard to make guarantees about that, but it all comes clear in the morning

[Mr. Skinny]

Another new boy here, from over the pond in the UK.

I've had what was probably a fairly standard intro into the 9/11 CT business -
1. years of not questioning the standard explanations for the Twin Towers collapse
2. seeing #7 coming down on film (very recently, in fact about 10 days ago)
3. getting all hot under the collar and waving my arms around a lot
4. settling down a bit and actually reading the anti CT sites and reading reports
5. trying to gather some reasonable evidence and wondering if it all makes 'conventional' sense

I'll try very hard not to post anything utterly crass.

Sometimes, late at night after a quart of rough Bulgarian wine, it's hard to make guarantees about that, but it all comes clear in the morning
Hi, Glenn. Welcome to the forum.

Glad you stopped by. Seems that (at least from your post) you're willing to listen to all the evidence. Perhaps you will learn something.

Oh, and welcome to the others!

Gotta agree with The Atheist, joemailman will have a blast here!

Skinny

[Zombified]

I used to post here as "Zombified" a long time ago, but I think that account's registered to an email I don't use any more, so I reregistered. Doesn't look like any of that's still around...

Well, uh, hi, anyway.

[tim]

I used to post here as "Zombified" a long time ago, but I think that account's registered to an email I don't use any more, so I reregistered. Doesn't look like any of that's still around...

Well, uh, hi, anyway.

I think I remember you! Welcome back!

[Tsukasa Buddha]

(Oops, should probably have posted here first)

Hello :D ! I wandered over here from the Skeptic Forum. I am a student so I will probably discuss topics heard in class, or heard from all of my non-skeptic friends.

[POPEYE60]

I am new here. I am from Belgium. The site looks me nice

[Infinite]

I originally got on here wanting to put my "two cents" in about the major loser they picked up in relation to the Jon Bennet Ramsey murder. I took one look at this guy and went "you've got to be kidding". Apparently, he was.

[The Atheist]

I originally got on here wanting to put my "two cents" in about the major loser they picked up in relation to the Jon Bennet Ramsey murder. I took one look at this guy and went "you've got to be kidding". Apparently, he was.

Hi guys.

Hey, infinite. That "A" in Canada is deliberate, eh?

[G-K-4]

Hello, everyone. My name is George King and I am a volunteer at a college/community radio station. (More about this later.)

I think I first heard about the JREF fora through "Skepticality", and I found it again looking for material to debunk 9/11 conspiracy theories. Those things annoy me, as do many other unreal claims. And since I have access to a radio station where I might be able to get my own interview show, maybe I'll be willing to push some other projects aside to take on the nonsense.

And that's why I signed up here. I expect that I will be popping in from time to time asking for recommendations on good interviewees for various topics. I want to pick apart 9/11 conspiracism, anti-Semitic hoaxes, paranoia about the Illuminati and the Freemasons and the Bilderbergers, etcetera, and challenge other things like creationism/intelligent design, UFO lore, and homeopathy.

But I'd like to cover these things a little differently than has been done before. I want the show to be accessible to laypeople (which includes me), as an introduction to real scientific investigation. I'd like to look at the how we know the things we know, and thus how regular people can prove these facts to themselves. Also, I want to examine the sociology behind why people believe these things.

Finally, for some of the topics I want to have polite and understanding guests who won't simply alienate the mostly liberal, progressive, and radical audience that our station has. This approach would also include offering better ways of looking at things. For example, explaining why conspiracism and (pomo) relativism are dead ends, especially when compared to genuine progressive and leftist analysis of social systems. (And its looks like most of you people are propertarians, but I'm not. There is a left that rejects nuttiness, and I want to expand it, recovering people who have been hoodwinked by right-wing populism and such. So there's your fair warning and all that.;))

So if anyone has any suggestions for topics and guests, I'd like to hear them. Thanks, and I'll see you around.

[tim]

Welcome! Well, you've come to the right place. We have people with interests in pretty much all the areas you mention.
For extremists, try Jon Ronson's book "Them" - adventures with extremists, including David Iyke. We have those well versed in homeopathy etc. Look under "general Skepticism and the Paranormal". If there's anything particular you want to know about, post a thread and ask. You'll find we're mostly friendly and don't bite (much).
Again, welcome, and good luck. If you need any advice or help, you can PM me.

[The Atheist]

Hello, everyone. My name is George King...
(And its looks like most of you people are propertarians, but I'm not. There is a left that rejects nuttiness, and I want to expand it, recovering people who have been hoodwinked by right-wing populism and such. So there's your fair warning and all that.;))

So if anyone has any suggestions for topics and guests, I'd like to hear them. Thanks, and I'll see you around.

Interesting start! Look forward to your posts.

[SusanB-M1]

G-K-4 "And its looks like most of you people are propertarians"

Could you tell me what a 'propertarian' is please? As an Ancient Person I have found that the internet has opened up a whole new world of information, but that's one I haven't come across before!

It is so gratifying too to know that there are young people like yourself with open-minded, dynamic ideas etc.

[The Atheist]

Could you tell me what a 'propertarian' is please?
Just in case G-K-4 doesn't get back here, it's yet another label, described by Wikipedia:
Propertarianism is the advocacy of the private individual or group ownership of legal, transferable, private property titles within a free market. The term was coined by Ursula K. Le Guin in her novel, The Dispossessed (1974). Some libertarian socialists use the term to refer to libertarians who support property rights in order to distinguish them from their own non-propertarian form of libertarianism. Capitalist libertarians sometimes use this label for themselves, as seen, for instance, in the novel The Probability Broach (1980), by L. Neil Smith, where the fictionalized version of the Libertarian Party is called the Propertarian Party.

Apparently, all these labels make me a "non-propertarian, atheist, leftist, pacifist. I'm just going to change my name to NALP to cover the whole lot!

[Roadtoad]

G-K-4 "And its looks like most of you people are propertarians"

Could you tell me what a 'propertarian' is please? As an Ancient Person I have found that the internet has opened up a whole new world of information, but that's one I haven't come across before!

It is so gratifying too to know that there are young people like yourself with open-minded, dynamic ideas etc.

Yes, but you must always remember, the one Idea above all:

"All is Taco, Taco is All."

[Katana]

Yes, but you must always remember, the one Idea above all:

"All is Taco, Taco is All."
Have you been talking to Dragonrock?

[Roadtoad]

Now what do YOU think? (http://www.thesociablecritic.com/index.php?/archives/8-The-Taco-Is-All.html)

[Katana]

Chiiiiiiiipooooootleeeeeeeee....!

:D

[Roadtoad]

Chiiiiiiiipooooootleeeeeeeee....!

:D

There you go! None of that Pastafarian heresy.

[Tanstaafl]

Hah! See if we let you drink from the beer volcano!

[SusanB-M1]

In context with what was directly preceding it (a mention of the Stray Cats), BSO is the (Grammy Award Winning) Brian Setzer Orchestra :)
But it would be funny to get all dressed up for a night of Jump, Jive and Wail and end up sitting and listening to a nice symphony in Bournemouth.

Today I went to Southampton to collect a CD I had ordered (Ravel piano music)so I asked if they had a Stray Cats CD. One of the very young assistants did not know the name, but the other one did! It's called 'Rumble in Brixton'. I asked if I could listen to it, so he put it on the machine and I put on the headphones. I had to ask for the volume to be turned down quite a bit. In fact, I recognised the Stray Cat Stomp. Went by taxi to visit a friend, chatted to driver who was very interested and said he too had some of your CDs, taxi from friend's to station - similar conversation. So your ears should have been burning today! Lots of nice things said about you. I shall listen to the whole of the two CDs, then tape one or two of the tracks more suited to a person of my age, and I'm sure these could also be used by the tap dancing group to do a time step or two.

Well, I feel it is important to (a) keep up with the times, and (b) know what's going on. But I have to admit that I shall probably play the Ravel 'Gaspard de la Nuit' more often! My brother tries to play this on the piano and he is pretty good, but he says it takes him about an hour and a half to play as opposed to 24 minutes.

[SusanB-M1]

Just in case G-K-4 doesn't get back here, it's yet another label, described by Wikipedia:
Propertarianism is the advocacy of the private individual or group ownership of legal, transferable, private property titles within a free market. ... Some libertarian socialists use the term to refer to libertarians who support property rights in order to distinguish them from their own non-propertarian form of libertarianism. Capitalist libertarians sometimes use this label for themselves,...

Apparently, all these labels make me a "non-propertarian, atheist, leftist, pacifist. I'm just going to change my name to NALP to cover the whole lot!

Thank you for the definition. Sounds a bit complicated, but perhaps if I write it out a hundred times, it will become quite clear.

[SusanB-M1]

Yes, but you must always remember, the one Idea above all:

"All is Taco, Taco is All."

Ah, now that sounds a lot easier!

[SusanB-M1]

Now what do YOU think? (http://www.thesociablecritic.com/index.php?/archives/8-The-Taco-Is-All.html)

Susanville? I like it!

[Zombified]

Darat kindly recovered my old account for me... ;)

[Stray Cat]

In fact, I recognised the Stray Cat Stomp. Went by taxi to visit a friend, chatted to driver who was very interested and said he too had some of your CDs, taxi from friend's to station - similar conversation. So your ears should have been burning today! Lots of nice things said about you. I shall listen to the whole of the two CDs, then tape one or two of the tracks more suited to a person of my age, and I'm sure these could also be used by the tap dancing group to do a time step or two.

Hello SusanB - Just so that there is no confusion, I am only a massive fan of the Stray Cats and not actually one of them. You may actually be more suited to the Brian Setzer Orchestra though as it consists of trumpets and stuff :). It's the main man from the Stray Cats fronting a 19 piece orchestra and doing some nice jump jive, jazz swing tunes... Mmmmm maybe not, but I love Bach & Beethoven too.

[SusanB-M1]

Hello SusanB - Just so that there is no confusion, I am only a massive fan of the Stray Cats and not actually one of them. You may actually be more suited to the Brian Setzer Orchestra though as it consists of trumpets and stuff :). It's the main man from the Stray Cats fronting a 19 piece orchestra and doing some nice jump jive, jazz swing tunes... Mmmmm maybe not, but I love Bach & Beethoven too.

Thank you for clearing up my misunderstanding and for the recommendation. It all adds interest and zest to life.

[Khyron]

.... seen taped to the launch key in a silo.

I'm fairly new here. I found the forums about three weeks ago (because the wikipedia page for the Farnsworth fusor lead to Bussard's entry, which lead to his post here. Funny how the internet works.)

I'm a Data Center manager in Virginia, USA. I'm no scientist, but can understand every issue I've read on the page so far - so may provide a worthwhile "layperson" viewpoint at least.

Now, off to post on the discussion that inspired me to create this account...

[pcreator]

Hello everyone!

I first head about James Randi while googling for info about the pendants sold by lifetechnology.org randi.org/jr/060305be.html#11 I started by buying the psychotronic money magnet, then moved on to buying the purple energy shield, hyperdimensional oscillator, psychotronic love magnet, cayce stone of power, grailstone, kabbalah manifesting capsule, and recently got the atlantian power crystal and the kabbalah manifesting crystal for luck and success, both recent items. After getting them, I ordered the kabbalah manifesting crystal for joy, happiness, peace and for radionics, magic, psi. When I get them, I plan on ordering the kabbalah manifesting crystal for health and healing and for physical immortality and dna repair.

I can't help it. I find the descriptions so exciting. I bought the Qlink three years ago and wore it daily until I replaced it with the Earthcalm reasonator. I bought the Qray and stopped wearing it because it would irritate my skin.

For over the past year, I always have the subliminal power software running in the background of my computer. I can't help but want to run it. Even though I'm still a bit skeptical about whether it all works, I can't bring myself to not keep trying, just in case it does work even just a little bit.

I bought the LeBerge NovaDreamer in 1999 and kept a notebook of my dreams and learned to have lucid dreams. All the succubi I have experienced as a result was a wish come true. Now I listen to the Lucid Dreaming Kit 8 hour MP3 CD every night when I go to sleep.

I started using binaural beats CDs from Dane Spotts mindtek in 2000. In recent years, I've become so excited that binaural recordings are so much more widely available on the internet. I use the Proteus sound and light machine every day to experience amazing fantasies in my head.

I'm a big user of male supplements like Stamazide and the Virility patch. I also wear pheromones such as Primal Instinct to attract women. I consider myself very successful with women. I attribute my success to a combination of the pheromones, subliminal text messaging programming designed to make me believe that I'm more attractive to women, and seduction techniques/concepts/principles of NLP advocate David Deangelo, as well as my ownership of the psychotronic love magnet.

I first bought The Satanic Bible when I was 13 and joined The Church of Satan when I was 18. I still declare myself a Satanist today. I was also an official supporter of Matt Hale's World Church of the Creator prior to the arrest of the leader and was quoted in several newspapers for cheering the slayings of Judge Lefkow's husband and mother on an internet site. I believe I used my mind power to make some one else commit the murders. I feel like the head of an assassin guild who can't get caught because psychic powers can't be proven. Joe Vialls was my favorite writer on the internet until he died.

I'm a pretty friendly person and a good hard worker as a package sorter at UPS for the past 8 years. I definately know how to be the life of a party. When I was young I was a boy scout and altar boy, as well as an honor roll student and part of my high school's "gifted program". I haven't been committed to a behavioral health hospital in 5 years, an accomplishment I accredit to not drinking alcohol for 5 years. I used to smoke lots of salvia, and that will make anyone clairvoyant. I doubt I could win the JREF prize money by proving that smoking lots of salvia everyday will make you see lots of weird things that you wouldn't see otherwise, but it's true.

I'll do my best to stick to the forum rules.

[The Atheist]

I haven't been committed to a behavioral health hospital in 5 years, an accomplishment I accredit to not drinking alcohol for 5 years. I used to smoke lots of salvia, and that will make anyone clairvoyant. I doubt I could win the JREF prize money by proving that smoking lots of salvia everyday will make you see lots of weird things that you wouldn't see otherwise, but it's true.

I'll do my best to stick to the forum rules.
(Bolding mine)
Priceless! Have you considered doing a Mastercard ad?

You know:

Palm Reading $29-95
Tarot Session $49-95
Astrological Chart $99-95
Making yourself clairvoyant, Priceless.

[Josh Redstone]

Well, this may not be my first post but I figure it'd be proper of me to say an official 'hello' :)

My name's Josh and I'm from Canada. I would have just used the username 'josh', but it was taken, so I used my full name.
I currently attend college and I'm studying business. After than, I think I'd like to run a business......though I'm not sure what kind of business it will be :D

I like to play guitar (been playing for 6 years now), read, and go for a bike-ride whenever I can. I'm also into philosophy in a big way, and also something called Lucid Dreaming (don't worry, nothing to do with new-age =P )
I also got into magic a year or so ago. So far, close up card magic has got to be my favorite. In fact, that's how I got here; as i started being exposed to more and more magicians, I learned about james Randi and the JREF, so I decided to join the community :)

I'm also a skeptic and an Atheist, always was and probably always will be, so I hope that I can contribute here in a positive way.

-Josh

[Ketyk]

Well, this may not be my first post but I figure it'd be proper of me to say an official 'hello' :)

My name's Josh and I'm from Canada. I would have just used the username 'josh', but it was taken, so I used my full name.
I currently attend college and I'm studying business. After than, I think I'd like to run a business......though I'm not sure what kind of business it will be :D

I like to play guitar (been playing for 6 years now), read, and go for a bike-ride whenever I can. I'm also into philosophy in a big way, and also something called Lucid Dreaming (don't worry, nothing to do with new-age =P )
I also got into magic a year or so ago. So far, close up card magic has got to be my favorite. In fact, that's how I got here; as i started being exposed to more and more magicians, I learned about james Randi and the JREF, so I decided to join the community :)

I'm also a skeptic and an Atheist, always was and probably always will be, so I hope that I can contribute here in a positive way.

-Josh

Hi Josh.

You have the bad luck of being welcomed by me.

I haven't read your other posts, but will.

Lucid dreaming fascinates me. I've had it a few times, but rarely. I tried recording my dreams at night, but then found it hard to get back to sleep. Actually, I noticed something last night of interest. I was asleep, then awoke, with my eyes closed. I keep my bedroom as dark as possible, but as I lied in bed, my eyes saw brightness. I opened my eyes, and saw that the room was totally dark. Darker than when my eyes were closed. It was troublesome.

Also, don't be surprised to find religious people here. Me, I'm agnostic.

Anyway good luck, and I'll watch for you further posts.

[The Atheist]

and also something called Lucid Dreaming
Looking forward to that discussion, I manage it occasionally - or remember it occasionally!

[TheGrunion]

Hi everyone.

I found out about this site on the Loose Change Forums. A mod accused me of being a JREF skepic in disguise. Then he banned me.

I googled JREF and ended up here.

I like it here much better.

I am a civil engineer. Thanks for letting me in.

[The Atheist]

Hi everyone.

I found out about this site on the Loose Change Forums. A mod accused me of being a JREF skepic in disguise. Then he banned me.

I googled JREF and ended up here.

I like it here much better.

I am a civil engineer. Thanks for letting me in.
Mate, even though I'm not long a member myself, that's an admirable - not to mention funny and revealing - comment you've made, welcome!

[LibraryLady]

Hi everyone.

I found out about this site on the Loose Change Forums. A mod accused me of being a JREF skepic in disguise. Then he banned me.

I googled JREF and ended up here.

I like it here much better.

I am a civil engineer. Thanks for letting me in.

Welcome again! Now:

What is your position on budgies?

Do you have any overdue library books?

And since you're in the general area, can you join us for dinner tomorrow night at the Clyde's in Columbia? http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=1926028#post1926028

[TheGrunion]

Welcome again! Now:

What is your position on budgies?

Do you have any overdue library books?

And since you're in the general area, can you join us for dinner tomorrow night at the Clyde's in Columbia?

I am decidedly pro-budgie.

I currently have neither overdue nor underdue library books.

I actually reside in Richmond, VA. Thank you very much for the invite though.

[negativ]

I never introduced myself, mainly because I didn't realize it was proper forum protocol, but also because I can't think of a single valid reason that anyone would be remotely interested in the details of my life and interests. I will now share some anyway, without leaving the slightest indication that I'm at all aware of the irony.

I was superficially aware of James Randi, mainly for his debunking of Peter Popov(sp?) and Uri Geller. I began reading the Swift and the forum regularly during the Dover PA intelligent design brouhaha.

In the early 90s, I used to run a BBS (anyone remember those?) which was a repository of all manner of kookiness. I was especially interested in UFO-related stuff, but I also enjoyed anything relating to alleged CIA covert drug experiments, mind control, and so forth. I did not exactly believe it, but on some level I really wanted to. It was mostly for my own entertainment.

I was living in Waco, TX during the Branch Davidian fiasco, and as a BBS junkie I called all the BBSs in town. For a smallish town, Waco had a fairly robust BBS community. There was one board called "Brazos de Dios" run by a man named Wayne Martin. He was an attorney and, as it turned out, a Branch Davidian. His board was mostly religious stuff, and as I was singularly disinterested in it's fairly straightforward Christian content, I never frequented it. If I had known that both the board and its sysop would die in the fire at the compound, I certainly would have. I never even knew who he was until after it was all over with.

I am a huge fan of Robert Tilton (his current ministry pales in comparison to his heyday of the 1980s when he was in Dallas), Benny Hinn, Paul & Jan Crouch and the rest of the TBN crew.

Recently, I've discovered a guy called "Bishop Jordan", whose ministry is a cross between Benny Hinn and Miss Cleo. One of his "send me money" promos actually shows a clip of him saying, "God is telling me there's someone out there who's name starts with the letter 'R'...." The viewer is advised that the VERY INSTANT you pick up the phone to call, Bishop Jordan will send God's blessings your way. Also, I try to catch the Yaweh bin-Yaweh bunch, who turn up frequently on late-night cable access TV.

Scientology had a 1-hour radio show for a short time a few years ago. They would take callers and give relationship, financial, and other mundane advice, and always beseech callers to call their phone number for more info. They never mentioned the word "Scientology" on the air, but the phone number was... DUN-DUN-DAAAAH! the Dallas Celebrity Centre. They would never take my call. :(

I see most kooks, nuts, weirdos, and even lots of cults and being fairly harmless except to themselves. As I have outlined, I actually find most of them fairly entertaining. The one big difference for me, however, is the 9/11-was-an-inside-job crowd. I find it very difficult to laugh at them, for a number of reasons. I am quite happy to see that there are people here who share my distaste for the 9/11 deniers, but unlike me have what I shall dub the "cerebral fortitude" to combat their crap quite effectively.

Apart from the above, I'm a failed musician and failed photographer. I was in all the "gifted and talented" classes in elementary school and junior high. My parents always told me I was naturally talented and could do anything I set my mind to. My biggest regret is that I wasted the first 30 years of my life operating under that delusion.

[St.Michael]

Hello All,

I’m not entirely sure what to put here but here goes:

I’m a sceptic from England who never used to pay much attention to Woo’s until recently when I discovered a friend had spent a rather large sum of money buying crystals and aqua-detox and other such paraphernalia.

I feel that people are being cheated out of money and there seems to be an increasing amount of media coverage of Woo is giving legitimacy to it.

The username St.Michael is a reference to the M&S food brand. Not any divine being.:D

[Corpse Cruncher]

Hello All,

I’m not entirely sure what to put here but here goes:

I’m a sceptic from England who never used to pay much attention to Woo’s until recently when I discovered a friend had spent a rather large sum of money buying crystals and aqua-detox and other such paraphernalia.

I feel that people are being cheated out of money and there seems to be an increasing amount of media coverage of Woo is giving legitimacy to it.

The username St.Michael is a reference to the M&S food brand. Not any divine being.:D

Welcome and you get a gold star from me for the M&S food mention.

[De_Bunk]

Never watch a 'Marks & Spencer' food advert when you're hungry...

DB

[De_Bunk]

Darat...

Forget my PM...

DB

[Darat]

As admin:

This thread was getting rather long and several new Members have been put off posting because of its length. So we've started a new live thread for all new introductions (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=64023) and in future we'll keep that thread a more manageable and less off-putting size by regularly copying posts from there into here.

[Corpse Cruncher]

OK, where did I go. Where did the Saint M go?

I have an orphan post, you are too cruel Darat, may you suffer breadcrumbs in unexpected places.
:D

T'is OK I found me. I am un-orphaned.

[skunkrider]

Hi guys,
this is skunkrider from the LC forums, and I come from Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Basically, I am convinced that there is much more to 9/11 than what the official version tells us.

I am not here for name-calling or flaming.

I have noticed that there's always been some beef between "truthers" and "JREF'ers", so I just want to see "the other side".

Thanks and nice regards from the other side of the ocean.

[Darat]

Welcome and don't forget the secret handshake when you want to post...

[St.Michael]

OK, where did I go. Where did the Saint M go?

I have an orphan post, you are too cruel Darat, may you suffer breadcrumbs in unexpected places.
:D

T'is OK I found me. I am un-orphaned.

I'll re-post my introduction here:

Hello All,

I’m not entirely sure what to put here but here goes:

I’m a sceptic from England who never used to pay much attention to Woo’s until recently when I discovered a friend had spent a rather large sum of money buying crystals and aqua-detox and other such paraphernalia.

I feel that people are being cheated out of money and there seems to be an increasing amount of media coverage of Woo is giving legitimacy to it.

The username St.Michael is a reference to the M&S food brand. Not any divine being.:D

[Skepticus]

Hi all

Well I must say "what a busy forum you have here".
Hey that's nice too. The smilies show up in the edit box WYSIWYG style.
Well I supose I should do the intro thing. You must be dying to hear my life story.

Truth is I was created by an alien master race and .... Oh wait...
no... that was in a past life. In this life I am a devout skeptic /
athiest and a... <cringe> I must confess I have adopted the label Bright.

Now I'm gona hafta work hard. I know this is not a popular title among some of you, but please don't assume that I am divested of the arrogance some folk say the name implies. The simple fact is, when I first read about the concept of adopting a meme to signify "A person whos ethics and actions are based on a naturalistic world view, free of supernatural and mystical elements" and that the chosen word was 'bright' it simply didn't have that effect on me. If it did I wouldn't have
endorsed it. I just read it, took it at face value and decided yup,
that's me.

The problem with communicating in general, is that the person speaking
or writing, intends to convey a message which has some meaning. The
intended meaning is not always recieved accurately for a number of
reasons. Firstly ambiguous statements can be interpreted different
ways. If we dont choose our words well they may be interpreted with
different meanings. Secondly some words (like soul) are used to
describe ambiguous concepts. That is to say many people have differing
ideas about what the word means, just because the concept itself is
ambiguous.

There are other reasons for misunderstanding communication, but one
thing is clear. The person speaking or writing may have a very specific
thing in mind when delivering their message. Between speaking or
writing and comprehending, there is an opportunity to interpret. I can
say in all integrity, that when I adopted the term 'bright' I
interpreted no arrogant connotations, to infer that I am more
inteligent than anybody else. I feel that I should beable to use the
expression in refferance to myself without the cringe factor. Without
somebody taking my intended meaning and fitting their own
pre-conceptions to it. There is a basic liberty being taken here.

I find it hard to undestand this missapropriation of deffinition, in
light of the fact that the deffinition, has been explicitly and
publicly declared with the term itself. There is a delightfully unique
aspect of this public, social experiment. In light of that, it is hard
to fathom how people (who should support this idea) could take the word
and interpret it with anything other than the explicitly defined
meaning. )8

[latent aaaack]

I used to post a lot on itshappening.com for a few years if youre wondering where I'm message board 'from.' Anyone here familiar with that storied site?

[Skepticus]

I'm sorry I didn't complete that last post.

I have had no end of problems with trying to post it, begining with the no URL restriction Originaly the post had a couple of URL's in it. but when I got the error message I tried to modify them. First I thought it would be ok it just unlink them, [sorry not good enough] then I tried taking out the protocol identifier, [sorry not good enough] so then I thought mabee it recognises the dots replace them with (dot), you gussed it [sorry not good enough]. Well now I decide I had better remove them completly. Sheeez!! Oh, you're kidding me still [not good enough]. I scoured that long post, over and over and over, and began thinking that somebody was having a little joke with me.

I changed tact and decided to save the text and kiss the formatting goodbye. Put the text into a text editor and start with a small test mesage. Hello World... [hit preview], no problems finaly were geting somewhere.

Second mistake I decided to put the whole text back in and reformat after maticulously serching the text in the text editor for any vestage of hypertext links. I pasted it in and reformatted putting the smilies back where I thought they originaly were also. hit preview and [sorry not good enough] Actualy the message tells you that you have to have atleast 15 posts before you can include URLs or some such thing. I was getting fed up with seeing that message.

It had occured to me by now that I might be able to save the message formatting and all by saving the source code of the frame. Better yet Mozilla lets you view the source code from just the selection. Pehaps I could paste the source back in by wrapping it in code tags. I went ahead and did this, harvesting the text message formatting tags and all. Silly idea, the code tags are there to prevent the server from detecting code you want to display litteraly in you message.

When I read the formatting code I relised that the smillies I had included also have URL's and I thought no.... It couldn't be. Surely they wouldnt give you smilies and allow you to unwittingly use them, when their URL will trigger an error. I read the FAQ's but I didnt see anything about this.

I started pasting my message back in paragraph by paragraph, each time hitting preview, and now for the finale DUN DA DA DAAAA. Opps I hit the post button instead of the preview and the post is incomplete. oooh quick!!! Hit the back button. As if that would do anything. Well you know what it did do something. I got a message like 'the server could not be contacted' or something. Ok all is not lost. I decided to go back and edit my post, take out the existing text and replace it with a message like this (only shorter) explaining what had happened and you wouldnt believe it. It froze my system up and I knew this because my mouse froze and I couldn't even shut down Xwindow. I had to hard boot. Linux almost never does that.

Boot up log back in and hurry because there may still be time to edit that message. Oh give me a break now the modem isn't dialing out. Mess with settings and fiddle with the modem. half an hour later... The modem responds. dial up my ISP and online we go.

Next thing I'm getting the web page could not be found message EVERYWHERE. Everything on my system tells me I'm online and every thing is ok, but I'm not getting pages. So I ring the ISP with my mobile (still on line) service answers straight away, but my phone emediatly goes dead because it needed charging. I go and get the power pack so I can use the phone while it's plugged in. Try again. phone rings, service answers and the fella listens to my problem. Ok I just transfer you to technical support. Oh!! that where I thought I was, I think to myself, why didnt you just ask if I had a sales or a technical enquiry? He puts me through and the phone just hangs up. I ring up again and exactly the same thing happens. The third time lucky, I explain in no uncertain terms that I do not want to be cut off. This time I get a promise, but then I get an answering service, telling me to leave a number (by pressing the key pad) and a service person will get back within 24 hours. Something goes wrong with my attempt to enter the number and I find myself hanging up in futility.

After a while the problem seems to have sorted itself out and two hours after I rebooted, I am back on line writing this message. So how's your evening been? I better get back and fix up that original post.

Regards Skepticus

[Skepticus]

Hi all

Well I must say "what a busy forum you have here".
Hey that's nice too. The smilies show up in the edit box WYSIWYG style.
Well I supose I should do the intro thing. You must be dying to hear my life story.

Truth is I was created by an alien master race and .... Oh wait... no... that was in a past life. In this life I am a devout skeptic / athiest and a <cringe> I must confess I have adopted the label Bright. Now I'm gona hafta work hard. I know this is not a popular title among some of you, but please don't assume that I am divested of the arrogance some folk say the name implies. The simple fact is, when I first read about the concept of adopting a meme to signify "A person whos ethics and actions are based on a naturalistic world view, free of supernatural and mystical elements" and that the chosen word was 'Bright' it simply didn't have that effect on me. If it did I wouldn't have endorsed it.

The problem with communicating in general, is that the person speaking or writing, intends to convey a message which has some meaning. The intended meaning is not always recieved accurately for a number of reasons. Firstly ambiguous statements can be interpreted different ways. If we dont choose our words well they may be interpreted with different meanings. Secondly some words (like soul) are used to describe ambiguous concepts. That is to say many people have differing ideas about what the word means, just because the concept itself is ambiguous.

There are other reasons for misunderstanding communication, but one thing is clear. The person speaking or writing may have a very specific thing in mind when delivering their message. Between speaking or writing and comprehending, there is an opportunity to interpret. I can say in all integrity, that when I adopted the term 'bright' I interpreted no arrogant connotations, to infer that I am more inteligent than anybody else. I feel that I should beable to use the expression in refferance to myself without the cringe factor. Without somebody taking my intended meaning and fitting their own pre-conceptions to it. There is a basic liberty being taken here.

I find it hard to undestand this missapropriation of deffinition, in light of the fact that the deffinition, has been explicitly and publicly declared with the term itself. There is a delightfully unique aspect of this public, social experiment. In light of that, it is hard to fathom how people (who should support this idea) could take the word and interpret it with anything other than the explicitly deffined meaning.

That is simply not fair, and disrespectful of the people who wish to see the concept fly. If you look at the deffined meaning, it says nothing about inteligence nor superiority in any way. So where do the detractors get this derogatory spin from? The answer is in the alternative deffinitions of the word 'bright'. The charge is that the word has connotations beyond its given deffinition. It's this loose association of the noun 'bright' with the adjective 'bright', wherin bright = inteligent.

In the history and evolution of language, we are used to seeing this loose (however ambiguous) association of terms. That the same word often has similar meanings. You don't have to go any further than the word bright itself, to see that it's etymology, has provided two alternative deffinitions or contexts, that are clearly related. If you think about it, you can even see which is the former and which is the latter. Bright as a quality of light, colours, or objects which reflect light, is obviously a word which has it's context in the physical world. I would hazard a guess (although I haven't checked up on this) that the other deffinition of 'bright' is an emergent one. That is to say, it is based on a metaphorical connection, that bright things, or lights illuminate. In the relm of ideas or concepts iliumination is a good thing . To understand something is to shed light on it. From there it follows that a 'bright' person is 'enlightened'.

The last deffinition is an adjective wich can apply to a person, if we wish to pay them a compliment. The implication (or acusation), that brights are paying themselves a compliment by invoking the word 'bright' is nothing more than unsubstantiated, adhominem rhetoric. The deffinition is given concicely. Of course It is for other people to judge if they think I am bright in the colloquial sense, but by using the expression as given by Bright Centeral I am not claiming any such thing. The deffinition is given.

An unfortunate irony exists here, when you consider what has happened to terms like athiest, agnostic and skeptic. The fact which is much easier to reach accord about, is that these terms have themselves attracted a negative stigma. It is hard to call yourself an athiest, without suffering the connotation that you don't belive in anything. The unwelcomed interpretation of your worldview, may include, that you are a cynical and empty person, who believes in nothing as apposed to something. You are a nhilist, ideological anarchist. If you dont believe in some sort of god you are dysfunctional and unable to take take sustenance from faith, etc...

I know what you are thinking (but I am just winding you up). <grin>
People who do this have misinterpred your intentions, of what you intended to be understood. I'm just playing devi... er god's advocate.

Again... with my personal favorite 'agnostic'. I prided myself on being an agnostic and for many years I was a pantheistic / agnostic. Unfortunately I got my understandings of these terms from the correct sources. So my intended deffinitions were the correct ones, whereas the popular deffinitions are tainted. I will relate to you an excerpt from the first post I made on the the Brights forum to save time:

So what's in a name? I have gone through numerous transitions in my own internal struggle to identify myself, who I am and what I stand for. From the outset I will declare humbly and honestly, if I can, that many of my own trials and tribulations over my beliefs boil down to petty semantics, ambiguity and just who has the right to decide what the meaning of a word is.

If we are to be honest with ourselves we would all prefer to simply deal with the core issues and use words like predefined stamps. That's what it says, so that's what it means. But unfortunately in the real world so many of our most eloquently devised expressions are lost in the netherland between delivery and interpretation. I say one thing and you understand another. It really is an age old story.

Case in point, is that up until recently I considered myself to be a confirmed agnostic. This was a decisive and deliberately contrived expression that I felt totally at home with. It defined how I felt down to a tee, as I empathized with one of my great mentors and the originator of the expression, none other than the great Thomas Henry Huxley. I felt as satisfied then, about that expression as I do today about learning about this term 'bright'.

So far my position depends for it's validity on the only definitive explanation I have ever read on the origins of the term 'agnostic'. My source is a rather exhaustive tome of both details and interesting asides relating to evolution, which has given me many years of hardcore reference and interesting anecdotal reading of all matters in and about evolution. It is 'The Encyclopedia Of Evolution' by Richard Milner. The story it tells is about T.H. Huxley when in 1869 he joined the London, Metaphysical Society. According to Milner, when asked whether he was an atheist, a Christian, a theist, a materialist. an idealist, a free thinker or a pantheist, Huxley was at a loss. As Milner recounts:
Later he [Huxley] recalled he hadn't a rag of a label to cover [myself] with and felt like the proverbial fox who had left his tail in a trap and thereafter was not recognized by his companions.
At this point I will point out that many of these terms would seem to me to overlap quite considerably. For instance a Christian is a particular kind of theist, and a freethinker is more often than not an atheist. But having said that I am sure that most of us have felt the same pangs of anxiety borne out of dissatisfaction with the available crop of labels. It is hard to adopt any existing label when none of them seem quite right, or none of them seem quite specific enough.

Freethinkers are a case in point, in that they identify with their own power to conceive a world view unto their own and what they share in common at a bare minimum, is that they collectively disavow any kind of contrived dogma. You might be inclined to call yourself a freethinker, when none of the other labels seem quite right. Or.. do I once again have all of my definitions muddled up? To be sure I was not talking at cross purposes, I decided to look the term 'freethinker' up on dictionary(dot)reference(dot)com and low and behold I found the term to have a second definition to which I have never been acquainted:
n : A person who believes that God created the universe and then abandoned it [syn: deist]
The definition that I have been accustom to was given first:
n : One who has rejected authority and dogma, especially in religious thinking, in favor of rational inquiry and speculation.
When words are defined to mean such highly specific things yet still have alternative definitions, how are we to effectively communicate? How are we to know that what is said and what is understood will correspond? Worse yet, these definitions can actually mean the complete opposite thing. It is a delightful irony that I should find the above example to amplify my point, as I honestly had no idea about this alternative definition of 'freethinker', when I set about my discourse on ambiguity.

How much more ambiguous can a word be than when it confers two mutually exclusive and opposite meanings? I am reminded of a word game I once followed in New Scientist, wherein correspondents were invited to submit small word chains which began with one word and linked synonyms, ultimately ending with an antonym. The more concise the words used and the shorter the chain the more pungent and witty they seemed. How much shorter can the chain be than one word that totally contradicts itself?

For those of us who already identify with the term 'bright', we see that any kind of deist or theist, is just another kind of spiritualist, a person with an imaginary friend, a true believer who needs to invoke a supernatural explanation of the universe. And that to a true bright, spells the antithesis of 'one who has rejected authority and dogma, in favor or rational inquiry.' I like many of us, might have been inclined to adopt the label 'freethinker', as my world view and my philosophical disposition is quite individualistic and willfully devoid of authority or dogma. Now I find that I can't go near the term for fear that my intentions will be misconstrued, that I will be seen as a deist.

Returning now to Huxley and his lament, I am all the more empathetic in his concern about finding the right label. "The one thing in which most of these good people agreed" he wrote [according to Milner]:
was the one thing in which I differed from them. They were quite sure they had attained a certain 'gnosis 'that is, a revealed knowledge of the truth about existence. So I took thought, and invented what I conceived to be the appropriate title of 'agnostic' (meaning without revealed knowledge). It came into my head as suggestively antithetic to the 'gnostic' of Church history, who professed to know so much about the very things of which I was ignorant.
To put this all in context, it should be noted the day and age in which Huxley lived. I believe he was erring on the side of diplomacy. The Metaphysical Society, would have come close to being the most open minded movement available at the time, at least they were permissive enough to consider religion in a philosophical light. In Huxley's day even atheists went to church and behaved like nice god fearing citizens, it was the 'done thing' and a civic duty. I believe that Huxley was very much an atheist, but would only go so far as to say that he was without any kind of holy communion. So far as Christians go touting that they have personal communications and a personal relationship with god, I must be counted among what Huxley called agnostics.

The problem I have with the term 'agnostic' is that it has come to represent a synonym for unsure or undecided. The truth is that I am about as undecided about the existence of god as I am about the existence of the tooth fairy. I believe that Huxley would agree, and were it not for the misappropriation of terminology 'agnostic' would be a useful label that I would happily adopt. In fact for most of my adult life I have considered myself to be 'pantheistic / agnostic', but I began to realize just what agnostic meant to other people.

Returning now to the point I was making, these terms have developed a stigma, a negative interpretation from the community at large. Dawkins himself makes this point in explaing why he advocates the term 'bright' in an article in Wired magazine: www(dot)wired(dot)com/wired/archive/11.10/view.html?pg=2

You only have to look at the community polls to see how people react to the idea of having a president who is an athiest. It is Dawkins contention that the word bright, could do for athiests, skeptics, agnostics and freethinkers, what the term 'gay' has done for homosexuals and lesbians. The word gay , was not deliberately coined as far as anybody knows, but it has coencided (probably not by accident) with the wider acceptance of the gay community and the gay pride movement. The statistics show a diffinative shift in attitude.

If there is any tendancy to associate the word 'bright' with a person who thinks they are just soooo clever, It is not because of the specific deffinition given by the people who coined the term implies anything of the sort. Returning to the irony I mentioned above, isn't it clear that the available crop of expressions we have all adopted in the past, have each been subjected to misintrpretation by other people, namely the listener or the reader? Isn't the whole semantic game, a misunderstanding tht sits between the person using the term, and the person recieving it? The question is, if those connotations are intrinsic to the word.

My answer to that is NO!!! They are not.. Some people are picking up connotations that were never intended. The definition is given explicitly by Mynga Futrell and Paul Geisert, how much more definitive can it be? If skeptics, athiests, freethinkers and agnostics, who qualify as brights under the definition given, respond tho the word bright with a kind of petty stigmatizing routine, it is no better than the unfortunate circumstances, that have seen stigmas or false meaanings arise around all the other words we might use to describe people with a naturalisic worldview. Putting the actual choice of word aside, I think it is a wonderfull experiment.

Do we simply have to engage in self effaceing behaivior, by doing to ourselves what the rest of the world has done to us? Whether the detractors of the meme 'bright' wish to aknowledge it or not, most them are brights, by virtue of the operational deffinition that it has been given. Apart from providing a unifying term for all flavors of belief which lack any supernatural or mystical elements, the bright movement takes a community development, or public relations role and tries to address the injustice of the world in relation to politics, the media, and just plain public peception, and this it does for the collective that has accepted the bright worldview, whether they have accepted the name or not .

The real question of the day is whether the movement is succeeding in it's aims, or whether it will in time. I cant answer that question right now, but I can say it depends on how many proto/psuedo-brights choose to get behind the cause. It isn't just about the coining of a word or a meme, it is about defending our rights in the community. Have you registered as a bright? If not heres the link: www(dot)the-brights(dot)net/action/register/

I want you to consider if you will, that those who denigrate or deride the word bright, the meme itself or the bright movement, are actualy tramppling their own rights into the dirt. It isnt even the same as the detractors of the gay pride movement, the detractors there, were decidedly homophobic hetrosexuals. If you have formed a tentative opinion about the whole bright movement, based only on material published outside of it, particularly articles and discussions revolving around the name, I would implore you to go over to www(dot)the-brights(dot)net and have a look around.

Apart from that I should mention that my skeptical intrests are in the areas of creationism / ID theory and quack medicine particularly newage energy therapy/healing. It angers me that people are being given rebates on their publicly funded health cover (here in Australia at least), to visit these so called 'alternative therapists'. I'm going to call myself a therapist and open a 'clinic' in the front bar of my local pub. I call it beer therapy, it works like this: Beer lowers stress and inhibition levels it helps people to relax and laugh. Numerous studies confirm the health benifits of laughing and relaxing, so beer therapy is a wonderfull way to reballance your bodies energy systems. It is also widely accepted as harmless and the worst side effect is waking up with a fuzzy head, in a strange bed, along side of somebody who's name you don't know. I can live with that.

I am also interested in alternative energy, both ligitimate and crackpot. I love reading popular science in natural history, cosmology, quantum mechanics and chaos. I am also interested in information theory and how it relates to thermodynamics, the energy/information interface if you will. I am into computers in a very general way (hardware software & a smigeon of coding) I live the open source phenominon (if only brights could be so successfull) and I use and evangelize GNU/Linux.

So that's me, how about you? Well I'm off to the clinic for some hard earned therapy.

See you in the soup. Skepticus

[Darat]

...snip..

When I read the formatting code I relised that the smillies I had included also have URL's and I thought no.... It couldn't be. Surely they wouldnt give you smilies and allow you to unwittingly use them, when their URL will trigger an error. I read the FAQ's but I didnt see anything about this.

...snip...

Sorry about this it only appears to have started doing this since the last software update. I've worked out the combination of options that causes this and I'll add a note to the error message new Members see to avoid this frustration in future.


Oh and welcome!

[slipknotmcfadden]

Hello! I'm a brand newbie to the JREF forums. I've been reading Swift for years, and I'm planning to go to my first TAM in January 2007, so I wanted to introduce myself to folks well in advance, so I have some people I can have a conversation with when I get there. Something like this:

"Hi, I'm so-and-so from the forum. Welcome to TAM!"
"You're so-and-so? I had you visualized as a 5-legged park ranger from the Yucatan! But you're completely normal!"

These are the sorts of conversations that make Vegas fun. From what I understand.

I already posted in the TAM forum, and here I am doing things out of order. But that's okay.

And Skepticus - I'm a Bright too. I didn't know there was so much controversy over the name though. I don't think it's a great name, but that's only because these things take time to get used to. I don't have posters or t-shirts proclaiming my Bright status to the world, and I don't know anyone around here that does, so maybe I haven't had as much exposure to the term as some people here have. All I do is get their newsletter, which is profoundly Californian in its tone. It's a nice break from the East-coastness of it all.

I live in Maryland, by the way.

[Darat]

:welcomeb:

[Hutch]

Well, we can't let Darat do all the welcoming work, so....

Welcome skunkrider. You know what section to visit. Just remember, the folks here like evidence and facts and most especially mathematics and good science, so come prepared...

Welcome St. Mike, and don't worry about sounding religious, folks here are not shy about asking (and a few are not shy about flaming) the origin of your name...

Wecome skepticus, with one of the longer and more thoughtful intros--If I had to predict, I think we'll be seeing you in the Philosophy and Religion sub-fora quite a bit--but beware Politics!!

Welcome latent aaaack. I must admit I do not know of the board you speak, but besides this site, Bad Astronomy-Universe Today and Loose Marbles...er Change, I don't get out and about the boards very much.

And welcome, slipknot. I'll be at TAM5 also, work on getting your post count up to 50 so you can get an avatar. In the past couple of years we have had JREF Forum badges with your forum name and Avatar on them, that has really helped identify each other.

[Katana]

Welcome, everyone!

[Victor Meldrew]

Hi I'm new here, and have spent a lot of time over the last few days reviewing this site and the forum - the information on here is AWESOME!

I have spent many a happy hour following arguments, and links etc, and will no doubt spend many, many more.....

I am a Uni student, studying Psychology, and I am fascinated by why people believe in all the clap-trap (or woo-woo, as you like to call it) that they do.

If I find part of my course that answers that (or even just a small part of it) I will share it with you all!

Victor

[rintelen]

Hello everyone, my name is Rintelen, and I am an MSc in Climate Change & Sustainable Development (De Montfort University, UK) and BA(Hons) in History (Oxford). In my spare time I study mathematics and physics to PhD level, but I don't need these kind of qualifications so I have never gone much further in my academic career.

I am very interested in both sides of the debate between 'paranormal' and skepticism, the universe in general, and of course the future of mankind.

My position on most matters is that I have an open mind, that accepts hard evidence, but does not discount unproven truths. There are after all many unproven truths in the universe.

I hope to enjoy all of your ideas.

[CassandraCox]

Hi there! I'm Cassandra and I'm in Columbus, Ohio.
I'm a mother, an atheist , a libertarian, a member of the ACLU, the EFF, the American Atheists and a local humanist group.

:D

I've been an occasional lurker for several months and finally registered today.

[alienlady]

I'm confused. Is this where you introduce yourself???

It says, "Quick Reply" and the other link says "Post Reply."

Just curious.

[alexg]

I come with much anger for the Loosers!! I am so happy there are lots of smart people here countering those mush-brained, dope-addled punks. I have learned a lot following a few threads so far. Carry on.

[Foolmewunz]

Welcome, all!
I'm still a bit of a newbie myself, and can tell you that if you're willing to discuss, support your assertions, and think, you will be treated well.
It helps to bring your sense of humor along, too.

A few pointers.


Just don't mention GOATS! :D
(Annoying insider joke that I have no right to make 'cuz I wasn't in on it, but after umpteen dozen cites of goats, I figure you deserve a warning.)

Oh, and Humor seems to be an ironic thread title. The humor is usually hiding elsewhere. :cool:

[Airplane]

Hi, All! I'm a long time skeptic who has been reading -- and loving -- Randi for years and years now.

As you can tell from my moniker I love flying machines better than just about anything. Real flying machines. Not imaginary ones from a galaxy far, far away populated by little green or gray critters who kidnap humans from their beds in the wee small hours.

Glad to be here!!

[SusanB-M1]

Hi there! I'm Cassandra and I'm in Columbus, Ohio.
I'm a mother, an atheist , a libertarian, a member of the ACLU, the EFF, the American Atheists and a local humanist group.

Cassandra - I too belong to a local Humanist group, as well as the BHA (British Humanist Association) and would be interested to hear how your group is run, what sort of meetings you have, e.g. speakers? What do ACLU and EFF stand for?

It says, "Quick Reply" and the other link says "Post Reply."

alienlady - It is certainly quite a pujzzle trying to work out which reply type to use! I think I've worked it all out, but I could well be wrong!

Susan

[CassandraCox]

Cassandra - I too belong to a local Humanist group, as well as the BHA (British Humanist Association) and would be interested to hear how your group is run, what sort of meetings you have, e.g. speakers? What do ACLU and EFF stand for?



Susan, ACLU stands for American Civil Liberties Union.

EFF stands for Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Our local humanist group has a meeting once a month (as well as a book meeting once a month for those that have time to read - I'm not one of them) and a social get together once a month (dinner).

The last meeting had two of Ohio's gubernatorial candidates present to discuss their campaigns and answer questions - It was Bill Peirce (Libertarian) and Bob Fitrakis (Green). Unfortunately, I missed this one because it was my boys' birthday party.

Anyway, we usually have some kind of main topic and then someone to do a presentation on the subject. :)

I tried to post links to the different organizations up there so that you could learn more about them, but I guess I can't post links until I've posted 15 times. Gotta weed out the spammers, I suppose. So if you are really interested, feel free to google them.

[Vox Humana]

Hi all,

I've been lurking for about a month now, and have decided it's time to wade in and start contributing. Until last year I had spent my life in various Christian denominations, starting as a Roman Catholic, converting to a pentecostal denomination as a teenager, then backing off the overtly crazy stuff into a more mainstream evangelical belief.

After many years of discussing and debating various theological issues, using the Bible to support my positions and seeing the same Bible used to refute my contentions and affirm the opposite, I finally decided to consider the authority upon which all of these arguments rested. I found that I was underwhelmed with the justifications presented for considering the Bible inerrant, and found it much easier to see it as a collection of myths and exaggertations of historical events. Long story short, I realized that the only reason I had accepted Christianity as the 'One True Way' was due to my belief that the Bible was true, and the only reason I believed the Bible to be true was because I had never thought that it might not be. Concluding that this was not an acceptable rationale by which to live my life (not to mention give 10% of my income (gross, not net, natch)) I summarily dispensed with it, and would have to say that I am now agnostics/atheist, depending on whether I am talking philosophically or pragmatically.

I've heard plenty of testimonies in the congregations to which I've belonged on the freedom that is felt when one finally "gives it up to the Lord," and I can't say that I haven't had that experience myself in the past. But I can say that the relief, the unburdening I felt when I finally accepted my unbelief was every bit as freeing as anything I have ever felt in a church setting.

Anyway, that's enough about me for now. I do appreciate the discourse I have found on these boards, and I look forward to participating in the future.

Vox

[wollery]

Welcome to the nuthouse Vox! :D

[Dr Adequate]

Hi I'm new here.

...

Victor Heh. Clever username.

Welcome to the forums!

[L Ron Hubbub]

New here. Popped in to get the feel of the place. I find Randi entertaining, but a bit rabid. Hope cooler heads prevail here.

L Ron

[Tanstaafl]

Welcome L Ron!

There are many cooler heads here.

Some hot-heads also. But if you stick around I'm sure you'll find it interesting,

[Mr. Skinny]

Welcome to Cassandra, Vox, L Ron and others I've missed.

Nice to see another Buckeye here, Cassandra. And Vox, that was an interesting and informative first post.

Good to see new faces.

[Dr Adequate]

New here. Popped in to get the feel of the place. I find Randi entertaining, but a bit rabid. Hope cooler heads prevail here.

L Ron Yes, of course. Round here we are all cool, calm, and collected.

Don't look at the Politics forum, nothing there would interest you.

[/lies]

[Simplicious]

This is the first time I've been on one of these forums, so it may take me a while to find my way around. I came across this forum while searching on that seminal Mark McCutcheon book "The Final Theory" and found a reference to my review on Amazon. I must confess to being that Truthsayer who wrote the five star review entitled "Shame on our scientists". I hope this didn't offend any members. My only excuse is that I was mentally unstable at the time and given to severe bouts of sarcasm. I still had my lucid moments and posted a review at Barnes and Noble under my current pseudonym Simplicious. I also wrote similar reviews for Amazon, but these were soon deleted. Anyway, I'm cured now and can hopefully engage in some lively scientific discussion.

Anyway, that McCutcheon thread is probably ancient history and the discussion may have moved on to better things. I'm afraid I haven't kept up with the latest in science since university (where I studied mathematics) so I may need bringing up to speed. I've got a second hand physics textbook, but it all seems more difficult than it did twenty years ago!

[apost8]

Hi all. I am here because I owe a debt to James Randi, along with other such as Douglas Adams, Richard Dawkins, Michael Shermer, and Carl Sagan. Because of them I learned to think. I was raised in a cult, which used terms like "true science" (anything that didn't contradict the bible) to mask knowledge that was detrimental to belief that it was the one true religion. Thanks to my self-education by sneaking off to Barnes and Noble to read books I didn't dare bring home, such as "Why People Believe Weird Things" by Michael Shermer, I became an atheist in my late 20's. I have given up my entire social sphere, which was entirely within the cult, except for my wife. She has stayed with me, but she is very sad. She thinks God will kill me in Armageddon, which is coming any day now.

I am trying to find a new way to be happy. I haven't found it yet. I am hoping some of you here might help me find the way. The painful truth is that I was happier when I was ignorant. I am hoping this will change with time. Even still, I wouldn't go back. Religion is a mental virus. Extracting it is painful. But an unshackled mind is an incredible reward.

[apost8]

Accidently double posted. Sorry.

[Tanstaafl]

I am trying to find a new way to be happy. I haven't found it yet. I am hoping some of you here might help me find the way. The painful truth is that I was happier when I was ignorant. I am hoping this will change with time. Even still, I wouldn't go back. Religion is a mental virus. Extracting it is painful. But an unshackled mind is an incredible reward.

Welcome to the forum! You will find many here with stories at least somewhat similar to yours, at least enough to understand your experience. Hopefully that will replace at least some small part of your lost community.

The real world can be painful, but it is liberating too. Congratulations on making the transition!

[BrianSI]

Hi all. I am here because I owe a debt to James Randi, along with other such as Douglas Adams, Richard Dawkins, Michael Shermer, and Carl Sagan. Because of them I learned to think. I was raised in a cult, which used terms like "true science" (anything that didn't contradict the bible) to mask knowledge that was detrimental to belief that it was the one true religion. Thanks to my self-education by sneaking off to Barnes and Noble to read books I didn't dare bring home, such as "Why People Believe Weird Things" by Michael Shermer, I became an atheist in my late 20's. I have given up my entire social sphere, which was entirely within the cult, except for my wife. She has stayed with me, but she is very sad. She thinks God will kill me in Armageddon, which is coming any day now.

I am trying to find a new way to be happy. I haven't found it yet. I am hoping some of you here might help me find the way. The painful truth is that I was happier when I was ignorant. I am hoping this will change with time. Even still, I wouldn't go back. Religion is a mental virus. Extracting it is painful. But an unshackled mind is an incredible reward.


I don't know what it is like to be raised in a cult exactly, but I was raised in Texas. It's hard learning to disagree with the people you've had so much respect for in the past (especially parents). But the JREF group (and associates) provides me all the motivation I need. I'm actually quite interested to hear what a true cult is like. Welcome, and good luck with your wife. Most of all, congratulate yourself on escaping. I'd see that as a reason for happiness.

[Dr Adequate]

I don't know what it is like to be raised in a cult exactly, but I was raised in Texas. "Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love." - Butch Hancock

Welcome to the forums!

[Glen.Nogami]

Hello all

I'm here because a friend of mine introduced me to this forum a while ago (name of neutrino_cannon around here), and I've occasionally been around to watch and enjoy. Now that I have more free time, I've finally signed up. As for myself, I'm an atheist, skeptic, etc.

Glen

[Roadtoad]

I suppose I ought to post here for the sole purpose of being subscribed here.

Welcome Fresh Me... I mean, Newbies.

[gozur]

Hello, all. I have been lurking here since there were about 600 posts, total. I had the distinct pleasure of being infinitely amused by bigfig, lyndale, paul whatshisname, and several others (ah, the good old days). I love this place, and frequently seek out answers to many different types of questions here. I have never been big on joining online communities, primarily due to a lack of time to keep up with participation in conversations.

But, I have recently begun posting at a certain pro-paranormal forum, and have found new and exciting levels of frustration trying to get those people to think critically - even just a little bit. I figured you guys might be able to help me out if I get into a particularly annoying pinch. (Yes, I'm here to use you ) I don't know how involved I will get in discussion, if at all, but I want all of you to know that this place does a great service to those of us seeking truth in life instead of relying on myths and fairy tales to guide us.

[Mr. Skinny]

Hello, all. I have been lurking here since there were about 600 posts, total. I had the distinct pleasure of being infinitely amused by bigfig, lyndale, paul whatshisname, and several others (ah, the good old days). I love this place, and frequently seek out answers to many different types of questions here. I have never been big on joining online communities, primarily due to a lack of time to keep up with participation in conversations.

But, I have recently begun posting at a certain pro-paranormal forum, and have found new and exciting levels of frustration trying to get those people to think critically - even just a little bit. I figured you guys might be able to help me out if I get into a particularly annoying pinch. (Yes, I'm here to use you ) I don't know how involved I will get in discussion, if at all, but I want all of you to know that this place does a great service to those of us seeking truth in life instead of relying on myths and fairy tales to guide us.
I'm really sorry I didn't know you all these years, gozur. You have been lurking a long time.

Therefore, bow to me as forum god, you cur! :)

What's the pro paranormal forum you are posting at? Maybe a few will go look at it.

It's good to know that even some "non-participants" get something out of reading here.

Welcome!

[SpeederA]

It's Oren, the younger, from the Amazing Cruise!

Just popped in to get the contact info of all the great people I met four weeks ago. I wish I could get involved in your forum thingamajiggy but, unfortunately, I'm still covered up to my (errrr....) eyeballs in work that accumulated during the cruise...

PM your EMail/AIM/MSN/Yahoo/GoogleTalk/Skype/.... contact info to me y'all.

Or contact me on AIM at SpeederA, MSN at SameAsAim@CompuMight.com or SpeederA on Skype!

Getting back to work....,

Oren

[SkeptiKilt]

I suppose I ought to post here for the sole purpose of being subscribed here.
Hey, RT -- I think we met at TAM back in January. I discovered a few days ago that there's this menu called "thread tools" over on the right side at the top, which lets you subscribe without having to actually post.

Has anyone got a way to jump directly to one's last-read post in a subscribed thread?

<edit> :eek: Duh. It's up there on the left. Color me stupid . . . or at least unobservant.

[psychicmorgan]

Besides of what i'm doing about predicting the other's future, but I do healing as well. In Thailand, I do my own TV program about quick answers to callers. I'm happy with that.

[gozur]

I'm really sorry I didn't know you all these years, gozur. You have been lurking a long time.

Therefore, bow to me as forum god, you cur! :)

What's the pro paranormal forum you are posting at? Maybe a few will go look at it.

It's good to know that even some "non-participants" get something out of reading here.

Welcome!

Hi, Mr. Skinny! (**Finished bowing to your mightiness**) :p The forum I am having fits about is the TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) forum - you know, the group that stars in the SciFi show Ghost Hunters. IIRC, I saw a thread a couple weeks ago that some of you were already over there, but I can't find a fellow skeptic to save my life!

Oh, and thanks for the welcome!

[Donal]

I never did introduce myself properly.

Hi, folks. I was directed here because of your 9/11 conspiracy discussions. Glad to hae found this place.

[Mr. Skinny]

Hi, Mr. Skinny! (**Finished bowing to your mightiness**) :p The forum I am having fits about is the TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) forum - you know, the group that stars in the SciFi show Ghost Hunters. IIRC, I saw a thread a couple weeks ago that some of you were already over there, but I can't find a fellow skeptic to save my life!

Oh, and thanks for the welcome!
If I get a chance, I'll stop over at TAPS. It'll probably be to late to help, but what the heck!

I've never seen Ghost Hunters, cause I've never gotten around to getting cable or satelite.

*commands gozur to rise*




Hi, Donal, welcome to the forum. Are you an Irishman? With that first name, I wondered.

[thinkingcat]

Hello Everyone, This is my very first post ever to any kind of forum or blog. I have been a skeptic for a very long time, although I am not THAT old. My first law of statistics is 'know your data'. My second law of statistics is 'validate all assumptions'. Needless to say, I am a statitican by training.

My daughter, already a forum member, has gotten me started with JREF.

I hope to get more bold and join in some of the discussions.

So, all, please be kind to this first timer.

[Mr. Skinny]

Hello Everyone, This is my very first post ever to any kind of forum or blog. I have been a skeptic for a very long time, although I am not THAT old. My first law of statistics is 'know your data'. My second law of statistics is 'validate all assumptions'. Needless to say, I am a statitican by training.

My daughter, already a forum member, has gotten me started with JREF.

I hope to get more bold and join in some of the discussions.

So, all, please be kind to this first timer.

*puts on kid gloves*

Hello, thinkingcat. Welcome to the JREF forum. Enjoy your stay. If you need assistance, contact our Administrator "Darat".




(psst.........who's your daughter?)

[Abbyas]

Hello Everyone, This is my very first post ever to any kind of forum or blog. I have been a skeptic for a very long time, although I am not THAT old. My first law of statistics is 'know your data'. My second law of statistics is 'validate all assumptions'. Needless to say, I am a statitican by training.

My daughter, already a forum member, has gotten me started with JREF.

I hope to get more bold and join in some of the discussions.

So, all, please be kind to this first timer.

Welcome, Mom.

[buwayahman]

Hi,

I stumbled onto this site in my efforts and research to debunk psychic claims in Philippines.

[Belz...]

Welcome, Mom.

MOM ???

Yes, indeed. Welcome.

And congratulations for bringing such a fine daughter to the world. :shy:

[Toro]

Hello.

My name is Toro.

It is good to be here.

I spend too much time on Canadian political forums arguing with Foilers about 9/11, so its good to be around some like-minded people.

I am of the opinion that conspiracies are for the weak-minded. Or at least the readily-acceptance of conspiracies is a sign of weakmindedness.

I do not have a high opinion of these people. Sorry if that sounds arrogant, but I don't.

Good to be here.

[Hutch]

Looks like it's my turn up to the welcoming trough...

I stumbled onto this site in my efforts and research to debunk psychic claims in Philippines

Welcome buywayahman. I have visited the Phillipines and truly enjoy the people, but I also know the psychic woo is strong there. Hope you can do some good and that we can help.

Hello.

My name is Toro.

It is good to be here.

I spend too much time on Canadian political forums arguing with Foilers about 9/11, so its good to be around some like-minded people.

I am of the opinion that conspiracies are for the weak-minded. Or at least the readily-acceptance of conspiracies is a sign of weakmindedness.

I do not have a high opinion of these people. Sorry if that sounds arrogant, but I don't.

Good to be here.

And good to have you with us Toro (No Bull!! ;) ). Lots of good info in the conspiracy Sub-Forum to help you out in your arguments. And enjoy the rest of the place, too.

[Hutch]

Hmmm, I see some others got missed in the general hubbub of starting a new thread...

It's Oren, the younger, from the Amazing Cruise!

Just popped in to get the contact info of all the great people I met four weeks ago. I wish I could get involved in your forum thingamajiggy but, unfortunately, I'm still covered up to my (errrr....) eyeballs in work that accumulated during the cruise...

PM your EMail/AIM/MSN/Yahoo/GoogleTalk/Skype/.... contact info to me y'all.

Or contact me on AIM at SpeederA, MSN at SameAsAim@CompuMight.com or SpeederA on Skype!

Getting back to work....,

Oren

Howdy Oren, don't be a stranger around here--and get the work done so you can cme to TAM5.

Besides of what i'm doing about predicting the other's future, but I do healing as well. In Thailand, I do my own TV program about quick answers to callers. I'm happy with that.

Welcome, psychic Morngan--get thee to the paranormal sub-Forum; a genetlemen named Claus would like to pose a couple of questions...:eek:

I never did introduce myself properly.

Hi, folks. I was directed here because of your 9/11 conspiracy discussions. Glad to hae found this place.

And we're glad to hae you aboard, Donal. welcome!

Hello all

I'm here because a friend of mine introduced me to this forum a while ago (name of neutrino_cannon around here), and I've occasionally been around to watch and enjoy. Now that I have more free time, I've finally signed up. As for myself, I'm an atheist, skeptic, etc.

Glen

And you think knowing neutrino_cannon is a recommendation?? :p :D
Welcome to the Forum. Share and Enjoy.

[Foolmewunz]

Hello.

My name is Toro.

It is good to be here.

I spend too much time on Canadian political forums arguing with Foilers about 9/11, .......

I do not have a high opinion of these people. Sorry if that sounds arrogant, but I don't.

Nope - it sounds fine to me. :p
Welcome aboard. Read through a lot of the Loose Change threads. Invite your Canadian foiler friends in for a chat. We are always interested in tossing another squirrel in the stew pot.* (Are you a snowbird? Why the interest in the Canadjun foilers? Just curious.)

*Sorry Meffy - I keep breaking the rule about degrading rodents to the level of troofers.

[Foolmewunz]

Hi,

I stumbled onto this site in my efforts and research to debunk psychic claims in Philippines.

Welcome, indeed! I'm in Hong Kong but used to hit the Philippines regularly. Why do you figure they're so enraptured with psychics? The level of interest is extraordinary from what I saw. (I also was quite astonished that a country we in "the west" always asssociated with Catholicism has so many born-again and fundamentalist Christians. Are you a skeptic on religious issues, too? Or just psychics and paranormal claims. Asking purely out of curiosity. Not kosher to start haggling newcomers in their first few days..... )

[Harv]

I am a newbie but maybe the oldest poster here (age 71). I am retired and reside in Texas. Having realized as I have grown older how much I do not know and do not understand, I thought if would be good to join this group of intellectuals and maybe learn something. Also I would like to expound of some subjects I do know. Thanks for accepting me here. Harv

[Toro]

Nope - it sounds fine to me. :p
Welcome aboard. Read through a lot of the Loose Change threads. Invite your Canadian foiler friends in for a chat. We are always interested in tossing another squirrel in the stew pot.* (Are you a snowbird? Why the interest in the Canadjun foilers? Just curious.)

*Sorry Meffy - I keep breaking the rule about degrading rodents to the level of troofers.


Thanks for the greetings Hutch & Foolme.

I'm a Canadian ex-pat who has been in Florida for 10 years. It seems that no matter what political forum I'm on, the foilers are out in full force, doing their unusual thing.

[Hutch]

I am a newbie but maybe the oldest poster here (age 71).

Mmmm, check the Community thread where folks are posting their ages; I think we had a couple of 70-somethings...

I thought if would be good to join this group of intellectuals and maybe learn something.

Group of Intellectuals! :eek: :eye-poppi :covereyes :D :D
Well, if you stay out of Politics, we might fool you for a little while longer..


Also I would like to expound of some subjects I do know. Thanks for accepting me here. Harv

Welcome Harv. Expound away.

[Mr. Skinny]

I am a newbie but maybe the oldest poster here (age 71). I am retired and reside in Texas. Having realized as I have grown older how much I do not know and do not understand, I thought if would be good to join this group of intellectuals and maybe learn something. Also I would like to expound of some subjects I do know. Thanks for accepting me here. Harv
Welcome, Harv.

I was the oldest here for about 6 months back in 2001 (I'm 54 now). I think we do have a few late 50's to early 60's posters, but I think 71 may be a new record.

I'd like to know what subjects you do know about. Old people fascinate me. (wink).

Also, I wish I was retired, you lucky SOB. :)

Edited to add: Tim, one of our moderators here is 58 I think. He's gone fat and grey, and thinks he's a wombat. Have you had many "senior moments" like Tim?

[Puggy]

Wow, I've been lurking for about three years now. This is the first time I've gone to the Entertainment forum, LOL! Mostly spent my time at the Skepticism and Science forums, and recently the Conspiracy one. Just learning.

And since I'm most probably be going to the TAM next year (YAYYYYYY!!!), I'd better get to know everyone here so You dont hurt me. Is there anyone I should be paying for protection?

Well, I'm a 30 year old mexican, software developer for a reasearch institute in a mexican university. My life is pretty boring, except for the "is married to a beautiful, violin-playing, triplet" part.

I'm in love with life, nature and science. I have an almost carl-sagan-pantheistic way of looking at nature.

I've recently (this past saturday) finished my masters degree in computer networks, so I'm planning on starting a skepticism web site, localized to my city (which supposedly has the highest rate of scientists per capita in Mexico, but it doesn't show), and I'll be using the TAM as a pretext for getting it ready.

I'm just starting to get aquainted, please be gentle with me, as english is not my first language and I tend to not think of witty things to say that easily.

[Mineismine]

Hello, I'm new here. Just kinda poking around.

[wollery]

Welcome Puggy, your English is fine, far better than many on this forum. I don't think it's worth paying anyone for protection, because the ones who'd actually take money from you are the types to hit you after you've paid. :D

And Mineismine, stop poking, it hurts! :p

[SusanB-M1]

I am a newbie but maybe the oldest poster here (age 71). I am retired and reside in Texas. Having realized as I have grown older how much I do not know and do not understand, I thought if would be good to join this group of intellectuals and maybe learn something. Also I would like to expound of some subjects I do know. Thanks for accepting me here. Harv

Having only joined in July, I don't think I am 'senior' enough to do the welcome, but just thought I'd join in with the age part - I'm 70!

[Bunk]

I'm not new, I'm old. I haven't posted in ages, but am slowly losing some of my time constraints and intend waste some of my time here. I still see a few names I recognize. I hope someone remembers me, unless I owe them money.

[Psychic Physicist]

Hi All,
Having for years admired the work of James Randi with his logical and well thought exposures of the varied shysters and fraudsters of the psychic world, I decided it was time that I joined this forum.
I am unfortunately standing with my feet in either camp on the question of the existence of real psychic phenomena. On one side I realise only too well that there are a lot of clever conmen and women who walk the psychic plank. I have had unfortunate dealings with some and know only too well the lengths that these individuals will go to in their quest for personal or financial gratification.
I hold no subscription of belief in any of the established or `new age` religions, and in fact view the majority as being created by the same type of individuals who now adorn many mystic mags and TV programs as `mystics` or `mediums`.
To me, religion is all about mind control, with the imposition of a minority viewpoint upon a gullible majority.
However I digress. On the other foot, I know that all life and our existence are not plainly and easily explainable with quick scientific fixes.
An easy illustration is the age old mind bender which asks, `Where does the universe end or begin – in terms of size and distance?` Because logically, if there is no comprehendible end or beginning, how can we exist?
Not even a sceptic can answer that one.
Another problem I have to contend with rails firmly against sceptical opinion or indifference. That simply is the fact that I have a `gift` or ability that allows me to `heal` or improve peoples physical ailments by the action of simply touching their fingers on point of contact.
I have been aware of this ability for some considerable time and have much anecdotal evidence which I gathered over the years to satisfy my own scepticism.
I have to tell you that I am a retired cop with 28 years service in the British Police. A number of those service years were spent as a detective and later as a police crime analyst and researcher. That type of work involved scepticism to odd strands of intelligence until I could formulate my investigations by producing hard facts which could be used in police operations against organised or local criminal activity. So there is the sceptic in me. Until I can satisfy any claim, I have to have hard facts.
That’s where Mr Randi`s challenge intrigues me.
I am not drawn by financial reward to his challenge, but am motivated simply by the fact that not all alleged psychic phenomena are false. To dismiss this entirely is not scepticism but ignorance.
A true sceptic keeps an open mind, and I have always endeavoured to adhere to that notion.
I first discovered this ability around 10 years ago when a partner complained of a re-occurring pain in her knee joint. On one occasion I placed my hand over the knee to rub it, and she reported that energy from my hand had travelled to the affected area and had warmed an area deep inside her knee which completely removed the pain.
I naturally thought it pure chance but decided to follow through by testing this ability on other people’s ailments. Within a year, I had managed to work with 10 people from work to friends who although at first sceptical stated that a warm energy had travelled through their bodies to soothe away muscular pains or swellings.
The strangest experience was a woman police officer with a badly swollen hand which literally disappeared after five minutes. That in a way shocked me as I (despite evidence to the contrary) still didn’t fully believe in my own ability!


Anyway, after satisfying my own curiosity, I didn’t return to healing until very recently when a guest speaker at a conference I was attending didn’t show.
I volunteered then to talk about healing to a fifty plus adult audience to entertain them. I was approached by five volunteers, four women and a man.
The first was complaining of a long term pain in her swollen wrist and shoulder.
After literally a few seconds of finger contact she reported the same healing energy moving up her hands and into her shoulder. She claimed that the pain her gone. Also her wrist had returned to normal from its swollen state.
The second volunteer – the man had a sharp pain in his shoulder allegedly from an old motorcycle accident. On point of contact he exclaimed the pain had disappeared. I found that implausible from previous experience but not impossible.
The third had pain under her right arm which had persisted for some months. That too went after a few seconds. By the time I started on the 4th – a lady with a stomach ulcer, the others previously dealt with claimed that as I touched a new volunteer, they could feel the healing energy return as though I was touching them again. This was something very new to me. This lady’s pain incidentally, went as quickly as the others. The last volunteer was a lady with short rasping breath who was emotionally upset and complained that diagnosed growths or `polyps` in her throat was impeding her breathing and that she awaited an operation to remove them. As I touched her, she exclaimed that the energy was in her throat having travelled up her arm from finger contact, and that she `felt` her throat being widened to a degree that she could now breath clearly. To date, I have none have reported a relapse with the exception of the lady with the wrist injury who reported that although her shoulder was fine, some pain had returned to her wrist – but not as painfully as before. She explained further that she had engaged in heavy work with her hands that involved bending her wrist whilst holding heavily weighted items. I am certain that had she allowed her hand to recuperate properly, the pain would have gone.
So to round things up, Where does this lead me? Am I deluded, are were they deluded? Was it as they say, a `placebo effect`, or is it genuinely possible that this healing is real, and more importantly, another natural aspect of the human process?
I can add that since I first started healing, my palms are permanently red, and they feel incredibly hot. When measured by a thermometer, they are registered at normal body temperature. As I type this open response they still feel very hot indeed.
So, should I take up the Randi challenge? If I did it would not be simply a quest for a million bucks, but an illustration that not all life on this planet is without some form of `spiritual` - call it what you will, experience.
Your thoughts please would be appreciated. I am quite willing to demonstrate this process. Whether I `win` or `lose`, is quite immaterial to me.

[Mr. Skinny]

I'm not new, I'm old. I haven't posted in ages, but am slowly losing some of my time constraints and intend waste some of my time here. I still see a few names I recognize. I hope someone remembers me, unless I owe them money.
I remember you, Bunk!

Welcome back.

[Muckar-duva]

I've never been to a board which seem to command you to post in a thread like this.

Nevertheless, I, as well, winded up here through debates with 9/11 conspiracy believers. The subject grabbed me because of how the conspiracy theories effectively make people part of a group of "enlightened" people(how comforting), at the same time as they SEEM to be "skeptic" regarding the US government (while all they're doing is taking focus away from the actual politics of today, in my eyes making them more of Bush lackeys than I am, even though I'm accused of being just that on a daily basis).

As all these delusions- and LC- are making their way into my country, I find it essential to keep myself updated. And if I happen to wander into a place that seems sensible, why not register?

[Mr. Skinny]

Psychic Physicist,

First, welcome.

I'd cut and past your introductory post to the "General Skepticism and the Paranormal" sub-forum. I'm sure there are folks there that will be willing to discuss it there.

This thread doesn't get near as many looks as a new thread would in the forum mentioned above.

Skinny

[Mr. Skinny]

I've never been to a board which seem to command you to post in a thread like this.

Nevertheless, I, as well, winded up here through debates with 9/11 conspiracy believers. The subject grabbed me because of how the conspiracy theories effectively make people part of a group of "enlightened" people(how comforting), at the same time as they SEEM to be "skeptic" regarding the US government (while all they're doing is taking focus away from the actual politics of today, in my eyes making them more of Bush lackeys than I am, even though I'm accused of being just that on a daily basis).

As all these delusions- and LC- are making their way into my country, I find it essential to keep myself updated. And if I happen to wander into a place that seems sensible, why not register?

Welcome, Muckar.

I assume you've been to the Conspiracy Theory sub-forum. Lot's of folks discussing 9-11 there.

Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?

[Muckar-duva]

Sweden. You know, the neutral country next to Norway, where we DON'T make cheese, chocolate or watches. ;)

ETA: I actually found this place in some link from a 9/11 "truther"(so all I saw was your conspiracy forum), and found the ceilings here a tad higher. Poking around, it seems like a very decent place.

[Bunk]

I remember you, Bunk!

Welcome back.

Thanks Mr. Skinny!

Last time I saw you, I could count your posts on like 200 hands. I seem to have lost some posts somewhere, probably in a software upgrade.

[Mr. Skinny]

Thanks Mr. Skinny!

Last time I saw you, I could count your posts on like 200 hands. I seem to have lost some posts somewhere, probably in a software upgrade.
Yeah, I think I lost a couple thousand posts from my count, but I don't really care. All the "old timers" here lost post count (which makes me wonder what CFLarsen's post count might be today).

[Mr. Skinny]

Sweden. You know, the neutral country next to Norway, where we DON'T make cheese, chocolate or watches. ;)

Thanks, Muckar. I'm sure we have a Swede or two here, though sadly, none come immediately to mind.

I know we have Finns (pillory :) and Vagrant) and Danes (CFLarsen, Danish Dynamite, and others). Can't recall if we have Norwegians or not. :mad:

The forum was somewhat USA'ian at the outset, but Europe is particularly well represented (especially the UK). We've quite a few Australians, a couple of Kiwis, a few posters from Japan, some Indian homeopaths, etc.

Marvelous mix really.

Hope you enjoy it here.

[Muckar-duva]

Thanks, Bananaguy. <3

[kittens=poptarts]

Hello everyone! DH and I are new members of JREF (yay!) and we are coming to TAM (double yay!) for the first time. We thought it might be nice to meet some folks online so that we're not completely at sea in January.

So, welcome teh n00b. =)

k=p

Oh, a little back history on the name (since I don't have an avatar yet....). It all started with a comic (www dot goats dot com):

Jon: What, pray tell, is that?
Philip: It's my new invention. You see, you put kittens in one end of it, and pop tarts come out the other. I'm gonna be rich.
Jon: So what exactly happens to the kittens?
Philip: Damned if I know.

[Kochanski]

Oh, I love Goats :D That webcomic is so good. The guys come to our Sci fi convention each year and are such fun.

I will be happy to meet you at TAM, nice to find another goats fan :)

[SFC B]

SFC B here. I'm an Army Reserve recruiter assigned to the Phoenix area. Been in the Army for about 12 years. My turn-ons are long walks on the beach, a sense of humor, and motorcycles. My turn-offs are mean people, velcro, and people who claim the WTC towers were hit by missiles disguised with a jet hologram.

[Darat]

...snip... and people who claim the WTC towers were hit by missiles disguised with a jet hologram.

No one believes that - everyone knows they used stealth shields on the missiles!

:welcome4

[xibalba]

Greetings and salutations.

Name's Patrick, and I've been a skeptic and atheist for about ten years now. This is all the more surprising considering I was brought up in Dry Fork, Virginia, just down the road from Danville, VA, the so-called "City of Churches." I'm also an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church, but this is solely for comedic reasons.

I found the JREF site a few weeks ago and I've been working steadily through the commentary archives since then. I'm not a member but, as soon as I get some cash flow, I fully intend to become one...

[Victor Meldrew]

Heh. Clever username.

Welcome to the forums!

Not sure the Americans will understand my username......did the programme over get shown over there?!

Victor

[Hawk one]

Can't recall if we have Norwegians or not. :mad:
THIS thing here calls himself a forum deity?!? :(:(:( Hel-lo, Skinny, how 'bout me? Man, I thought most people knew where I come from by now...

:p

Muckar-Duva: THe standard warning is that this forum is mostly a decent place, apart from the Politics section. Don't go over there if you value your sanity. OK, so Swedish sanity isn't much to value,:D but I'm giving you a fair warning nonetheless.