User talk:Edgerunner76/Archive1

Welcome Edgerunner76. Susan Jayne Garlick^talk 08:31, 29 August 2007 (CDT)

Anyone who quotes "Princess Bride" is welcome!--PalMD^{-Ars longa, vita brevis} 10:26, 29 August 2007 (CDT)

Thank you.--Edgerunner^{-Centerwalker} 07:32, 30 August 2007 (CDT)

No, I am not a sock.--Graham 09:59, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

The Bob Dole (1996 Republican U.S. Presidential candidate) thing was a joke. He often refered to himself in third-person.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 10:12, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

Ramblings

One might get the impression from my user page that I am a raving lunatic that will strike out at a religious person with the slightest provocation. Actually, it is proselytizing and evangelism that I don't like. At the same time I am quite interested in the world's various religions. I'm interested in them the same way that I'm interested in comic books, movie, science ficiton, etc. Fiction is the opperative word. A lot of these myths/stories make for great... well, myths/stories.

I also find current rightist Christian beliefs quite interesting. I really like the Rapture. My main question for anyone who brings that up is: "What's the freakin' holdup!" Now, all of us here know that this wackiness is never coming, but how long before they get it? I do understand that many will never "get it". I figure this sort of thing is cyclical. I figure a good number of people will wise up as events don't come to pass. Things like Left Behind can only last so long before they feel outdated. My true hope is that this is our last go around with this foolishness.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 13:52, 30 August 2007 (CDT)

I fear you may be being a little over-optimistic there - though I hope you're not. People have been prepared to believe they're living in the "last times" for a long time. Still, they may wize up this time 'round. :-) --Bob^{bing up and down} 09:33, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Yeah, you might be right. However, I always get a sense of desperation on their part when I read things they write or listen to things they might vomit up.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 10:09, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Thing is I grew up with these people. Spent my childhood listening to their garbage - which is somewhat unusual in the UK. There are people who were waiting for Christ to come back when I was child who are still waiting. Wasted their lives waiting and they're still hopeful. Should feel sorry for them really, but I can't quite manage it.--Bob^{bing up and down} 10:22, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Shall we start an atheist's cabal? Or would that include most on the site? Susan Jayne Garlick^talk 10:33, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Actually that might be a good idea. I don't know what the split is actually. There are a number of strong atheists but I don't know if we are in the majority.--Bob^{bing up and down} 10:39, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

I'm so strong that I'd outstrong the strongest strong thing in a list of all the that you can imagine. I'm probably somewhat of a sociopath in that I can't empathise even slightly with GodBotherers who otherwise display inteligence. The stupid & ignorant I have sympahy with. Years ago I stopped arguing with GBs as there's no logic that can overcome "It just is!" as a defence. Susan Jayne Garlick^talk 10:52, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Thank you Blackadder. In that case it's possible that you're views are stronger than mine, as I try to keep a sense of humour when debating. But we're coming from the same place. :-) --Bob^{bing up and down} 10:58, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

I'm certainly in the strong wing of the party, so-to-speak. It would be interesting to take a survey of RW users to see where everyone stands.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 10:55, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

It would - but I don't know of any way to to it. Do either of you go the the forums? (And not to watch the Christians being killed.) --Bob^{bing up and down} 11:00, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

I suppose that you could have a special customizable survey userbox that everyone could customize and add to a special survey page.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 11:04, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Forums

You could - but there are lots of userboxes people can use now anyway. They give a pretty good idea of people's opinions. I mentioned the forums because we could ask the powers that be to create a special atheist's forum.--Bob^{bing up and down} 11:09, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

There ya go. Knock yourselves out. --AKjeldsen^Godspeed! 13:25, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Thank you AKjeldsen. I don't know if you two use the RW forums but AKjeldsen just created an atheism section in the RW forum. If you click his link or go to the forum link at the bottom of the navigation tab in the top left it will take you there. Remember that the forums are open to all. --Bob^{bing up and down} 14:59, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Occam's Razor

I love Occam's Razor. Simplicity, itself, is great. After reading a story on CNN, I checked it out here. As for simplicity and Occam's Razor, I often try to tell people to look at the similarities between this map and this map to see what is wrong with conservatives in general and Republicans in specific today.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 13:57, 4 September 2007 (CDT)

Hello

I've just seen your page. A cordial welcome. Having looked at your user page I must say that you look like a person after my own heart. :-) --Bob^{bing up and down} 08:50, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Thanks. I knew that when I found RW I had found a home on the internet.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 09:02, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

The Church of the none-true-god.

Yeah, Bob, but I've got my reasons. It's possible that I was a bit more tolerant & humourful (sic) when I was a mere stripling like you. Susan Jayne Garlick^talk 11:15, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

OK. Each to their own. :-) --Bob^{bing up and down} 11:19, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

I'm usually pretty good as long as people keep their religion to themselves. However, I often find myself not holding to the same ideal (pushing atheism I mean).--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 11:27, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

I don't usually volunteer a direct opinion unless somebody asks. On the other hand it's usually quite obvious where I stand from my conversation without my being explicit.--Bob^{bing up and down} 11:35, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Christianity

It's unfortunate what things like CP have done to Christianity. I know a guy who could be called Captain Catholic and he's a far better man than I. So, they're not all the bad people that CP trudges out. I think that it was put best by Ghandi. He said that Christianity was a wonderful thing. However, he felt it was a terrible pity that it had never been tried. Ghandi also said that he liked Jesus very much. What he didn't like were Christians.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 11:28, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

I think we've got that comment on the site somewhere. Of course you could say the same about communism. Good theory - never been really tried.--Bob^{bing up and down} 11:32, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found hard and left untried." -Chesterton. --AKjeldsen^Godspeed! 13:12, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Well, that clears that up then. --Bob^{bing up and down} 13:45, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Sacred religious figures and dignity

I simply love this article on Wikipedia, Perceptions of religious imagery in natural phenomena. It tells me exactly why RationalWiki has the word rational in it. I both get and don't get why people wouldn't consider that their sacred religious figures should have more dignity than to show up in the places that they seem to show up in. In many ways, it seems like a race to find an ever more undignified place to have a sacred religious figure show up in/at. By the way, shouldn't the various Allah whatevers be invisible?--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 12:10, 5 September 2007 (CDT)

Wikipedia. Serious business. C'mon, if wikipedia doesn't have an article on every conceivable subject, then it's not worthy of being a wiki. Also, all the Allah ones were in calligraphic script.-- מְתֻרְגְּמָן וִיקִי ^{שְׁלֹום!}

Carny

Hi Edgerunner. I think you are a fine chap who will be a great asset to this site but ... can you tell me why you have created the article Carny? I don't know if you are aware, but we have a whole special section for humerous articles "ACD" as described here. On another point do you think you could also add a category to new articles when you create them? Please understand that you edits are more than welcome - but you may irritate people who have to subsequently either move or add categories to the articles you create. Cheers. --Bob^{bing up and down} 08:55, 6 September 2007 (CDT)

Thanks, I'll try to keep that in mind from now on.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 06:12, 7 September 2007 (CDT)

Cheers. Keep the faith. (Or rather don't) :-) --Bob^{bing up and down} 08:50, 7 September 2007 (CDT)

S*******

Swine: I'd never heard it before & now I wish I never had ;-) SJG^sjg 10:49, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

I love that it is associated with him. I hate him so much. I'm so embarassed that he represented my state. I partied hard last election night to his defeat.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 11:07, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

(Taking the liberty of de-ping ponging)

I'm kinda shocked that you didn't know that term. Sure it would be more well known here in the states, but he is just such a right-wing scumbag kook-job.--Edgerunner76 11:21, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

I'm a brit & didn't know about the guy. Having read wp on him I think he deserves a site of his own (anti-site that is). Truly nauseous! SJG^sjg 11:34, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

He was (still is?) google-bombed to have a site leading to the definition above his official U.S. Senate site. I assume that any one of the now multiple definition pages ranks higher than any of his possible 'official' pages.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 11:43, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

Yeah, that's the first ref I found - hence the asterisks above. Seriously though, he displays every trait that we're agin. A truly nasty man. SJG^sjg 11:49, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

It just shocks me. I live in Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh). He was a senator for this state (he wasn't MY senator)! PENNSYLVANIA! We're not talking about Kansas (i.e. Brownback) or Alabama here. He got elected in Pennsylvania. That scares me.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 12:01, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

Yinz a norsider?CЯacke® 13:39, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

I meant Pittsburgh in a slightly more general way, not the city itself per se. I'm from the TC Valley for the most part. I've lived in the West Mifflin-ish area at times though.--Edgerunner⁷⁶ 13:58, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

From a distance it seems that the US is going to the dogs. I don't know which worries me more; the right wing neofascists or the creationist whackjobs. When they're both the same it's really scary - all that power & no brains. Sorry to criticise your country but I think the next few generations worldwide are going to suffer because of it. SJG^sjg 12:12, 17 September 2007 (EDT)

RE: Real Richard

This is me: http://linuxintegrators.com/acoliver/blog/2007/03/27/x-0310.html Richard 08:31, 27 September 2007 (EDT)