Witchcraft and the like.

Chagen

His post has the implicit idea of wiping out prayer. Something that could only be done through wiping out religion entirely.

Gelzo

You know it's possible to have a religion that doesn't acknowledge prayer.

Chagen

Except all prayer involves religion. It's a religious act by definition.

Radd

You do realize that your whole reasoning is because you don't like it, right?

AHR

Gelzo...you're kinda being a bit of a dick, here. I get that religion ain't science, and that most of what is done is pure placebo, but no need to go on about how certain things are more convenient. I don't really think Chagy or Radd are putting up good arguments, but that doesn't mean you should get away with sentiments like that.

Gelzo

Now I'm not sure exactly what you guys are referring to.

AHR

I don't mind being boring if it means having a more accurate understanding of the world.

It implies a holier than thou attitude.

All Nines

-hops into thread-

"Except all prayer involves religion. It's a religious act by definition."

Rectangles and squares, Chagen. You've missed his point, just a tad.

Though I don't particularly like how Gelzo is arguing his point.

-leaves thread-

Gelzo

Well, I believe what I believe makes for a more accurate understanding of reality. That's why I have those beliefs. If I didn't think that, I'd have different beliefs, and believe the same thing about those. I'm making arguments from my perspective.

I don't really see how this is dickish or even any different from anyone else.

But anyway, my main point in that post was that fear of seeming "boring" doesn't mean you shouldn't think a certain way.

AHR

Because by saying your beliefs give you a more accurate understanding of reality makes for a rather arrogant statement.

If you don't get it, try flipping it. An evangelist says that they believe what they believe because it gives them a higher understanding of reality, and go on to talk about how they feel that believing in other stuff is just bullshitty.

If you don't see it, fine, but I'm not very religious in the slightest, and I see it, and Everest also said he felt you were arguing this the wrong way, so please try and examine this from a different angle.

Gelzo

Well, if those beliefs were true, which from his perspective is the case, then he'd be right. That's just what it means to believe something is true, right?

If I have reason to think X is false and say that I think that's the case, I don't think that makes me arrogant regardless of what X is.

I don't really see what's upsetting people here, unless it's that I'm not being politically correct or agnostic enough. That's not the case, is it?

AHR

Do not skirt around the point by trying to make yourself appear neutral. I do not care what your content is, that is not what makes you appear arrogant/dickish. It is the execution.

Gelzo

Okay then, so I think it's to the point where I can use this without feeling bad about it.

Heh, how fun.

AHR

--sigh-- as you wish. -_-

Gelzo

Heh, okay, maybe I'll be nice and rephrase that image macro.

I don't think I should have to go out of my way to use gentle language. As far as I can tell, this isn't a forum/group that frowns on informal posts. If there's no objectionable content and I'm not insulting anyone, I don't see the problem.

AHR

Oh, I get it. You're like Guitar Bizarre. Sorry, didn't realize.

Gelzo

Not sure if insult.

glennmagusharvey

Gelzo, you should be choosing your words not intentionally to soothe but rather to help keep a topic from being derailed.

Anyway, I'm still disappointed no one else is engaging in this meme.

Radd

I can't think of anything to do it on.

DYRE

Isn't reposting modified forms of the OP more of a derail (and surely more of a forced derail) than having an argument about something related to the contents of the OP?

Gelzo

^^^To me, your reasoning seems to suggest that those who derailed are more at fault.

ClockworkUniverse

^^^^Like I said, I tried one but couldn't make it work.

Radd

^^^It's a better derail, though.

Vorpy

Oh, I get it. You're like Guitar Bizarre.

Except he's not? I'd take 9050  Gelzos over 1 Guitar Bizarre.

glennmagusharvey

well, the thread is kinda about this topic and kinda about the meme.

If you want I can move my future meme posts to another thread.

AHR

Vorpy: Perhaps. But a similar attitude is still a similar attitude. 

DYRE

^^ I don't particularly care either way, but it does seem strange to suggest Gelzo's posts are attempting to derail the conversation while yours aren't.

Vorpy

Today, while buying a Fan romhack on Pokemon Red, the person in front of me--who, through hearing her talk with the cashier, was a college student--was buying walkthroughs on Pokemon Black and White.

I cannot fathom for the life of me, why anyone would ever want to get into the 4th or 5th gen, or anything similar. It's utterly retarded, stupid, completely insane, and a waste of time.

This is not my Nostalgic side speaking. This is my rationalist side. Because Lugia/Kyogre/Reshiram/Arceus/Whatever the fuck doesn't not exist. There are not other legendaries around. You cannot change yourself from a stupid idiot who plays this crap into a badass. You cannot influence other people in the slightest. Not to mention that most of these "Dual Battles" break the Second Law of Original Competitive Battling. Any effects you see are placebo effects your dumbass mind created because you can't take the two seconds to rationally think and realize that it's all ekans-oil. And that you're an idiot.

If this "Tier Based Balanced" existed, then why is there no scientific review of it? And I mean respected, peer-reviewed research. Not stuff you and your friends did to prove that "Balance amongst Rares and Legendaries" exists. Sorry, it doesn't. We have Mewtwo, sure. But that's it.

I, of course, did not say this to this woman, because I didn't want to get into an argument and ruin the mood of the other shoppers. I instead focused on the frickin' huge Gameboy Classic nearby.

DYRE

Now I'm imagining a bunch of scientists getting together to analyze Pokemon's balance.  This amuses me.

All Nines

Today, while buying a monster manual, the woman in front of me--who, hearing them talking with the cashier, was a roleplayer--was making a two-weapon-fighter for her next D&D campaign.

I cannot fathom for the life of me, why anyone would want to get into two-weapon fighting, or something similar. It's utterly retarded, stupid, completely insane, and a waste of time.

This is not my leap-attack-shock-trooper-fighter side speaking. This is my rationalist side. Because two-weapon fighting/sword and shield/whatever is suboptimal. There is no such thing as an optimized two-weapon fighter. You can not change yourself from a stupid idiot who uses this crappy build into a viable melee fighter. There is no benefit. Not to mention that most of these "interesting characters" break the flow of the game with all their attack rolls. Any advantages or neat features you see are placebo effects your dumbass mind created because you can't take the two seconds to rationally think and realize it's all snake-oil. And that you're an idiot.

And if this build was worth a shit, then why does no one argue for it in favor of two-handed weapons? And I mean respected, peer-reviewed arguments. Not stuff you and your friends did to prove "good two-weapon fighters" exist. Sorry, they don't. There's some neat flavor, sure. But that's it.

I, of course, did not say this to this woman, because I didn't want to get into an argument an ruin the mood of the other shoppers. I instead focused on the frickin' huge white dragon miniature nearby.