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Any atheists in here?

As I stumbled upon the brotherhood of muslims in this thread, I got a little jealous of the unity they and other religious groups sometimes possess.
Since we atheists aren't a homogeneous group that have any words to follow, except maybe science and the neverending falsification-process of it, I would like to greet all those out there that only believe in the world as you sense it, and the physics behind it.
We don't have any books to follow, so here are 10 good old quotes for you:
1. “The civilized man has a moral obligation to be skeptical. . . . Any man who for one moment abandons or suspends the questioning spirit has for that moment betrayed humanity.” –Bergen Evens
2. The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike. -Delos B. McKown
3. Faith means not wanting to know what is true. -Friedrich Nietzsche
4. What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof. -Christopher Hitchens
5. Piety is implanted in human nature; it is deemed a sure refuge. To the growing child, that which falls from his elders' lips is a lesson that abides with him all his life. Monks in their cloisters and devotees in the mosques accept their creed just as a story is handed down from him who tells it, without distinguishing between a true interpreter and a false. If one of these had found his kin among the Magians, or among the Sabians, he would have declared himself a Magian, or among the Sabians he would have become nearly or quite like them. -Abu’l‐Ala al Ma’arri 973-1057
6. The doubter is a true man of science; he doubts only himself and his interpretations, but he believes in science. -Claude Bernard
7. I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it. -Mark Twain
8. A believer states everything must have a creator but fail to say how he was created. -Anonymous
9. The question before the human race is, whether the God of nature shall govern the world by his own laws, or whether priests and kings shall rule it by fictitious miracles? -John Adams 2nd president of the USA
10. But the great tragedy of Science - the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact - which is so constantly being enacted under the eyes of philosophers... -T.H. Huxley
Peace.

i consider "atheist" to be one who is not a believer in any of the religious movements out there. It's very possible for them to believe in a god, just not necessarily the god that anybody else subscribes to.
I fall into that category. I believe that the sun gives everything on earth life. Which it does, in one way or another.
And therefore i am cool. Yeah......

Agnostic?
I agree with Mike, partially, since in my humble and uninformed opinion the primary need for religion has always been fear of pain and death. I will disgree with Mike on the net benefit of religion, specially in the 21st century...
Here's another quote:
"I can live with doubt and uncertainty and not knowing. I think it is much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers that might be wrong." Richard Feynman
and another by a well known philosopher:
"Your're asking me who to follow. You're asking me who is right. Don't ask me. I don't know!" O. Osbourne

mikechannon said:
All of us have faith in some form or other. An atheist scientist has faith that science will produce all the answers (though there is no proof of that). In fact many scientists acknowledge that most theories (even once proven) are only true until another theory come along to show the first one wasn't quite right or did not apply in all situations.
Given virtually every civilisation that has ever existed has had some deity or other then scientifically speaking there must be a human need to have "faith". Furthermore, given nature preserves through the generations, only those things that aid survival, then faith must have a net benefit to survival rather as opposed to not having "faith".
Perhaps it is that humans, because they can think ahead, have a need to know that there is some overall purpose/reason for things. In other words that life is not just some purely accidental /random fluke of nature. Even if "faith" is a delusion therefore, it nevertheless prevents the alternative which would be a belief in the utter pointlessness of everything.
Mike
PS. This thread will only last as long as there is no discussion of specific religions. We all realise (or should do!) the sensitivities involved if we get into commenting on or arguing about peoples religious beliefs. For as long as there is respect perhaps there can be an academic chat. It may be that another Mod will close this thread as a religious debate and not appropriate even in off-topic.
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Thank you for a thoughtful response. I quite enjoyed reading it. As a follower of the scientific method, I can assure you that we will never find all the answers. Because we are so limited.
The last part (PS.->) I can somewhat agree with, but for peace sake only.
What religious person can claim rights over the religion they are part of? I find that offensive. (EDIT: in general life)
I grew up with a religion that I feel I have all the right to say and mean anything about. It's part of me, even though I don't believe in it.
I understand that there is a time and place for everything

I am of the view that religion (of any stripe) is a parasite on the humankind, taking advantage of our weaknesses and exploiting our strengths. Science is the antidote.
If there are any advantages they are incidental.
Surur

surur said:
I am of the view that religion (of any stripe) is a parasite on the humankind, taking advantage of our weaknesses and exploiting our strengths. Science is the antidote.
If there are any advantages they are incidental.
Surur
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The development of ethics and moral values that glues the societies together (even though the morals or ethics may be absurd) can have a very positive and stable effect on the way people interact.
Security. False in a bigger sense, true for the individual.
Other than that, with a grain of salt, I agree.
But I believe that humans are a parasite on the earth. And to be a parasite is not just a negative thing. We are what we are. All events has made us this way, and more will make us change or dissappear in time.

rhov23 said:
The development of ethics and moral values that glues the societies together (even though the morals or ethics may be absurd) can have a very positive and stable effect on the way people interact.
Security. False in a bigger sense, true for the individual.
Other than that, with a grain of salt, I agree.
But I also believe that humans are a parasite on the earth (hehe)
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Who says morals and ethics are tied to religion. They seem to arise from simple game theory - do onto others as you would have done to you did not need Jesus to say it.
Surur

surur said:
Who says morals and ethics are tied to religion. They seem to arise from simple game theory - do onto others as you would have done to you did not need Jesus to say it.
Surur
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I didn't say it was only tied to religion. Religion is made by people, and morals/ethics are therefor made by people. Religion is a way to get a social structure, control the masses, make them believe and behave.
Let's have a quote:
Religion is the opiate of the people. Karl Marx. And don't you DARE call me a communist

mikechannon said:
Well at one level I can agree. If by religion we mean that thing that is used as a reason to fight wars, or religion used by governments to control people.
However I don't agree if we mean religion as the thing that is about wanting to know the answers, particularly to the "big" questions. Or religion as the thing that gives comfort in times of stress etc.
That seems to me the biggest problem in talking about such matters. We would have to spend hours defining what bit or slant on religion we are taliking about.
I actually quite like fzzyrn's concept of believing in a God which is not necessarily the same as any other person believes in and not part of any mainstream religion. You see often I think when you hear scientists talking about the big unknowns and then hear religious leaders talking about the meaning of God it is quite easy to detect a lot of similar thinking between the two. Just for example religious people tend to talk about religion giving people generally and as individuals "a purpose". Just the other day I heard a scientist at the Hadron Collider talking about how discovery of fundamental particles would help us to see "the purpose" of life.
The quest it seems to me is the same and even the language can be the same. History actually shows that religions have lead the way in scientific research. It is only in recent times that science and religion have been seen as conflicting rather than opposite sides of the same coin.
Mike
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I agree with you, but not on the last part.
The large religions, change when they must, not when they should. And only when it comes to hard facts, like the earth rotates around the sun etc.
The fact is that religion changes only for selfpreservation, and not by logic. And what monster do we get then?

rhov23 said:
Religion is the opiate of the people. Karl Marx. And don't you DARE call me a communist
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There are legitimate uses of opiates that benefit everyone that is involved... banning them completely, because of specific types of abuses, would be a foolish move.
The same is true of religion.

psionandy said:
There are legitimate uses of opiates that benefit everyone that is involved... banning them completely, because of specific types of abuses, would be a foolish move.
The same is true of religion.
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Druggie!
Just kidding. Good point, but I never said that I was for a ban. I just want to tell those that are smart enough, that everything around us is connected.
You can't run cars on prayer. Or will someone prove me wrong?

can a free thinker leaning on atheism report in? lol

Baronic said:
can a free thinker leaning on atheism report in? lol
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Hi, welcome. You are now ready to be brainwashed. Please follow my directions closely, and send me $100.
No, really. If you don't send money you will die from old age!

Some quotes I've picked up. Sorry I have previously deleted most of the speakers/writers names-
Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror.^Voltaire
But that a camel-merchant should stir up insurrection in his village; that in league with some miserable followers he persuades them that he talks with the angel Gabriel; that he boasts of having been carried to heaven, where he received in part this unintelligible book, each page of which makes common sense shudder; that, to pay homage to this book, he delivers his country to iron and flame; that he cuts the throats of fathers and kidnaps daughters; that he gives to the defeated the choice of his religion or death: this is assuredly nothing any man can excuse, at least if he was not born a Turk, or if superstition has not extinguished all natural light in him.
If God has made us in his image, we have returned him the favor
To pray to God is to flatter oneself that with words one can alter nature.
It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
Our wise men have said that man was created in the image of God. Now here is a lovely image of the Divine Maker: a flat and black nose with little or hardly any intelligence.
God created sex. Priests created marriage.
God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.
All children are born Atheists; they have no idea of God.
Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and common sense.
If the ignorance of nature gave birth to Gods, the knowledge of nature is calculated to destroy them.
If we look back at the begining we shall find that ignorance and fear created the gods; that fancy, enthusiasm, or deceit adorned or disfigured them; that weakness worships them; that credulity preserves them; and that custom, respect and tyranny support them, in order to make the blindness of man serve their own interest.
Opinions have caused more ills than the plague or earthquakes on this little globe of ours.^Voltaire
They condemn what they do not understand.
The devil's greatest trick was convincing the world that God exists.
The best defense against logic is ignorance.
Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned.
Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?
I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting. But it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously.
All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated and well supported in logic and argument than others.
I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.
. . . imagine a puddle waking up one morning and thinking, 'This is an interesting world I find myself in, an interesting hole I find myself in, fits me rather neatly, doesn't it? In fact it fits me staggeringly well, must have been made to have me in it!
Never argue with an idiot, he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience
Reason is the antonym of Religion
Reason should be destroyed in all Christians^Martin Luther
Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived^Oscar Wilde
Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unitelligible propositions.
God "fashioned hell for the inquisitive"^St Augustine
Ideas must be distinct before reason can be acted upon them.^Thomas Jefferson
The only victimless crime is blasphemy
The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about
If there were no God, there would be no Atheists.

dane cook anyone....
the bible is going to get printed on you!!!!!!!!

hy
u realy donot have books to follow?
so who will u follow my friend?
people like u who may be right or may not?or people who wanted to be worshiped ? if u donot have a book to follow so u can't do anything except follow devils thoughts .. and who worship sun and earth??
who will be the defender of the earth if there is an asteroid come to it?
we should know that there is a creator to all the universe who is ALLAH and i hope i donot bother u friends with that but i know it's hard to be confinced as every one in every religon can't hear to the other and i hope u cud understand me but it's real
see that plz only look to it http://www.quran-miracle.com/
and this also http://www.quranmiracles.com/
and then tell me if islam is a fake religon as people say
thx for reading

MAZAR SCIENTIST said:
u realy donot have books to follow?
so who will u follow my friend?
people like u who may be right or may not?or people who wanted to be worshiped ? if u donot have a book to follow so u can't do anything except follow devils thoughts .. and who worship sun and earth??
who will be the defender of the earth if there is an asteroid come to it?
we should know that there is a creator to all the universe who is ALLAH and i hope i donot bother u friends with that but i know it's hard to be confinced as every one in every religon can't hear to the other and i hope u cud understand me but it's real
see that plz only look to it http://www.quran-miracle.com/
and this also http://www.quranmiracles.com/
and then tell me if islam is a fake religon as people say
thx for reading
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No God = No Devil
No Supernatural Defender = No Supernatural Attacker

MAZAR SCIENTIST said:
u realy donot have books to follow?
so who will u follow my friend?
people like u who may be right or may not?or people who wanted to be worshiped ? if u donot have a book to follow so u can't do anything except follow devils thoughts .. and who worship sun and earth??
who will be the defender of the earth if there is an asteroid come to it?
we should know that there is a creator to all the universe who is ALLAH and i hope i donot bother u friends with that but i know it's hard to be confinced as every one in every religon can't hear to the other and i hope u cud understand me but it's real
see that plz only look to it http://www.quran-miracle.com/
and this also http://www.quranmiracles.com/
and then tell me if islam is a fake religon as people say
thx for reading
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The Prophets, too, among us come to teach,
Are one with those who from the pulpit preach;
They pray, and slay, and pass away, and yet
Our ills are as the pebbles on the beach.
- Al-Ma'arri, أبو العلاء أحمد بن عبد الله بن سليمان التنوخي المعري
I hope you get well soon.

PLEASE stop using the the word “retard” in your posts.

[flame suit on][rant]
In 2011, why do people use the word “retard” to describe to describe stupidity? It is very offensive to people that have children with special needs. I have seen it more times in the Nook forum then all of the other areas on XDA. Try to remember that many people have loved ones with mental disabilities and it is very insulting to see the insensitive use of the slang term retard or retarded.
[/flame suit on][/rant]

painter_ said:
[flame suit on][rant]
In 2011, why do people use the word “retard” to describe to describe stupidity? It is very offensive to people that have children with special needs. I have seen it more times in the Nook forum then all of the other areas on XDA. Try to remember that many people have loved ones with mental disabilities and it is very insulting to see the insensitive use of the slang term retard or retarded.
[/flame suit on][/rant]
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Retard
From http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/retard
See 4 b. for the context used.
–verb (used with object)
1.
to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede.
–verb (used without object)
2.
to be delayed.
–noun
3.
a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine.
4.
Slang: Disparaging .
a.
a mentally retarded person.
b.
a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way: a hopeless social retard.
5.
Automotive, Machinery . an adjustment made in the setting of the distributor of an internal-combustion engine so that the spark for ignition in each cylinder is generated later in the cycle.
I understand that you may feel like you need to defend the rights of restards, but in my estimation, it isn't really necessary and you are just muddying the waters. People with mental handicaps don't own the word, and in fact from my perspective it seem that saying it can only be used as such is erroneous in the extreme. Political correctness is self-defeating and should be avoided. I personally hate it.
Be free or don't, political correctness is just a way of enslaving our speech and thought processes.
migrax

Our world is already WAY too PC, i don't need people telling me what to do on the internet. PC needs to die in a fire...

It's only a figure of speech. Lots of things are offensive but you can't rid them all.

Don't worry, I haven't used it and never will use it in an offensive way

Divine_Madcat said:
Our world is already WAY too PC, i don't need people telling me what to do on the internet. PC needs to die in a fire...
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It's not PC. It's simple human decency, which is too conspicuously absent on the internet. I'm surprised that this is too much to ask of anyone.
I'm with painter on this one.

I don't see the point. I have never and will never call a person with special needs a retard. Therefore, calling stupid people retard is not the same. In my head, when I use the word retard, I don't picture a mentally challenged person...I picture some dumbass who just tried to jump a bike onto a apartment building roof or tried to light his farts on fire but instead lit up their pants.

This just is a simple request because to some with children with special needs, this term is derogatory and hurtful. While this could be labeled PC or a defintion can be used to prove its proper use, using this as a derogatory term to define one's ignorance or stupidity, easily offends people with special needs children and many whom have worked with children with special needs, and that's a fact.
The very definition of using an identifying term negatively to generalize a specific group is stereotypical bigotry.
A person can choose to be insensitive by using this term or decide not to and that's fine. But many of us choose to be more sensitive to a very difficult and and challenging life situation, that often involves children, by not using the term and risk adding more harm or offending others. Especially when it involves children born with birth defects.
The op made a simple and kind request, you guys decide what to do.

The word has more than one meaning and is common. My advice, grow thicker skin. People with special needs kids have a lot more to worry about than a freaking word. If you let a simple word get under your skin and offend you then you have issues you need to deal with yourself.
I dont use it because people that do have always sounded really stupid to me. Just like stupid people that say "thats gay" all the damn time and overuse the word fag.

How does rere sound then?
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App

Im kind of border line on this one. I understand how people with disability children or loved ones could interpret this as a direct offense, but at the same time, it is essential to understand and realize that words like "retard" and "gay" have been adapted by societal culture to take on a completely different meaning then originally intended. I'm willing to put money on the estimation that 99.5% percent of the individuals who have/do use the word mean no disrespect to individuals with disabilities. To be completely honest, I've used the word in every day speech or online posts, am I proud that I support a word that is derived from mentally handicapped people? No. Have I ever once used it to purposely offend a disabled person any way shape or form or commented demeaningly on a mentally handicapped person? Absolutely not. My mother worked with mentally disabled children for many years and I know first hand that many of them are possibly the nicest people to ever live. Take it for what you will.

RileyGrant said:
Im kind of border line on this one. I understand how people with disability children or loved ones could interpret this as a direct offense, but at the same time, it is essential to understand and realize that words like "retard" and "gay" have been adapted by societal culture to take on a completely different meaning then originally intended. I'm willing to put money on the estimation that 99.5% percent of the individuals who have/do use the word mean no disrespect to individuals with disabilities. To be completely honest, I've used the word in every day speech or online posts, am I proud that I support a word that is derived from mentally handicapped people? No. Have I ever once used it to purposely offend a disabled person any way shape or form or commented demeaningly on a mentally handicapped person? Absolutely not. My mother worked with mentally disabled children for many years and I know first hand that many of them are possibly the nicest people to ever live. Take it for what you will.
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Nor have I even used the term to refer to a person that is anything other than a dumbass, come to think of it, I rarely use the word at all. But I stand on the principle that I can police myself without anyone telling me I have to conform to their ideas of stereotypes, I simply resist that with great resolve.
I agree that some take offense at the word, and I also would suppose that it is their problem, and they can simply not read if they are offended.
That I care to contribute should be taken with the appreciation that I know how to be diplomatic, but I don't like people that tell me that I have to worry about offending someone who doesn't even read these forums. It is an empty argument and serves only to stifle the free exchange of ideas.
I register my approval by participating in the conversation, I register my disapproval by not participating. It really is that simple.
migrax

I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY PUT UP A THREAD ABOUT THIS. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO GET A SIMILAR CONCERN OFF MY CHEST FOR A LONG WHILE... COULD WE ALL STOP USING THE WORD NOOB? I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE JUST TOSS IT AROUND LIKE IT'S NOTHING WHEN IN FACT, BASED ON A THROUGH READING OF SEVERAL WIKIPEDIA ARTICLES, IT TURNS OUT ITS SOME SORT OF DEROGATORY SLANG USED TO DESCRIBE A PERSON OF LIMITED COMPUTING SKILLS. SURE, I MIGHT NOT BE A COMputer genius, but i am far from a noob. i've helped people with all sorts of computer problems, even stuff that geek squad couldn't fix (turns out it wasn't a wireless mouse until after the cat got to it). so yeAH IF WE COULD JUST PUT AN END TO ALL OF THAT NAME CA LLING THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO IMPORTANT STUFF AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY NOOK WONT TURN ON AFTER A CLEAN FORMAT OF THE BOOT PARTITION.

findmike said:
I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY PUT UP A THREAD ABOUT THIS. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO GET A SIMILAR CONCERN OFF MY CHEST FOR A LONG WHILE... COULD WE ALL STOP USING THE WORD NOOB? I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE JUST TOSS IT AROUND LIKE IT'S NOTHING WHEN IN FACT, BASED ON A THROUGH READING OF SEVERAL WIKIPEDIA ARTICLES, IT TURNS OUT ITS SOME SORT OF DEROGATORY SLANG USED TO DESCRIBE A PERSON OF LIMITED COMPUTING SKILLS. SURE, I MIGHT NOT BE A COMputer genius, but i am far from a noob. i've helped people with all sorts of computer problems, even stuff that geek squad couldn't fix (turns out it wasn't a wireless mouse until after the cat got to it). so yeAH IF WE COULD JUST PUT AN END TO ALL OF THAT NAME CA LLING THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO IMPORTANT STUFF AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY NOOK WONT TURN ON AFTER A CLEAN FORMAT OF THE BOOT PARTITION.
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As if to emphasize.
migrax

findmike said:
I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY PUT UP A THREAD ABOUT THIS. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO GET A SIMILAR CONCERN OFF MY CHEST FOR A LONG WHILE... COULD WE ALL STOP USING THE WORD NOOB? I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE JUST TOSS IT AROUND LIKE IT'S NOTHING WHEN IN FACT, BASED ON A THROUGH READING OF SEVERAL WIKIPEDIA ARTICLES, IT TURNS OUT ITS SOME SORT OF DEROGATORY SLANG USED TO DESCRIBE A PERSON OF LIMITED COMPUTING SKILLS. SURE, I MIGHT NOT BE A COMputer genius, but i am far from a noob. i've helped people with all sorts of computer problems, even stuff that geek squad couldn't fix (turns out it wasn't a wireless mouse until after the cat got to it). so yeAH IF WE COULD JUST PUT AN END TO ALL OF THAT NAME CA LLING THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO IMPORTANT STUFF AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY NOOK WONT TURN ON AFTER A CLEAN FORMAT OF THE BOOT PARTITION.
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Dear findmike,
If you locate the caps lock key on your keyboard, and disengage it, people might be less inclined to say things like that.
And yes, it is a shortened term for "newbie" to refer to someone new to something. If you are a newb, it means you are new and learning. It's not a derogatory term. If you are a n00b or noob, it means you don't pay attention to existing information given, and ask questions in a demanding manner.

So to summarise no-one means any disrespect to mentally handicapped individuals, most of us can understand and respect the sentiment presented in the OP, and tbh it's not even one of the more useful or important words in our vocabularies. It can stop right there. There's no need to insist on other people growing thicker skins or to ask them to not complain. That's how antisocial people maintain their power, by bullying others into conforming to their wishes and preferences eg. by portraying other positions as being unmanly, cowardly, over-sensitive; by casting other's feelings as being illegitimate; by treating other's wishes as being terrible and unreasonable impositions; etc. No-one here is truly antisocial. Everyone here should be able to appreciate the value of us being able to speak out about things that bother us without fearing summary dismissal or or outright disrespect. It's crucial to a healthy and working group environment.
peace

Now HERE is something disrespectful
comedy gold though.
also see here

rckymtnrfc said:
I don't see the point. I have never and will never call a person with special needs a retard. Therefore, calling stupid people retard is not the same. In my head, when I use the word retard, I don't picture a mentally challenged person...I picture some dumbass who just tried to jump a bike onto a apartment building roof or tried to light his farts on fire but instead lit up their pants.
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Example:
Sarah Palin is a retard.
Trig is a beautiful child of God with special needs.

dsf3g said:
Example:
Sarah Palin is a retard.
Trig is a beautiful child of God with special needs.
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I happen to like Sarah Palin for the most part. But this really made me lol.
The PC thing is causing a nation of wimps. My sister in-law is a 34yr old special needs woman. This does not keep my wife and I from calling each other retards as a term of endearment. We also call each other and the kids dufusses. So maybe when you are called a retard, they are really saying they love you.

painter_ said:
[flame suit on][rant]
In 2011, why do people use the word “retard” to describe to describe stupidity? It is very offensive to people that have children with special needs. I have seen it more times in the Nook forum then all of the other areas on XDA. Try to remember that many people have loved ones with mental disabilities and it is very insulting to see the insensitive use of the slang term retard or retarded.
[/flame suit on][/rant]
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Oh god, we all have to go to sensitivity classes now. This is nonsense.

Bringing out the worst in me...

Alrighty then, what brings out the worst in oneself?
For me, it is boredom. When I'm bored, I transform into a malevolent being capable of endless joy and humour.
At others' expense.

People asking ridiculous questions on this forum really grinds my gears.

Lane discipline on islands, bad drivers in general.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

mercianary said:
Lane discipline on islands, bad drivers in general.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
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+over 9000
I HATE middle-lane drivers and people cutting across roundabout lanes when I'm trying to turn right.

People, in general.
Not the like-minded ones who gravitate to the same hang-out spots that i do, just the 99.9% general public/hoi-poloi/great unwashed masses, who share nothing except their inability to raise their average IQ's above that of a Tapeworm.

DirkGently1 said:
People, in general.
Not the like-minded ones who gravitate to the same hang-out spots that i do, just the 99.9% general public/hoi-poloi/great unwashed masses, who share nothing except their inability to raise their average IQ's above that of a Tampon.
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I corrected that for you

johncmolyneux said:
+over 9000
I HATE middle-aged drivers and people cutting across lanes when I'm trying to turn.
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FTFM. Now that you know how I drive...

Spam from the dead!
-We do what we must because we can; for the good of all of us, except the ones who are dead-

Holy Necro-Thread Batman!
I was about to post that it was a good idea for a thread..
..and then realised it was. 3 months ago!
I don't even remember posting in it before. Second bite at the apple... i would still say that people being dumb grinds my gears. It's got nothing to do with education. You can teach a monkey to solve puzzles. I'm not impressed by qualifications. Any idiot can memorise a bunch of stuff, regurgitate it in an exam and get 'qualified'.
I respect people for having original thoughts of their own. For being creative. Isaac Newton realised that contemporary Math wasn't cutting it.. so he invented Trigonometry. INVENTED it. I can barely spell it! Of course, while he was mostly focused on turning Lead into Gold, he somehow found the time to discover Gravity and come up with the Laws of Motion.
The highly qualified people is see at work every day are chemical Engineers and even Doctors. I sometimes wonder how some of them even manage to tie their own shoe-lace some days. Most of them are as clever as a block of cheese.
There's no excuse for being dumb. If you feel that perhaps you are dumb? Pick up some books! You've got one lifetime to find out as much as you can about the universe. Don't you feel the clock ticking...?

I can read minds, doesn't that make sense?
It's uncanny how you can sum up my frustrations into one rant. And somehow you managed to remove the swearing I would have incorporated into it as well!
-We do what we must because we can; for the good of all of us, except the ones who are dead-

I_am_Error said:
I can read minds, doesn't that make sense?
It's uncanny how you can sum up my frustrations into one rant. And somehow you managed to remove the swearing I would have incorporated into it as well!
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It took an extra five minutes to edit out the swearies..!
Seriously though, i've been around people of all walks of life. There are two individuals that spring to mind. One was a Tree Surgeon, (arborist), and the other was a common labourer...same as i was. The former was my age, my level of 'education', and even in my line of work.. but man did he make me think. He questioned everything, (same as i did), but the conversations we had would go on forever. "If i kicked out the door-stop...", one conversation went.. "where does the energy go when the door slams shut?", he asked. That one went on for hours!
Bearing in mind that this this was a fit, popular guy with a stunning girlfriend and a career in manual labour. He was a wealth of knowledge about Cetaceans, and most anything about the animal kingdom. He taught me that i still had a lot to learn myself! It wasn't the fact that this stuff even crossed his mind that surprised me.. it was that he questioned everything. It was that curiosity that made him awesome. You could see that behind his eyes were cogs that were always turning. Someone else with a thirst for knowledge!
The other example was a kid i knew who was trying to earn a bit of cash-in-hand, doing the hard labour on a day-rate. We'd chat while we worked and we'd get into the deeper discussions of Evolutionary Psychology, for example. Told well, maybe some students will listen... of those, some might even understand the subject matter. Of those who understand, you might find a few who could go one step further and add something novel to the conversation.. come up with an original suggestion or two of their own. So here's a 17 year old kid who having never even thought about it before is suddenly discussing the subject with me like a pro! Not only discussing it, but taking it places even i hadn't thought of. He's making me re-think my own beliefs!
That is insight! That is the same flexibility of mind that led the great thinkers of our time to advance science, not only in small steps, but in giant leaps! Few have that ability..and when it comes, it's often from the most unexpected places! Einstein was a Patent Clerk, for instance. Ok, he was a Math prodigy too, but i bet he didn't waste his free time watching reality TV shows!
If only a fraction of the people in the world were allowed to reach their potential, we'd be in the midst of a second Renaissance right now. Instead, we're held back as a race by short-sightedness, inertia, dogma..and an unforgivable amount of ignorance!
*And that, Ladies and germs, will have to be my rant for the night! I'm sure it could have been a better read, but i'm not one of those who will advance human knowledge in any significant way. One of you you could be though...if you could just get off of your fat, lazy arses first!

DirkGently said:
Holy Necro-Thread Batman!
I was about to post that it was a good idea for a thread..
..and then realised it was. 3 months ago!
I don't even remember posting in it before. Second bite at the apple... i would still say that people being dumb grinds my gears. It's got nothing to do with education. You can teach a monkey to solve puzzles. I'm not impressed by qualifications. Any idiot can memorise a bunch of stuff, regurgitate it in an exam and get 'qualified'.
I respect people for having original thoughts of their own. For being creative. Isaac Newton realised that contemporary Math wasn't cutting it.. so he invented Trigonometry. INVENTED it. I can barely spell it! Of course, while he was mostly focused on turning Lead into Gold, he somehow found the time to discover Gravity and come up with the Laws of Motion.
The highly qualified people is see at work every day are chemical Engineers and even Doctors. I sometimes wonder how some of them even manage to tie their own shoe-lace some days. Most of them are as clever as a block of cheese.
There's no excuse for being dumb. If you feel that perhaps you are dumb? Pick up some books! You've got one lifetime to find out as much as you can about the universe. Don't you feel the clock ticking...?
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Man, thats's all WAAAAAY to serious for the OT forum

the_scotsman said:
Man, thats's all WAAAAAY to serious for the OT forum
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What blasphemy is this? Most people in ot that I converse with tend to be far more serious than most people out of OT OT iz sruz bidness. Don't belittle us lol jk
-We do what we must because we can; for the good of all of us, except the ones who are dead-

Lulz, how did my drunken rambles end up in here
Anyway, that's a few million more of my own brain cells successfully killed off. Or at least that's how it feels this morning!

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge for XDA members!!

The Rules Are Simple:
After being nominated by someone here on XDA you have 24 hours to:
1) Video yourself being drenched with freezing ice water
2) Nominate 3 more XDA members to do the same
3) Post the video in this thread
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Be Sure to inform those who you nominated right away!!!!!!
If you do not complete the requirements outlined above you are to donate $100 in support of finding the cure, more info here:
ALS Association - Ice Bucket Challenge
The first challenge is put forth by me @demkantor
and nominating
@HTCDreamOn
@shimp208
@Judge Joseph Dredd
you guys have 24 hours!!!!!
1st XDA ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Honored to be nominated @demkantor if I was already nominated to do it by one of my friends should I just post that video here and nominate other people? Hate to break the chain, either way I'll be donating more money to this great cause !

I don't know if this is a good idea...............
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 1520

shimp208 said:
Honored to be nominated @demkantor if I was already nominated to do it by one of my friends should I just post that video here and nominate other people? Hate to break the chain, either way I'll be donating more money to this great cause !
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Well I did two separate videos, one with friends and now this one with just XDA members nominated... So I say you get two!

404-Not Found said:
I don't know if this is a good idea...............
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 1520
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I have a feeling you will be in the short list for nominations..........

Good thing nobody knows me here so I won't get nominated.
Although I'm not saying I don't wanna get nominated.
Sent from my Moto G using Tapatalk

No.
Even 9gag is sending me these videos now (oh god, that last one It's going to take months to get that image out of my head! Thank you for that 9gag -.- ), don't make me watch more people who don't know what ALS is pretend they care.

ShadowLea said:
No.
Even 9gag is sending me these videos now (oh god, that last one It's going to take months to get that image out of my head! Thank you for that 9gag -.- ), don't make me watch more people who don't know what ALS is pretend they care.
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Really surprised about the animosity and judgments I'm hearing about this, not necessarily you but also on another thread. Not wanting to see more videos is one thing but assuming someone doesn't understand the purpose or are just pretending to care.... Eh don't feel like ranting...

demkantor said:
Really surprised about the animosity and judgments I'm hearing about this, not necessarily you but also on another thread. Not wanting to see more videos is one thing but assuming someone doesn't understand the purpose or are just pretending to care.... Eh don't feel like ranting...
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It's not so much an assumption as actual experience. The mother of one of my classmates had ALS. (she passed away a few yars ago) I know what ALS is in both the personal and medical sense.
As such, it is utterly distasteful how people are using this as an excuse to put videos of themselves on the internet in a vain attempt to gather attention.
The idea of the campaign is to raise awareness. I guarantee you 90% has not even bothered to Google what ALS really is.
At least the famous lot actually donates. The superficial idiots on Facebook don't even bother to do that. This is merely another 'look at me!' hype. Nothing more, regardless of the wonderful intentions of the few who do actually know and care.
I have seen some brilliant ones from people who do know what ALS is. Sadly, the majority is using a good cause to gather attention to themselves, and that is insulting.

ShadowLea said:
It's not so much an assumption as actual experience. The mother of one of my classmates had ALS. (she passed away a few yars ago) I know what ALS is in both the personal and medical sense.
As such, it is utterly distasteful how people are using this as an excuse to put videos of themselves on the internet in a vain attempt to gather attention.
The idea of the campaign is to raise awareness. I guarantee you 90% has not even bothered to Google what ALS really is.
At least the famous lot actually donates. The superficial idiots on Facebook don't even bother to do that. This is merely another 'look at me!' hype. Nothing more, regardless of the wonderful intentions of the few who do actually know and care.
I have seen some brilliant ones from people who do know what ALS is. Sadly, the majority is using a good cause to gather attention to themselves, and that is insulting.
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Look if your trying to say we don't Google stuff before we're dumping ice cold water then your damn wrong. In case you don't notice it many people do donate and throw ice cold water at themselves. Maybe some people can't afford to donate but atleast they can spread awareness by posting these videos. I bet nobody knew what ALS was until this trend came along and everybody searched what ALS is.
Sent from my Moto G using Tapatalk

ironman38102 said:
Look if your trying to say we don't Google stuff before we're dumping ice cold water then your damn wrong. In case you don't notice it many people do donate and throw ice cold water at themselves. Maybe some people can't afford to donate but atleast they can spread awareness by posting these videos. I bet nobody knew what ALS was until this trend came along and everybody searched what ALS is.
Sent from my Moto G using Tapatalk
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She wasn't saying "nobody Googled it and therefore everyone is doing it for attention". She's saying that there's a hell of a lot of people out there who have done just that. I completely agree.
Out of everyone who I personally know, I'd say that around 90% have done the ice bucket challenge. Out of that 90%, there's around 20% (not exact but an educated guess) who have no idea what this challenge is even for. I know that because they've clearly said, either in the video or in comments after making the video, that they don't know why everyone is suddenly doing this but it seems like fun so they'll join in.
While that could be a sign that a lot of the people who I know clearly have no idea about such things and that everyone else knows the reasons behind this challenge, I've seen a lot of people across the internet stating the exact same that I am now. That shows that there's way too many people who are simply doing this challenge purely for attention as they have no idea that this is for ALS or even what ALS is.
Even though I initially didn't know what ALS was, I did know what MND was. After researching the reason behind this challenge, I then noticed that these are just different names for the same disease and therefore actually knew how serious ALS/MND can be.
A few people on Facebook have nominated me to do it and, while it may seem harsh, I've declined because of the fact that everyone I know has either done this challenge or at least knows about it. Therefore, me doing it and sharing it with those who I know will not raise awareness.
Even though I'm not currently in a position to donate to ALS/MND, I likely would if I was able to.
My apologies if this came across as confrontational as that wasn't my aim - I just wanted to get my point across

Again, not trying to single anyone out but showing disdain for everyone doing this challenge is a bit absurd. I only heard about it a few weeks back and being I don't use Facebook I wasn't nominated until I posted this video where I had found out how big it has really gotten.
I usually don't partake in internet fads for many reasons no matter the cause, but I saw how well this was working, they raised something like two million last year without the ice water stunt and this year its over $50 million. Also knowing someone personally myself I figured I would continue the love
Yes I only donated 10$ and I would have liked to think I would have given a bigger donation but the wife and I had our first child 2 weeks ago and we are now on a budget.
So being this stunt is working and even if the majority don't donate or post videos for the wrong reasons it still spreads the word which to me is better than nothing at all
Again my complaint isn't that someone doesn't partake or doesn't donate, its when I see broad conclusions made about those doing this and then openly mocking them or judging them to be superficial assholes, although some certainly are after watching a few videos posted.
But in the end it was my mistake to use XDA as a social media outlet for non development related anything as what I have seen this won't continue as I thought it might. I guess I'll have to dust off the old MySpace account or whatever people use nowadays (anyone remember friendster?)
[/rant]

demkantor said:
Again, not trying to single anyone out but showing disdain for everyone doing this challenge is a bit absurd. I only heard about it a few weeks back and being I don't use Facebook I wasn't nominated until I posted this video where I had found out how big it has really gotten.
I usually don't partake in internet fads for many reasons no matter the cause, but I saw how well this was working, they raised something like two million last year without the ice water stunt and this year its over $50 million. Also knowing someone personally myself I figured I would continue the love
Yes I only donated 10$ and I would have liked to think I would have given a bigger donation but the wife and I had our first child 2 weeks ago and we are now on a budget.
So being this stunt is working and even if the majority don't donate or post videos for the wrong reasons it still spreads the word which to me is better than nothing at all
Again my complaint isn't that someone doesn't partake or doesn't donate, its when I see broad conclusions made about those doing this and then openly mocking them or judging them to be superficial assholes, although some certainly are after watching a few videos posted.
But in the end it was my mistake to use XDA as a social media outlet for non development related anything as what I have seen this won't continue as I thought it might. I guess I'll have to dust off the old MySpace account or whatever people use nowadays (anyone remember friendster?)
[/rant]
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You've misread our posts. We're not showing disdain for nor mocking everyone.
Only the majority that are using thia as just another harlem-shake-planking-hype.

ShadowLea said:
You've misread our posts. We're not showing disdain for nor mocking everyone.
Only the majority that are using thia as just another harlem-shake-planking-hype.
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Fair enough, my finger isn't close to the pulse of social media campaigns so I wasn't aware how much this sort of thing was disliked
If all this thread turns out to be is complaints about Facebook or whatever I guess I'll just close it as I obviously didn't understand what people thought about this sort of thing.
No hard feelings

demkantor said:
Fair enough, my finger isn't close to the pulse of social media campaigns so I wasn't aware how much this sort of thing was disliked
If all this thread turns out to be is complaints about Facebook or whatever I guess I'll just close it as I obviously didn't understand what people thought about this sort of thing.
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There's always two sides to these things, the people who think it's great, and the people who hate social media hypes for their shallowness. Oh, and everyone else, who get tired of seeing the same thing every day for weeks.
No hard feelings
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None given, none taken
Luckily, at least today my Facebook will be so overflooded with news about the Emmy awards that these videos don't stand a chance.

Thread Cleaned and back to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge....Thanks.

If you think the entire world turns around you, you are crazy. It turns around me and my very huge modesty. ROTFLMAO

Well, let us begin.....if you may pass around, the virgin's blood, the black candles and the tongue of a dead man whom killed himself.....Woopsy doopsy! Another forum...sorry, my bad.
;-)
I don't like to talk much about myself, least of all in an internet forum.
But fair is fair, and I am asked to introduce myself.
So I'll make an effort, without guaranteeing any results.
I'm in my middle forties.
I'm sitting on my bed while I write this.
Be right back: nature calls, and she's a batch.
Back, and I seem to weigh a little less now.
I feel light as Trump's head.
So, coming back to me, myself and I: I always loved computers, although I never quite understood them very much. Some claim that I know a lot about computers.....but this opinion is only shared by those who know absolutely nothing about them, and see them as entities which could eat them alive if they pressed the "wrong button". I know better: I have a limited knowledge regarding computers, but I do possess an endless curiosity, and I always seem to find somebody whom is kind enough as to give me her/his time to teach me, or help me out of deep shi-t when I, very rarely!, take a path that I know nothing about and "boldly go seeking where no one has sought before"......
As you already know by now, I love Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Thrillers and Terror; this in all medias: movies, series, graphic novels, comics, mangas, animations, books.....
I love to row, ski, practice volleyball and rugby, ride a bike and a horse, run, go rollerskating and ice skating, swimming and climbing.
I also write a lot, but nothing's been published so far. I happen to read way more than I write though.
I spent seven years in a wheelchair/using crutches, and now I am riding bikes again....it feels like the first time I rode one, when I was a child.
Let us simply say I come a long way to where, and when, I stand today.
I may not be of a lot of help to you, because my knowledge is really limited. Now. But, with your kind help, it will come a day when I will be able to give my helping hand to others in these matters as well as some others.
Looking forward to keep in touch with you all.
Live long and prosper, from Geneva, Switzerland.
(To your questions: YES, I love chocolate; YES, I love cheese; YES, I love watches and have half a dozen of them, several of which I repaired myself (and one I broke on my own too, for being an arrogant moron); YES, I love mountains: so, if you leave aside that I don't love banks, the swiss stereotype is fully fulfilled--well, I could love a bank if I owned one, but that not being the case.......)
PS: "Aexis" is not a typo error nor a choice because other names (Alexis, for instance) were already taken: it is my real name. And Tenax is my last name, after I chose to change the one I was sadly born with: for those of you whom don't know Latin, "Tenax" means "Tenacious" (as in "Tenacious D", the movies and the music). Modesty is not one of my defects, neither is arrogance.
Ah, my sense of humour is not shared by many: I am absolutely crazy about Monty Python, Chaplin, Buster Keaton, the Three Stooges, the animated original series of the Pink Panther (and I bought the entire DVD collection), Mr Bean, Not the Nine o'Clock News, Fry and Laurie, Red Dwarf and sooooooooooooooo many others. I even have a t-shirt that says: "I speak fluent sarcasm", to make things clearier for those with an impaired or atrophied sense of humour.
If you read until here, thanks for your time, and hope to "see" you soon!

Hi Tenacious Alexis!
Ahh, madness: the best way to make friends. Allow me to shamelessly pull this out of context:
aexistenax said:
I am absolutely crazy
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It's been a pleasure to read your introduction. I have a T-shirt that has "I have six words for you" on it, what a blissful moment when they ask me what they are. Yes, T-shirts truly mark our sense of humour. Honest feedback: "it will come a day" may be the reason you haven't been published yet Great to read about your recovery, must've been quite the rocky road. Let's try not to circumvent the swear filters, it's a nice place here Oh and let's not make things political because there's no end to that and this place is all about our universal love for tech. Hey, I also have a Swiss watch, a MyKronoz ZeTime. Its quality is indeed quite remarkable! Anyway, I'll keep it short. Pleased to meet you.

Timmmmaaahh! said:
Hi Tenacious Alexis!
Ahh, madness: the best way to make friends. Allow me to shamelessly pull this out of context:
It's been a pleasure to read your introduction. I have a T-shirt that has "I have six words for you" on it, what a blissful moment when they ask me what they are. Yes, T-shirts truly mark our sense of humour. Honest feedback: "it will come a day" may be the reason you haven't been published yet Great to read about your recovery, must've been quite the rocky road. Let's try not to circumvent the swear filters, it's a nice place here Oh and let's not make things political because there's no end to that and this place is all about our universal love for tech. Hey, I also have a Swiss watch, a MyKronoz ZeTime. Its quality is indeed quite remarkable! Anyway, I'll keep it short. Pleased to meet you.
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Thanks for the warm welcome, and my apologies for "breaking the rules" regarding politics and"swearing". I was, as you realized, kind of testing the limits.....but I'll fall inline from now on.
Well, most of the time at least.
Ok, many times.
Alright, make it a few times.
Or two.
Or one.
;-)
Ok. I'll try my best (not) to misbehave.
You can quote me on that last line out of context as well......
Silly though, I'd have loved to know what your answer is to those asking naively "which are the six words you have for me?". I bet my soul that the censorship for the swearing would not let you write that answer here.....Nope, scratch that: I already sold my soul, so I can't bet on it anymore.....
;-)

aexistenax said:
I'll misbehave.
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Gotcha! Oh don't worry about it, you were merely bending them a bit. We appreciate some passion in the conversatios around here.
As for how I respond to that question: I just stare at them in silence for a bit, they usually figure it out. If they really don't get there I start tapping the words one by one.