Can we have a Wanker's Corner?

[onebatmother]

Hello.

It's been noted in the past that there are some pretentious wankers amongst us who like to discuss some general subjects (eg.Porn, Religion) in a fairly, erm.. academic manner, and that this sometimes seems to intimidate and/or infuriate other posters.

There doesn't seem to be an easy solution to this problem: there's no doubt that people really do feel intimidated and that it might prevent them from posting on a subject that concerns them. It also must feel hijack-y at times.

At the same time, it's hard for the Wanker's to be told that they mustn't post anything that might intimidate.

Would it be possible to have a special place, with very hard chairs to keep us awake, that we may call our own?

Have a lovely holiday.

snot at zut alors. if i don't slip that into conversation I'll eat my chapeau.

No internet in france - tant pis.

or revwor mezamee

Stop. Posting. On. Porn. Thread. And. Go. On. Holiday.

alright pol darling. off to bed right now for 3am start. see you when back x

3am? Crikey. Is this to drive to the ferry?

I used to love middle-of-the-night starts to holidays - getting a taxi to Gatwick at 4am and getting there in time for a slap-up breakfast. Mind you, that was when I was about 10 and my parents were paying.

yes, Gatwick! it's a loooong way from Walthamstow.. x

Can we talk about free will please. I thought Iorek's post about the cultural determinants of religion was interesting - but as she says, does that mean that all cultural preferences are somehow predetermined?

And if being religious is not a matter of free choice then is it reasonable for the state to provide education based on religious persuasion or do we think that the state should be purely secular?

Actually I think there are quite a few namechangers in here. But feel free!

I'm interested PW but a bit distracted by RL and dd's fairy/superhero party..

Also where is the original thread?

Re the issue of whether free will is involved in believing/not believing in God. I think belief is a feeling and free-will isn't employed. But in reaching a conclusion as to whether or not I truly believe, I have exercised free-will in the way I think about the issues involved.

Interestingly (or not!), I realised last night that I've become a hardened, definite and intolerant atheist. A year ago I was tolerant to religion and felt it was harmless and not at odds with my belief in the power of human good (being always capable of conquering human evil). I now feel qutie sympathetic to Russian and Chinese purges on religion.

Am I becoming a Communist?

I mean sympathetic in the context of understanding the wider difficulties. I'm not a bit sympathetic to persecuting people.

what is at the root of the shift, Swedes?

(what did you think of God On Trial btw? I found it v moving and quite interesting, philosophically. it was novel to hear the actual existence of God being debated, rather than the power of those who believe.)

Link to Harpenden branch of the
Revolutionary Communist Party

onebat - I'm not sure but I fear cantankerous old age may be playing a large part. My MIL keeps asking me the reasons for me not believing. I feel very tempted to ask her to talk me through the bits she does believe and the bits she doesn't believe and asking her how she decided which bits of the good book to ignore. But she is 82 and I can see that her beliefs are a comfort to her and no good would come from me being so spiteful. If she asks me again about my lack of belief I am rather looking forward to saying: I can't help what I feel.

I rather like Rowan Williams but I feel he's copped out by saying God had a hand in the creation of the circumstances which lead to the big bang.

did he really say'had a hand in'?

As in 'was on the subcommittee which passed the initial motion in favour of assessing the viability of a meeting between matter and anti-matter at a mutually convenient time'?

Re: MIL. Yes, I think 80 is the cut-off point for teasing the religious. She's just over the line.

Yes I know the big bang isn't matter/anti-matter but I can't remember what it (might) be and it sounded good.

Onebat - You are such a wanker.

No! Well, I am but I did actually wonder if R Williams had really said something quite so vague..

check your email, woman, for god's sakes.

I wish the archbishop had said that. I would have applauded him wholeheartedly.

Although it would have been better if he had said may have had a hand