2+2=5

[TillICollapse]

Oh I agree, the psychology behind it is fascinating.
It's just when you are trying to have a conversation it's just... I wanna tear out my eyes and throw them at people

And ultimately this is one reason "trolling" comes into it lol ... because when you see constant evasion, misdirection, fallacies, and then petty (or direct) insults hurled at you as a "summary" to many of the points lol ... and you start getting frustrated that basic words and such you are using get translated into something entirely different which often becomes a personal attack against you ... it LOOKS almost like trolling lol. The effect it can have on you is similar to being trolled. However it's often not just simple trolling ... they seem to take themselves seriously on some level.

 

[TillICollapse]

That's so weird you said that, last night I was thinking I wish I had made my icon Christian, while that would be dishonest and the reason I didn't.
I wonder how my posts would be responded to if I didn't have my little grey man with the hat. (who kind of looks like a Jew now I think about it)

It took me awhile to figure out what the atheist icon actually is (because I keep my screen resolution high so things are quite small) ... do you really see a him as wearing a hat ?

I'm fairly positive it is a profile showing an EMPTY brain and MISSING spinal cord lol. At first, I thought it was actually *showing* the brain and spinal cord in the man, but then I kept looking at it, and I realized that if that were the case, the place where the brain and spinal cord would be, wouldn't be darker grey than the rest of the man.

I think it's meant as an insult ... that the "atheist" is a grey figure, who has let his brains fall out (or is missing them), and is missing a spine (courage in acknowledging the truth, etc). I was honestly shocked when I kind of figured this out (if I'm correct in why the icon is what it is), not only because of the extremely blatant attempt to insult a person like that (and to further force them, if they are being intellectually honest, to give themselves such an insulting type of icon mark) ... but the irony of an atheist being labeled as actually NOT using their brains and lacking a spine haha. It's bizarro world lol.

I totally agree, doing away with the icons would yield much more honest posts and responses that are not based on "Oh he's an Atheist/Christian, so I don't even need to read his post because I already disagree"

Yeah I wish there was even just a way to choose no icon whatsoever. Just leave it blank. But I couldn't figure out how to get mine blank even

 

[Old Ned]

It took me awhile to figure out what the atheist icon actually is (because I keep my screen resolution high so things are quite small) ... do you really see a him as wearing a hat ?

I'm fairly positive it is a profile showing an EMPTY brain and MISSING spinal cord lol. At first, I thought it was actually *showing* the brain and spinal cord in the man, but then I kept looking at it, and I realized that if that were the case, the place where the brain and spinal cord would be, wouldn't be darker grey than the rest of the man.

I think it's meant as an insult ... that the "atheist" is a grey figure, who has let his brains fall out (or is missing them), and is missing a spine (courage in acknowledging the truth, etc). I was honestly shocked when I kind of figured this out (if I'm correct in why the icon is what it is), not only because of the extremely blatant attempt to insult a person like that (and to further force them, if they are being intellectually honest, to give themselves such an insulting type of icon mark) ... but the irony of an atheist being labeled as actually NOT using their brains and lacking a spine haha. It's bizarro world lol.

Yeah I wish there was even just a way to choose no icon whatsoever. Just leave it blank. But I couldn't figure out how to get mine blank even

Yes I figured it to be the same, I just also see how it could be a guy with a hat or a Jew with those braided hair dangle things.

But I agree, the grey clearly denotes a lack of soul or some such, an emptiness.
The black I also agree is the brain (or lack thereof) and spinal cord, meaning to me that we are closed minded or brainless and the lack of spine could only suggest "Spineless" , which to me means cowardly.

It does seem to be mocking us and gives people something to s[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] at when we post.

But you know what, the difference is I think most of us don't care what others think and I will proudly wear that icon. Mock me if you will, you cannot break me. I am a product of nature, a product of Earth and a mere icon on the internet means nothing whatsoever.

For all I care, the icon could be a dunce hat, it makes no difference to who I am or what I know.

For too long Atheists have been scorned, even now I have told people I am an Atheist and been shhh'd, like it's not right. Now I do not care, mock me, slap me, burn me, kill me, nail me to the boards... I will always be who I am and no one can change that but me. I cannot force myself to believe something I simply do not believe, it's not a choice any more than Love is a choice. To say otherwise would be a lie and denial. I spent years in denial and am no longer willing to live a lie.

I am what I am, don't like who I am? then go away

Edit: Wow, the filter kicked in and made me look bad, this filter needs fixing. I got all those Bless and curses for 1 word, the word was Click here , note it left the "S" in place. Pathetic.

Oh my lord, it even edited the link!!! S..n..., Ig..g..er... = To laugh disrespectively.

 

[TillICollapse]

I edited my OP, asked non believers not to vote.
So far 2 believers have been like "huh?" lol

Aaaannnnd not even ten posts into your thread, and already an example and "case in point":

http://www.christianforums.com/t7806812/#post65080588

 

[Old Ned]

Aaaannnnd not even ten posts into your thread, and already an example and "case in point":

http://www.christianforums.com/t7806812/#post65080588

Yep, just saw that, I bow to your superior foresight in this issue.

Proved a point though eh.

Funny thing is, we have this thread to back it up

 

[TillICollapse]

Yes I figured it to be the same, I just also see how it could be a guy with a hat or a Jew with those braided hair dangle things.

But I agree, the grey clearly denotes a lack of soul or some such, an emptiness.
The black I also agree is the brain (or lack thereof) and spinal cord, meaning to me that we are closed minded or brainless and the lack of spine could only suggest "Spineless" , which to me means cowardly.

It does seem to be mocking us and gives people something to s[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] at when we post.

But you know what, the difference is I think most of us don't care what others think and I will proudly wear that icon. Mock me if you will, you cannot break me. I am a product of nature, a product of Earth and a mere icon on the internet means nothing whatsoever.

For all I care, the icon could be a dunce hat, it makes no difference to who I am or what I know.

For too long Atheists have been scorned, even now I have told people I am an Atheist and been shhh'd, like it's not right. Now I do not care, mock me, slap me, burn me, kill me, nail me to the boards... I will always be who I am and no one can change that but me. I cannot force myself to believe something I simply do not believe, it's not a choice any more than Love is a choice. To say otherwise would be a lie and denial. I spent years in denial and am no longer willing to live a lie.

I am what I am, don't like who I am? then go away

Edit: Wow, the filter kicked in and made me look bad, this filter needs fixing. I got all those Bless and curses for 1 word, the word was Click here , note it left the "S" in place. Pathetic.

Oh my lord, it even edited the link!!! S..n..., Ig..g..er... = To laugh disrespectively.

I hear you

I've lived all over the world, in a wide variety of situations, to where I've been the one mocked, attacked, beaten (yes beaten, and then my attackers were getting ready to attach me to a barbed wire fence afterwards ... and I'm a big guy who can take care of myself), scorned, chased, accused, prayed against even, etc. for any number of reasons. The color of my skin, who I am, my beliefs or lack of them, talking to the wrong person, so on and so forth.

Ultimately, when a person protects their own identify by putting others down in some fashion ... be it verbally or through direct physical violence ... that says something about the foundation their identity is built on in the first place.

Concerning the word you tried to use haha ... try typing in "snicker". In the US, we would say "snicker". Perhaps the difference is a Brit/Canadian thing and the filters will be US friendly

 

[TillICollapse]

Yep, just saw that, I bow to your superior foresight in this issue.

Proved a point though eh.

Yes, sadly, proved a point

Funny thing is, we have this thread to back it up

I suppose

 

[Old Ned]

I hear you

I've lived all over the world, in a wide variety of situations, to where I've been the one mocked, attacked, beaten (yes beaten, and then my attackers were getting ready to attach me to a barbed wire fence afterwards ... and I'm a big guy who can take care of myself), scorned, chased, accused, prayed against even, etc. for any number of reasons. The color of my skin, who I am, my beliefs or lack of them, talking to the wrong person, so on and so forth.

Ultimately, when a person protects their own identify by putting others down in some fashion ... be it verbally or through direct physical violence ... that says something about the foundation their identity is built on in the first place.

Concerning the word you tried to use haha ... try typing in "snicker". In the US, we would say "snicker". Perhaps the difference is a Brit/Canadian thing and the filters will be US friendly

Wow, you've been victim to heavier resistance than I. That's sad.
The funny thing is, that kind of behaviour derives from Fear. I have been bullied, throughout my childhood and teen years, until I snapped. Not for my beliefs as such, but because the bullies are usually bullied themselves and need to feel more significant. I have always been fairly tall (by my generations standards) and it's that old adage.. go to prison and pick on the biggest guy there to show you are not weak... = fear of others targeting you.

I once when I was about 10 had 18+ people using my head and body as a football, I refused to stay down and eventually they walked away laughing as I stood battered and bleeding... but I stood. Under their mocks you could hear the fear of failure, the fear that I could take whatever they dished out and still stand proud.
When I snapped, all it took was 1 punch... and their fears became reality.
From that point on, all the other kids being bullied saw these guys were not indestructible, they were not machines, they were just other kids and they could be hurt and they could be pushed back and they ultimately feared us more than we feared them.
This incident was because I supported a different team.

Principle is the same with religious persecution of other religions or lack thereof.

The Icon thing is no different in principle.

As for the word, funny, my wife told me I should have used "Snicker" , but I'm a proud, stubborn Englishman

 

[TillICollapse]

Wow, you've been victim to heavier resistance than I. That's sad.

I've been on the receiving end of some pretty heavy resistance. I've also been in a large variety of situations to where it was somewhat understandable I may meet resistance, unfortunately.

The funny thing is, that kind of behaviour derives from Fear. I have been bullied, throughout my childhood and teen years, until I snapped. Not for my beliefs as such, but because the bullies are usually bullied themselves and need to feel more significant. I have always been fairly tall (by my generations standards) and it's that old adage.. go to prison and pick on the biggest guy there to show you are not weak... = fear of others targeting you.

I once when I was about 10 had 18+ people using my head and body as a football, I refused to stay down and eventually they walked away laughing as I stood battered and bleeding... but I stood. Under their mocks you could hear the fear of failure, the fear that I could take whatever they dished out and still stand proud.
When I snapped, all it took was 1 punch... and their fears became reality.
From that point on, all the other kids being bullied saw these guys were not indestructible, they were not machines, they were just other kids and they could be hurt and they could be pushed back and they ultimately feared us more than we feared them.
This incident was because I supported a different team.

Principle is the same with religious persecution of other religions or lack thereof.

The Icon thing is no different in principle.

As for the word, funny, my wife told me I should have used "Snicker" , but I'm a proud, stubborn Englishman

Fear ... I think I may actually hate fear. I'm not honestly sure. I had a friend in high school who taught me something very profound about fear, and it stuck with me in such a way that I sort of sought to "dominate" fear itself, and not let it rule over me. It doesn't mean I don't get afraid, but I don't like letting fear win the day. If I see a "fire made out of fear", like an elephant I may run to stamp it out.

It actually concerns me sometimes that I view fear this way, because I don't want it to be a blind spot. When dealing with it, and if a person is involved ... I try to separate out the person, from their fear also (which sometimes isn't practical to do, obviously, if they are coming at you to cause physical harm lol). But still ... I don't like seeing fear rule over people, influence people, and I especially don't like seeing people protect and support fear as though it were something that it is not.

Proud, stubborn Englishman, .... eh ? Haha

 

[Old Ned]

I've been on the receiving end of some pretty heavy resistance. I've also been in a large variety of situations to where it was somewhat understandable I may meet resistance, unfortunately.

Fear ... I think I may actually hate fear. I'm not honestly sure. I had a friend in high school who taught me something very profound about fear, and it stuck with me in such a way that I sort of sought to "dominate" fear itself, and not let it rule over me. It doesn't mean I don't get afraid, but I don't like letting fear win the day. If I see a "fire made out of fear", like an elephant I may run to stamp it out.

It actually concerns me sometimes that I view fear this way, because I don't want it to be a blind spot. When dealing with it, and if a person is involved ... I try to separate out the person, from their fear also (which sometimes isn't practical to do, obviously, if they are coming at you to cause physical harm lol). But still ... I don't like seeing fear rule over people, influence people, and I especially don't like seeing people protect and support fear as though it were something that it is not.

Proud, stubborn Englishman, .... eh ? Haha

That's interesting, I am scared of many things, I actually scare quite easily.
But over the years I have come to accept fear as a necessary component.
Without Fear you have no care, without care things can go very wrong.
Fear also can drive you harder to achieve what it is you are trying to achieve.
I work at hieghts, climbing roofs and towers, I have a fear of heights... but I'm also an adrenaline junky

Fear is a very complex emotion, you are right in that letting it get the better of you can be very bad. To quote Patrick Swayze in Point Break... "Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation can cause your worst fears to come true"

This statement is very true, especially in the context it was used, I used to surf and you have no control over the ocean, to ride a wave and survive, you need to harness the power of the wave and respect it, but everything happens so fast that "Thinking" is not much of an option, "Reaction" is where it's at, if you think about something, fear creeps in and causes you to hesitate, and if you hesitate in a situation like Surfing... you wipe out and risk drowning.
Same can be said for climbing and walking roofs, the more afraid you are, the stiffer you are and the more likely you are to make a mistake.

But by the same token you must embrace fear and use it to your advantage, if controlled it can hone your senses, tune your mind and clear your thoughts.

Hiding behind fear is what bullies do, and I'm not just talking about school yard bullies, I mean anyone who picks on someone.

But in the end, fear can be one of your strongest allies.

I'll finish by quoting Rocky 6... this line is a great line to live by IMO.

"It's not about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and get up and keep moving forward"

 

[TillICollapse]

That's interesting, I am scared of many things, I actually scare quite easily.
But over the years I have come to accept fear as a necessary component.
Without Fear you have no care, without care things can go very wrong.
Fear also can drive you harder to achieve what it is you are trying to achieve.
I work at hieghts, climbing roofs and towers, I have a fear of heights... but I'm also an adrenaline junky

Fear is a very complex emotion, you are right in that letting it get the better of you can be very bad. To quote Patrick Swayze in Point Break... "Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation can cause your worst fears to come true"

This statement is very true, especially in the context it was used, I used to surf and you have no control over the ocean, to ride a wave and survive, you need to harness the power of the wave and respect it, but everything happens so fast that "Thinking" is not much of an option, "Reaction" is where it's at, if you think about something, fear creeps in and causes you to hesitate, and if you hesitate in a situation like Surfing... you wipe out and risk drowning.
Same can be said for climbing and walking roofs, the more afraid you are, the stiffer you are and the more likely you are to make a mistake.

But by the same token you must embrace fear and use it to your advantage, if controlled it can hone your senses, tune your mind and clear your thoughts.

Hiding behind fear is what bullies do, and I'm not just talking about school yard bullies, I mean anyone who picks on someone.

But in the end, fear can be one of your strongest allies.

I'll finish by quoting Rocky 6... this line is a great line to live by IMO.

"It's not about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and get up and keep moving forward"

Dude. Duuuuuuuddddeeee. Yes. I had totally forgotten that Point Break quote. Yes Thank you for reminding me

And that analogy with surfing ... that is actually how I learned that phrase myself haha. I was living in HI at the time, and learning to surf, and getting over confident and not respecting the ocean. One day, with warning signs all over the place because the way the surf was breaking (and no one even going out in it), I did precisely what I said above I would do lol ... I saw I was afraid, but went out anyway My wife (at the time) fell asleep on the beach, and I took the opportunity to go out. Within a couple of waves, I went over the falls ... and you can probably guess the rest. It was like being hit with a truck, shoved down deep to where I didn't know up from down, air knocked out of me. My lungs burning, I made it to the surface just in time to gasp and take another beating. 3 sets of beatings, of course ... and I managed to make it to shore and out of danger. I had to crawl on the sand, I couldn't stand up, and I collapsed and lay in one place for about 40 minutes trying to get my strength back. It took 10 minutes or so to just stop gasping for air. I had to wake my wife up once I was able to stand up lol. I was pretty bruised up for a couple of days. I learned to respect the power that day, and shortly thereafter, I learned that Point Break quote. I can't believe I forgot it

You just re-taught me (inadvertently) an important lesson I had forgotten ... many thanks sir

 

[TillICollapse]

But in the end, fear can be one of your strongest allies.

I'll finish by quoting Rocky 6... this line is a great line to live by IMO.

"It's not about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and get up and keep moving forward"

Oh and I agree ... fear can be an ally, and needs to be paid attention to. It's the harnessing of it, and recognizing it for what it is, and letting go of it if necessary ... rather than letting it dictate everything to you ... that's the difference I'm talking about. That's why I'm not sure saying that I "hate" it is accurate. I probably hate what gets done with it, more than the fear itself. Some fear I actually enjoy ...

And I'll add one more boxing quote to the mix, in addition to yours lol. One of my all time favs as well:

"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson

 

[AV1611VET]

Seriously, I'm not trying to be difficult, you just are not explaining it clearly.

Here are a couple more things I can't explain to you clearly either:

1+1=1

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

1+1+1=1

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

[TillICollapse]

Here are a couple more things I can't explain to you clearly either:

1+1=1

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

1+1+1=1

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

You ignored my last post towards you, but I'll ask one more question regardless:

Were Adam and Eve 1+1=1 according to this use of math ? Or when a man and a woman cleave to one another, to where a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and become one flesh, are they 1+1=1 according to this use of math in your opinion ?

 

[CabVet]

Here are a couple more things I can't explain to you clearly either:

1+1=1

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Not really, in math that's 1=1.

1+1+1=1

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Again, not 1+1+1=1, but 1=1=1.

Does that invalidate math as a field of study?

 

[AV1611VET]

are they 1+1=1 according to this use of math in your opinion ?

According to divine math, yes.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

 

[AV1611VET]

Does that invalidate math as a field of study?

Of course not.

These are exceptions to the basic mundane rules of math.

Just like miracles are exceptions to the basic mundane rules of physics.

 

[TillICollapse]

According to divine math, yes.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Ah ... *divine math*. Moving the goalposts.

 

[AV1611VET]

Ah ... *divine math*. Moving the goalposts.

Don't forget where those goalposts came from:

Would you believe 2+2=5 if it said so in the bible Gotts?

 

[HitchSlap]

According to divine math, yes.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

More like mythical hyperbole.