How times change

9/11 is something that really concerns you, huh.

Most of my emphasis on 9/11 has been in jest. However, it is an extremely consequential and vital issue, that, if not resolved (i.e. properly investigated and prosecuted), will have disastrous consequences for not only the US, but the entire world. I'm 99.9 percent sure it never will be resolved, because these things never are, as people are naive, incurious, stupid, whathaveyou. I'm just astonished that people are so apathetic. 9/11 is a spiritual issue more than anything!
 
I dont know anything about the state of the forum a few months ago, but it seems to me that the materialism group seems to be more active then anyone else right now. It always seemed odd to me though how 6 of the 7 top posters are from that very group. Why are people that dont even consider psi and all that stuff here all the time?

This is a strange comment... It must be obvious that the "house skeptics" have an interest in psi and consciousness studies. The idea that one must be a rabid defender of psi/the immaterial to contribute is one that would encourage more sterile conversations, and is less likely to forge a path towards any underlying truths (just look at the subforums where "the skeptics" are banned).

Unless this place is meant to be a supporters club for a certain team? That would be tragic (although it certainly looks that way sometimes).
 
This is a strange comment... It must be obvious that the "house skeptics" have an interest in psi and consciousness studies. The idea that one must be a rabid defender of psi/the immaterial to contribute is one that would encourage more sterile conversations, and is less likely to forge a path towards any underlying truths (just look at the subforums where "the skeptics" are banned).

Unless this place is meant to be a supporters club for a certain team? That would be tragic (although it certainly looks that way sometimes).

Are you? Your posts certainly dont indicate that. It seems to me more like that you already decided to believe in a more "materialistic" opinion on those things since you promote those ideas in some of your posts. Of course, you can discuss all day and night here, im not saying anything against that - i just dont see what you expect to get out of that. I assume that you are not here to get magically convinced of the proponents view on various things. If you just want to know about consciousness, well, scientific american is propably closer to your belief, isnt it? Wouldnt that be easier?
I mean, i personally want to find more information from the proponents viewpoint here since i can not decide for myself whats right and whats wrong. But for a person who already decided that for him or herself i see no reason to be here, except propably proponents who like to hear alex's podcast. Call me a ignorant fool because of that, but i cant understand that. I'd like to though if its possible.
 
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Are you? Your posts certainly dont indicate that. It seems to me more like that you already decided to believe in a more "materialistic" opinion on those things since you promote those ideas in some of your posts. Of course, you can discuss all day and night here, im not saying anything against that - i just dont see what you expect to get out of that. I assume that you are not here to get magically convinced of the proponents view on various things. If you just want to know about consciousness, well, scientific american is propably closer to your belief, isnt it? Wouldnt that be easier?
I mean, i personally want to find more information from the proponents viewpoint here since i can not decide for myself whats right and whats wrong. But for a person who already decided that for him or herself i see no reason to be here, except propably proponents who like to hear alex's podcast. Call me a ignorant fool because of that, but i cant understand that. I'd like to though if its possible.
Supporters club it is then... I honestly thought it was more than that.

{Disclosure: I'm interested in the psi effect, and consciousness studies. I appreciate that our universe and our place in it is utterly bizarre. I remain agnostic over a "god" or prime mover (but don't expect such an entity knows that I exist, let alone judges me). I see minimal evidence for an afterlife, and don't expect one. I enjoy talking bollocks}
 
Supporters club it is then... I honestly thought it was more than that.

{Disclosure: I'm interested in the psi effect, and consciousness studies. I appreciate that our universe and our place in it is utterly bizarre. I remain agnostic over a "god" or prime mover (but don't expect such an entity knows that I exist, let alone judges me). I see minimal evidence for an afterlife, and don't expect one. I enjoy talking bollocks}
nope. like i wrote, people can discuss us much as they want. i just dont understand the point of it. i dont believe that it would be better to have a proponent exclusive club here since many people come from materialism and still want to know about that stuff. but thats because those people arent sure what they should believe in (anymore). i would ask the same proponents that are sure of their belief and are still posting in the jref forum or stuff like that. it always seems more like such peope want to convert others to their own belief. i imagine thats where some o the aggressions e.g. in the cd section are coming from aswell.
 
I'm flattered, but that wouldn't make sense. Why would Sciborg slowly fade out his profile as mine comes in? That's not how a sock puppet works.

I'm approaching the 4,000 post life limit. But there must always be a Sciborg, lest the people forget True Skepticism amidst the materialist/atheist cults and those who are too quick to find an easy spiritual answer.

Good luck though, not an easy task. You can prolly save a few though...

"But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my taks, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?"
-Gandalf, Return of the King
 
nope. like i wrote, people can discuss us much as they want. i just dont understand the point of it. i dont believe that it would be better to have a proponent exclusive club here since many people come from materialism and still want to know about that stuff. but thats because those people arent sure what they should believe in (anymore). i would ask the same proponents that are sure of their belief and are still posting in the jref forum or stuff like that. it always seems more like such peope want to convert others to their own belief. i imagine thats where some o the aggressions e.g. in the cd section are coming from aswell.

You seem to find some value in not being part of an echo chamber where diverse views are presented - why be surprised that others feel the same- particularly on a topic as fascinating as this one? Personally, to me, part of being a skeptic means to submit my views and beliefs to scrutiny. Also part of being a skeptic is exposing myself to multiple viewpoints and constantly challenging my own views.

Is there another forum you know of that discusses topics related to psi/parapsychology from various (pro and con) perspectives? If there is one that does so more than this site I'd certainly be interested in that! When I joined Skeptiko that was the focus - it is less so these days. Unfortunately I don't know of any good alternative at present. Skeptiko still seems like the best place to go to to discuss issues related to parapsychology.

Also - I wouldn't assume there's as much certainty going on as you suggest. I'm always surprised when people suggest it of me, for example (funny thing is, I've also been criticised as a middle of the road waffler - so it's kind of a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation.) Anyhow- I think if you pay attention, there's more subtlety to a lot of posts that get missed in the quick reads that can occur when reading a forum on breaks from other tasks (from all sides, not just skeptics). We are prone to putting people in little boxes - but generally people's views are more subtle than that, imo. It is often difficult to adequately express such subtlety over a medium such as this.
 
I'm approaching the 4,000 post life limit. But there must always be a Sciborg, lest the people forget True Skepticism amidst the materialist/atheist cults and those who are too quick to find an easy spiritual answer.

Good luck though, not an easy task. You can prolly save a few though...

"But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my taks, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?"
-Gandalf, Return of the King

My God, you're amazing.

Wait, so we can post only up to 4,000 posts? Really?
 
You seem to find some value in not being part of an echo chamber where diverse views are presented - why be surprised that others feel the same- particularly on a topic as fascinating as this one? Personally, to me, part of being a skeptic means to submit my views and beliefs to scrutiny. Also part of being a skeptic is exposing myself to multiple viewpoints and constantly challenging my own views.

Is there another forum you know of that discusses topics related to psi/parapsychology from various (pro and con) perspectives? If there is one that does so more than this site I'd certainly be interested in that! When I joined Skeptiko that was the focus - it is less so these days. Unfortunately I don't know of any good alternative at present. Skeptiko still seems like the best place to go to to discuss issues related to parapsychology.

Also - I wouldn't assume there's as much certainty going on as you suggest. I'm always surprised when people suggest it of me, for example (funny thing is, I've also been criticised as a middle of the road waffler - so it's kind of a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation.) Anyhow- I think if you pay attention, there's more subtlety to a lot of posts that get missed in the quick reads that can occur when reading a forum on breaks from other tasks (from all sides, not just skeptics). We are prone to putting people in little boxes - but generally people's views are more subtle than that, imo. It is often difficult to adequately express such subtlety over a medium such as this.

I freely admit that I'm heavily biased to supporting the existence of psi and the afterlife, mainly because 1) my life SUCKS and I want to hope that it sucks on purpose, as part of some grand plan, and not merely because I'm a moron on wheels, 2) I really, really, don't like hurting people, and so between my experiences with militant atheists in my personal life and my experiences with them on the web, I've developed a bias against atheists and materialists in general, and 3) I've read juuust enough material on ?DEs, mediumship, and reincarnation studies to get me in the door AND park on the couch.

I say all that because while I dont like what malf, arouet, Paul, and the others say, I like THEM, and would like them to stay on the forum. They don't really have a choice, I haven't yet found any other forum with the same quality effort to balance the arguments that Skeptiko has. Anyway, they do provide an essential service for us, and we should be grateful for that.

I'm probably being naive. Being a sky-bison, my head's always in the clouds.

Get it? Lol
 
I don't think the skeptics have any hidden motives. I've always felt that idea to be rather absurd. Amazingly, this isn't the majority viewpoint however.

I miswrote here. By "hidden motives" I meant a collective hidden agenda. I don't know what the motives are and I don't care. Steve001 has stated his motiviation is political. I still have no idea what that means, but I'm sure it doesn't mean anything that I could comprehend, just like how one might feel in having a conversation with a toddler.
 
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