EricBroze.com » Atheist

FIL PLAIT “DOAN BE DICK SPEECH” 4 KITTEH

Eric Broze — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:00:59 +0000

INSTEAD OV RELYIN ON TEH MERITS OV TEH ARGUMENTS, WHICH IZ WUT CRITICAL THINKIN AN EVIDENCE-BASD REASONIN IZ BOUT, IT SEEMS DAT VITRIOL AN VENOM R ON TEH RIZE.

…

LET ME ASK U QUESHUN: HOW LOTZ DA OV U HER TODAI USD 2 BLEEV IN SOMETHIN — USD 2, PAST TENSE — WHETHR IT WUZ FLYIN SAUCERS, PSYCHIC POWERS, RELIGION, ANYTHIN LIEK DAT? U CAN RAIZE UR HAND IF U WANTS 2. [LAWTS OV HANZ GO UP] NOT EVRYONE IZ BORN SKEPTIC. LOT OV U RAISD UR HAND. I’D EVEN SAY MOST OV U, FRUM WUT I CAN TELL.

NAO LET ME ASK U SECOND QUESHUN: HOW LOTZ DA OV U NO LONGR BLEEV IN DOSE THINGS, AN U BECAME SKEPTIC, CUZ SOMEBODY GOT IN UR FACE, SCREAMIN, AN CALLD U AN IDIOT, BRAIN-DAMAGD, AN RETARD? [VRY FEW HANZ GO UP]

SKEPTICISM IZ HARD. SKEPTICISM IZ IN LOTZ DA WAYS SELF-ANNIHILATIN MESAGE. K, HOW DO U CONVINCE SOMEONE THEY’RE NOT THINKIN CLEARLY, WHEN THEY’RE NOT THINKIN CLEARLY?

AN IT’S WORSE, CUZ […] AS MOST OV US ALREADY KNOE, R BRAIN IZ NOT WIRD 4 SKEPTICAL THINKIN. IT’S WIRD 4 FAITH. AN SO, WUT WE’RE TRYIN 2 SAY 2 PEEPS IZ DIFFICULT 4 THEM.

STUDIEZ HAS SHOWN DAT PEEPS HOO LOSE THEIR FAITH TEND 2 REPLACE IT WIF SOMETHIN ELSE, WIF DIFFERENT TYPE OV BELIEF. IF U START OUT RELIGIOUS AN LOSE UR FAITH IN CEILIN CAT, U’LL REPLACE DAT WIF SOMETHIN ELSE, SUM OTHR NON-EVIDENCE-BASD REASONIN. […]

IT GETS WORSE. STUDIEZ HAS AKSHULLY SHOWN DAT WHEN U DEBUNK MYTH OR MISCONCEPSHUN, U AKSHULLY WIND UP REINFORCIN IT LATR. SO WHEN SOMEBODY COMEZ IN AN SEZ, I FINKZ DAT, SAY, TEH FULL MOON ON TEH HORIZON IZ CUZ OV TEH ATMOSFERIC EFFECTS ACTIN LIEK LENS; AN U SAY NO, IT’S AN ILLUSHUN, IT’S CUZ OV DIS AN DIS AN DIS, AN YER LATR U SAY, WUT CAUSEZ TEH MOON ILLUSHUN?, THEY’LL SAY, “U KNOE, I HERD IT WUZ AN ATMOSFERIC EFFECT”. AN SO, DEBUNKIN REINFORCEZ TEH THINGS WE’RE TRYIN 2 DEBUNK. IT’S IRRITATIN, AKSHULLY, AN IT PUTS DAMPR ON TRYIN 2 SHOW PEEPS Y THEY’RE WRONG.

IT JUS KEEPS GETTIN WORSE: TEH MESAGE WE’RE TRYIN 2 CONVEY IZ HARD ALL BY ITZ LONESOME. AN IT’S WORSE WHEN WE’RE TRYIN 2 PEDDLE(?) DIS IDEA — WHEN U FINKZ BOUT IT, WUT WE’RE AKSHULLY SAYIN — OV NO MAGIC, NO AFTERLIFE, NO HIGHR AUTHORITATIV FATHR FIGURE, NO SECURITY, AN NO HAPPEH EVR AFTR, K? DIS AR TEH TOUGH SELL. AN IN LOTZ DA CASEZ, PEEPS WILL PREFR MAGIC OVAR SCIENCE, AN THEY WILL PREFR FANTASY OVAR REALITY. SANTA CLAUS IZ MOAR FUN THAN GETTIN PREZINTS FRUM UR PARENTS, RITE? AN TEH TOOTH FAIRY IZ MOAR EXCITIN THAN KNOWIN DAT IT’S JUS UR PARENTS PUTTIN MONEY UNDR UR PILLOW. (I’M SRY, SPOILR ALERT, THAR.)

[…] TEH GENERIC PERSON OUT THAR, SOMEBODY NOT IN R GROUP, THEY TEND 2 HEAR MESAGE DAT SCIENCE IZ HARD AN DAT IT’S BORIN. AN WORSE, SKEPTICS AN SCIENTISTS, WE TEND 2 BE THOT OV AS BEAN STUFFY AN STILTD, ANTISOSHUL, IF NOT EVIL AN DOWNRIGHT SOCIOPATHIC. ATHEISTS EAT BABIEZ, DON’T U KNOE? SO IT’S TOUGH SELL.

ALSO, HOW DO BELIEVERS FINKZ OV THEMSELVEZ? LOTZ DA TIEMS, THEIR SELF-IDENTITY IZ WRAPPD UP IN THEIR BELIEF. WAN OV TEH MOST IMPORTANT THINGS PEEPS USE 2 DEFINE THEMSELVEZ IZ THEIR RELIGION OR THEIR BELIEF. THEY MITE SAY, “I’M UFO PERSON” OR WHATEVR, DOESN’T MATTR WUT TEH BELIEF IZ.

NOT ONLY DAT, R SOCIETY STRESEZ FAITH. HOW LOTZ DA MOVIEZ HAS AS THEIR FINAL MESAGE SOMETHIN BOUT FAITH? HOW LOTZ DA BOOKZ, HOW LOTZ DA TV SHOWS? TEH DOUBT IN DA MOVIE IZ DOWNPLAYD. TEH PERSON HOO IZ DOUBTIN IZ SHOWN AS INEFFECTUAL, EVEN BAD. AN TEH BELIEF IZ TEH HIGHEST IDEAL. […]

SO ALL OV DIS AR TEH STACKD AGAINST US. AN DIS AR TEH LOT OV STUFF STACKD AGAINST US. Y IN DA HELL WUD U WANTS 2 MAK IT HARDR 2 DELIVR DAT MESAGE?

WUT I C [IN DA SKEPTICAL MOVEMENT] IZ DAT HUBRIS IZ RUNNIN RAMPANT. AN DAT EGOS R JUS OUT OV CHECK, AN SOMETIMEZ LOGIC IN DOSE SITUASHUNS FALLS BY TEH WAYSIDE.

[…]

HOW LOTZ DA OV U PULAY CHES? I’M GUESIN LOT OV U DO. HOW OFTEN DO U SACRIFICE PIECE 4 DA GREATR GOAL? U CAN HAS UR QUEEN AT TEH END OV TEH GAME WHEN UR OPPONENT CHECKMATEZ U, BUT U’VE LOST. U’VE LOST TEH GAME. IT DOESN’T HALP. ANOTHR ANALOGY: PEDESTRIAN HAS TEH RITE OV WAI WHILE CROSIN STREET. AN CERTAINLY IF U WALK OFF SIDEWALK WHEN CAR IZ COMIN, U’RE TECHNICALLY IN DA RITE. U’RE ALSO ROADKILL.

WHEN U’RE DEALIN WIF SOMEONE HOO DISAGREEZ WIF U ON SUM MATTR, WUT IZ UR GOAL? WUT IZ UR GOAL? WUT R U TRYIN 2 ACCOMPLISH? INSULTIN THEM, YELLIN AT THEM, CALLIN THEM BRAIN-DAMAGD, OR MORONS, OR BABY-RAPERS CUD MAK U FEELZ GUD. (DAT’S BEEN USD, BY TEH WAI.) IT CUD MAK U FEELZ GUD. IT CUD HALP U VENT, IT CUD HALP U RELEASE FRUSTRASHUN, IT CUD RALLY TEH TROOPS, IT CUD EVEN FOMENT PEEPS 2 HALP U AN 2 TAEK ACSHUN, AN LET’S BE HONEST, IT CUD ALLOW U 2 FEELZ SMUG AN SUPERIOR, AT LEAST IN DAT MOMENT.

BUT IZ UR GOAL 2 SKOR CHEAP POINT, OR IZ UR GOAL 2 WIN TEH DAMN GAME?

IT’S NOT TERRIBLY CONTROVERSIAL 2 SAY DAT WHEN SOMEONE IZ BEAN ATTACKD AN INSULTD, THEY TEND 2 GIT DEFENSIV. THEY’RE NOT IN DA BEST POSISHUN 2 BE RASHUNAL OR SELF-INTROSPECTIV. IT’S GOIN 2 BE VRY DIFFICULT 2 CHANGE THEIR MIND WHEN U’RE DOIN DAT.

IN TIEMS OV WAR, WE NED WARRIORS. BUT DIS ISN’T WAR. U MITE TRY 2 SAY IT IZ, BUT IT’S NOT WAR. WE AREN’T TRYIN 2 KILL AN ENEMY. WE’RE TRYIN 2 PERSUADE OTHR HUMANZ. AN AT TIEMS LIEK DAT, WE DON’T NED WARRIORS, WUT WE NED R DIPLOMATS.

SO AFTR ALL DIS, I FINKZ I CAN SUM UP MAH POINTS LIEK DIS: FURST, ALWAYS ASK YOURSELF WUT UR GOAL IZ. […] IZ DIS ARGUMENT NECESARY? WUT IZ UR GOAL? WUT R U TRYIN 2 ACCOMPLISH? BEFORE U TALK, BEFORE U LEEF COMMENT, BEFORE U ENGAGE PSEUDOSCIENTIST, BEFORE U RAIZE UR HAND, BEFORE U SIGN DAT EMAIL, ASK YOURSELF: IZ DIS GOIN 2 HALP? IZ DIS GOIN 2 ALLOW ME 2 ACHIEVE MAH GOAL? AN U ALSO NED 2 ASK YOURSELF: WILL DIS IMPEDE ME FRUM ACHIEVIN MAH GOAL? IZ DIS JUS 2 MAK ME FEELZ BETTR, OR IZ I TRYIN 2 CHANGE TEH WURLD?

AN SECOND, AN NOT 2 PUT 2 FINE POINT ON IT, DON’T BE DICK.

[…] BUT SRSLY, DON’T. DON’T BE DICK. ALL BEAN DICK DOEZ IZ SKOR CHEAP POINTS. IT DOEZ NOT WIN TEH HEARTS AN MINDZ OV PEEPS EVRYWHERE, AN HONESTLY, WINNIN DOSE HEARTS AN MINDZ, DAT’S R GOAL. AN I ASKD U 2 QUESHUNS AT TEH BEGINNIN WHEN I STOOD UP HER IN DA FURST PLACE. TEH FURST WAN WUZ, IF U USD 2 BLEEV IN SOMETHIN. AN TEH SECOND WAN WUZ IF U LOST DAT BELIEF CUZ SOMEONE WUZ DICK 2 U. MAH GOAL, MAH PERSONAL GOAL IZ HAS EVRYONE IN DA WURLD RAIZE THEIR HAND WHEN THEY’RE ASKD DAT FURST QUESHUN. AN TEH OTHR PART OV DAT GOAL IZ 2 NEVR EVEN HAS 2 ASK TEH SECOND WAN.

English

Phil Plait – Don’t Be A Dick

The Amazing Meeting 8 Photos for Download

Eric Broze — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:48:39 +0000

Hi fellow TAMmers and those who could not make it to Las Vegas for the events this year. Here is a large collection of untouched, non-watermarked images I took during the event. Feel free to download the images, use on blogs, add to your social networks, promotional materials, etc.

These images are made possible by The Coming Out Godless Project and Rad-Shirts. Please take a moment to share your story or buy our stuff. Link back or author credits are not required, but are always welcome along with friend requests and follows.

Thanks to all the wonderful people I met during TAM8. You know who you are.

VIEW IMAGE ALBUM

Tam8 South Point Casino Locals Walk Thru

Eric Broze — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:05:49 +0000

Welcome all attendees of The Amazing Meeting 8 at South Point Casino, which is being held July 8th- July 11th 2010. My wife Rose and I are Las Vegas locals, and we took a trip to South Point to check out the facilities. Hopefully, this will answer a few of those questions, not easily answered by other sources.

South Point is several miles from the major casinos you may be familiar with. 6.4 miles to Mandalay Bay for example.

View Larger Map

Las Vegas cabs and taxis charge $3.00 credit card fees and may charge additional fees for airport trips. Plan accordingly.

Sunscreen and lots of water is how locals survive in the desert. Expect temps of 105 outside and a uv index of 10. Casino temps are a cool 78 Fahrenheit.

Plenty of parking right in front of the hotel with valet available, for those from Los Angeles. Bus and Taxi stands are in front of the hotel.

Look for this Binion Statue Near the Cafe

Look for the more than life size statue of Benny Binion on a horse.

Convention information is clearly posted on the wall.

The convention area is on the second floor, with easy access by stairs, elevator or my personal favorite, escalator.

Once on the second floor, you are presented with convention info again.

A large reception and registration area. Great for chit chats and networking.

Check in Here!

Of course you can gamble in between speakers.

Keep Gaming!

Comfortable seats are available outside of the rooms and will probably go fast.

Protip- This cushy spot has a power outlet

The phone center has 6 power outlets in the back, several phones and networking access.

Skeptic Blogger Battle for Power Begins.

Inside, a sample conference room seems spacious with tables and padded chairs.

The real action will be at the Del Mar Lounge, a very open bar area.

I'll have a Salty Dog.

Lots of TV options and convenient Sports Book

Happy hour specials are very popular with skeptics, or are they?

Cheap Drinks!

Free Bottle of Wine!

They even have Wine Shoe Shines. The guy could not seem to clearly articulate why the wine is supposed to be better for shoe shines. He mentioned something about leather tanning, but kinda trailed off. I warned him a whole lot of skeptics are coming to visit. I wonder who could investigate? I’m talking about you, IIG.

How can we test this?

South Point ATM fees are $3.00 which is cheap by Las Vegas standards.

Only $3.00 to take out money to give to the Casino.

Those lucky enough to attend the Skepchick Wild West Bordello will be glad to know, hat and other western wear is available in the hotel gift shop. We have our buttons and can’t wait to meet you all.

Get you costumes ready!

My lovely wife Rose of The Jewmanist fame and co-founder of The Coming Out Godless Project recommends a vanilla bean frozen yogurt in a waffle cone to beat the heat. Follow her @interhuss.

Say Hi to Rose @interhuss

Feel free to follow me @ericbroze and say hi at Tam8.

Who's got 2 thumbs and a Rad-shirt? This guy!

Like my shirt? Get one here or see The Amazing Randi perform a neat magic trick.