Isn't science great?

POSTED BY: Khyron
UPDATED: Monday, March 9, 2009 04:27
VIEWED: 11561
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KHYRON

Friday, February 9, 2007 8:01 PM

What Citizen said.

Plus:
"...and that it can’t be speeded-up or slowed down. But in 1998, Hau, for the first time in history, slowed light to 38 miles an hour, about the speed of rush-hour traffic."

What sort of reporting is that!? That "but" is a deliberate attempt to make it at first seem as if Einstein was wrong, even though clearly a different medium was used (which was only mentioned later in the article). Cheap tactic to get the reader interested.

The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.

BATTLESTARMINNESOTIA

Friday, February 9, 2007 10:07 PM

Wow

Is this Pirate News guy for real? I'm a relativly new poster here so I've never really asked.

Anyhow, I heard this physicist guy--Susskind I think his name was--talking on NPR and he made the point that all of these goofy relativistic and quantum mechanical things are only described accurately mathematically. Take 4 (or more dimensions). Impossible to imagine or visualize; super easy mathematicaly--just add another axis to the usual x, y, and z.

So unless you have mastered very advanced mathematics, all this stuff is being described using metaphors. And his point was that metaphors can be very useful but they are always--ALWAYS--an inaccurate or incomplete description of what's actually going on.

Now I myself love science but never got super far in the math department, so as well informed as I am, I know that I'll never really "understand" this stuff. That means "debate" on these matters very dicey indeed amongst those of us not armed with the requisite tools to knowledgebly stake out valid arguments and counter-arguments. It's fun to talk about, and the whole "that is so COOL!" is great. But I know I am in no way properly informed in math to really argue much. I have to trust the scientific establishment to adhere to thier core princeples, and 99% of the time I do.

So when I hear such craziness, such a sense of absolute iron clad grasp of the truth in all things scientific, political, social, etc it's just a tip to me that one's belief system is based less on scientific and rational tenets and more on faith and one's one desires and neuroses. Nobody can really be so right about so many bodies of knowledge and still claim infalliabilty at the same time. This much I'm pretty sure of, even if I can't do calculus.

Maybe I'm wrong tho, I'm not perfect and I even if know a lot, I don't know everything.

BSG-38 Minnesotia

CANTTAKESKY

Saturday, February 10, 2007 1:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BattlestarMinnesotia:
So when I hear such craziness, such a sense of absolute iron clad grasp of the truth in all things scientific, political, social, etc it's just a tip to me that one's belief system is based less on scientific and rational tenets and more on faith and one's one desires and neuroses.

I feel exactly the same way.

And that "absolute iron clad grasp of the truth" doesn't just come from offbeat conspiracy theorists. Listen carefully, and you'll hear that same dogmatic tune about issues like global warming and vaccines, where "science" has established the truth, and everyone who dissents is a selfish, deluded moron.

Can't Take My Gorram Sky

--------------
Nullius in verba. (Take nobody's word.)

RUE

Saturday, February 10, 2007 2:19 AM

Sigh ...

CTS, most of us follow the SCIENCE, not the CONCLUSION.

At this point the best SCIENCE indicates 1) global warming is real, and 2) it's man-made. Should SCIENCE indicate otherwise at some point in the future, then we will accept that SCIENCE.

On a personal note, get some help. You have an pathetically inflated view of your importance.

SABRI3L

Saturday, February 10, 2007 5:54 AM

Does piratenews ever do anything but spout rhetoric and paranoid theories? I was just wondering if he even really is a fan, or has just found a place to stand on his soapbox, rather than some random street corner.....

Knitter of Cunning Jayne Hats

http://www.myspace.com/gazthegloomy

mal

CHRISISALL

Saturday, February 10, 2007 6:06 AM

*Kodachro-oh-ohme gives us those nice bright colours;
gives us those dreams of summer;
gives us those delusions of a moonlit da-aaaay....*

Just say no Chrisisall

6IXSTRINGJACK

Saturday, February 10, 2007 6:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rue:
On a personal note, get some help. You have an pathetically inflated view of your importance.

This, simply being the opinon of someone so wrapped up in science that anyone who has a differing opinion is simply ignorant of the truth. Hmmmmmmmm.... the same could very easily be said about you Rue... in fact, I already know it has been.

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." http://www.myspace.com/6ixstringjack

RUE

Saturday, February 10, 2007 7:38 PM

"so wrapped up in science"

I thought I was a liberal. When you make up your mind, let me know.

OLDENGLANDDRY

Saturday, February 10, 2007 8:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Sabri3l:
Does piratenews ever do anything but spout rhetoric and paranoid theories? I was just wondering if he even really is a fan, or has just found a place to stand on his soapbox, rather than some random street corner.....

Knitter of Cunning Jayne Hats

http://www.myspace.com/gazthegloomy

No, unfortunately it is just as you suspect.
Shh... here he comes again.

STORYMARK

Saturday, February 10, 2007 8:43 PM

We need a pirate watch. Some sort of alarm to sound when we see the tin-foil sails on the horizon...

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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