I was talking to a 16 year old friend from home over MSN about that site that Eric just posted about over in that one thread; the one about the human extinctionists. I, personally, found it rather convincing to the reasons not to have children. I showed it to him, and he immediatly called it bullcrap, which really isn't that big of a deal; thats what I thought it was at first. So I rundow and listed reasons not to have children, and he started listing reasons why he wanted to have children. I used the logical conclusions to show alternative ways to the reasons he gave and he started to get upset, saying that I can go and not add another mouth to feed to the worlds population, but hes going to. Which struck me as odd, because he is ususally "vehement"ly opposed to hypocracy, and this struck me as a major statement of "them, not us". So I told him that, showed my concern, and I said I would drop it. The messenger went idle for a while and I went off to work on something else.
About ten minutes later, he messeges me that his mom is getting on the computer. So I say fine, goodbye, and I was about to close the window, when his mom starts messaging me. Now, in the past, when she does this, it tends to be just a few nice words and then I leave. But this time she immediatly and angrily posts that I am "feeding crap" to her son and I should stop or else, or something like that. Now, I know that her son is no dummy; hes quite an intelligent young lad. If I start talking crap, he is smart enough to call me out on it.
His mom is...lets say...a typical Xtian fundie. Her son was as well, untill he started learning more about theology and alternative religions. I guess the stimulus for that could be called my fault, but if he found it to be crap, he could have told me that. Instead, he found it to be profound, and has moved from a very Xtian view to something that seems more far eastern. I have acted as a kind of mentor for him at times, answering questions when I know the answers and pointing him to literature when I don't. More often than not, I pointed him towards the books.Wonderful disscussions insued. He was trying to keep this all secret from his parents, however, recently they've started to catch wind of it. They found the books on buddhism I lent him, as well as the ones he bought himself. And apparently, it is my fault for "corrupting" their "young boy", who, to tell you the truth, has done more adult like things at his age than I did, and is an intimate, sexual relationship with a young woman that he loves and is planning to marry. Of course, the parents don't know about any of this, especially the sexual part.
So, Im sitting at my computer, trying to have a sane conversation with this woman, and just barely keeping my cool. In the process I started shaking and sweating. I don't like confrontations like these, especially when I know the other side in real life. Over and over she accussed me of feeding her baby boy crap and corrupting him, and generally that I should stay far away from him. I stood my ground and explained that he is very much capable of discerning bs from fact, and that I only acted as an initial stimulus to his ongoing inquiry. Of course she countered that I was full of crap (I think she must have used that word about 30 times in the space of 5 minutes) and that he would most likely grow out of the "crap" I have "given" him in short time.
I know for a fact that he is never going back to Xtianity, hes actually grown into a pretty hefty opposition against it. So I tell her that I don't think thats likely. And she tells me that there may be freedom of speech, but she doesn't have to listen, agree with, or put up with my crap. (again, that word) I said, you don't have to listen to it, or agree with it, but you do have to put up with it (In a sense, thats the only duty that freedom of speech entails) I added that I wasn't initially talking with her, I was talking with her son, which was probably me being a smart ass, but that was the only thing I said that was slightly rude the whole time, and I had to do something that would keep me from getting too shaken up. She said that she has a right to monitor what her son does, in fact, it is her duty and obligation to do so. And then she said something else and signed out.
So I wasn't the first one to blink, as much as I would have liked to. Now that the shock has subsided, I feel strangly calm, as if I have won some small victory. And then pride starts to set in and I shut out that thought. I just hope I can wait a few days before another incounter like that.
~Yurito Sakari~
The Newly Mellowed-out Wannabe Buddhist Monk
I think you should advise her son to commit suicide. Really it's the only sane thing to do.
Naah, hes getting out soon. His parents might even KICK him out. Either way, no self-stabination is needed.
Hopefully :? :( *sigh*
~BMW
corrupting the youth eh?
bad wannabe buddhist monk, bad!
oen argument for havign children, in the west at least, is that whiel sure it;s true that eh average worldwide birth rat eis retarded, western birth rate is also retarded -ly low. population growth in th eu.s. an dcanada coem sprimarily from immigration, and i woudln't eb surprised to fidn the same was true in much of western europe.
Western birthrate is still above zero growth, at least in the americas. Plus the Ecological footprint is about 30 times bigger than, say, india.
My girlfriend thinks that the human race is more or less a plague upon the earth and that we should all eat our children or something.
~BMW
Has your girlfriend been reading Jonathon swift. Goddamn if shes frying up some baby legs count me in for dinner.
A Modest Proposal By Jonathon Swift (http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html)
Christians, no matter how friendly they may be, are always at risk of being like a swiss army knife: you may think the little blade is bad, but there's room in the handle for a big blade and you don't want to see that one.
But many of them are lovely people, don't get me wrong.
Quote from: New Scientist2005 preview: 'Global crude death rate' to rise
08 January 2005
THIS year will mark a pivotal moment in human history. The UN predicts that what is known as the "global crude death rate" will start rising for the first time since the dawn of civilisation some 10,000 years ago.
On the face of it that looks like bad news. Crude death rate measures the number of people per 1000 who die in a year. The figure has been falling steadily, from about 40 in pre-agricultural societies to around 8.7 today. But this year it will start rising again. So what awful global catastrophe is about to reverse 100 centuries of progress?
Fortunately, there is no imminent disaster. The upturn has nothing to do with war, famine or pestilence, but merely reflects the fact that the world's human population is ageing on a global scale, thanks to improved healthcare.
Crude death rate can be tricky to interpret. In many developing countries it is relatively high - Mozambique's is about 28, for example. But as countries modernise and life expectancy rockets, crude death rate drops rapidly. Then, as millions of people whose lives were saved as infants reach old age and start dying in droves, the crude death rate rises again. This transition has already occurred in many developed countries and is now set to happen on a global scale.
There is another reason to see the change in a positive light: it marks the beginning of the end of population growth. The crude death rate will eventually overtake the crude birth rate, marking the high-water mark of world population. The UN expects this to happen in 2075, with both rates standing at 11.4 and the world population at 9.22 billion. Crude death rate will then carry on rising and peak at 12.3 in 2115. Some people alive today could witness that transition, too.
From issue 2481 of New Scientist magazine, 08 January 2005, page 26
They're dropping like flies, I tell you. Like flies!
Now all we need is some big plague to help it along.
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCNow all we need is some big plague to help it along.
You mean other than AIDS? :shock:
avian flu? or the expected flu padnemic?
or sars?
brace yourselves for this one, non-smoekrs die everyday, shockign ain't it? -bill "i love smoking" hicks
Quote from: Eldora, Oracle of AlchemyQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCNow all we need is some big plague to help it along.
You mean other than AIDS? :shock:
Something more virulent then that.
Most plagues have a fall off rate eventually. If viruses and/or bacteria were "too successful" they'd kill themselves off too. Usually a plague levels off and the original virus or whatever begins to mellow out. An extinction event would be near impossible with most plagues we know about today.
Hey, good job.
It sounded like you took the high ground with the fundie mom, and you stood up for yourself and your friend. If I were you, I'd keep a reasonably low profile with these people for awhile, to let the mommy cool down. Angry Christians can be awfully violent and malicious, leading to very dangerous situations for the unprepared.
You didn't do anything wrong, and hopefully, you'll help your friend in never turning out like his mother. Just don't make bigger waves than you have to, and end up getting both you and your friend into unneccesarily complicated situations.
whiel quotign soem aprt for the word association thread, i saw a very relevant quote from bill hicks. chirstian's huh? so forgive me.
Quote from: Eldora, Oracle of AlchemyQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCNow all we need is some big plague to help it along.
You mean other than AIDS? :shock:
We, as a species, have been horribly lucky. Like with
Ebola Reston. That thing could have so easily killed all of us in an eyeblink. And AIDS is really, really bad. I'm of the firm belief we will never, ever have a cure for AIDS. And if AIDS suddenly became airborne, we're all gone. Bai-bai, humanity. Nice knowing you. Don't forget to writ- Oh, wait, you're all dead.
If there was ever some point of data to show that God, at the very least, does not love us and want us to be happy, it would be creating such things as STDs that turn what should be a happy, enjoyable growing-closer of people into something that is dangerous and threat-laden.
Either STDs or Organised Religion.
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoAnd if AIDS suddenly became airborne, we're all gone. Bai-bai, humanity. Nice knowing you. Don't forget to writ- Oh, wait, you're all dead.
Did you miss the memo that pointed out that about 10% of Europe is immune to AIDS, even when exposed repeatedly to HIV?
Quote from: Guido FinucciQuote from: Great Teacher LargoAnd if AIDS suddenly became airborne, we're all gone. Bai-bai, humanity. Nice knowing you. Don't forget to writ- Oh, wait, you're all dead.
Did you miss the memo that pointed out that about 10% of Europe is immune to AIDS, even when exposed repeatedly to HIV?
Yep. ANd I think GTL should have also read my post about plagues not actually killing off entire species of victims. It serves the virus/prion/bacteria no purpose to destroy any future hope of carriers/hosts because that would mean evolutionary dead end. Generally plagues soften up as the years wear on and the hosts' bodies begin to adapt.
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSC
Yep. ANd I think GTL should have also read my post about plagues not actually killing off entire species of victims. It serves the virus/prion/bacteria no purpose to destroy any future hope of carriers/hosts because that would mean evolutionary dead end. Generally plagues soften up as the years wear on and the hosts' bodies begin to adapt.
yeah tell the human plague that. 8)
Also the op should consider masking his discordian sainthood more.
Quote from: All rights reservedQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSC
Yep. ANd I think GTL should have also read my post about plagues not actually killing off entire species of victims. It serves the virus/prion/bacteria no purpose to destroy any future hope of carriers/hosts because that would mean evolutionary dead end. Generally plagues soften up as the years wear on and the hosts' bodies begin to adapt.
yeah tell the human plague that. 8)
Also the op should consider masking his discordian sainthood more.
Even the human plague won't be able to kill off its host, the Earth. We'll certainly be able to kill ourselves off, but Earth. There's just too much shit going on.
Quote from: Guido FinucciQuote from: Great Teacher LargoAnd if AIDS suddenly became airborne, we're all gone. Bai-bai, humanity. Nice knowing you. Don't forget to writ- Oh, wait, you're all dead.
Did you miss the memo that pointed out that about 10% of Europe is immune to AIDS, even when exposed repeatedly to HIV?
No human being is Immune to AIDS, and I dare you to show me a study published in a reputibalbe peer-review journal that says so. Those people in question have a conferred genetic restiance to AIDS, much in the manner that I have a genetic resistance to malaria. However, I can still catch malaria.
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Guido FinucciQuote from: Great Teacher LargoAnd if AIDS suddenly became airborne, we're all gone. Bai-bai, humanity. Nice knowing you. Don't forget to writ- Oh, wait, you're all dead.
Did you miss the memo that pointed out that about 10% of Europe is immune to AIDS, even when exposed repeatedly to HIV?
No human being is Immune to AIDS, and I dare you to show me a study published in a reputibalbe peer-review journal that says so. Those people in question have a conferred genetic restiance to AIDS, much in the manner that I have a genetic resistance to malaria. However, I can still catch malaria.
Heh. You missed the fact that Guido said "immune." He didn't say "resistant." They are finding people with not only resistance but also immunity. Not only in Europe but also in Africa.
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoThose people in question have a conferred genetic restiance to AIDS...
Just before I launch into a screaming rant, could you clarify for me exactly how a genetic resistance that prevents a condition from occuring despite repeated exposure is different from an immunity? I want to put this in words that you have an outside chance of being able to understand.
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Guido FinucciQuote from: Great Teacher LargoAnd if AIDS suddenly became airborne, we're all gone. Bai-bai, humanity. Nice knowing you. Don't forget to writ- Oh, wait, you're all dead.
Did you miss the memo that pointed out that about 10% of Europe is immune to AIDS, even when exposed repeatedly to HIV?
Yep. ANd I think GTL should have also read my post about plagues not actually killing off entire species of victims. It serves the virus/prion/bacteria no purpose to destroy any future hope of carriers/hosts because that would mean evolutionary dead end. Generally plagues soften up as the years wear on and the hosts' bodies begin to adapt.
While it may not be in a parasites best interest to kill of its host, many things are simply too virulent for their own good, such as Ebola, and the disease that actually is responsible for the Black Death. If there was such a thing as an Ebola cold, we'd all die. Every single last one of us, except maybe some people down at Antarctica. Ebola Reston had a 100% fatality rate among the monkies it inhabits, and guess what: It's shown up since then in other monkey populations. Ebola and its sister viruses, the filoviridiae, are horribly lethal in humans and monkeys. The solution to the problem is, we are not the intended hosts for the virus. There is some natural resivour of the disease, and when it gets into us it goes crazy and turns pretty much all of the host into virus. Ebola is one of the most hauntingly beatiful things in the world.
There are diseases that are so horribly potent that they could kill off all of the possible hosts. We've made them in labratories (but good luck getting the government to admit to it -- any government, take your pick) and they do exist naturally. The ones that exist naturally all live in something else, mostly benignly. Take stapholocacus, for example. It causes pimples and boils, but it can kill when it gets to the wrong part of the body.
If Ebola Reston (which does infect humans -- four people who were exposed to it eventually contracted the virus) killed us the same way it kills monkeys, I have no doubt there would not be a man, woman or child left alive on the planet right now (save those fuckers down in Antarctica. Fuckers.) Organisms don't always do what's best for them in the long term. It's called natural selection. Antelopes don't try to run faster than a cheetah. They just try to run faster than the other antelopes. A virus that is so virulent and potent that it kills all of its hosts and spreads like crazy to a new host is doing remarkably well -- horribly well, in fact -- until it kills the last host. It sacrafices long term beneft for short term gain, like many other creatures.
Ebola= mostly media hype and myth.
I didn't say anything about natural selection now did I?
And as far as organisms go, i wasn't being that specific. It's kind of hard to be specific when you are talking about life-forms that aren't individuated. I was speaking in general terms about broad sweeps of pathology and epidemiology...or whatever the fuck that word is. It's late.
Study plagues sometime.
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCEbola= mostly media hype and myth.
I was going to actually read your entire post and reply to it, but after I read that I realised you didn't really have a clue about what you're talking about. Ebola is not hype and myth. Ebola is one of the most dangerous things the human race has ever encountered.
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCEbola= mostly media hype and myth.
I was going to actually read your entire post and reply to it, but after I read that I realised you didn't really have a clue about what you're talking about. Ebola is not hype and myth. Ebola is one of the most dangerous things the human race has ever encountered.
Ah, no it's not. What rags are you reading? Where are you getting your info from? Ebola is more hype than anything else. There have been a few cases here and there...some mini-outbreaks...no real plague or epidemic. Ebola is also getting tamed down as time passes. Perhaps you should read up on your science.
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCEbola= mostly media hype and myth.
I was going to actually read your entire post and reply to it, but after I read that I realised you didn't really have a clue about what you're talking about. Ebola is not hype and myth. Ebola is one of the most dangerous things the human race has ever encountered.
Ah, no it's not. What rags are you reading? Where are you getting your info from? Ebola is more hype than anything else. There have been a few cases here and there...some mini-outbreaks...no real plague or epidemic. Ebola is also getting tamed down as time passes. Perhaps you should read up on your science.
I read the CDC and WHO information on the stuff. And its not getting 'tamed down.' That's like saying the British were lowering their crime rates by shipping all the criminals off to Australia. They're treating the symptom, not the cause.
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCEbola= mostly media hype and myth.
I was going to actually read your entire post and reply to it, but after I read that I realised you didn't really have a clue about what you're talking about. Ebola is not hype and myth. Ebola is one of the most dangerous things the human race has ever encountered.
Ah, no it's not. What rags are you reading? Where are you getting your info from? Ebola is more hype than anything else. There have been a few cases here and there...some mini-outbreaks...no real plague or epidemic. Ebola is also getting tamed down as time passes. Perhaps you should read up on your science.
I read the CDC and WHO information on the stuff. And its not getting 'tamed down.' That's like saying the British were lowering their crime rates by shipping all the criminals off to Australia. They're treating the symptom, not the cause.
Heh. CDC and WHO...where do you think they get their funding from?
If they didn't make people overly paranoid, they'd be up shit's creek without a paddle. They have to cater to media. Not exactly conducive to scientific study now is it? Seeking aid and delivering aid is a different business then research. Just saying. Read medical journals for the scoop on the poop.
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCEbola= mostly media hype and myth.
I was going to actually read your entire post and reply to it, but after I read that I realised you didn't really have a clue about what you're talking about. Ebola is not hype and myth. Ebola is one of the most dangerous things the human race has ever encountered.
Ah, no it's not. What rags are you reading? Where are you getting your info from? Ebola is more hype than anything else. There have been a few cases here and there...some mini-outbreaks...no real plague or epidemic. Ebola is also getting tamed down as time passes. Perhaps you should read up on your science.
I read the CDC and WHO information on the stuff. And its not getting 'tamed down.' That's like saying the British were lowering their crime rates by shipping all the criminals off to Australia. They're treating the symptom, not the cause.
Heh. CDC and WHO...where do you think they get their funding from?
If they didn't make people overly paranoid, they'd be up shit's creek without a paddle. They have to cater to media. Not exactly conducive to scientific study now is it? Seeking aid and delivering aid is a different business then research. Just saying. Read medical journals for the scoop on the poop.
I actually try to keep abreast of things involving ebola. I was a volunteer for a project that was going to administer a possible ebola vaccine to human beings, and if I hadn't been in Florida and them in Mass, I'd have been in, as it had been a week since it was announced and I was the third person to want to take them up on it. I would
love to have antibodies to Ebola (any of them) in my immune system's arsenal.
Remember that at one time the flu was very deadly and scared people all the time...and that was because the flu actually had outbreaks and epidemics.
Ebola hasn't been very widespread. In fact, it's been disappointing.
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCRemember that at one time the flu was very deadly and scared people all the time...and that was because the flu actually had outbreaks and epidemics.
Ebola hasn't been very widespread. In fact, it's been disappointing.
No. We have been uncommonly lucky. If the flu had been Airborne when it had been first encountered, that probably would have been it for humanity.
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCRemember that at one time the flu was very deadly and scared people all the time...and that was because the flu actually had outbreaks and epidemics.
Ebola hasn't been very widespread. In fact, it's been disappointing.
No. We have been uncommonly lucky. If the flu had been Airborne when it had been first encountered, that probably would have been it for humanity.
Flu? Ebola?
What the hell are you talking about?
The worse threat is from ass munching squirrels.
Want some?
Quote from: Burning TreesQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCRemember that at one time the flu was very deadly and scared people all the time...and that was because the flu actually had outbreaks and epidemics.
Ebola hasn't been very widespread. In fact, it's been disappointing.
No. We have been uncommonly lucky. If the flu had been Airborne when it had been first encountered, that probably would have been it for humanity.
Flu? Ebola?
What the hell are you talking about?
The worse threat is from ass munching squirrels.
Want some?
Is your avatar from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?
'Cause, dude, I've hit the ether, and I can hear the fucking bats.
Yes.
You like Gonzo, do you?
Quote from: Burning TreesYes.
You like Gonzo, do you?
Bazooka Beak?
I never touch the stuff!
WTF is Bazooka Beak?
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCWTF is Bazooka Beak?
What he said.
Quote from: Burning TreesQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCWTF is Bazooka Beak?
What he said.
Where is GTL anyway?
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Burning TreesQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCWTF is Bazooka Beak?
What he said.
Where is GTL anyway?
What do you mean, 'Where?'
You know, where?
Follow the pot smoke. You will probably find him.
That's true with most people.
Quote from: Burning TreesFollow the pot smoke. You will probably find him.
I haven't smoked pot since I was 16.
But, as to where I am.
29¬?39'55" North, 82¬?20'10" West, near enough.
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Burning TreesFollow the pot smoke. You will probably find him.
I haven't smoked pot since I was 16.
But, as to where I am.
29¬?39'55" North, 82¬?20'10" West, near enough.
Are you still 16 nowadays?
Quote from: Burning TreesQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Burning TreesFollow the pot smoke. You will probably find him.
I haven't smoked pot since I was 16.
But, as to where I am.
29¬?39'55" North, 82¬?20'10" West, near enough.
Are you still 16 nowadays?
Fuck no. If I had to be 16 for 5 years, I do declare I would have had to have kilt mahself, sirruh.
A lot of people go around saying stuff life "I haven't touch so and such since I was 18 or 19 or whatever and then say that they are still that much old.
Who are these freaks? We'll fix that.
What I really hate, is when you're on a date with a girl, and you're necking in the back seat of the car, or the park bench, or someplace, and suddenly she goes, "Stop, I'm seventeen," and you just up and say, "If you're fucking sixteen why did you give me your goddamn phone number at a 21/+ concert where you were drinking like a fish!?"
And then she gets pissed off you don't return her calls.
That's what I love. People who don't understand other peoples' desires to stay out of jail.
You mean you can't tell by looking at them?
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCYou mean you can't tell by looking at them?
If someone is at a 21/+ Concert, drinking alcohol, I assume they are 21/+.
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCYou mean you can't tell by looking at them?
If someone is at a 21/+ Concert, drinking alcohol, I assume they are 21/+.
Assumption = mother of all fuck-ups
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCYou mean you can't tell by looking at them?
If someone is at a 21/+ Concert, drinking alcohol, I assume they are 21/+.
Assumption = mother of all fuck-ups
I never assume. It makes an ass out of you and I.
You just said you do when it works to your advantage.
Quote from: Burning TreesYou just said you do when it works to your advantage.
No, I trust the bouncers can do their god damn job and tell a fake ID from a real one.
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCRemember that at one time the flu was very deadly and scared people all the time...and that was because the flu actually had outbreaks and epidemics.
Ebola hasn't been very widespread. In fact, it's been disappointing.
No. We have been uncommonly lucky. If the flu had been Airborne when it had been first encountered, that probably would have been it for humanity.
umm...OK, you just officially climbed on the short bus with taht statement...
if the flu had been airborne? how do you think it spread? did people go around licking each other's tongues or something? dude, it's not cool to spout off on shit to try to make yourself look knowledgeable when you actually have no fucking clue what you're talking about, especially when those you're debating with do know what they're talking about.
also, speaking as someone who spent years working as a bouncer at establishments ranging from classy beachside bars in Venice Beach to uber-sleazy strip joints in Greater Detroit, I can assure you taht there are a large number of establishments out there whose bouncers are instructed not to card attractive girls as long as they look like they could possibly be something close to 21. It's good for business to have them in the place.
Quote from: Se?±or MisteriosoQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCRemember that at one time the flu was very deadly and scared people all the time...and that was because the flu actually had outbreaks and epidemics.
Ebola hasn't been very widespread. In fact, it's been disappointing.
No. We have been uncommonly lucky. If the flu had been Airborne when it had been first encountered, that probably would have been it for humanity.
umm...OK, you just officially climbed on the short bus with taht statement...
if the flu had been airborne? how do you think it spread? did people go around licking each other's tongues or something? dude, it's not cool to spout off on shit to try to make yourself look knowledgeable when you actually have no fucking clue what you're talking about, especially when those you're debating with do know what they're talking about.
He is one stupid son of a bitch.
Okay...went away for half a day and I have no Idea where this all went. I think I will start with diseases then.
To Eric: Flu was probably one of the worst plagues in the last 2000 years, up there with Smallpox. Ebola is basically nothing compared to those two.
And dude? Where did you learn about biological immunity and resistance?
Okay, because you obviously don't know much about it, let me give you an example using something most people know: Antibiotics.
When you take antibiotics, you don't really kill all of the bacteria. Some will always survive to clone more bacteria. Why? Because they have traits that makes then physically immune to the specific chemicals in the antibiotics. On a side note, this is one of the reasons you should not just take antibiotics for every sickness that hits you, cause you are essentially breeding a super-clone race of bacterium who are now stronger than before.
Now to apply this Idea to humans. Lets use something easy, say, Influenza. When a large population of humans is introduced to a strong version of influenza, like there was in the past, there will be a small amount of the population that will be genetically resistant and possibly immune to the chemicals that the virus produces to enter cells and clone itself. That part of the population will survive to breed. In which case their children will most likely have that trait even stronger, as both parents carry it. In the end, the surviving race of humans become much like the "clone-army" of bacterium. It only looks like the virus has mellowed out, in truth, we have just become resistant. Same for the Black Plague. And I didn't even mention the inclusion of antibodies in mothers milk or the crossover of memory leukocytes during pregnancy.
Humans would NOT be destroyed by a massive plague, not with 6.3 billion people in the diverse gene pool. They would only be made stronger.
~BMW
Hint to retard:
Viruses and bacteria are different types of organisms.
Just to put my $0.02 into the mix, Measles.
Deadly, fatal a century ago. Minor nusience now.
Polio: Deadly a century ago, vaccine now.
Smallpox: Fatal a century ago, eradicated (except for a few scattered frozen samples) now.
Chicken Pox: Fatal
Mumps: Fatal (and a cause of sterility)
The so called "Child hood diseases" aren't called that because you get them in childhood, it's called that because you have a massive chance of survival IF you get them during childhood. Those same diseases are fatal in adults.
Now, to argue the other side: I had heard of ONE girl who lived through ebola, small child who had an active immune system. I THOUGHT I had heard a rumor of another child surviving AIDS, the full blown no T-cell count thing. I could very well be wrong since I don't pay attention.
To the original poster, you did a good job. Feels nice don't it? Had that happen a few times to me.
BMW++, for the original post and the explaination of immunity. Better than I could've done.
And I've heard from a few pretty reputable sources that there are at least a few people immune to aids.
[pedantic]
Of course, you all mean HIV. AIDS is not a disease in itself, it is a series of symptoms.
Just saying.
[/pedantic]
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSC
Heh. CDC and WHO...where do you think they get their funding from?
If they didn't make people overly paranoid, they'd be up shit's creek without a paddle. They have to cater to media. Not exactly conducive to scientific study now is it? Seeking aid and delivering aid is a different business then research. Just saying. Read medical journals for the scoop on the poop.
Absolutely!! Isn't it cute when they're all fresh and new and naive, how sweet. :wink:
Quote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCYou mean you can't tell by looking at them?
If someone is at a 21/+ Concert, drinking alcohol, I assume they are 21/+.
Assumption = mother of all fuck-ups
He really is horribly naive, isn't he :shock:
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCYou mean you can't tell by looking at them?
If someone is at a 21/+ Concert, drinking alcohol, I assume they are 21/+.
Assumption = mother of all fuck-ups
I never assume. It makes an ass out of you and I.
[gwb voice]
Flip flopper
[/gwb voice]
Quote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCYou mean you can't tell by looking at them?
If someone is at a 21/+ Concert, drinking alcohol, I assume they are 21/+.
Assumption = mother of all fuck-ups
I never assume. It makes an ass out of you and I.
Huhuhuhuhuh...You're stupid.
Quote from: ButtheadQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCQuote from: Great Teacher LargoQuote from: Irreverend Hugh, KSCYou mean you can't tell by looking at them?
If someone is at a 21/+ Concert, drinking alcohol, I assume they are 21/+.
Assumption = mother of all fuck-ups
I never assume. It makes an ass out of you and I.
Huhuhuhuhuh...You're stupid.
yeah, that scarey mean lady already pointed that out and so did that other guy, fartknocker
QuoteHint to retard:
Viruses and bacteria are different types of organisms.
Hint to doofus who doesn't have a name: Viruses are basically just packages of dna, probably originally came out of bacteria. Either way, they aren't organisms, they aren't alive. They don't metabolize, they don't really do anything but code for more viruses, and they cant even reproduce by themselves. Yeah, just some chemicals really, like a bacteria without the extras that actually make it alive.
Because they are not living, they cannot be organisms, and therefore your point is null.
8)
Quote from: Buddhist_Monk_WannabeQuoteHint to retard:
Viruses and bacteria are different types of organisms.
Hint to doofus who doesn't have a name: Viruses are basically just packages of dna, probably originally came out of bacteria. Either way, they aren't organisms, they aren't alive. They don't metabolize, they don't really do anything but code for more viruses, and they cant even reproduce by themselves. Yeah, just some chemicals really, like a bacteria without the extras that actually make it alive.
Because they are not living, they cannot be organisms, and therefore your point is null.
8)
you're cool, that other guy is a buttmunch, heh, heh, heh, I think everyone that posted today told him he was stupid, that's funny, but like I told doubtless, it takes the heat of off him and me, heh, heh, heh
I just don't like being called retarded by someone who is too pussy to post with a name and then they try to make a witty statement that actually shows how completly unknowlegable they are.
In which case I then pwn them. And thats okay, because I enjoy that part.
8)
~BMW
*high-five with drop rocks for BMW*
Thanks man. *high fives SM*
Quote from: Buddhist_Monk_WannabeThanks man. *high fives SM*
youre cool and smart, wow, but Butthead thinks youre a girl from your pic, heh, heh, heh
Dude, thats a classic Fred Gallager picy from the webcomic megatokyo, that I painstakingly CGed. Although she is cute, I am not Kimiko.
Just because your avitar is of a chich, does not mean that you ARE a chick.
Just sayin.
Said webcomic (//www.megatokyo.com)
Drawing before said CG (http://www.megatokyo.com/index.php?strip_id=370)
Drawing after said CG (http://drabaveranis.myblogsite.com/blog/_archives/2005/4/5/556209.html)
8)
Yurito Sakari
The Thurough Wannabe Buddhist Monk
Quote from: Buddhist_Monk_WannabeJust because your avitar is of a chich, does not mean that you ARE a chick.
Just sayin.
8)
Yurito Sakari
The Thurough Wannabe Buddhist Monk
cool, i can understand about the avatar, but Butthead, well, he's my friend and everything, but he's a dork, I swear
Dude, you are both dorks
But you are lovable dorks.
:D
~BMW
Quote from: Buddhist_Monk_Wannabe
Drawing before said CG (http://www.megatokyo.com/index.php?strip_id=370)
Drawing after said CG (http://drabaveranis.myblogsite.com/blog/_archives/2005/4/5/556209.html)
Dude, that's GOOD work. Well done.
i always thought it was 100% fred work. yeah cheeers dude.
Thx guys, I try hard. Hopefully, Im gonna start a new one soon. It takes so long to get motivated to sit at my computer for 12-20 hours so it gets done right. Still, the results are nice, and the praise is nice too.
~BMW
Quote from: Buddhist_Monk_WannabeThx guys, I try hard. Hopefully, Im gonna start a new one soon. It takes so long to get motivated to sit at my computer for 12-20 hours so it gets done right. Still, the results are nice, and the praise is nice too.
~BMW
You're cool, even though you called me a dork, which i probably am, but I think you're a dork too, so we will all stick together
DORKS UNITED!!!
No, Im a geek, not to beconfused with a nerd Not a dork.
~BMW