...your reiterated belief that the only reason people reject your argument is because they've been brainwashed into embracing some form of cult mentality. You really should consider the obvious alternative--that they reject your argument on it's own merit (i.e., because it sucks.)

Ah! You have bestowed upon me a title; Mr. Talking head! (Shouldn't head be capitalized also?) A bit of an odd choice though considering the charge that I 'never have anything much worth saying' (A charge that I'll readily admit to being true. I double checked in my change jar and you're right, not a single penny in there for writing anything here. Is yours full?). I think a more appropriate title would be Mr. Brief Talking Head, since I do appreciate brevity. And as far as 'making a pot shot here and there' thanks for letting me know you noticed. I very much enjoy making pot shots. Just like I enjoy making pool shots and jump shots. I don't play the drums but after a really good zinger I do like to hear a crisp rim shot. I also enjoy shots (of bourbon). However, I never tried pot, so nothing on that.

"Ah! You have bestowed upon me a title; Mr. Talking head! (Shouldn't head be capitalized also?)"

It's my creation; it can be I want it to be. I think I'll change it thus: hEaD.

A bit of an odd choice though considering the charge that I 'never have anything much worth saying' (A charge that I'll readily admit to being true."

You're not supposed to agree. Where's the fun in that?

"I double checked in my change jar and you're right, not a single penny in there for writing anything here. Is yours full?)."

Does it really matter?

"I think a more appropriate title would be Mr. Brief Talking Head, since I do appreciate brevity."

*sighes*

"And as far as 'making a pot shot here and there' thanks for letting me know you noticed."

I noticed about as much a feel I mosquitos. It's hardly serves the glancing effect you so desire in narcissitic fashion.

"I very much enjoy making pot shots."

Yes, about as much as a troll I'm sure.

"Just like I enjoy making pool shots and jump shots."

Good for you.

"I don't play the drums but after a really good zinger I do like to hear a crisp rim shot."

What's with the drama? Kind of funny. What's next on 'tapp'?

"I also enjoy shots (of bourbon)."

So many shots? You must also enjoy vaccine shots.

"However, I never tried pot, so nothing on that."

Lol. You were searching for a ending note with this drama and that's all you could muster? Well, let me know when you can actually hold a discussion without training wheels. Guess it takes time for your intellectual prowess to develop. You'll get there one day. For now, stick to the pot shots.

;)

"because it sucks"

Cool. Gotta a little emotion from you! Now, was that so hard?

That's hardly the single basis of my argument. Completely overlooking your point of contention in it's design to be king of mountain, another basis is simply that people get vaccines our of fear and superstition. Need an antidote for death? Try a vaccine! You really should consider the hype and role of the media in this regard. This merely goes to show you that you don't need to religion to be superstitious.

I know dude. It's an appeal to emotion - a complete logical fallacy. And you suppose that appeal to emotion as a logical fallacy? I've never said that deaths weren't a big deal. I said the statistics are overhyped and not that much different from seasonal H1N1.

Worse case scenario? Twice as many deaths than regular seasonal H1N1: found two net sources that stated that prediction. I looked it up: 4000 from seasonal H1N1 a year. So twice that is 8000. That simply means instead of the regular 36000 average deaths a year from seasonal, we get 44000 total. In terms of perspective, the statistics would suggest

percentage of deaths from flu:

1. seasonal H1N1: 9%

2. swine H1N1: 18%

3. combined: 27%

Given that 90% of deaths occur in the elderly (also found that stat), or for conservative reasons in that swine H1N1 affects younger people more, let's say 70% of elderly die overall. Or 30% of younger people will die. 30% of the 18% statistic is: 5.4%. Ergo, of those who die from the flu, only 6% of young people will die from swine flu.

I'm so scared!!!

You guys stick to you're silly fallacious argument of appealing to emotion. I'll stick to the stats as rough estimates but ones that are more realistic than your superstitious emotions.

"After all, someone around here has to provide the burlesque entertainment :)"

And that would be me because the rest of you are such a boring drag? K-G! How insulting to the rest of them! I'm shocked!

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Nope, we're just more stylish.

But burlesque has its place too, so don't feel too sad.

"Nope, we're just more stylish."

Oh, so you belong to the popular club. Got it.

"But burlesque has its place too, so don't feel too sad."

Why would I feel sad? You're the one that should feel sad if your arguments depend merely on the latest fashion.

"Completely overlooking your point of contention in it's design to be king of mountain, another basis is simply that people get vaccines our of fear and superstition."
>>If by "out of fear" you mean because they're concerned about infection, then I guess you're right--how is that a problem.

As for superstition, what are you talking about? The efficacy of immunization isn't a superstitious beleif but firmly established fact.

Why would I feel sad? You're the one that should feel sad if your arguments depend merely on the latest fashion.

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Oh, don't worry, the contents of my arguments stay solid.

But I do prefer presenting them without any of the spittle-spraying insult-screaming histrionics that you seem to consider as 'passion' :)

And as you may remember even from your high school days -- content and style are *both* important when making a presentation.

I'm pretty sure the memorable post to which you've referred, which as I recall was part of the grand epic "Entities Incorporated: Homosexuality, Same-sex marriage, and the Group Mind -- a Treatise in Twelve Parts with Associated Addenda", first hit the board in 2006.

And, not that it much matters, but I believe that the topics addressed in that post actually included musings on the implications of genetically-altered intelligent gorilla brides and self-aware robot spouses, not gorilla-robot hybrid sex surrogates. Just to be clear... For history's sake...

Cheers.

It's possible that the gorilla and robot bride post hit in early 2007 -- I don't really remember exactly how long Patrick's saga dragged on. But it wasn't this year or even last year. That much I know.

Anyway, I have your birthday entered in my calendar so I can't forget it in the future. We've now got about eight months to go until the prophecy is disproved, right?

Cheers.

Yes. And since I've already been to see you, then you'll have to come see me for my birthday...if I'm still amongst the living. ;)

I don't think I read the gorilla/robot bride stuff. It was too soon after the thesis, in 28 parts (I believe he ran out of letters on that one), on the evils of homosexuality and gay marriage and its detrimental effects on society at large. I couldn't take any more silliness at the time. But I'm thinking it was 2006 or earlier on the gorilla robots, as the gay marriage thing was 2005-ish.

"As for superstition, what are you talking about? The efficacy of immunization isn't a superstitious beleif but firmly established fact."

You are completely delusional, seeing what you believe instead of believing what you've been shown from the evidence. The flu shot is 59% effective and simply doesn't work for children under the age of two! The fact that you continue to believe its efficacy is a case in point of your superstitious beliefs.

Moreover, the case of efficiency can also be questioned whether they produce autoimmunity or magnify inflammatory diseases later in life - this is questionable right now but if there's any truth to it, the shots are even less effective because, even though they might work for the sake of argument, they don't work in the long run because they don't keep you healthy. We can make that a side issue in questioning the effectiveness in terms of long term health.

For the sake of the argument let's say it IS established. Most people don't know that, having never seen a journal with the stats! They believe the people who say "get my antidote flu shot or die", people like you, and therefore that completely belongs in the realm of faith, which loans itself over into the suggestion that has to do with superstition!

The facts are in and studies have shown you are completely superstitious! Especially when vaccines aren't the only effective measure against disease: handwashing and nutrition also apply (unless you've, whoever, a compulsive disorder). To constantly over look these and put vaccines on an alter is...superstitious!