And the fact you don’t click on it or even respect one’s position is my point and the problem I’m pointing out. Why should I respect “science” which isn’t science but rather an institution if said institution is based on disrespect. You are the embodiment of why people are turning away from “science” (note not actual science but rather the perceived instution of it). The attitude of “I’m not even going to read/view your material because it/you doesn’t look ‘credible’ or have the right top-down specs.” “Science” is become more and more a top down authority system that’s more and more proving to be unreliable and abusive. That’s why people are decentralizing knowledge, educating themselves and doing their own real science just like their pursuing their own spiritual paths instead of following blindly after “Religion.” “Science” is largely dogma and hiararchy. And quite frankly the fact that you are so dismissive of my material proves that. I posted a ted talk for crying out loud and a lecture on math. Why should others respect you if you aren’t going to respect them?
Anyway I don’t want to turn this into anothe huge debate. Tho it seems to me with a free internet we’d be able to educate either way.
For anybody doubting that the video Blindsite posted is pseudo-scientific - it was removed from TED for just this reason. This short piece may explain:
Blindsite, it is common courtesy to read another person’s posts prior to responding to them - otherwise you are just talking and making statements, rather than actually discussing anything. If you maintain you have read my posts prior to responding to “how it sounds” - then you are deliberately misrepresenting my position. Your atheists being religious etc comments are just incoherent to me. Make your argument, respond to the points being made don’t just wafflle…shit or get off the pot basically…and please post your pseudo-science off-topic where it belongs, as it has no relevance to this thread.
I am watching the first one. Of course they are interesting and fascinating, but I immediately recognize an air of mysticism. I’ve seen similar videos before, and many of them became huge messes of conspiracy theories involving aliens, government conspiracies to keep science fiction-like breakthroughs from the common people, and more extremely unlikely things that I can’t remember. At some point it starts to feel almost cult-like, as if they are trying to activate those parts of the human brain that also makes you vulnerable to religions or radical ideologies.
I’m pretty open minded, and I always give conspiracy theories a fair chance, but once this air of mysticism sets in I usually only keep watching for entertainment.
I agree with everything you just said…I’ve just had my fill of this kind of entertainment…lol…you are spot on though, its the weaving of science and mysticism together with “sciencey” sounding explanations using flowery language and invoking what I now call “deepities” as Daniel Dennett describes them:
You are right, it sounds convincing and you are hypnotically strung along…as you say it is the same process religions use
It always boils down to one essential thing in these videos: PATTERNS EVERYWHERE! DON’T YOU SEE, IT’S ALL CONNECTED!
The human brain is very sensitive to patterns, it is one of the main causes of our flexibility and intelligence, but it also means that humans LOVE seeing patterns and we also see them when there are actually no patterns at all. Our brains tend to ignore the logical contradictions in perceived patterns and focus on the factors that do support a pattern. This over-sensitivity causes believes in conspiracy theories, fate, superstition, acceptance of invalid metaphors, and also paranoia.
In addition, being very intelligent doesn’t necessarily make you more resistant to it. If you’re extremely sensitive to it and intelligent, you’ll start seeing mathematical patterns in the words and characters in newspaper articles and that kind of shit.
Again, totally agree with everything you just said…we should chat more often…lol
Edit:
Actually, that last bit is something that I don’t think I have made clear in any posts and this could be a source of perceived arrogance on my part. I would be as susceptible as the next person to childhood indoctrination and the like……intelligence has nothing to do with it. I “got away with it” really, as my parents were Christian – one Catholic, one Protestant, but neither really mentioned it and we rarely went to Church.
I’m conscious I’m digressing, but I remember the absolute horror I felt as a 10 year old to discover by something she said that my mum ACTUALLY believed stories about Jesus – rather than was just “saying things” to fit in socially somehow. My whole world just didn’t make sense anymore….people…even my Mum actually believed this shit…I was shaken to my boots. I suppose I was a bit precocious though in this regard as a kid and refused to take part in RE lessons at my stuffy authoritarian Grammar school (it was compulsory). I got caned till my arse bled weekly but refused to give in despite my parents both being on my case too – I was around 12 or 13 I think. Eventually, the school gave in and I did an extra Art lesson instead……lol….I’ve been the same all my life. I’d say I dodged a bullet…not that I’m especially intelligent….I’m a painter and decorator after all…lol
“Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man” -some Jesuit saying
Basically they didn’t get me till 7.
Sorry for veering wildly off-topic…I’ll shut up now…