Author Archives: Jeff Porten

Jason Snell @jsnell:
@GlennF I’m certainly not [Richard Dawkin’s] version of the term [“atheist”]. Not believing is not same as despising those who do.

Scott McNulty @blankbaby:
@jsnell @GlennF I’m an atheist but not a militant atheist like Dawkins.

Jason Snell @jsnell:
@blankbaby @GlennF Not being militant makes sense to me. Who would we shoot? Related: What does God need with a spaceship?

Aayush Arya @aryayush:
@jsnell @blankbaby @GlennF “The God Delusion”, in particular, is an excellent intro to modern atheism. And not of the militant sort.

Scott McNulty @blankbaby:
@aryayush @jsnell @GlennF I read that, and isn’t the whole thesis that religion is responsible for most bad things and is horrible itself?

@blankbaby @aryayush @jsnell @glennf Rephrased: religion gets away with ideas that would be called delusional were it not religion.

@blankbaby @aryayush @jsnell @glennf Dawkins argues against all such delusions, but each argument can be treated separately.

Scott McNulty @blankbaby:
@jeffporten @aryayush @jsnell @GlennF I am of the mind that religions have done, and are capable of, doing good things.

@blankbaby @aryayush @jsnell @glennf Right. Many atheists agree, & *also* say that religion shouldn’t get a pass on delusional beliefs.

@blankbaby @aryayush @jsnell @glennf Some atheists think religions are negative on balance—Dawkins’ view—but that’s a separate issue.

Aayush Arya @aryayush:
@jeffporten @blankbaby Exactly. And I agree with Dawkins on this, to be frank. They do good things, but we’d be better off without them.

Aayush Arya @aryayush:
@jeffporten @blankbaby That is not a militant thought in and of itself. Seeking to eradicate religion through conversion is militant.

@aryayush @blankbaby I agree, but pragmatically, that’s an argument not worth making when not preaching to the choir. As it were.

@aryayush @blankbaby “Militant” atheism is defined various ways. Not worth debating the term—too many sides attempting to claim/project it.

@aryayush @blankbaby Many evangelists think saying “I am atheist and you might consider it” is itself a militant act against them.

Jesse Spector @jessespector:
A quick trip to the craps table is not a wireless issue. RT @tpanotchCSN: Tweets may be few and far between b/c of wireless issue here in AC

@jessespector Depends on whether you’re using the “special” dice.

Julian Sanchez @normative:
If only… // Pastor: Dems want to ensure ‘everybody is committing homosexual acts, high on drugs’ ow.ly/1PJcrs

@normative Raises the theological question: if you were too stoned to remember it, is it still a sin?

“@cspan: Francis Cleveland, @ age 21, was youngest to become First Lady.” // A record I hope stands forever, for the love of Christ.

Alison Forns @alisonforns:
At this point I’m kinda wishing “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” happened in Vegas.

@alisonforns @GlennF Omitted clause: “make up exaggerated stories about Vegas.”

M Francois-Cerrah @MFrancoisCerrah:
Tonight,Dawkins argued that teaching a child about hell is worse than a child being sexually abused,which he said ‘she might feel was yucky’

Jason Snell @jsnell:
@GlennF Dawkins has become what he despises.

Glenn Fleishman @GlennF:
@jsnell He is Prime Reason #1 in why I am not an “atheist,” as his version requires religious-style knowledge of absolutes.

@GlennF @jsnell I disagree with this categorization. His absolute dismissal is akin to the orbiting teapot: dismiss until evidence is shown.

Glenn Fleishman @GlennF:
@jeffporten @jsnell That’s not how he does it. He spends a lot of time explaining what you can’t believe in.

@GlennF @jsnell Personally, I’m unclear why the atheist/skeptical community is so quick to create circular firing squads.

Glenn Fleishman @GlennF:
@jeffporten @jsnell I’m not part of any community like that. Dawkins says thinks offensive to rational people all the time.

@GlennF @jsnell I think he’s a genius, but the 30 minutes I’ve spent with him are enough. & I’ve been challenged by him, never offended.

Glenn Fleishman @GlennF:
@jeffporten @jsnell Dawkins defines a lot of his atheism in terms of theism rather than, say, reality or science.

@GlennF @jsnell I think it’s more pointing out a lack of evidence—albeit in the most dickish way possible.

@GlennF @jsnell Personally, I’m unclear why the atheist/skeptical community is so quick to create circular firing squads.

@GlennF @jsnell Not enough to say, “brilliant in some ways, disagree in others” and leave it at that? Not everyone is @neiltyson cuddly.

Jason Snell @jsnell:
@jeffporten @GlennF Dawkins is an asshole. All groups have some.

@glennf @jsnell FWIW, he’s the only person I’ve ever met in real life who reminded me of the upper class British twit stereotype.

Glenn Fleishman @GlennF:
@jeffporten @jsnell Flip side: He married Romana, so.

Jesse Spector @jessespector:
Given the number of road signs in Massachusetts that direct you to Woonsocket, R.I., you’d think it was the world’s most important place.

@jessespector It is if all you have is a woonwrench.

Glenn Fleishman @GlennF:
Glenn word of the day: Pettifog. Try to work it in. If you want to argue about what pettifog means, you’re pettifogging.

@GlennF If the argument attracts several other people on a street corner, you’re at Pettifog Junction.

Tim Schafer @TimOfLegend:
TSA agent just told me how to get to the Cinnabon without going back through airport security. Thank you, Patriot Act!

@TimOfLegend @nyetoon TSA has determined that people in sugar comas are of no danger to anyone.

Tim Schafer @TimOfLegend:
@jeffporten @nyetoon They must not have heard of the Twinkie Defense!

Glenn Fleishman @GlennF:
People who bought a region-free Blu-Ray player at Amazon also bought “Nymph Diver: G-String Festival” amzn.to/UQnb9Z

@GlennF It’s important to stay abreast of classic movies.

Amanda C. Becker @acbeckr:
Okay, so I’m intense. SO WHAT?!

@acbeckr People have said that to me as if it’ll make me suddenly grow a thermostat.

Amanda C. Becker @acbeckr:
@jeffporten Better than being comatose.I swear most people’s lives are played out with “Comfortably Numb” on repeat in the background.

@acbeckr Both sides prob. have their advantages. I just don’t have access to my own on/off switch, and don’t get people who think I should.

Lex Friedman @lexfri:
Fact: I said “accurately.” RT @lexfri: I’m finding Siri increasingly impressive at adequately transcribing the things I say.

@lexfri Siri is preemptively and recursively keeping expectations low.

Shawn King @ShawnKing:
DAMMIT! I hate doing a great interview with someone and then, at the end as I’m hanging up, saying, “Bye bye!” LIKE I’M A TEN YEAR OLD!!

@ShawnKing Could be worse. I picked up “ciao” while I was in Italy, so I sound like a douchebag.

Shawn King @ShawnKing:
@jeffporten LOL I picked up the Italian “si si si” thing and couldn’t stop for about 2 months afterwards. :)

Amanda C. Becker @acbeckr:
My favored cooking method: turn the heat on high and get it over with already.

@acbeckr That’s why many of my recipes accidentally get the word “crispy” added to them.

Nye @nyetoon:
Need to shower the wordpress widgets off of me. the site is back up! nyetoon.com

@nyetoon Be sure to moisturize. PHP is a skin irritant.

Nye @nyetoon:
@jeffporten and a patience irritant

Peter Cohen @flargh:
“This report comes from a reliable source who claims to have talked to someone from inside the walls of Apple.” Well, that sounds ironclad.

@flargh Apple’s secret architect for new HQ was Amontillado. Requiscat in pace, enjoy the wine.

“@wootoff: $59.99 : IRIS Bluetooth Scanner woot.com” // Warning: won’t scan your iris w/out $30 corneal-retina adapter.

“@brainpicker: The White Shadow, Hitchcock’s earliest film j.mp/XX2bVq” // Jimmy Stewart becomes chair-ridden bball coach