# Body Signals and the Fall of Radical Islam **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 9, 2015, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015 "2015-10-09T11:36:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Snark\_Hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snark\_Hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snark_Hunter)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/261 "2015-10-22T17:12:33Z")
Why people can be ultra-rude jerks and still expect me to engage in friendly conversation is beyond me. Tell you what: it ain’t gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/262 "2015-10-22T17:19:44Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > Why people can be ultra-rude jerks and still expect me to engage in friendly conversation is beyond me. Tell you what: it ain’t gonna happen. It’s not rude to point out that your position is utterly unconvincing. As far as anyone knows, God doesn’t exist. If He did, it seems far more likely that you’ve incorrectly attributed random itches into a system of messaging, than God creating this system and it going unnoticed for six thousand years (or however old you think Humanity is) until you happened upon it. 110 billion humans have lived, if you accept science’s number. You’re not noticing anything that hasn’t been noticed before. It beggars the mind that you’ve happened across a system like this when so many who came before have not. It’s not like you need to stand on the shoulders of giants to figure out your itch-map. Any human who ever lived could have done it. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/263 "2015-10-22T17:59:09Z")
This ‘body signal from God’ idea was triggering a memory for me, but I couldn’t place it until just now. In the novel _Xenocide_ (one of the sequels to _Ender’s Game_) by Orson Scott Card (who is–coincidentally?–LDS), one of the main characters is one of the ‘godspoken.’ These godspoken people are thought to be receiving signals from God in the form of various compulsions, like obsessively counting things, pulling out hairs one-by-one, etc. In truth, the godspoken have been genetically engineered to have high intelligence but also OCD, so that they can be controlled by the government. Not exactly the same as the OP’s fantasy, but that memory was bugging me. Feels good to scratch that itch! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/264 "2015-10-22T18:09:07Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > Why people can be ultra-rude jerks and still expect me to engage in friendly conversation is beyond me. Tell you what: it ain’t gonna happen. As said, we’re not attacking you, we’re discussing what you’ve posted. It’s not rude to point out that your argument is not convincing and that you’re using incorrect definitions of words. If you didn’t want comments and criticism, why did you post in Great Debates? ---
**Author:** ![Snark\_Hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snark\_Hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snark_Hunter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/265 "2015-10-23T08:09:26Z")
**Correct thought** = –Sun comes out from behind the clouds; –Light bulb flashes brighter momentarily; –You clear your throat; **Incorrect thought** = –Cloud covers the sun; –Light bulb dims momentarily; –You cough; **Right foot:** –Right ankle = Procrastination; –Left ankle = ? (not sure); **Left foot:** –Right ankle = Trying to deceive God; –Left ankle = Coming to the wrong conclusion; **Gas pains** = You’re procrastinating something spiritually important too long ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/266 "2015-10-23T09:38:21Z")
Okay, now you’re just making stuff up at t random. ---
**Author:** ![Snark\_Hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snark\_Hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snark_Hunter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/267 "2015-10-23T10:09:39Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Okay, now you’re just making stuff up at t random. How very left-ankle-y of you. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/268 "2015-10-23T11:21:07Z")
I am a little too old to start recording every random happenstance that I observe when I make decisions. However, the one thing I learned from the Illuminatus! trilogy was that we are pattern-making animals, and if we can find patterns anywhere if we look hard enough regardless of whether these patterns are legitimate or not. That is why we need to validate observations - if one person sees a pattern it is likely that they are deluding themselves but if three independent persons can find the same pattern then there may be something worth investing further research time. As it stands, you are promoting a crackpot idea. ---
**Author:** ![Snark\_Hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snark\_Hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snark_Hunter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/269 "2015-10-23T11:35:33Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > I am a little too old to start recording every random happenstance that I observe when I make decisions. > > However, the one thing I learned from the Illuminatus! trilogy was that we are pattern-making animals, and if we can find patterns anywhere if we look hard enough regardless of whether these patterns are legitimate or not. That is why we need to validate observations - if one person sees a pattern it is likely that they are deluding themselves but if three independent persons can find the same pattern then there may be something worth investing further research time. > > As it stands, you are promoting a crackpot idea. That is your opinion. You speak from ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/270 "2015-10-23T11:43:20Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > That is your opinion. You speak from ignorance. An honest ignorance is preferable to a self-deluded certainty. And you are not even amusing. Good day, sir! ---
**Author:** ![Snark\_Hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snark\_Hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snark_Hunter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/271 "2015-10-23T12:18:46Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > An honest ignorance is preferable to a self-deluded certainty. > > And you are not even amusing. Good day, sir! Sorry, I meant no offense. FWIW, I always reserve a sort of “back door” through which I can backpedal in case I’m wrong about something. So I’d say I’m only 95% sure that my theory is correct. I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Snark\_Hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snark\_Hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snark_Hunter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/272 "2015-10-23T12:53:16Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > As said, we’re not attacking you, we’re discussing what you’ve posted. It’s not rude to point out that your argument is not convincing and that you’re using incorrect definitions of words. I’m well aware that the term “theory” has a special meaning in the scientific disciplines. I clarified that I was using the term in a non-scientific way in post #1. > [@](#): > > If you didn’t want comments and criticism, why did you post in Great Debates? Read the fine print under the “Great Debates” forum: “This is also the place (if you feel you must) for witnessing.” ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/273 "2015-10-23T13:10:50Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > Read the fine print under the “Great Debates” forum: “This is also the place (if you feel you must) for witnessing.” So your objective is to validate your own convictions and test your faith in the face of adversity. The more people disagree and try to dismantle your beliefs, the tighter your grip on them. i.e. you must be on to _something_ if there is so much dissent. You’re gripping onto sand. But hey, whatever floats your boat. ---
**Author:** ![Snark\_Hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snark\_Hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snark_Hunter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/274 "2015-10-23T13:41:04Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > So your objective is to validate your own convictions and test your faith in the face of adversity. The more people disagree and try to dismantle your beliefs, the tighter your grip on them. i.e. you must be on to _something_ if there is so much dissent. > > You’re gripping onto sand. But hey, whatever floats your boat. Actually, I saw and read what ISIS was doing, and I wondered if I could do anything about it. Also, I wondered what would happen if many knew about the signals. This thread was the result. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/275 "2015-10-23T13:49:03Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > Actually, I saw and read what ISIS was doing, and I wondered if I could do anything about it. Also, I wondered what would happen if many knew about the signals. This thread was the result. But that’s not really witnessing, is it? Either way, you’ve made it clear that you’re not interested in debate, you’ve posted in the correct forum for witnessing, so I take my leave. At this point, the thread isn’t interesting to me. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/276 "2015-10-23T16:49:46Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > That is your opinion. You speak from ignorance. You’re not making sense in saying this. Everyone will be “ignorant” of how you experience your body. That is a feature of this thread and the reason for it. It says something that you cry “ignorant” when someone argues. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/277 "2015-10-23T17:19:10Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > Actually, I saw and read what ISIS was doing, and I wondered if I could do anything about it. In what sense?.. Sit them down and explain your philosphy to them? Given that they consider anyone who does not believe as they do to be an infidel who must be exterminated, do you think they’d be inclined to listen or simply kill you? > [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > Also, I wondered what would happen if many knew about the signals. Everybody has felt itches, twitches, aches, pains and illness. It’s universal to the human condition. But you’ve not established any connection this may have with a deity or what it wants you to do. > [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > This thread was the result. This thread was a result of you coming up with a personal “theory” based on ~20 years of self introspection. You then decided to reveal it to see if anybody would buy in or echo your experiences. When people challenged you, you could not defend your thesis and thus acccused them of being ignorant. In that sense, this was also the result. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/278 "2015-10-23T21:28:20Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > Sorry, I meant no offense. FWIW, I always reserve a sort of “back door” through which I can backpedal in case I’m wrong about something. So I’d say I’m only 95% sure that my theory is correct. I could be wrong. My “back door” has been itching a lot lately. Is it a Sign?? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/279 "2015-10-23T23:05:36Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > My “back door” has been itching a lot lately. Is it a Sign?? No, that’s just the thing you either have or you’ll get some day. It ends with 'rhoids (never could spell that). ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/280 "2015-10-23T23:33:51Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > My “back door” has been itching a lot lately. Is it a Sign?? Yes, it means God wants you to have the buttsex. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015.md?page=15)