# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/161 "2015-10-16T03:08:39Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > I’ve found, for instance, that I only get itches or twitches in my right leg when I tentatively think a thought that I’m not sure is good and I stop and think about it. It’s as if God is reinforcing my query, encouraging me to believe that it is indeed a good thought. When I’m sure that the thought in question is good, no signal usually occurs. > > So I’d guess one of two things: 1) the itch is just an eczema, or 2) it means that the action in question is indeed a good action and God is reassuring you of that. But that’s just my all-too-fallible guess; I’m no prophet. > > Hopefully the itch will go away now. Ah, so it’s either an omniscient omnipotent omnibenevolent deity communicating via my palm, or it’s just eczema. In hindsight my family’s new spiritual direction was indeed a good action. Too bad God couldn’t communicate in a way that was more useful. ---
**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 16, 2015, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/162 "2015-10-16T08:13:28Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I’m not offended at all by the concept that God will yet reveal more truth to humanity. I am, after all, active LDS. What I am offended by is blatant dishonesty. Arrogance ill-becomes you. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/163 "2015-10-16T09:54:16Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > Arrogance ill-becomes you. You’re mistaken as to who is displaying arrogance in this thread. Hint: It is not I. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/164 "2015-10-16T11:08:54Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > You’re mistaken as to who is displaying arrogance in this thread. Hint: It is not I. Make a bolt of lightning hit near his feet! Please??? ---
**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 16, 2015, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/165 "2015-10-16T11:31:10Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > You’re mistaken as to who is displaying arrogance in this thread. Hint: It is not I. That’s rich, Monty. You are the epitome of arrogance, always have been since the days of the AOL SDMB for as long as I’ve known you online. Consider yourself on my Ignore List from now on. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/166 "2015-10-16T11:39:49Z")
Just a quick read of this thread, and if this isn’t some kind of spoof, it seems the OP may have developed a psychosis, especially if we take his word for it that he has been working on this theory of his for decades and believing it to be some sort of reality of how God talks to him. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/167 "2015-10-16T12:06:50Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > That’s rich, Monty. You are the epitome of arrogance, always have been since the days of the AOL SDMB for as long as I’ve known you online. > > Consider yourself on my Ignore List from now on. Make a bolt of lightning strike by his feet, while yelling, “DANCE!!, Dance, damn you!!!” Please? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/168 "2015-10-16T14:20:37Z")
I’ve already skated too close to breaking the site rules in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/169 "2015-10-16T15:16:14Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > That’s rich, Monty. You are the epitome of arrogance, always have been since the days of the AOL SDMB for as long as I’ve known you online. > > Consider yourself on my Ignore List from now on. Consider yourself warned. Both insults and saying someone’s on your ignore list. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/170 "2015-10-16T15:17:29Z")
And everyone, calm the hell down right now. No more personal shots. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/171 "2015-10-16T18:50:14Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > Just a quick read of this thread, and if this isn’t some kind of spoof, it seems the OP may have developed a psychosis, especially if we take his word for it that he has been working on this theory of his for decades and believing it to be some sort of reality of how God talks to him. I wouldn’t go to that extreme. As I said in my earlier response its just a combination of finding meaning in coincidence followed by big dose of confirmation bias. This is basic human nature and the reason that people who are convinced by numerology or horoscopes. Snark hunter feels a weird sensation in his arm (probably caused by a pinched nerve) and assumes that it is somehow associated with his current life situation. Then every time he feels a body sensation he evaluates his feelings at the time and adds it to his list. He then goes data mining and finds a pattern in the entirely random data as a skeleton for his theory. Once that is established every time he feels an itch he finds a way to fit his circumstances into the theory. If he’s waiting in line at McDonalds and his left leg itches than than must be because he is having impure thoughts about the cute girl at the counter. If his nose itches its because he’s about to make a choice as to what to eat. If his left had itches its because he is about to eat food that is bad for him, while if its his right hand its because he sees the opportunity to donate to the Ronald McDonald house. etc. Meanwhile, if he’s in a particular state of mind, say for example, he spent the last half hour listening to Pat Roberston. Its pretty easy to psychoanalytically induce an itching sensation in his cheeks. So all observational data fits his theory flawlessly, confirming his beliefs, and leading him to believe that he has stumbled onto divine truth, when in fact its all just random. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/172 "2015-10-16T19:14:44Z")
[Apophenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia) strikes again. Great for spotting saber-toothed tigers in the brush, terrible for forming complex theories based on completely subjective and unmeasurable input. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/173 "2015-10-16T19:56:19Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I wouldn’t go to that extreme. As I said in my earlier response its just a combination of finding meaning in coincidence followed by big dose of confirmation bias. {snip} In the DSM-V, mental health professionals start classifying the various delusions that last more than a month. That strange sensation that Snarkhunter feels has lasted for decades. But, you’re probably right on all of this though, and his “coincidences followed by big dose of confirmation bias” has led him down this road, but stopped short of turning it into a full-blown psychosis, and hasn’t impaired him enough to where he can’t take care of himself. And as long as one can function reasonably well in society, I suppose they don’t treat it as some more serious kind of mental disorder. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/174 "2015-10-16T19:59:45Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > Ah, so it’s either an omniscient omnipotent omnibenevolent deity communicating via my palm, or it’s just eczema. This strikes me as a safely hedged bet, and one I can completely agree with. For example, I have a cavity that I need to get filled. Either it’s Satan’s way of telling me he wants to recruit me for Hell’s competitive disco league, or I need to brush my teeth better. Also, my neck hurts. Either I’ve been sitting at the computer too long, or else leprechauns have been shooting faerie spitballs at my neck. I feel comfortable with both these statements. ---
**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 17, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/175 "2015-10-17T00:25:11Z")
This thread is turning downright amusing, as I suspected it would. If 3,000 skeptics laugh and shrug it off as the rantings of a loon today, I’d hope to convince them someday to take it seriously. My target audience is the militant radical muslims, anyway; I’m trying to convince them to listen to Allah’s body signals and to stop justifying _jihads_. Who knows if it will work, but at least I gave it a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/176 "2015-10-17T01:09:59Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > This thread is turning downright amusing, as I suspected it would. If 3,000 skeptics laugh and shrug it off as the rantings of a loon today, I’d hope to convince them someday to take it seriously. My target audience is the militant radical muslims, anyway; I’m trying to convince them to listen to Allah’s body signals and to stop justifying _jihads_. Who knows if it will work, but at least I gave it a shot. Seriously, try to step outside your own beliefs for a minute. Do you genuinely and honestly believe that the most effective thing you can do to reduce Muslim extremism is to visit a random messageboard and present your theories about divine itchiness? Because when it comes to reducing said extremist violence, I hardly think this thread constitutes giving it a shot. ---
**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 17, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/177 "2015-10-17T03:58:07Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Seriously, try to step outside your own beliefs for a minute. Do you genuinely and honestly believe that the most effective thing you can do to reduce Muslim extremism is to visit a random messageboard and present your theories about divine itchiness? > > Because when it comes to reducing said extremist violence, I hardly think this thread constitutes giving it a shot. You do have a point, but it’s better than doing nothing at all. What are **you** doing to help? ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/178 "2015-10-17T05:39:11Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > Stephen saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Somewhere it says that some people don’t know their right hand from their left, and elsewhere it mentions separating the sheep from the goats, the latter of which are found on God’s left hand. Kind of hard to believe God hates goats when you consider the [evidence](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/58/e6/65/58e6651d2f93e9e9faf53e21b05bd440.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/179 "2015-10-17T12:48:21Z")
> [@Snark\_Hunter](#): > > You do have a point, but it’s better than doing nothing at all. What are **you** doing to help? Is it? You’ve been at this for decades, and still haven’t found a single Muslim to subscribe to this tomfoolery, I fail to note how it’s better than doing nothing at all. If you were to reach a radical Muslim with this, for all you know, they could easily interpret their itches, twitches, and pain as inspiration to go out and do more mayhem, and more killings, thinking it was a good thing and a sign from God. ---
**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 17, 2015, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015/180 "2015-10-17T13:26:09Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > Is it? You’ve been at this for decades, and still haven’t found a single Muslim to subscribe to this tomfoolery, I fail to note how it’s better than doing nothing at all. I’ve been mapping the signals for decades. The Muslim thing is very recent. > [@](#): > > If you were to reach a radical Muslim with this, for all you know, they could easily interpret their itches, twitches, and pain as inspiration to go out and do more mayhem, and more killings, thinking it was a good thing and a sign from God. I hope not. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-signals-and-the-fall-of-radical-islam/734015.md?page=10)