# I pit Halloween for bringing the woo-woos out! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 17, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669 "2004-10-17T14:28:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/121 "2004-10-19T01:20:55Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > You just don’t get it, do you? No, _you_ just don’t get it. This ain’t Commie China where you’re forced to think a certain way. Maybe you’d like it that way, all of us lined up with pinstriped shirts, bow ties and pocket protectors, constantly adjusting our bent horn rimmed glasses, reciting the “Eternal Truths of the Amazing Randi” from our little mauve books with the gold-leaf smiley face on the cover. Hundreds of little robots, all thinking alike. As Martha would say, “It’s a _GOOD_ thing!” ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/122 "2004-10-19T01:44:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Just. Show. Me. You from Missouri? ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/123 "2004-10-19T01:49:18Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > I’d strongly recommend the autobiography of [http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/](http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/)]Susan Blackmore, who spent two decades earnestly searching for something, _anything_ to confirm the existence of the things she started out believing in. Yeah, take a look at her photo and see what happens when the sckepticknazis get through with you. (woo woo!) ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/124 "2004-10-19T01:53:50Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > Sorry, [Susan Blackmore](http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/). He means [rainbowbrain](http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/) ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/125 "2004-10-19T01:57:50Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > I note in passing that **Aeschines** is now completely devoid of debating points, and has become quite desperate. This is what happens when faith is held up to the light of reason. It has no answer. Then you should have noted also that this is not a debating thread, dumkopf! It’s the pit, where I can point our your sorry attempt at character assassination and call you a :wally . ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/126 "2004-10-19T02:01:37Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > creduloid Lessee now, they evolved from skeptaloids… Oh, that’s right, I forgot, you don’t _believe_ in evolution… No scientific evidence. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/127 "2004-10-19T02:07:16Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > Do you consider it a very real possibility that the strange noise could be the sound of Santa coming down your chimney? No? Why not? Why is that not a very real possibility? Why is that less of a possibility than ghosts? > > My point is that, once you’ve accepted the possiblity that something for which there is no proof is nonetheless a very real possibility, you no longer have the tools necessary for a rational investigation of your world. You are now open to believing almost any bit of nonsense. You have no way of distinguishing the real from the loopy. There’s no proof of black holes, no proof that electrons/protons/neutrons are “particles,” no proof of the big bang, soooo… what _do_ you believe? Anything? ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/128 "2004-10-19T02:17:00Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > Religions, on the other hand, were invented by man. The inventors endowed those religions with their own notions of what was right and wrong. To believe otherwise, to believe that religions were handed down to man by some divine entity, puts you in the awkward position of having to explain how we ended up with dozens of different religions. Right. Religions were invented by man. Now, to the point: why? Religions were invented so that men who wanted power over others could control their thinking, and hence their actions. Some did it for power, others for glory, but it all works out the same. Control their thinking, control them. Tell them what to believe and what not to believe based on debatable principles. Sound familiar? Doesn’t matter if you call them “infidels” or “creduloids,” “sinners” or “gullible.” Skepticism (as defined in this thread, not as defined in the dictionary) is just another religion, bent on controlling the thoughts of the opposition. Halloween is made for such creeps. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/129 "2004-10-19T02:24:25Z")
> [@Elenia28](#): > > If we’re not talking about the possibility and potentiality of these false beliefs holding back the real science… > > then I guess you could say it never harms anyone to believe in these little fairy tales. But damnit, if nothing else at all, you people who believe in all these fairy tales, we could use you on the side of logic! If you would put half the imaginings you put into ghosts/UFOs/nuclear death sponges/GOD into finding a cure for AIDS, or cancer, or feeding the hungry, or WHATEVER, then we would probably be halfway to solutions for these things. These are harmful practices. As long as the human race continues to be devious and continues to harm one another then these will continue to be dangerous. Sounds like a religious rant to me… Don’t believe in ESP, all of humanity will go to hell! (in a handbasket, no less) ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/130 "2004-10-19T02:26:31Z")
Well Snake, it looks like we discovered what Halloween _does_ bring out, at least in the Pit: highly intolerant, ignorant assholes. Hey Scumpup, Early Out, and all you other losers, if you have any kind of balls you’ll take your half a wit between ya and go to GD and engage in a _real_ debate instead of the group-think hate-fest you have going on here. Heh, what jokers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/131 "2004-10-19T02:28:44Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Well Snake, it looks like we discovered what Halloween _does_ bring out, at least in the Pit: highly intolerant, ignorant assholes. > > Hey Scumpup, Early Out, and all you other losers, if you have any kind of balls you’ll take your half a wit between ya and go to GD and engage in a _real_ debate instead of the group-think hate-fest you have going on here. > > Heh, what jokers. 🙂 “Fuck you” - Aeschines Oh, you’re reaaaal impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/132 "2004-10-19T02:34:04Z")
That they’ve been reduced to spluttering speaks volumes. I don’t care to stick around for any more of **SnakeSpirit’s** mental masturbation, however - I don’t want to get any on me when he climaxes. My work here is done. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/133 "2004-10-19T02:39:39Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > If you honestly don’t believe that there’s any value in fighting ignorance, why read or post on this board? I suppose that’s only if you get to define ignorance, right? I define ignorance to include active suppression of ideas that are still in question, doesn’t everyone? ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/134 "2004-10-19T02:46:14Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It comes down to this as the argument for one who doesn’t have a leg to stand on. > > Haj “Fuck You” is not an argument, stupid, it’s an invective. Or don’t skeptaloids know the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/135 "2004-10-19T02:47:07Z")
> [@SnakeSpirit](#): > > I define ignorance to include active suppression of ideas that are still in question, doesn’t everyone? Depends on what you mean by ‘still in question’. There’s boatloads of paranormal stuff that has been well established to be without the slihgtest foundation. At what point do you say “there’s nothing in the evidence jar, and it sure doesn’t look like there’s going to be anything in there soon”? Sorry, but I have little use for psuedo-intellectual waffling over subjects that are only interest due to their sexy ‘paranormal’ value. If we were to waste time on every hypothesis that has the same level and quantity of evidence as most of the ‘paranormal’ topics we’d be still trying to prove the Ether Hypothesis, N-rays, and Mini-Comet photos. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/136 "2004-10-19T02:48:02Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > There you go with the bad vibes again. Come on now, center your spirit and breathe deeply…peach in, green out…peach in, green out… Purify those energies…open your soul to angelic influences…let the sunshine in…kumbiyah…let the crystal enhance your natural personhood…and use your innate psi talents to remote view what the world looks like with your head pulled out of your ass. Sorry **Scum** , promoting your religion in this instance is not considered good debate form. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/137 "2004-10-19T02:54:35Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Here, I’ll make it REAL easy-there is a coin on my desk. It has been on my desk for over 15 years. Tell me what the coin is. OK…this is easy. If it’s at least 15 years old, then it’s not a Sackie. I know you’re a fan of the ladies…but it’s probably not an SBA dollar either. You’re turgidly pro-American, so it’s not likely to be a non-US coin. You don’t like copper because it makes your skin turn green, which might stain your comic book collection. So it must be silver, nickel, or clad. It could be gold, but you’re not that rich. You don’t like silver because you’re a lycanthrope. It burns and all. So it must be nickel or clad. You’re a “classic” sort of guy, one that harkens back to an earlier period of 5-cent Burma Shaves and Raymond Chandler. Too old for clad. So it’s an older nickel, from before 1950. You like steak, so the coin would be one that reminds you of steak. It’s a 1936 Buffalo Nickel. [sub]May as well try…if by some chance I guessed it right, Czarcasm would become my willing slave and forever worship my powers…if not, I wasted some electrons…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/138 "2004-10-19T02:56:37Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > You gave examples of people bashing members of major religions for the _things they do_, not simply for believing in the tenents of those religions. You seem to be missing _my_ point here. > > I’ve completely backed up my claim. Give me a link to a thread where posters were going on and on in gleeful delight about how moronic Christians or Muslims are for believing in the tenents of their religions. Give me a link where they’re referred to as “morons” and “idiots” for doing _nothing more_ than having a belief _you_ don’t approve of. It’s doubtful you can do this, because _it doesn’t happen_. I’m not talking about con artists here. I’m talking about launching a personal attack on someone for _no other reason_ than their own private religious beliefs. > > In case you’ve missed it the second time around, _that_ was my claim, that it doesn’t happen. Because it’s not okay. It’s being an asshole. Think the people are morons all you like. But don’t attack them for merely having beliefs you don’t share. > > I’m also curious to hear your response to my question regarding which religions, if any, are “acceptable” to you, the believers thus escaping your ridicule and vitriol for _daring_ to believe in something you feel is ridiculous. **lezlers,** it looks like you got 'em. You’re calling a spade a spade, and the spade is the **bigot** card. These folks are attacking people just because their belief systems are different then theirs, and they are applying a double standard. They also lump people who have a curiosity about the inexplicable with deliberate frauds who exploit people’s hopes and dreams. Kinda like saying all Christians are Moonies or that they follow David Koresh. Dirty tactics. Mind-control tactics. has nothing to do with fighting ignorance, and everything to do with promoting bigotry. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/139 "2004-10-19T02:59:50Z")
> [@Early Out](#): > > I defy anyone, _ **anyone** _, to make sense out of this post. Make it worth my while. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669/140 "2004-10-19T03:03:40Z")
> [@Mr. Miskatonic](#): > > “Fuck you” - Aeschines > > Oh, you’re reaaaal impressive. Beats you in half a heartbeat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-halloween-for-bringing-the-woo-woos-out/269669.md?page=8)