# KGS you silly boy, get your ass in here **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 5, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499 "2006-05-05T03:28:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Ensign\_Edison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ab992/32.png) [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/201 "2006-05-08T14:38:59Z")
KGS, You have indicated that you’re not very good at being psychic yet. It shows. People who are good at it don’t waste time arguing about it with us skeptical sorts on message boards. kisses, –Ensign Tom PS. It’s all in your head. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/202 "2006-05-08T17:00:58Z")
[QUOTE=Ensign Edison] People who are good at it don’t waste time arguing about it with us skeptical sorts on message boards. [/QUOTE] That’s right. The good ones get really boring TV shows instead. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/203 "2006-05-08T17:11:34Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] But you _do_ have to offer up something of yourself, some kind of insight that **proves** to me you are actually interested in debating the question. It doesn’t have to be anything personal or intimate (although I’d love to eat your liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti) but it does have to be more than just one question after another. Like **Bryan Ekers** , **Jodi** , and **1920’s Style Death Ray**. I read the “aura” projected by their words (yes, it was a cold reading) and determined their questions were, in fact, genuine. I was right. Everyone else…not so much. I’ll check in tomorrow to see if anyone takes up my offer. [/QUOTE] Well apparently I’m on your ignore list 😃 , but note that I asked some civil questions about your claims which you: a) ignored, then b) claimed not to understand, then c) claimed I didn’t want to know the answers, then d) ignored me Note that I posted the thread giving **my year-long test on this very board of a psychic**. All polite and scientific throughout. Finally he decided he didn’t have psychic abilties. This incredible achievement (unique as far as I know) apparently doesn’t qualify as ‘being interested in the subject’. According to you. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/204 "2006-05-08T17:45:31Z")
Aura readings aside, my posts were a deliberate use of Socratic irony, using innocent-seeming questions to draw out the contradictions and irrationality of KGS’s beliefs. Had I simply heaped scorn on him, as other posters have, it would just feed his paranoia, which he’s using as reinforcement (i.e. I have knowledge; others are seeking to ridicule my knowledge; therefore they fear my knowledge; therefore my knowledge has merit). Heck, even pointing out that his beliefs have no rational merit is pointless, because he cheerfully points out that psi is _beyond_ reason. Unfortunately, people with views similar to KGS are _not_ the downtrodden minority he claims. Fortunately, though, it’s not necessary that 100% of a society believe in science for that society to benefit from science. We can afford to humour KGS and those like him. I wish he wouldn’t misuse scientific jargon, though, just out of respect. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/205 "2006-05-08T19:22:40Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Aura readings aside, my posts were a deliberate use of Socratic irony, using innocent-seeming questions to draw out the contradictions and irrationality of KGS’s beliefs. Had I simply heaped scorn on him, as other posters have, it would just feed his paranoia, which he’s using as reinforcement (i.e. I have knowledge; others are seeking to ridicule my knowledge; therefore they fear my knowledge; therefore my knowledge has merit). Heck, even pointing out that his beliefs have no rational merit is pointless, because he cheerfully points out that psi is _beyond_ reason. Unfortunately, people with views similar to KGS are _not_ the downtrodden minority he claims. Fortunately, though, it’s not necessary that 100% of a society believe in science for that society to benefit from science. We can afford to humour KGS and those like him. I wish he wouldn’t misuse scientific jargon, though, just out of respect. [/QUOTE] Why are you backpedaling all of a sudden? Is the peer pressure starting to get to you? And why should anyone care, what I think? I’m entitled to my own belief system, aren’t I? Or is that something I signed away, when I paid for registration on this board? I sure didn’t see it in the fine print, not even when I read between the lines. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/206 "2006-05-08T19:25:37Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] Okay, that makes sense. You say these are _unconscious_ patterns, though. Wouldn’t it be useful, to devise a system that makes these patterns _conscious_, so the person can identify the negative patterns and discard them, and focus solely on the positive patterns? Or perhaps, help a person identify the positive patterns that are useful, so they don’t get stung by bees all the time? [/QUOTE] Good idea, I think we call that science. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/207 "2006-05-08T19:33:18Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] Why are you backpedaling all of a sudden? Is the peer pressure starting to get to you? [/QUOTE] Backpedalling from what? Oh oh wait, I know. You don’t care to show us. Or you would but you don’t have time. Or some other nonsense. > [@](#): > > And why should anyone care, what I think? I’m entitled to my own belief system, aren’t I? Or is that something I signed away, when I paid for registration on this board? There you go again. Implying that your beliefs are being restricted. That straw man you have been building over the past few days is turning into a Goliath. > [@](#): > > I sure didn’t see it in the fine print, not even when I read between the lines. Maybe you should have read the aura between the lines. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/208 "2006-05-08T19:48:14Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] Why are you backpedaling all of a sudden? Is the peer pressure starting to get to you? [/quote] Ridiculous attempt at counter-attack. My views on “psi” are well-documented on this board. I’ve even been pitted for them, twice. I was subjecting Aeschines and others to the same Socratic routine long before this thread, because I find it entertaining and less of a waste of time than just calling them names. Frankly, I’m a little dismayed at my fellow skeptics for feeding your delusions of martyrdom when they can just as easily get you to talk about your beliefs and reveal how empty and irrational they are. > [@](#): > > And why should anyone care, what I think? I’m entitled to my own belief system, aren’t I? Or is that something I signed away, when I paid for registration on this board? I sure didn’t see it in the fine print, not even when I read between the lines. Are you under the impression your right to your own belief system is being denied? What’s _really_ happening is that your belief system is being challenged and ridiculed, as it richly deserves, for being an irrational hodgepodge of complete nonsense that tries to sneer at the vastly superior scientific method approach, and by “vastly superior” I mean effective and useful. A sage can mumble vaguely about future visions, which the devout can later mangle to roughly correspond to real-life events but a meteorologist, working from a long tradition of study of empirical evidence can say pretty accurately what the weather will be like next week. Science 1, Psi 0. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/209 "2006-05-08T20:43:30Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Ridiculous attempt at counter-attack. [/quote] I didn’t intend for my words to sound like a personal attack. Sorry about that, **Bryan**. > [@](#): > > Frankly, I’m a little dismayed at my fellow skeptics for feeding your delusions of martyrdom… So you agree, that is what’s been going on since the previous thread. Thank you for finally pointing it out. Not that anyone else will listen, but thank you just the same. > [@](#): > > What’s _really_ happening is that your belief system is being challenged and ridiculed, as it richly deserves, for being an irrational hodgepodge of complete nonsense that tries to sneer at the vastly superior scientific method approach, and by “vastly superior” I mean effective and useful. Quite the opposite. If you go back and read our dialogue together, you will see that, in fact, _we agree_ on many issues. We just use different words to describe them, like the unconsious recognition of patterns. True, we vastly _dis_agree on many others, such as the “vastly superior scientific method approach”. That is a statement of opinion, and to pass it off as absolute fact is, well, shameful. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/210 "2006-05-08T20:48:50Z")
[QUOTE=glee] Well apparently I’m on your ignore list [/quote] Not anymore (obviously) > [@](#): > > Note that I posted the thread giving **my year-long test on this very board of a psychic**. All polite and scientific throughout. Finally he decided he didn’t have psychic abilties. I must have missed the thread. Can you link to it again, please? > [@](#): > > This incredible achievement (unique as far as I know)… WHOA!! Are you full of yourself, or what! :eek: I’ll let that statement stand as written. Maybe your peers won’t recognize your megalomania, but lurkers might. Watch, my children, and learn. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/211 "2006-05-08T21:05:18Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] I didn’t intend for my words to sound like a personal attack. Sorry about that, **Bryan**. [/quote] Not accepted, because your claimed intent is not believed. Accusing someone of backpedalling and yielding to peer pressure is the same as accusing them of being spineless and lacking integrity. If you had another meaning in mind, please rephrase. > [@](#): > > So you agree, that is what’s been going on since the previous thread. Thank you for finally pointing it out. Not that anyone else will listen, but thank you just the same. You’re welcome, but it’s irrelevant. Their attacks on you in no way validate your views; rather, they’re just a side-show. > [@](#): > > True, we vastly _dis_agree on many others, such as the “vastly superior scientific method approach”. That is a statement of opinion, and to pass it off as absolute fact is, well, shameful. I’ve given you the example of a vague prophecy versus a reliable weather forecast. What counter-examples can you give of of “psi” equalling or outperforming science? Of all the accomplishments of science and technology of the last 5000 years, what examples of psi exists that outperform any of them? Until you can, my pride is untouched. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/212 "2006-05-08T21:05:47Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] WHOA!! Are you full of yourself, or what! :eek: I’ll let that statement stand as written. Maybe your peers won’t recognize your megalomania, but lurkers might. Watch, my children, and learn. [/QUOTE] Give us another example of someone getting a “psychic” to admit he doesn’t have psychic powers, and I’m sure he’ll retract. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/213 "2006-05-08T21:14:37Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] Give us another example of someone getting a “psychic” to admit he doesn’t have psychic powers, and I’m sure he’ll retract. [/QUOTE] Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. To call such a thing “an incredible, unique achievement” is quite an extraordinary claim, and I am not the one who made it. It is **glee’s** responsibility to back up that claim, not mine. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/214 "2006-05-08T21:25:34Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. To call such a thing “an incredible, unique achievement” is quite an extraordinary claim, and I am not the one who made it. It is **glee’s** responsibility to back up that claim, not mine. [/QUOTE] His claim stands. The evidence is the linked thread. He claimed it was unique _as far as he_ _knew_. Nothing extraordinary about that. Which leaves us with his description of it as “incredible.” **Priceguy** handled that one. Your attempts at diversion are becoming boringly predictable, as is your inability to stand by your own words. See below. [QUOTE=Bryan Ekers, to You] Not accepted, because your claimed intent is not believed. Accusing someone of backpedalling and yielding to peer pressure is the same as accusing them of being spineless and lacking integrity. If you had another meaning in mind, please rephrase [/QUOTE] . ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/215 "2006-05-08T21:54:05Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Your attempts at diversion are becoming boringly predictable, [/quote] Now, who’s claiming to be psychic here? 😉 > [@](#): > > …as is your inability to stand by your own words. See below. > . Wait a minute. Are you honestly suggesting, that if someone recognizes he made a mistake, he should NOT apologize, but stick to what he mistakenly said before?? That makes no sense, dude. (Unless you’re employed by the Bush Administration. Which, I’m not.) ---
**Author:** ![Denis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@Denis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Denis)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/216 "2006-05-08T22:05:57Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > Maybe your peers won’t recognize your **megalomania** , but lurkers might.\*\* Watch, my children, and learn.\*\* _emphasis mine_ Oh, man! This is such _exquisite_ bullshit! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/217 "2006-05-08T22:10:35Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] Wait a minute. Are you honestly suggesting, that if someone recognizes he made a mistake, he should NOT apologize, but stick to what he mistakenly said before?? That makes no sense, dude. (Unless you’re employed by the Bush Administration. Which, I’m not.) [/QUOTE] Is _that_ what you were doing? Well, I believe your intent _was_ a personal attack, and a weak one at that. It would have been braver for you to just say nothing than try to claim otherwise. And the issue of science’s accomplishments versus psi’s accomplishments is still on the table. I maintain that science has accomplished a great deal while psi has accomplished nothing, therefore the scientific approach is objectively far better. It would be shameful to pretend otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/218 "2006-05-08T22:14:58Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] > [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Frankly, I’m a little dismayed at my fellow skeptics for feeding your delusions of martyrdom… So you agree, that is what’s been going on since the previous thread. Thank you for finally pointing it out. Not that anyone else will listen, but thank you just the same. [/quote] … Did you just admit that you’re delusional? ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/219 "2006-05-08T22:27:33Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] I believe your intent _was_ a personal attack, and a weak one at that. It would have been braver for you to just say nothing than try to claim otherwise. [/quote] Frankly, I don’t remember if my true intent was meant as an attack or not. Perhaps, I used the wrong words. In any case, I did _not_ mean to attack your integrity, and I don’t think I did. Obviously, you disagree. So let’s just leave it alone, shall we? > [@](#): > > And the issue of science’s accomplishments versus psi’s accomplishments is still on the table. I maintain that science has accomplished a great deal while psi has accomplished nothing, therefore the scientific approach is objectively far better. It would be shameful to pretend otherwise. What other method, besides scientific method, has been used to prove/disprove psi? (Beyond subjective experience, of course!) ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499/220 "2006-05-08T22:30:41Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] A sage can mumble vaguely about future visions, which the devout can later mangle to roughly correspond to real-life events but a meteorologist, working from a long tradition of study of empirical evidence can say pretty accurately what the weather will be like next week. Science 1, Psi 0. [/QUOTE] Now hold on just a minute, I’m not quite sure about the etymology of “meteorologist” but “weather man” is Latin for “fucking liar.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kgs-you-silly-boy-get-your-ass-in-here/355499.md?page=12)