However, I don’t believe anyone has a “right NOT to be offended” or to have sacred cows go unslaughtered.

(”Mmmm ..sacred cow burgers – de-lee-she-ous!” )

I do believe in free speech, ‘calling a spade a spade’, and that the best way to counter lies is to correct them with the truth – forcefully if necessary.

If someone believes in nonsense (eg. creationism) then lets be able to tell ‘em so & not mince words too much rather than just paying lip-service to “respecting” their beliefs (which we won’t do in our minds anyway), shutting our mouths and letting their damaging delusions continue.

I also feel that a lot of what is considered “polite” is culturally derived. Americans, for instance, seem obsessed over swearing and sexuality-related things while overlooking what rationally may be far more serious things.

For example, compare the reaction when Janet Jackson had part of her anatomy inadvertently exposed (& by someone else too) during her performance at the superbowl. It seemed from what I gather that a lot of people – mainly Bible-Belters and “conservatives” were foaming at the mouth with outrage. They created a huge kerfuffle lasting months over what would’ve been – in Australia and other reasonable Western nations – a ‘two minute laugh then forget’ event – if that. Contrastingly, US TV shows a huge number of murders, assaults and other violent acts every hour and that gathers very little – if any – outrage. Yet’s what’s worse – a normal female body part or brutal killings?

Or again, lets compare how President Clinton engaged in & then lied about a consensual sexual affair that caused only emotional harm to a few individuals; with how Presiking George (Bush) the Second engaged in and lied to create an illegal war destroying the physical lives of many millions of innocent people. This latter act as ruined and harming at least three nations needlessly (USA, Iraq, Afghanistan .. & counting) and made the whole planet a far worse place.

Now Bill Clinton got impeached – or faced impeachment hearings, was dragged through the mud by the (often highly hypocritical) Republicans in one of the most vitriolic and over-the-top campaigns since McCarthyism.
Whilst Bush II … nada. No impeachment , no war crimes trail, no removal from office or even any serious attempt to remove from office. Yet whose acts were worse and whose offence more damaging? Clearly, by any half reasonable standards, an objective observer would have to say Bushes!

In Australia, adultery would be, if not quite a joke certainly no hanging offence – research our Ex-PM Bob Hawke for proof there – but lying to get your country to invade and occupy another would be seen, rightly, as an inexcusable act of criminal stupidity and evil.

The Americans and their relative values are strange mob indeed &
a whole lot of the world thinks America needs to get its priorities right!

(Personally, I blame the neurotic, messed-up nature of “American Culture” on the Puritan fathers, ah if only the ‘Mayflower’ had sunk on its way over .. How much better off you’d have been! )

Swearing and other minor politeness offences that get you Americans so riled up and neurotic – really aren’t as important as other things.

There is a place for passionate and argument that is not restrained by needless and really fairly pathetic “softeners” like using say, ‘dagnabbed, goshswarned varmint’ when you mean ***** ****** ***** (Well, heck, I’m not goanna actually write it! I’m not allowed to. )

Its best to have a civilised debate agreed – but its better to have an uncivilised one than no debate at all.

That said, like I said, I do try to be polite & considerate to others.

But that stuff about flushing the toilet, you know, I never thought of it like that.

Hmmm… being someone’s house IS just like commenting on their blog! Now I get it!
(Sorry, Mom)

Ah! Thank You! Like I said, I know that they are outdated, but I’ve still wanted a copy for years! I’ll have to order good condition used one.

Hmmm… I hope that [choose one]:
(a) the kid is not “as Christian” as his family and that his family doesn’t read the blog with him.
(b) the family just reads BA’s post and avoid the comments
(c) the family knows how to take a little abuse against their religion.
(d) they stick to the science post and avoid the religion/politics post.

I say this because while Phil does a pretty good job of attacking ideas and not people, there are some people on this blog that just flat out opposed to religion, and if the eighth grader considers themselves fairly religious, then coming across such a post could be very hurtful, particularly to someone so young. Or if the family keeps an eye on his online use and see these post, they may not appreciate it either.

Or not. Hey, I’m both conservative and a Christian, a very rare minority here, I’m sure. But I love the place.

Speaking of interest in Astronomy, National Geographic put out two books many many many years ago about space and astronomy. I remember clearly that one emphasized space travel (or at least, I think it did, I was about 6 at the time that I read them – I’m 30 now), and the other had a whole section on possible life that could exist on each of the planets. Jupiter could be inhabited by these creatures with gas sacks to keep them afloat. Very silly looking back on it, but those two book got me interested in Astronomy. Does anyone know the books I’m talking about? I can’t remember the names, and even though I know that they are long outdated, I’d love to find a copy of them.