The Black Vault

at1with0 wrote:

DIss0n80r wrote:I really don't know what to say to anyone who honestly thinks referencing imaginary stories will somehow make their own claims more credible.

That says it all.

What about all the comforts you enjoy because of those who referenced imaginary stories as inspiration? You don't know what to say to them either?

Hows about this for starters? .. "Thank you for not being limited in your beliefs and what you think is possible. Thank you for turning a deaf ear to those you thought you were ridiculous and those who patronized you."

DIss0n80r wrote:

capricorn wrote:

You catching on yet, Cap?

not really... but that's fine, you like make-believe because its make-believe... whatever

Are you ill?

Hey, I'm not the one giving answers like a 2 year old

It's quite simple. People like magic and other amazing things. They are fun, to have heroes, and other powerful beings out there to protect us. However, those things do not exist in the real world, so we have to suspend belief and take enjoyment from the creative minds of writers of fiction. We lose ourselves in fiction and take satisfaction from movies and books because they are able to give us things we cannot get in reality.

In the same way, people often dream or daydream that they can fly, or other things they cannot really do.

If you want to pretend religion is based in reality for the same reasons, that's fine, as long as you realize it is, as you say, all make belief.

I'm trying to communicate as simply as I can with your planet, Cap...

Take a deep breath. Hold it... not too long! Let it go... Now try to focus...

I

enjoy

fantasy

because

it's

fun.

I like fiction. I even write fiction. It's fun for me to play around with, so I do it. I am interested in it and enjoy both writing my own, annnnd reading other people's fictions.

I enjoy fiction for what it isssssssss.......

Do

you

comprehend

that simple fact?

capricorn wrote:Ever see blade runner? Great imaginary story huh? Such crazy far out concepts that could never happen...

I guess you edited your post to add this...

Fiction can and does include plausible elements. That's what science fiction does. It speculates on what-ifs. I never said fiction couldn't contain anything plausible. It obviously can and does, yet that wasn't even what I was addressing. I responded to your sweeping generalization about the "point" of fiction.

Sorry, but fiction doesn't have to be possible to be enjoyable. I enjoy many fictions that aren't possible. That was what I answered, and your mentioning of Blade Runner is irrelevant to that.

Do you also believe Harry Potter is possible?

Now, if you want to have a decent conversation without rolling your eyes at me and belittling my reasons for enjoying fiction, I will tone down my own sarcastic responses in kind.

I don't watch movies for reality. I get all the reality I can handle already. I watch movies to escape from reality, which can be enjoyable every now and then.

Capricorn is reminding me of Orangetom with his ridiculous rants about having a television/movie education.

DIss0n80r wrote:Now, if you want to have a decent conversation without rolling your eyes at me and belittling my reasons for enjoying fiction, I will tone down my own sarcastic responses in kind.

So when you initiated the belittling remarks by saying...

DIss0n80r wrote:I really don't know what to say to anyone who honestly thinks referencing imaginary stories will somehow make their own claims more credible. It's just plain weird.

...is that ok? Are you except from making belittling remarks? Greeney2 adds input into the conversation and you shoot him down but that's ok right? I guess your moral compass is as clear as your ability to communicate a simple point.

I don't like fiction, so when I ask you to communicate why so I can understand, it would be great if I can get a real answer rather than just asking what planet I'm from. I recommend you look above and study Humphrey last input so you can see what an appropriate response to a question is.

I would love to get back to the topic at hand because I think the subject is a truly interesting one (thanks to frrostedman) so can we move on now or do you want to belabor the point?

I'm sorry if your feelings were hurt, Cap, but that doesn't change that it's weird to use fiction as evidence for a religious claim.

Hey, I even like your Blade Runner example of imagining possible future technology. However, that's a matter of science. It's not equivalent to claims of supernatural beings or magical powers backed by... Harry Potter.

Do you recognize the difference?

Being honest again here: Treating superhero movies or fantasy stories like Harry Potter as if those can validate religious beliefs in the supernatural or deities is simply not reasonable.

They're made-up. They're fake. It doesn't matter if you think they resemble something you might believe in. They're not real. And by comparing your beliefs to imaginary characters and events from movies and books, you are not helping make your case.

I'm not saying any of this to be mean. I'm a bit horrified, in fact, that you seem so determined to defend a tactic that clearly hurts the theistic position.

capricorn wrote:

at1with0 wrote:

DIss0n80r wrote:I really don't know what to say to anyone who honestly thinks referencing imaginary stories will somehow make their own claims more credible.

That says it all.

What about all the comforts you enjoy because of those who referenced imaginary stories as inspiration? You don't know what to say to them either?

Not the point whatsoever.

Here it is again:

greeney2 wrote:You don't want to recognize superpowers of God, and claim logic doesn't allow it, while you are buying tickets to the movies to see superheros from Spidermen to Terminators, Rambo to the Green Lantern, Just about any hot chick dressed in tight superhero spandex, and hundreds of TV shows every week. Lets not even get into computer generated superpowers, like transformers. Go Figure!

The (fictional) existence of Luke Skywalker does not prove any religious claims.

I've been hoping Cap has only been trolling or high. IMO, putting that much sincere effort into defending an obvious fallacy is more than just embarassing. It's disturbing.

If I was hanging with one of my friends IRL and he claimed that elves and fairies and pixies existed because he saw the Smurfs movie, I would laugh in his face and tell him to go sleep it off.

And to be perfectly clear, when I initially called it weird, I wasn't putting it as strongly as I actually felt. That was me being nice.

Even calling it pothead logic is milder than my genuine reaction was. If I'm being brutally honest, I think it's flat out bugcrap crazy.