Topic: WCDT: 2465-2469 (10-14 June, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread (Read 71716 times)

Squiddlywinx · « **Reply #100 on:** 10 Jun 2013, 16:22 »

Quote from: Storel on 10 Jun 2013, 05:39

Quote from: sha'mad conde on 10 Jun 2013, 00:15
I had to Google the word "fib." Is that an Eastern US word? It doesn't exist out here...

Quote from: Is it cold in here? on 10 Jun 2013, 00:44
Now that you mention it, I don't think I've heard it since moving out West.

Quote from: Adjamemnon on 10 Jun 2013, 03:03
Not that far east, though; Colorado/Wyoming person here and I've heard the term.

I've been living in California since I was four years old and I've heard the word "fib" for as long as I can remember.

Both my parents were originally from the Midwest, though (Oklahoma and Wisconsin), so it's possible I got it from them... but I'm sure I've heard lots of other Californians use that word.

Yep.

Redball · « **Reply #101 on:** 10 Jun 2013, 16:31 »

Welcome, new member! While brevity is good, you're welcome to post at greater length and tell us about yourself in the newcomer section.

DSL · « **Reply #102 on:** 10 Jun 2013, 16:33 »

Quote from: Valdís on 10 Jun 2013, 16:17

Quote from: ThomasEll on 10 Jun 2013, 16:08
I think that questions of free will notwithstanding, I think it's reasonable to use the word choose in relation to belief systems.

Then try to actually seriously believe something horrendously inhumane about another group of people for a few minutes now - one which you don't have any problems with at all, but that others hate.

How's that working out for you? No? Not managing it? I know I can't; and that the same things goes for the rest. Pretending to hold a belief is not synonymous with actually believing it.

I know plenty of people who choose to believe whatever easy-to-digest bumper-stickerism was last and loudest shouted at them, for no other reason than it helps them rationalize their fears/prejudices or gives them some Other to blame for their failure to be as awesome as they think they ought to be. Some are family and cannot be abandoned, others were folks I encountered because dealing with such folks was my (thankfully) former job.
Yes, belief is a choice. You can choose to believe, or you can choose to test your belief. In a rational person, the latter course might strengthen or weaken a belief. Not everyone is rational.

~~Valdís~~ · « **Reply #103 on:** 10 Jun 2013, 17:12 »

Quote from: DSL on 10 Jun 2013, 16:33

I know plenty of people who choose to believe whatever easy-to-digest bumper-stickerism was last and loudest shouted at them, for no other reason than it helps them rationalize their fears/prejudices or gives them some Other to blame for their failure to be as awesome as they think they ought to be.

Petitio principii. You are assuming the initial point to be argued as a premise: "People choose to believe things because I think they choose to believe them".

Basically just re-read this, or read it if you didn't in the first place. Just because people can believe things for bad reasons doesn't make it a choice. If it is helping them provide justification for their poorly-supported prejudices then those are pre-existing beliefs that their uncritical minds are trying to support, not the other way around.

DSL · « **Reply #104 on:** 10 Jun 2013, 17:16 »

Well, that didn't take long.

~~Valdís~~ · « **Reply #105 on:** 10 Jun 2013, 17:32 »

Hm? The timestamps say it's like 40 minutes between them? Also you were replying to my post specifically, so yeah, I responded?

ankhtahr · « **Reply #106 on:** 10 Jun 2013, 18:01 »

I discussed this topic with a friend a few days ago actually. At least in context with religions "believing" is to me the same as "hoping", the only difference being the probability you allocate to it. If you believe something, you wish for something to happen and assume it will, if you hope for something, you wish for it to happen, but don't necessarily assume that it will.

Shjade · « **Reply #107 on:** 10 Jun 2013, 22:41 »

Quote from: Valdís on 10 Jun 2013, 16:17

Then try to actually seriously believe something horrendously inhumane about another group of people for a few minutes now - one which you don't have any problems with at all, but that others hate.

How's that working out for you? No? Not managing it? I know I can't; and that the same things goes for the rest. Pretending to hold a belief is not synonymous with actually believing it.

That works out for me alright. It's unpleasant, as I don't like thinking that way about other people even when I have good reason to do so, but it's not some impossible task to change point of view to consider someone else's perspective. It is, in fact, something which more people should do more often.

I find it interesting that your position seems to be the opposite of the position you're refuting: where you say...

Quote from: Valdís on 10 Jun 2013, 17:12

Petitio principii. You are assuming the initial point to be argued as a premise: "People choose to believe things because I think they choose to believe them".

...your counterargument appears to be "People don't choose to believe things because I think they don't choose to believe them." Choosing to maintain a pre-existing belief rather than face the difficulties associated with needing to change that belief is still a choice, in that case the choice to shore up support for what they already believe rather than to go against it.

All that said, as others have pointed out already, this could probably live a more healthy life in its own thread. The discussion on choice, that is. It seems like it's starting to take this one over.

Sidenote: when did I say I was leaving the discussion? Presumptuous.

~~GarandMarine~~ · « **Reply #108 on:** 10 Jun 2013, 23:35 »

*singing* Hiiiighway to the Spider Zone!

Loki · « **Reply #109 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 00:14 »

I know this "We have a basement?" line.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #110 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 00:26 »

There must be something weirder to do with a basement than turn it into a cafe or a metal shop.

Adjamemnon · « **Reply #111 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 00:43 »

Quote from: Zebediah on 10 Jun 2013, 09:01

As I understand it, it's not so much the entire state of Illinois in general as it is Chicago in particular. Because, you know, da Bears.

I have family in the area, so I can let you know that Packers fans have much more enmity towards the Vikings than the Bears, which is weird given the proximity.

The dislike against Chicagoans, and thus all the Illinois people, comes from them going north to be loud, intrusive and messing up all the fishing/camping/outdoors/wildlife stuff. I remember this because it's a strangely similar dynamic that Wyomingites have about Coloradoans (whom we called "F-ing Greenies" for their green license plates).

Don't get me wrong, they dislike the Bears too, but it really is the Vikings that gets their special hate.

J · « **Reply #112 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 01:16 »

she does her coffee roasting in the spider zone? is it me, or does that kind of sound like a bit of a health code violation?

Masterpiece · « **Reply #113 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 01:33 »

Quote from: Loki on 11 Jun 2013, 00:14

I know this "We have a basement?" line.

Why is there hay everywhere?

KOK · « **Reply #114 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 01:45 »

Quote from: ankhtahr on 10 Jun 2013, 18:01

I discussed this topic with a friend a few days ago actually. At least in context with religions "believing" is to me the same as "hoping", the only difference being the probability you allocate to it. If you believe something, you wish for something to happen and assume it will, if you hope for something, you wish for it to happen, but don't necessarily assume that it will.

Pessimisterne er dog de reneste tåber.
De tror på det modsatte af hvad de håber!
Nej, de optimister som livet beror på,
er dem som tør håbe på noget de tror på.

Piet Hein

The pessimists are the greatest fools.
They believe the opposite of what they hope!
No, the optimists that life depends on,
are those who dare to hope for something they believe in.

Mr_Rose · « **Reply #115 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 01:46 »

Quote from: J on 11 Jun 2013, 01:16

she does her coffee roasting in the spider zone? is it me, or does that kind of sound like a bit of a health code violation?

I think the "spider zone" may be a reference to Faye's ruse to terrify Raven into not opening the bags of fresh beans. The one that failed utterly on Penne-lope.

Loki · « **Reply #116 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 02:14 »

Quote from: Masterpiece on 11 Jun 2013, 01:33

Quote from: Loki on 11 Jun 2013, 00:14
I know this "We have a basement?" line.
Why is there hay everywhere?

LENGF (Loki's explanation for Non-German folks): This references an excerpt from a porn movie that went viral on the German part of the Internet. (The excerpt went viral, not the movie, that is.)

It features the abundant "random sex with the mechanic who you had invited" trope. A conveniently scantily-clad woman directs a masked (think Phantom of the Opera) man to a basement. The floor is covered in hay.
She goes: "So, this is the switchbox we keep having problems with".
He: "U-huh. Why is there hay anyway?"
She: "Dunno. Why are you wearing a mask?"
He: "Beats me. Blow me, I guess?"

~~cesariojpn~~ · « **Reply #117 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 02:15 »

Quote from: Is it cold in here? on 11 Jun 2013, 00:26

There must be something weirder to do with a basement than turn it into a cafe or a metal shop.

BDSM Dungeon?

Quote from: Mr_Rose on 11 Jun 2013, 01:46

I think the "spider zone" may be a reference to Faye's ruse to terrify Raven into not opening the bags of fresh beans. The one that failed utterly on Penne-lope.

Wait, did Pennelope get put onto a bus? Haven't see her since......the lake trip?

Akima · « **Reply #118 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 03:07 »

Quote from: GarandMarine on 10 Jun 2013, 23:35

*singing* Hiiiighway to the Spider Zone!

My first thought too, and I didn't even like the movie much, though it has a great opening sequence.

Border Reiver · « **Reply #119 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 04:12 »

Me, I was thinking "With great coffee comes great responsibility."

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #120 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 10:10 »

Quote from: Loki on 11 Jun 2013, 02:14

LENGF (Loki's explanation for Non-German folks)

It's been weeks at least since I laughed as hard as I did over that explanation.

Maybe the spiders are the super-secret part of the roasting process that Dora refuses to tell anyone about?

DSL · « **Reply #121 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 10:32 »

You know, we never saw Gordon leave the shop after he and Hannelore talked. Hanners, is there something you want to tell us?

muon · « **Reply #122 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 11:37 »

Quote from: Akima on 11 Jun 2013, 03:07

Quote from: GarandMarine on 10 Jun 2013, 23:35
*singing* Hiiiighway to the Spider Zone!
My first thought too, and I didn't even like the movie much

Don't you be talking smack about my favorite childhood movie!

Quote from: Akima on 11 Jun 2013, 03:07

though it has a great opening sequence.

Now that's something we can definitely all agree on.

I actually choked on my wine when I read GarandMarine's comment.

ankhtahr · « **Reply #123 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 12:19 »

Quote from: Loki on 11 Jun 2013, 02:14

LENGF

(click to show/hide)

But on a completely unrelated note, I'm a little bit disappointed with some of the unfinished storylines lately. I demand to know about Dale and Marigold's truce! Also Gordon. And I feel like there's going to be a random pun interlude featuring Emily and Claire.

Loki · « **Reply #124 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 12:21 »

Okay, I had misremembered his mask.

I want to see the resolution of crying Emily.

~~GarandMarine~~ · « **Reply #125 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 12:41 »

Quote from: muon on 11 Jun 2013, 11:37

Quote from: Akima on 11 Jun 2013, 03:07
Quote from: GarandMarine on 10 Jun 2013, 23:35
*singing* Hiiiighway to the Spider Zone!
My first thought too, and I didn't even like the movie much
Don't you be talking smack about my favorite childhood movie!
Quote from: Akima on 11 Jun 2013, 03:07
though it has a great opening sequence.
Now that's something we can definitely all agree on.

I actually choked on my wine when I read GarandMarine's comment.

Hah score!

Also I fully blame Top Gun for my obsession with aviation and the course my life took joining the U.S. military and becoming part of a Naval Flight Crew (no carriers here, C-130s are too big XD) but the running gag at Naval Aircrew Candidate's School is that you get a copy of Top Gun with your initial flight equipment gear issue (flight boots, flight suits, flight jackets, including that sexy leather number, etc)

Pilchard123 · « **Reply #126 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 12:43 »

So they took the phrase "a roll in the hay" a little too literally? Seriously, that sounds itchy.

Kugai · « **Reply #127 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 13:39 »

The secret is out

COD is a TARDIS

jwhouk · « **Reply #128 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 15:10 »

What weapon created from scrap would you wield?

Sword of the Stars 5 (8.3%)
Light Saber 6 (10%)
Hell Lance 2 (3.3%)
Spear of Destiny 3 (5%)
Warhammer 40k 6 (10%)
Battle Aximili 0 (0%)
Amphistaff 1 (1.7%)
Stop Sign 10 (16.7%)
Waffle Iron 0 (0%)
Spathe Hammer 2 (3.3%)
Battle Spatula 10 (16.7%)
Epic Flail 15 (25%)

Total Members Voted: 60

Akima · « **Reply #129 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 16:31 »

Quote from: GarandMarine on 11 Jun 2013, 12:41

no carriers here, C-130s are too big

I saw an episode of a TV show once in which the hero landed a Hercules on a carrier, and thought "typical Hollywood bullshit". I was wrong.

Carl-E · « **Reply #130 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 19:29 »

Quote from: KOK on 11 Jun 2013, 01:45

The pessimists are the greatest fools.
They believe the opposite of what they hope!
No, the optimists that life depends on,
are those who dare to hope for something they believe in.

A truly lovely sentiment.

Back to choice for a moment;

I think that, in the US, the notion of choice in religion is a common one simply because so many of them are so damn similar... at least, the myriad protestant denominations are. New churches are often started not because of some fundamental difference in belief, but rather because someone didn't like the pastor, or had an argument with another prominent member of the church. The result is a damn near full spectrum of "faiths", all basically holding the same tenets. Don't like the Lutherans? Try the Episcopalians or the Methodists! Don't like the Baptists? How about seventh-Day Adventists? Tired of being Amish? How about joining the Mennonites! No matter where you are on the spectrum, there are other groups pretty close to yours.

But of course, it's an illusion of choice. If faith were a rainbow, we'd be talking about the stretch from aqua to royal blue.

There's a lot more out there, and it can take a major shift in your world view to convert that far. Not that people don't change what they believe, but it's a change at a fundamental level, usually for reasons beyond choice - paradigm shifts aren't usually voluntary things. I'm not talking about people who convert out of love, just to marry or make another person happy (the shallowest of reasons to change yourself), but those who are actively disturbed by something fundamental in what they thought was their faith, and so seek a new way.

So I disagree with the notion that it's really a choice. The choice is mainly in the window-dressing.

cesium133 · « **Reply #131 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 21:20 »

And thus did Gordon unleash his armies of terror!

Method of Madness · « **Reply #132 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 21:41 »

~~GarandMarine~~ · « **Reply #133 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 21:53 »

....must.... resist.... firebombing.... fictional... location

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #134 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 22:20 »

I wonder if they're related to the library spiders.

Will they have to hire Gordon to control them?

J · « **Reply #135 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 22:27 »

ok, seriously. have they ever even had a health inspection?

~~cesariojpn~~ · « **Reply #136 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 22:30 »

Someone pissed off Lolth.

Mad Cat · « **Reply #137 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 22:44 »

Okay, seriously. What part of SPIDER zone eluded Sam? Migl fargin eight legged freaks.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #138 on:** 11 Jun 2013, 23:44 »

Health inspections.

Mordhaus · « **Reply #139 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 00:07 »

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/File:Harry_Potter_and_the_Chamber_of_Secrets_-_Follow_the_Spiders

Follow the spiders...

Sorflakne · « **Reply #140 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 00:29 »

So judging by their expressions, I'm guessing they found Pintsize's secret porn stash in the Spider Zone.

Loki · « **Reply #141 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 01:04 »

Quote from: Mordhaus on 12 Jun 2013, 00:07

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/File:Harry_Potter_and_the_Chamber_of_Secrets_-_Follow_the_Spiders

Follow the spiders...

That was what I was thinking.

Quote from: Mad Cat on 11 Jun 2013, 22:44

Okay, seriously. What part of SPIDER zone eluded Sam? Migl fargin eight legged freaks.

Maybe she thought they were cute itsy-bitsy spiders...

westrim · « **Reply #142 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 01:17 »

Obvious question: Why is Faye unfortunate enough to be spider free? Did her reputation precede her?

Tova · « **Reply #143 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 01:25 »

Quote from: Loki on 12 Jun 2013, 01:04

Maybe she thought they were cute itsy-bitsy spiders...

They are...

Sidhekin · « **Reply #144 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 01:26 »

Quote from: Westrim on 12 Jun 2013, 01:17

Obvious question: Why is Faye unfortunate enough to be spider free? Did her reputation precede her?

Actually Sam preceded her, tearing down the webs in the process.

katsmeat · « **Reply #145 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 01:40 »

Darn, I'm disappointed about Sam. I was expecting her to emerge hugging some Acromantula-like thing, the size of a Labrador, gleefully saying "I shall call her Webby".

Loki · « **Reply #146 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 01:43 »

Quote from: Westrim on 12 Jun 2013, 01:17

Obvious question: Why is Faye unfortunate enough to be spider free? Did her reputation precede her?

Reminds me of a certain Discworld character...

Quote

Granny Weatherwax's reputation even extends beyond species barriers – the trolls of the Ramtops call her Aaoograha hoa ("She Who Must Be Avoided") and the dwarf name for her, K'ez'rek d'b'duz, translates to "Go Around the Other Side of the Mountain" (Maskerade).

~~cesariojpn~~ · « **Reply #147 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 01:44 »

Quote from: Westrim on 12 Jun 2013, 01:17

Obvious question: Why is Faye unfortunate enough to be spider free? Did her reputation precede her?

In XXXholic IIRC, Yūko notes that spiders usually go after the person who destroys their web. Or something like that.

westrim · « **Reply #148 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 02:27 »

New poll up. You get two votes if there's more than one you really like, and you can change your answer if desired. On reflection, the last poll wasn't very good, with bad puns, obscure references, and missing options. Oh well, they can't all be hits.

TinPenguin · « **Reply #149 on:** 12 Jun 2013, 02:39 »

Quote from: Sidhekin on 12 Jun 2013, 01:26

Quote from: Westrim on 12 Jun 2013, 01:17
Obvious question: Why is Faye unfortunate enough to be spider free? Did her reputation precede her?
Actually Sam preceded her, tearing down the webs in the process.

Sam charges in, sword swinging, hacks down all the webs like a jungle trailblazer, disappears beneath an avalanche of spiders.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Poll

Proper response to intelligent spider

Author Topic: WCDT: 2465-2469 (10-14 June, 2013) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread (Read 71716 times)

westrim

westrim