Do you think ponies are real? : Othor Games

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:06 pm

Science, in its intended form, relies on purity of understanding based on evidence and data. It's not about absolutes as much as likelihoods. It never assumes that it's 100% correct and therefore never stops building and refining knowledge. Anything else is biased and is therefore not pure science. :shrug:

What I believe he is trying to get across is that there are a lot of people out there (and more than a fair share on these boards) that believe that if science has not defined it yet then it cannot possibly exist, i.e. ghosts. Which is strange because these are the same people that usually believe in aliens.

» Mon May 14, 2012 11:58 pm

Science, in its intended form, relies on purity of understanding based on evidence and data. Anything else is biased and is therefore not pure science. :shrug:

Data collections can be misconstrued, misused, and their samples can be flawed, the same with evidence, and perception can easily screw that one up. Models that predicate future occurrences while using past data, easily flawed, and in every single case I've seen, flat out false. Cannot ignore these.

Error and falseness is every bit a part of science and it's evolution as the things that are at one point shown to be true.

While I don't partake to the logic (or should I say lack thereof) ascribed to ghosts I don't think some understand that science and it's method are not absolute truths and needs the same amount of scrutiny and scepticism as everything else.

» Mon May 14, 2012 3:24 pm

Data collections can be misconstrued, misused, and their samples can be flawed, the same with evidence, and perception can easily screw that one up. Models that predicate future occurrences while using past data, easily flawed, and in every single case I've seen, flat out false. Cannot ignore these.

Error and falseness is every bit a part of science and it's evolution as the things that are at one point shown to be true.

While I don't partake to the logic (or should I say lack thereof) ascribed to ghosts I don't think some understand that science and it's method are not absolute truths and needs the same amount of scrutiny and scepticism as everything else.

That is why there is peer review and repeated experimentation.

» Mon May 14, 2012 4:22 pm

Data collections can be misconstrued, misused, and their samples can be flawed, the same with evidence, and perception can easily screw that one up. Models that predicate future occurrences while using past data, easily flawed, and in every single case I've seen, flat out false. Cannot ignore these.

Error and falseness is every bit a part of science and it's evolution as the things that are at one point shown to be true.

While I don't partake to the logic (or should I say lack thereof) ascribed to ghosts I don't think some understand that science and it's method are not absolute truths and needs the same amount of scrutiny and scepticism as everything else.

Science is subject to more scrutiny than anything else. People don't just make up theories and claim them as fact.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:20 pm

Science is subject to more scrutiny than anything else. People don't just make up theories and claim them as fact.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-33pwQ6NHgek/Two1tXbEqjI/AAAAAAAABkc/5uDFuTVHSIY/s320/aliens+meme.jpg

» Mon May 14, 2012 5:35 pm

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-33pwQ6NHgek/Two1tXbEqjI/AAAAAAAABkc/5uDFuTVHSIY/s320/aliens+meme.jpg

Ancient Aliens lol. That guy is semi-delirious.

» Mon May 14, 2012 3:13 pm

Ancient Aliens lol. That guy is semi-delirious.

All hail lord Xenu!

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:19 pm

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-33pwQ6NHgek/Two1tXbEqjI/AAAAAAAABkc/5uDFuTVHSIY/s320/aliens+meme.jpg

Television science follows different rules.

» Mon May 14, 2012 8:41 pm

Television science follows different rules. :tongue:

Yup. You can't base theories on Mythbusters episodes :hehe:

On topic, i don't claim to know or have proof one way or the other :shrug:

And in the end it doesn't really matter in my life.

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:26 pm

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-33pwQ6NHgek/Two1tXbEqjI/AAAAAAAABkc/5uDFuTVHSIY/s320/aliens+meme.jpg

And that is the reason I never, ever switch to the History channel anymore. I get more conspiracy theories than history. How in the holy hell does that even work? :blink:

» Tue May 15, 2012 2:20 am

Ghosts? No. Aliens? Yes.

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:57 pm

Ghosts? No. Aliens? Yes.

I believe aliens exist, but I don't believe they've made contact. Do you?

» Tue May 15, 2012 1:32 am

I believe aliens exist, but I don't believe they've made contact. Do you?

Sure they have, just ask your neighborhood American Dad.

» Mon May 14, 2012 7:32 pm

I believe aliens exist, but I don't believe they've made contact. Do you?

No, but if you think about it, we are aliens to other aliens.

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:46 am

No, I do not believe ghosts exist, as magic is not real.

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:48 pm

It didn't sound like an all-or-nothing stance to me. They merely stated, perhaps a tad bit condescendingly, that they're not okay with the idea that science, to some people, is the only way to explain things. This implies that they still garner some respect for science, but their problem lies with the science extremists, of which there appears to be some contempt present for.

Edit: Perhaps "extremists" was a bit too harsh of a term. Let's just say...the "scientifically inclined". :tongue:

Science "extremists" (presuming we are talking about the same sort of people here) can be annoying in that they view anyone who has a different perspective as total idiots and lunatics. I find it ironic that these people are often amateurs (I know quite a few of these) and that many of the greatest thinkers were actually religious. :shrug:

I'm not debating one way or another, just making a statement.
As for the OP's question; I'll see when I get there, I do not presume to know, nor wish to know everything in this lifetime.

» Mon May 14, 2012 8:37 pm

Belief in ghosts is either due to ignorance (not knowing basic laws of physics) or wishful thinking (because ghosts are awesome). Since I lack belief in any kind of paranormal, supernatural or afterlife (or rather I KNOW none such exists) I find absolutely no reason to think ghosts are real.

Not that I don't enjoy a good ghost story, or that I would feel inherently superior to people that believe in ghosts. Religion I oppose to the core but belief in ghosts is harmless and very few take it seriously so I don't have a problem with it :shrug:

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:47 pm

Science "extremists" (presuming we are talking about the same sort of people here) can be annoying in that they view anyone who has a different perspective as total idiots and lunatics. I find it ironic that these people are often amateurs (I know quite a few of these) and that many of the greatest thinkers were actually religious. :shrug:

I'm not debating one way or another, just making a statement.
As for the OP's question; I'll see when I get there, I do not presume to know, nor wish to know everything in this lifetime.

1.Surely it's irrelevant whether they're "professional" or not, their points are just as valid or otherwise regardless of their vocation?

2.Source?

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:44 pm

I'll believe it when it makes me pee my pants.
And no sooner.

Bring it.

» Mon May 14, 2012 5:20 pm

That is why there is peer review and repeated experimentation.

Which still results in errors, some highly erroneous but go through peer review and are widely accepted as fact.

Science is subject to more scrutiny than anything else. People don't just make up theories and claim them as fact.

So I should just accept something as fact when someone says it's science and not scrutinize or be a sceptic anymore? I'm pretty sure you missed the point.

» Mon May 14, 2012 11:58 pm

Which still results in errors, some highly erroneous but go through peer review and are widely accepted as fact.

Please could you find any examples of such?

» Mon May 14, 2012 11:17 pm

Please could you find any examples of such?

I could find a very prominent one which I enjoy bringing up in every other forum I can discuss it but as I iterated before it's a banned subject here.

» Mon May 14, 2012 10:35 pm

I could but as I iterated before it's a banned subject.

Really? Discussions of scientific failures are banned? If that is so, please could you PM me any information?

» Mon May 14, 2012 9:15 pm

I believe aliens exist, but I don't believe they've made contact. Do you?

Laws of physics say that's impossible (space is damn big, and speed of light, that cannot be reached much less exceeded, is damn slow for interstellar travel). As it does for ghosts too for that matter. But it's theoretically posible to travel faster than light by warping space.

So who knows? About either subject :shrug:

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:23 pm

Laws of physics say that's impossible. As it does for ghosts too for that matter. But it's theoretically posible to travel faster than light by warping space.

So who knows? About either subject :shrug:

I think that aliens existing is a statistical near certainty. I think that the idea of them having made contact is quite ridiculous.