Paris

[Howiee]

I'm not religious or spiritual and I don't believe in a creator but I can see how the universe might back up the idea. Here's the really short version. The universe tends towards chaos. Low entropy to high entropy. We are on a very measurable journey to high entropy. And on Earth too, as we move along time we see the same thing. Our buildings decay. Our mugs fade and it all tends towards chaos.

Except intelligent life. We fight against that and try to establish order. We take chaos and create buildings, structures, shapes, lines, form, society. We're creating low entropy. Intelligence tends towards low entropy.

The universe began in an extremely low entropy state at the big bang. Why, when the universe tends towards high entropy? Looking just at the evidence we have here on Earth, we have a possible explanation: intelligence.

I'm stealing this.

[Howiee]

Misrepresentation there. I said religion had the greatest influence where education was lowest. There is evidence to back that up but you reject it.

Just as I have rejected your flimsy attempts at providing substantial evidence for your claims.

You referenced the American bible belt (which may well be true) and ignored the billions (billions!) of other religious people in the world. You can't make sweeping judgements like that. That is the very definition of a flimsy attempt.

[Dirty Sanchez]

You referenced the American bible belt (which may well be true) and ignored the billions (billions!) of other religious people in the world. You can't make sweeping judgements like that. That is the very definition of a flimsy attempt.

That was a simple example. I could have chosen say Afghanistan. Look at the data on influence. You have read it as lack of intelligence, where I have stated it's lack of education Huge difference.

[Brad]

You're not a Jesus myther, are you? I thought you were better than that! [emoji14]

I think it's possible that jesus never existed yes. I also think he maybe did. Maybe he even believed he was the son of God. Sadly the sources of information on his life that we have available just don't seem reliable enough for me to put any stock in.

[Howiee]

You have read it as lack of intelligence, where I have stated it's lack of education Huge difference.

Ok, that's a fair distinction. Thanks for clarifying.

I don't know. Lots of different studies say lots of different things. I know Christians who left school at 15 and I know Christians with Phds. I don't think there's a hard and fast rule. Afghanistan has a lot of problems that could account for poor education rates. The muslims I know are all doctors and businessmen. I think a nuanced approach is required with these kinds of things.

But I think the most important thing is, a lack of education does not disprove a person's religious beliefs.

[charlesr]

This is always worth a read whenever anyone wonders if we are special: http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html Terrifying read, but well worth it.

[charlesr]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34867615 << mastermind blown up. Why didn't the police just wait for them to come out? Maybe they just couldn't wait to get them and stormed in without bothering with things like intel on possibility of bombs and stuff. Dunno, it just seems like Osama Bin Laden "buried at sea honest guv". If they are that good at finding people, they should be able to find them alive and put them on trial. Not really sure what I'm getting at but it's either a) the aim to kill everyone without trial, or b) the lack of evidence of actual death.

[Dogg Thang]

This is always worth a read whenever anyone wonders if we are special: http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html Terrifying read, but well worth it.

I have lived here for more than 12 years and there is a neighbour I have never seen.

On the guy being killed, as they usually are, I suppose they are very rarely going to come willingly. But yeah, I always suspect that some people must benefit from none of these guys ever going to trial.

Actually, while I have my tin foil hat on, was there ever an explanation for those fake Syrian passports found at the scene?

[charlesr]

Presumably left by ISIS to keep the ball rolling. And as someone on my FB said, "Body armour should be made of passports. They can survive ANYTHING!!! Plane crash? No problem. Suicide vest? Shrug that off easy bro."

[dataDave]

This is always worth a read whenever anyone wonders if we are special: http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html Terrifying read, but well worth it.

I'm always more interested in time factors than actual size and scale. It's utter fascinating.

The Chozo from the Metroid universe were/are a Type III Civilisation on the Kardashev Scale (the birdy men responsible for fostering Samus and building her the Varia Suit). They ended up transcending, a process which boggles my mind. The same thing happens at the end of Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri when your guys complete the game.

Anyway, who's to say that we aren't also a Type III Civilisation that is in the process of colonising our entire galaxy? We could have forgotten our roots quite easily, and considered 'rogue' by our interstellar siblings.

[darkangel]

Ever since this happened, I've been really worried about something like this (God forbid) happening in London. I have to travel into Central London every day currently, do you think I should avoid going?

[Jaz]

Ever since this happened, I've been really worried about something like this (God forbid) happening in London. I have to travel into Central London every day currently, do you think I should avoid going?

If we all do that, the ****ers win.

[Darwock]

London's had its turn. Ditto Madrid, New York, Paris... what's next, Milan or Tokyo? (can't see Japan ever being a target).

[Asura]

Ever since this happened, I've been really worried about something like this (God forbid) happening in London. I have to travel into Central London every day currently, do you think I should avoid going?

No.

Even if you put aside the rationale (not wanting to concede defeat in the PR war), in reality, millions of people are in and around London every day and get home perfectly fine. Ditto for Paris. The odds of being in an attack are pretty small.

[Dogg Thang]

Yep, they really are. But I'm flying into London for meetings on Monday and I must admit the thought crossed my mind. I hate that it has because it does mean some kind of little crappy victory. Although I'm going anyway so maybe it doesn't.