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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Michael M who wrote (37631)	11/20/2001 8:59:05 AM
From: Dayuhan	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 82486

Don't you think that it is ridiculous for a person to claim to know what obviously cannot be known? I have no quarrel at all with a person that says "I believe that the universe was manufactured by an omnipotent creator", any more than I have with someone who believes that the universe is a product of a massive flatulent episode in another universe. I may privately think it a silly thing to believe, but I would not be inclined to subject the believer to public ridicule. The moment someone says "I know" when they obviously don't, they become ridiculous, and ridicule becomes an appropriate response. I know that I do not know certain things. I also know that there are certain things that nobody else knows either, and I think it a bit sily when people claim that they do know them. I see no inconsistency there.

To: Michael M who wrote (37631)	11/20/2001 9:00:35 AM
From: thames_sider	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

Well, I, personally, do not know the precise mechanism by which the Sun radiates heat. Alternative explanations can be - that in its centre subatomic particles are crashed into each other at immense pressure, fuse and give off gamma radiation, which is weakened to IR as it passes through the outer layers of the sun. - that a giant invisible pixie is blowing on a really, really big piece of magically hot everlasting coal, because he likes us and doesn't want us to get cold. As I say, I don't know the exact reason. But I would support the first and call the second ridiculous. How about you?