Vmax

Karma: 4

Vmax 9 Aug 2020 4:04 UTC
1 point
on: Zombies: The Movie
Absolutely excellent and hilarious! I think these Bayesop’s Fables are exactly what the world needs right now. The humor really puts everything into perspective.

Also, I just have to mention: Eliezer looks a lot like one of my Chemistry professors who happens to have a similar sense of humor. (Could one gasp be the zombie version of the other?! I’ll need to run some epiphenomenal experiments to determine the total absence of evidence . . .)

Vmax 8 Aug 2020 14:16 UTC
1 point
on: The Generalized Anti-Zombie Principle
This is the most I’ve read on this Zombieism concept, and now I can see it may not be the first thing I read about it. There is a fantasy series called Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy. In one of it’s many side plots, two characters become zombies and even eventually get their brains fully replaced by genetically modified plant matter. They retain their consciousness and their personalities the entire time. They also continued functioning without a hitch after their Zombie Master died (the term was used in the books).

So I suppose the author would agree with this principle, and I find myself inclined to as well. It just makes so much sense, although I personally feel Eliezer could have been a bit more concise.

I will take this opportunity to recommend the series to all rationalists. It’s the most rational piece of fiction I’ve read aside from HPMoR.

Vmax 3 Aug 2020 3:29 UTC
5 points
in reply to: Rixie’s comment on: Qualitatively Confused
I am all too aware that I am 7 years late to this party, but coincidentally enough my beliefs from that time may fit the bill.

I too was born into a Christian family. Although I did not go to church regularly due to my parents’ work, I was still exposed to religion a lot. My family was always happy to tell me about what they believed. I was told Bible stories since I was in diapers, and I began reading them myself soon after. I was even a huge fan of VeggieTales (and maybe I still am).

Yet, as far back as I can remember (I think my diaries can testify I was as young as 6 or 7) I put God into the same bin as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. I can’t recall my exact line of reasoning, but it was probably because all three consisted of fantastic tales full of morals, and all big kids knew the latter two were fake, so why not the first?

I don’t remember ever being exposed to atheists or their beliefs, but I do remember the moment I realized all these people really DID believe in God. I remember the shock. All those years I had thought they were pretending to believe in God like they still pretended Santa came every year. Everyone knows Santa is a big fake, but apparently the same idea didn’t seem to apply to the other big bearded guy who makes miracles.

I suppose I am what could be considered an innocent atheist. I chose my side on the Christianity/Atheism war long before I was even aware of such a dividing line.

I may write a full post on this to include further details and context. Because even after years of self reflection (honestly not too impressive since I’m currently a young adult) I can still agree with my younger self’s conclusion.