Hello everyone,

I would be interested to know if I was the only member of the forum from the North East of England?

I have been listening avidly to the podcasts from the US for months. These are amongst the only ones I keep on my MP3 player, along with Astronomy Cast and Skeptoid.
There appears to be less of a problem with challenging thinking here in the UK but our red top paper readers (You know who you are!) seem doggedly reluctant to let go of their daily ‘entertainment’ in the shape of Astrology. Even the Observer refuses to let go when I ask them nicely!
Any ideas how to wrest the British Bulldog from it’s chosen treat?

Welcome to the forum, Richard. Astrology is the bane of many newspapers, unfortunately. Usually when pressed it seems that they consider it “entertainment” along the lines of comics or a humor column. But clearly many of their readers believe the stuff is real, so in that they are perpetuating a lie. Apart from taking charge of the paper yourself and changing the policies, I imagine the most you can do is continue to make your feelings known to the editorial staff there. Perhaps join a local UK skeptics’ group and write group letters to offending papers as well.

Best of luck with it and cheers,

Welcome Richard. Glad to have you here.

Thank you both. I look forward to dropping by frequently and gradually, less grumpily! I am of an age when righteousness overtakes inquiry but I do get incensed by my fellow beings lack of judgment sometimes! Hey.. Good job I’m perfect huh?

Yes it is quite disgusting how in the year 2008 people still
believe in such rubbish. I am glad that you wrote about
astrology, because it just made me think that it is a good place to
target. I have wanted to create a book on why the belief in
god is built on deep fear and/or ignorance, but astrology is a
better first step in getting the masses to start thinking about
reality over insanity.
thanks,
rich redzorg, red philosopher

Hi Redzorg,

thanks, belief is a strange one isn’t it? I was struck today, having done some ‘emotion driven thinking’ about some difficult personal circumstances; how do I reflect my frustration? Traditionally, we all make use of expletives. If the occasional ‘Oh, for God’s sake’ or ‘Christ almighty’, slips through then why, if I am not a believer, are they the most emotive of expressions? Is it due to my own innate residual belief in their power, my own lingering doubts about existence or because they are universally held to be language short cuts?

Help!

Richard.

Richard.Hesketh - 01 June 2008 11:33 PM

If the occasional ‘Oh, for God’s sake’ or ‘Christ almighty’, slips through then why, if I am not a believer, are they the most emotive of expressions? Is it due to my own innate residual belief in their power, my own lingering doubts about existence or because they are universally held to be language short cuts?.

Hi Richard,

I haven’t read the book but I think you might find some answers in Pinker’s new book The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature.

Hi Richard,
Do not scare me with the word innate. Oh god is most
likely a habitual phrase we all use, just as when we say “bless you”
the original term was “god bless your soul” because back then
when you sneezed, they thought an evil spirit entered your body
and one would say “god bless your soul” in hope of driving out the
spirit. So, today, when someone sneezes and you say bless you
are you trying to drive away the evil spirit or are you just being courteous
and saying a habitual phrase?

redzorg, by the way my name is also richard
red are my initials rich eric decabo
red philosopher

Richard.Hesketh - 01 June 2008 11:33 PM

Hi Redzorg,

thanks, belief is a strange one isn’t it? I was struck today, having done some ‘emotion driven thinking’ about some difficult personal circumstances; how do I reflect my frustration? Traditionally, we all make use of expletives. If the occasional ‘Oh, for God’s sake’ or ‘Christ almighty’, slips through then why, if I am not a believer, are they the most emotive of expressions? Is it due to my own innate residual belief in their power, my own lingering doubts about existence or because they are universally held to be language short cuts?

Help!Richard.

I think that in our society it’s almost impossible to let these culturally acquired expletive creep out from time to time. I know that I have absolutely no residual belief, it is just a cop out for me that prevents me from wanting to use crude language or take the time to think up a witty riposte. I draw the line at ‘god bless you’ with a sneeze, or ‘I’m praying for you’, If I want to help you out, there are most useful and constructive things I can do!