diana

Didja take care of the BSOD problem? Sometimes, that's God telling you to just break down and buy a new computer, y'know....

You mean, they tried, but you weren't having any. Okay. I was understanding that in its other interpretation: that they were attempting to teach you a new form of geometry. Makes more sense the first way....

Ah. Y'know...it took me a while to catch your implication. But I think I've got it now.

You're suggesting that I not discount accepting the truth of something simply because it's old. Yes?

I'm not. See, I also took geometry in high school. I won't share the details of how well I did or didn't do, but I will say it made sense to me. It still makes sense, and I accept it as truth. I can use it to my benefit, and depend upon its results.

But it was discovered by a dead Greek guy! How unfair of me!

There is the difference between accepting/proving the truth of something people have known for ages, and using the fact that people have accepted something as true for ages as "proof" that it's true. With your "cave paintings as evidence," you fell prey to the latter, because you appealed entirely to the "people have always thought so" argument--and that's called Argument from Antiquity.

In the case of your high school geometry, my condolences that you weren't quite knowledgeable enough yet to discern between the two.

Thanks, mate.

I'll go check it out.

d

Deep Junior

I think the real problem of GOD and religion(s) is that the human mind can't comprehend the idea of something being infinite... if there were a GOD, then it must be infinite.. for it would be the creator of everything.

Do I believe in a "GOD"?
Yes. However it is not a 'GOD' that has been described to the world at this point in time.

Why?
Because I am here typing this. Something had to start all of this.

Oxymoron

Welcome, Deep Junior.

A logical and physical non sequitur. There is a finite amount of stuff out there. There are a finite number of neuronal interconnections out there. "Everything" is finite. But even if it weren't, it still doesn't follow that an infinite being is required to create it. An infinitely old universe would do nicely.

If you have something to tell us, we're listening...

I presume you are not referring to your Mum and Dad groping? Oxymoron does not understand. Please elucidate.

Deep Junior

Oxymoron... I like the name.

What do you think about "loops" and "loop-holes"?

How do you feel about "black-holes"?


I know you are listening, or I wouldn't have came here.

Oxymoron

It works on so many levels: paradoxical, aposite, yet stoopid

Strings, M-theory, loops, blah blah blah; all speculative models. Every day, the landscape of theoretical physics is changed by observational data. Recently, the measurement of the strength of gravity over small distances has ruled out certain superstring theories. If a superstring theory is to prevail, it will have to satisfy a growing list of criteria. Of course, there may be other solutions to the unification problem than SS. As for now, we just don't know.

Some of my best friends are black holes . Seriously, I am not sure what you're asking here. I studied them as part of my astrophysics degree, so I know a little, but I'm sure you're trying to lead me somewhere. Question is: where...?

Touchy! And there was me paraphrasing Dr Frasier Crane.