Freethought & Rationalism Archive

lpetrich · 04-26-2002, 10:33 PM

I've been reading some of the threads at Nick Petreley's site -- and this guy is a convert. Yecch.

But at least he's open-minded enough to let some supporters of evolution to post there.

Vorkosigan · 04-27-2002, 01:47 AM

Yes, but he avoids answering direct questions. Instead, he quickly veers into terrified sarcasm.

Vorkosigan

lpetrich · 04-27-2002, 07:03 AM

Nicholas Petreley takes seriously Barry Setterfield's theory of the changing speed of light in a vacuum, c. However, BS had carefully selected what measurements to list in his paper.

Another bizarre consequence is that he's also forced to conclude that several other physical constants have changed, like masses of elementary particles and the gravitational constant, so as to keep many physical quantities from changing their values and producing physical screwups. This "compensation theory", however, makes Setterfield's theory physically meaningless.

Here are some examples: A big c in the past might make the Sun be excessively luminous, from energy E = mc^2. However, BS proposes that masses ~ 1/c^2, thus compensating. However, that means that the Sun must have been unable to hold the Earth in its orbit, from v^2 = GM/r This means that G ~ c^2 for r and v constant. Applying this argument to other phenomena eventually reveals BS's theory to be physically meaningless, more like a relabeling of units than anything physically "real".

hezekiah jones · 04-27-2002, 08:54 AM

Hey all you unsavory mischief makers, your largely uncoordinated "trollery" is being monitored by a denizen of ARN:

<a href="http://www.arn.org/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=000146" target="_blank">posted 04-26-2002 07:40 PM</a>

Quote:

As to the trolling thing again to get SOME idea how some, largely uncoordinated stuff like
that happens you might look at: <link to this thread>

You krazy kidz!

wdog · 04-27-2002, 10:13 AM

What happened to my old pal jeptha at arn? and why are not infidel types the target of 'internet terrorism' either? I bet we are focal points for some bad feelings.

RufusAtticus · 04-27-2002, 11:00 AM

The site (forums included) appears to be down right now.

LiveFreeOrDie · 04-27-2002, 04:22 PM

I've got to hand it to Mr. Petreley. He certainly has a knack for insults:

Quote:

I'm sorry that I'm losing my patience, but it seems we are either experiencing a problem of brain death, or the total inability to read or comprehend the content of posts or reports...

Quote:

If you still can't understand what this discussion is about, I suggest you go participate on a board with topics that are more your speed. May I suggest something on the order of Legos or Tinker Toys?

Quote:

If you had actually READ the theory, you'd never have posed your thought-free objection...

Quote:

I'm confining my activity to those who actually have some reading comprehension skills and know how to type things other than URLs.

Quote:

Oh, I'm so sorry. I actually meant to call you the laughingstock of the pro-evolution community.

DonaldW112 · 04-28-2002, 08:42 AM

It would seem that the site is back up. They seem unable to carry on a rational conversation. Also, no one there will offer a definition of species yet they all seem very sure that speciation can't occur.

Donald

Aethernaut · 04-28-2002, 09:29 AM

Wow. The whole site is down again? Or are people coming from this forum just blocked now? Not only can I not get into the petreley forums, I can no longer get to petreley.org.

Of course, maybe it's just down for maintenance and will be up later.

-SK

[ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: Schroedinger's Kitten ]</p>

RufusAtticus · 04-28-2002, 11:06 AM

I would not be suprised if it were only open in the evening. It's probably running off of Petreley's home box.

-RvFvS

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04-26-2002, 10:33 PM	#21
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	I've been reading some of the threads at Nick Petreley's site -- and this guy is a convert. Yecch. But at least he's open-minded enough to let some supporters of evolution to post there.

04-27-2002, 01:47 AM	#22
Vorkosigan Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Barrayar Posts: 11,866	Yes, but he avoids answering direct questions. Instead, he quickly veers into terrified sarcasm. Vorkosigan

04-27-2002, 07:03 AM	#23
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	Nicholas Petreley takes seriously Barry Setterfield's theory of the changing speed of light in a vacuum, c. However, BS had carefully selected what measurements to list in his paper. Another bizarre consequence is that he's also forced to conclude that several other physical constants have changed, like masses of elementary particles and the gravitational constant, so as to keep many physical quantities from changing their values and producing physical screwups. This "compensation theory", however, makes Setterfield's theory physically meaningless. Here are some examples: A big c in the past might make the Sun be excessively luminous, from energy E = mc^2. However, BS proposes that masses ~ 1/c^2, thus compensating. However, that means that the Sun must have been unable to hold the Earth in its orbit, from v^2 = GM/r This means that G ~ c^2 for r and v constant. Applying this argument to other phenomena eventually reveals BS's theory to be physically meaningless, more like a relabeling of units than anything physically "real".

04-27-2002, 10:13 AM	#25
wdog Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 1,547	What happened to my old pal jeptha at arn? and why are not infidel types the target of 'internet terrorism' either? I bet we are focal points for some bad feelings.

04-27-2002, 11:00 AM	#26
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	The site (forums included) appears to be down right now.

04-28-2002, 08:42 AM	#28
DonaldW112 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 45	It would seem that the site is back up. They seem unable to carry on a rational conversation. Also, no one there will offer a definition of species yet they all seem very sure that speciation can't occur. Donald

04-28-2002, 09:29 AM	#29
Aethernaut Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 422	Wow. The whole site is down again? Or are people coming from this forum just blocked now? Not only can I not get into the petreley forums, I can no longer get to petreley.org. Of course, maybe it's just down for maintenance and will be up later. -SK [ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: Schroedinger's Kitten ]</p>

04-28-2002, 11:06 AM	#30
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	I would not be suprised if it were only open in the evening. It's probably running off of Petreley's home box. -RvFvS

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