Why are they all so fucking illogical and idiotic? Moreover, why are so many people dumb enough to be "persuaded" by them?

Probably because they're completely misguided before they're even made - how can someone argue for the existence of an impossibility? If there was even a scrap of real, compelling evidence, literally anything at all, there would be no need to invent any of these pathetic 'logical' conundra. Basically it's all they've got; and like the man said, if you can't fight, wear a big hat. They have to make themselves and their 'proofs' far bigger and more impressive-sounding than they really are, so as to disguise the sad reality that all they have is essentially a piece of paper with the word “God“ on it.

As for why anyone could find that stuff remotely convincing, bear in mind the Barnum Principle. Sometimes, people have such a desperate need to be convinced about things they already believe that they will grab hold of any passing straw - even one made out of hot air and wishful thinking.

If I want to discover a new species of fish I go and look in the sea, and take a physical specimen, or at least a photo.

I don't come up with a logical proof that said fish exists.

(June 8, 2014 at 12:34 pm)Pickup_shonuff Wrote: Why are they all so fucking illogical and idiotic? Moreover, why are so many people dumb enough to be "persuaded" by them?

Because "feels good man." These arguments only pursuade those who believe and are looking for an excuse to rationalize, and call if a "reasonable" belief.

It's sad. Humans have a privilege unlike any other species to analyze their surroundings and actually understand it. Yet they squander it on faith-based nonsense by putting all of their marbles in a basket that doesn't even really exist. And we're talking about BILLIONS of people. No wonder mankind's future is so fucked. The more I experience the world, the more hopeless I feel about it.

I think it's probably part of life in the echo chamber. If everybody is telling you how good you are you tend to believe them. The same with arguments. If all you're exposed to are the good points, and don't grapple with the criticisms, you'll have a tendency to think the arguments are strong.

(June 8, 2014 at 1:03 pm)rasetsu Wrote: I think it's probably part of life in the echo chamber. If everybody is telling you how good you are you tend to believe them. The same with arguments. If all you're exposed to are the good points, and don't grapple with the criticisms, you'll have a tendency to think the arguments are strong.

Very true. But once a person is old enough to experience the world on their own, say by about the age of 17, wtf is their excuse then? Laziness?

Sye Bruggencate is a tool. That's my presupposition, by the way, not an insult. It's also an insult.

(June 8, 2014 at 1:28 pm)Stimbo Wrote: Sye Bruggencate is a tool. That's my presupposition, by the way, not an insult. It's also an insult.

But how do you know that?