I'm not clever enough to come up with a questionnaire so I'll have to come up with a poll.

Totally Rational: The fact of God's existence is an inescapable fact/utter bullshit. My position is the result of rationally applied rationality. Next to me, the Star Trek character Spock is woo-wielding tree-hugger. I will never understand those who irrationally hold positions which conflict with my carefully reasoned positions. Idiots.

50/50: I am rational enough to permit myself moments of unbridled spontaneity. Life isn't a test. The heart wants what the heart wants. I identify as much with the creature I am that does the wanting as I do the brain which analyzes its reasonableness. Fortunately I'm not a psychopath so I also honor my impulses to avoid harming others or trampling their dreams. Rational thought is a hell of a tool when it helps us get what we want. I take some pride in my ability to use it well.

Total Irrationality, Baby!: Stick it to the man. Be the artist you were meant to be or give it up, toe the line and mind everyone else's business instead. The choice is yours. Who is to say what is rational? Irrational is the new rational. Don't let them should all over you. Seize the moment. Carpe some deim. Fold, spindle and mutilate as the spirit moves you. Yeah, we're all that.

yes, yes, and yes?

Oops, I've somehow created two threads. Any chance of getting the other one removed?

I'll go with 50/50. Could go with the first, though - one could rationally argue that emotions and intuition evolved because they're useful, so it would be irrational to suppress them.

I am completely rational when it comes to me beliefs toward existential claims.

If a claims for the existence of a god or gods or various versions of afterlives do not meet their burden of proof, I will not believe them.

I want my beliefs to map to reality as closely as possible. Basing them on the rational examination of evidence is the best method of accomplishing this known.

But in other parts of my life, I could be considered irrational. For example:

I've dated women, that I rationally knew were bad for me.

I've surfed in remote areas of the world, far from medical help, in conditions (super shallow coral reefs, deadly scorpion fish, deadly sea snakes, sharks) that I know I was not being rational for surfing.

All of the above.

100% rationality is highly overrated. Spock can go fuck himself with a cactus.

(July 1, 2014 at 1:52 pm)whateverist Wrote: Oops, I've somehow created two threads. Any chance of getting the other one removed?

I dunno whatchu talkin'bout!

On topic:
I'm x/y The ratio between rational/irrational may vary

(July 1, 2014 at 2:37 pm)LastPoet Wrote:

(July 1, 2014 at 1:52 pm)whateverist Wrote: Oops, I've somehow created two threads. Any chance of getting the other one removed?

I dunno whatchu talkin'bout!

On topic:
I'm x/y The ratio between rational/irrational may vary

I figured out how to delete it myself. (I know, shocking.)

50/50. We are naturally irrational and so long as we are not harming ourselves and others, great things can be achieved by this--art, poetry, literature, etc. However, and largely due to great pioneers of rational thought, mankind became civilized and increasingly educated about the nature of existence--a nature that seems peculiarly regular and open to manipulation--by scientific, and hence, rational, methods.

I prefer the term a-rational or non-rational. Irrational implies it is against reason; I prefer to think of the alternative as simply independent of reason.