https://atheistforums.org/ Sun, 15 Nov 2026 18:12:20 +0000 MyBB https://atheistforums.org/thread-66760.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 01:36:32 +0000 AFTT47]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66760.html
Back from 2008 to 2013 I used a weather radar app on one when I ran scuba and other tourist boats in the Florida Keys. That was extremely useful. I occasionally used a calculator app and a timer app when I worked a more conventional job from 2016 to 2022 when I retired. Now, I just use one to place and receive calls.

I have a high performance computer with 3 x 32" monitors and a 55" TV as a 4th monitor. Why to heck would want to play around with a device with a tiny screen? I might have felt differently if I was young again and more active but as a mostly stay at home nerd, they just don't appeal to me.]]>
Back from 2008 to 2013 I used a weather radar app on one when I ran scuba and other tourist boats in the Florida Keys. That was extremely useful. I occasionally used a calculator app and a timer app when I worked a more conventional job from 2016 to 2022 when I retired. Now, I just use one to place and receive calls.

I have a high performance computer with 3 x 32" monitors and a 55" TV as a 4th monitor. Why to heck would want to play around with a device with a tiny screen? I might have felt differently if I was young again and more active but as a mostly stay at home nerd, they just don't appeal to me.]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66608.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 20:36:49 +0000 paulpablo]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66608.html It's an app where you type in what you want it to make and it does it is the best way to describe it.
Ive just been sitting making music for myself that is better than anything ive ever made before and rivals all the best artists I've ever heard, with some minor limitations.
There's some limitations ive found, for example I like the band placebo, I couldn't get it to replicate an androgynous nasal voice, it can do gritty wild screeching voices but I just couldn't get it to do a voice like that.
Complex interesting rhythms like youd get with some system of a down or arctic monkeys were harder to reproduce. Or distinctive intros like sad but true. But maybe it just takes more specific prompts to achieve these things.
Some things are definitely just dead now in the music industry and I think its actually the more raw, human, created music that is the safest. Rock, country stuff like this, if its unique enough will still be safe.
Beat making for genres like rap music is pretty much as dead as a door nail, at least in the way it used to be done, this will 100 percent be taken over by ai. I can't even begin to imagine how it won't be.
On the other hand, just as an example off the top of my head I cant imagine ai making a song as unique as thr chain by fleetwood mac, the structure, the bass line.]]> It's an app where you type in what you want it to make and it does it is the best way to describe it.
Ive just been sitting making music for myself that is better than anything ive ever made before and rivals all the best artists I've ever heard, with some minor limitations.
There's some limitations ive found, for example I like the band placebo, I couldn't get it to replicate an androgynous nasal voice, it can do gritty wild screeching voices but I just couldn't get it to do a voice like that.
Complex interesting rhythms like youd get with some system of a down or arctic monkeys were harder to reproduce. Or distinctive intros like sad but true. But maybe it just takes more specific prompts to achieve these things.
Some things are definitely just dead now in the music industry and I think its actually the more raw, human, created music that is the safest. Rock, country stuff like this, if its unique enough will still be safe.
Beat making for genres like rap music is pretty much as dead as a door nail, at least in the way it used to be done, this will 100 percent be taken over by ai. I can't even begin to imagine how it won't be.
On the other hand, just as an example off the top of my head I cant imagine ai making a song as unique as thr chain by fleetwood mac, the structure, the bass line.]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66567.html Sat, 08 Nov 2025 21:40:53 +0000 popeyespappy]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66567.html
Not very long along on a forum not very far from here, I watched a theist try, unsuccessfully, to use AI to support his proof of the trinity. As a result of that I designed, with the help of several LMM's including ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude, and Grok, a set of prompts designed to have AI based LMM's test arguments.

I tested the prompts against several metaphysical & philosophical arguments including the cosmological, design, ontological, and moral arguments for god. Then I tested evolution twice. Once as scientific theory and again as an alternative to design. I thought the results were interesting but not surprising.



Here are the prompts if you are interested in trying them:

Analytical Prompts for Testing Arguments

Introduction
These prompts are designed to rigorously analyze arguments in good faith and mitigate bias during the analysis.
The goal is not to “win,” but to:
• Understand the argument clearly
• Identify strengths and weaknesses honestly
• Improve reasoning for all sides
Use the prompts sequentially. Each builds on the previous.
________________________________________
1. Identify the Structure
Premises
List all explicit premises in the argument as numbered statements. Do not evaluate them.
Hidden Assumptions
Identify all implicit or unstated assumptions the argument relies on.
Formal Structure
Rewrite the entire argument in formal logical form:
numbered premises → intermediate steps → conclusion.
________________________________________
2. Test Validity and Soundness
Validity
If all premises were true, would the conclusion logically follow?
Identify any gaps, unwarranted inferences, or non sequiturs.
Soundness
Evaluate each premise by categorizing it as:
• Empirical claim
• Historical claim
• Interpretive/theological claim
• Philosophical/metaphysical claim
• Definitional claim
Identify where uncertainty or dispute exists.
________________________________________
3. Clarify Concepts & Methods
Definitions
List all key terms and note any ambiguities, inconsistencies, or shifting meanings.
Methodology
Identify the methods of reasoning used (e.g., deductive logic, analogy, inference to best explanation).
List any assumptions underlying those methods.
________________________________________
4. Stress-Test the Argument
Counterargument
Generate the strongest possible counterargument to test the reasoning.
Alternative Interpretations
Provide at least three different ways the same facts, data, or premises could be interpreted.
Stress Test
Test whether the conclusion still holds if key assumptions, definitions, or conditions are changed.
Generalization Test
Check whether the same method could “prove” contradictory or mutually exclusive claims.
If yes, explain why the method may be unreliable.
________________________________________
5. Identify Logical Fallacies
Fallacy Analysis
List any formal or informal fallacies in the argument.
For each fallacy identified:
• Explain where it occurs
• Explain why it is problematic
• Explain what would be required to avoid or correct it
________________________________________
6. Improve the Argument
Steelman
Rewrite the argument in its strongest possible form while preserving the original intent.
Address the major weaknesses identified.
Formal Proof
Present the steelmanned version as a clean, numbered formal proof.
After each premise or inference, label it as:
• Empirically verified
• Widely accepted
• Disputed
• Assumption
• Logical inference
Highlight Weak Points
Identify which specific steps require the greatest additional evidence or justification.
________________________________________
7. Summary Assessment
Provide a balanced overall assessment that includes:
• Major strengths
• Major weaknesses
• Logical gaps
• Well-supported points
• Evidence needed to strengthen the argument
• Whether the argument meets minimal standards of clarity and coherence
This is not the final verdict—it is an integrated summary of the analysis.
________________________________________
8. Final Verdict: Pass or Fail
State clearly whether the argument:
• ✅ Passes
• ⚠️ Partially passes (valid but unsound, or sound but incomplete)
• ❌ Fails
Explain:
• Whether the argument is valid
• Whether it is sound
• Which premises or inferences cause the failure
• What would be required for the argument to pass
This step forces the model to commit to a final determination based on all previous analysis.]]>
Not very long along on a forum not very far from here, I watched a theist try, unsuccessfully, to use AI to support his proof of the trinity. As a result of that I designed, with the help of several LMM's including ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude, and Grok, a set of prompts designed to have AI based LMM's test arguments.

I tested the prompts against several metaphysical & philosophical arguments including the cosmological, design, ontological, and moral arguments for god. Then I tested evolution twice. Once as scientific theory and again as an alternative to design. I thought the results were interesting but not surprising.



Here are the prompts if you are interested in trying them:

Analytical Prompts for Testing Arguments

Introduction
These prompts are designed to rigorously analyze arguments in good faith and mitigate bias during the analysis.
The goal is not to “win,” but to:
• Understand the argument clearly
• Identify strengths and weaknesses honestly
• Improve reasoning for all sides
Use the prompts sequentially. Each builds on the previous.
________________________________________
1. Identify the Structure
Premises
List all explicit premises in the argument as numbered statements. Do not evaluate them.
Hidden Assumptions
Identify all implicit or unstated assumptions the argument relies on.
Formal Structure
Rewrite the entire argument in formal logical form:
numbered premises → intermediate steps → conclusion.
________________________________________
2. Test Validity and Soundness
Validity
If all premises were true, would the conclusion logically follow?
Identify any gaps, unwarranted inferences, or non sequiturs.
Soundness
Evaluate each premise by categorizing it as:
• Empirical claim
• Historical claim
• Interpretive/theological claim
• Philosophical/metaphysical claim
• Definitional claim
Identify where uncertainty or dispute exists.
________________________________________
3. Clarify Concepts & Methods
Definitions
List all key terms and note any ambiguities, inconsistencies, or shifting meanings.
Methodology
Identify the methods of reasoning used (e.g., deductive logic, analogy, inference to best explanation).
List any assumptions underlying those methods.
________________________________________
4. Stress-Test the Argument
Counterargument
Generate the strongest possible counterargument to test the reasoning.
Alternative Interpretations
Provide at least three different ways the same facts, data, or premises could be interpreted.
Stress Test
Test whether the conclusion still holds if key assumptions, definitions, or conditions are changed.
Generalization Test
Check whether the same method could “prove” contradictory or mutually exclusive claims.
If yes, explain why the method may be unreliable.
________________________________________
5. Identify Logical Fallacies
Fallacy Analysis
List any formal or informal fallacies in the argument.
For each fallacy identified:
• Explain where it occurs
• Explain why it is problematic
• Explain what would be required to avoid or correct it
________________________________________
6. Improve the Argument
Steelman
Rewrite the argument in its strongest possible form while preserving the original intent.
Address the major weaknesses identified.
Formal Proof
Present the steelmanned version as a clean, numbered formal proof.
After each premise or inference, label it as:
• Empirically verified
• Widely accepted
• Disputed
• Assumption
• Logical inference
Highlight Weak Points
Identify which specific steps require the greatest additional evidence or justification.
________________________________________
7. Summary Assessment
Provide a balanced overall assessment that includes:
• Major strengths
• Major weaknesses
• Logical gaps
• Well-supported points
• Evidence needed to strengthen the argument
• Whether the argument meets minimal standards of clarity and coherence
This is not the final verdict—it is an integrated summary of the analysis.
________________________________________
8. Final Verdict: Pass or Fail
State clearly whether the argument:
• ✅ Passes
• ⚠️ Partially passes (valid but unsound, or sound but incomplete)
• ❌ Fails
Explain:
• Whether the argument is valid
• Whether it is sound
• Which premises or inferences cause the failure
• What would be required for the argument to pass
This step forces the model to commit to a final determination based on all previous analysis.]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66559.html Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:43:43 +0000 Kitan Etos]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66559.html US government is getting closer to banning TP-Link routers

https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/u...28317.html]]> US government is getting closer to banning TP-Link routers

https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/u...28317.html]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66553.html Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:28:04 +0000 Kitan Etos]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66553.html https://atheistforums.org/thread-66440.html Sat, 31 May 2025 18:22:48 +0000 AFTT47]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66440.html
I had thought before how electric propulsion makes huge sense for vehicles that make very frequent stops and spend a lot of time idling. Same-day delivery vans, mail trucks and busses are obvious candidates. I never thought about garbage trucks but someone obviously did. Electric cars can be pretty glamorous with their huge touch-screen displays and insane performance but electrifying the humble garbage truck is hugely practical. The difference in operating costs and maintenance has got to be enormous.

Now that I think about it, it would have made more sense from a practical standpoint to have started the electrical revolution with commercial vehicles like this. They get much more use than private cars and trucks so payback on the initial purchase price will come much faster. There is no range issue as these vehicles don't make long trips. In terms of making transportation more green, I would make an educated guess that replacing one fuel-burning commercial vehicle with an electric one will have an effect equal to replacing at least ten cars. Not that electric cars aren't a good thing but I can't help but think they missed the boat by neglecting commercial vehicles. Tesla did the semi but that is the one type of commercial vehicle that requires a lot of range and therefore the least practical to electrify! Dumb!]]>
I had thought before how electric propulsion makes huge sense for vehicles that make very frequent stops and spend a lot of time idling. Same-day delivery vans, mail trucks and busses are obvious candidates. I never thought about garbage trucks but someone obviously did. Electric cars can be pretty glamorous with their huge touch-screen displays and insane performance but electrifying the humble garbage truck is hugely practical. The difference in operating costs and maintenance has got to be enormous.

Now that I think about it, it would have made more sense from a practical standpoint to have started the electrical revolution with commercial vehicles like this. They get much more use than private cars and trucks so payback on the initial purchase price will come much faster. There is no range issue as these vehicles don't make long trips. In terms of making transportation more green, I would make an educated guess that replacing one fuel-burning commercial vehicle with an electric one will have an effect equal to replacing at least ten cars. Not that electric cars aren't a good thing but I can't help but think they missed the boat by neglecting commercial vehicles. Tesla did the semi but that is the one type of commercial vehicle that requires a lot of range and therefore the least practical to electrify! Dumb!]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66399.html Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:39:06 +0000 zebo-the-fat]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66399.html in normal use it's getting to around 58C but on load it goes up to 95 - 98C is this ok or do I need to look for a better cooler?]]> in normal use it's getting to around 58C but on load it goes up to 95 - 98C is this ok or do I need to look for a better cooler?]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66309.html Sun, 19 Jan 2025 21:55:25 +0000 Kitan Etos]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66309.html
Currently, I have the Samsung Galaxy A32.]]>
Currently, I have the Samsung Galaxy A32.]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66243.html Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:52:10 +0000 Deesse23]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66243.html https://atheistforums.org/thread-66160.html Sun, 13 Oct 2024 13:48:03 +0000 zebo-the-fat]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66160.html https://atheistforums.org/thread-66125.html Sat, 14 Sep 2024 01:21:52 +0000 Kitan Etos]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-66125.html Google Messages?

Currently, have Samsung.]]> Google Messages?

Currently, have Samsung.]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-65944.html Thu, 16 May 2024 02:23:24 +0000 Fireball]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-65944.html one whit for sports or weather.]]> one whit for sports or weather.]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-65937.html Wed, 08 May 2024 19:45:12 +0000 Ferrocyanide]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-65937.html At first, it was clear that they were looking for certain words that I think they see as negative or sad, such as murder, kill, jewish, judaism.
Over time, it looked like they expanded to include more words such as virus, vaccine, things that are political.

Now, it seems to have gotten a lot more drastic where other youtube users tell me their posts have been deleted.]]> At first, it was clear that they were looking for certain words that I think they see as negative or sad, such as murder, kill, jewish, judaism.
Over time, it looked like they expanded to include more words such as virus, vaccine, things that are political.

Now, it seems to have gotten a lot more drastic where other youtube users tell me their posts have been deleted.]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-65819.html Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:48:24 +0000 FlatAssembler]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-65819.html
This is not the first that has happened to me. Back in 2020, Windows Defender claimed that my "100 Bottles of Beer" program written in x86 dialect of AEC is a Trojan and that my Polar Rose program is a PUS. I submitted those files to Microsoft, and they agreed with me that it is a false positive.

I must admit I don't understand how that's even possible. I'd understand if my compiler gets misidentified as a virus, as some viruses (especially on Linux) output assembly code and invoke assemblers, and my compiler also outputs assembly and invokes assemblers. I understand that encryption software sometimes gets misidentified as ransomware, as ransomware also do encryption. But I don't understand how can such simple software that essentially does nothing get misidentified as malware. How do antivirus programs even work? What do they look for so that small example programs written in my programming language look suspicious to them?

And why aren't the producers of antivirus software held liable for the damage their software causes via false positives?]]>
This is not the first that has happened to me. Back in 2020, Windows Defender claimed that my "100 Bottles of Beer" program written in x86 dialect of AEC is a Trojan and that my Polar Rose program is a PUS. I submitted those files to Microsoft, and they agreed with me that it is a false positive.

I must admit I don't understand how that's even possible. I'd understand if my compiler gets misidentified as a virus, as some viruses (especially on Linux) output assembly code and invoke assemblers, and my compiler also outputs assembly and invokes assemblers. I understand that encryption software sometimes gets misidentified as ransomware, as ransomware also do encryption. But I don't understand how can such simple software that essentially does nothing get misidentified as malware. How do antivirus programs even work? What do they look for so that small example programs written in my programming language look suspicious to them?

And why aren't the producers of antivirus software held liable for the damage their software causes via false positives?]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-65804.html Sat, 03 Feb 2024 03:37:04 +0000 neil]]> https://atheistforums.org/thread-65804.html
I keep getting burned by stolen cryptocurrency, despite being careful or not even taking any action and getting cryptocurrency taken from my wallet; for instance, I was using Atomic Wallet to store some of my cryptocurrencies, and even though I didn't do anything such as click on a link in a malicious email or on a website, somehow some hackers managed to nearly empty it. My first incident where I lost some bitcoin was from the Mt. Gox hack. My most recent incident was today, when I was trying to figure out how to claim an airdrop for a so-called "fork" of PEPE, or figure out if there actually is an airdrop for it (normally an "airdrop" means you automatically receive something if you already have something else, such as 1 BCH for each BTC you already have); I found a medium.com article led me to a bad website that apparently can hack Metamask wallets that connect to it.

Over time, I have come across or heard of case after case or stories of stolen cryptocurrency. If you are in law enforcement, you might be familiar with how bad it is. If you're not in law enforcement, just ask someone who you do know in law enforcement and ask them about it; I wouldn't be surprised if they told you that they know it's bad.

You probably are not ever hearing of any incidents of hacking, scams, or fraud involving cryptocurrencies in the news or any other media sources (with exceptions like FTX scam, because there was such a huge amount of money and a large number of victims involved), but you'll be able to find some information of many other victimized individuals or cases with some digging around on search engines - Google, etc.

Apparently, there are many victims of cryptocurrency theft who are either ashamed to admit that they've been victimized, or maybe even in denial that they've been victimized. I, myself, am not ashamed to admit that I've been foolish by believing that cryptocurrency is a sound financial system.


Cryptocurrency is a disaster and financially destructive to its victims; it's a failed experiment in terms of security to preserve digital assets. It's terrible right now, it's been gradually getting worse over time, and I suspect that it's going to get much worse at a much faster pace.

If you have any cryptocurrency, you might want to consider selling it off before it gets stolen from you. Tell anyone & everyone you know - family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, clients & customers (etc.), that right now it's a bad idea to mess around with cryptocurrencies.

Perhaps one day there will be solutions to fix the cryptocurrency environment, but right now it's broken; I'm not talking about the general conceptual technology per se, but even with that there are cases of problems, such as Terra Luna minting going completely out of control to try to prevent its "stable" coin from decoupling from the US dollar.

This is something that I really regret saying (because I'm not a fan of the Federal Reserve or any private central banking system that creates money out of nothing by loaning it into existence and charging interest for it, as well as because inflation is theft), but for now, just stick to conventional cash, banks, credit cards, and your checkbook.]]>
I keep getting burned by stolen cryptocurrency, despite being careful or not even taking any action and getting cryptocurrency taken from my wallet; for instance, I was using Atomic Wallet to store some of my cryptocurrencies, and even though I didn't do anything such as click on a link in a malicious email or on a website, somehow some hackers managed to nearly empty it. My first incident where I lost some bitcoin was from the Mt. Gox hack. My most recent incident was today, when I was trying to figure out how to claim an airdrop for a so-called "fork" of PEPE, or figure out if there actually is an airdrop for it (normally an "airdrop" means you automatically receive something if you already have something else, such as 1 BCH for each BTC you already have); I found a medium.com article led me to a bad website that apparently can hack Metamask wallets that connect to it.

Over time, I have come across or heard of case after case or stories of stolen cryptocurrency. If you are in law enforcement, you might be familiar with how bad it is. If you're not in law enforcement, just ask someone who you do know in law enforcement and ask them about it; I wouldn't be surprised if they told you that they know it's bad.

You probably are not ever hearing of any incidents of hacking, scams, or fraud involving cryptocurrencies in the news or any other media sources (with exceptions like FTX scam, because there was such a huge amount of money and a large number of victims involved), but you'll be able to find some information of many other victimized individuals or cases with some digging around on search engines - Google, etc.

Apparently, there are many victims of cryptocurrency theft who are either ashamed to admit that they've been victimized, or maybe even in denial that they've been victimized. I, myself, am not ashamed to admit that I've been foolish by believing that cryptocurrency is a sound financial system.


Cryptocurrency is a disaster and financially destructive to its victims; it's a failed experiment in terms of security to preserve digital assets. It's terrible right now, it's been gradually getting worse over time, and I suspect that it's going to get much worse at a much faster pace.

If you have any cryptocurrency, you might want to consider selling it off before it gets stolen from you. Tell anyone & everyone you know - family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, clients & customers (etc.), that right now it's a bad idea to mess around with cryptocurrencies.

Perhaps one day there will be solutions to fix the cryptocurrency environment, but right now it's broken; I'm not talking about the general conceptual technology per se, but even with that there are cases of problems, such as Terra Luna minting going completely out of control to try to prevent its "stable" coin from decoupling from the US dollar.

This is something that I really regret saying (because I'm not a fan of the Federal Reserve or any private central banking system that creates money out of nothing by loaning it into existence and charging interest for it, as well as because inflation is theft), but for now, just stick to conventional cash, banks, credit cards, and your checkbook.]]>