Video Blog 60: Reply to Greg Solomon re: Atheist Video Clip

[GaeasBlessing]

Epic pwnage on so many levels.

Solomon's an arrogant blowhard but I find his stupidity mildly entertaining in short doses. I imagine other viewers feel the same way. Basically he's like Ian Crossland, aggressively stupid but worth watching for a lark.

[skatewad]

buzz killington over here holy shit oO

[skatewad]

How one would choose to criticize quibbling with a another barrage of quibbling is beyond me. The fact of the matter is that you choose to interpret the video differently just as many people choose to interpret the bible differently, which as I'm sure you would agree is largely a waste of time.

[majined]

That was perhaps the most eloquent refute I've heard in some time. I thank you, sir. My anger at Mr. Solomon's video reply was quelled by your well worded monologue.

[Talik13]

you, like Solomon and Zakiechan, make good points.

also, i kno you said that you are agnostic but some ppl (not saying you or zack) but for those who stereotype people like me, who have a religion will find these videos helpful (below)

watch?v=8RtfNdg1fQk&feature=re­lated

(paste it after youtube dot com)

[Talik13]

you, like Solomon and Zakiechan, make good points.

also, i kno you said that you are agnostic but some ppl (not saying you or zack) but for those who stereotype people like me, who have a religion will find these videos helpful (below)

watch?v=8RtfNdg1fQk&feature=re­lated

(paste it after youtube dot com)

[zakiechan]

Wow! Nice job!! Thanks guy!

[FantasticBabblings]

My pleasure. I enjoyed your original video.

[daveylaurence]

I guess this Solomon guy got owned so many times by so many people he up and quit YouTube. Or maybe he died of cancer as some speculate, which would be ironic as he insisted vehemently that smoking isn't bad for you.

[skatewad]

no, he insisted that the relaxing benefits of smoking outweigh its negative effects in his case as he himself smokes sparingly

[chasman20]

Excellent. Very well spoken. Bravo Mr. Head.

[FantasticBabblings]

Thank you, sir.

[alkemann]

thank you. Solomon almost got me

[withanoxgoad]

listening to you makes me be productive. thanks for babbling.

[PaPookie]

Thanks for the great video. I see you're currently not listed as a video response. I'm not surprised, from what I've heard about this guy. Isn't that just typical - people on YouTube who don't want to really "debate" but only want their own opinion heard.

It would be nice if there was a way to tell if a particular YouTube user frequently blocked comments or responses - maybe a statistic on their profile or a note next to the video about whether or not responses were approved.

[FantasticBabblings]

His channel says he hasn't logged in for over a week, but I bet he has a lurker account.

[jbooks777]

but a fool don't even know he does bad - his many words puff him up (into a floating head)

[schnukele]

Phhhhlllaaaaaattttt! Raspberry to you, furtz brain.

[FantasticBabblings]

Oh boy. I never get haters. Would you be my hater? Please?

[jbooks777]

there's that word again - HATER - no, not a hater, more a MOCKER OF THEE

[FantasticBabblings]

That's close enough. Thank you.

[jbooks777]

not fair - i wanted to have the last say

[Castaa]

Excellent video response.

[leadbellydan]

Sorry that last comment was so badly written - hopefully you can glean some kind of sense out of it.

[leadbellydan]

If u have no knowledge of whether God exists, either u dont have a belief about it or ur belief about it is false or your belief isnt justified. You say you do have a belief about it so that rules out the first case, presumably u dont assume ur belief false which rules out the second case or your know ur belief is not justified which would surely lead u to drop ur belief. Therefore your agnostic atheist viewpoint makes no sense.

[FantasticBabblings]

Knowledge and belief are two different things. I have no knowledge of either, but I put the burden of proof on those who claim the existence of god, since it is a positive assertion. It is hard, if not impossible, to prove the nonexistence of something. I have seen no proof of the existence, so I choose to disbelieve. Your epistomology seems somewhat convoluted.

[leadbellydan]

If ur choice to disbelieve is correct and justified as it seems to be then it is knowledge. This is the same as knowledge that the sun will rise tomorow or that dinosaur once lived on Earth - neither of which we cannot be certain of. Are you an agnostic in regards to these beliefs?

[FantasticBabblings]

Belief and knowledge are not the same. If you don't get that we're not even speaking the same language and it is pointless to continue. We do not know the sun will rise tomorrow. We induce it based on evidence. I believe it, but it isn't knowledge until it happens. Actually the sun won't rise, the earth will most likely rotate.

[FantasticBabblings]

The proof of dinosaurs living on earth, however, is something else. It is demonstrated by evidence beyond any reasonable doubt. It is knowledge. Various facts about the lives of dinosaurs are in flux, but their existence is not.

[leadbellydan]

Im sure ive already made this clear but im assuming that knowledge is justified true belief. Although this has been disproved by Gettier its very standard to describe knowledge in approximately these terms. My point was if ur justified in disbelieving in God and its true that there is no God then you have knowledge and so u should be an atheist. If u think theres no justification one way or the other then you should hold no belief and be an agnostic.

[leadbellydan]

It doesnt make sense to go both ways unless u think of knowledge in the Cartesian way where there has to be absolute certainty. This led to my other point about being agnostic about scentific facts etc where there is always an element of doubt.

[FantasticBabblings]

In that vein, I can't be sure that you exist, so why would I continue this meaningless pursuit?

[leadbellydan]

because u think u are justified in believing that i exist. If i in fact do exist (i wont spoil the example by telling u whether i do) then u have knowledge. Theres no need to declare urself an agnostic about my existence. Any statement other than mathematical and logical ones cannot be proved 100%, but that doesnt stop us forming beliefs.

[mariekish]

you got owwnneeddd ''Actually the sun won't rise, the earth will most likely rotate. ''

[jbooks777]

talk talk talk

[leadbellydan]

good work jbooks

[DMA65]

My favorite part of the video in question occurs about 4 or 5 minutes in when Mr Solomon declares the word fool to be American. For someone so semanticly picky this strikes me as an excellent slip. Great video FB.

[DarwinsHamster]

Very good video. Apart from the merits, which were excellent, I wish I had some small fraction of the resonance of your deep bass voice. Thank you for making this video.

[FantasticBabblings]

Thank you. More than once I've gotten by on just the voice. I'm glad you appreciate the merits as well.

[vitalfinds]

I think that I had developed such a low opinion of GS that his Athiest video initially impressed me, but you've made a lot of excellent points -- and without the need to tell us that "you are very knowlegable" about Science.

[FantasticBabblings]

It initially seemed sensible to me until I thought about it.

[numsii]

The only problem I have with you is that I can only subscribe once, superb work.

[MistarX]

Well stated. Solomon just wants attention. I do not believe Solomon has made any sense in any of his videos.

[RLByrum]

Everytime I see your floating head I just want you to say, "GUILTY" like in the Superman movies.

[FantasticBabblings]

Haha! I will try to work that in.

[CanadianGirlfriend]

Bravo!

[Rnieves27]

It's all been said Phil, but very good response! That guy GregSolomon needs to chill baby! :)

[zacksmovies]

True dat!

[ThorouBread]

I'd say you've put Greg into checkmate! Excellent arguments, Phil. Greg's logic was so awful that I was almost sure it was sarcasm, but I couldn't be certain.

[ThorouBread]

Greg has been put in checkmate. Excellent response, Phil. Greg's logic was so terrible that I was almost sure it was sarcasm.

[altebanger]

I have no reason to believe that Solomon will ever own up to his many mistakes, omissions, and lies he thrusts apon the public.

As for the ever popular monotheistic God of Abraham my logic compels me to not believe in it yet as with everyone else, I have no evidence ergo I can not claim it as a fact, even though I call myself an atheist.

[xtream1]

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of GOd; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised..Eph. 4:19.. Those who have committed the unpardonable are completely given over to Satan and have not the slightest intrest in spiritual matters. Paul describes it as baving become callous.

[OliverSnippit]

Oh, and Happy New Year. (stupid 500 character limit).

[OliverSnippit]

This is a well argued response to a post that, though I'll never watch, have a pretty good idea from your description what the jist is. Unfortunately logic alone isn't enough to alter the perspective of the faith-based. It'll take the evolutionary shakeout of many, many generations to dispose of something that has long outlived its usefulness. Until then we "reality-based" folk need to maintain our reason and not expend too much time indulging the bleatings of the G.Solomons of the world.

[TheOptimisticSkeptic]

Well done as usual.

[SedonaLeigh]

Bible, nice bit of literature, lots of good lessons - lots of crap - even the 42 books that are missing. I'm with you FB, God has always meant to me an old AA saying, 'Good Orderly Direction', though I think Invisible Sky Daddy is an awesome. Happy New Year and you are Dead Sexy when you break out the OED Big Words...LOVED IT.

[LordLargo37]

I missed you phil. Your wisdom is definately an inspiration to me. I am young and still gathering what knowledge I will use to better society, and having you as an example of how one might work with this knowledge is a great relief. I hope your 2007 is a happy one.

[JimmyHook]

Happy New Year, Lord! Liked your comment. I've had a lot of "formal" education, but one of the brightest, most distinguished minds you'll ever come across is right here in FB. I'm like you--I like to watch and learn!

[brokendave]

I love you, sir.

[beachbumde]

Thank you for putting Mr Solomon and his video in their place FB, and a Happy New Years to ya!

Regards,

bb

[AngryAtheist]

Damn fine work tearing Solomon's video apart for the loosely piled bullshit that it is. When using basic math and taking quotes in context is all it takes to completely destroy his argument, it makes me wonder how he can smoke that pipe without drooling on himself.

[oldguy1944]

Mr. Solomon is a legend in his own mind He claimed YouTube never answered messages, I had received one from YT and forwarded it to him in an effort to enlighten him He responded by calling me a liar and blocked me so I could not respond. Kudos Phil for an excellent video and welcome to the blocked club.

[ReluctantRedneck]

Welcome back from holiday, Phil. Excellent job with this. I find GS overly negative and bombastic.

[northwatuppa]

I find myself somewhere "out there" in all this. By that I mean, I have pretty much rejected all organized religions and assiduously avoid involvement in religious/spiritual movements and groups of all kinds. I have for many years. But I also have a deeply spiritual sense of the world. So, paradoxically, I find myself in intellectual agreement and emotional sympathy with atheists on many points. But I am most certainly not an atheist.

[FantasticBabblings]

There are as many variegations of thoughts and feelings as there are people. That's why I think it is folly to be strict about labeling. I share a deeply spiritual sense of the world as it is, without what my friend Matt (abortedsoul) calls an Invisible Sky Daddy.

[mycotao]

Agnostics have been broken down into two groups by atheists and theists. Blown away by things I've learned through science regarding our bodies, world and universe, I've become willing to open my mind to the possibility that there is a force behind it all. My feelings are it exists outside the rules of a fourth dimension which defines and enslaves us on a very basic level...I'm a theistic agnostic. I had just subscribed to your channel before you produced this jewel...Thanks and Peace2U!

gf

[puddysma1]

Atheists are not necessarily evil or wrong..but neither are believers necessarily stupid or intolerant. We seem to have both sides engaging in wrongful intolerance...sad. Labels, labels, labels...why not just accept each other with a compassionate heart?

[Tartantyco]

Because religious people try to push their beliefs on other people through legislation and corruption of education, that's why.

[FantasticBabblings]

As for compassion for each other as individuals, I agree. However, religious institutions have amassed such wealth and power that cannot be ignored.

[puddysma1]

i think the churches should be taxed, frankly.

But basically i was speaking about what i hear on YouTube. It is the emotional division i hear on here that bothers me so. Another way of dividing people and we need to look for ways to connect, not divide. The personal name calling... even worse than the politics...

[curt344]

Glad to see the Floating Head is back. And thank you for offering the definition of Agnosticism, by the way. I get the impression sometimes that there's some misconception out there about this AND Atheism.

Sincerely,

An Agnostic Milk Drinker

[FantasticBabblings]

'Tis my pleasure to float for you once more. Happy New Year to all.

[stratocasterz]

You systematically, comprehensively ripped apart gregsolomon's entire video, revealing its many glaring inaccuracies.

Is the term 'pwned'?

[abortedsoul]

A contraction of pwned. Whiles its meaning is essentially the same, the word's abrupt ending lends it a terse quality, making it especially suitable for the description of particularly sudden or decisive ownage.

[abortedsoul]

So... PWNT.

[FantasticBabblings]

I love that.

[abortedsoul]

I love you Phil; you have a disposition that I would love regardless, but it's so easy to love you when you are so goddamn clever.

[FantasticBabblings]

My heart is full, dear friend.

[Abernis]

that was a rather well knit definition of a contraction of a word I see around a lot and of which I know not the meaning(a lot would be learned if we first gave a meaning to the word god and then had a debate).Pls entertain these subject phrases:.- Would you care for notes of small or large denomination?.- Would you care for a cup of green tea?What would you say is the reason-beyond the strictly semiological ones-that make your whole body,and I underline whole body,feel-and react-differently?

[viddareff]

if not for anything else, it was a pleasure to see you 'stand up', as it were, for asimov