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posted by azrael on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:03AM   Printer-friendly
from the not-the-worst-possible-result dept.

The Borowitz Report reveals:

In interviews conducted across the nation, leading anti-science activists expressed their concern that the American people, wracked with anxiety over the possible spread of the virus, might desperately look to science to save the day.

...

Additionally, he worries about a "slippery slope" situation, "in which a belief in science leads to a belief in math, which in turn fosters a dangerous dependence on facts."

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  • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:15AM

    by kaszz (4211) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:15AM (#108068) Journal

    Note the link path:
    www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/fear-ebola-outbreak-make-nation-turn-science

    When times are uncertain many people tend turn religious..

    • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:24AM

      by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:24AM (#108076) Journal

      Plain humor or some grain of truth?

      Only a grain, you hope? How little faith you have! [pewforum.org]

      --
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
    • (Score: 2) by M. Baranczak on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:44AM

      by M. Baranczak (1673) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:44AM (#108083)

      Andy Borowitz always puts a big "HUMOR" label on all his stuff. Otherwise people might not be able to tell.

    • (Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday October 21 2014, @08:10AM

      by frojack (1554) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @08:10AM (#108147) Journal

      Are we so desperate for articles that we have to troll known satire sites, or has c0lo been smoking that devil weed again?

      --
      No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @08:19AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @08:19AM (#108148)

        has c0lo been smoking that devil weed again?

        do you mean that c0lo full name is c0lor4d0 [soylentnews.org] ?

      • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Tuesday October 21 2014, @01:20PM

        by FatPhil (863) <{pc-soylent} {at} {asdf.fi}> on Tuesday October 21 2014, @01:20PM (#108208) Homepage
        I liked this one (and many others from TO):
        http://www.theonion.com/articles/nurse-being-treated-for-ebola-impressed-health,37226/
        "50 whites away" was a close second.
        --
        Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:16AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:16AM (#108070)

    There are seriously "anti-science activists" ?

    Of all the terrible things that go on in the world that people could expend effort to oppose somebody actually decided that opposing science was the way to go?

    • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:21AM

      by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:21AM (#108072) Journal

      Of all the terrible things that go on in the world that people could expend effort to oppose somebody actually decided that opposing science was the way to go?

      Are you surprised? Better get used to it [theatlantic.com].

      --
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
      • (Score: 2) by mth on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:39AM

        by mth (2848) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:39AM (#108082) Homepage

        Faith does not have to conflict with science. It's the literal interpretation of religious texts that often conflicts with science.

        • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:57AM

          by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:57AM (#108087) Journal

          Faith does not have to conflict with science. It's the literal interpretation of religious texts that often conflicts with science.

          From the linked source:

          Seventy-two percent of Americans think religion is losing its influence on public life, while 48 percent think houses of worship should express their views on social and political issues. Since 2010, both of these numbers have grown by at least five percentage points

          If the trend is real and constant, withing less than a quarter of a lifetime there'll be no debate which part of the conflict will be the loser.

          --
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
          • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:49PM

            by tangomargarine (667) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:49PM (#108297)

            "Social and political issues," we're talking ethics. There are plenty of religious viewpoints that offer worthwhile ethical commentary.

            I feel like calling sociology et al. "science" is stretching a bit, too. Philosophy and that sort of thing feels like largely guesswork and pulling stuff out of our asses about how the brain works anyway. People considered Freud scientific in the day, right?

            --
            "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @10:21AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @10:21AM (#108167)

          Faith does not have to conflict with science. It's the literal interpretation of religious texts that often conflicts with science.

          So, you're ok with any religion that admits up-front that it's a collection fictional stories? "Faith is good, so long as you don't get carried away with it," or something like that? My guess is there aren't a whole lot of religions that will encourage that attitude, particularly ones that are based on their central figure having literally risen from the dead.

          • (Score: 2) by mth on Tuesday October 21 2014, @09:48PM

            by mth (2848) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @09:48PM (#108431) Homepage

            So, you're ok with any religion that admits up-front that it's a collection fictional stories?

            The opposite of literal is figurative, not fictional. A figurative story can be about a real event or a fictional event. The purpose of a figurative story is to get a message or idea across, not to accurately describe an event.

            "Faith is good, so long as you don't get carried away with it," or something like that?

            No, that's not what I mean. First, I wouldn't call faith good or bad in itself. Second, I think taking these stories figuratively is the way they are meant to be interpreted, so taking them literally is not a case of going too far, it's a case of going in the wrong direction.

            My guess is there aren't a whole lot of religions that will encourage that attitude, particularly ones that are based on their central figure having literally risen from the dead.

            That's one of the stories that I think benefits a lot from not taking it literally.

    • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:48AM

      by kaszz (4211) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:48AM (#108084) Journal

      Parenting that integrate children with a specific belief set? Works with uninformed adults too.

      Don't forget people that can't deal with a complex world. They will turn to anything that make it look simple.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @05:01PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @05:01PM (#108302)

        Don't forget people that can't deal with a complex world. They will turn to anything that make it look simple.

        Uh, to my eye, it would appear that this would apply about equally to liberal dittoheads as it would to reactionary conservatives. Just sayin'.

      • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:49PM

        by tangomargarine (667) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:49PM (#108339)

        Don't forget people that can't deal with a complex world. They will turn to anything that make it look simple.

        Like for example stereotyping? ;)

        --
        "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
        • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Tuesday October 21 2014, @07:51PM

          by kaszz (4211) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @07:51PM (#108368) Journal

          "God did it(tm)" or "the bible says so" etc..

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:47AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:47AM (#108096)

      Whups, what next - people using their brain cells? Liberals everywhere will be horrified!

    • (Score: 1) by Zz9zZ on Tuesday October 21 2014, @05:20AM

      by Zz9zZ (1348) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @05:20AM (#108104)

      Our perception is based on a belief structure, if someone experiences life through a certain lens where (lets say, when it's created nuclear weapons capable of destroying the world exactly like doomsday) is a product of science; then yes I can understand where it comes from. It's all so silly in the end! Such a silly thing when science has made the amazing future come to life :)

      --
      ~Tilting at windmills~
  • (Score: 3, Funny) by aristarchus on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:21AM

    by aristarchus (2645) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:21AM (#108074) Journal

    I mean, when you try the whole "healing by faith" thing with ebola, and you die, that might make science become a possible refuge. Unfortunately, if you wait that long, it really is too late. Of course, if you caught the plague, you must have done something wrong to be so punished! Nothing happens for no reason! Of course again, when what we thought was the reason doesn't seem to be the reason, because what we thought were perfectly good people get sick, then again, maybe science is the answer.

    • (Score: 2) by mhajicek on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:27AM

      by mhajicek (51) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:27AM (#108077)

      The Lord works in mysterious ways...

      --
      The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
    • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:34AM

      by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:34AM (#108079) Journal

      I mean, when you try the whole "healing by faith" thing with ebola, and you die,

      Relevant quote: it could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others [despair.com].

      --
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
    • (Score: 2) by arslan on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:27AM

      by arslan (3462) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:27AM (#108120)

      but.. but.. if you're catholic and you confessed, you don't get punished right? RIGHT?

      • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:43AM

        by aristarchus (2645) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:43AM (#108123) Journal

        but.. but.. if you're catholic and you confessed, you don't get punished right? RIGHT?

        To put in in the words of the good Knight who guarded the Holy Grail, "he chose poorly".

        Sorry and all. A Holy Synod will be by shortly to make sure you are not gay or divorced and getting the holy wafer on the sly.

    • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Tuesday October 21 2014, @01:21PM

      by FatPhil (863) <{pc-soylent} {at} {asdf.fi}> on Tuesday October 21 2014, @01:21PM (#108209) Homepage
      Or you blame the MSF or IRC medics, and slaughter them in cold blood, and then go back to the last few days/weeks of your wretched life.
      --
      Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
  • (Score: 1) by m2o2r2g2 on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:23AM

    by m2o2r2g2 (3673) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:23AM (#108075)

    http://www.theonion.com/articles/nurse-being-treated-for-ebola-impressed-health,37226/ [theonion.com]

    so we are falling for satirical articles now?
    good work editors. I thought the other site was bad...

    • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:30AM

      by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:30AM (#108078) Journal

      so we are falling for satirical articles now?
      good work editors. I thought the other site was bad...

      What's so bad in humour on SN? No, seriously, please do enlighten me.

      --
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
      • (Score: 1) by takyon on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:37AM

        by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:37AM (#108081) Journal

        They troll users, aren't likely to inform, and they delay your submission [soylentnews.org] from reaching the front page.

        --
        [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
        • (Score: 3, Insightful) by c0lo on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:01AM

          by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:01AM (#108088) Journal
          It was exactly this humour piece which made search for "How much of this is humour and in what amount is real?"
          So, where's the damage?
          --
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:28AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:28AM (#108094)

          It seems to me that the editors save better submissions for release in the morning (US time). You should take it as a complement.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:53AM

            by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:53AM (#108097)

            citation?

            • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:53AM

              by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:53AM (#108126) Journal

              citation?

              Needed?

              --
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
              • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Tuesday October 21 2014, @07:04AM

                by aristarchus (2645) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @07:04AM (#108127) Journal

                Meta-citation?

                And the Lord said, get the fuck off my lawn, you mere creatures, full of bile and phlegm!

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @01:14PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @01:14PM (#108207)

              "It seems to me"
              Citation: Me

      • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:44PM

        by tangomargarine (667) on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:44PM (#108294)

        When the "humor" involved is just purposely stirring up hate for a specific group, yes. I'm not a proponent of punishment for hate speech per se but don't be a twat.

        Just because you don't like religion doesn't mean you have to smugly shove that fact in our faces.

        --
        "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @02:53PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @02:53PM (#108251)

      Whoosh

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @07:13AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @07:13AM (#108130)

    or in English: so be it.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @11:58AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @11:58AM (#108192)

    I've reread summary 3 times. I understand it now, I thinkā€¦ Either I'm too slow today, or the summary is written in abyssal.