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#1056558
Percy Q. Shunn
That is one big ol' babbling brook of ignorance and fail.
11/14/2009 6:34:50 PM
#1056607
Horsefeathers
"In 2001 I raised in the House the influence of the moon, on the basis of the evidence then that at certain phases of the moon there are more accidents. Surgeons will not operate because blood clotting is not effective and the police have to put more people on the street."
That's nice. Unfortunately you've cited nothing to support your claims and, as far as I know, all reports of "Moon Madness" don't hold up when you look at the statistics.
"I am talking about a long-standing discipline—an art and a science—that has been with us since ancient Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian and Assyrian times. It is part of the Chinese, Muslim and Hindu cultures. Criticism is deeply offensive to those cultures, and I have a Muslim college in my constituency."
Astrology?
The fuck are you talking about anyway?
"The opposition is based on what I call the SIP formula—superstition, ignorance and prejudice. It tends to be based on superstition, with scientists reacting emotionally, which is always a great irony. They are also ignorant, because they never study the subject and just say that it is all to do with what appears in the newspapers, which it is not, and they are deeply prejudiced, and racially prejudiced too, which is troubling."
And I thought U.S. politicians held the patent on crazy...
11/14/2009 7:04:21 PM
#1056640
Thejebusfire
In 2001 I raised in the House the influence of the moon, on the basis of the evidence then that at certain phases of the moon there are more accidents. Surgeons will not operate because blood clotting is not effective and the police have to put more people on the street.
[citation needed]
11/14/2009 7:19:11 PM
#1056643
Wehpudicabok
Criticism indeed tends to be highly offensive to those who believe things that are wrong. If their beliefs were correct, they would hold up to criticism.
Furthermore, the fact that an idea has been around a long time doesn't make it more accurate--indeed, ancient scientific ideas are generally less accurate than modern ones. Did the ancient Chinese ever figure out internal combustion, or electricity?
11/14/2009 7:21:44 PM
#1056680
Old Viking
And the werewolves! The werewolves!
11/14/2009 7:47:23 PM
#1056712
I recently read an article that cited various studies as having found absolutely no correlation between the full moon and an increased rate of accidents or crime (and obviously, your blood clotting theory is bs). It went on to say that the parts about the moon having an influence on behavior perhaps being true in the past, (the rest, being stemmed, completely, in mythology) when the moon was such a significant source of light for us that it might have impacted sleep, make crime easier, etc. However, we have no idea if people attributing things to the moon was just as baseless then, as it very much is today.
Anyway, I can't find the actual article, but just by googling "full moon myths" a whole bunch of pages came up that have this information.
11/14/2009 8:13:55 PM
#1056713
What?
11/14/2009 8:19:23 PM
#1056757
Anevilmeme
Okay I admit it, I actually said "what the fuck?" out loud after reading this babble.
11/14/2009 8:58:52 PM
#1056765
Doubting Thomas
If this were an American politician, he'd be talking about God instead of those other superstitions.
11/14/2009 9:04:42 PM
#1056770
Vince
you know, I know what he's getting at.
there is a shit load of stuff that the lunar calendar actually affects. not enough to make anyone give a shit but it is interesting.
but anyway, what he seems to be getting at is how people refuse to even consider things even slightly related to astrology, spirituality, even herbal medicine. one phrase I hate more than any other is the argument that there's simply "no such thing". people who so blindly deny that anything even slightly paranormal goes on. it doesn't exist. don't be ridiculous. ect.
I fucking hate it. blindness and ignorance is the same not matter what your dogma. what if science took the same attitude. how many things we enjoy today would be called impossible and ridiculous 100 years ago.
this guy has a point, people need to consider that people believed this shit for a reason, maybe there could just possibly be something to this. you never know until you investigate.
maybe the fact that the internal clock of just about every animal on earth is related to the cycle of the moon. just maybe.
11/14/2009 9:07:59 PM
#1056785
Reverend Jeremiah
When Criticism is deeply offensive to your culture..that is a warning that you need to delve deeply into WHY criticism is offensive.
The reasons that you find that they do not tolerate criticism may DEEPLY offend you.
P.S. - I am also sure that a crooked politician will be deeply offended if you ask too many probing questions and inquire for evidence and facts.
11/14/2009 9:15:41 PM
#1056791
campbunny
Absolutely golden. "Criticism is deeply offensive to those cultures" could be an entry all by itself.
11/14/2009 9:21:00 PM
#1056796
Caustic Gnostic
It's a god damned good thing old David isn't a woman; menstruation would absolutely freak him out.
11/14/2009 9:25:21 PM
#1056817
GodotIsWaiting4U
What the hell are you even saying?
11/14/2009 9:53:09 PM
#1056871
Efrain
@Caustic Gnostic:
It freaks most people out, Male and female. D:
11/14/2009 11:01:43 PM
#1056873
WMDKitty
Not sure whether to laugh or cry, here. Though I still won't go out if it's a full moon... especially on a weekend. Things get crazy.
11/14/2009 11:02:51 PM
#1056883
ozznova
how is this fundie?
11/14/2009 11:27:59 PM
#1056894
FMG
No... No the moon has nothing to do with blood clotting
11/14/2009 11:53:22 PM
#1056969
Nathan the Wise
You been trying to claim your astrologer on expenses, Dave?
*googles*
Oh, he's a Tory. Fancy that, a loony Tory MP. Never seen one of those before.
11/15/2009 2:39:59 AM
#1056970
DarkfireTaimatsu
Scientists are a superstitious, cowardly lot?
11/15/2009 2:47:10 AM
#1056975
toothache
I suppose it's due to racism that these medicines fail to work then?
11/15/2009 2:57:13 AM
#1056989
aaa
You fail medicine forever.
11/15/2009 3:39:30 AM
#1056990
"Surgeons will not operate because blood clotting is not effective"
This phrase by itself should be enough to get the man kicked out of parliament. Who wants their MP's deciding matters based on superstitions.
11/15/2009 3:39:45 AM
#1056994
HazelHolly
And, once again, I'm reminded that we Brits don't have the right to brag to the Americans that we don't have any idiots...
11/15/2009 3:48:21 AM
#1057000
Haseri
The troubling thing is, people actually voted for him.
11/15/2009 4:02:43 AM
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