Comments on: Skeptics Have Nothing to Talk About in Europe? http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:44:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Henry http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/#comment-23233 Henry Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:59:50 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5550#comment-23233 Well we have not been quite forced to join the war, though our german gov acted highly criminal on doing it. And I'm not even talking about the humanitarian side of this. When the "Bundeswehr" our military corps was build up, it was designed as a pure defensive army. It was only for the purpose of defence. Now our wise politicians seem to forget and send our troops anywhere just like that. Democracy? Yeah right. Surveys showed CLEARLY that this is far away from what the people wanted. Oh and for you as a skeptic it could be of interest that germany is not a real country. Yeah look it up. Once we were divided (east/west) and it was about time to create a state in western germany, we did it, but and here is the interesting fact: We created a provisionally state. It is within the agreement from then, that there should be a new agreement and a foundation of the german Republic once both unite. Guess what happened, we swallowed the east tearing down the industry leaving millions without jobs where there was fullemployment in the former GDR. Since then western germany is paying a "solidary fund" to eastern germany each year. Seems to be a good idea? Well things didnt change that much in over 21years to now. In reality, companies are exploiting this fund with building a cheap facility in the east and getting their part. After they got their money they are usually fast gone. Well you could refer to many things which are wrong here. Luckily we dont have that much believers over here, so thats not that big deal. You should fix that in the states, i mean once you have been the peak of modern thinking ;) The Independence War was a good example that it should be the people who should count. Now many ideas which are perfectly in the original american spirit are fought as communist or unpatriotic. It seems as though people in the US dont even get that they are patriotic for BP and Exxon but not for their country after all. greetings from germany by the way i love this blog. :) Well we have not been quite forced to join the war, though our german gov acted highly criminal on doing it. And I’m not even talking about the humanitarian side of this. When the “Bundeswehr” our military corps was build up, it was designed as a pure defensive army. It was only for the purpose of defence.
Now our wise politicians seem to forget and send our troops anywhere just like that. Democracy? Yeah right. Surveys showed CLEARLY that this is far away from what the people wanted. Oh and for you as a skeptic it could be of interest that germany is not a real country. Yeah look it up.
Once we were divided (east/west) and it was about time to create a state in western germany, we did it, but and here is the interesting fact:
We created a provisionally state. It is within the agreement from then, that there should be a new agreement and a foundation of the german Republic once both unite. Guess what happened, we swallowed the east tearing down the industry leaving millions without jobs where there was fullemployment in the former GDR. Since then western germany is paying a “solidary fund” to eastern germany each year. Seems to be a good idea? Well things didnt change that much in over 21years to now. In reality, companies are exploiting this fund with building a cheap facility in the east and getting their part. After they got their money they are usually fast gone. Well you could refer to many things which are wrong here. Luckily we dont have that much believers over here, so thats not that big deal. You should fix that in the states, i mean once you have been the peak of modern thinking ;) The Independence War was a good example that it should be the people who should count.
Now many ideas which are perfectly in the original american spirit are fought as communist or unpatriotic. It seems as though people in the US dont even get that they are patriotic for BP and Exxon but not for their country after all.

greetings from germany
by the way i love this blog. :)

]]> By: A.L. http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/#comment-17101 A.L. Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:39:40 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5550#comment-17101 Obviously Brian hasn't been eaten alive by the CCC crowd, so we Germans would love to know what his impressions were. I only saw the video feed, but it seems he didn't dare to broach the subject of 9/11 conspiracy theories and stuck to his Russian cosmonauts. World Domination/Illuminati stuff in general is more popular here anyway, most Germans feel our government has been bullied into fighting its first little war after 1945. Who's interested, you can download Brian's performance here: http://ftp.ccc.de/congress/26c3/mp4-ipod/26c3-3710-en-the_lost_cosmonauts_iProd.mp4 Maybe Tim could explain to me how he identifies "eurotrash", it doesn't jibe with the majority opinion on Wikipedia: <i>Eurotrash is a derogatory term used chiefly in North America for Europeans, especially those who perceived to be young, wealthy, and <b>resident in the United States</b>.</i> But considering the rest of his comment, he's already embittered enough and expects to be trashed in return. Yes Tim, the US may not be the best of all countries, but we don't look down on Americans just because they're more religulous than us. We have plenty of our own crackpots, nutcases and fanatics. Fear not that reason will invade from Germany - at least not anytime soon. Obviously Brian hasn’t been eaten alive by the CCC crowd, so we Germans would love to know what his impressions were. I only saw the video feed, but it seems he didn’t dare to broach the subject of 9/11 conspiracy theories and stuck to his Russian cosmonauts. World Domination/Illuminati stuff in general is more popular here anyway, most Germans feel our government has been bullied into fighting its first little war after 1945.

Who’s interested, you can download Brian’s performance here:
http://ftp.ccc.de/congress/26c3/mp4-ipod/26c3-3710-en-the_lost_cosmonauts_iProd.mp4

Maybe Tim could explain to me how he identifies “eurotrash”, it doesn’t jibe with the majority opinion on Wikipedia:
Eurotrash is a derogatory term used chiefly in North America for Europeans, especially those who perceived to be young, wealthy, and resident in the United States.
But considering the rest of his comment, he’s already embittered enough and expects to be trashed in return. Yes Tim, the US may not be the best of all countries, but we don’t look down on Americans just because they’re more religulous than us. We have plenty of our own crackpots, nutcases and fanatics. Fear not that reason will invade from Germany – at least not anytime soon.

]]> By: Max http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/#comment-16683 Max Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:10:18 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5550#comment-16683 Even if the hackers don't take your data, Customs have the right to search and seize your electronic devices. But you're more likely to simply lose them. Even if the hackers don’t take your data, Customs have the right to search and seize your electronic devices. But you’re more likely to simply lose them.

]]> By: Brian M http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/#comment-16681 Brian M Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:35:57 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5550#comment-16681 I love those guidelines. I have already done all of those, and more. Knowing security keeps me safe. Going to a hacker conference and not knowing those is a serious recipe for disaster... Although, those hackers are most likely to just fool around with you, and not really take your data... But be prepared regardless... I love those guidelines. I have already done all of those, and more. Knowing security keeps me safe. Going to a hacker conference and not knowing those is a serious recipe for disaster… Although, those hackers are most likely to just fool around with you, and not really take your data… But be prepared regardless…

]]> By: philipp http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/#comment-16047 philipp Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:10:50 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5550#comment-16047 Great news! Will be at the ccc and am looking forward to your talk. As others above allready mentioned, conspiracy theories would be a good topic. As well as quackery. And as the zeitgeist here is very green a talk about critical thinking about green ideas like eat local and the likes would be a good idea too. Great news! Will be at the ccc and am looking forward to your talk.

As others above allready mentioned, conspiracy theories would be a good topic. As well as quackery. And as the zeitgeist here is very green a talk about critical thinking about green ideas like eat local and the likes would be a good idea too.

]]> By: Sofa http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/#comment-15977 Sofa Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:17:35 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5550#comment-15977 German speaking: As already stated, homeopathy is really big here. Also a very popular publisher for IT material is closely associated with an online magazine called "telepolis" which peddles conspiracy nonsense like 9/11 and moon hoax drivel. At least before I stopped reading it. I distinctly remember a video from two years ago from this very conference where the topic was "how the modern world is very complicated and we cannot understand it anymore" or something like that. The speakers asked the audience "how many of you think the Americans landed on the moon" and "how many of you think 9/11 happened like in the official version", needless to say all those smart hackers didn't believe the stuff uneducated sheeple do. In general, hacker culture and the CCC are somewhat influenced by Robert Anton Wilsons "Illuminatus!" trilogy and his weird beliefs German speaking: As already stated, homeopathy is really big here.

Also a very popular publisher for IT material is closely associated with an online magazine called “telepolis” which peddles conspiracy nonsense like 9/11 and moon hoax drivel. At least before I stopped reading it.

I distinctly remember a video from two years ago from this very conference where the topic was “how the modern world is very complicated and we cannot understand it anymore” or something like that.

The speakers asked the audience “how many of you think the Americans landed on the moon” and “how many of you think 9/11 happened like in the official version”, needless to say all those smart hackers didn’t believe the stuff uneducated sheeple do.

In general, hacker culture and the CCC are somewhat influenced by Robert Anton Wilsons “Illuminatus!” trilogy and his weird beliefs

]]> By: Tim http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/#comment-15952 Tim Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:26:56 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5550#comment-15952 Well I'm not European and have never been to Europe (or Germany for that matter) so I have no idea. From what I know about them though I think your guess is probably spot on. I would expect a lot of self important eurotrash who look down at Americans who don't trash America. So you might want to start off by making fun of a few American things first in order to get the crowd to warm to you a little bit and then move onto other nonsense that might be popular in Germany. I'm not a fan of trashing the country overseas so I wouldn't say that, but a few universal things like crop circles and aliens with American examples might lower their pitchforks a few centimeters lower in the air. I would expect people who claim they are skeptical who start every sentence with "nobody can convince me." Of course, that's good advice when traveling to any convention anywhere. Good luck. Well I’m not European and have never been to Europe (or Germany for that matter) so I have no idea. From what I know about them though I think your guess is probably spot on. I would expect a lot of self important eurotrash who look down at Americans who don’t trash America. So you might want to start off by making fun of a few American things first in order to get the crowd to warm to you a little bit and then move onto other nonsense that might be popular in Germany. I’m not a fan of trashing the country overseas so I wouldn’t say that, but a few universal things like crop circles and aliens with American examples might lower their pitchforks a few centimeters lower in the air.

I would expect people who claim they are skeptical who start every sentence with “nobody can convince me.” Of course, that’s good advice when traveling to any convention anywhere. Good luck.

]]> By: Max http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/#comment-15950 Max Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:17:22 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5550#comment-15950 It's debatable whether grey hats are good guys. It’s debatable whether grey hats are good guys.

]]> By: Pekka S http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/#comment-15947 Pekka S Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:47:46 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5550#comment-15947 I'm from Sweden but I think some insight into woo in Germany. One thing that's pretty big over there is homeopathy (and other alternative medicine). And I think that the whole swineflu/vaccine-debate has been pretty heated there as well. I’m from Sweden but I think some insight into woo in Germany. One thing that’s pretty big over there is homeopathy (and other alternative medicine). And I think that the whole swineflu/vaccine-debate has been pretty heated there as well.

]]> By: DocB http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/12/17/skeptics-have-nothing-to-talk-about-in-europe/#comment-15945 DocB Fri, 18 Dec 2009 09:17:35 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=5550#comment-15945 Just to add something to my previous post: The CCC are definitely the good guys. VERY nerdy, but they have developed from a group of well-meaning hackers ("Dear *** bank, we have just taken 100,000 Euros from you and you did not even notice. You may want to reconsider your safety precautions.") to the German equivalent of the EFF. Giving a talk at their meeting should be fun. M Just to add something to my previous post: The CCC are definitely the good guys. VERY nerdy, but they have developed from a group of well-meaning hackers (“Dear *** bank, we have just taken 100,000 Euros from you and you did not even notice. You may want to reconsider your safety precautions.”) to the German equivalent of the EFF. Giving a talk at their meeting should be fun.

M

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