Apocalypse WOW! September 12, 2008 4:36 AM Subscribe
Interested in how to respond to a comment like this one.
It's well formed, it's a legitimate response to the question, kind of. This isn't about hating on God in a science question, but I don't really know if it's an appropriate answer.
Will the LHC end the earth? No, because God isn't ready for Apocalypse yet?
Is that valid? The answer intrigues me, it doesn't piss me off or anything. Just wondering. Thoughts?
It's well formed, it's a legitimate response to the question, kind of. This isn't about hating on God in a science question, but I don't really know if it's an appropriate answer.
Will the LHC end the earth? No, because God isn't ready for Apocalypse yet?
Is that valid? The answer intrigues me, it doesn't piss me off or anything. Just wondering. Thoughts?
I got a chuckle out of watercarrier's comments page
"Drink up. Be merry." indeed.
...BURN THE HERETIC! Burn the one who does not believe as we do!
posted by Eideteker at 4:43 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
"Drink up. Be merry." indeed.
...BURN THE HERETIC! Burn the one who does not believe as we do!
posted by Eideteker at 4:43 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's not really a legitimate response to the question actually. The OP is looking for scientific explanations to understanding what the LHC is doing. Saying that god isn't ready for the apocalypse isn't really responding to that and it's dangerously close to just prostletyzing which is pretty much derail territory in AskMe. I removed the comment and would suggest that if people continue to comment in this thread they not turn it into an LOLXIANS exercise.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:44 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:44 AM on September 12, 2008
Yea, echoing what Jessamyn said---I didn't post this to dissolve into a threadwar over God and politics, I really just kind of wanted to chat about the answer, because I'm interested in a nerdy way about looking at how people interpret fear and science through their faith or lack thereof.
I mean on one hand we've got the "ZAMG the LHC is gonna kill us all folks" who haven't really bothered to look into the topic at hand but it's skurry science, and then we have the "LHC is the Apocalypse" folks who believe (true story, got a flyer the other day) that Barack is truly the third horseman of the Apocalypse (behind Jefferson and TR, if you can believe that) and that the LHC is the Apocalpyse, and then we have this feller who is quite positive it can't be because the Prophecy hasn't been fulfilled.
I mean on one hand, if the world doesn't end...does that make him right by default?
posted by TomMelee at 5:07 AM on September 12, 2008
I mean on one hand we've got the "ZAMG the LHC is gonna kill us all folks" who haven't really bothered to look into the topic at hand but it's skurry science, and then we have the "LHC is the Apocalypse" folks who believe (true story, got a flyer the other day) that Barack is truly the third horseman of the Apocalypse (behind Jefferson and TR, if you can believe that) and that the LHC is the Apocalpyse, and then we have this feller who is quite positive it can't be because the Prophecy hasn't been fulfilled.
I mean on one hand, if the world doesn't end...does that make him right by default?
posted by TomMelee at 5:07 AM on September 12, 2008
"LHC is the Apocalypse" folks who believe (true story, got a flyer the other day) that Barack is truly the third horseman of the Apocalypse (behind Jefferson and TR, if you can believe that) and that the LHC is the Apocalpyse, and then we have this feller who is quite positive it can't be because the Prophecy hasn't been fulfilled.
Yeah, but see, those people are crazy! They have nothing to do with legitimate orthodox Christianity. You wouldn't go to the KKK to get an accurate picture of how white people think.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 5:16 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
Yeah, but see, those people are crazy! They have nothing to do with legitimate orthodox Christianity. You wouldn't go to the KKK to get an accurate picture of how white people think.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 5:16 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
if the world doesn't end...does that make him right by default?
No more than this rock I have keeps away tigers.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:30 AM on September 12, 2008 [22 favorites]
No more than this rock I have keeps away tigers.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:30 AM on September 12, 2008 [22 favorites]
You have a rock what keeps away tigers? Sign me up. I was being largely facetious, but isn't that a self-fulfilling concept there, at least for the believer?
and Fuzzy Skinner--I don't disagree with you, I work for a "ecumenical Christian organization", I wouldn't look at anyone at any extreme of any belief to get an accurate picture of anything. I said "The LHC is the apocalypse people", not "Standard, churchgoing Americans."
posted by TomMelee at 5:39 AM on September 12, 2008
and Fuzzy Skinner--I don't disagree with you, I work for a "ecumenical Christian organization", I wouldn't look at anyone at any extreme of any belief to get an accurate picture of anything. I said "The LHC is the apocalypse people", not "Standard, churchgoing Americans."
posted by TomMelee at 5:39 AM on September 12, 2008
jessamyn, I would like to buy your rock.
posted by rtha at 5:49 AM on September 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by rtha at 5:49 AM on September 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
A rock that repels tigers? That's nothing. I have a rock that tells the weather.
posted by amyms at 6:05 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by amyms at 6:05 AM on September 12, 2008
I removed the comment and would suggest that if people continue to comment in this thread they not turn it into an LOLXIANS exercise.
LOLADMINS, AMIRITE?!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:14 AM on September 12, 2008
LOLADMINS, AMIRITE?!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:14 AM on September 12, 2008
I was going to disprove the powers of jessamyn's tiger rock with a link to fandago_matt's Metafilter Safety Guide, but it (and matt's account) appear to have gone the way of all flesh. Woe! Woe!
posted by zamboni at 6:16 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by zamboni at 6:16 AM on September 12, 2008
I removed the comment and would suggest that if people continue to comment in this thread they not turn it into an LOLXIANS exercise.
posted by jessamyn at 4:44 AM on September 12
Can we turn it into a LOLWATERCARRIER exercise?
posted by Optimus Chyme at 6:21 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by jessamyn at 4:44 AM on September 12
Can we turn it into a LOLWATERCARRIER exercise?
posted by Optimus Chyme at 6:21 AM on September 12, 2008
gone the way of all flesh
This is why we make backups of good things.
Can we turn it into a LOLWATERCARRIER exercise?
With the comment deleted and no clear purpose to the thread besides discussing it in abstract, we might ought to turn it into a LOLTHREADCLOSURE exercise.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:47 AM on September 12, 2008 [6 favorites]
This is why we make backups of good things.
Can we turn it into a LOLWATERCARRIER exercise?
With the comment deleted and no clear purpose to the thread besides discussing it in abstract, we might ought to turn it into a LOLTHREADCLOSURE exercise.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:47 AM on September 12, 2008 [6 favorites]
Well, shoot, zamboni - I was going to tell you that fandango_matt is now optovox and that the wonderful, wonderful Safety Guide could be found at that new user page, but that account is closed now, as well.
posted by yhbc at 7:03 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by yhbc at 7:03 AM on September 12, 2008
Wow, I just woke up this morning to an e-mail entitled "What Metafilter Censored," and knew there had to have been a thing.
I agree with Jessamyn's removal on the grounds of derailment and possible prostletyzing, but I also thought the comment was, indeed, a well-formed and considerate answer to what I had asked, simply coming from a set of assumptions which I do not myself subscribe to at all.
So it didn't answer my question, though it tried to. I wouldn't have deleted it, myself, but it isn't my site.
posted by Navelgazer at 7:22 AM on September 12, 2008
I agree with Jessamyn's removal on the grounds of derailment and possible prostletyzing, but I also thought the comment was, indeed, a well-formed and considerate answer to what I had asked, simply coming from a set of assumptions which I do not myself subscribe to at all.
So it didn't answer my question, though it tried to. I wouldn't have deleted it, myself, but it isn't my site.
posted by Navelgazer at 7:22 AM on September 12, 2008
And now that I look back, I see that watercarrier then repeated the relevant part of his comment (with the link) minus the problematic part which came before it. Everybody wins!
posted by Navelgazer at 7:26 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by Navelgazer at 7:26 AM on September 12, 2008
I just woke up this morning to an e-mail entitled "What Metafilter Censored," and knew there had to have been a thing
I smell a new subsite!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:30 AM on September 12, 2008
I smell a new subsite!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:30 AM on September 12, 2008
You got an email about it? Like, an actual email, or a MeFiMail? From watercarrier? Did he/she just randomly choose people to email? I'm intrigued.
posted by amyms at 7:33 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by amyms at 7:33 AM on September 12, 2008
Ohh, nevermind, I see that you were the asker of the original question. Sorry, need more coffee.
posted by amyms at 7:35 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by amyms at 7:35 AM on September 12, 2008
Wait so is protocol in this for me to have posted the original comment in its entirety within the MetaChat discussion? I honestly wasn't expecting deletion, but now I've learnt for next time.
posted by TomMelee at 7:41 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by TomMelee at 7:41 AM on September 12, 2008
I just watched a show on this from the history channel (I think). All the LHC does is with the help of magnets, speeds particles to near ludicrous speeds. They then speed up more particles in the opposite direction and hope they collide. Then once this happens, they will run a series of tests at four stations. One will be to see what it looks like at a sub-atomic level, next will be to see if any of the collided particles simply disappear into an unseen dimension, next they will look for the creation of dark matter, and lastly they will be looking for "the God Particle". Lord only knows what that is. The biggest concern they had was keeping the electrical wires at a below freezing level to prevent a surge from occurring. They said that a surge would send the particles still going ludicrous speeds in all random directions. That might be very very very bad. Also the whole theoretical let's make a black hole thingie still exists. On a side note, I for one would love to see an alien race come here and smack our hands and say "NO don't do that.... God Idiots! You trying to end existence as we know it?!?!"
posted by Mastercheddaar at 7:44 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by Mastercheddaar at 7:44 AM on September 12, 2008
I wouldn't say it is or isn't protocol, just that there's a difference between "we need to talk about this comment" vs. "this comment should be deleted". If it's the latter, it's not a bad idea to just start with the contact form to let us know; if it's the former, quoting or citing part of the problematic stuff might be a good idea since once we delete it nobody will know what's up.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:56 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:56 AM on September 12, 2008
All the LHC does is with the help of magnets, speeds particles to near ludicrous speeds.
Sorry, I disagree. I think it speeds particles to hilarious speeds. That LHC... such a cut-up.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:17 AM on September 12, 2008
Sorry, I disagree. I think it speeds particles to hilarious speeds. That LHC... such a cut-up.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:17 AM on September 12, 2008
Thanks for the clarification Cortex. 'preciate it.
posted by TomMelee at 9:02 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by TomMelee at 9:02 AM on September 12, 2008
Wouldn't it make more sense that if and when a mod deletes a comment, about which the is active discussion in MetaTalk, the mod takes responsibility for reposting the comment in MetaTalk?
posted by roofus at 10:00 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by roofus at 10:00 AM on September 12, 2008
We'll sometimes do that if it seems necessary, yeah. In this case, as noted above, watercarrier managed to followup already in that thread with an info-but-no-proselytizing do-over of his comment and I figured we'd just let it lie.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:06 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:06 AM on September 12, 2008
...Barack is truly the third horseman of the Apocalypse (behind Jefferson and TR, if you can believe that)
Todd Rundgren?
posted by rocket88 at 10:17 AM on September 12, 2008
Todd Rundgren?
posted by rocket88 at 10:17 AM on September 12, 2008
they will be looking for "the God Particle". Lord only knows what that is.
In particle physics all the forces are represented by particle exchange. The God particle is the particle God uses to smite your ass for your impure thoughts.
posted by dirigibleman at 10:42 AM on September 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
In particle physics all the forces are represented by particle exchange. The God particle is the particle God uses to smite your ass for your impure thoughts.
posted by dirigibleman at 10:42 AM on September 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
*packs towel in gym bag*
posted by Cranberry at 11:18 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranberry at 11:18 AM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
cortex, what is the story behind the bad spock images?
posted by dirty lies at 11:56 AM on September 12, 2008
posted by dirty lies at 11:56 AM on September 12, 2008
Bad Spock, a wonderful blog I found a while back and contributed a few terrible drawings to.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:20 PM on September 12, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:20 PM on September 12, 2008
...All the LHC does is with the help of magnets, speeds particles to near ludicrous speeds...
posted by Mastercheddaar at 7:44 AM on September 12
They've gone to plaid!
posted by Reverend John at 12:40 PM on September 12, 2008
posted by Mastercheddaar at 7:44 AM on September 12
They've gone to plaid!
posted by Reverend John at 12:40 PM on September 12, 2008
"lastly they will be looking for "the God Particle". Lord only knows what that is"
We understand it to be the Higgs Bosom, which provided the milk that nourished the infant universe.
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 12:45 PM on September 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
We understand it to be the Higgs Bosom, which provided the milk that nourished the infant universe.
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 12:45 PM on September 12, 2008 [3 favorites]
...once we delete it nobody will know what's up.
If only there were a way to view deleted comments.
posted by timeistight at 2:49 PM on September 12, 2008
If only there were a way to view deleted comments.
posted by timeistight at 2:49 PM on September 12, 2008
jessamyn, I have rock just like yours and I have a tiger. So, if that's what the people who sold you the rock told you, you've been conned.
My rock, however, is very effective against land sharks.
posted by wendell at 2:50 PM on September 12, 2008
My rock, however, is very effective against land sharks.
posted by wendell at 2:50 PM on September 12, 2008
"the Higgs Bosom"? What a boob!
Now the Higgins Boson is the particle that we expect will lead us to the even more elusive Robin Masters particle ('80s TV reference - you need to own a TV and be over 30 to understand)
posted by wendell at 2:55 PM on September 12, 2008
Now the Higgins Boson is the particle that we expect will lead us to the even more elusive Robin Masters particle ('80s TV reference - you need to own a TV and be over 30 to understand)
posted by wendell at 2:55 PM on September 12, 2008
The real problem with that question is the OP doesn't understand the LHC or the physics, but somehow knows that it won't end the world. Best part of his in thread response was
"Smart people say it's nothing to worry about," isn't going to hold water here - I'm talking to law students.
posted by electroboy at 3:32 PM on September 12, 2008
"Smart people say it's nothing to worry about," isn't going to hold water here - I'm talking to law students.
posted by electroboy at 3:32 PM on September 12, 2008
Best rock for repelling tigers? (more inside)
-------------------
I have a great job and a beautiful home in an unfortunately tiger-rich part of the country. I've heard a lot of different opinions from a lot of different experts, and gone through at least a dozen different kinds of rocks, but nothing seems to stop the constant maulings. Any unbiased expert advice/user testimonials would be great. I want my next anti-tiger rock to be my last one!
posted by anonymous to Writing & Language.
posted by Navelgazer at 3:38 PM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
-------------------
I have a great job and a beautiful home in an unfortunately tiger-rich part of the country. I've heard a lot of different opinions from a lot of different experts, and gone through at least a dozen different kinds of rocks, but nothing seems to stop the constant maulings. Any unbiased expert advice/user testimonials would be great. I want my next anti-tiger rock to be my last one!
posted by anonymous to Writing & Language.
posted by Navelgazer at 3:38 PM on September 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
also, electroboy, the point was that I knew that the experts in charge of the LHC seemed pretty damned certain that it wasn't going to end the world. I had some understanding of the LHC and the physics involved, but not a complete one, so that I could try to explain it to people who by nature (like me) tend not to be satisfied by a simple "Because I said so" explanation. The first links in response to the question were more of that: "Because I said so," and then after my mid-thread response, the answers became much more about the actual science involved, which was what I was trying to understand.
If I knew that the tides were affected by the moon, but didn't understand everything behind how that works, and asked a quesiton for clarification, would that be problematic as well?
posted by Navelgazer at 3:43 PM on September 12, 2008
If I knew that the tides were affected by the moon, but didn't understand everything behind how that works, and asked a quesiton for clarification, would that be problematic as well?
posted by Navelgazer at 3:43 PM on September 12, 2008
"I know the scientists in charge wouldn't operate the LHC unless they were certain it wasn't going to destroy the earth, but can someone give me, in layman's terms, the scientific explanation?"
posted by electroboy at 4:31 PM on September 12, 2008
posted by electroboy at 4:31 PM on September 12, 2008
I'm not denying your premise here, I just don't see why my asking for greater clarity is a problem.
posted by Navelgazer at 4:33 PM on September 12, 2008
posted by Navelgazer at 4:33 PM on September 12, 2008
"I know the scientists in charge wouldn't operate the LHC unless they were certain it wasn't going to destroy the earth, but can someone give me, in layman's terms, the scientific explanation?"
Scientific Explanation: Think of the LHC as a big glass of water. When you drink a big glass of water it does not destroy the earth. In the same way, when the LHC is operational, it does not destroy the earth. It doesn't need to be any more scientific than that.
Other things that do not destroy the earth: flipping a light switch, thinking happy thoughts, driving in reverse, optical illusions, participating in democracy, snapping your fingers, rain, giving blood, rocks that keep away tigers.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:24 PM on September 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Scientific Explanation: Think of the LHC as a big glass of water. When you drink a big glass of water it does not destroy the earth. In the same way, when the LHC is operational, it does not destroy the earth. It doesn't need to be any more scientific than that.
Other things that do not destroy the earth: flipping a light switch, thinking happy thoughts, driving in reverse, optical illusions, participating in democracy, snapping your fingers, rain, giving blood, rocks that keep away tigers.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:24 PM on September 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
If the universe can be destroyed with less than the cost of an aircraft carrier, the universe sucks.
posted by dirty lies at 2:16 AM on September 13, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by dirty lies at 2:16 AM on September 13, 2008 [2 favorites]
"...Lou Costello: Well I mean, after all, all I don't understand this. I wanna go, to the Susquehanna Hat Company!
Lady: Susquehanna Hat Company??? (cries angrily, takes hat off Lou's head) - Is that a Susquehanna hat? That's the same kind of hat my husband was wearing when he was killed! He wouldn't have lost his life if he had of been wearing a good hat when that safe fell off that 15 storey building - but no! He was wearing a hat like this one. (punches hole through hat) That's the cheapest hat I ever saw ... Oh! My husband's dead! (runs off crying) He's Dead! He's Dead!
Lou Costello: He ain't dead lady ... he's hidin'!"
posted by clavdivs at 11:20 AM on September 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
Lady: Susquehanna Hat Company??? (cries angrily, takes hat off Lou's head) - Is that a Susquehanna hat? That's the same kind of hat my husband was wearing when he was killed! He wouldn't have lost his life if he had of been wearing a good hat when that safe fell off that 15 storey building - but no! He was wearing a hat like this one. (punches hole through hat) That's the cheapest hat I ever saw ... Oh! My husband's dead! (runs off crying) He's Dead! He's Dead!
Lou Costello: He ain't dead lady ... he's hidin'!"
posted by clavdivs at 11:20 AM on September 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
Now the Higgins Boson is the particle that we expect will lead us to the even more elusive Robin Masters particle
When I was two or three, I used sit on top of the sofa and watch the intro to Magnum P.I. and at the time when the divers came onscreen I would jump down into the cushions and yell "SCUBA DIVE!" Or so my mother tells me.
posted by Kwine at 7:33 AM on September 15, 2008
When I was two or three, I used sit on top of the sofa and watch the intro to Magnum P.I. and at the time when the divers came onscreen I would jump down into the cushions and yell "SCUBA DIVE!" Or so my mother tells me.
posted by Kwine at 7:33 AM on September 15, 2008
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posted by slater at 4:40 AM on September 12, 2008