2011 Off topic thread(basketball,movies,etc whatever)

[zY|]

[SPX]

What the fuck?

[zY|]

Just saw it and thought it would be up your alley.

[SPX]

I'm not sure I understand it.

[zY|]

I'm not sure I understand it.

It's a Sims reference. The implication being we are merely in an elaborate computer simulation.

[SPX]

Ahh. Yeah, I've never played that shit.

[Ludo]

I think it ends up in the Occult section because it's not "technically" scientific because it's based mostly on speculation and it's straying much too far away from the base formula for what makes something scientific, such as an expected outcome, being able to prove that outcome, and explain why it happens, etc etc etc.

I think what it comes down to is what portions of the brain are able to be accessed by a given individual and of what quantities of those portions with a greater sensitivity. It kind of relates to Limitless in a loose way. If we are all using 10% of our brains, and thus full potential then what would happen if we could use it all? At the same time the 10% we are using has to vary from individual to individual, otherwise why would some people suck at math while others excel?

[flyinggogoplata]

The "using 10% of our brains" fact is bad information.

[SPX]

I think it ends up in the Occult section because it's not "technically" scientific because it's based mostly on speculation and it's straying much too far away from the base formula for what makes something scientific, such as an expected outcome, being able to prove that outcome, and explain why it happens, etc etc etc.

This is actually discussed extensively in the foreword of the book. He talks about how, as you say, the modern scientific paradigm limits itself to those things that can be captured, quantified and replicated. If you can't do that then the mainstream scientific community just acts like it doesn't exist.

In terms of the near-death experience, you have literally thousands and thousands of people who have had this experience in one form or another--in his study of 52 cardiac arrest survivors 16 reported having an NDE, and that's just a tiny sample--and yet, because scientists can't replicate it at will, they just shove it into a closet and pretend it doesn't exist. The fact of the matter is that this IS happening to people and it means SOMETHING. Even if somehow it is just a super-function of the brain, then that's something the scientific community should be interested in. If, on the other hand, it's something much grander then it's something the scientific community should be even MORE interested in.

With that said, I have perused the Barnes and Noble Science section plenty of times and I know they have books in there from guys trying to prove the existence of God via quantum physics and shit like that, so I think this one belongs in there as well. If you read through the Amazon page it says that the author had a study on NDE's published in The Lancet--a highly respected scientific journal--so if it's good enough for the Lancet then it should be good enough for the science section at Amazon/B&N/Boders.

I think what it comes down to is what portions of the brain are able to be accessed by a given individual and of what quantities of those portions with a greater sensitivity. It kind of relates to Limitless in a loose way. If we are all using 10% of our brains, and thus full potential then what would happen if we could use it all? At the same time the 10% we are using has to vary from individual to individual, otherwise why would some people suck at math while others excel?

As much as I like the idea about there being a huge portion of my brain that I could potentially activate to do some crazy shit, this is unfortunately just a myth.

You can read more here:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=do-we-really-use-only-10

[SPX]

Anyone heard of this OneFC event that's supposed to be going down in September in Singapore?

Cliff's Notes:

1. Baroni vs Yoshiyuki Yoshida

2. There's also a bunch of other motherfuckers who I've never heard of but who are apparently significant.

3. Pride Rules + Unified Rules. So soccer kicks, foot stomps, KTTHOAGO, and elbows are all good.

4. Press Release: http://www.onefc.com/ONEFC-press-release.pdf

[Ludo]

An interesting read. I didn't think of it like that, but he makes strong points there. I suppose that kind of blows My entire point out of the water but I think you know what I meant. I don't necessarily believe that we are accessing all of our brain power all the time.

[Ludo]

So essentially it's IVC rules?

[SPX]

An interesting read. I didn't think of it like that, but he makes strong points there. I suppose that kind of blows My entire point out of the water but I think you know what I meant. I don't necessarily believe that we are accessing all of our brain power all the time.

I agree that there are a lot of questions surrounding neuroscience. I've often thought that if we knew everything possible about the brain and how it works then we could essentially engineer ourselves to think, act, feel exactly how we want to. I mean, if you have been depressed lately, then you could just make a stop at the ol' doc's place and have him make a few minor adjustments and--voila!--you are instantly a happy, confident, self-assured human being fully satisfied with your place in the world.

I did hear once about a machine that could modify your shit in such a way that, after 30 minutes, you could have all the awareness and mental abilities of a Zen master . . . or some shit like that.

[SPX]

So essentially it's IVC rules?

Well at least closer to it than Pride, the UFC, Dream, etc have ever been.

[flyinggogoplata]

thinking about starting a mma tout site with all the picks I steal off of this forum. How much should I charge? 50 bucks?