Death by Giant Meteor - Neil DeGrasse Tyson

[MrLeN]

Funny you should say that because I went back on my definition when I learnt that humility is, in fact, defined as "meekness".

And meekness isn't a virtue, and can never be. No matter how hard "they" try to convince us it is.

Humility is a virtue. Something that practically no one respects or understands these days. Meekness is not the same as humility.

For example:

You could have a humble person that is the opposite of meek. ie: Bold.

You could have a humble person who is also meek.

Humility is a virtue in either case.

[Datura]

Humility is a virtue in either case.

Not in my book…

[MrLeN]

Hahaha -- you are mixing up definitions here. Arrogance is not the opposite of humbleness. Tolerance has nothing to do with humbleness. Humbleness is the opposite of self assurance.

Self assurance leads to tolerance. Arrogance is an overblown assessment of yourself.

So, humbleness is in my eyes a very bad thing to have, because you undervalue your own achievements and try to make the people around you (other oriented) feel better by diminishing your own worth.

Self assurance is akin to pride, which is not a virtue.

Pride is the opposite of humility, which is a virtue.

Self assurance/pride leads to ignorance and arrogance.

Further, humbleness has nothing to do with undervaluing achievements -- or anything of the sort.

Humbleness allows wisdom. Humbleness allows one to step back and consider that they might be wrong about something. Humbleness is patience, and perseverance. Humbleness is simply, to not put one's self above others, or to look down on others.

[Datura]

Self assurance is akin to pride, which is not a virtue.

Pride is the opposite of humility, which is a virtue.

Self assurance/pride leads to ignorance and arrogance.

Further, humbleness has nothing to do with undervaluing achievements -- or anything of the sort.

Humbleness allows wisdom. Humbleness allows one to step back and consider that they might be wrong about something. Humbleness is patience, and perseverance. Humbleness is simply, to not put one's self above others, or to look down on others.

All I can say is that I do not share your values.

[MrLeN]

All I can say is that I do not share your values.

Very few people in this world do. That's why it's hard for people like me to get along with others. I have to live in a constant state of having to "put up" with their poor character.

[EvcRo]

I'm tired of so many catastrophic predictions

[Shaun(OfTheDead)]

Neil deGrasse Tyson: The Pluto Files

Here's something I didn't know. That whole "Pluto isn't a planet" debate started with him too... though not in those words and not with that intention.

Anyways, check this video out...



http://fora.tv/2009/02/04/Neil_deGrasse_Tyson_The_Pluto_Files

Whether or not you're interested in Pluto, this is an engaging video to watch; it touches on a whole bunch of other issues, especially in the questions and answers section toward the end.

The oxymoron of "Revisionist Science" that Laura Danly mentions is quite interesting... because science IS revisionist... it's meant to be. She's also someone I like a lot after seeing her on History Channel a few times.

Enjoy !

[Datura]

Yes, as always wonderful to watch Thanks Shaun

[Shaun(OfTheDead)]

UPDATE:

BBC News: Russia 'plans to stop asteroid'

The head of Russia's federal space agency has said it will work to divert an asteroid which will make several passes near the Earth from 2029.

Anatoly Perminov told the Voice of Russia radio service that the agency's science council would hold a closed meeting to discuss the issue.

Any eventual plan is likely to be an international collaboration, he said.

The US space agency said in October that there is a one-in-250,000 chance of Apophis hitting Earth in 2036.

_

[r937]

2036? pfffft

i ain't gonna be here, so who cares, eh

[Shaun(OfTheDead)]

I won't be around in two hundred years, still curious about it.

[Datura]

Great. Fodder for the fear mongers

[Shaun(OfTheDead)]

The fear-mongers are a little busy preparing for 2012 right now.

[Datura]

The fear-mongers are a little busy preparing for 2012 right now.

yep, but they apparently never run out of fodder

[Shaun(OfTheDead)]

Well, when they pass legislation to stop "climate change", maybe they can pass a bill to stop this as well.

It took me seventeen months to get this joke. Damn.