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Alex Chiu on Science, Religion, and Politics
from the only-on-the-Internet dept.
Question:
If you were to end up dying someday, who should I contact for a refund
on my eternal life device?
Alex:
The Immortality Device Inc is a corporation. So if I die, somebody else
from the corporation will take over the business.
Question:
Assuming I were to live forever, why should I want to? As many tales
have been written, one grows weary of seeing friends come and go and
children age and die. It's a heavy burden, what's there to counter
balance this need for immortality, other than simple fear of death?
Alex:
Well, if you don't want your relatives and friends to die, help me
spread the news. Let people know about immortality device. That way, your
loved ones won't die. Why do people fear death? Because in the bottom of
your heart, you know death is no good. You become a soul which has no body.
Another word, you become a homeless ghost. It might feel good to be out of
your body for awhile. But you can't stay like that forever. Then you must
look for a new body. That's what we call reincarnation. If you go to
Disney world, it might feel fun at first. But after 2 days straight in the
campus, you feel tired. You then want to go back home. If you divorce, you
feel free at first. Then you start to feel lonely and you want to remarry
again. Same with souls. They can't survive without a body for long. Souls
are designed to fit inside a body. Souls are not designed to float around
in thin air.
Question:
you cite edison, tesla and einstein as people who were "laughed and
scorned at," presumably as parallel figures to yourself, but we can't
help noticing that you're sort of missing something. edison, tesla and
einstein were great scientists who, through a thorough and accurate
understanding of the best scientific learning of their day, applied
existing principles in groundbreaking and unexpected ways to advance
contemporary physics. you, however, are applying your ignorance and lack
of understanding of high-school level science - skimming through
textbooks, parrot-learning words like "unique frequency," "magnetic
flux" and "negative charge" - and producing your own bastardized version
of contemporary science via the tried and tested method of 'just making
shit up.'
you seem to be mesmerised, rabbit-in-headlamps style, by the magical idea of magnetism. apparently you're an intelligent enough guy, but please for your own magnetic god's sake educate yourself on the basic concepts of science, starting with the other three fundamental forces (or is it two? unification is so awkward!). cells don't cluster together because of magnetism. animals don't run from danger because they are "repelled by the negative energy." hey, maybe some form of teleportation will be possible in the future, but chances are it won't be courtesy of the fantastically well-thought-out "transmitting the unique frequency of an object." a quick vote amongst ourselves decided that gravity isn't caused by static electricity when the earth's core rubs against the crust, and as a race we're fairly certain that the sun isn't hot because of friction between its "layers". while you appear to be sure that you're pioneering, pushing the edge of science and coming up with fascinating and groundbreaking new ideas, it might be prudent to base your fantastic new theories on intelligent observation and existing science (as edison, tesla and einstein all did), rather than just gazing into space and pulling things out of your eternally-young ass. so the sun produces heat via some kind of "rubbing" process rather than nuclear fusion, mm? do you have some empirical evidence for this astounding revelation - which would be required to counteract the huge body of proof and data accumulated over the years for what we'll call the 'Enemy Theory' - or are you (all together now) just making shit up?
how a ufo works? hey, man, slow down! why not read up on how a gyroscope works? why don't you make one and try it out for yourself? it doesn't "defy gravity," it's not magic or magnetic or anything else even approaching alliterative mysticism. no, seriously. trust us on this one. it precesses, resisting any force that tries to tilt its axis of rotation. this is simple - honestly! we'll use italics! - simple newtonian physics; a gyroscope only "defies gravity" when it has something against which to exert a force. an unsupported spinning object will just drop like a stone unless it has astounding aerodynamic properties (which isn't what you're talking about) - try it for yourself! um, with a plate, or something! unless you've got some kind of inbred aversion to deduction by empirical observation!
we could go through your site and identify countless other examples; you're not being groundbreaking, you're not an eccentric genius of science who's thinking in new ways that nobody else would even consider. you're just blinkered and wrong and obsessed with making huge sweeping deductions from your own misguided half-cooked internal reasoning processes. which is a pity, because your conviction and dedication to your ideas is admirable. it just makes us sad - and moderately angry - to see an entire site de lindly concoct enough unfounded shit in your head, independently of any evidence or informed reasoning, it'll become true if you close your eyes and say you believe in fairies.
feel free to respond - whenever the mood of your flux allows.
Alex:
I know my theories and findings are hard for you to accept because they
are so original and extraordinary. But one day in the future, you will see
that I am right. You will be foreced to accept my invention as millions of
people around you tell you that I am right.
Question:
I think that a lot of the people who visit your page think that you are
a bit of a loony and a lot of a profiteer. While I like the fact that
you offer 'free'
rings in exchange for a donation to certain charities, I can't help but
feel that you are probably not using the best of peer-reviewed science
to back up your ideas.
Despite this, I bet you feel that what you're doing is pretty important.
Tell us then, Why do you think no medical experts come forth to do studies on your devices or reccomend their use?
For some this will be a vindication of your ideas. For others it will be a glimpse into one of the minds that makes the web as truly a strange and wonderful place that it is.
Alex:
Oh there are lots of doctors and medical professionals out there who buy
my devices at whole sale price. We have lots of doctors and medical
researchers who are loyal customers. They are blended in with the rest of
the customers. Immortality Device has been tested and researched by medical
researchers all over the world from time to time. They email me and told me
what they found. I post their results sometimes on my site.
Question:
magnets have been around in this manner for many years - new age style
people, etc. have been encouraging the use of magnets on the feet and
hands for as long as I can remember. why is your way better, why didn't
theirs work, and what proof and facts do you have? your website was not
very forthcoming on that last issue, though you claimed to have both.
Alex:
I didn't say my invention is better, nor did I say other stuff does not
work. As the inventor of the Immortality Device, I basically just tell
people what I honestly think. I think my device makes you immortal. And I
am being honest. My proof is lots of people used the device and gave
testimonials. If you don't accept testimonials as proofs, you won't accept
any proof as proof.
Question:
Have you ever tested your immortality devices in terminally ill patients
in a double blinded placebo controlled study. For example, have you
recruited a cohort of cancer patients, applied a randomization technique
whereby one group gets your device(s) and the other receives similar,
yet inactive rings and braclets? Certainly, if your products provide
immortality then none of the subjects in the active group would die.
With that amount of statistical power, it would be simple and relatively
cheap to demonstrate your claims.
Alex:
Gee. I think some doctor in New York is doing that for me right now.
Our company cannot afford to do this kind of expensive research at this
stage. This kind of research would cost hundreds of thousands. I rather
use that money on advertising. Testimonials are enough to convince people
for now. I think even if I did the research mentioned above, it would be a
total waste of money because if those people don't believe in the
testimonials, they won't believe in the research at all. They would say
that I made it all up. So why waste money?
Question:
A discovery as important as yours will not go unnoticed, especially as
you publicize it as far and wide as you have in seeking to earn your
capitalist profit as is your god-given American right (rooted in the
5th, 14th, and 10th amendments of THE CONSTITUTION). The only question
is, who (or should I say "Who"?) will do the noticing?
Government agencies and secret police forces are your first threat, as they are for every righteous individual in this orwellian world of thought police and governmental indoctrination. No government can turn a blind eye to something as fundamentally anti-government as an immortality device. It may be too late for them to make Stalin or Roosevelt (there is no difference) immortal, since they died during the era where man did not interfere with GOD'S wish that we live and then DIE. But it is not too late for CLINTON or BLAIR or any other Liberal deity, and they certainly don't want you to have it in any event.
But the threats to your safety aren't confined to this planet alone. The alien races that populate our solar system and beyond may possess technology superior in every way to our own, but they have not yet perfected immortality. (I know this only through Divine providence and what I have witnessed with my own eyes: an elaborate Alien burial ceremony deep within the UN complex on sovereign American territory.) Your device would be of great help to their intergalactic conquests, and though they may respect you as a man of science, you are but one small pawn on a small blue planet in an undusted corner of their empire.
Be forewarned, cher Alex. Your continued safety is of the utmost importance to the survival of free Americans and the human race (excluding communists). Lead us to the promised land, but tread carefully. They are watching.
Alex:
Well. I just carry this stuff as long as I can carry. It's important
to let people know about this invention.
Question:
How long have you been making these amazing devices? If fewer than 130
years, please describe how you *really* know they work? If >= 130 years,
please prove you aren't one of those bouncing Chinese vampires by eating
5 "bundles" of sticky rice and posting the video on your website.
Alex:
How do scientists know the diameter of earth? Must a scientist walk the
equator in order to tell you the exact diameter of earth? How do scientists
figure out how far is the sun from earth? Must a man fly to the sun in
order to measure the exact distance? I don't have to live 130 years in
order to tell you what my device does. We gather scientific evidence
(testimonials) in order to base our assumptions.
Question:
Perhaps your only rival on the internet is Gene Ray, the man who
discovered Nature's Harmonic Simultaneous 4-day Time Cube.
Despite the fact that his work contradicts much of your research, he also faces similar obstacles in having his work accepted or at least evaluated. No "institution" of higher education will even return his calls. I spoke to him via phone recently, and Mr. Ray believes that this is because they're run by fundamentalists engaged in some kind of conspiracy to keep the truth away from the public. He was understandably very frustrated by this.
I can't help but to wonder if other scientists face the same problems. Can you offer a correlating viewpoint? In your efforts to have your work accepted, or at least taken seriously, do you find that fundementalists are a large obstacle? If so, do you believe that this is out of their own ignorance, or that maybe they do in fact have a sinister motive as Mr. Ray suggests?
Alex:
Oh. I don't think there is any conspiracy going on. I just think that
most of the people are very close minded. I show people how to build their
own immortality device. I even give out free devices to our members. But
still lots of people disbelieve me. They say I don't have any proof. They
say I can't possibly invent such a thing. My biggest challenge is the group
of close minded people, which is the majority. Honestly, being a doctor
could make you more close minded than regular people. If you are a doctor,
you think you are better than the rest because you've studied more than 15
years in a famous university. You hate to see a Mr. Nobody like Alex Chiu
comes up with an invention which can do 100 times more than what you can do.
You hate to see a Mr. Nobody beats you to the ground which makes you the
real Mr. Nobody. So some of these doctors would just ignore my stuff in
order to save their own faces.
Question:
Alex Chiu, you're obviously very interested in religion, especially
things that are written in the Bible or Torah (from your site:
http://alexchiu.com/philosophy/beastsign.htm). In fact, on that page,
you claim that people who do not believe in the Bible are "Antichrists".
So let me ask you this: are you comfortable selling me some of your rings and giving me, an Antichrist, immortality? How does your God feel about helping me, an Antichrist, live forever? Or will your rings not work on an Antichrist? (I didn't see that exception in your claims.)
Alex:
If you are an antichrist, you won't believe in the bible prophecy from
the beginning. Which means, you won't believe that physical immortality
will become possible. Therefore, if you are a real antichrist, you won't
even consider coming to my site and read what I have to say. You are not a
real antichrist. An antichrist is a person who does not believe the bible
(old testament only). An antichrist thinks that all bible prophecies are a
bunch of crap. They think those prophecies will never come true. Therefore
they don't believe that immortality will ever become possible. I live with
a whole bunch of these people. None of my neighbors believe in what I say.
They refuse to wear the rings. They will never accept my invention until
the day they die. That's what I call the real antichrists. Antichrist is a
person who disbelieve the bible prophecy (old testament only). They don't
believe people will become immortal and that earth will be transformed into
a heavenly place.
Question:
On your site you state: "I am not a Taiwanese. I am Chinese, and I wish
China will one day take Taiwan back, peacefully or by force, at any
cost! A Taiwanese who does not consider himself to be Chinese does not
deserve to become immortal."
Do you wish for Taiwanese citizens to be exterminated?
Alex:
I came from Taiwan. When I was in Taiwan, I was taught in school that
Taiwan is part of China. Everybody back in those days never questioned
about that. But now all of a sudden some idiots in Taiwan start to say that
they are not Chinese. Their grand parents were Chinese. But for some
reason, they feel they are not Chinese. That's very rediculous to me. How
would you feel if you are from New York, but now you moved to Florida. One
day you heard on the news saying that New Yorkers are asking for
independence. The New Yorkers now say they are not Americans. They are
"New Yorkans". So because you came from New York, you must be a "New
Yorkan"? You are no longer an American? Those Taiwanese who say they are
not Chinese should go to hell right now. I don't care what political party
is controlling China right now. All I know is we are all Chinese. I am
proud to be Chinese, and I do not tolerate any traitor. If the communist
party is controlling China, they represent China. The X Taiwanese president
"Lee Deng Hui" says he is a Japanese. Well, if he is a Japanese, why does
he care about Chinese people's business? I feel that China has every right
to take Taiwan back. It's nobody else's business. If you defend Taiwan and
fight against the Liberation Army, you are automatically a traitor. Taiwan
has been part of China for centuries. Why did Lincoln decide to reconquer
the south? I came from Taiwan. But since communist party represents China,
communist party is my party. Liberation army is my defender.
Question:
How do you explain your views if You were born in the U.S. and not China are you not an
American?
Alex:
I am born in USA. USA is my mother, and China is my father! I love both
places.
Question:
China repeatedly abuses and tortures its citizenry, including
Chinese forced abortions of Tibetan women? Wouldn't Chinese deserve not to
become immortal?
Alex:
I think the Chinese government is doing a great job right now. I support
population control. I think USA should do the same. If you want to have
more than 1 kid, you should pay more tax. The enemies of China always use
"human rights issues" to attack China. But if USA has 1.3 billion people,
USA would have the same human rights problem just like China. You cannot
expect so much freedom in a land of 1.3 billion people. Chinese government
is doing such a great job that China not only feeds its own people, it also
feeds most of the Russians. Most of the food imported to Russia came from
China. You guys always talk about human rights. But why can't you guys
mention about "government rights"? Chinese government has the right to do
whatever it must do to protect China. That includes population control and
the liberation of Tibet. Do you know that before Tibet was liberated, you
can buy and sell slaves in Tibet? In the old Tibet, you can have slaves,
you can marry 4 wives, but you cannot take a bath for 1 whole year, and you
cannot meet a foreigner. You can skin your slave alive, and you can kill
your slave when ever you desire. The entire Tibet is ruled by a bunch of
religious idiots. You can't take a bath for the entire year, and you can't
trade with foreigners. Cummunists don't allow that! Liberated Tibet and
kick out that stupid Dalai Lama, whatever that moron's name is. You guys
don't know how much Tibet has changed. Most families in Tibet now has
electricity. TV, VCR, stereo, micro-wave, you name it. Everything's made
in China! They have shopping malls and super markets there. There's stock
market brokers there. In fact, Tibet is one of the most popular European
tourist attraction of asia. If Dalai idiot is still around, you be buying
and selling slaves there right now! Everywhere would stink like hell
because nobody teaches you the importance of taking a bath. If you say
Tibetans are not Chinese because they have their own language and culture,
let me ask you this: Is Hawaii part of USA? Is Okinawa part of Japan?
Okinawa people have different language and culture than the Japanese. So
should Okinawa gain independence from Japan?
Eternal Life Web Ring (Score:3)
There is [yahoo.com]!
- Robin
Re:Eternal Life Web Ring (Score:5)
Imagine a software company CEO with a vision and sense of his own rightness as strong as Alex's. Even if that person's company wrote pretty rinky-dink code, I'll bet it could end up dominating the desktop computer operating system market.
What I admire most about Alex Chiu is that sense of rightness. Most of us, confronted with rational evidence that we are wrong, change our minds. Not Alex! He plugs on no matter what you say about (or to) him.
Remember, you don't have to believe in christianity to enjoy Handel's Messiah, and as the old ad slogan put it, "You don't have to be Jewish to love Levy's Rye Bread."
- Robin
Re:The introduction (Score:3)
In other words, pull the stick out of your ass and enjoy the little diversion. Maybe in a few months Slashdot will interview Jack Chick or Archie Plutonium or someone other net.kook.
Down that path lies madness. On the other hand, the road to hell is paved with melting snowballs.
Re:A couple points (Score:2)
Re:Oops (Score:4)
The mother of all contradictions? (Score:2)
If that's so, then why in the HELL do you want to invent an immortality device? If population control is the way to go, isn't it kind of assumed that we need to let the old farts die off? Does he also suggest that we prevent any future conception? I'm sorry, but, "If you want to have more than 1 kid, you should pay more tax," isn't much of an argument against having kids.
Not that this matters since the rest of what he has to say is out right bullshit. I've never seen such inept and trite replies in my life.
*cucko* *cucko*
And that's all I have to say about that.
Re:scientific evidence (testimonials) (Score:2)
Re:scientific evidence (testimonials) (Score:2)
In addition, tests such as X-rays mean nothing. The actual outcome that's being looked for is what counts. For example, getting rid of cancer is not the end we're going for. Living a long life is. If living a long life includes keeping the cancer in some form, it doesn't matter what the actual tests show.
Never trifle with a Scilian... (Score:2)
Clearly, you have a dizzying intellect.
--
"In the land of the brave and the free, we defend our freedom with the GNU GPL."
Hehe... (Score:2)
Now that made me laugh... but I do speak from experience. I am one of the many people that put up my referral link on my homepage to get enough clicks for my neodymium eternal life rings (took the link down after the rings arrived). I wore them for a few hours total, while I demonstrated the rings to my friends and relatives. I am still alive! I am not sure if it was the rings, but that is my testimonial. Thank you Alex!
The Benefits of Fraud (Score:2)
It's all well and good to bitch about fraud, but without con artists like Alex Chiu running around, the 20% of his customer base that are actually helped by the placebo effect would be worse off. And the other 80% learn a hard lesson for only twenty-five bucks.
If he were advising people to buy his rings instead of seeing a doctor, then he'd be a menace. As it is now, he's pretty harmless as charlatans go.
--
Would usually delete this as spam (Score:3)
death is no good. You become a soul which has no body
is remeniscent of the good ol' confusion of the mind/body [crosswinds.net] (or Spirit/Ghost etc vs physical reality (whatever THAT is)) split, which is itself a ghost and purely a fabrication of the rational mind artificially confined to the realm of symbols and speech, which are necessarily dualistic.
This sounds AWFULLY familiar.... (Score:2)
Gee. I think some doctor in New York is doing that for me right now. Our company cannot afford to do this kind of expensive research at this stage. This kind of research would cost hundreds of thousands. I rather use that money on advertising. Testimonials are enough to convince people for now. I think even if I did the research mentioned above, it would be a total waste of money because if those people don't believe in the testimonials, they won't believe in the research at all. They would say that I made it all up. So why waste money?
Lots of advertising? Lots of hot air? No R&D?
Are we sure Alex isn't involved with RAMBUS?
My testimonial (Score:2)
Re:Yikes!! (Score:2)
This question is nearly as bad as the answer... (Score:2)
Edison, OK. However, both Nikola Tesla and Albert Einstein did "gaze into space and pull things out of their asses".
Einstein, in his own works, specifically disclaims "thorough and accurate understanding of the best scientific learning" and all his work is based on "thought experiments" that he performed while basically sitting on his butt.
Tesla, on the other hand, was pretty clearly a deeply disturbed man (worse than Edison on that account - descriptions of Tesla's obsessive/compulsive eating habits are pretty entertaining) who made dozens of wild claims and predictions that are quite well documented. Many of his claims have turned out to be true - but they were not based on the "best scientific learning of their day" unless you consider Tesla's childhood hallucinations (look up how he claimed to have hit on the idea of the brushless universal AC motor) to be "scientific learning".
Sometimes nuts are also visionary. But neither condition proves or disproves the other.
--Charlie
Majoring at Misinformation U., eh? (Score:2)
Did you mean heresy or hearsay? The first is, of course subjective. Cast ye the first stone? Incidentally, you sure make G-d sound like a big bully.
Real religion majors also usually have a basic grasp of classical mythology. You do have the fundamental concept of hubris, here, but Icarus didn't develop anything, his father Daedelus built the wings... and used them successfully without suffering divine retribution.
Here's a question for you, Mr. Metatron (and if you don't get that reference you should give up now) Why do English-language translations of the Bible translate the word "SHEOL" as "HELL" when it literally means "place of death", as in a graveyard or tomb? And why do the same bowlderized Torahs translate a word meaning "an indefinite period of time" to specific, and inconsistent, periods of time ranging from "a moment" to "eternity"?
If you really are a religion major, I suggest you change seminaries immediately. You do not seem to be learning religion, but rather basting in your own ignorant zealotry. Seek enlightenment elsewhere, and if you want to grok the Bible don't use the politically-influenced English translations.
--Charlie
One little thing I don't understand. (Score:5)
How is one come about the term antichrist, if they only believe the old testament?
--
A multi-billion dollar industry (Score:2)
Self-deception, unchecked (and obviously anti-common sense) scientific-sounding theories (with liberal religious jargon like "soul interspersed), and functionless merchandise. Alex Chui sells billions of dollars worth of merchandise a year. Along with the rest of the Alternative medicine crowd.
http://www.quackwatch.com/
What's really sad is not this lone wacko, but the thousands of people be they selling homeopathy, Accupuncture, or Aura/Touch/Aroma/Therapy. These non-healers all make their money the same way, by claiming testimonials are scientific evidence (they are not, and will never be), by claiming wierd non-scientific theories, which are wrong if anyone bothers to look closer than a cursory glance (but most people see the scientific-looking jargon and just stop reading further, satisfied that the producer of the non-remedy thought more about it than they will).
This man's business is just as wrong-headed as scientology. The only difference is that it is less popular. If he had his way, everyone would buy his immortality device, and would then buy his happiness stick, and his extacy food, and his, well, you get the idea. He could be making up wierd, wrong, theories for his whole life, which is exactly what local tribal healers have always done, and which is why we live about twice as long as most of the ancient tribal cultures.
But these tribal doctors never really go away, and they have been brought, along with the gullable population, into a world in which most of the people can readily (through the general knowledge dispersal channels) see through such basic, stupid schemes to sell useless junk.
How many dreamcatchers have you bought?
This is what it all comes down to: As long as the internet can allow fraud like alex chiu's website and http://www.scientology.com/ http://www.homeopathy.com/ to make their unchecked, wrong-headed, stupid scientific-sounding logic, than the population who tries to find out how to live forever will be denied finding THE REAL INFORMATION with search engines.
If half the internet information is lies, than will the internet ever really help advance mankind? Alex Chui was one of the first of a bad breed of liars to take their dis-services to the web. I hope it stops eventually.
-Ben
Some highlights: (Score:5)
I don't have to live 130 years in order to tell you what my device does. We gather scientific evidence (testimonials) in order to base our assumptions.
I think even if I did the research mentioned above, it would be a total waste of money because if those people don't believe in the testimonials, they won't believe in the research at all.
Well. I just carry this stuff as long as I can carry.
Shoot, he contradicts himself so many times, it's incredible. But what's worse is that he will keep on selling useless crap and dispensing useless theories and advice until someone stops him. (or people stop buying.) If he should go back to China, he'd be prosecuted there. America's too friendly to alternative-non therapies. But China could actually do something about him.
But what's really sad is the whole multi-billion dollar fraud-based industry in America.
-Ben
Four-second summary (Score:5)
Twoflower
--
Re:Four-second summary (Score:2)
We gather scientific evidence (testimonials) in order to base our assumptions.
If "testimonials" count as "science" and are a valid substitute for double-blind clinical trials, there's really no point in trying to apply reason to this guy.
- StaticLimit
Re:Eternal Life Web Ring (Score:2)
To think that Douglas Adams inspired satire and gift for clever humor are comparable to Alex's writing is beyond just being a stretch...
I certainly agree that this is an example of how one can advance his ideas through the internet, and I definitely agree that Alex must have very think skin (but not as think as his skull if he actually believes any of the stuff he's saying).
I frequently enjoy reading online about such silly concepts as "eternal life rings" written by people who think a "testimonial" from Joe in Montana who's been wearing the rings for 6 months and gosh he isn't dead yet are a substitute for actual science. But I think that this is not so much an example as it is a warning. There are a lot of gullible people out there who are willing to believe "reason" issued forth from people who are capable of ignoring science and logic. And while Alex and his "Eternal Life" rings are harmless and perhaps even fun, there are people pushing much nastier philosophies on the web and the power that they and their adherents are able to project using the web are rather frightening. I think that we need, as a community, to actively debunk any serious attempt to propogate such fallacies...
- StaticLimit
ho hum (Score:4)
UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this IMPORTANT Information is ENCOURAGED, ESPECIALLY to COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARDS.
Seriously, he's mildly amusing, but as whack jobs go, Chiu is strictly third-rate. I'm sure he wouldn't get any play if he wasn't basically offering free stuff [alexchiu.com] to people who put banners on their site. Until something more interesting comes along, I'll stick with the classics, like McElwaine [umich.edu] and Ludwig Plutonium [newphys.se].
Re:One little thing I don't understand. (Score:2)
Then how come my HD _DIED_!?! (Score:3)
He's a nutcase, alright, but.. (Score:3)
However...
Some of the things he said actually struck very close to the core of things, simply because political correctness nowadays completely prevents many people from thinking them.
Here's one:
If you say Tibetans are not Chinese because they have their own language and culture, let me ask you this: Is Hawaii part of USA?
Reminding me of an old Onion article, that one is very true - Hawaii was pretty much assimilated after being occupied and used as a military base.
And about the notion of the peace-loving, religious, harmony-seeking Tibet being occupied by the evil Chinese - that's not total bunk, but a lot of it is nonsense. The Dalai Lama may be a nice guy, and a lot of atrocities did happen in Tibet, but Tibet is part of China and will forever be - it's a socio-geographical fact right now that we won't change. Complaining about that is a bit like complaining about Native Americans being murdered.
Sorry if this came out a bit flame-like, but I feel very strongly about certain things like the US' incessant complaints about human rights when people are being locked up right here and nowbecause they try to expose Scientology as the murderous cult they are [xenu.net]. Human rights are a very complex issue, and China does have more than one billion people living in a country much less developed than the US. The US struggled with overpopulated inner-city ghettoes where human rights are an afterthought, but continues to point out the issues in countries that are struggling with gigantic problems.
How would the oh-so horrible blackouts in California look like if 300 million people lived there? Compare that to the populous regions of China?
Again, sorry if this drifted off-topic. I'll read and answer to responses, though. Thanks.
ATB
New low for slashdot (Score:3)
How about filing this stuff under "pure shit" so that I can filter it out like I have Katz?
Who knew? (Score:3)
I had no idea how much scientific evidence I'd been dismissing as advertising all these years!
Gettin' serious for a minute... (Score:5)
The cry of the quack everywhere.
Yeah, I know Slashdot was just trollin' when they decided to interview Chiu, and I think both the "Ask Alex Chiu" and his responses constitute some of the funniest shit I've read this week.
But to get serious for a minute: If you're interested in quackery, check out http://www.quackwatch.com [quackwatch.com] for all the dirt.
In the case of Alex, he hits pretty much all the buttons on How Quackery Sells [quackwatch.com]. Bravo!
> How do scientists know the diameter of earth? Must a scientist walk the equator in order to tell you the exact diameter of earth? [ ... ]
We gather
scientific evidence (testimonials) in order to base our assumptions.
Alex, m'boy, you wouldn't know the scientific method if it propositioned you on the street and asked for a rim-job.
Re:scientific evidence (testimonials) (Score:3)
Maybe not, but it's certainly promising that all the testimonials are positive. Not one person has come forward saying that they have died after using the immortality ring.
Reality Kills (Score:4)
Personally I think people should look into the true findings about the claims of magnetic healing [randi.org] which this guy mentions.
In human nature many people let their emotions get the best of them and this is what I perceive this guy is doing, feeding off the emotions of people who'd think they can live longer via some device.
Stepping back take a quick look at life in a realistic perspective if you will:
Things go round animals of all types come and go through evolution, nothing lasts forever.
Biblical look; You die and supposedly go to $INSERT_YOUR_HEAVEN/HELL/ETC here.
People have been making these claims for so long it would take you eons to sort through the bs people have concocted. So while this guy claims doctors have bought my product, etc, etc, I've yet to see documentation from any credible source on this guy's claims.
So called Psychic Sylvia Brown does the same thing too feeds off the emotions of people. She claims to have been hired by Law Enforcement Agencies worldwide, etc., but cannot back her claim [randi.org] as most of these people can't either.
Doesn't matter though a sucker is born every minute and as long as no one takes the time to analyze things in a realistic manner the Alex Chuis and Sylvia Browns will always be around to feed off of emotion.
Best line ever (Score:5)
Hey Rob, someone's cracked your web site... (Score:4)
--
Ah.... (Score:4)
Re:Oops (Score:3)
You'd be surprised how many Christians there are in China. There are over 20 million underground Christians in China right now -- these are true believing fundementalists who risk their lives for their beliefs. There is also State run Christian Church (the 3-Self Movement).
As a matter of fact, a very popular devotional author, Watchman Nee, born in the early 1900's, was a third generation Christian and his grandfather was a native Chinese Methodist minister. He was imprisoned for 20 years and died there(suspiciously -- after one of Nixon's aides inquired about his health). His books are very popular around the world.
It's funny what we assume when we don't know. It's also funny for people to see people equate religion to culture - which seems correct but is not absolute. Belief can transcend culture.
--
Oops (Score:5)
Oops. Death is an important part of population control - you're amazing technology is versus this benefit. Destroy your technology now or the earth will be completely overrun with immortal humans who CANNOT DIE and make room for others.
--
what next? (Score:4)
Re:MOD THIS UP!!! (Score:3)
I'm not going to link to the everything2.com [everything2.com] nodes, here is the list. [everything2.com]
[everything2.com] [everything2.com]
Question: ..................(it's a really long question)
&n bsp; you cite edison, tesla and einstein as people who were "laughed and scorned at," presumably as parallel
&n bsp; figures to yourself, but we can't help noticing that you're sort of missing something. edison, tesla and einstein
&n bsp; were great scientists who, through a thorough and accurate understanding of the best scientific learning of
&n bsp; their day, applied existing principles in groundbreaking and unexpected ways to advance contemporary
&n bsp; physics. you, however, are applying your ignorance and lack of understanding of high-school level science -
&n bsp; skimming through textbooks, parrot-learning words like "unique frequency," "magnetic flux" and "negative
&n bsp; charge" - and producing your own bastardized version of contemporary science via the tried and tested
&n bsp; method of 'just making shit up.'
&n bsp; Alex:
&n bsp; I know my theories and findings are hard for you to accept Attacking the Person because they are so original and extraordinary. But one day in the future, you will see that I am right. Proof by Assertion You will be foreced to accept my invention as Millions of people around Appeal to Popularity you tell you that I am right.
Question:
&n bsp; I think that a lot of the people who visit your page think that you are a bit of a loony and a lot of a profiteer.
&n bsp; While I like the fact that you offer 'free' rings in exchange for a donation to certain charities, I can't help but
&n bsp; feel that you are probably not using the best of peer-reviewed science to back up your ideas.
&n bsp; Despite this, I bet you feel that what you're doing is pretty important.
&n bsp; Tell us then, Why do you think no medical experts come forth to do studies on your devices or reccomend
&n bsp; their use?
&n bsp; For some this will be a vindication of your ideas. For others it will be a glimpse into one of the minds that
&n bsp; makes the web as truly a strange and wonderful place that it is.
&n bsp; Alex:
&n bsp; Oh there are lots of doctors and medical professionals Anonymous Authority out there who buy my devices Non-Support at whole sale price. We have
&n bsp; lots of doctors and medical researchers who are loyal customers. They are blended in with the rest of the customers.
&n bsp; Immortality Device has been tested and researched by medical researchers all over the world from time to time.
&n bsp; They email me and told me what they found. I post their results sometimes on my site.
Question:
&n bsp; magnets have been around in this manner for many years - new age style people, etc. have been encouraging
&n bsp; the use of magnets on the feet and hands for as long as I can remember. why is your way better, why didn't
&n bsp; theirs work, and what proof and facts do you have? your website was not very forthcoming on that last
&n bsp; issue, though you claimed to have both.
&n bsp; Alex:
&n bsp; I didn't say my invention is better, nor did I say other stuff does not work. As the inventor of the Immortality Device,
&n bsp; I basically just tell people what I honestly think Prejudicial Language . I think my device makes you immortal. And I am being honest. My
&n bsp; proof is lots of people used the device and gave testimonials. Appeal to Popularity If you don't accept testimonials as proofs, you won't
&n bsp; accept any proof as proof.
At this Point I would add more but something more important came up Attacking the Person , I got invited to the new supper Walmart. I think I made my point. Circular Definition
My responce (Score:5)
Argument from Ignorance [everything2.com] [everything2.com]
Appeal to Popularity [everything2.com] [everything2.com]
Style Over Substance [everything2.com] [everything2.com]
Coincidental Correlation [everything2.com] [everything2.com]
Fallacy of Exclusion [everything2.com] [everything2.com]
Joint Effect [everything2.com] [everything2.com]
Failure to Elucidate [everything2.com]
[everything2.com] [everything2.com]
There are more so let me just link to the index [everything2.com]
Required reading... (Score:5)
I also wish to point out two things:
"'They laughed at Galileo, they laughed at Columbus...' 'They also laughed at Bozo the Clown.'" Traditionally attributed to Carl Sagan, but I suspect he wasn't the first.
Schopenhauer was flat-out wrong. Plenty of truth gets accepted with no struggle at all, and the only people who quote that particular statement seem to be those with axes to grind anyway.
I actually think this is a good interview for Slashdot because it serves as a reality check. We do need to be familiar with these sorts of people less we lose the logical edge that made us geeks in the first place...
/Brian
Hmmmm.... (Score:5)
The introduction (Score:3)
I think this "introduction" is a load of crap. It's clear that Roblimo thinks that Alex Chiu is "off-the-wall", but is there really any need for him to push this view on the rest of us? Let us read the interview and decide for ourselves, and give the interview a chance to stand or flop on its own!
Personally, I'm not convinced that Alex's device works, even after looking at the web pages and reading his reviews. But I am convinced that Alex himself believes in what he is doing. Give the guy a chance, and then if you want to, add your additional comments below. What you've done is equivalent to saying "Here, try this really bad beer!". Yeah, sure, thanks, but no thanks.
Worthless (Score:5)
Unsettling MOTD at my ISP.
Question: (Score:5)
Timecube (Score:3)
Re:Worthless (Score:3)
Testimonials (Score:4)
maybe we'll hear from them when their temporarily free soauls find new bodies
Tampering with God's master Plan (Score:3)
By far, the ultimate gift to us from God, was Jesus, our Saviour. He gave up his own infinite life for our salvation. How are we to meet him in Heaven if we've got these 'infinate life rings' keeping us here on Earth. Is this another punishment from God? Or just another human tampering with the Almight's Will? Is anyone actually considering putting off their accention to Heaven with one of these rings? Shall we taint that last, final gift from God? Spoil Jesus's sufferings with our own penial desire to stay with our material posessions a little longer? And how do we know these rings even work? Who's to say?
Cummunist? (Score:5)
Given the previous sentence, I don't really want to know what a Cummunist is.