Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for March 13, 2021

Just in from Reuters – A religious and an atheist met met at a corner – and it was an absolute car-crash. Two innocent bystanders were …. collaterally crushed.

We know who’s going to get the media attention and prove that half the population is dumber that the average and we can see the other guy is from an organization that puts money first.

With complex questions, you end up with simple answers from/for simple minds.

There is no question so subtle or complex that someone won’t find and answer that’s simple, persuasive.. and wrong.

Asking questions should be illegal.

Never take advice from a guy wearing a funny hat.

Walk away … just walk away! Find your own questions; and, if you’ve got the guts, dig, dig, dig until you come up with answers that are factual, even if unpalatable.

Tell me no questions and I’ll ask you no lies.

Unanswerable questions lead to unquestionable answers!

Philosophy is questions that may not be answered!

Religion is answers that may not be questioned!

I think the same question would yield the same result – ask him!

It has gotten hard to avoid stupid.

At the next corner: “Answers you want to hear regardless of the facts”

As Jimmy Buffett said, “Answers are the easy part, questions raise the doubt.”

If you go to the second person, you may feel like you are in (or on) Jeopardy.

As long as there aren’t any complex answers to complex questions.

Ask me no questions; I’ll tell you no lies.

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There are a lot of questions out there with simple answers… that people don’t want. To give only one example (but one most of us know):

“How can I lose weight?”

“Eat less.”

“No. I think I’ll wait for a wonder drug. Or try the new placebo. I saw on ad on TV for miracle weight-reducing underwear. Maybe I should switch the 10,000 calories I eat each day from junk food to nutritious food. How can there be calories in beer – it’s mostly water, right?” etc. etc.

Our society is saturated with info…..too much information!

appears the church likes to give simple answers, and they’ll want you to tithe them for these simple answers to life … and then it appears that no matter what the answer is, someone will try to make a mountain out of a molehill on social media (of which they’ll believe they’ll get fame and fortune)

At least there is a clear difference between the two. The smug gentleman in the mitre can guarantee you eternal life ……….. if your credit card is healthy enough. The beanie-head from Q anon can guarantee a short life ……….. for you and everyone else ………. if your acceptance of his reality is solid enough.

Why? :)

I said it before and I will say it again:

Occam’s Razor: the simplest explanation that adequately explains an event is most likely to be TRUE.

Murphy’s Blunt Instrument: the most convoluted explanation, that involves the longest series of unlikely events and the most conspirators is most likely to be BELEIVED.

I remember in the 60’s and 70’s a most popular sign. “Question Authority”

I saw a woman holding a placard that said “Using a mask to stop a virus is like using a chainlink fence to stop mosquitoes. Science not propaganda.”Someone needs to explain the science behind virus transmission to her.

I Google all my questions…

“I’m not aware of too many thingsI know what I know, if you know what I meanPhilosophy is the talk on a cereal boxReligion is the smile on a dogI’m not aware of too many thingsI know what I know if you know what I mean”

Edie Brickell

I think the problem is bumper stickers. We need to either eliminate them, or get longer bumpers.

That’s Wiley in the pope hat

Guy at left is wearing a bishop’s mitre and robes denoting religion. Guy on right wears propeller beany and a different icon. Have to wonder what caused that pairing of images.

SPEAKING OF QUESTIONS, HOW MANY HAS BIDEN TAKEN FROM ALL THE PRESS, INCLUDING FOX. LET ME HELP YOU, ZIP.

So they are standing at the corner of Philosophy St and QAnonsense Blvd. Cogito, ergo sum(That’s what they want you to think)

Clear your mind of “stupid stuff” just to fill in up again with other “stupid stuff”.

snappy answers to stupid questions

Worse: Giving answers, to questions no one asked. (Unless of course you are a writer on Jeopardy.)

“Yes, Virginia. There are stupid questions.”

I guess they weren’t looking for a quick walk-through brain wash.

It distresses how often I’m the second guy. An engineering background: question everything, and see contradictions or qualifications in every statement I’m foolish enough to make. No simple short answers. No wonder I have few friends.

If that fancy-hatted person giving simple answers to complex questions is a representative of the church: Besides digital and bank collection as moneytransfer they also accept your worldly possession after and more or less close to your demise, too.

Flat Earth. Simple mind. No problem.

“Do not try any of this at home. The author of this book is an internet cartoonist, not a health or safety expert. He likes it when things catch fire and explode, which means he does not have your best interests in mind. The publisher and the author disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects resulting, directly or indirectly, from information contained in this book.”

—Randall Munroe, internet cartoonist (xkcd), disclaimer at front of What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions, a really, really fun read!

Complex question:

“If God loves us, why does he keep killing us with hurricanes, earthquakes, and pandemic diseases?”

Simple answer:

“Because he’s God Almighty, and as such He is infallible.”

Convoluted question:

“Why doesn’t science recognize the existence of mermaids, aliens, UFOs, ancient advanced technology, and sea serpents?”

Simple answer:

“They are obviously clueless.”

Here’s a philosophical question…which hat is sillier?

So what religion does the person in a mitre represent? That is rather all inclusive. Have you read Pope Francis’s writings?