# Deserving a facepalm **URL:** \ **Category:** Fun\ **Created:** [22 January 2015 16:35 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794 "2015-01-22T16:35:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tweefo](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/tweefo/32/2479_2.png) [@Tweefo](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Tweefo)\ **Post date:** [22 January 2015 16:35 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/1 "2015-01-22T16:35:42Z")
(wtf!!) * * * ---
**Author:** ![brianvds](https://forum.skepticza.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@brianvds](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/brianvds)\ **Post date:** [23 January 2015 02:25 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/2 "2015-01-23T02:25:55Z")
Perhaps they got it for here? > **[Communications From Elsewhere](https://www.elsewhere.org/journal/pomo/)** > > The essay you have just seen is completely meaningless and was randomly generated by the Postmodernism Generator. To generate another essay, follow this link. The Postmodernism Generator was writte… ---
**Author:** ![Mintaka](https://forum.skepticza.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@Mintaka](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Mintaka)\ **Post date:** [23 January 2015 04:41 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/3 "2015-01-23T04:41:24Z")
Some meditations on “The Mathematics of God.” [http://www.rejectionofpascalswager.net/math.html](http://www.rejectionofpascalswager.net/math.html) ---
**Author:** ![Faerie](https://forum.skepticza.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Faerie](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Faerie)\ **Post date:** [23 January 2015 05:39 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/4 "2015-01-23T05:39:11Z")
“Fruit of life” _snark_… ---
**Author:** ![Tweefo](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/tweefo/32/2479_2.png) [@Tweefo](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Tweefo)\ **Post date:** [24 January 2015 11:54 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/5 "2015-01-24T11:54:54Z")
So god killed this guy’s son because he did not spread spam. Moving into the computer age, I guess. * * * ---
**Author:** ![brianvds](https://forum.skepticza.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@brianvds](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/brianvds)\ **Post date:** [25 January 2015 03:13 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/6 "2015-01-25T03:13:58Z")
> [@Tweefo post:5](#): > > So god killed this guy’s son because he did not spread spam. Moving into the computer age, I guess. If the Bible is any guide, God has killed people for far less. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tweefo](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/tweefo/32/2479_2.png) [@Tweefo](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Tweefo)\ **Post date:** [25 January 2015 15:34 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/7 "2015-01-25T15:34:08Z")
After my recent FB homeopath fight, I do not have the will to get into another one with this woo-woo person. * * * ---
**Author:** ![Mefiante](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/mefiante/32/903_2.png) [@Mefiante](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Mefiante)\ **Post date:** [25 January 2015 17:19 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/8 "2015-01-25T17:19:14Z")
The only sane response to stuff like this is ridicule and derision. The world is being inundated by woo for two main reasons. First, it takes much more effort to debunk woo than to construct it because there are no restraints when making up nonsense. Second, woo merchants outnumber rational people, and the great unwashed are much more susceptible to a glib tongue than to reason. Extended debate is pointless. When a brief rebuttal fails (as it usually does), the only sane response is ridicule and derision. And it will remain thus until the majority learns basic critical thinking, should that ever happen. 'Luthon64 ---
**Author:** ![brianvds](https://forum.skepticza.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@brianvds](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/brianvds)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2015 02:10 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/9 "2015-01-26T02:10:10Z")
Perhaps it is time for a Facebook group titled “Dr. Woo,” in which all the woo on FB is thoroughly ridiculed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mefiante](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/mefiante/32/903_2.png) [@Mefiante](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Mefiante)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2015 10:31 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/10 "2015-01-26T10:31:22Z")
Not just Facebook. Having maroons like Peggy Nkonyeni in charge doesn’t help the cause either. 'Luthon64 ---
**Author:** ![st0nes](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/st0nes/32/102_2.png) [@st0nes](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/st0nes)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2015 10:42 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/11 "2015-01-26T10:42:03Z")
> [@Mefiante post:10](#): > > Not just Facebook. Having maroons like Peggy Nkonyeni in charge doesn’t help the cause either. > > 'Luthon64 I take exception to that. We maroons are an important part of the rainbow nation. ---
**Author:** ![Mefiante](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/mefiante/32/903_2.png) [@Mefiante](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Mefiante)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2015 11:04 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/12 "2015-01-26T11:04:39Z")
Okay, okay. Sorry. Would you object to cyanotic melon? 'Luthon64 ---
**Author:** ![st0nes](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/st0nes/32/102_2.png) [@st0nes](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/st0nes)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2015 11:07 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/13 "2015-01-26T11:07:16Z")
> [@Mefiante post:12](#): > > Okay, okay. Sorry. Would you object to cyanotic melon? > > 'Luthon64 Nope–can’t stand those blue-arsed monkeys… ---
**Author:** ![BoogieMonster](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/boogiemonster/32/901_2.png) [@BoogieMonster](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/BoogieMonster)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2015 11:12 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/14 "2015-01-26T11:12:04Z")
> [@st0nes post:11](#): > > I take exception to that. We maroons are an important part of the rainbow nation. Sure but you are no [Hooloovoo](http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Hooloovoo). ---
**Author:** ![Mintaka](https://forum.skepticza.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@Mintaka](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Mintaka)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2015 12:53 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/15 "2015-01-26T12:53:56Z")
I must say I’m excited to hear that Ms Nkonyeni’s is in favour of including philosophy in the school curriculum. With some training in basic critical thinking techniques, our future ministers and ministresses may be less likely to approach phrenologists and graphologists. And as far as the claims of the face-reflexology goes, at least [one](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2279133/) of them has been taken seriously. It’s just never black and white with these people. It’s almost always a good mix of science and bollocks, milled into a pulp, seasoned with hope, deep fried in greed, and served with fear. No wonder the skeptically meek stands no chance. Rigil ---
**Author:** ![Mefiante](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/mefiante/32/903_2.png) [@Mefiante](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Mefiante)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2015 14:36 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/16 "2015-01-26T14:36:02Z")
> [@Rigil Kent post:15](#): > > I must say I’m excited to hear that Ms Nkonyeni’s is in favour of including philosophy in the school curriculum. With some training in basic critical thinking techniques… Sure, if you take Nkonyeni’s use of the terms “philosophy” and “critical thinking” at face value. I’m a bit sceptical that one can do so with confidence, though. Based on her evident naïveté in related matters, I have more than a passing suspicion that she thought those were catchy terms to bandy about, that her conception of “philosophy” would primarily include such precepts as ancestor worship, bone throwing and muti, and that her “critical thinking” is probably centred on the idea of always obeying the tribal chief and elders even if you disagree with them. Apologies for sounding negative and cynical, and I do await the pleasant surprise of some facts contrary to expectation. 'Luthon64 ---
**Author:** ![Brian](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/brian/32/141_2.png) [@Brian](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Brian)\ **Post date:** [26 January 2015 19:23 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/17 "2015-01-26T19:23:31Z")
By definition "critical thinking’ is anathema to politicians who want a compliant, unquestioning voter public. Too many questions are not their thing: ask our Public Protector ---
**Author:** ![brianvds](https://forum.skepticza.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@brianvds](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/brianvds)\ **Post date:** [27 January 2015 02:24 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/18 "2015-01-27T02:24:21Z")
> [@Mefiante post:16](#): > > > [@Rigil Kent post:15](#): > > > > I must say I’m excited to hear that Ms Nkonyeni’s is in favour of including philosophy in the school curriculum. With some training in basic critical thinking techniques… > > Sure, if you take Nkonyeni’s use of the terms “philosophy” and “critical thinking” at face value. I’m a bit sceptical that one can do so with confidence, though. Based on her evident naïveté in related matters, I have more than a passing suspicion that she thought those were catchy terms to bandy about, that her conception of “philosophy” would primarily include such precepts as ancestor worship, bone throwing and muti, and that her “critical thinking” is probably centred on the idea of always obeying the tribal chief and elders even if you disagree with them. And be critical of apartheid. Don’t forget to always be critical of apartheid. 🙂 One of the teachers at the school where I work has a degree in philosophy, and the stuff he tells the kids makes my hair stand on end. Lucky thing he teaches English rather than science. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mintaka](https://forum.skepticza.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@Mintaka](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Mintaka)\ **Post date:** [27 January 2015 04:44 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/19 "2015-01-27T04:44:32Z")
Yes, it’s hard to know exactly what Nkonyeni’s personal idea of philosophy/ critical thinking is, but if the subject is introduced, then it’s likely that the course content will be set by a group of individuals who know what they’re on about. Rigil ---
**Author:** ![Mefiante](https://forum.skepticza.org/user_avatar/forum.skepticza.org/mefiante/32/903_2.png) [@Mefiante](https://forum.skepticza.org/u/Mefiante)\ **Post date:** [27 January 2015 06:05 UTC](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794/20 "2015-01-27T06:05:18Z")
Well, she is after all the KZN education MEC, and so she would have significant input into the matter. Indeed, I think that’s the main reason the incident has caused such a stir. Had a more junior provincial education functionary made those remarks, it’s unlikely to have provoked such widespread condemnation. 'Luthon64 [Next page](https://forum.skepticza.org/t/deserving-a-facepalm/4794.md?page=2)