Dude...the SPLC has about as much credibility in the real world as teh Black Panthers do.

you might want to keep in mind you live in one of the most protected environments on the planet..a uni campus and while many o the people there love the SPLC, the more general public, in examining some of the SPLC's calls, are deciding that they are a little less than objective.

I don't live on a university campus. I live in a working class suburb which is still considered a "hick town", although I would suspect that suburb is more racially diverse than most in the United States. In fact of the five neighboring houses, three have mixed race marriages. I'm sure that is a significant reason that "real" racists choose Berkeley as their target. I grew up in rural America, surrounded by my "real" friends. Some of them are still friends. Some of them are racist a**holes. Some are not. And the people in my neighborhood are real, without quotes. Whether the Proud Boys and Antifa like it or not, most Americans live in urban areas.

So what point were you trying to make by comparing the SPLC to a black nationalist group the both threatened and committed acts of violence? That the SPLC are black supremacists that they are violent? Or are you saying that the only thing most "real" people know about the SPLC is what comes from over facebook feed from their similarly "real" friends? I wouldn't be surprised if that's true. Of course, I expect hate groups to strike out at anyone who labels them as such.

Of course SPLC has an political agenda, so they are not going to be as objective as, say, the AAAS. But they are certainly more objective then the DNC or RNC. And since they don't make facebook posts about how to hide weapons in your protest sign, I'll take them over the Proud Boys and the Antifa any day.

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@SETIEric@qoto.org (Mastodon)

Just read the message from Eric and I must say that I am very disappointed to see him use this opportunity to get in what seems like a very cheap political shot by characterizing those who wish to exercise their right to speak as "white supremacists". Am I missing something? Is there some news I haven't heard? Just what group is he referring to? Is there some clearly defined "white supremacist" group or simply someone who doesn't follow the intolerant, closed minded leftwing politics that defines Berkeley today? If I'm wrong then I apologize. If I'm right then my many years supporting SETI@HOME are over and Eric you are the one responsible.

. . Wrong, if you decide to end your association with this project then you and you alone are responsible. And it will be for your own agenda, that is to support your cause ... not because of Eric.

. . That is your option but don't insult the rest of us by trying to lay the blame on someone else, especially not on Eric.

Stephen

:)

"So what point were you trying to make by comparing the SPLC to a black nationalist group the both threatened and committed acts of violence?"

I was looking for as ludicrous a metaphor/comparison as I could come up with and fumbled the ball..but you're still foundering because it's not really the subject. It's an inconsistency that you've latched onto in your academic way since you have nothing of real substance to bring to this discussion but it's not meaningful.
Much the way your bringing in the word 'real' which I didn't use isn't.
I spoke carelessly, that's my mistake..but you don't seem to be saying anything at all.
You're not quite far gone enough to actually try to argue 'feelings' but you're close.

AND>..seriously..I know you don't live ''on the campus'' but I know academia and that campus and your coworkers ARE your entire life despite the tiny amount of socialization you might do with your neighbors.

so far, your intellectual honesty score isn't looking good.

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If you don't touch it, you can't break it.
;

SETI will not find terrestrial intelligence in Berkeley

Dude...the SPLC has about as much credibility in the real world as teh Black Panthers do.

Actually the SPLC has quite a bit of credibility and is a fairly centrist organization.

On another note, the SPLC lists the "New Black Panther Party" as an antisemitic hate group. The Black Panthers no longer exist, so they aren't listed.

@Eric, anyone who thinks the SPLC has no credibility is saying his mind is closed tighter than the DPRK is as a country.

yeah...'fighting hate' is such a well defined aim....
when somebody says something like that and your first thought isn't ''they're up to no good'' you're being simple.
Do you think a research proposal with such a ... broadly defined aim would be worth the grant?

. . Actually quite the opposite. When someone says that "opposing hate groups suggests that person is up to no good" to me implies this person is themself the one who is up to no good. Trying to get a psychological advantage by accusing someone of evil for attempting to confront evil. I guess you have made it pretty damned clear where you stand :)

Stephen

.

I think the whole bone of contention here is the fact that there are few or none actual ''white supremacists'' there..
At least not once you go to a dictionary definition of ''WS'' and not a newly formed emotional designation.
On a Science Forum I reserve the right to limit you to the dictionary.
You can CALL a person a supremacist but it doesn't make them one.

. . Well for what it is worth I am pretty sure Eric has not so far aimed that label at you. But he really does not need to, you are doing an excellent job of pointing that finger at yourself.

Stephen

.

Hi Eric,
Thank you for posting the comments. It does remind people that Seti@home is not directly tied to Berkeley political choices. It is unfortunate that some people use guilt by association as a justifiable reaction.
From a constitutional stand point, Berkeley could fix it by shutting down all speeches until the rioters get bored and leave or are removed from the venue's as they should be once they go past simple protesting. This option removes all the state, county, city and university costs. Keep in mind I know you and Seti can't do anything about that.

So lets keep crunching in hopes of one day finding useful data that may one day provide some very interesting results.

Please attempt to continue to be politically neutral with Seti@home.

And my best wishes for your teams safety during those ridiculous riots,
Royce

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+ 1, Ken

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Stephen, I'm not insulting the rest of you, I'm pointing out that Eric sent out an official announcement from SETI@HOME calling people who simply wanted to exercise their right to free speech "white supremacists". Eric was representing SETI@HOME and he expressed a bigoted, extremist political point of view that condemned anyone who didn't share his narrow myopic viewpoint. That is the very antithesis of free speech and freedom of thought. I can no longer be a part of something that allows it's spokespersons to hold and express such bigoted points of view. You can support Eric's bigotry and intolerance if you wish, that's your choice but I believe freedom of speech extends to everyone, not just the ultraextremeist leftwing wackos of UC Berkeley. I gave SETI@HOME 18 years of CPU cycles but no more cycles to closed minds.

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If someone reads that to mean that I think everyone on one side of the issue is a right wing white supremacist and everyone on the other is a left wing anarchist they need to head back to middle school for some reading comprehension lessons.

Hasn't political correctness gone a little too far when you can't say that a group of self avowed white supremacists is a group of white supremacists?

Well, before making starting topic post would be good to observe few of threads in "Politics" just to estimate possible incomprehension of quite obvious things you could met. But it's too late already. Worth just to move on to more adequate topics. Sad that it's "News" thread that triggers BOINC notices feature.

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SETI apps news
We're not gonna fight them. We're gonna transcend them.

What's going on? I can't understand from France.

. . Basically as I understand it, a couple of groups of extremists, some pro-Trump and some anti-Trump, have decided to use the Berkeley University campus as a battleground to "express" their points of view, in the most violent and destructive manner they can come up with. This in turn has aroused strong feelings/reactions in other people, many of whom are not in California, who are expressing their own brand of extremism by abusing Eric via the Seti forums and general social media, blaming him and the other staff of the Seti project for being part of the UC structure. Not that the UC heirarchy are in any way that I am aware of implicated in the activities apart from trying to maintain the security of the spaces they are responsible for. But it seems that extremism is currently "la mode a la jour" . :(

Stephen

:(

Nice sum up of whole issue.

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SETI apps news
We're not gonna fight them. We're gonna transcend them.

All I want to do is crunch numbers and talk about servers and Aliens.

Nothing more nothing less

+1

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Kevin

I feel sorry for your Eric. I hope nothing crazy happens. But I'm also glad I don't live in California.

yeah...'fighting hate' is such a well defined aim....
when somebody says something like that and your first thought isn't ''they're up to no good'' you're being simple.
Do you think a research proposal with such a ... broadly defined aim would be worth the grant?

yes. apparently so do a lot of other people.
Per their audited financial statement https://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/splc_fs_103116.pdf on page 6 they received $3,319,497.00 in grants in 2016. That doesn't include the $45,806,149.00 in direct donations.

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What does this have to do with SETI?

Nothing?

Stephen, I'm not insulting the rest of you, I'm pointing out that Eric sent out an official announcement from SETI@HOME calling people who simply wanted to exercise their right to free speech "white supremacists". Eric was representing SETI@HOME and he expressed a bigoted, extremist political point of view that condemned anyone who didn't share his narrow myopic viewpoint. That is the very antithesis of free speech and freedom of thought. I can no longer be a part of something that allows it's spokespersons to hold and express such bigoted points of view. You can support Eric's bigotry and intolerance if you wish, that's your choice but I believe freedom of speech extends to everyone, not just the ultraextremeist leftwing wackos of UC Berkeley. I gave SETI@HOME 18 years of CPU cycles but no more cycles to closed minds.

. . I think Americans have a saying for this occassion, something about not letting the door hit you on your caboose.

. . And I am getting the feeling you could use some mirrors in your house.

Stephen

:)

If someone reads that to mean that I think everyone on one side of the issue is a right wing white supremacist and everyone on the other is a left wing anarchist they need to head back to middle school for some reading comprehension lessons.

Hasn't political correctness gone a little too far when you can't say that a group of self avowed white supremacists is a group of white supremacists?

Well, before making starting topic post would be good to observe few of threads in "Politics" just to estimate possible incomprehension of quite obvious things you could met. But it's too late already. Worth just to move on to more adequate topics. Sad that it's "News" thread that triggers BOINC notices feature.

. . Hi Raistmer,

. . I suspect that it was exasperation that led Eric to make that intial post. Caused by the inappropriate abuse he has been receiving. Sadly the more extreme amongst us see that as a "red rag" and go off like fire crackers (pyrotechnics).

Stephen

:(

I didn't like this rant showing up as an alert message in Notices. it's a political rant and really shouldn't be showing up in the app. I could care less about your ranting and I see this as an ABUSE of power.

I find it interesting the number of people in this thread proclaiming their support for free speech, as long as it supports their views.

BTW- people destroying things and physically attacking others isn't free speech.

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Grant
Darwin NT

KWSN-GMC-Peeper of the Castle Anthrax wrote:

since you have nothing of real substance to bring to this discussion but it's not meaningful.

I notice that Eric is answering your points, while you are consistently attacking him on a personal level. If there is someone who isn't bringing any real substance into the discussion, it's you.

I also noticed that he's still talking to you in a civilized manner, whereas you are answering almost on a name-calling level. Apparently you cannot win and know it.

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