"What have you got on for the rest of the week? Apart from the same underpants, that is?"

[davywavy]

I've decided to name my teddy bear "Random Mutation".
I'm hoping to get Richard Dawkins to come after me with a machete.

Comments

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Don't be silly, David. No one really believes in Richard Dawkins. He's just an unconvincing mythic figure, sought after by those who need some kind of reassurance that there's something out there who has all the answers.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I believe he is also writing a parenting guide called 'there's no Father Christmas, no Easter Bunny, and Mummy doesn't really love you either'.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

I think you'll find there's no empirical evidence that your parents exist.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

But if they kill you, they'll go to Hell! Or not. It depends.
Oh. Errr....

[http://users.livejournal.com/_grimtales_/]

Eh... mutations are random, after a fashion, it is natural selection that is deterministic rather than random.

I'm not entirely convinced that teaching kids father Christmas is real is entirely harmless, after all, it inculcates them with the idea that these ludicrous things can be real rather than fun fiction.

It is rather patronising to assume that the 'little people' need their precious little god delusions to get by.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Engrams aplenty for you, idiot boy.

[(Anonymous)]

I'd burn their Harry Potter books too, rather than let them go round developing a dangerous and harmful belief in "magic". And rip up their "Famous Five" so they don't get any unrealistic ideas about morality always triumphing. The Gruffalo, Roald Dahl, Moomintroll, Thomas the Tank Engine, straight into the furnace. Let the little blighters read tractor production figures instead.

H

[http://users.livejournal.com/_grimtales_/]

If you actually read what I wrote rather than operating on reflex you might note that I used the phrase 'rather than fun fiction'. A contrite apology or admission of 'oops' would be appropriate at this juncture.

[(Anonymous)]

Let me guess ... you don't have much experience with children and books?

H

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Chrildren view the world rather differently to adults, and that line between fantasy/reality isn't strongly delineated. There's no more reason not to let kids believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny then the imaginary friends who they create themselves; indeed, providing them with a socially established framework to create such worlds of their own is a powerful aid to cognitive development.

This fine book is a super place to start on the subject if you want to understand the subject: http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Children-Think-Learn-Understanding/dp/063120007X

[http://users.livejournal.com/_grimtales_/]

More books than children, but we were all children once. Frankly I'd rather not have been lied to.

[(Anonymous)]

Never mind, when you have kids you can bring them up like this fellow. (http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/hardtimes/15/)

H

[http://users.livejournal.com/_grimtales_/]

When I have kids they'll understand the difference between reality and fantasy while enjoying fantasy.

[(Anonymous)]

... or suffer the consequences.

H

[http://users.livejournal.com/_grimtales_/]

Sectioning might be a touch extreme, but I'd reserve that for religion.

[(Anonymous)]

Just send 'em to Burma, it'll happen automatically

H

[applez.livejournal.com]

I suspect you'll have less to worry about from Dawkins than you will this cult (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_institute). ;-)

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

I think having a cuddly lion called Aslan will put me in their bad books for starters.

[applez.livejournal.com]

Less than (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_institute#C.S._Lewis_.26_Public_Life) you might imagine.

[elbly.livejournal.com]

I would call my bear Darwin, but it might suddenly come to life!

[hiromasaki.livejournal.com]

Better than the possibilities were it called Schroedinger.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

I'm uncertain what would happen then.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Wow, did the Scientologists come after you?

[fonnparr.livejournal.com]

I can see these being in the shops in time for Christmas
http://www.tshirtstudio.com/personalised-gifts/custom-teddy-bears-f.asp