Formal Fallacy

Big Bang Redux Redux

A couple updates to my yesterday post.

First, another clever dude out there beat me to the juice.  Seems he posted a doomsday machine story titled Big Bang Redux a few days before me.  Not to be off topic, but this reminds me of a Terry Rossio quote I read about movie studios and parallel development.

Like one time, I swear, I covered three different screenplays — submitted from different parts of the country — all of which had key scenes set at a southwestern rattlesnake farm. Why, you could go years without reading a good rattlesnake farm scene, and here I had three in one week. Needless to say, after that I became more sympathetic to claims of ‘parallel development.’

It also reminds me of a Phish concert I went to back in high school.  My buddy was sitting next to me and was really proud of the cool tie-die Phish T-shirt he was sporting.  His exact words…

I love my shirt! It’s original!   I’m the only one wearing one like it!  No one else has a shirt like mine!  Except that dude over there… damn… dude has a cool shirt.

Yes, I listened to Phish in high school.  I have no excuse.

Believe it or not, Big Bang Redux wasn’t actually my first choice of title.  Originally, it was going to be Genesis Redux but changed my mind because I was worried it didn’t convey the right message.  Should’ve trusted my gut and been as original as the next guy.

Second.  Scientists are actually receiving death threats over this machine.  Simply ridiculous.  Even worse, scroll down and read some of the posts on the message board.  One man thinks the fact that his crucifix necklace broke while sleeping means God was warning him about this machine.  So, let me get this straight…  these Christian fundamentalists like Sarah Palin believe the Rapture is coming, but they don’t want scientists to use a machine that they fear will destroy the world…  isn’t “end of the world” the very definition of Armageddon?

Question:  Is a death threat really the best way to change the mind of someone with a machine that could destory the Earth?  “Oh, I better not destroy the Earth because someone threatened to kill me if I do.”  I can see how that could be a very persuasive argument, almost like threatening Willy Wonka with a brownie if he doesn’t shut down his chocolate factory.

Third.  The machine is set to rev up on September 10^th.  In case you’re counting, that would be TOMORROW.  So, if in fact the death threat crazies are right, today might be your last day on Earth.  You know that old saying, live every day like it is your last?  Well… what are you waiting for?  The world to end?

Chris