Bad Apple

I have never been a fan of Apple, call it a gut feeling, but I never trusted the company. Over the years I've seen more and more evidence to support my original thoughts. I decided to boycott them. I have never and will never buy an Apple product. The following is just some of the things I've found.

Apple's employment standard are deplorable. Apple came out 2 years ago and admitted to falsifying records and using child labour. They've beaten employees, worked them overtime and not paid for it. Employment standards are so low, that in the Asian factories there has been suicide of dozens of employees.

To "fix" the suicide issue, Apple "his included hiring counselors for a 24-hour care center and even attaching  large nets to the factory buildings" instead of making their employees happy by increasing wages and treating them well. There has been reports of the use of a toxic chemical, n-hexane, said to have caused  nerve damage to workers who were not supplied with proper safety equipment. 

The devotion of fans to the Apple brand is more than just brand loyalty. Its like a cult. Mac users are frequently known to use religious language in describing Macs and other Apple products. I'm an avid gamer, so I know about passion to a recreational pastime. I've been to one midnight video game release (Skyim). 

But the devotion that fellow gamers display towards their favorite franchise is at its extremes an addiction. Where as the extremism that Apple fans show can only be compared to relentless ridiculousness of the devoted religious. They both convey a blind faith and loyalty to their "cause", despite immoral acts done in its name.

This video for the launch of a new product is scary.

"The scenes I witnessed at the opening of the new Apple store in London's Covent Garden were more like an evangelical prayer meeting than a chance to buy a phone or a laptop. " — Alex Riley, writing for the BBC

"The Mac and its fans constitute the equivalent of a religion. This religion is based on an origin myth for Apple Computer, heroic and savior legends surrounding its co-founder and current CEO Steve Jobs, the devout faith of its follower congregation, their belief in the righteousness of the Macintosh, the existence of one or more Satanic opponents, Mac believers proselytizing and converting nonbelievers, and the hope among cult members that salvation can be achieved by transcending corporate capitalism.^{" -} Russell Belk, Consumer Behaviorist at the University of Utah

Steve Jobs was like a wrathful "god" to his employees. Biographer Walter Isaacson stated the following on '60 Minutes'; "He’s not warm and fuzzy … He was not the world’s greatest manager. In fact, he could have been one of the world’s worst managers...He was very petulant. He was very brittle. He could be very, very mean to people at times. Whether it was to a waitress in a restaurant or to a guy who had stayed up all night coding, he could just really just go at them and say, ‘You’re doing this all wrong. It’s horrible.’.

In the biography, Issacson states that "Jobs announced that he didn't want to have anything to do with worshiping such a God, and he never went back to church. Instead, Jobs pursued Buddhism, gurus, alternative medicines and hallucinogenic drugs."

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was quoted as saying "I just wanted to be in engineering only – I never wanted to run a company, never wanted to run things, step on other people – Steve very clearly did". There are many reports of Steve Jobs being a impatient, narcissistic control freak. And he obviously did not care about his workers. Yet when he passed away, Apple fans acted as if humanity had lost a great person worth of mass praise.

I'm not saying that Apple produces horrible products. Its the ethics the company demonstrates that bothers me. I know Apple is not the only company in the world to use the stated means of gaining wealth. But Apple and its fans tend to have this "for the people" motto, yet I can't see anything "for the people" about it.

Now I know its likely some Apple fan will say Microsoft is "evil" too. Microsoft has had some shady practices also. But Gates is not worshiped like Jobs and is a much better human being. He donated 50% of his fortune to charity, which Steve Jobs refused to do.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not loyal to Microsoft and am open to other options except Apple. I just think that the extreme Apple fans need to get off their righteous high horses and acknowledge the company and it practices that they are supporting. If your morally okay with supporting the type of company I described, then go ahead and do so. Personally, being I'm Canadian, if I were ever to blow money on a smart phone (currently own Pay As You Go basic phone), I would likely choice Black Berry. But I do need to do more research before I purchase a smart phone, if I ever do.

Impaired Compassion

Ironically, the audio clip at this link will make you want to find this preacher and beat the hate out of him. He should have his children taken away.
beating the gay out

 Teaching children that they are going to be to be tortured in hell for eternity for who they are is child abuse! How is it any different from telling a child that you will torture them for disobeying. To the child, you and "god" are both authorities that out-power and scare them. Children should not even be exposed to religion until they are at least 9-12 years old (depending on the child). At that age they are starting to (hopefully) logically and critically think. But that would only happen if you give them the freedom to believe in what ever they want. People need to allow and show their children how to learn and form their own informed opinions. They need to be given the tools to learn and expand their mind in the way they see fit. To take away the option for a growing mind to objectively learn and find its place in life is horrible. How is limiting a young growing mind/intelligence any less abusive than limiting a child's physical/nutritional growth?



Religious less compassionate than than the unbeliever

The above is a link to new research from the University of California. It states that the unbelievers are more likely to do good deeds to strangers than the religious.

This is some thing that has been on my mind lately. The thing that honestly worries me is the reasons behind why people do good deeds. The unbeliever does it out of logic and compassion. We do it because we honestly feel for the well being of our fellow humans. The religious do it because it is dictated to them. I'm not saying that they don't feel compassion. I am saying that their religious beliefs in most cases override that compassion. If the person is put into a situation where showing compassion to a person would go against their religion, they are more likely to not to give compassion. There is the threat of Hell and eternal torture if one does not obey. Not to mention social/religious exclusion.

What scares me is what would happen if we could prove beyond a shadow of a doubt to the world there is no gods of any kind over night. I know we can't, just imagine it though for a moment. You would have millions of people that based their morals on what as been disproved realizing their is no judging god like authority. Crime rate around the world would sky rocket. Violence would increase dramatically. I'm not saying "all hell would break loose". My point is the respect given to world authority is not near as high as the devotion people give to religious authority. I start to wonder would people be more likely to do harm because they are not used to being compassionate to people that are different. Would they start harming/humiliating people more because of things like race, religion and sexuality?

History of Monotheism

Great Documentary series! Hosted by a Theologian whom shows very factual, non-preachy and objective information about the history the bible and current Monotheistic religions. Must see for Atheist and Religious alike.

Hate hidden behind delusions & false support

Hello everyone! please check out this blog. There is a secret group on Facebook gathering to verbally attack the LGTB rights movement. please tell your friends!!

Its natural! over 400 species have been documented having homosexual relations, some are even more likely to have homosexual partners instead of heterosexual. If you still think its a choice, please tell me when you choice to be straight?

One problem I do have with the attitude some people have even in the LBGT communities, is many don't except bisexual as a sexual orientation. Ive been shunned by the very people that are claiming to be open and supportive. I've known since I was a kid that I am attracted to both. I am not confused. I find it quite hypocritical of the some of lesbians whom don't accept me as loving penis and vagina then turn around and buy a strap on. I have no problem with any lady being full lesbian and loving a fake cock/strap ons, but why am i being judged for liking the real thing? I'm all for freedom to be who you are, but there are some bad stereo types of bisexuals that many "open minded" people still perpetuate.

Bisexual doesn't mean I'm slutty.
Bisexual doesn't mean I'm confused.
Bisexual doesn't mean I'll cheat on or leave my partner for someone of another sex.
Bisexual doesn't mean I want to have a threesome with you and your partner.
Bisexual doesn't mean I go to the bar and make out with chicks to get guys.

Its sad that even people that are claiming to be supportive of homosexuals or even are homosexuals them selves still can not accept bisexuals. Sometimes I feel shunned by both sides...the closed and "open-minded".

What are we teaching our children?

This video is great. I think it could have gone even further, by explaining to the child that the ancient book wants them to shun and hate those that do not believe what do no believe the same.

Why can't we teach future generations to be good because its whats right and not because of fear of this invisible wrathful parent. Children need to be encouraged to be open minded and freethinkers. They need to be curious and not fear the fruits of knowledge.

http://www.betteroffdamned.com

Owned!

Sam Harris just knows how to say it better than most people I know. I love his books.

Picking and choosing to support pain

Sorry I have not posted in a while, life got busy. For those who are new to my blog, I can be opinionated at times, but am always up for a good honest debate.

I've notice lately that many christian & catholic extremists are getting even more defensive and outraged by anti-theist, equality and free thought movements. I personally believe this is because they feel they are being attacked and have realized that less and less of their friends are following mythical beliefs.

We will see the end of mass organized religion in my life time as long as we are not all killed in a nuclear jihad first. We are seeing less and less young people fall into the trap of religion. There is so much more to life than faith in mythical vengeful deities. I'm not saying that there isn't a lot of good people out there that have decent morals and belong to a religion. 

My issue is that for every tolerant christian out there, there is at least one that is intolerant. This is because the bible is a messed up book with some good morals and a lot of bad or weird stuff. Some people are willing to do literally anything for "salvation" and to not go to a "hell". The bible was written by mortal men claiming holy influence. The First Council of Nicaea was a meeting of influential christian men and Roman Emperor Constantine in 325AD. They worked together to agree on what would be considered Christianity and instilled it as the official Roman religion. Less than 70 years later humanity lost a great ancient library to religious intolerance when the Library of Alexandria was destroyed.

Ask any "moderate" christian in North America and most will have one of two views on the bible and old testament. They ether believe that the bible is a book of good moral stories, fables and old testament is to be ignored because "Jesus came to save us from our sins & the world has chanced since ancient times". Or they believe the bible is the unfaluable word of god, old testament and all. 

If the bible is all moral stories to live by, then I don't want to be moral...not that idea of moral.

Deuteronomy 22:28" If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; 22:29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days."  So in other word, if a man rapes a woman and finds she is a virgin, she must marry him.

Luke 14:26 "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."  Don't hate your family? Sorry no heaven for you!

Psalm 137:9 "Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." Sound like unconditional love?

Exodus 31:15 "Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death." If you need to work Sundays to feed your family, you are to die?

Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.  I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.  Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place." In other words...Jesus says respect the old testament because it still applies.

I could quote many more hateful and twisted shit in the bible, but the above gives you an idea.

And when you get someone in power that believes their religious doctrine way too much, you get intolerance, cruelty and even death. Of course we have recent examples like Osama bin Laden, but many people don't know Hitler was a Catholic. “Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.”  –Adolf Hitler (Mein Kampf)

To pick and choose what you want to listen to and live by is a supposed sin. Many extremist believe this to the core and that why there has been so many horrible acts done in the name of god, following the the words written in a holy book. It would be no different to claim to be a "good nazi" because you like Hitlers views on automotive production and social order but dislike his hateful ideas.

A example of a very recent event of a christian following the bible "to a T" would be Anders Breivik, the Norwegian that killed 77 people last summer at a camp. He is a supporter the of Tea Party Pamela Geller's  anti-Islam website Atlas Shrugs. He claimed he was cleansing Europe of the Islamic people in god's name. Deuteronomy 2:25 "This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee."

Which brings me to my final point for today. Extreme religious belief/behaviour is a delusion, a mental illness. Delusion is defined as a belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality. Moderate average christians; you may not believe everything in the bible is fact and may not be violent towards "sinners". You're not likely mentally ill, but you are supporting a system that encourages such behavior.

I'll pick nether and rely on true morals to be a good person because its the right thing to do, not because I fear hell. 

Philosopher Bertrand Russell wrote:

"'Religion is based...mainly upon fear...fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand.... My own view on religion is that of Lucretius. I regard it as a disease born of fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race.'"

Here's some pictures I thought were interesting :)