Stever's blog

The Village Venus Effect

There is a human phenomenon called “Village Venus” effect. Meaning if you live in a small town, the prettiest girl in the town is essentially the prettiest girl in the world as far as you’re concerned only because you’ve never seen anyone prettier. Likewise in science, if we have a theory about how something works and we can’t imagine any other theory, then we are convinced that we are right.

The Ptolemaic (earth-centered) view of the universe could accurately predict the movement of the planets, even though it was flawed perception. It took a Copernicus to change the way we look at the model to get even more accurate. But the earth-center way of looking at thing persisted for a very long time, even though the other theory could explain the facts better.

If someone were to ask me how we all got here, I’d say “evolution”. There is much scientific evidence supporting evolution (and then some. . .). But as a die-hard skeptic, I realize that the village venus effect might be taking place here, which makes me think that the theory may eventually be proven wrong. Just remember, newtonian physics looked perfect until Einstein came along!

Good science, in my opinion, should spend more time looking at alternatives theories – even if the present ones seem perfectly adequate. One of my criticisms of science is that it is a bit weak on the perceptual side of things. It is all too easy to reason correctly from the wrong premises.

Racist disney cartoons

Does anyone here think that in 50 years, we’re going to be looking at this in the same way we look at racist disney cartoons of the ’30′s and ’40′s?

Pathetic. . .

Medical marijuana card

Last week, I had to renew my medical marijuana card and the damn receptionist refused to service me! I don’t know what the fuck I said to make her do this. My guess was that it was my general demeanor.

Here’s my side of the story: it was the second weekend in a row where I went to this office for a 2:00 appointment. . . and they make me wait 45 minutes. I had stuff to do afterwards that couldn’t wait. And they couldn’t tell me when I was going to be serviced either. And by the looks of the overcrowded waiting room, the dumbass receptionist probably overbooked the appointments (again. . .). Look, I’m busy, I don’t have time for this nonsense, so I told her. The people in the waiting room started laughing. Looking back, I guess it was a bit rude. I think the straw that broke the camels back was when I demanded guaranteed service for a higher price – like at the post office.

Anyway, I’m going to a place by my work instead. They’re new so I probably won’t have to wait in line forever.