By his own estimation, the European witch-burnings amounted to 166/year out of a population of 70 million in 1600, which is roughly similar to the number of annual bike deaths... in California (141/year, population 36.5 million). However absurd one might consider witch-burning to be, I'd be curious to know why it is any less necessary than bicycle riding. Indeed, one could easily make a Darwinian case that witch-burning is preferable to bike-riding, since the former harmlessly eliminates the old and weak while the latter removes the young and healthy from the population. So, perhaps it would help if everyone would think of witch-burning as a precursor to modern euthanasia.
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Magic does not exist: They were humilated, tortured and murdered for the mere accusation - since the "innocent" result in witch trials was "not surviving the deadly situation" - of a crime they were not only innocent of, but that was not even possible to commit. And no, it were not just old women who were murdered, but even young girls whose mother was accused of witchcraft and who were thus suspected to have been taught the dark arts. In some villages, up to three quarters of the female populace were murdered. Although rarer, there were also men who were burnt, and countless more who had to witness their beloved wives, daughters, mothers and/or sisters defamed, humilated, tormented and killed.
But, of course, being the psychotic psychopath he is, concepts such as "justice", "human dignity" and "empathy" are utterly alien to Mr. Self-Declared "Superintelligence".
How can you compare a voluntary method of person-transports, with an inhumane and arbitrary execution method, VD? Are you even more stupid than regularly...?
What the witch-burnings "eliminated" were partly the cunning and the medically knowledgeable, and partly women (and men) who happened to get on the wrong foot with their neighbors, and the neighbors saw an easy way to get rid of someone. People who stood to inherit what someone else coveted could also find themselves accused of witchcraft. It wasn't the old and the weak, it was the independent and no-nonsense people they "eliminated".
People of all ages ride bikes, from children to octogenarians. As with driving, men are more risk-taking and have more accidents.
We will continue to see witch-burnings as an inhumane and shameful chapter in our history. Kinda like you are, VD...
"However absurd one might consider witch-burning to be"
Um... Is ANYONE objecting to witch-burning as 'absurd?' Or 'unnecessary?'
Absurd is telling a joke with the wrong punchline.
Witch-burning is fucking needless deaths caused by superstition. It's TRAGIC! It's become a term for wrongful persecution and gross miscarriage of justice. And you think it's maybe necessary?
With all due respect for the irony, die in a fire.
Where did Vox Day attend school. The comparison of 155 out of 70,000,000 to 141 out of 36,500,500 is not equal. Per capita, California has twice as many bike deaths than Europe had witch burnings during the 1600s.
Also, bike deaths are for the most part accidental while witch burning were torture. Sorry Vox Day, but you fail.
Morality doesn't work by the numbers, Vox. How many people would you expect to participate in a witch-burning? How many would witness it? How many would see it on line at a later date? How many people will descend into the dark ages by actually believing that "witches" exist? What a horrible experience that would be, especially if you have a grandmother that you love. Or a wife or a daughter; it isn't just old women who were accused of witchcraft. That's many thousands-to-millions of people (including kids), all badly affected by one unjust murder, whereas your average California bike death occurs on a mountain road with a max of one or two witnesses.
...but you are having trouble thinking of new topics to keep yourself in the public eye, aren't you...
@checkmate
Wrecking a bicycle is an unintentional accident. Superstitious idiots intentionally murdering someone by fire because they perceive them to be a bit different is not only totally preventable but should be prevented. Not to mention that a lot of witch accusations happened because someone didn't like someone else, and once the accusation was levied there was little recourse for fairness. That's where the modern term "witch hunt" came from.
And these idiots tend to claim that those who are pro-choice don't care about life.
The only people killed in bicycle accidents are bicyclists. But anyone could be accused of witchcraft. No one was safe, and that helped foster an atmosphere of hysteria and paranoia. The witchcraft panic literally poisoned society.
There was nothing "harmless" about it. We're not gonna let it happen again. And fuck you for trying to pretend it was all a big joke.
I'd be curious to know why it is any less necessary than bicycle riding.
False analogy:
I'd be curious to know why it is any less necessary than bicycle riding mortal accidents .
Now that I fixed that for you, let me ask you a question, Vox, are mortal bicycle accidents neccessary? Are they? Hmm?
Oh and shall we put your grand-parents, parents or other elderly familiars to death because they're old, Vox?
Whatever you say, clown. Thing is, nobody deserves to be burned to death, except maybe a few particularly psychotic murderers. If you think differently, DIAF!
They weren't witches. They were followers of the Old Religion, before Christianity took over in Europe. If they followed a few of the old pagan rituals in the fields, or an old lady who liked talking to her cats - well, you know the rest. There's a very good reason why the expression witch-hunt, means exactly what it does.
If you were talking about getting rid of preachers, reality shows or motivational speakers you'd have a point, that would be an improvement. But you're suppporting killing innocents for the sake of church profit or power and you all know that's what it was.
@Titania
They weren't witches. They were followers of the Old Religion, before Christianity took over in Europe. If they followed a few of the old pagan rituals in the fields
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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