Comments on: Utah is NOT the Porn Capital of America http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/2009/03/04/utah-is-not-the-porn-capital-of-america/ Provide, Protect, Preside Sun, 01 Aug 2010 07:53:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Anderson http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/2009/03/04/utah-is-not-the-porn-capital-of-america/#comment-7414 Anderson Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:54:51 +0000 http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/?p=297#comment-7414 Hello Russell! I tried to find you online so I could link to your writings but what I found was "iffy," so I'm extremely pleased that you found my little article and posted your website (which contains your extraordinarily varied and beautiful blind-commission art). I believe that you are the first celebrity to register a comment here. THANK YOU! Also, thank you for Persuasion and Perplexity. It was a gift to me from Pres. Floto when I served the people in the Indiana Mission (1992). Due to several mass production anti-Mormon printing presses in that vicinity, he deemed it wise to empower us with your guidebook. I recall sitting at the dinner table of a gentleman who was interested in learning about The Savior and him presenting a most unfavorable pamphlet about our history/doctrines etc. I perused the text, smiled confidently and said, want me to show you what's going on here? He flashed a friendly smile and said "sure!" I took my red scriptures pencil and labeled, line-by-line, the menacing mechanics, fallacies and "fillers." It was a triumph. There were also instances when The Holy Spirit single-handedly dispelled the doubts. While The Spirit is indispensable, the obtaining of wisdom out of "the best books" is proof that due diligence is required at the hand of His servants. I would classify your guidebook as one of those "best books." An updated version would be splendid. To resonate with my demographic, additional modern-day examples and more cannon-backed references would make for stimulating reading. To meet sophistry head on, the incorporation of Kahneman and Tversky (heuristics, hedonics, framing, achoring, etc.) as well as references to modern skeptic Nassim Taleb would be a bulls-eye to all readers. Oh, and expanded instruction on the application of formal logic would do us all a world of good. Please let me know when the 2nd edition will hit the shelves. Again, thank you for your faith and works. All my best, Brian Hello Russell! I tried to find you online so I could link to your writings but what I found was “iffy,” so I’m extremely pleased that you found my little article and posted your website (which contains your extraordinarily varied and beautiful blind-commission art). I believe that you are the first celebrity to register a comment here. THANK YOU!

Also, thank you for Persuasion and Perplexity. It was a gift to me from Pres. Floto when I served the people in the Indiana Mission (1992). Due to several mass production anti-Mormon printing presses in that vicinity, he deemed it wise to empower us with your guidebook. I recall sitting at the dinner table of a gentleman who was interested in learning about The Savior and him presenting a most unfavorable pamphlet about our history/doctrines etc. I perused the text, smiled confidently and said, want me to show you what’s going on here? He flashed a friendly smile and said “sure!” I took my red scriptures pencil and labeled, line-by-line, the menacing mechanics, fallacies and “fillers.” It was a triumph. There were also instances when The Holy Spirit single-handedly dispelled the doubts. While The Spirit is indispensable, the obtaining of wisdom out of “the best books” is proof that due diligence is required at the hand of His servants. I would classify your guidebook as one of those “best books.”

An updated version would be splendid. To resonate with my demographic, additional modern-day examples and more cannon-backed references would make for stimulating reading. To meet sophistry head on, the incorporation of Kahneman and Tversky (heuristics, hedonics, framing, achoring, etc.) as well as references to modern skeptic Nassim Taleb would be a bulls-eye to all readers. Oh, and expanded instruction on the application of formal logic would do us all a world of good. Please let me know when the 2nd edition will hit the shelves. Again, thank you for your faith and works. All my best, Brian

]]> By: Russell Robe http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/2009/03/04/utah-is-not-the-porn-capital-of-america/#comment-7398 Russell Robe Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:03:05 +0000 http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/?p=297#comment-7398 Hello Brian, I enjoyed your comments. It's also nice to see that Persuasion & Perplexity is still having a positive effect on those interested in searching for truths. It has been out of print for about 18 years, but I'm thinking about bringing it back in an updated edition. Any thoughts on that? Hello Brian,

I enjoyed your comments. It’s also nice to see that Persuasion & Perplexity is still having a positive effect on those interested in searching for truths. It has been out of print for about 18 years, but I’m thinking about bringing it back in an updated edition. Any thoughts on that?

]]> By: Anderson http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/2009/03/04/utah-is-not-the-porn-capital-of-america/#comment-5785 Anderson Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:57:24 +0000 http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/?p=297#comment-5785 Keith, thanks for taking a moment and registering your thoughts here. I think a lot of people agree with you about the duplicity (aka hypocrisy)of a population that tries to be good. Historically, the most honorable people fall prey to temptation and try to hide it. Take King David for example. He went from felling Goliath to bedding Bathsheba (and later killing her husband). So I agree with you, it is fairly common for good people to do bad things. The compelling aspect of the David story is the fact that we have it. The historians of Judah had the integrity to preserve the facts of the life of one of their greatest kings while accepting the risk of global and generational shame. That took great courage on the part of the chroniclers. Now take the story of the virtuous Joseph, the one that Potiphers wife falsely accused of lasciviousness. Taken alone, each story leaves the door wide open for reasonable skepticism. However, taken together, the contrasting stories neutralize most doubts. Now, with that in mind, consider the work of Benjamin Edelman. Has he ever published a work that is complimentary to people of faith (in contrast to the derogatory one he just released?). See for yourself: http://www.benedelman.org/publications/ (I couldn't find one, but if you can, I'll retract my assertion that he is mudslinging [but I won't delete my findings, because they are facts]). Keith, thanks for taking a moment and registering your thoughts here. I think a lot of people agree with you about the duplicity (aka hypocrisy)of a population that tries to be good. Historically, the most honorable people fall prey to temptation and try to hide it. Take King David for example. He went from felling Goliath to bedding Bathsheba (and later killing her husband). So I agree with you, it is fairly common for good people to do bad things. The compelling aspect of the David story is the fact that we have it. The historians of Judah had the integrity to preserve the facts of the life of one of their greatest kings while accepting the risk of global and generational shame. That took great courage on the part of the chroniclers. Now take the story of the virtuous Joseph, the one that Potiphers wife falsely accused of lasciviousness. Taken alone, each story leaves the door wide open for reasonable skepticism. However, taken together, the contrasting stories neutralize most doubts.
Now, with that in mind, consider the work of Benjamin Edelman. Has he ever published a work that is complimentary to people of faith (in contrast to the derogatory one he just released?). See for yourself: http://www.benedelman.org/publications/
(I couldn’t find one, but if you can, I’ll retract my assertion that he is mudslinging [but I won't delete my findings, because they are facts]).

]]> By: Keith http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/2009/03/04/utah-is-not-the-porn-capital-of-america/#comment-5784 Keith Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:17:08 +0000 http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/?p=297#comment-5784 While I understand your argument Brian, and yes this guy may be biased against Mormons, I could totally believe this study to be true. Utah is the Capital of the World when it comes to living duel lives. Closet alcoholism, drug abuse, child abuse, and many other offenses run rampant in Utah. Stands to reason high levels of pornography subscriptions would follow. The thing I just cant comprehend...why pay for it, there are plenty of free porn sites available. While I understand your argument Brian, and yes this guy may be biased against Mormons, I could totally believe this study to be true. Utah is the Capital of the World when it comes to living duel lives. Closet alcoholism, drug abuse, child abuse, and many other offenses run rampant in Utah. Stands to reason high levels of pornography subscriptions would follow. The thing I just cant comprehend…why pay for it, there are plenty of free porn sites available.

]]> By: Anderson http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/2009/03/04/utah-is-not-the-porn-capital-of-america/#comment-5764 Anderson Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:10:46 +0000 http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/?p=297#comment-5764 This is AWESOME! Big Wayne is in the house! Okay, so what I'm hearing is that you agree with the study and that Utahans pay for porn. Here's the question: Are the Utah viewers porn snobs, or are they just stupid? After all, it's totally free at porntube.com - a fact that, in per-capita terms, Californians and New Yorkers and Texans lead the nation in experiencing, so to speak. This is AWESOME! Big Wayne is in the house! Okay, so what I’m hearing is that you agree with the study and that Utahans pay for porn. Here’s the question: Are the Utah viewers porn snobs, or are they just stupid? After all, it’s totally free at porntube.com - a fact that, in per-capita terms, Californians and New Yorkers and Texans lead the nation in experiencing, so to speak.

]]> By: Big Wayne http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/2009/03/04/utah-is-not-the-porn-capital-of-america/#comment-5763 Big Wayne Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:13:41 +0000 http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/?p=297#comment-5763 So I asked a friend who works at Comcast if UFC is the biggest pay-per-view in Utah. He said yes, but later cornered me away from the family and told me that it was really second... a distant second to porn. So I asked a friend who works at Comcast if UFC is the biggest pay-per-view in Utah. He said yes, but later cornered me away from the family and told me that it was really second… a distant second to porn.

]]> By: Anderson http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/2009/03/04/utah-is-not-the-porn-capital-of-america/#comment-5745 Anderson Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:44:29 +0000 http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/?p=297#comment-5745 Hi Chris! Your comment made my day. As the guy who never swore and always checked me when I did, your approbation in this instance adds immense moral credibility. As for the big words - you've been around me long enough to know when I'm just trying to look smart (which I was). :-) It took me 30 seconds to discover the fallibilities and ill-intentions of the researchers and about 3 hours to write it up! :-) All my best, Brian. p.s. Congrats on the marriage! The happiness in your pics brought a smile to my face. Hi Chris! Your comment made my day. As the guy who never swore and always checked me when I did, your approbation in this instance adds immense moral credibility.
As for the big words - you’ve been around me long enough to know when I’m just trying to look smart (which I was). :-) It took me 30 seconds to discover the fallibilities and ill-intentions of the researchers and about 3 hours to write it up! :-) All my best, Brian. p.s. Congrats on the marriage! The happiness in your pics brought a smile to my face.

]]> By: Chris Sampson http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/2009/03/04/utah-is-not-the-porn-capital-of-america/#comment-5744 Chris Sampson Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:48:51 +0000 http://www.briankeithanderson.com/blog/?p=297#comment-5744 Hi Brian...I saw your blog link on your facebook status and linked to your writing. I enjoyed reading your different point of view and agree with what you found. I didn't know you were so smart with all those huge words in the first paragraph ha ha. :) Hi Brian…I saw your blog link on your facebook status and linked to your writing. I enjoyed reading your different point of view and agree with what you found. I didn’t know you were so smart with all those huge words in the first paragraph ha ha. :)

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