…and this is a 
Powerful stuff, that porn. The Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information (who must be very smart to have a title like that) has determined that recent natural disasters in his country are a consequence of the ubiquity of pornographic DVDs. His logic is something like this: 1) it is a fact that one can easily buy porn in local markets, and 2) it is a fact that the Padang earthquake killed over a thousand people and that the Aceh tsunami devastated an entire region, therefore 3) it is a fact that the two are causally related. Well, point 3 is a little shaky, but 1 and 2 are so strong it must make up for the absence of a causal relationship. Right? Right?
Anyway, you must all now unplug the internet and go through your magazines and DVDs and dispose of anything that might stir the wrath of gods. I'll be sorry to see you all go, but it's better this way than that you all end up drowned or crushed or blown to Oz or something. Unless, of course, you have slightly more rigorous expectations of evidence than the Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information…
(All the trolls should now scurry to hide in their basement while the regulars hang around.)
Comments
Posted by: Antiochus Epiphanes | November 29, 2009 10:55 AM
Porn has several more direct consequences in my experience.
Posted by: Alan B | November 29, 2009 10:56 AM
Posted by: thorsonofodin | November 29, 2009 10:57 AM
Don't they know about the Christian side hug?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Oj0-splZw
WTF!
Posted by: anonymous bloger | November 29, 2009 10:57 AM
ah! Wrath-theology.
point three is indeed where the problem lies. I was told by someone a few days ago that it is homosexuals that are responsible for climate change and hurricanes.
http://carnifexinsania.blogspot.com/
Posted by: vanharris
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November 29, 2009 10:57 AM
And some people wonder why i won't vote for politicians who believe in religions, & get so het up about it!
I'm assuming, of course, that this clown is religious.
Posted by: ckitching
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November 29, 2009 10:58 AM
That explains why Amsterdam fell into the sea, right?
Posted by: Krystalline Apostate | November 29, 2009 10:59 AM
By that logic, California should've fallen into the ocean a decade ago.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, OM
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November 29, 2009 11:02 AM
Now we know the origin of the San Andreas Fault.
Posted by: natural cynic | November 29, 2009 11:02 AM
godsAllahIndonesia is, after all, a Muslim country.
Posted by: lordshipmayhem | November 29, 2009 11:02 AM
We have recorded a number of quakes on the moon. Last time I checked, there wasn't any porn on that celestial body.
Posted by: ddr | November 29, 2009 11:03 AM
He may be on to something. Just look at all these earthquakes.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.html
I'll bet there is porn for sale within a hundred miles or so of all of them.
Posted by: Feynmaniac | November 29, 2009 11:05 AM
By this logic my computer should have been struck by lightning long ago.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, OM
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November 29, 2009 11:09 AM
That's what they* want you to think.
*"They" being Them.
Posted by: Lilith | November 29, 2009 11:10 AM
That's because it's all hidden on the dark side ( fact that Pink Floyd failed to mention).
Posted by: Gorogh | November 29, 2009 11:10 AM
The logic is perfectly sound and you know it!
Posted by: Knockgoats | November 29, 2009 11:11 AM
Well, we've had a very wet November here in Blighty. I'll go out and warn the local newsagents.
Posted by: Judy L. | November 29, 2009 11:14 AM
Hmmmm, and here I thought all those earthquakes were because of Indonesia's clearly immoral and pornographic geographical features: all those big heaving fault lines, thrusting and rubbing against one another...ooo, baby!
Posted by: Dania
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November 29, 2009 11:14 AM
Looks like one of those persons who wouldn't recognize a logical fallacy if it bit them on the nose...
Posted by: Knockgoats | November 29, 2009 11:15 AM
I was told by someone a few days ago that it is homosexuals that are responsible for climate change and hurricanes. - Anonymous Bloger
Well, if only they would be responsible enough to use good-quality lubricants! It's all the heat generated by excessive friction.
Posted by: Porco Dio | November 29, 2009 11:15 AM
my porn collection has grown too large to be easily disposable.
i would therefore like to take this opportunity to apologise to the entire indonesian population and indeed any past and future victims for their misfortune.
Posted by: nmcvaugh | November 29, 2009 11:20 AM
It's all down to pirates. You did not heed the word of the great noodely one when first it came to you about global warming, and now we have tsunamis. The best pirating is off Somalia now, and they haven't had any tsunamis. Wily folks, those Somalians.
Heed now its word and heed the noodely one's message.
Posted by: Robert Elessar
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November 29, 2009 11:20 AM
But surely there is a far greater correlation between the existence of religion in Indonesia and the natural disasters...someone should really point this out to these types of goobers.
Posted by: Thomas Winwood
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November 29, 2009 11:22 AM
Does looking at my crotch count as porn, or do I need to wear blinkers from now on?
Posted by: Nanu Nanu | November 29, 2009 11:25 AM
Wait, you mean porn causes...
OH GOD, I'M A MURDERER
Posted by: Feynmaniac | November 29, 2009 11:25 AM
But wait, if the gays cause hurricanes (as the Christian fundies have been telling us) will gay porn produce a tsunami or a hurricane (or both)? Man, theological meteorology always confuses me.
_____
I remember Daily Show skit that aired after Hurricane Katrina. The Christian conservatives were blaming it on gays/abortion and the liberal Christians on the invasion of Iraq. The Dalai Lama said it was a result of karma. Then, something along the lines of: "there is a cult known as meteorologists who think it was a result of ocean temperatures and atmospheric pressure".
Posted by: Will | November 29, 2009 11:26 AM
"Porn causes tsunamis and earthquakes"
Only if you're doing it right.
Posted by: Pete | November 29, 2009 11:26 AM
Can you get porn on Kindle yet?
Posted by: scooter | November 29, 2009 11:26 AM
All my porn is on teh internets where it belongs.
Posted by: Erp | November 29, 2009 11:32 AM
Indonesia is one of those countries where it is illegal not to have a belief in God (they do a bit of dancing to include Buddhism).
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127271.htm
"The first tenet of the country's national ideology, Pancasila, similarly declares belief in one God. Government employees must swear allegiance to the nation and to the Pancasila ideology."
Though members of banned or unrecognized religions face the most problems. In particular Ahmadiyya Muslims.
Posted by: llewelly | November 29, 2009 11:34 AM
It's been said many times before, but I guess it needs to be said a lot more: Right Wing Rap: Just Stop. Please.Posted by: Josh
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November 29, 2009 11:36 AM
What a fucking idiot.
Posted by: Rick R | November 29, 2009 11:38 AM
"theological meteorology" FTW.
Posted by: Anthony | November 29, 2009 11:39 AM
You know...it has been warmer than average for most of November in this part of Minnesota. I bet there are only two possible reasons for this. Either all the sin has somehow brought hell closer (and it takes the usual Minnesota weather a while to override and freeze it over) or that we're in the middle of a major pirate shortage.
Posted by: Joe | November 29, 2009 11:41 AM
Wait, aren't dykes stopping Amsterdam sinking beneath the waves?
Posted by: Rick R | November 29, 2009 11:43 AM
I thought all teh porn was making solar flares shoot out mutated neutrinos that were heating up the earth's core and melting the crust, causing it to slide around like melting butter in a frying pan.
I saw it in a documentary by Roland Emmerich.
Posted by: MPG | November 29, 2009 11:43 AM
Guess again! The Apollo 12 mission famously included cartoons and Playboy pin-ups on the suit cuff mission checklists. That's enough to anger the moongods!
http://history.nasa.gov/alsj/a12/a12.cdrcuf08.jpg
Posted by: Personal SinR | November 29, 2009 11:46 AM
Wait a minute... so we're responsible for killing kittens AND natural disasters!? Who would have thought porn would be so powerful
Posted by: Hank Fox
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November 29, 2009 11:46 AM
I have occasionally suffered a tsunami of porn popups, but nothing worse than that.
I was convinced, back in the 90s, that the world would be crushed under an avalanche of shiny silver AOL CDs, but I think that's passed.
Posted by: Stephanurus | November 29, 2009 11:47 AM
Islam is just as likely as porn to be the cause of earthquakes and tsunamis in Indonesia.
Stephanurus
Posted by: Norman Doering | November 29, 2009 11:51 AM
Antiochus Epiphanes wrote:
"Porn has several more direct consequences in my experience."
Indeed it does. I have irrefutable, incontrovertible proof that working in the porn industry causes some women's breasts to grow to enormous, gigantic proportions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA_3kVV_cnE
Posted by: anonymous bloger | November 29, 2009 11:53 AM
It's an interesting exercise to use google insights to look at the relative popularity of different search terms in different countries. For example, the search term 'dog sex' is most popular in the following countries in descending order with relative popularities as %:
1. Pakistan 100
2. Bangladesh 79
3. Libya 73
4. India 65
5. Yemen 62
6. Sri Lanka 55
7. Sudan 55
8. Kenya 50
9. Egypt 40
10. Syria 32
It would seem that a strict Islamic culture does not reduce 'sexual deviancy'....
http://carnifexinsania.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Bill McElree
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November 29, 2009 11:55 AM
I must have caused Katrina all by myself. Probably killed a heard of kittens too. Simply untrue. Now you'll have to excuse me while I tend to another damn staple injury to my left thumb.
Posted by: blf | November 29, 2009 11:55 AM
Isn't the correlation backwards? Earthquakes and tsunamis cause porn. All that noise and shaking and so on causes people to want to get some from themselves.
Posted by: Jason | November 29, 2009 12:09 PM
PZ said: "Well, point 3 is a little shaky"
A pun?
Posted by: Naked Bunny with a Whip | November 29, 2009 12:10 PM
Only really good porn causes earthquakes and tsunamis. I need to make a shopping trip to Indonesia....
Posted by: llewelly | November 29, 2009 12:17 PM
Next time geologists report evidence of an earthquake or tsunami which happened millions of years ago, I'm going to ask who was downloading all that porn.
Posted by: https://me.yahoo.com/a/CoxkKJE0ro_mSac3sNN0spZuE9c7BxOsLw--#9ee78
|
November 29, 2009 12:17 PM
I call Rule 34.
Posted by: Jeff S | November 29, 2009 12:21 PM
if this were true, 9/11 wouldn't even be a blip on the radar compared the disasters I would have caused.
Posted by: Knockgoats | November 29, 2009 12:25 PM
For example, the search term 'dog sex' is most popular in the following countries in descending order with relative popularities as %
Well, maybe this just reflects the number of dogs that have internet access in each country? Or perhaps the proportion of male dogs permitted to retain their balls? One has to consider all possible theories in a case like this.
Posted by: anonymous bloger | November 29, 2009 12:27 PM
Very true Knockgoats, I had not properly isolated the variables in forming my hypothesis, good call.
Posted by: Steven Moyers | November 29, 2009 12:32 PM
appealing ut ignarus est consummatio periculosus ut periculosus
Posted by: ursa major | November 29, 2009 12:33 PM
BwaHaha!
Think of the power we possess! The time has come, my friends, to begin a great research project (certainly earning more than a few doctorates and Nobel prises) to discover how to use our liberal atheist lesbian bacon wrapped porn to aim the earthquakes! Goodbye Disco Institute!
Posted by: blf | November 29, 2009 12:33 PM
Bad spellers. They were really searching for “how to prepare ex's dog”.
Posted by: Josh
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November 29, 2009 12:35 PM
Ahhh, but you forget--we're misreading seismites. In truth, they are simply more evidence of the flud.
Posted by: Eric | November 29, 2009 12:40 PM
Cue the links to the reports that the so-called "Conservative" states enjoy (shamefully, probably) the most porn...
Posted by: Knockgoats | November 29, 2009 12:41 PM
I recall a most amusing book a friend acquired around 1980 (note date), entitled The '80s: A Look Back. One of the events recorded was the "International Year of the Simultaneous Orgasm", at the climax of which (pun intended), the Earth actually moved. Cimourdain would have taken the book entirely seriously, by the way: another event was the Arab conquest of Europe, which came about because NATO had neglected to acquire a counter-weapon to the scimitar.
Posted by: Deiloh | November 29, 2009 12:43 PM
Proof that Atlantis had advanced technology.
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
|
November 29, 2009 12:45 PM
I think the link was that the red states subscribed more to porn sites. They might not be smart enough to find the free stuff.Posted by: Ick of the East | November 29, 2009 12:59 PM
Debbie Does Krakatoa?
Deep Fault?
Posted by: Frank | November 29, 2009 1:10 PM
So why do we get so few earthquakes in Czech Republic?
We should be getting lots.
Posted by: Marcus Ranum | November 29, 2009 1:13 PM
Why hasn't california (specifically LA) fallen into the Pacific, then? Huh?
Back when I used to host a lot of nudes/figure studies on my website, I got to learn all kinds of fun things about where my traffic came from. For example, of the approximately 1,000,000 page views/month, 98% of them were the nudes and the other 2% was my writings on internet security topics. And of the views in the nudes, something like 50%, approximately, was from the united arab emirates and saudi arabia. It was especially weird to look at the referrer logs, which gave me the google search strings people used to get there. I'd always wanted to write a paper on the topic but I could never figure out a point to hang it on - perhaps I could summarize my server logs and use them to predict earthquakes?
Posted by: Mobius | November 29, 2009 1:18 PM
"Porn causes tsunamis and earthquakes"
Well, of course it does.
Everyone knows that sex can make the Earth move.
Posted by: Meee | November 29, 2009 1:25 PM
Huh. My hard drive is an ecological disaster just waiting to happen, then.
Posted by: 3B
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November 29, 2009 1:31 PM
A most interesting thread. It's been reported in more than a few blogs that increasing numbers of citizens are getting fed up once again with insincere politicians. These elected paid prevaricators have no way to fight back the feelings of a growing number of people. So the boys from Langley make a phone call to Indonesia and explain their plight to these esteemed and virtuous politicians in Jakarta. Uh-Oh....better get back on the meds.
Posted by: PZ Myers
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November 29, 2009 1:32 PM
Shush up about the earthquakes on the moon. As you all know, every evil mad scientist has a base in some remote location from which he will launch an assault on innocent civilians, to extort some extravagant sum of money (say, One Million Dollars) from world governments.
Don't you realize? I've been testing my Porn Gun on the moon! Stupid minions, always spilling the beans.
Posted by: Lynna | November 29, 2009 1:35 PM
Use Mormon porn as a search term and you come up with almost disneyesque sensuality.
In some cases, it seems that cheerleaders, awesome displays of athletic prowess, and jello are causing earthquakes (not to mention gravity-defying Big Hair).
Posted by: eddie
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November 29, 2009 1:40 PM
Lots of little earthquakes and tsunamis != one big earthquake or tsunami.
Anyway, I suspect the minister is just shilling for the porn industry who want a crack-down on illegal copies. Not a moral position at all.
Posted by: eddie
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November 29, 2009 1:43 PM
PZ, I think spilling your beans is the least of our worries :D
Posted by: blf | November 29, 2009 1:47 PM
What does the Moon think is erotic? (That you can shoot out of a gun? (The moon thinks!?))
Posted by: Lynna | November 29, 2009 1:53 PM
In direct defiance of our Overlord, here is some evidence of Quakers on the moon. Maybe it's the Quakers quaking that's causing the seismological events on the moon?
According to Oliver B. Huntington, Joseph Smith taught that "The inhabitants of the moon are more of a uniform size than the inhabitants of the earth, being about 6 feet in height.
"They dress very much like the Quaker style and are quite general in style, or fashion of dress...." (Journal of Oliver B. Huntington, Vol. 3, p. 166; as recorded at the Utah State Historical Society).
"I was told that I should preach the gospel to the inhabitants of the sea -- to the inhabitants of the moon, even the planet you can now behold with your eyes," (Young Womens Journal, Vol. 3, pp. 263-264).
More confirmation -- this time from Brigham Young:
The real question is, how much porn are the Quakers on the moon importing? Or do they produce their own Mormon Moon Porn? Or are moonquakes simply a side effect of ecstatic Quakers sublimating their sexual urges?
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, OM
|
November 29, 2009 2:08 PM
Isn't that rather a long commute from Morris? Why not just find a nice island and test it there. I hear Baffin Island is lovely this time of year.
Posted by: Feynmaniac | November 29, 2009 2:18 PM
The moon is a harsh mistress.
Posted by: vanharris
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November 29, 2009 2:28 PM
Maybe there is something in this business of porn causing god to smite the locations where it's most prevalent?
England has been hit by damaging floods, mostly in the county of Cumbria, & particularly in the city of Cockermouth. So there you have it.
Posted by: Urmensch | November 29, 2009 2:32 PM
It is obviously some kind of sympathetic magic.
The more tossing we do, the more the Earth's crust tosses in response.
Posted by: Antiochus Epiphanes | November 29, 2009 2:37 PM
There is a stretch of Interstate 70 through Missouri which should definitely be evacuated soon.
Pornography is like a species. Everyone thinks they recognize it when they see it, but no-one can agree on a definition.
Posted by: Richard Eis | November 29, 2009 2:42 PM
I think this thread needs more "So, did the earth move for you?" jokes.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, OM
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November 29, 2009 2:56 PM
+1 to Feynmaniac
Posted by: Muzz | November 29, 2009 3:00 PM
This is powerful stuff man. Don't knock it. Actually, I think people have known about it for a long time and it can be harnessed in the ...er right hands.
You ever seen those cheesy paintings of Moses parting the Red Sea, holding up a couple of tablets?
Bet you thought it was the ten commandments on those tablets didn't you? Wrong! Egyptian Hustler.
Posted by: Gyeong Hwa Pak | November 29, 2009 3:08 PM
So that small earthquake we had yester evening was due to me watching porn? But it was a simple JO secession, how can that possible cause an earthquake?
lol
Posted by: Sili, The Unknown Virgin
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November 29, 2009 3:13 PM
Would someone please link me to this earthshattering porn? I sat up till 7 looking for cocks (without luck - I'm too picky).
Posted by: Colin Meier | November 29, 2009 3:38 PM
PZ, that's an unfortunate image. Really.
Actually, Indonesia (well, one Indonesian) should be commended on this research. If porn is so powerful (even a simple thunderstorm is nothing to sneeze at in terms of energy) perhaps we could develop some form of Porn Energy to replace oil and coal.
Storing it might be a problem....I'm thinking Tantric, here.
Posted by: Steve in Dublin | November 29, 2009 3:56 PM
There's a simple explanation for that: *cough* 'doggie style'
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 29, 2009 4:01 PM
Day saved.
Posted by: Souljacker | November 29, 2009 4:03 PM
Y'know, this isn't that ridiculous. Go to any free porn site and search for the term 'BBW'. Pretty compelling evidence right there.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 29, 2009 4:04 PM
:-D :-D :-D
Posted by: Esve | November 29, 2009 4:17 PM
Get rid of our porn! PZ, you can't be serious! No, I suggest that we take the more practical route and start worshiping the less prudish Greek gods instead (the mythology is porn in and of itself). *wink*
Posted by: Ol'Greg | November 29, 2009 4:19 PM
Hmmm... so all we need to selectively destroy a city is to cause people's computers to download massive amounts of porn thus triggering the wrath.
A brilliant strategy!
Posted by: Kyorosuke | November 29, 2009 4:25 PM
I'm pretty sure porn was what caused the apocalypse in Fist of the North Star. It was the '80s, so I imagine that the influx of home video caused a critical mass of porn to exist, thus causing devastating destruction across the world. Everyone remembers that, right?
Posted by: Moggie | November 29, 2009 4:36 PM
Shades of nutty Wilhelm Reich and his "orgone energy", which as well as being related to sexuality was involved in atmospheric phenomena. He built "cloudbusters", which he claimed could stimulate rainfall using orgone energy. There are still woos who believe this, so it wouldn't surprise me if some western New Age heads are nodding at this "porn tsunami" idea.
Posted by: Xenithrys | November 29, 2009 4:38 PM
@81:
Is this a new internet law – if so I modestly propose it should be called Xenithrys's Law: The wildest fantasy any poster on Paryngula can have has already been proposed seriously by some new ager?
In this case, see orgone energy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgone)
Posted by: Xenithrys | November 29, 2009 4:41 PM
... and I don't think typing errors (Paryngula, sorry) should invalidate the new law.
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
|
November 29, 2009 4:51 PM
Oh no, a tyypo at Pharyngula. *looks around for heavy duty fainting couch, sees it occupied by the Pullet Patrol™ doing close order drills. Sips libation instead.*Posted by: Xenithrys | November 29, 2009 4:58 PM
Well, I wanted to put it right. I remember a colleague who, in a book review, noted a missing comma. He said it didn't completely mar the book, but it was a very serious error.
Posted by: Loki | November 29, 2009 5:00 PM
If porn causes tsunamis. . .
The hell does real sex do?
Posted by: Aquaria | November 29, 2009 5:18 PM
#91:
You can get away with misspelling a lot of things around here, but, whatever you do, do not misspell 'Myers.'
It gets pretty ugly for those who dare.
::::Shudder::::
Posted by: Keenacat
|
November 29, 2009 5:19 PM
Loki:
Depends on how you do it. Might trigger everything from a daisy dying in your backyard to massive meteorite impact on New York. :P
Posted by: Pascalle
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November 29, 2009 5:20 PM
Odd..
I have lotsa porn, a few gigabites and we never had a tsunami in the Netherlands.
Posted by: Pope Bandar bin Turtle | November 29, 2009 5:52 PM
WMDs = Weapons of Masturbatory Destruction!
Apologies for all of the natural disasters that I unknowingly caused!!
(And will knowingly cause in the future!!! After all, I'm under the thrall of the Dark Master ... Bator!!!!)
Also.
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
|
November 29, 2009 6:03 PM
Think what happens to Buster, the Mythbusters test dummy, and that is only light punishment...Posted by: Steve in Dublin | November 29, 2009 6:03 PM
Oh my, on reflection I think I just Poe'd myself. Thanks to all of you for not picking me up on it. As Gilda Radner once said: "Never mind."
Posted by: F
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November 29, 2009 6:53 PM
Warning: Pedantry ahead.
This is not a thing.
There is no dark side of the Moon.
There is a far side, which is not visible from Earth.
(Reference to Floyd for joke taken into consideration, however.)
Posted by: Paul Murray | November 29, 2009 7:51 PM
So the argment is that Gaia has been perusing porn, and her orgasms are the earthquakes? Or something? Don't the ladies usually use them cheap paperbacks, rather than images?
Posted by: Ed Darrell | November 29, 2009 7:58 PM
Um, no, this guy must be looking through his Indonesian thummim the wrong way.
The gods are angry because there isn't enough loving pornography around. They want more, not less -- but nice stuff, showing people in loving relationships. No violence, and take it easy on the weird positions designed show genitals. Erotica, not "explicita."
And more of it.
That's why the ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples were spared by the tsunami -- their protective coatings of pornography.
Posted by: F
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November 29, 2009 8:26 PM
Because the west side of the fault is moving north, toward Alaska, where it can do more "damage". :D
Unfortunately, this still won't get us any closer to Arizona Bay.
Posted by: spinetingler | November 29, 2009 8:27 PM
PZ: "testing my Porn Gun"
Finally, a new masturbation euphemism.
Posted by: Aquaria | November 29, 2009 9:15 PM
Don't the ladies usually use them cheap paperbacks, rather than images?
No.
Posted by: Mr Gronk | November 29, 2009 9:41 PM
So let me get this straight: Too many Indonesians have a porn stash, so Allah retaliates by decimating Indonesia's most devoutly Muslim province.
So, with any luck, the Californian porn industry will be punished by the annihilation of every US megachurch.
Posted by: GAZZA | November 29, 2009 10:01 PM
I dunno, my impression is just that the big dude is slipping. Back in the old days he'd personally chase fleeing warriors on the other side in battle. Nowadays, the best he can do is an earthquake or two?
It's not even impressive in terms of scale. He's gone from flooding the planet to a couple of tidal waves, earthquakes, and the odd hurricane. Frankly, I think we need to trade up - this dude is past it.
Posted by: Michelle R | November 29, 2009 10:30 PM
I can totally see the relationship between porn and tsunamis. Too much wetness and bed tremors.
What the hell? Did I just say that? I'm going to sleep.
Posted by: wrpd | November 29, 2009 10:32 PM
#79: a JO secession? You cut it off?
Posted by: Annie M | November 29, 2009 10:45 PM
Is there no end to the power of teh pron?
Posted by: Buddha | November 29, 2009 10:57 PM
Porn causes earthquake only in the bed...
Posted by: yustana | November 29, 2009 11:01 PM
what's that un-related is when an atheist try to comment religious-man speech. The atheist do not believe in God and the religous-man ofcouse only know God in every life aspects :D
Posted by: Billo666 | November 29, 2009 11:07 PM
Apparently the recent bushfires in Victoria Australia were due to changes in that state's abortion laws. Oh, and witches.
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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November 29, 2009 11:14 PM
Yustana, you aren't making sense. Many of us used to be believe at one time, so we can laugh at the foolishness of those who don't grow up intellectually. Been there, done that, went beyond that.
Posted by: Sili, The Unknown Virgin
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November 29, 2009 11:26 PM
The dark side of the Moon is dark in the same sense the Dark Matter and Dark Energy is dark.
The same way that we're kept in the dark by those that lie to us. It doesn't mean that we're literally devoid of light.
Posted by: rucy | November 29, 2009 11:46 PM
Yes, I agree with the logic of the minister. The tsunamis devastation disaster is a consequence of the ubiquity of pornographic DVDs.
The two things are not shaky not absence of a causal relationship.I recomend you to read some book about the reason of tsunamis http://buyusing.com/tsunamis/
This action stired the wrath of gods. The corpse
drowned or crushed or blown, are punished by god. The people need unplug the DVD drivers. It's rigorous rule of nature.
Posted by: Cilantro Fam0s0 | November 30, 2009 12:16 AM
EXCUSE MEEEEE!!!Posted by: lordshipmayhem | November 29, 2009 11:02 AM
We have recorded a number of quakes on the moon. Last time I checked, there wasn't any porn on that celestial body.
RE: RE: RE: Although the moon has quakes aka Moonquakes (not to be confused with Moon Crickets)...they happen less frequently and have smaller magnitudes than earthquakes on the Earth. This is actually evidence of 2 things... 1) The Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information OR iMCI as I call him... is absolutely right due to the overwhelming evidence showing the moon quakes are not as devastating as the earthquakes on the earth. 2) Obviously the man on the moon looks at some soft-core porn cause then Moonquakes wouldn't exist to begin with. BEFORE you filthy feminists jump on me about the MAN on the MOON ... look if it was NOT a man then the mood would have already been populated with many more moon people (again not to be confused with moon crickets) ... sure it could be a solitary woman but we cant rule out spontaneous pregnancy from GOD like Mary's totally legit knocking up and having baby Jesus. (aka hayzoos to the messykanz)
Posted by: pdf content | November 30, 2009 12:21 AM
I think this has nothing at all ... this happens because the geographic factor in Indonesia ... let's just think logically ...
Posted by: anon | November 30, 2009 12:29 AM
That is not something out of the blues actually. It’s pretty easy to laugh at somebody if you don’t know the reason. Its one on those Christian believes because as in the bible "people of loot" were banished as a punishment for this very (so called) sin. You are intentionally/unintentionally laughing at someone’s believes which is pretty rude. Being a professor and putting up an article like that really do not get together here.
Posted by: Policy Merchant
|
November 30, 2009 12:40 AM
anon, your concern is noted.
Posted by: Aquaria | November 30, 2009 12:53 AM
Rucy and anon:
Bring evidence of your invisible friends, or fuck off. Your idiocy belongs in comic books, not rational discussions.
Sod off, morons.
Posted by: Maple | November 30, 2009 2:30 AM
I'm wondering what he thinks caused Krakatau to blow its top back in 1883, no DVDs or morally reprehensible TV shows back then.
Posted by: Rai | November 30, 2009 2:48 AM
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I'm an atheist from Indonesia, and to tell you truth in term of religious stupidity in my country, this isn't news worthy.
Although the minister came from religious party (PKS), he is considered to be a religious liberal (oxymoron, yes? no?). He even cause a public rage when he stated that hijab and burqa are merely a piece of cloth that doesn't mean anything.
The majority of Indonesian are religious nuts, and sometimes violent. Which is why Indonesian atheists are forced to stay in the shadow in fear of retaliation, socially and physically.
Prof. Myers, i have followed Pharyngula for almost a year now, and this blog is one of the thing that keep me sane amidst all the lunacy surrounding my everyday live. Keep up the the good work Sir.
Oh, and i am sorry about the terrible english.
(back to lurking)
Posted by: DLC
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November 30, 2009 2:55 AM
So it's Porn that's doing it.
PZ, you do realize that you're probably hitting the Secret Nazi Base™ with that porn Gun ?
All those nazis going blind. . .
Posted by: hailme! | November 30, 2009 3:31 AM
well therefore, it is so easy to sunk Indonesia just by simply flooding their market with heaps,tons of tons container filling Porn materials instead of nuclear/nitrogen bomb!
its so devastating hearing this shame news. I cant believe We will be lead by such a religious joker!
Posted by: hailtheking | November 30, 2009 3:32 AM
you guys can comment on him on www.twitter.com/tifsembiring
it's his OFFICIAL twitter account
Posted by: Colin Meier | November 30, 2009 3:50 AM
Xenithrys
Yeah, probably. Although as a Hal Duncan fan, I now realise I was at least subconsciously aware of orgone...that's probably where my wildest fantasy came from.
Posted by: Karl Karnadi
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November 30, 2009 5:40 AM
As Rai said above, he comes from PKS, an islamic party that grow rapidly in the last few years. Right now we Indonesians have 4 ministers in the cabinet from that Islamic party. Our current president SBY created a coalition with them to win the recent election this year.
And Tifatul, the minister that said horrible things above, also begin his effort to block all websites and blogs in the internet that insults Islam.
Follow our "Indonesian Atheists" Twitter to find out more about Indonesia: https://twitter.com/indoatheists
Posted by: claw | November 30, 2009 8:09 AM
i don't know about tsunamis but sometimes a good flick will make the Earth move...
maybe god is mad at the terrible quality of adult dvds. it seems that so many of them are made of low-quality discs, there are lots of errors and skips on them.
Posted by: alexx | November 30, 2009 8:41 AM
anon, your concern is noted..
Posted by: John | November 30, 2009 10:28 AM
The Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information is right. After all, the Northridge earthquake in 1994 could be considered divine retribution. The epicenter was near the heart of the American adult film industry.
Posted by: Cognitive | November 30, 2009 10:42 AM
I'm Indonesian.
People do need some sanity around here.
Posted by: sara | November 30, 2009 10:51 AM
porn does not cause tsunamis and earth quacks. don't they have porn in London, Germany France Denmark.........etc.
Posted by: VegeBrain | November 30, 2009 11:16 AM
This Indonesian Minister has it all wrong. It's logical fallacies like lying about cause and effect that cause tsunamies and earthquakes. The size of the them is multiplied by how high up in the government the person is.
Posted by: Knockgoats | November 30, 2009 11:25 AM
Oh, and i am sorry about the terrible english. - Rai
Um, about 10,000 times better than my Indonesian! (I do think I know that "orang" means "man" or "human", and "orang orang" means "men" or "humans". correct?)
Very sorry to hear you are forced to remain undercover. Maximum respect to all Indonesian atheists!
Posted by: AZSkeptic | November 30, 2009 11:54 AM
PZ, can you please, please, PLEASE use your Porn Gun(TM) on Ray Comfort? I want to see the pretty fireball when the porn and anti-porn particles annihilate themselves.
Also, we need more technical details on the Porn Gun(TM). If you load it with soft core porn, is that like shooting blanks? Does it have a stun setting? Are there any lasting effects from overuse (hairy palms, blindness, etc.)? Damn it, man, this is science!!
Posted by: seebs | November 30, 2009 2:16 PM
In related news, from the 124th Skeptic's Circle:
The Internet Causes Autism!
Posted by: Moggie
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November 30, 2009 4:53 PM
You can have my porn gun when you take it from my cold, sticky hands.
Posted by: Karl Karnadi
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November 30, 2009 5:16 PM
Hey guys, read this:
"Indonesian Communication Minister Confident He Can Handle Twitter Criticism"
http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesian-communication-minister-confident-he-can-handle-twitter-criticism/344728
His Twitter: http://twitter.com/tifsembiring
Posted by: Karl Bagni | November 30, 2009 5:54 PM
Could it be that the Vatican may be behind the minister's words? They may be interested in expanding by means of sending missioners all over the world. After all, missionaries preach tamed practices.
Posted by: jojon | November 30, 2009 5:57 PM
im indonesian and im moslem.
lol. its not make sense. tsunami and earthquakes occurs by corruption government. :)
Posted by: Mark | November 30, 2009 6:07 PM
Porn has caused quakes at my house many times, but not the geological kind.
Posted by: Pro Indonesian | November 30, 2009 8:06 PM
so please all people in indonesia and me to, keep out you DVD porn. Burn it before earth horny and will make another earthquakes.
huahaha...stupid minister..i know who talking like that he's name is M.Nuh
Posted by: Alex | November 30, 2009 8:09 PM
In Indonesia, most of things r explained in religious way. Logical come 2nd!
Posted by: erhanz | November 30, 2009 9:25 PM
seriously, i'm ashamed as an indonesian..
i don't know what the "Upper Guys" are thinking about..making such a stupid statement like that..
which is kinda laughable for me
Posted by: sandalian | November 30, 2009 9:47 PM
OMG, my minister embarrassed me.
I think westerners don't get earthquake because they no longer use DVDs, they use blu-rays. LOL.
Posted by: mark | November 30, 2009 9:48 PM
LOL i like the correlation between the two LOL
Posted by: leman | November 30, 2009 9:50 PM
OMG, do you never watch the porn movie sir???
if it's true, maybe jakarta should've fallen into the ocean in 1990...
Posted by: genaa | November 30, 2009 10:06 PM
let see what happen to you guys if you treat this like a joke .
Posted by: ruo | November 30, 2009 10:59 PM
the earthquakes happen so often because most of Indonesian still watching porn on VCD !! that is so obsolete ....
Posted by: winendra | November 30, 2009 11:58 PM
probably, the minister also thought that dinosaurs extinct because they practice nudism
Posted by: sangkan jaya | December 1, 2009 1:54 AM
wow wow wait a minute guys,please dont take it to seriously coz most indonesian people are really joker i mean we literally love to make a joke on anything,including this minister but its sad coz the subject in this article is to sensitif for most of us.thank you
Posted by: akiq aw | December 1, 2009 2:46 AM
i'm feel sorry for all say and think about indonesian and moslem. but, in my point of view, it's very challenging and interesting to be and live as indonesian. need a lot more effort here just to do the same in western country. yeah, some people may make us feel very shame and disgrace... hahahaha... btw, it's life, rite? so, please easy on us... :P
Posted by: Joanna Kristi | December 1, 2009 4:57 AM
I'm Indonesian.
And I'm very ashamed with my "Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information".
Shame on you, Tifatul Sembiring!
And shame on you Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for choosing him as minister!
It is such a disgrace to our country.
Posted by: me | December 1, 2009 6:35 AM
I'm Indonesian.
But I am very proud to be an Indonesian.
Not Like Joanna Kristi that post comment above me..
Who the hell are you?? Indonesian? I'm afraid you're not..you are most likely a Ridiculous-ian
Posted by: Karl Karnadi
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December 1, 2009 6:42 AM
No, I don't think we should be 'easy' on something like this. And this is not just some personal belief from an uneducated Minister. He is clearly somewhat educated, and many other educated people do believe the same thing that porns, homosexuality, etc, make God angry and punishes us.
All of these comes from the belief that God is Almighty All-powerful. He controls everything, including of course, earthquakes and tsunamis.
So this is not just some incident in Indonesia, I do believe that many western believers, especially fundamentalists, believe the same thing. Maybe not just about pornography, but about gays, lesbians, abortions, liberals (just as Jerry Falwell blamed them for 9/11). This is a global epidemic of intolerance and hatred that we have to face.
Posted by: Joanna Kristi | December 1, 2009 7:19 AM
@me: Please read my comment carefully,
I stated that "And I'm very ashamed with my "Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information"." and not the nation. *sigh* T_T
Because his statement disgraced our country as if we are just a bunch of idiot people who can not think logically, which we are not.
Any further personal comment, please contact me directly.
Posted by: mike | December 1, 2009 9:57 AM
And here I thought natural distasters took place when I DIDN'T beat off to porn. I've been beating off for nothing! Thank you, Minister of La-La-Land, for your lucid transgressions. I will now end my ever lasting crusade against the napkins and seek peace instead.
Posted by: Panzerfaust | December 1, 2009 10:18 AM
Now the Indonesian found a new weapon of mass destruction better than nuclear bomb. Beware! Don't mess with Indonesia.
Posted by: Sir John | December 1, 2009 11:09 AM
No matter the world is ending in 2012. The only things left will be plastic, roaches and porno DVD's
Posted by: Karl Karnadi
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December 1, 2009 6:31 PM
I think all Indonesians should be ashamed of the Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information. Because he has just humiliated Indonesia by being a Minister and saying something like that.Posted by: menas | December 1, 2009 11:13 PM
I am indonesian, and this comment really make me shame to be an indonesian...
Posted by: IamIndonesian | December 1, 2009 11:28 PM
I am Indonesian, but I am an agnostic.
Stop worrying and enjoy your life !
In Indonesia we are forced to choose one of the religions approved by the government.
It is really stupid ! Should I be a blind believer?
Anytime and anywhere moslems are always the trouble makers.
Posted by: Rai | December 2, 2009 12:30 AM
@knockgoat #136
Correct, "orang" means people, so basically Orang Utan means "people of the jungle". Which always make me wondered, did the people that gave the name "Orang Utan" already realized that somehow we are related.
Posted by: khilaf_sadarin | December 2, 2009 2:52 AM
That's another simple example from a muslim-fanatic that become an official of my country.
another pain in the ass.
Posted by: John Morales | December 2, 2009 3:07 AM
To you Indonesians who have posted here, kudos.
Posted by: Karl Karnadi
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December 2, 2009 7:50 AM
To Indonesian agnostics, atheists, non-believers join our "Indonesian Atheists (IA)" community in Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46457772416
Posted by: Moro Mara | December 2, 2009 8:08 AM
Well, I guess 'The End of Faith' will come eventually.
Just be patient for Agnostic and Athesists out There,... Peace Out
Posted by: Louis | December 2, 2009 8:20 AM
So does this mean that the next time I have a cheeky one off the wrist, imspired by some "gentleman's recreational periodicals" of course, I can ask "Did the earth move for quite a large number of people?"
Innnnterrrrestnggggg. Enquiring minds want to know* etc.
Personally, I am not worried about this. I am more concerned about the kittens. Every time you masturbate god kills a kitten. Please, think of the kittens.
Louis
*Actually, probably not.
Posted by: FaithFreedomMarketingDepartment | December 2, 2009 11:10 AM
I am the son of Ali Sina.
Please visit the heaven here:
English site : http://faithfreedom.org
Indonesian : http://indonesia.faithfreedom.org/forum
Keep your eyes open, barbaric mosleams are preparing your graves.
Posted by: stupid minister | December 2, 2009 11:45 AM
so stupid, and he's still proud call himself the minister ?
Posted by: Sil | December 2, 2009 7:51 PM
The message is clear: Hands off our porn, or revolution for ye
Posted by: ryuuu | December 3, 2009 2:00 AM
As an Indonesian, I can tell you it's mostly politics. Fact is, Indonesia has a high muslim majority and lots of uneducated citizen. That translates to religion beating reason in every argument. Belief trumping over facts & science.
The gov. just needs a religious explanation to explain a natural disaster, because science is difficult to understand for the masses. Porn will still be sold or downloaded regardless, as long as there's demand, though there's probably some 'tax' now you have to pay to avoid getting raided. The gov. is just paying lip service to the muslim majority. We even have something similar to "sin tax" here, that some muslim organization(yeah, it's blackmail) will demand(under the table of course), to get permission to sell and some other permits and generally avoid trouble. The minister is making a political statement here. So, it's stupid to assume that he really believes what he said. The fact that he's a minister in Indonesia means he's at least pretty good at the game of politics. You don't get to be minister without money or connection, things you won't get by being stupid.
Posted by: blf | December 3, 2009 2:15 AM
ryuuu@174, thanks for the clear explanation of what is probably really going on. I feel safe in assuming most commentators here probably guessed it was something of the sort without knowing the details. Related, I'm fairly confident no-one's poking fun at Indonesia or the Indonesians, just at the statement and beliefs presumed to be behind the statement. And perhaps at the minister.
Over the long term (presumably), in an effort to make this sort of thing "un-necessary" (and also, hopefully, to deal with the other problems you enumerated), what sort of things are being done in Indonesia? For instance, better, more-widely-available, low-cost education (I'd hope!)? Recruiting and training mostly-honest police, judges, and prosecutors (establishing the rule of law)? …?
Posted by: Karl Karnadi
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December 3, 2009 6:55 AM
But ryuuu, you are ignoring the fact that the minister comes from PKS (he is the chairman of PKS), and he has just blocked websites that condemned as insulting islam. We Indonesians all know what PKS party is, an islamic pro-sharia political party.
It maybe politics, but I think it is not just that the minister really believes that, many other muslims (and even some christian fundies) in Indonesia really believe such thing.
About PKS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperous_Justice_Party
Posted by: Lalalala | December 3, 2009 12:28 PM
@ ryuu
I believe Tifatul (the minister) actually believes what he was saying. He was just wrong to think that everyone would buy that. He's an idiot, just like the rest of his party's members (PKS). It's true that a lot of Indonesian are not well-educated, thus it is HIS job to help them improve themselves. He's a f***g minister of COMMUNICATION and INFORMATION anyway. Spreading lies about porn causing earthquakes and all that is definitely not helping them.
Posted by: Karl Karnadi
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December 4, 2009 11:19 AM
For the Indonesians here, read this. This is his reply in his Facebook note: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=231533118008&id=54640456510&ref=mf
He basically said that the international media is not fair by portraying him as though he blamed the victim for the disasters. He said it is humiliating inaccuracy.
He then put his original text of his sermon, where he bolded this part:
And then he speaks about the deteroriating morality by mentioning the 500 Porn film made in Indonesia, etc.Posted by: Sil | December 4, 2009 2:12 PM
the 500 Porn film?
I hate to pick on a spelling error, but that sounds alluringly like the giant gay orgy version of 300, when Xerxes and Leonidas finally put aside their differences and their clothes.
Posted by: Besar | December 5, 2009 7:06 AM
So this is what a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota doing in my country ?? Making situation even worse, spreading lies and hatred ?
Learn Indonesian language first then comment...
I thought a professor should know that !! Right right ??
Posted by: Karl Karnadi
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December 5, 2009 7:22 PM
@Besar: Learn english first then comment. And read my comment above you, where there is original text of The Minister's sermon.
Now with that words he said: "There were many disasters, because of human broken morality. Too many are disobidient and against Allah SWT" (quoting his own words),
Who is the one spreading lies and hatred?
I thought a minister of a republic should know that! Right right?..
Posted by: Micheal Price | December 9, 2009 8:00 AM
"ah! Wrath-theology.
point three is indeed where the problem lies. I was told by someone a few days ago that it is homosexuals that are responsible for climate change and hurricanes.
http://carnifexinsania.blogspot.com/"
It's porn consumers responsible for the tsunamis and earthquakes, gays for the climate change and hurricanes, abortionists for 9/11 and the bisexuals were swine flu. Glad we've cleared that up.
Posted by: Karl Karnadi
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December 9, 2009 5:23 PM
Many people in my country (Indonesia) blame gays for AIDS. Well, actually homosexuals and free sex (out of wedlock sex)..
Posted by: Aratina Cage
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December 9, 2009 5:31 PM
Karl Karnadi,
They'd be better off blaming ancient tigers.Posted by: maillafaz
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December 23, 2009 11:38 PM
If that's the case, there should be more Tsunamis and Earthquakes in US and Europe
Posted by: The Seeker | December 31, 2009 4:14 PM
Dmmt. Tht's t, http://wrldsxvd.cm s lvng my fvrts tdy!
Posted by: wisdalia
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March 15, 2010 5:36 PM
busana muslim
I thought all teh porn was making solar flares shoot out mutated neutrinos that were heating up the earth's core and melting the crust, causing it to slide around like melting butter in a frying pan.
Posted by: wild390
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March 27, 2010 6:46 PM
Maybe I can create a tsunami with my free porn trailers?