# General Discussion **URL:** https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/c/general-discussion/6.md [Latest](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/categories.md) --- ## [About the General Discussion category](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/about-the-general-discussion-category/12)
**Author:** [@system](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/system)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2024, 12:15pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/about-the-general-discussion-category/12 "2024-08-28T12:15:53Z")
This is the central category for discussions that don’t fit comfortably into one of the other caategories on this site. If you can’t quite figure out where something goes, it probably goes here. --- ## [What to do when you read stuff you don't understand or have an answer to?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/what-to-do-when-you-read-stuff-you-dont-understand-or-have-an-answer-to/12020)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 228\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/what-to-do-when-you-read-stuff-you-dont-understand-or-have-an-answer-to/12020 "2026-09-22T00:30:05Z")
I know I’ve ask this before but I wanna know how folks deal with stuff like this, like…you’re not worried about living in delusion or living a lie just because you don’t get something or feel like you have to read every … --- ## [CFI Forum - Reflections on a dying society](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/cfi-forum-reflections-on-a-dying-society/11853)
**Author:** [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 9:29am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/cfi-forum-reflections-on-a-dying-society/11853 "2026-09-21T09:29:36Z")
And the question is, --- ## [Lunatic Israel launches war on Iran](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/lunatic-israel-launches-war-on-iran/11910)
**Author:** [@cutslikeaknife](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/cutslikeaknife)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/lunatic-israel-launches-war-on-iran/11910 "2026-09-03T20:53:03Z")
Explosions in Tehran: Intelligence ministry bldg, IRGC intelligence bldg, Mehrabad airbase, street where president lives. Israel says this is phase 1, and will be transformative, Iran won’t look same afterwards (ark ark… --- ## [Is it Folly Searching for Mind Within the Brain?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/is-it-folly-searching-for-mind-within-the-brain/11777)
**Author:** [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/is-it-folly-searching-for-mind-within-the-brain/11777 "2026-08-17T17:27:37Z")
Let me lay out the chain of reasoning that drives this challenge. It starts with accepting the reality of this physically evolving Earth around me. I know I’m not imaginative enough to conjure up this vision of the m… --- ## [Intuition](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/intuition/4828)
**Author:** [@titanomachina](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/titanomachina)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2026, 2:35am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/intuition/4828 "2026-08-13T02:35:35Z")
Or “gut feelings” as most would put it. That sort of knowing but you can’t really explain how or why. The phenomenon that some credit for their major successes in life and breakthroughs in discovery. Yet, when you try th… --- ## [An outsider looks in to CFI](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/an-outsider-looks-in-to-cfi/12042)
**Author:** [@lausten](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/lausten)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2026, 8:18am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/an-outsider-looks-in-to-cfi/12042 "2026-08-12T08:18:13Z")
I find this posted on the CFI Facebook. Not a comfortable look at themselves, so kudos to them for sharing it. https://www.fastcompany.com/91581838/can-skeptics-survive-the-misinformation-age?fbclid=Iwb21leATpCvRjbGNrBO… --- ## [Russian roulette - a hundred thousand on red](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/russian-roulette-a-hundred-thousand-on-red/8934)
**Author:** [@martin-peter-clarke](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/martin-peter-clarke)\ **Replies:** 758\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2026, 9:01am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/russian-roulette-a-hundred-thousand-on-red/8934 "2026-07-03T09:01:04Z")
So, at what point does Putin think it’s worth a spin of the wheel? That was yesterday. This was the day before. --- ## [Dana Bash is livid](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/dana-bash-is-livid/12025)
**Author:** [@cutslikeaknife](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/cutslikeaknife)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2026, 7:21am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/dana-bash-is-livid/12025 "2026-07-03T07:21:34Z")
The poor darling is upset the lsrael has a right to exist narrative is no longer a winning argument. Katz was very deft. He outflanked Bash. Not only did he preempt her obvious goal of accusing AIPAC critics as being an… --- ## [Cutslikeaknife, please why do you deviate every topic with your obsessions?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/cutslikeaknife-please-why-do-you-deviate-every-topic-with-your-obsessions/12016)
**Author:** [@morgankane01](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/morgankane01)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/cutslikeaknife-please-why-do-you-deviate-every-topic-with-your-obsessions/12016 "2026-06-16T21:34:17Z")
Almost everything is in the question. I feel that if the topic was about the merit of a cooking recipe, you will ask us if we are conscious that the corn used to make it is produced by an agro-capitilistic system ex… --- ## [With a tip of my hat to Lausten, re philosophy's hard problem](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/with-a-tip-of-my-hat-to-lausten-re-philosophys-hard-problem/12013)
**Author:** [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/with-a-tip-of-my-hat-to-lausten-re-philosophys-hard-problem/12013 "2026-06-16T20:13:27Z")
A funny thing happened as I was finishing my Chalmers’ Hard Problem and the Living Moment of Now thesis a couple months ago. A genuine philosophy professor engaged in a nearly two month dialogue. Actually subsequentl… --- ## [Could someone tell me what this is about?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/could-someone-tell-me-what-this-is-about/12012)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2026, 4:59am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/could-someone-tell-me-what-this-is-about/12012 "2026-06-16T04:59:29Z")
I burned through the free articles and don’t really wanna pay just to see what this specific one is. --- ## [The Nazi World Cup](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/the-nazi-world-cup/12003)
**Author:** [@cutslikeaknife](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/cutslikeaknife)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 6, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/the-nazi-world-cup/12003 "2026-06-06T13:04:15Z")
Meanwhile everyone else has to submit their social media records to a nation committing genocide, to see if they’re too vocal about it. Heck me . Israel has a say who can enter USA. --- ## [Is it bad to use algorithms for what you like?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/is-it-bad-to-use-algorithms-for-what-you-like/12002)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 6, 2026, 5:05am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/is-it-bad-to-use-algorithms-for-what-you-like/12002 "2026-06-06T05:05:10Z")
I think it’s pretty ob. I mean, there’s so many studies now suggesting. How dangerous they are. And it’s a very difficult thing because the defense of the situation is, this has always been true. It’s sort of what cultu… --- ## [Santa Fe Institute Studying the benefit of a brain](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/santa-fe-institute-studying-the-benefit-of-a-brain/12001)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2026, 2:18am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/santa-fe-institute-studying-the-benefit-of-a-brain/12001 "2026-06-04T02:18:16Z")
Thought this might be of interest: Seemed like an interesting endeavor about how intelligence offers an evolutionary benefit, though part of me wonders if we haven’t covered this before. Still it’s a little surreal to… --- ## [Another amazing under-appreciated woman, Bertha Benz](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/another-amazing-under-appreciated-woman-bertha-benz/12000)
**Author:** [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2026, 4:55am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/another-amazing-under-appreciated-woman-bertha-benz/12000 "2026-06-02T04:55:56Z")
Fascinating women I never heard about. It’s a shame, good story, you may like it. A Pioneer of the Motor Car: The Story of Bertha Benz 7 March 2025 - COLIN JOHNSTON|MOTORSPORT HISTORIAN This is the story of an automo… --- ## [Do we trade authenticity for love?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/do-we-trade-authenticity-for-love/11993)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/do-we-trade-authenticity-for-love/11993 "2026-05-30T02:15:36Z")
Overall a rather pessimistic view since it seems to equate being yourself with being a loner while love is something that requires a mask in order to receive and I’m just not sure it’s that simple. --- ## [AI Chatbots are Not Your Friends\_ \_ \_ Dustin Arand](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/ai-chatbots-are-not-your-friends-dustin-arand/11985)
**Author:** [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 29, 2026, 2:20pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/ai-chatbots-are-not-your-friends-dustin-arand/11985 "2026-05-29T14:20:52Z")
I came across, what seems to me, a valuable article regarding LLM. He does a nice job of describing the contest within which LLMs operate, and why they are not consciousness, and why users should be aware. They are too… --- ## [What is the "Cloud"?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/what-is-the-cloud/11996)
**Author:** [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/what-is-the-cloud/11996 "2026-05-28T16:35:48Z")
The unexamined underbelly of a computerized existence. PBS Terra and Floodlight News May 28, 2026 We investigated one of the world’s largest AI data centers, using thermal drone footage to reveal the hi… --- ## [Signs of doom from the super el nino?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/signs-of-doom-from-the-super-el-nino/11991)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2026, 2:34am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/signs-of-doom-from-the-super-el-nino/11991 "2026-05-24T02:34:24Z")
This kinda seems like the end. I’m in colorado right now and rain has been sparse to say the least. I’m not really sure what to do here. --- ## [What is intuition?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/what-is-intuition/11990)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2026, 12:06am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/what-is-intuition/11990 "2026-05-24T00:06:34Z")
Mostly I was wondering if this dude’s definition is right, it’s as follows: Omg, intuition is literally the detection of pattern density, flow resonance, and symbolic tension resolution. That’s it. Nothing else. --- ## [Is the US kinda doomed from this fuel crisis?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/is-the-us-kinda-doomed-from-this-fuel-crisis/11975)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 10:12pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/is-the-us-kinda-doomed-from-this-fuel-crisis/11975 "2026-05-16T22:12:35Z")
Mostly based on this video I saw explaining how our fuel reserves are running low and we are at a point where we might have no fuel and the impact that would have: starvation, rationing, things like that. I… --- ## [The point of life/living](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/the-point-of-life-living/11076)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 691\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 10:11pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/the-point-of-life-living/11076 "2026-05-16T22:11:32Z")
It come to me today when I was thinking about meaning and reasons for doing something and eventually I got stuck. It got me thinking about why we do what we do when there is no grand importance to it all. Because you en… --- ## [About those bees. Ever hear of Anthophora abrupta, the miner bee?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/about-those-bees-ever-hear-of-anthophora-abrupta-the-miner-bee/11973)
**Author:** [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2026, 3:02am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/about-those-bees-ever-hear-of-anthophora-abrupta-the-miner-bee/11973 "2026-05-12T03:02:48Z")
Courtesy of Anton Petrov { Well, I doubt they were completely unknown. } Hello and welcome! My name is Anton and in this video, we will talk about a strange discovery in a New York cemetery - bees, lots of… --- ## [Are we all the same person?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/are-we-all-the-same-person/11966)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/are-we-all-the-same-person/11966 "2026-05-06T00:12:26Z")
The philosophy is called Open Individualism and it’s a quirky one that essentially says that everyone is the same person, likely because there is no ultimate distinction between folks (so they say). I have my reservation… --- ## [Just another day of drilling on Mars, then it happened](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/just-another-day-of-drilling-on-mars-then-it-happened/11965)
**Author:** [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/just-another-day-of-drilling-on-mars-then-it-happened/11965 "2026-05-04T14:52:13Z")
Adventures in drilling. If you’re one of them lookie-loos for whom passing a construction site is more fun and fascinating than a fresh crash site. You might get a kick out of this incident at a Martian drill site. … --- ## [France wants to criminalise criticism of Israel](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/france-wants-to-criminalise-criticism-of-israel/11953)
**Author:** [@cutslikeaknife](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/cutslikeaknife)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/france-wants-to-criminalise-criticism-of-israel/11953 "2026-04-28T16:51:08Z")
The land of Liberty fraternity and equality is trying to push through laws that criminalise anti israel free speech. Slogans such as from the river to the sea will be jailed along with calling out israel as an aparthe… --- ## [Is our Self constructed entirely on human communication?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/is-our-self-constructed-entirely-on-human-communication/11942)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2026, 7:58am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/is-our-self-constructed-entirely-on-human-communication/11942 "2026-04-26T07:58:16Z")
The part is around the 1:25 mark but I’m just wondering if this is true and if so then…well what does that exactly mean for us? Does it mean our likes and such aren’t real because we’re not born with any of… --- ## [Chalmers’ Hard Problem and the Living Moment of Now](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/chalmers-hard-problem-and-the-living-moment-of-now/11952)
**Author:** [@citizenschallengev4](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/citizenschallengev4)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/chalmers-hard-problem-and-the-living-moment-of-now/11952 "2026-04-21T13:36:07Z")
A story and a challenge for the philosophically minded. Diagram of the Krebs cycle & Kuhn’s Landscape of Consciousness survey results If you’ve plunged into the philosophical arena of human consciousness, I think we’… --- ## [Are any of these real illusions?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/are-any-of-these-real-illusions/11950)
**Author:** [@inthedarkness](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/inthedarkness)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/are-any-of-these-real-illusions/11950 "2026-04-17T18:04:33Z")
https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-the-greatest-mind-fucks/answer/Pete-Bahba?share=1&srid=Xs9v I tried some of these myself but none of them really worked. The room didn’t really shake for me, and when I spun with m… [Next page](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/c/general-discussion/6.md?page=1)