Atheist Forum

The bigger cities are so different from the rural areas no matter what nation you are in. There is the desire to see the famous attractions to complete some checklist, but then it feels a bit like a theme park and with all the hustling. Surrounded by other tourist with their khaki pants, goddam camera phones, comfy walking shoes, sun visors and water bottles. Sometimes actually hearing them condescend. Or them being side-eyed by the fed-up locals who might assume you don't understand what they are saying. Living in touristy areas myself, I know all about the "need you, but hate you" sentiment.

The travels I remember the most are when I stayed in less busy or rural area for a few weeks or more and actually interacted with relaxed locals.

Even though the touristy landmarks get top billing, a lot of the less-populated areas are amazing. I've seen footage of some of the smaller islands in Japan that are wonderful, as well as mom-and-pop restaurants (very affordable and well-made food, too) and lesser-known shrines.

Even in my neck of the woods, I don't think the big attractions are all that amazing. Some of my favorite locations are pretty out of the way. Hell, my favorite beach is a quaint little beach with very little popularity.

The word "Gold" is just "God" with an extra letter.

Hydra009 wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 10:13 pm Not a fan of smoking, but at least it's banned indoors. Also, the smoking rate is about 28% according to the 2019 Eurostat survey, very similar to Serbia and Bulgaria.

Turkey certainly has an abundance of coastal towns and ancient ruins, which I would really love to see someday, especially Ephesus and Laodicea

https://youtu.be/DVS5WShTQsY?si=CR3X0usb7upEFIZh

drunkenshoe wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 5:49 am

Hydra009 wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 10:13 pm Not a fan of smoking, but at least it's banned indoors. Also, the smoking rate is about 28% according to the 2019 Eurostat survey, very similar to Serbia and Bulgaria.

Turkey certainly has an abundance of coastal towns and ancient ruins, which I would really love to see someday, especially Ephesus and Laodicea

https://youtu.be/DVS5WShTQsY?si=CR3X0usb7upEFIZh

I marvel how the ancient Greeks and Romans formulated concrete that has lasted so long. I was reading how it actually self-heals when it cracks. Earlier than that, the ancient Egyptians seemed to have used a form of concrete. Some pyramid stones contain synthetic minerals that do not exist in nature, hinting at "reconstituted" stone.

Cassia wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2026 4:22 am

drunkenshoe wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2026 5:49 am

Hydra009 wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2026 10:13 pm Not a fan of smoking, but at least it's banned indoors. Also, the smoking rate is about 28% according to the 2019 Eurostat survey, very similar to Serbia and Bulgaria.

Turkey certainly has an abundance of coastal towns and ancient ruins, which I would really love to see someday, especially Ephesus and Laodicea

https://youtu.be/DVS5WShTQsY?si=CR3X0usb7upEFIZh

I marvel how the ancient Greeks and Romans formulated concrete that has lasted so long. I was reading how it actually self-heals when it cracks. Earlier than that, the ancient Egyptians seemed to have used a form of concrete. Some pyramid stones contain synthetic minerals that do not exist in nature, hinting at "reconstituted" stone.

It's ingenius. Think about the Roman roads. Thousand years, and still intact. There are water canals in Rome still used with that mechanism. Mind blowing.

70 yrs old and met my first real bonifide flat earther. Holy shit! It only takes about a minute to realize there is no sense arguing or even discussing it. Just bat shit stupid. Space doesn’t even exists, he accepts a somewhat biblical version that we are under a dome, the sun, moon and stars are under the dome and the sky is water. Period. I didn’t get any further than that. I have an app on my phone that calls my number and I can just say, “excuse me, gotta go”. Just……wow.

I work with one. There's not even a concept of fact-checking left. Whatever "feels real" is real to this guy.

The ancient greeks figured this stuff out with just shadows in wells (and a box of scraps) He has a repository of a ludicrously large amount of knowledge in his pocket and he gravitates (pun intended) to the dumbest things.

Arguing is pointless because he's so deep in this stuff that it's basically all he knows and understands now.

Geez, our new $29.99, 6", mini-chainsaw from wallyworld really saws well. Easily cuts 5" branches with one hand. Nearly silent too. Just sprayed the chain with a bit of WD40 every 5th cut. For years I was using an old bow saw but now I'm old too.

Used to be a guy at my job. I never heard him talk about flat Earth, but he did let drop that he believed in aliens.