Victor used the following (in my opinion) weak argument... this is a complete record of our contact with each other:
This is listed as most recent response to oldest!!!!!
Thanks for your interest in the matter.
But when a scientist expresses says something about the afterlife, people accept his opinion as fact.
So there’s no point wasting precious time on this one Mitch.
Best,
Victor
From: Mitch Shelton [mailto:SadSoul@gmx.com]
Sent: Friday, 20 January 2012 2:35 AM
To: victorzammit
Subject: RE: Attack on Steven Hawking is wrong
I regard the color red as the best color in the world.
Used in the same context as Steven Hawking.
Steven Hawking presented one thing:
an oppinion.
The bottom line is that an oppinion does not have to be based on facts and even more ironic an oppinion does not have to be even remotely sensible.
Victor Zammit, I propose the following challenge to you:
I challenge that you post a legitimate poll on your web site, leaving the visitors to be the JURY. You may post the following in it's entirety, including my name as I am not ashamed in anyway:
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I, Mitchell Shelton am here to represent the defendant, Steven Hawking. Who, although has no further comments on his behalf, would like to allow me to state his side of the defence on his behalf.
I bring to the court the following which is an exact quote, as recorded of Steven Hawking as evidence:
QUOTE: "I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark." - END QUOTE
Victor Zammit has written multiple pages critisizing and belittling Steven Hawking for the above Quote, which, I intend to prove by the end of this hearing is completely taken out of context.
I would like to bring your attention to the careful wording that Steven Hawking has chosen to use in this quote, specifically, the one letter word "I." Whenever the word I is utilized in a sentence it creates ownership. In this case the ownership means that Steven Hawking is merely stating an oppinon.
If, in reality, the context was intended to be taken as a fact.... the Single letter "I" would have been unused in his statement.
In conclusion, I would like to compare the court to a simple statement starting identicle to Steven Hawkings:
"I regard the color green as an ugly color that will ruin that display."
When you consider your verdict, please ask yourselves:
"Does an oppinion have to be based on facts?"
My client, Steven Hawking, feels that no further comment is needed on his part for expressing his oppinion.
I rest my case.
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----- Original Message -----
From: victorzammit
Sent: 01/17/12 04:46 PM
To: 'Mitch Shelton'
Subject: RE: Attack on Steven Hawking is wrong
That’s funny Mitchell.
Context is the critical thing for consideration. When Hawking says, “I believe the brain is a computer” he is in fact stating and accepting that “the brain is a computer”. Simple.
‘Context’ is the key issue.
Best,
Victor
From: Mitch Shelton [mailto:SadSoul@gmx.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 17 January 2012 11:55 PM
To: victorzammit
Subject: RE: Attack on Steven Hawking is wrong
Exactly! Your dead correct: Steven Hawking stated that
"I believe the brain to be as a computer .."
Not: "It is a FACT that the brain is the same as a computer." You are twisting information to fit your own needs. Steven Hawking never stated that his statement of oppinion should be taken as FACT. Therefore the entire basis for your argument is based on wordplay. I would win in a court situation. Sincerely, Mitchell Shelton, the skeptic that has beaten you.
----- Original Message -----
From: victorzammit
Sent: 01/17/12 04:17 AM
To: 'Mitch Shelton'
Subject: RE: Attack on Steven Hawking is wrong
Stephen Hawking himself said ."There is no heaven or afterlife .."
You cannot get any clearer, definitive statement than that about Hawking
personal beliefs.
Notice carefully, Hawking does not make the distinction between the physical
brain and the MIND.
He ASSUMES that the mind and the physical brain are the same thing - WRONG!
When Hawking says "I regard ." - that is exactly the same thing if he said,
"I believe the brain to be as a computer .."
I 'jumped' on Hawking because Hawking violated the most important law in
science - NOT TO MAKE ANY CONCLUSIONS BEFORE INVESTIGATING.
Hawking has NOT studied the critical aftrlife evidence and has not shown -
as he should have - WHERE, WHEN, HOW and WHY the empirically elicited
afterlife evidence cannot be valid.
_____
From: Mitch Shelton [mailto:SadSoul@gmx.com]
Sent: Monday, 16 January 2012 8:29 PM
To: vz@victorzammit.com
Subject: Attack on Steven Hawking is wrong
QUOTE:
"I have lived with the prospect of an early death for the last 49 years. I'm
not afraid of death, but I'm in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do
first. I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its
components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers;
that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark."
Note that although Steven Hawking does not specify that he believes this VS
stating it as a fact, he uses the word "regard" which more or less implies
that the following statements are his view. If he was making the statement
as fact he would have instead said:
"The brain IS a computer which will stop working when its components fail."
Victor is clearly jumping on Steven Hawking because he is a well known
figure and pouncing on him is exactly the kind of drama a lot of people wish
to read.
I am officially calling Victor out on this one.