Zac_A:
That other life forms have been here to visit us? No.
Oh yeah? How do you explain Diane Abbot then?
the maoster:
Zac_A:
That other life forms have been here to visit us? No.Oh yeah? How do you explain Diane Abbot then?
Easy: In his younger days, Jeremy Corbyn was bummed by Beelzebub in a even-freakier-than-the-original Rosemary’s Child/Damien from The Omen type scenario, to create his mini-him with mindless support for all his nonsense.
Good point, well made 
Originally I was going to quote some research (York, Loughborough & Leicester universities) which found in studies of HGV drivers that 84% were overweight or obese, had above average rates of diabetes and high BP, were more likely to be smokers (70%) with all the health risks that go with that.
An article from BMJ article summed it up as:
Strong evidence was observed for truck drivers to generally exhibit poor cardiometabolic risk profiles including overweight and obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, high blood glucose, poor mental health and cigarette smoking.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33099498/
As for religion, I don’t care what people believe, but I do have a major problem that “believers” demand the rest of us respect their beliefs (ie delusions) while they feel entitled to disrespect our right to intellectual critical thought.
Zac_A:
Originally I was going to quote some research (York, Loughborough & Leicester universities) which found in studies of HGV drivers that 84% were overweight or obese, had above average rates of diabetes and high BP, were more likely to be smokers (70%) with all the health risks that go with that.
In all fairness, I don’t think that anyone needs to view a University research paper on this subject to obtain any proof. If we were to discuss the physical fitness of any profession, the last group of people in my mind for being in peak physical condition would not include a bunch of lorry drivers. It is a bit like a University doing research on whether or not a fox enjoys being hunted by a pack of dogs. You wouldn’t really need to see the results.
No, we don’t need to see the evidence to form a fairly accurate, if anecdotal, picture, we just need to use our eyes when we’re in the yard or in the truck park, but it’s been my experience that there’s a lot of people who will say things like "My granny smoked 20 a day and lived to be 100, so I don’t see that smoking is bad for you", so I do tend to like to back up the anecdotal with the verifiable, stops people from just saying “Nah, that’s ■■■■■■■■” 
DHL in the US have taken it quite a lot further
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29271840/
Normally I don’t get too worked up about religion, but I was a bit surprised with the direction this thread took right from the off, so, Rant Alert - skip if you’re religious; clearly I think it’s all nonsense, I could just say “it’s all ■■■■■■■■” but a more rational critique than that is appropriate.
It’s been my experience that “believers” feel their wilful ignorance is superior to the documented knowledge of centuries of science, which they attempt to dismiss with comments like “Science doesn’t know everything” 
No scientist ever claimed that it does, it is a constant search for and expansion of knowledge, not a self-limiting process like religion, constantly self-referring to a single “book” which is in fact a collection of books, by different authors, often with conflicting “versions of events” (see the four “gospels”).
These individual books were them selves selectively chosen from a much wider range of potential book inclusions. This collection, far from being an immutable treatise from their “Creator”, has in fact varied greatly over time as to what has been accepted for inclusion, as well as being selectively interpreted over several centuries, from the First Council of Nicaea, to Martin Luther, to James the First and beyond.
It is the self-assured smugness of their ignorance that riles me, a smugness that can only be perpetrated by mindless automatons who have abandoned all notion of the critical thinking we believe is unique to our species, and which even by their own belief-systems they should be embracing as the “free will” their imaginary friend has claimed is so important in their various collections of stories.
Even worse, they expect the rest of us to believe that, in this universe of at least two trillion galaxies, some imaginary guy-in-the-sky decided to visit just one galaxy, go to just one planetary system out of the 100 billion available in that galaxy - and not even one near galactic centre, ours is just in an outer spiral arm of said galaxy, nothing special about our location at all.
Despite the size and age of the planet “he” chooses to visit just three times in a space of no more than six thousand years, from the available selection of 100,000 to 200,000 years for which our our Homo sapiens species has been around. And “he” doesn’t even go to where it started, in Africa, no “he” visits a tiny section of the planet (the middle east), “speaks to” a handful men (no women, despite them being half of the planet’s population). He didn’t do it before then, and hasn’t done it since, despite supposedly being omniscient and omnipotent.
And, just because it relevant at this time of the year, whatever you want to label the guy, be it The Messiah, Jesus or Yeshua etc, he clearly was not born at this time of the year, the shepherds were said to be “in the fields”, so it was either during lambing time (around March) so they could protect the new born lambs, or after the harvest was gathered when the sheep were allowed to “clean up” the fields (Early Autumn).
Zac_A:
Originally I was going to quote some research (York, Loughborough & Leicester universities) which found in studies of HGV drivers that 84% were overweight or obese, had above average rates of diabetes and high BP, were more likely to be smokers (70%) with all the health risks that go with that.An article from BMJ article summed it up as:
Strong evidence was observed for truck drivers to generally exhibit poor cardiometabolic risk profiles including overweight and obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, high blood glucose, poor mental health and cigarette smoking.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33099498/As for religion, I don’t care what people believe, but I do have a major problem that “believers” demand the rest of us respect their beliefs (ie delusions) while they feel entitled to disrespect our right to intellectual critical thought.
Got to say I’ve kinda let my ‘excercise regime’ slip a bit lately. 
The wife approached me the other day saying my lads (who are both fitness obsessives) had been telling her they were both concerned about me,.saying I eat too much, drink too much,.and don’t get enough excercise. 
…guilty as charged, too much good living at weekends out with the wife,. or with mates watching football in the boozer … and especially this Christmas holiday on all counts.
My blood pressure is fine, I also had a test for diabetes during a medical about 6 months ago and was fine, and I don’t (and never have) smoked, so there are a few positives.
Only thing is beer has taken it’s toll .around my middle a bit admittedly, but I ain’t overweight for my height…around 15 stone at 6’ 1’’ of cool butch trucker
Anyhoo upshot is I’m going to get off my arse (evening dozy ) and start walking again for a start, maybe even get the bike out of the shed.
When I was on furlough (evening again dozy ) I had an app on my phone,.and me and one of my lads clocked up a ridiculous amount of miles in a short time, my youngest daughter has just lost 4 stone 
, she has turned fanatical about excercise, and looks great, she is going to be ‘my trainer’ she tells me.
Nice to see my family care about me anyway.
So here’s to an even hunkier Rob in the future. 
a treat for the laydeeez.
As for the religion thing, …like I said, it annoys the hell out of me when somebody starts spouting religious based ■■■■■■■■ at me out of the blue in conversation, (which is how this thread started to divert)
I know it shouldn’t but it does,.and when it does I just rear up to the perpetrator of such crap.
I notice our resident missionary has been quiet of late,.which is a pity as I like to hear these guys trying to defend something that is not real, fact nor logic when backed into a corner, knowing they can never win the argument… but still try.
Religion = fairy tales for adults
My opinion
Zac_A:
And, just because it relevant at this time of the year, whatever you want to label the guy, be it The Messiah, Jesus or Yeshua etc, he clearly was not born at this time of the year, .
‘‘He’s not The Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy’’
(Sorry couldn’t resist )
Also apologies for using the term ‘‘Load of ■■■■■■■■’’ that you resisted using, but we are all entitled to our opinion,.as much as the religious nuts are entitled to theirs…but as I said it’s the preaching thrown into a conversation by them that ■■■■■■ me off.
As I said I was brought up in a Protestant Christian (some may say contradiction in terms ) family.
My Gran and Granda used to pray on their knees every night before bed, my Granda who was a top guy btw, taught me prayers as a little kid.
My Mam is a believer, my Dad not so much, but I was made to go to Sunday School,.as a kid which was ok tbf (if only for the trips and the Xmas parties ) and confirmation classes at 13/14 ish, which I hated,.as I was at the age where I was seeing through things, and making up my OWN mind about them.
My Uncle (another great guy btw who thought of me as his son) was a church official, he was also a high up freemason, but he NEVER tried to force his beliefs on to me at any time, …closest to that was he asked me if I ever thought about going into freemasonry , but stopped and never mentioned it again when he saw he was barking up the wrong tree with someone like me.
So basically I was brought up with religion all around me, which did me no harm, tbf, as I would go as far as to say I have a few what could be described as ‘Christian ways’, which I suppose is ok, and I had a good upbringing, …but I am pure atheist.
None of my kids expressed any interest in religion, if they had I would have kept an open mind and not have stopped them.
Nearest thing to it was my daughter was married in church…as was I. (But not at the same time )
Religion is a very touchy subject to discuss the rights and wrongs with it without being blasphemous in the eyes of those that believe. If you look at how hypocritical it actually is in the terms of what a church stands for. For an example, if the Vatican wanted to end world poverty or help the needy as it preaches to everyone, it is worth 10 billion dollars so could really help out with all its wealth, it is one of the richest organisations and this coupled up with the Church of England and the countless other religions that could team up and end this poverty once and for all. Instead they remain wealthy and powerful organisations rather than a charitable institute. They have as much meaning as a miss world contestant spouting she would like to end and see world peace. The blame could lie within our education establishments as it doesnt matter whether you are a private school or a normal school, it is still taught from a young age and instilled into us all from a very early age. Older people turn or return to religion as they are afraid of dying.
Im still here.just reading the posts.
I have my proof of Gods existence.
Its all around me in the world I live in.
There is a reference in the Bible which deals with the belief issie,Romans 1,20.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
So,I cant say He doesnt exist because the proof is all around me
Sploom:
Im still here.just reading the posts.
I have my proof of Gods existence.
Its all around me in the world I live in.
There is a reference in the Bible which deals with the belief issie,Romans 1,20.For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
So,I cant say He doesnt exist because the proof is all around me
If that is your own belief then who can argue with you. Everyone has their own opinion on the subject, believer or non believer.
I rest my case.
Instead of all the hyperbole, rhetoric, and meaningless nonsense in the form of quotations.how about an argument loaded with logic facts and realism.
You’re starting to annoy me now. 
robroy:
I rest my case.
Instead of all the hyperbole, rhetoric, and meaningless nonsense in the form of quotations.how about an argument loaded with logic facts and realism.You’re starting to annoy me now.
Bless you mate
Yorkshire Tramper:
Sploom:
Im still here.just reading the posts.
I have my proof of Gods existence.
Its all around me in the world I live in.
There is a reference in the Bible which deals with the belief issie,Romans 1,20.For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
So,I cant say He doesnt exist because the proof is all around meIf that is your own belief then who can argue with you. Everyone has their own opinion on the subject, believer or non believer.
Ok but still as they all do, he’s trying to unload all this stuff on to anybody who will listen, both on this (unrelated) thread,.and by his own admission to second drivers unfortunate enough to have to listen as a captive audience in his cab,.when he sparks off a conversation about it.
If I was with a second man in a truck who I did not know, my opening line would be something like ‘Who do you fancy for the league title this year mate’’ as an ice breaker, not the.antithesis of some preacher trying to convert another person,.such as… ‘‘Hey mate so religion, …I think it’s a load of crap,.what about you’’.
They are always trying to hook you,.either directly or in a veiled ambiguous way, and if they think they are getting to you, they give you both barrels with ■■■■ bible quotations chapter and verse.
As for the wealth of the church…why are they always pleading poverty,.when it is common knowledge they are one of the wealthiest organisations in the world.
And don’t get me started on the ■■■■ Muslims.
Yorkshire Tramper:
robroy:
I rest my case.
Instead of all the hyperbole, rhetoric, and meaningless nonsense in the form of quotations.how about an argument loaded with logic facts and realism.You’re starting to annoy me now.
Bless you mate
Tbf mate I was referring to the Right Reverend…not you.
But cheers for the blessing.I’ll put it with the rest.
robroy:
If I was with a second man in a truck who I did not know, my opening line would be something like ‘Who do you fancy for the league title this year mate’’ as an ice breaker, not the.antithesis of some preacher trying to convert another person,.such as… ‘‘Hey mate so religion, …I think it’s a load of crap,.what about you’’.
ha ha so your not like the monkeys then and a believer
Yorkshire Tramper:
robroy:
If I was with a second man in a truck who I did not know, my opening line would be something like ‘Who do you fancy for the league title this year mate’’ as an ice breaker, not the.antithesis of some preacher trying to convert another person,.such as… ‘‘Hey mate so religion, …I think it’s a load of crap,.what about you’’.ha ha so your not like the monkeys then and a believer
I’d be more of a Paul Weller man, in his opening lyric of ‘Walls come tumbling down’
‘‘I don’t have to take this crap’’
Zac_A:
Originally I was going to quote some research (York, Loughborough & Leicester universities) which found in studies of HGV drivers that 84% were overweight or obese, had above average rates of diabetes and high BP, were more likely to be smokers (70%) with all the health risks that go with that.An article from BMJ article summed it up as:
Strong evidence was observed for truck drivers to generally exhibit poor cardiometabolic risk profiles including overweight and obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, high blood glucose, poor mental health and cigarette smoking.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33099498/As for religion, I don’t care what people believe, but I do have a major problem that “believers” demand the rest of us respect their beliefs (ie delusions) while they feel entitled to disrespect our right to intellectual critical thought.
This is interesting, but are more truck drivers smokers, overweight etc because they are truck drivers, or do smokers, overweight people tend to gravitate towards truck driving?
I must admit that if I had a pound for every time I have either seen first hand or heard of a truck driver refuse or avoid physical labour, I would be a rich man.
Seldom do I see truck drivers go for a walk, more likely sit in the cab. I see many truck drivers park their cars as close as possible to where they are going and complain if a space is not available in the preferred spot. Many truck drivers take the lift when clearly capable of taking the stairs.
Of course we are talking about a stereotype and there are exceptions, including myself. I might be technically overweight at somewhere between 14 and 15 stone (and one guilty of eating sweets / crisps too regularly), but could run for a bus without getting out of breath. We shouldn’t get too worked up about weight I think, because we have different physical characteristics.
As for the mental health side of things, I believe that good physical activity certainly helps; likewise avoiding night shift, although apparently some folks can’t get enough of it.