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Logan
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Topic: Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens Posted: May 06 2016 at 17:13 |
This is very silly as a contest, and yes, you can quote me on that, but as ever, the poll is only intended as an accessory to discussion about these figures. I have been watching, and reading, a lot of late by both.
I vote for Dawkins, by the way.
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TheLionOfPrague
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Posted: May 06 2016 at 19:22 |
I'm more familiar with Dawkins so I vote for him (but I'd vote for Sam Harris maybe if he was included).
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Logan
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Posted: May 06 2016 at 19:44 |
I almost included Sam Harris, but opted to make it more Brit-centric (I also thought about including Stephen Fry, though not so much as Sam Harris).
Although I know his significance and history (and about Project Reason), I'm not as familiar with Sam Harris. I've watched a number of debates which involve him, and various interviews.
Edited by Logan - May 06 2016 at 19:46
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dr wu23
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Posted: May 06 2016 at 22:09 |
I've only read one book by Dawkins and some pieces by Hitchens...but I much prefer Hitchens in live interviews....he was very entertaining and witty.
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin
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HackettFan
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Posted: May 06 2016 at 22:40 |
I don't like Chrirtopher Hitchens for other reasons of politics surrounding the Iraq War, I voted for Dawkins.
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A curse upon the heads of those who seek their fortunes in a lie. The truth is always waiting when there's nothing left to try. - Colin Henson, Jade Warrior (Now)
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JJLehto
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Posted: May 06 2016 at 23:01 |
Well, I don't like either and it has nothing to do with their views on religion and god and etc since I agree. That said, Dawkins was at least a scientist and thus has some interest, I think!, in science opposed to just spouting atheism. So my vote goes to him.
To be an arrogant American, I'll write in my vote for Lawrence Krauss as a pretty loud mouthed atheist who focuses more on science and universes coming from nothing
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Icarium
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Posted: May 07 2016 at 09:44 |
Dawkins by fafafafar, also Dara O'Briaien and Bill Bailey are also fun athesit, and Bill Cox, Hitchens is good but is also a mumbler whitch is quite annoying when you are saying important stuff
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manofmystery
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Posted: May 07 2016 at 15:42 |
If this is a famous atheist poll then I'm writing in Penn Jillette
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Time always wins.
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Guldbamsen
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Posted: May 07 2016 at 16:26 |
Dawkins but not because of his crusade against religion but rather for his book 'The Selfish Gene'. I do enjoy watching either of these completely destroy autodidact creationists and other such pseudo-scientists.
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams
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Equality 7-2521
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Posted: May 08 2016 at 08:55 |
Dawkins is a great science popularizer and writes pretty well. Hitchens is allergic to properly sourcing his books.
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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
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emigre80
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Posted: May 08 2016 at 09:50 |
I will take both (Dawkins being more sensible but Hitchens always good for provocation), but will choose Hitchens just to balance the voting.
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micky
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Posted: May 08 2016 at 10:38 |
Logan wrote:
This is very silly as a contest, and yes, you can quote me on that, but as ever, the poll is only intended as an accessory to discussion about these figures. I have been watching, and reading, a lot of late by both.
I vote for Dawkins, by the way. |
huh...what.. thanks for reminding me Greg what a intellectual knuckledragger I am... never heard of either. Thought this might be a Richard Dawson v. Christopher Walken poll so that brought me in... Walken easily btw...
Edited by micky - May 08 2016 at 10:38
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Cambus741
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Posted: May 08 2016 at 12:39 |
Prefer
Neil deGrasse Tyson
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The T
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Posted: May 10 2016 at 09:41 |
Both have ideas I agree with, both are (were) rather insufferable as persons from what can be seen. I'll take Dawkins because I've read more of his material.
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JJLehto
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Posted: May 10 2016 at 13:10 |
Cambus741 wrote:
Prefer
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
Yeah him too, he's even more into talking science and less on "haha atheism is best!" than Lawrence Krauss. Funny the Americans are less insufferable than the Brits
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Equality 7-2521
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Posted: May 10 2016 at 13:52 |
I think Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye are buffoons so I guess maybe I'd disagree.
Dunno Js. I think Krauss is actually milder than NGT. He's pretty big on just leaving religious people alone, like (most) religious scientists, who don't allow their beliefs to interfere with their everyday behavior. NGT is sometimes a bit hardline for no particular reason about belief in general.
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"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
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Man With Hat
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Posted: May 10 2016 at 14:26 |
I guess Dawkins, but I'd prefer neither.
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Icarium
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Posted: May 11 2016 at 01:07 |
Logan wrote:
I almost included Sam Harris, but opted to make it more Brit-centric (I also thought about including Stephen Fry, though not so much as Sam Harris).
Although I know his significance and history (and about Project Reason), I'm not as familiar with Sam Harris. I've watched a number of debates which involve him, and various interviews. |
there is also Daniel Dennet
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JJLehto
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Posted: May 11 2016 at 01:11 |
Equality 7-2521 wrote:
I think Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye are buffoons so I guess maybe I'd disagree.
Dunno Js. I think Krauss is actually milder than NGT. He's pretty big on just leaving religious people alone, like (most) religious scientists, who don't allow their beliefs to interfere with their everyday behavior. NGT is sometimes a bit hardline for no particular reason about belief in general.
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Hmmmm, I guess my experience with Krauss isn't great, I've watched a couple of videos, (one lecture, one interview and maybe 1 or 2 shorts) and read his book and there were quite a few jabs sprinkled throughout, usually like "So we know the Universe is 13.8 billion years old, well except for in Alabama and Ohio" that I found a bit unnecessary and he seemed a bit prickish. Could be a skewed experience though. True NDT is certainly hardline sometimes.
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The T
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Posted: May 11 2016 at 10:52 |
Equality 7-2521 wrote:
I think Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye are buffoons so I guess maybe I'd disagree.
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I can't say much for Bye but deGrasse Tyson is far from a buffoon in my view. It's not bad to have a... to use political terms, "populist" scientist from time to time to make science a little less unpalatable to the masses (not that they care anyway).
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