Hilarious video (NSFW)- Richard Dawkins reads hate mail from religious nutjobs - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2015, 09:37:51 pm
content: "You are the The fart of God" is my favorite - would make a good t-shirtFirst one :

author: netdudeuk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2015, 09:46:15 pm
content: There's at least one more like that where he's sat in a lounge reading them out to a couple of women, maybe his wife and mum ?LMAO

author: Yago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2015, 10:12:34 pm
content: BrilliantLoved the "biutch" (! biatch), gonna add that one to the armouryHis voice sounds so similar to Oliver Postgate, makes it even funnier thinking of The Clangers."What's that baby clanger?""hoo hee hhoooo hooo hoohee hoo""yes, some silly humans think there is a magical god""heeee, hoo hoo heee hoo hee hooo""Oh yes indeed, but we must never let them know of the soup dragon or they will never stop fighting"Sorry, an episode not made yet

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2015, 10:26:39 pm
content: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win"Mohandas GandhiTo be fair I am not sure if we are laughing at the good Dr Dawkins or laughing with him. If those messages expose the calibre of his opposition then I do not think that he has much to worry aboutP.S. Dave, how about doing a similar video (maybe after Sagan has gone to bed).

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2015, 10:31:04 pm
content: LMFAO...

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2015, 10:50:15 pm
content: There's a thought, Fart of God, FOG, so THAT'S where fog comes from!

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2015, 10:53:32 pm
content: Quote from: German_EE on January 21, 2015, 10:50:15 pm

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2015, 10:55:35 pm
content: Hadn't seen this one, hilarious!

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2015, 11:45:58 pm
content: Greetings EEVBees:--While I would not disagree with Dawkins position on the Supernatural, I also find humor in his utterances, especially when he dons his tinfoil hat.http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2007/10/07/dawkins-walked-right-into-that-one/“When you think about how fantastically successful the Jewish lobby has been, though, in fact, they are less numerous I am told – religious Jews anyway – than atheists and [yet they] more or less monopolise American foreign policy as far as many people can see. So if atheists could achieve a small fraction of that influence, the world would be a better place." The implication (or outright statement) that Jews somehow control American foreign policy (or have undue power) is a staple of anti-Semitic and Holocaust denial websites everywhere."http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/09/richard-dawkins-pedophilia_n_3895514.html"He said the most notorious cases of pedophilia involve rape and even murder and should not be bracketed with what he called "just mild touching up.""Evabody gotta be some place"Yacov Moshe Maza - Jackie Mason1931 -Best RegardsClear Ether

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 12:34:29 am
content: Quote from: SgtRock on January 21, 2015, 11:45:58 pmIt always makes sense to consider the biases and position of someone whenever they say something, whether they are making silly statements about pedophilia or whether they are making silly statements about electric vehicles, etc.Dawkins work on science and religion is irrefutable. He's also got a point on the success of the Jewish lobby in the USA to have such a huge effect despite their small numbers. To compare that (true) statement with holocaust denial or anti-semitism is idiotic.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 01:12:18 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 22, 2015, 12:34:29 amErrr, he made a general and bombastic assertion that they (Jews) "monopolise American foreign policy". There is a big difference between that and merely stating that the "Jewish lobby"* has been, selectively, demonstrably effective in campaigning in its own interests.If the legitimacy of pointing out the stinking mire that Dawkins has so unintelligently dipped his big toe into here is lost on you, then either your perspective on both contemporary and historical anti-Semitism is somewhat lacking or you are just intractably dim.* though even that is arguably a tenuous generalization.

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 02:42:08 am
content: Greetings EEVBees:--I should have added in my previous post that anyone threatening Professor Dawkins should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and I am willing to bet that the vast majority of Christians and Jews condemn it as well. Dawkins writing on Evolution, as far as I know, is well thought of by his peers. And, while I certainly do not blame him for firing back at the literal minded fundamentalists, I think he makes a mistake when he paints with too broad a brush and insults people who have not insulted him, and who do not mean him any harm."Bombing Afghanistan back into the Stone Age' was quite a favourite headline for some wobbly liberals. The slogan does all the work. But an instant's thought shows that Afghanistan is being, if anything, bombed out of the Stone Age."Christopher Hitchens 1949 - 2011Best RegardsClear Ether

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 05:08:11 am
content: Hilarious video! Good to see his sense of humor.I read Dawkins "The Selfish Gene" as a course assignment while a graduate student in neuroscience in the 1980s. Despite already having a degree in biology, I didn't truly understand evolution until reading that book. Dawkins work and writing as an evolutionary biologist is outstanding and as such it's not surprising that creationists would find him to be a threat. I haven't read any of his athiest/anti-religion writings but I can imagine that must draw even more ire. Of course once you go into the realm of religion, you're no longer in the world of science or the physical world, so you can't expect reason or objective arguments to carry much weight on either side.I agree the whole anti-semite thing is a red-herring, just a backhanded attempt to tear him down, instead of dealing directly with his arguments.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 08:47:35 am
content: Quote from: mtdoc on January 22, 2015, 05:08:11 amOh rubbish. His comment in question was just plain stupid and indefensible and this fact has nothing at all to do with the veracity or otherwise of his science writings or the abject stupidity of various types of religious fundamentalists. That blog article linked to by SgtRock is in fact an articulate and reasonably well written piece by someone hardly unsympathetic towards Dawkin's agenda - and it deals with his argument(s) directly and comprehensively. Here is the link again, I suggest that you read it:http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2007/10/07/dawkins-walked-right-into-that-one/Though, IMO, the real, pertinent question here, doesn't concern Richards demonstrated superficiality in general when it comes to questions of politics, but why so many of those who pretentiously presume to reside on the "critical thinking" end of the spectrum are in fact so quick to uncritically defend him, no matter what bull crap (that hardly helps his cause) comes out of his mouth.

author: Yago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 09:21:39 am
content: Quote from: GK on January 22, 2015, 08:47:35 amI am not going to enter into what is becoming a political debate, but I would like to add to what GK said (note: I am certainly not attempting to speak for GK here!!!).It might not help his scientific cause, but the publicity probably still sells books.Even the most brilliant mind can hold the irrational, such as greed.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 09:26:44 am
content: I can highly recommend The God Delusion in audio book forum, spoken by Dawkins himself

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 02:10:06 pm
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 22, 2015, 12:34:29 amGood idea. Your lefty bias indeed explain the bigotry below.Quote from: Corporate666 on January 22, 2015, 12:34:29 am

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 03:00:03 pm
content: Greetings EEVBees:--I would like to point out that the last quote attributed to me, is actually, a quote of Dawkins, with included comment, from an article about Dawkins, which I provided. I quoted it because I thought the good prof. was full of it. Whether you like Israel and/or America and their foreign policies is your business, but I hardly think that Netanyahu or Obama would agree that Israel dominates US foreign policy.--This is not the first time I have provided a quote and a source for it, only to have the provided quote represented as if I had said it and not the author. This was the case when I provided an article about payback time for Canadian PV Solar installations. After which I was accused of buying a PV Solar installation in Canada, I live in Florida. I was told I was taking a 2x4 and barbedwire UTA, for being so stupid. That part of the post has since been taken down for obscenity. But I recommend the gentle reader check closely when folks are quoted in a clearly hostile manner to avoid confusion as to who said what.--To our esteemed moderators: Please consider dealing with name calling, by dealing with the name callers and not by locking the thread. And when locking a thread, please say why if possible. In any case it is your call, and I thank you for your efforts, which come out of your spare time.--For those of you interested in Evolution, I also recommend the works of Steven J. Gould. Gould is much less polemic and was not interested in eugenics.http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/aug/21/richard-dawkins-immoral-not-to-abort-a-downs-syndrome-foetus"It's like religion. Heresy, in science, is thought of as a bad thing, whereas it should be just the opposite"Thomas Gold 1920 - 2004Best RegardsClear Ether

author: KD0CAC John
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 03:30:38 pm
content: You guys haven't seen ?The Family Guy - creationPersonally my view of religion has changed over time , both my view & religion .In the early times of religion = is the human mind / ignorance trying to explain the universe .As time went on , the insanity of greed / corruption has used the ignorance to control & profit from the even more ignorant .Freedom of religion , the other side of that is , freedom from religion .Don't ask , don't tell

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 03:43:57 pm
content: Quote from: GK on January 22, 2015, 08:47:35 amI think you misunderstood me. I agree with you. I was not referring to the science blog article but to the poster here who brought up the issue.

author: ovnr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 04:40:03 pm
content: Quote from: SgtRock on January 22, 2015, 03:00:03 pmI'd suggest putting your quotes inside quote tags. It makes it more obvious that you're quoting someone.(Also, whatis itwith the frustratingly silly format of your posts? This isn't 1995, BBSes and 56k modems are no longer a thing, and random vaguely relevant quotes in your "signature" feel forced.)

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 05:09:52 pm
content: Dear Ovnr:--Very funny, a direct quote from a posting where the words "I get misquoted a lot" never appear. In this case I was not quoting an EEVBlog poster but an article, so your advice would not apply. You will note that most authors still use quotation marks, IE "". Nonetheless your fraudulent quote made me laugh. I am afraid I did not understand your point about BBS and modems.Quote from: ovnr on January 22, 2015, 04:40:03 pm"That's the thing about people who think they hate computers. What they really hate is lousy programmers."Laurence "Larry" van Cott Niven1938 -Best RegardsClear Ether

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 05:14:52 pm
content: The comment by Sgt Rock about Jewish control of US foreign policy deserves a detailed reply, I shall however be very careful here as a) it is drifting off-topic and b) this is a very hot issue.There are between 5.5 million and 6 million Jews in the USA according to various sources including the US Census, this represents about 1,7% of the US population. If a US politician were to suggest that the US cease or decrease its support of Israel it's virtually guaranteed that they would lose about 1,7% of their voters in favor of the opposition. No politician can afford to do this, therefore all *** US politicians support Israel.The connection between Richard Dawkins and US/Israeli politics? No idea.*** I am willing to be proved wrong here.

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 05:28:30 pm
content: Dear German_EE:--Please note that the entire extent of my comment was "--While I would not disagree with Dawkins position on the Supernatural, I also find humor in his utterances, especially when he dons his tinfoil hat." Everything else in my post was from the sources quoted. I am afraid I cannot endorse your statement that all US politicians support Israel."Does not squirrel crack nuts on bough of oak tree."Lao Fu 1411 - 1623Best RegardsClear Ether

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 05:57:27 pm
content: Quote from: SgtRock on January 22, 2015, 02:42:08 amTwo brothers, not too far apart - one is a defender of religion and the other was a defender of state religion.

author: ovnr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 06:06:59 pm
content: Quote from: SgtRock on January 22, 2015, 05:09:52 pmWell aware of the typographical implications of quote marks, my dear. But you have to admit that the quote tags, resulting in a whole separate box, stand out more, especially if you're quoting a whole paragraph of text. This practice - of highlighting a whole quoted passage by a more obvious way, traditionally by a "block quote" which is usually just indented text - has been common for decades. It's fine to quote a sentence or two like you do in your signature with quote marks, but peoplewillmiss them if you have a large, dense blob of text with some quotes interspersed in it.My point about your writing style is thatnoone elsestarts every post with "Dear (name)" or "Greetings EEVbees", and finish it with 4+ lines of manually typed/pasted signature. It is curious, hence why I asked about it; I, personally, don't think it adds to the experience.Now back to topic: Religious nutters are idiots. News at 11.

author: FrankBuss
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 06:08:14 pm
content: Quote from: German_EE on January 21, 2015, 10:26:39 pmI guess Dave doesn't get as much hate mail, or so dumb ones you get from religious fanatics. But some Dawkings read were quite creative

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 06:20:14 pm
content: Quote from: German_EE on January 22, 2015, 05:14:52 pmBy this logic, all French politician supports Islam (~10%).Also, 1.7% may be the national average but not necessarily in each state or congressional district.The reasons are deeper than that.

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 06:28:26 pm
content: Dear Electr-peter:--I fear I do not quite understand your remark, could you please elucidate.Quote from: electr_peter on January 22, 2015, 05:57:27 pm--Please see below link for a video wherein Dawkins and Hitchens hold forth, and neither one that I can see is defending religionists. Hitch was a student of Orwell, another leftist with which I often agree. Hitchens was intellectually honest to a fault. I do not know Dawkins yet well enough to say that. The below video was one of his last appearances. He will be missed.--PS I notice a lot of new members from Europe lately. Welcome to you all."The only relevant test of the validity of a hypothesis is comparison of prediction with experience. "Milton Friedman 1912 - 2006Best RegardsClear Ether

author: Zucca
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 06:34:03 pm
content: There is no true reason without faith and no true faith without reason.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 06:49:02 pm
content: Quote from: zucca on January 22, 2015, 06:34:03 pmI'd argue there can be no reason with faith if you're using the definition of the word that applies to religion. Like suspension of disbelief is needed to really get into a work of fiction, you need to suspend your reason to believe that which there can not be evidence for. But hey I also count string "theory" as a religion.

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 07:39:16 pm
content: Quote from: SgtRock on January 22, 2015, 06:28:26 pmI mean that both brothers hold strong and active political views. One is strongly in favour of a religion, other is proponent of atheism. Both have declared reasons to support seemingly opposing views. However, Christopher Hitchens actually almost unilaterally supported actions initiated by state with massive enthusiasm and practically zero critique (especially regarding recent conflicts). My point is that you can interpret some of these actions as religious in a sense of state religion (blind trust, 100% confidence, biases, etc.). There are sources to support it if you want to look deeper at it, this is not isolated opinion.I hope I make myself clear. I do not want to elaborate as this goes offtopic.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 09:01:42 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on January 22, 2015, 06:49:02 pmReason is based on axioms. Choose different axioms and you will end up with different conclusions. One possible axiom is 'deity X exists'.Don't get too concern on how other people choose to model the world, just make sure they don't force it on you.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 11:42:59 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on January 22, 2015, 09:01:42 pmThere was no malice, insult, or even annoyance meant to be conveyed in what I said at all, I'm sorry if it came across that way. I was simply good naturedly disagreeing and trying to say why.

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2015, 11:56:04 pm
content: Dear Electr-peter:--Welcome to the blog. In the 1970s I used to go with a friend to the Lithuanian Club in St. Pete Fl. They all told me then, that someday their country would be free. I am glad to see that they were right, and I hope that you can keep Putler at bay.--I quite take your point about Hitch being a state religionist. Any left wing atheist that steps off the reservation even for a moment, will be condemned as a religious nut job for not towing the line, much like antisemites accusing one another of acting just like a goddamned Jew."Europeans think Americans are fat, vulgar, greedy, stupid, ambitious and ignorant and so on. And they've taken as their own, as their representative American, someone (Michael Moore) who actually embodies all of those qualities."Christopher Hitchens 1949 - 2011Best RegardsClear Ether

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 01:28:38 am
content: I am guessing that as these people believe in "god" and a few references to the religion, 99% are Christian?For Christians they don't half swear a lot! I thought that was a sin in itself?Personally I couldn't care less what your beliefs are, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, just keep them to yourselves and do not try and force it upon others.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 02:18:54 am
content: Quote from: Wilksey on January 23, 2015, 01:28:38 amOK.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 04:08:37 am
content: Quote from: GK on January 22, 2015, 01:12:18 amNo, there is no legitimacy in "pointing out..." something Dawkins said that is entirely unrelated to the original post anymore than there is legitimacy in "pointing out" that Obama is friends with Bill Ayers or that the Bush family is close to the Saudi Royal family when the original topic is something entirely different. It is a lowbrow tactic for lowbrow intellects.Not to mention Dawkins put his statement into context by comparing with the atheist lobby which, despite being much larger has been much less successful.It is arrogant in the extreme to attempt to surmise what a more intelligent and accomplished man "meant" when he's been extremely transparent over the years in regards to his views. If he was a closet bigot that needed outing, it would have been pretty clear based on the sheer volume of his public statements over the years. In this case, it's just a funny video from a respected man highlighting the behavior his critics. No asterisks needed.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 04:11:11 am
content: Quote from: zapta on January 22, 2015, 02:10:06 pmYou obviously don't know what the word means.Giving credit to the Jewish lobby for being a fantastically successful group hardly qualifies, but sometimes when all you have is a hammer - everything looks like a nail.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 04:16:09 am
content: Quote from: zapta on January 22, 2015, 09:01:42 pmAxiom - another word worth looking up.Axioms are things with are self evidently true. Axioms aren't 'chosen' and if they conflict such that they lead to different results, then something wasn't axiomatic to start with.And "diety x exists" is, by definition, not an axiom.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 04:19:10 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 23, 2015, 04:08:37 amYou are just talking a lot of rubbish. Yawn.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 04:42:43 am
content: Quote from: GK on January 23, 2015, 04:19:10 amA compelling and persuasive reply. Unfortunately a logical fallacy nonetheless, so a swing and a miss, I'm afraid.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 04:54:44 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 23, 2015, 04:42:43 amThankyou, though it is a pity that I most certainly cannot return the compliment.QuotePointing out the fact that you talk rubbish is a "logical fallacy"?

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 04:59:36 am
content: QuoteYes, by definition. This is basic stuff.See if you can find yours:https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/

author: Syntax_Error
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 05:44:28 am
content: Axioms are very basic and rather boring, as they don't contribute directly to the point (the postulate) one is trying to make. Axioms are laid out to form the most basic bedrock of common ground from which everything else stems.Some of the most fundamental axioms required to have a meaningful discussion/debate:My senses and faculties are reliable to me.Physical existence is real, and I experience this through my senses and faculties.Events can happen which reliably have effects that influence events occurring after them.The easiest way to test an axiom is to attempt to describe or validate/prove it using something that does not require the axiom to be established. If you can, it is not a true axiom. "IF"s don't count. All these things are quite boring and have little to do with anything. Without them, no argument is logical, as we are all truly in the matrix then. Also of note is that axioms are not necessarily irrefutable. They can be proven wrong, but instead of circular logic/paradox effects, logic dictates the axiom is rejected outright, as it is no longer self evident.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 05:54:39 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 23, 2015, 04:59:36 amNo, sorry, it wasn't an argument, but simply a factual statement. You haven't even grasped the stupidity of Dawkins clueless public statements about Jews, his invocation of the quasi-mythical "Jewish lobby" conspiring for a supposed monopolization of American foreign policy. Even more disturbingly you seem to think that they are defensible, even truthful to a degree, and have even insinuated that those here pointing out said stupidity are necessarily labelling Dawkins an anti-Semite. And not only that, but we should all refrain from any criticism of such because Dawkins is an "intelligent" and "accomplished man"! I am sorry, but the one stuck knee deep in logical fallacy happens to be you.And furthermore, this thread was all about laughing at delusions of the tin-foil-hat brigade. Dawkins superficial and clueless public pronouncement on the Jewish monopolization of American foreign policy is certainly right up there in the foil hat domain, so, despite any devotions, are certainly not out of bounds for comment and ridicule.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 05:55:43 am
content: Quote from: Syntax_Error on January 23, 2015, 05:44:28 amIf you've ever seen an optical illusion you know that one is false. Our senses are incredibly unreliable. That doesn't stop meaningful discussion, unless you try to pretend they are reliable.

author: Syntax_Error
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 05:57:51 am
content: No, that doesn't change anything. Your perception of what you see during the optical illusion drives you to make an error in judgment. I didn't coin these, afterall. Just so you know.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 06:04:21 am
content: Quote from: Syntax_Error on January 23, 2015, 05:57:51 amI know. They are standard lines, rolled out like axioms, but they make no sense. A person who is broadly aware of the limitations of their body is in a totally different position for meaningful discussion than someone who buys into the idea that what their senses witness can be relied on. Have you ever looked into studies of eye witness accounts? We are almost totally delusional.

author: Syntax_Error
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 06:07:30 am
content: Perhaps that's why meaningful discussion is so rare!Afterall, most conversations, when viewed as a communication between two entities, spend vastly more time and effort hashing out the meaning of what was said by one party or the other than processing and evaluating the communicated information in a logical manner.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 06:10:23 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 23, 2015, 04:16:09 am'Self evidence' is a subjective choice.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 09:15:47 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 23, 2015, 04:11:11 amThat Jews, thanks to the devout work of a "Jewish lobby", monopolize American foreign policy, is an anti-Semitic claim, just as that homosexuals, thanks to the devout work of a "homosexual lobby", monopolize the Democratic Party, is a homophobic claim. If you either make or staunchly defend such claims, either out of a combination of stupidity and ignorance or actual malevolence, you run the risk of being called or labeled a bigot regardless. Even though it shouldn't need to be said, I'll point out that I'm not drawing any parallels between the persecution of Jews and the persecution of homosexuals here anyway.No compliments are intended for any minority group accused of conspiracy to invoke their own monopoly. More so than without you are really digging the hole for yourself that little bit deeper every time you blurt out the term "Jewish lobby" without being specific about exactly what group of people you mean and exactly what they have supposedly been so "fantastically successful" at, to borrow Dawkins bombastic words. An implied "Jewish lobby", as generally representative of an entire, diverse, minority-section of society (and by logical deduction an impressive feat of collusion, conspiracy and back-handed organization) successful at monopolizing American foreign affairs policy? Ha! don't make me laugh.Orac, author of the "Respectful Insolence" blog didn't actually go as far as he or she could have in his or her factual statement that: "The implication (or outright statement) that Jews somehow control American foreign policy (or have undue power) is a staple of anti-Semitic and Holocaust denial websites everywhere."The idea of a malevolent, behind-the-scenes conspiracy between Jews to monopolize and control society to their own ends to the detriment of everyone else as been at the very root of anti-Semitism probably since the very first anti-Jewish pogroms; eventually elevated beyond the status of the Christ-killing accusation by the Russian historical fabrication known as the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" and ultimately paving the way to Kristallnacht and the final solution.Though there is an element of truth in that people of Jewish descent often cut above their own weight in society, compared to non-Jews. One of the first things that becomes apparent, to anyone engaging in even a cursory study of Jewish history, is the relative diversity of ideology amongst even small populations of Jews. I don't believe that this is due to any superiority of a Jewish "race", but merely the fact that, being in a rather specific way a "stateless" people, and not bound to the dictates of established, state-sponsored ecclesiastical authorities, there was a great deal more freedom for diversity and exploration amongst Jews in all matters intellectual. Jews excelled markedly in academia, commerce, political thought. For example when Nazi Germany enacted the Nuremberg laws and revoked the citizenship of all Jewish citizens in the mid '30s, the academic and other institutions of higher learning lost on the order of 1/3 of their brains overnight. The comparative intellectual freedom amongst Jews and the fruits it bore were both a blessing and a curse; a curse because it made the deranged accusations of antisemitism so much easier to stick.To the simpleton the successful Jew was always an object of suspicion and contempt - not simply the product of effort and his or her comparative intellectual freedom, but a connivance between Jews to artificially elevate themselves in society above non Jews.

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 09:25:28 am
content: Dear GK:--Well said."If you had had a nickel for every nickel that he has, you would have a lot of nickels."Albert Einstein 1879 - 1955Best RegardsClear Ether

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 11:59:28 am
content: There is certainly a ludicrously powerful pro-Israel lobby in American politics:"It’s almost politically suicidal ... for a member of Congress who wants to seek re-election to take any stand that might be interpreted as anti-policy of the conservative Israeli government."That was Morris Amitay, former AIPAC director.As has been observed, Dawkins' mistake was to equate being Jewish with support for Israel. He should perhaps have been more aware of this considering that Stephen Fry, a prominent fellow British atheist, is a member of Jews for Justice for Palestinians, a UK-based group which opposes the current Israeli policy towards the Palestinian territories.

author: SgtRock
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 03:03:36 pm
content: Greetings EEVBees:--Professor Dawkins is indeed respected for his writings on evolution. And yes he does do a rather good job of driving back the philistines, albeit sometimes with the jaw bone of an ass. When I was 10 years old, I had a chemistry set and a microscope and lived with my grandmother, a school teacher who was not a believer. She was often affiliated with Methodist Church social scenes for the fellowship and also because she was a professional singer at weddings, funerals and what have you. So I was not taught faith, but I was taught respect and to keep my mouth shut. When I moved to Florida I began to encounter Baptist Bible Beaters at school, and was forced to ask them things like: "Do you really think the sun stood still when Joshua lay siege to Jericho". My debate opponents were usually to young to have learned humility or how to fake it, and would tell me I was going to Hell, and I would say, so do you believe that the sun goes around the earth, like the Bible says, or are you a goddamned atheist? I am quite familiar with the kind of folks that Dawkins chooses to engage with.--When people say that the Jews have too much power, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. You know, Jewish Banking Cabals and the like. Suppose I said, in this blog that the Homosexual Lobby has too much power or that Women have too much power. Can you imagine my being allowed to get away with it?--So when I debate the arguably antisemite Jew Baiters, in this blog, I fondly recall debating the Buckle of the Bible Belt Baptist Bible Beaters of my boyhood. Shalom.PS I love Stephen Fry, but disagree with him about many things."No burden is so heavy for a man to bear as a succession of happy days."Max Planck 1858 - 1947Best RegardsClear Ether

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 05:03:23 pm
content: Quote from: SgtRock on January 23, 2015, 03:03:36 pmVery good observation. Statements like that are often an indicator of something much deeper.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2015, 11:43:27 pm
content: May I remind those who are offended by something said in this thread, from the forum rules:In a public forum you have no right NOT to be offended by something.But of course, religious thread have a habit of being shut down on here, don't make me do that.I think the original post is interesting because it highlights hate mail, something of which most content producers, or those who speak their mind eventually get.I would read some of my hate mail, but all hateful email is simply deleted. Although there is probably plenty of fodder on youtube comments on some old videos. But I'm pretty proactive in deleting and banning the vile stuff these days.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 24, 2015, 12:09:47 am
content: Everyone just needs to lighten up.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2015, 12:17:52 am
content: In my experience running a website can even get you death threats! Over a decade ago I was involved in a website which listed companies. The person dealing with customer service got a death threat from someone who didn't want us to list his company.We went to the police which reluctantly took notice but they also took action by visiting the offender. Later (long after we removed the address) he send an e-mail complaining we send the police after himIn Dutch we have a saying which comes down to 'The Lord has strange lodgers' to note there are many strange people on this world.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2015, 02:38:06 pm
content: 'The Lord has strange lodgers'Amen to that!

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2015, 12:13:04 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on January 24, 2015, 12:17:52 amJim Morrison said the same thing:

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2015, 12:19:10 am
content: Now you know where he got it from!

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2015, 01:58:26 am
content: Quote from: SgtRock on January 23, 2015, 03:03:36 pmThat's a fair association, I think.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2015, 02:02:29 am
content: What's worse than a religious nutter? An atheist nutter. They both get the big.The biggest religion in the world is Stuff. An evil religion, doomed to fail as the planet gets overpopulated with people demanding more of Stuff. People do anything to get more Stuff. They will work long hours, mothers will leave their kids with someone else... just to get more Stuff. Now the Chinese have discovered Stuff and have joined the West in worshipping Stuff, filling Stuff's offering plate with huge sums of money. People in the West will walk over their fellow man, just to get more Stuff. Stuff is the great deceiver. You will never be satisfied no matter how much Stuff you get."Stuff off", I hear you say?Here endeth the lesson.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2015, 02:29:20 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on January 26, 2015, 02:02:29 amAmen brother. Well said!Says another imperfect soul fighting the allure of more stuff..

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2015, 02:55:39 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on January 26, 2015, 02:02:29 amI see that the church of less stuff uses FUD trying to convert the competition.There is only one true church, the church of NOYB.;-)

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2015, 06:32:13 am
content: Quote from: SgtRock on January 23, 2015, 03:03:36 pmWell, geez, I don't know, if people like Stephen Fry gave up campaigning for a "free" Palestine, they might eventually run out of chicken cordon bleu over there:http://www.tomgrossmedia.com/mideastdispatches/archives/001114.htmlJust contemplate the utter horror! OK, that was facile. I ignore that there is a war raging over there against that particularly virulent and nasty aggressor - you know, the one allied to the evil (only second in culpability) USA (now lets not bother to list its numerous other western allies). So nasty is that aggressor that the impoverished Palestinians have no other option but to have zero tolerance for traitors in their midst:*** images removed by moderator ***EDIT: Images "removed by moderator" found here (under "How moderate Muslims are treated" - click at your own discretion):http://www.tomgrossmedia.com/IslamicMilitancy.htmlNow if these poor impoverished people treat their own kind this way, then one can only imagine what they desire for the aggressor, and since it appears to be the general consensus (amongst the Fry types) that it is the aggressor that forces them to behave this way, then it only follows that the aggressor must be that much worse, right?I'm sure the Israelis treat traitors in their own midst much worse, and the public butchery and display of non-hardliners on the other side of the wall is a weekly affair just the same, but you know, that kind of shit would never ever make it to the papers due to cover-up and manipulation by that "Jewish-monopolized" USA.PSStrong serving of sarcasm in parts above (obviously).

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2015, 01:29:37 pm
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on January 26, 2015, 02:02:29 amI hoard you!