[Livia]

Academics can sometimes be very stupid. As Sandy Toksvig said, Cambridge is full of people who can split the atom but can't change a light bulb. How true... yet in their field some academics - scientists especially - have a God-like status. I think that's the trouble with Dawkins: for an intelligent man he's a ****ing idiot.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Livia

Academics can sometimes be very stupid. As Sandy Toksvig said, Cambridge is full of people who can split the atom but can't change a light bulb. How true... yet in their field some academics - scientists especially - have a God-like status. I think that's the trouble with Dawkins: for an intelligent man he's a ****ing idiot.

I'm not sure what Sandy Toksvigs opinion is on academics, I don't know any who are given god like status and in Richard Dawkins case to afford him that would be an insult considering he can't acknowledge his existence...

The trouble with dawkins is that too many are conditioned into a certain mindset and a specific list of social mores that compartmentalise things very neatly, not allowing for any self exploration whatsoever to even consider he may have a point.
We fear what we don't understand is all and masque our own ignorance with mockery and censorship.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I'm not sure what Sandy Toksvigs opinion is on academics, I don't know any who are given god like status and in Richard Dawkins case to afford him that would be an insult considering he can't acknowledge his existence...

The trouble with dawkins is that too many are conditioned into a certain mindset and a specific list of social mores that compartmentalise things very neatly, not allowing for any self exploration whatsoever to even consider he may have a point.
We fear what we don't understand is all and masque our own ignorance with mockery and censorship.

...I've been accused of plenty, but I can't say that includes being socially conditioned in mindset or ignorant of the facts.

I also read The Selfish Gene cover to cover when I was 15 and found it utterly fascinating, and agree wholeheartedly with a lot of what he has to say in the media.

I just know the difference between Dawkins the academic and Dawkins the attention *****. If he doesn't make statements like this one to deliberately shock and cause controversy, then he is an idiot. And he is not an idiot. Therefore, it is his intention. For recognition, for notoriety, to maintain his status as a "household name". Failing to see what's right in front of your face whilst accusing others of being ignorant, is utterly baffling.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

...I've been accused of plenty, but I can't say that includes being socially conditioned or blinkered.

I also read The Selfish Gene cover to cover when I was 15 and found it utterly fascinating, and agree wholeheartedly with a lot of what he has to say in the media.

I just know the difference between Dawkins the academic and Dawkins the attention *****. If he doesn't make statements like this one to deliberately shock and cause controversy, then he is an idiot. And he is not an idiot. Therefore, it is his intention. For recognition, for notoriety, to maintain his status as a "household name". Failing to see what's right in front of your face whilst accusing others of being blind, is utterly baffling.

If you're alluding to me here I didn't say anyone was blind or blinkered, you did.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

If you're alluding to me here I didn't say anyone was blind or blinkered, you did.

Originally Posted by Kizzy

The trouble with dawkins is that too many are conditioned into a certain mindset and a specific list of social mores that compartmentalise things very neatly, not allowing for any self exploration whatsoever to even consider he may have a point.
We fear what we don't understand is all and masque our own ignorance with mockery and censorship.

...?

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

...?

See I did not say 'blind' or 'blinkered' please don't misquote me.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

See I did not say 'blind' or 'blinkered' please don't misquote me.

"conditioned into a mindset" and "ignorant" aren't synonymous with "blinkered"?...

OK, if you insist, I have edited the post. As you can see, it now reads completely differently. Or alternatively, exactly the same, because it still means the same thing.

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

...I've been accused of plenty, but I can't say that includes being socially conditioned in mindset or ignorant of the facts.

I also read The Selfish Gene cover to cover when I was 15 and found it utterly fascinating, and agree wholeheartedly with a lot of what he has to say in the media.

I just know the difference between Dawkins the academic and Dawkins the attention *****. If he doesn't make statements like this one to deliberately shock and cause controversy, then he is an idiot. And he is not an idiot. Therefore, it is his intention. For recognition, for notoriety, to maintain his status as a "household name". Failing to see what's right in front of your face whilst accusing others of being ignorant, is utterly baffling.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I'm not sure what Sandy Toksvigs opinion is on academics, I don't know any who are given god like status and in Richard Dawkins case to afford him that would be an insult considering he can't acknowledge his existence...

The trouble with dawkins is that too many are conditioned into a certain mindset and a specific list of social mores that compartmentalise things very neatly, not allowing for any self exploration whatsoever to even consider he may have a point.
We fear what we don't understand is all and masque our own ignorance with mockery and censorship.

the trouble is dawkins is conditioned in an evil mindset and clearly hes affecting your mindset too

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I'm not sure what Sandy Toksvigs opinion is on academics, I don't know any who are given god like status and in Richard Dawkins case to afford him that would be an insult considering he can't acknowledge his existence...

The trouble with dawkins is that too many are conditioned into a certain mindset and a specific list of social mores that compartmentalise things very neatly, not allowing for any self exploration whatsoever to even consider he may have a point.
We fear what we don't understand is all and masque our own ignorance with mockery and censorship.

I'm sure you don't know any academic scientists who are given God-like status. I'm sure you don't know any academic scientists... full stop.

I find your last sentence very strange. You begin "the trouble with Dawkins" and continue with a rather insulting summing up of everyone who doesn't agree with him, and by extension, with you. And now the debate has degenerated into the usual argument about semantics.

As for his "apology"... it's just one of those "I'm sorry that you feel that way" apologies that mean nothing.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Livia

I'm sure you don't know any academic scientists who are given God-like status. I'm sure you don't know any academic scientists... full stop.

I find your last sentence very strange. You begin "the trouble with Dawkins" and continue with a rather insulting summing up of everyone who doesn't agree with him, and by extension, with you. And now the debate has degenerated into the usual argument about semantics.

As for his "apology"... it's just one of those "I'm sorry that you feel that way" apologies that mean nothing.

Do you mean personally...then no, I don't in reality how many do?

I haven't insulted anyone, I'm sorry you feel that way.
The trouble with dawkins is that he goes against everything some have been taught, is that a better description, not sure I can make it any clearer.

TS misunderstood my inference and I corrected it, no semantic drama.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Do you mean personally...then no, I don't in reality how many do?

I haven't insulted anyone, I'm sorry you feel that way.
The trouble with dawkins is that he goes against everything some have been taught, is that a better description, not sure I can make it any clearer.

TS misunderstood my inference and I corrected it, no semantic drama.

I didn't misunderstand it, you were inferring that anyone who takes issue with what Dawkins had to say on the issue simply doesn't understand it (or even is incapable of understanding it).

Which is rather a bold statement to make, and you can't really be surprised that people aren't particularly happy about it.

"Don't worry, it's not YOUR fault that you are incapable of understanding the flawless reasoning of this great mind".

It's nonsense.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I didn't misunderstand it, you were inferring that anyone who takes issue with what Dawkins had to say on the issue simply doesn't understand it (or even is incapable of understanding it).

Which is rather a bold statement to make, and you can't really be surprised that people aren't particularly happy about it.

"Don't worry, it's not YOUR fault that you are incapable of understanding the flawless reasoning of this great mind".

It's nonsense.

Nope, you did that....

'I even think I have a good idea why. His academic and scientific works are complex and wonderful. However, he realised at some point that they are ultimately pointless, because people are not on the whole very intelligent, and can't hope to grasp it.

People en masse, being idiots, are good for only one thing: exploiting that idiocy for financial and personal gain. Something that he has done expertly for years.'

Again please don't put words in my mouth.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Nope, you did that....

'I even think I have a good idea why. His academic and scientific works are complex and wonderful. However, he realised at some point that they are ultimately pointless, because people are not on the whole very intelligent, and can't hope to grasp it.

People en masse, being idiots, are good for only one thing: exploiting that idiocy for financial and personal gain. Something that he has done expertly for years.'

Again please don't put words in my mouth.

And you did this:

"...too many are conditioned into a certain mindset and a specific list of social mores that compartmentalise things very neatly, not allowing for any self exploration whatsoever to even consider he may have a point.
We fear what we don't understand is all and masque our own ignorance with mockery and censorship."

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Nope, you did that....

'I even think I have a good idea why. His academic and scientific works are complex and wonderful. However, he realised at some point that they are ultimately pointless, because people are not on the whole very intelligent, and can't hope to grasp it.

People en masse, being idiots, are good for only one thing: exploiting that idiocy for financial and personal gain. Something that he has done expertly for years.'

Again please don't put words in my mouth.

I'm referring to his academic works, not his "moral reasoning". His science is niche, it doesn't appeal to a mainstream audience, and he knows this. Banding around controversy on Twitter, as always, DOES sadly have mass appeal. Therefore, he now mostly does just that.

He at some point has decided that he values his fame over his academic integrity. Completely understandable and I'm not even saying he's wrong to do so.

But the point stands: his twitter comments are deliberately designed to spark outrage and further his notoriety. They are his opinion, overinflated and bluntly stated for effect. It is NOT SCIENCE.

That has been my one and only point. His ethical opinions are not somehow more weighted because he is a scientist. They are just a man's opinions. Just another squawk amongst the tweets.

If the question being debated was actually to do with the ins and outs of genetic science, that might be different. But it isn't. It's human interest musings.