1. Comment #109814 by CruciFiction on January 9, 2008 at 8:04 pm

WTF? Something's gone terribly awry with that show.

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2. Comment #109815 by JonH on January 9, 2008 at 8:10 pm

I found it rather amusing.

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3. Comment #109816 by Chazzeroo on January 9, 2008 at 8:11 pm

Amusing indeed, and now Brits can claim better teeth than Americans! (at least for late night talk show hosts).

And given the host's insight into education, maybe we ought start burning bibles physically as well as intellectually in the classroom.

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4. Comment #109817 by TonyA on January 9, 2008 at 8:13 pm

"Of course there's no god! Don't be so silly."

I liked it.


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5. Comment #109819 by Macropus on January 9, 2008 at 8:16 pm

What a scream - I loved it. Nice to see RD smiling so much.

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6. Comment #109820 by tedlove on January 9, 2008 at 8:29 pm

haha... RD looks utterly puzzled when those dancers come out.

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7. Comment #109822 by He-man Daunted World on January 9, 2008 at 8:38 pm

I want one of those Richard Dawkins dolls

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8. Comment #109823 by morgantj on January 9, 2008 at 8:40 pm

Richard got a huge smile when that doll came out. It was good.

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9. Comment #109825 by eyz1005 on January 9, 2008 at 9:03 pm

Very funny and well liked by the audience, don't think an American audience like on Jay Leno or David Lettermen would be as accepting, still too taboo.

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10. Comment #109835 by ghuckin on January 9, 2008 at 10:08 pm

I like Brigstocke, but I'm not sure the chemistry was there between him and RD. I preferred RD's interview with George Strombulopoulos on CBC "The Hour" a little while back.

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11. Comment #109836 by Richard Morgan on January 9, 2008 at 10:11 pm

...the vast majority of religious people who are more like Jerry Falwell and Ted Haggard...

No comment.

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12. Comment #109837 by Janus on January 9, 2008 at 10:25 pm

Richard probably didn't mean that most religious people are like Jerry Falwell when it comes to morality, but when it comes to the ridiculousness (and lack of sophistication) of their beliefs, which is probably true.

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13. Comment #109841 by Elles on January 9, 2008 at 10:38 pm

That was totally funnier than the Colbert Report! Insane, but hilarious.

I <3 Richard Dawkins doll. Must obtain... must obtain...

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14. Comment #109842 by soul_biscuit on January 9, 2008 at 10:38 pm

It was pretty damn funny, especially the doll. Hot damn!

Still doesn't topple the Stephen Colbert spot for "Funniest Interview with Richard Dawkins" in my book, however.

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15. Comment #109844 by mdowe on January 9, 2008 at 10:40 pm

I thought Professor Dawkins looked just a little uncomfortable -- like someone that felt out of place. Perhaps it was just the cold.

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16. Comment #109847 by Roy_H on January 9, 2008 at 11:01 pm

"Comment #109844 by mdowe on January 9, 2008 at 10:40 pm I thought Professor Dawkins looked just a little uncomfortable -- like someone that felt out of place. Perhaps it was just the cold."

Yes I think he would have been better off sat in front of a fire with a mug of hot milk with a spoonful of honey and a tot of whisky in it. what a complete waste of Richard's valuable time!

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17. Comment #109848 by kram50 on January 9, 2008 at 11:05 pm

I don,t know if RD has ever been to Alberta Canada, and I don,t know how he would be accepted. But I really would anticipate any reaction that gets people talking. I think he is the most enjoyable speaker on our behalf (I wish I could articulate as good as he does). If anyone out there knows of furure visits near here by RD or either of the 4 horses, please let me know. There are other good, moral, reasonable friends of mine that would very much like to listen to him. I would call in sick (or delusional)sell my wifes gardening tools, miss a hockey game, well...you know. I look forward to the day. In the meantime I will contine to enjoy everyones comments and keep track as best I can to this sight. It's great!

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18. Comment #109850 by cp21yos on January 9, 2008 at 11:35 pm

@Roy_H

what a complete waste of Richard's valuable time!

Actually I think anything that gets more head space in the general mass media is a good thing - even more so when its a positive presentation. Like they though - all press is good press even the bad stuff - if for no reason other than it gets people talking and hopefully questioning...

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19. Comment #109856 by Philip1978 on January 10, 2008 at 12:21 am

Of course I loved the doll and Marcus Brigstocke was his usual amazing self but I think the most telling part of that was when Professor Dawkins was talking about science.

If there is one thing I could watch over again its scientists talking about science and how just utterly mind boggling and Tea drinkingly good it all is. Be it my friend who is a Biologist/Psychologist/Pharmaceutical genius to my old Biology teacher at school - I just love watching or listening to people explain things about how interesting life can actually be. Be it looking at the smallest bacteria and molecules to the sheer mahooosiveness of the universe, there is always something to get excited about and that it is of actual help and usefulness because it can explain REAL things.

Plus it can change as well, ideas don't just have to have one explanation if a better and more useful theory or fact becomes apparent. Of course science isnt perfect, never will be - but at least its doing something useful. Ideas and procedures don't have to last 2000 years and never change, they can be fixed if facts are not correct.

BRAVO TO SCIENCE!

Apologies for happy rant but I have had some rather nice Spice Imperial Tea this morning and wanted to share it with you!

Cheeeeers

Philip

Other Comments by Philip1978

20. Comment #109857 by BigChiefRainInFace on January 10, 2008 at 12:23 am

For a moment there I feared he was going to invite RD to dance.

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21. Comment #109859 by ADH on January 10, 2008 at 12:41 am

Says it all really. That's about the level that we're dealing with. Next thing we know there'll be Benny Hinn style atheist tele-evangelists. Though Dawkins and Hitchens are doing pretty nicely in that role already!

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22. Comment #109862 by bujin on January 10, 2008 at 12:56 am

Aye, not bad. I remember seeing a clip of Hitchens talking about Falwell, but I missed that particular quote - it made me larf! :oD

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23. Comment #109863 by Sharrow on January 10, 2008 at 1:01 am

I agree that it was a trivial piece - but good from the point of view of reaching a mass-audience - if such a term can be applied to BBC's Late Edition!

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24. Comment #109864 by AllanW on January 10, 2008 at 1:03 am

ADH; when we see prominent atheists building university/diploma mills, fleecing people of billions of dollars/pounds and getting national leaders elected or not then and only then will you have the smallest scrap of justification for sneering. Until then I respectfully suggest you get a little perspective and ask a medical expert to have a look at that twitch you're developing in the knee region.

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25. Comment #109867 by andyx1205 on January 10, 2008 at 1:15 am

LOL "Of course there's no God, don't be so silly!" wow haa

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26. Comment #109869 by Steve Zara on January 10, 2008 at 1:16 am

ADH: Are Dawkins and Hitchens demanding money from people for supernatural favours? Have they promised people cures from diseases through prayer?

And, could you explain how what you claim has any relation to the truth or otherwise of what they say?

If I remember rightly, there are a considerable number of questions that you have left unanswered on other threads....

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27. Comment #109872 by borthers on January 10, 2008 at 1:37 am

ADH: Has your TV/PC not got an on/off switch then?

I think it's great to see RD getting some exposure on mainstream TV, humour is such a great way of getting a message across without seeming to "preach", especially with younger audiences. IMO humour could be a very fertile channel for pro-science and pro-atheism messages, especially since most religious people I know seem to be completely devoid of a good sense of humour or at least it's seriously stunted by their ridiculous hang-ups about most normal bodily functions etc.

It would be really cool to see a line up of Marcus, Eddie Izzard, Stephen Fry, Ricky Gervais, Paul Merton etc. doing something "QI like" with RD, for charity or something, helping shift the zeitgeist so that being smart is seen to be cool, rather than at the moment when being as stupid as possible seems to be revered by many (Jane Goody et al).

I might suggest relaxing the outfit a bit for a show like that though ;-)

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28. Comment #109874 by tobybarrett on January 10, 2008 at 1:42 am

As a big fan of Dawkins (obviously) and Marcus Brigstocke (his Now Show rants about religion are still on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY-ZrwFwLQg
) how did I miss this when broadcast?

If it was over the Xmas period I guess it was because I ignored everything that wasn't Doctor Who.

Toby

Other Comments by tobybarrett

29. Comment #109875 by Rob A on January 10, 2008 at 1:42 am

YouTube version: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FBSrO6EV9x8

Other Comments by Rob A

30. Comment #109877 by LeeLeeOne on January 10, 2008 at 1:45 am

This site is the reason I "preach" that you need to rid yourself of traditional TV and traditional information sources.

If not for this website, I would have never been aware of the wonderful interview:
George Strombulopoulos on CBC "The Hour", or http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1563

What a great interview!

Prof. Dawkins, once again I thank you and your staff for this website, and your supporters, readers, proponents and opponents. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION is endless. But only if those who have sought actually choose to teach (share, comment, lecture, etc.).

Education - this is what I, personally, consider the "circle of life", in the totally nontraditional, nonreligious sense. Education is forever as education is passed to the next generation, and to theirs, and theirs, etc. Education is really evolution.

And yes, I would love to have one of those Dawkins Dolls - what a hoot!

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31. Comment #109887 by bamboospitfire on January 10, 2008 at 2:06 am

Hmmm. The look on the Professor's face at the end suggested he thought someone had spiked his tea with acid.

I agree with Philip that the science discussion at the start was the most important part. Prof. Dawkins's enthusiasm is infectious.

I thought he was a bit kind to Rowan Williams and rather harsh on the general religous public, however. It wasn't too long ago we had an article posted here which confirmed that Williams had admitted that he would not say anything from the pulpit that he didn't personally believe. The article went on to confirm some things that Williams had said, all of which were total batshit. Williams may be an intelligent, learned man, but he still believes some total rubbish and his criticism of Prof. Dawkins is downright disingenuous. By the same token, many members of the public who believe such things are still intelligent and learned, but they are suffering from a major case of cognitive dissonance. Presumably Prof. Dawkins was going for laughs.

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32. Comment #109897 by Will S on January 10, 2008 at 2:36 am

Without wanting to sound too solemn, I thought it was rather encouraging.

Look what happened. RD was allowed, and encouraged, to present an anti-religious point of view, without being subjected to harsh and searching cross examination, and without there being any religious person on hand to put across an opposing point of view.

In other words, he was being given the same privileges which religious people are given all the time, and which it's taken for granted that they should receive.

An interesting step in the right direction.

Other Comments by Will S

33. Comment #109903 by Tyler Durden on January 10, 2008 at 2:46 am

Comment by ADH:

Says it all really. That's about the level that we're dealing with.

ADH, so sorry to see you are without a sense of humour, life can be tough not knowing how to laugh or see the funny side of things. Any idea where exactly you lost it and when?

Perhaps you could check eBay, see if you can buy a cheap second-hand sense of humour, every human should have one!! :)

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34. Comment #109912 by SilentMike on January 10, 2008 at 3:36 am

That was swell.

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35. Comment #109913 by StephenP on January 10, 2008 at 3:40 am

It would be really cool to see a line up of Marcus, Eddie Izzard, Stephen Fry, Ricky Gervais, Paul Merton etc. doing something "QI like" with RD

How about a one-off QI special with Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens?

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36. Comment #109927 by Hugo on January 10, 2008 at 4:26 am

Chalk me up for one of those dolls.
And they could have a whole series with Christpher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and a sort of interaction thing like those Furby dolls.
What a wonderfull world it would be ;-)

Other Comments by Hugo

37. Comment #109937 by clatz on January 10, 2008 at 5:16 am

StephenP,

Stirling idea, might have to drop Dan though, I think they only have three guests (plus Alan).

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38. Comment #109944 by Styrer- on January 10, 2008 at 5:58 am

I think it is fantastic that the Professor appears on programmes like this. A remorseless 'drip technique' of such appearances is a vital part of the fight between reason and supernatural superstition.

We all owe the Professor an immense debt of gratitude for engaging in this way with the media and spreading the message, especially when the programmes involved are, er, perhaps not exactly of the type we associate with an Oxford Professor!

Marvellous.

Best,
Styrer

Other Comments by Styrer-

39. Comment #109951 by bluebird on January 10, 2008 at 6:29 am

Rob A, thanks for the YouTube link!



If the timing/circumstances were different, it would be neat to see Professor Dawkins on the Johnny Carson Show.




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40. Comment #109954 by Janus on January 10, 2008 at 6:37 am

ADH:

Says it all really. That's about the level that we're dealing with. Next thing we know there'll be Benny Hinn style atheist tele-evangelists.

No, see, you're ignoring the fundamental difference:
Tele-evangelists are preaching lies, Dawkins is stating the truth.

Other Comments by Janus

41. Comment #109956 by mcadamsdj on January 10, 2008 at 6:49 am

Where can I gets me one of those RD dolls??? I've got to imagine that they'll start popping up on Ebay sooner or later!

Other Comments by mcadamsdj

42. Comment #109960 by ADH on January 10, 2008 at 7:08 am

"Prof. Dawkins's enthusiasm is infectious."

Indeed! He is an atheist meme machine!

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43. Comment #109964 by Steve Zara on January 10, 2008 at 7:15 am

Indeed! He is an atheist meme machine!

Would you like me to search out the questions still waiting for you on other threads, or shall I leave you to it?

Other Comments by Steve Zara

44. Comment #109967 by Synchronium on January 10, 2008 at 7:27 am

...But what IS Richard's favourite packet of crisps?!

If it's red flavour, I'm becoming muslim.

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45. Comment #109969 by NineBerry on January 10, 2008 at 7:38 am

Youtube version of the video
- for those that don't follow the mac religion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBSrO6EV9x8

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46. Comment #109972 by Steinsky on January 10, 2008 at 7:46 am

I went to a recording of the Late Edition -- I was overwhelmed: sat in the front row with the wonderful Marcus stood right next to me.

But I'm so dissapointed that rather than being assigned the edition with Dawkins or the marvelous Tony Benn, I ended up at the one with the utterly utterly pointless "comedian" Michael McIntyre.

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47. Comment #109973 by Tyler Durden on January 10, 2008 at 7:49 am

Comment by ADH:

Indeed! He is an atheist meme machine!

See my comment #33 above!

Other Comments by Tyler Durden

48. Comment #109980 by ADH on January 10, 2008 at 8:24 am

Steve, remind me of what the questions were and I'll do my best.

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49. Comment #109985 by Steve Zara on January 10, 2008 at 8:47 am

ADH: Perhaps these are best responded to on the appropriate thread: "Six Reasons to be an Atheist".

My question was: What do you consider the common core of Christian morality?

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50. Comment #109988 by Darwin's badger on January 10, 2008 at 8:49 am

Comment by clatz:

StephenP,

Stirling idea, might have to drop Dan though, I think they only have three guests (plus Alan).

That's perfect; Alan can say all of the dumb, obvious-but-wrong answers as usual.

Fry: "Who created the Earth?"

Alan: "It was God."

A-woooo-urrgh! A-woooo-urgh!

:)

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