
not the topic, but the total biased nature of it. One token Atheist against a room of believers. Never lets a word in edge ways and laughed at at any opportunity. It just turns into a 'mmm, mmm, explain THAT Mr Scientist'... 'ok, here goes'. 'There is no way you can explain that', 'well, give us a cha...' 'HA stupid, you cant can you' kinda debate.
Is there evidence of any God? Is there any evidence of rationality at the BBC more like.
Rant over, time for a cuppa...
part 2 here
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:02, Reply)

God is REAL, he made the internets!
And he Loves you (but not in a shirt lifting way)
*and I need to lay off the love drugs, in the mornings
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:07, Reply)

I seem to have a sore arse...
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:09, Reply)

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/us_and_canada/10321466.stm
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 14:28, Reply)

"God is LOVE*
God is REAL, he made the internets!
And he Loves you (but not in a shirt lifting way)"
No! No! No!
God is a cunt!
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 18:52, Reply)

that smug twat at the start talking shite was enough for me. utter wanker talking utter shite.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:09, Reply)

They were going to be talking about assisted dying and euthanasia, and found my name - the topic is among my research interests. Apparently, the Archbishop of Canterbury was going to be another panellist.
The researcher rang up and asked me some questions to see if I would have something interesting to say. We chatted for about half an hour, and it seemed to go well.
At the end of our conversation, she said, "That sounds great - exactly the sort of thing we need. Now, the problem is, we'll be filming in Southampton, and that's quite a long way from Manchester. So do you know of anyone further south who'd be willing to make the same kind of point?"
I lasted 4 seconds for this clip, btw...
EDIT: GAH! I watched some! I've seen Adam Deen speak. He's an idiot. The fact that he describes himself as a philosopher here makes my blood boil. Mr Deen: a philosopher - like a scientist - is someone who starts with questions, not with answers. ergo, you are not a philosopher.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:14, Reply)

I think I still would have made it, and just tutted all the way through it :-)
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:17, Reply)

Were it a matter of the expense, I'd've stood that happily - or, at least, charged it to my employer. The problem was that the invitation was withdrawn.
:(
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:21, Reply)

I just think it was there way of saying 'you are far too intelligent for this program'.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:25, Reply)

how would you have coped with all the religious nutters and stayed calm?
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:32, Reply)

I have no problem with euthanasia or AD - though I do have problems with the way a lot of the laws about it are framed.
I think Lord Joffe's Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill was fatally flawed (badum-tish!) - he told me himself that he kind of agrees - and the current bill in Scotland, by setting a lower limit at 16, is unjustifiably ageist. I told them that in my written evidence to their current enquiry - let's see how far that goes...
EDIT: as for the staying calm - well, I'd have managed that. Even if I say so myself, I'm quite good at flattening people in argument with a smile on my face...
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:39, Reply)

..with believers is that you just cannot win. They have nothing to go on, so they rest back on faith, and the fact that they dont HAVE to prove a damn thing through science. By resting on the faith argument, and essentially saying 'you just have to believe me', then they are above even debate, which makes them impossible to debate with.
Fuck em.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:07, Reply)

There is no point arguing with believers, they have their heads in a wooly safe place akin to putting their fingers in their ears, closing their eyes and shouting "LALALALALALALA" while you try to talk to them.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:17, Reply)

I lasted up to 01:18 when my eye-balls started to roll around of their own accord and I began smearing my monitor with bogies.
Wouldn't it be great for someone to quote old Douglas Adams (gawd rest 'im) when he said something along the lines of "proof of God's existence would mean the redundancy of faith (when faced with the existance of the Babel Fish), without which God wouldn't exist". God pondered this for a nano-second before disappearing in a puff of logic.
I hate these self-satisfied pharasaical toss-pots. Can't you be sent to hell for being a smug show-off? Probably.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:20, Reply)

*converts*
Nice Adams quote btw :-)
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:24, Reply)

... the first question from the audience was about whether non-Muslims would automatically go to Hell.
He said no: only those who were aware of Islam and didn't accept it would go there. Those who had been born before Islam, or who had never been exposed to it, would be treated mercifully (!).
The questioner was genuinely disappointed by this fact. It was a really strange experience.
(It was also strange that, at a public lecture on University grounds, they still insisted on segregating the men and women...)
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:29, Reply)

In a corner, on its own was a Euthanasia machine. I got a stunned luck from her when I said 'ah, every home should have one'. I prolly shouldnt have said it so load. Museums are quiet places.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:35, Reply)

At school, I remember being told by our teachers to find out more about Youth In Asia. Never having heard the word 'euthanasia' before, I handed in a good piece about kids in India and was rewarded with a "you-smug-little-shit" look from my teacher. I was honestly dumbfounded.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:51, Reply)

so the next day I said 'urinate miss, but if your tits were bigger you'd be a 10'.*
may be a lie.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:56, Reply)

and am amused to see your good self with this from a few years back.
( , Thu 8 Aug 2013, 22:00, Reply)

knowledge without any actions. they talk the talk but don't wlk the walk. like most religious hypocrites.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:30, Reply)

Yes, i used the word 'pharasaical' in the "holier-than-thou" context of the word. Sorry for any confusion.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:46, Reply)

should not be allowed on telly. They have debates like 'does the NHS work?'. People stick their hands up and say 'Oh, if people believed in God they wouldnt get drunk and have to go to hospital'. Nobody was talking about God, they were talking about the NHS. Every question gets religion shoe-horned into it despite having no relevance.
This debate shows exactly how this show works. Sit a scientist down and throw a bunch of god-bashers at him. Why ois this program allowed? It's biased. I would argue that it goes against our British principals of tolerance. After all, Christianity supposes that all non-believers and subscribers to other religions are going to hell.
09:05 "Tell us about love". I have never wanted to kick someones protuding chin off their fucking head so fucking much in my cunting life.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:21, Reply)

and he was going to humour her, but wasnt aloud too...
I think you are right too, it should not be allowed to be on telly. There are/were some great religious programming this year (the history of the bible, the history of christianity) all very well balanced (apart from Anne Widdecombe, who is as batty as Mr McBat winning the battiest bat competition at Battington) and a joy to watch.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:31, Reply)

which can be done well - and religious programmes?
(It's analogous to the difference between rock music made by Christians, and Christian rock. The former stands at least a chance of not sucking - although, admittedly, the existence of Good Charlotte, Sixpence None the Richer and Feeder count against that claim...)
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:36, Reply)

and kinda my point before I got distracted by a shiny thing...
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:46, Reply)

..why is it even assumed that the religious opinion should have its voice on tv at all? Why is it deemed important enough to have it's own slot? I dont see a pro-muslim hour, or a a pro-hindu show, or a program to promote the idea that lemonade is a cure for aids, or some such other nonsense that is plucked from thin air.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:36, Reply)

bit as much as I am a Dawkins grade atheist, I believe that religion has had a big hand in how the world has been shaped. I find churches and cathedrals breath taking, and also have the viewpoint that I must understand something before I believe/not believe it. I also find how and why people believe things interesting also. Just a me thing I s'pose :-)
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:41, Reply)

Cue endless stream of none-too-bright people going, "But atheism's just a religion, too"...
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:50, Reply)

kinda. I made a similar comment about churches and such, now she thinks I am a closet believer, and is going to buy me a cross for my birthday.
(I know what you meant btw:-)
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:55, Reply)

in ye olde times.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:10, Reply)

The BBC are honor bound to broadcast pro-religion propoganda
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:05, Reply)

except for the proffessor guy, but he isn't enough to keep me watching cos I heard it all before.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:33, Reply)

believers one side, non-believers the other. Agnostics in the middle, and one panelist to represent each section...
I was wrong...
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:36, Reply)

are blind to the truth.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:37, Reply)

this stuff shouldn't be posted on here.. its distracting from the real world...
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:38, Reply)

but i bet if those little dudes could talk 4 of them would ask you to explain "Skweeeee" if there was no god!
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:46, Reply)

Or however you spell it, fuck religion god abandond me in my times of need. and don't get me started on all that relgious tripe.
Edit: rant mode
Christianity, was a member of the C of E, can't abide being a christian anymore. Evangelicalists can fuck right off. Islam, if i don't believe in your relgion i'm going to hell? fuck off. they can all fuck off too with their medeival religion. Buddism, Chill out? yes please but its not my cup of tea. Judasim, as bad as christinaity. 'Druidic cults' yes you are so new aged, go back to smoking your weed hippy. and to any other religion, Shut up and fuck off.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:42, Reply)

Most people would have said 'well, I suppose it wasnt my turn for god to be kind to me'.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:47, Reply)

A non religious person would have turned religious O.o
And i had an evangelical girlfriend who would mention the church almost all the time... never again (but she did have some massive tits)
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:56, Reply)

Me again. Just been onto the blog of Adam Deen (the smug, sanctimonious punchbag in the first bit) and he's a man with some very strong views that he's more than happy to share. adamdeen.blogspot.com/2008/05/next-stop-muslim-homosexuality.html
The quiet religious people are OK (my nan etc). It's the ones who shove it right down your throat, think they know what 'God' was thinking when he neglected to mention dinosaurs in the bible and don't tolerate other people's views that really get on my tits.
Whoever mentioned "kicking the chin of someone's face" is talking my language.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:44, Reply)

really need a cup of tea and a quick go on red dead before the missus comes back...
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:48, Reply)

Deen is an idiot, and oughtn't to call himself a philosopher.
A philosopher starts with questions, not with answers.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:53, Reply)

In a tiny sentence you have done two things. Described a philosopher and rubbished Mr Deen's smug, shit-munching face. Awesome.
Notice how he looked up into the air when he was talking. That just made him look even more like a deranged lunatic. And his eyes are too close together.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:02, Reply)

*Ker-ching!*
[edit]: Also, amazingly he writes "If the Muslims don’t have a dedicated support network to facilitate this matter [curing homosexuality]"- can you imagine that? "Iman, I am fighting gay feelings." "That's okay, we have a dedicated support network" *pause* "BRING OUT THE SHARPENED STONES!"
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:31, Reply)

They're hardly going to spend a great deal of time doing the research and getting a balanced audience for a 20 minute filler slot inbetween trisha and jeremy kyle.
It's obviously completely biased, and the one poor bastard with any reasoning hasn't the chance and/or the oratory skills to deal with the baying mob surrounding him (I imagine he would have been furious afterwards at being almost ridiculed like that).
I suspect next week they'll be trying to work out the cure for cancer in 20 minutes as well. Plus I imagine the producer of the show moonlights as an editor for one of those weekly mags that feature stories about people giving birth to their own mums, falling in love with their dogs, or being abducted by aliens, etc...
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:49, Reply)

then they had a chance of at least making it 50/50.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:52, Reply)

I imagine it was all arranged a bit last minute, and the only people wanting to attend something like this would be the over zealous religious type, whereas all the atheists probably couldn't give a fuck, apart from that one fella who was probably retired and fancied a day out at that there london.
None of the panelists appeared to support the arguement about the lack of evidence for god, one was a priest/vicar/whatnot, a smug bitch and another journalist looking to appease the audience and having a weak arguement that he himself failed to support.
Should never have been commissioned, but then it's probably a low cost program to produce, so it's more of a filler than anything.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:02, Reply)

but not that one which you rubbed your bell end on please.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:06, Reply)

is like telling teenagers that drugs are bad for them. It almost seems to reinforce their beliefs by having something to push against, shouldn't even have to dignify their nonsense with a discussion.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:57, Reply)

mutated monty commented on one of my posts!!!
*shakes hands*
*faints*
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:00, Reply)

www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/progs/specific/
and you know the rest
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:59, Reply)

but isn't it a bit daily mail to complain about programmes you didn't see in the first place and were not targetted at you?
Having said that, I do resent my licence fee being spent on pro-religion propaganda...
edit - thinking something similar, sorry - little bit of a brainwrong there...
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:40, Reply)

paid for my first licence, and i didn't see it first time around. and im sure it wasn't aimed at me.
but that wasn't a programme, it reminded me of some shows they show in southern america/bermuda area.
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:57, Reply)

Are all religious types unemployed or do they work flexi-time?
I think we they should have put this guy on the show to discuss this topic.
wouldn’t’ argue with him!
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 13:08, Reply)

I mean fair enough BBC, by all means try and organise a debate about God Vs Science, but why the fuck would you have 99% of the room as religious types.
It's like - let's have a debate - who's better, Chelsea or Arsenal and we'll invite 99 members of the Chelsea Supporters club and Arsene Wenger. It's ridiculous, the BBC should be ashamed.
Furthermore apart from that first guy "Deen" needing his face pummelled, he seems to have a fundamental misunderstanding about both points of view and about discussions. Worst of all though was the woman from the Daily Telegraph, the smug bitch who took the moral high ground and instead of engaging in discussion and blanked everything the atheist had to say and just shouted over the top.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh
( , Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:36, Reply)