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This is a normal post I was invited to be a panellist on that programme about 18 months ago.
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.
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:14, Reply)
This is a normal post That just sums the whole thing up...
I think I still would have made it, and just tutted all the way through it :-)
 (I helped save b3ta! @RBFesquire Good luck b3ta, was nice knowing you. So long., Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:17, Reply)
This is a normal post I'd love to have gone.
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 The problem was that the invitation was withdrawn.

:(
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:21, Reply)
This is a normal post Bummer...
I just think it was there way of saying 'you are far too intelligent for this program'.
 (I helped save b3ta! @RBFesquire Good luck b3ta, was nice knowing you. So long., Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:25, Reply)
This is a normal post what would you have said if asked about assisted dying?
how would you have coped with all the religious nutters and stayed calm?
 (I helped save b3ta! Avast is still alive!!!!, Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:32, Reply)
This is a normal post Potted account:
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...
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:39, Reply)
This is a normal post Thank the lord for people like you...
D'oh!
 (I helped save b3ta! @RBFesquire Good luck b3ta, was nice knowing you. So long., Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:02, Reply)
This is a normal post Flippin' well said!
.
 (I helped save b3ta! sir_spicious2000 Crap I've watched: www.filmplop.blogspot.com/, Tue 22 Jun 2010, 11:37, Reply)
This is a normal post The thing is with 'debating' religion
..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.
 (I helped save b3ta! Kung_Fu_Russ ran out of amusing signatures on, Tue 22 Jun 2010, 12:07, Reply)