Announcement about RDF Part 2.

[Reverend Blair]

I don't think he groks online communities at all. He certainly has little experience with them. I remember him saying he had seen goatse and didn't know what it was. That is like a pedestrian who has never been or seen anyone get splashed by a car running over through a puddle. It speaks of inexperience on a grand scale.

I don't buy that at all, sorry. The online world isn't that different than the real world. What he's done is to piss off a smallish group of people (the mods) that acted as his support staff and in doing so anger a lot of the people that they work with. We all did Dawkins' work to one extent or another, that was apparent by what was posted on the forum. My experience is that a lot of that filtered off of the Dawkins site and onto both the internet and into people's real lives. Even those of us who were openly atheist long before we joined the site or read The God Delusion were likely to point others towards both and hold Dawkins up as an example. Many also contributed to his foundation.

Now?

Well, I'm not going to stop reading his books. Sorry, there's good information in them. I used to buy them new though, and now I'll buy them used. No more of my cash for Dick Dawkins. I also won't be loaning them to friends or recommending them to others. I certainly can't hold Dawkins up as a positive example after what has happened. He's damaged his brand with many of his core supporters, and there's a price to pay for that. It is extremely unfortunate that price is going to harm what I consider a worthy cause...the promotion of both atheism and science...but he's tarnished now.

[InYourFaceNewYorker]

FYI, Julie, I think you misunderstood a bit what happened, but I still think you're super ridiculous awesome for calling in to that show and talking about people who ignore science, and I hope you stay on these forums, yours was one of the top 10 names of people I hoped would migrate over here.

I'm not misunderstanding. I'm saying I DON'T KNOW. I will say it again: I DON'T KNOW. At any rate, my plan is to use both forums.

Julie

[HughMcB]

Jebus Cripes, I'm not trying to blame anybody. I see now that the situation was more convoluted. I'm staying neutral as possible until we learn more. End of story.

See my car crash analogy.

J.

Your car crash analogy is quite fucking redundant when you're an occupant of one of the cars?!

Get real.

[Apollonius]

RD could diffuse all this really easy and let people know it's all cool if he would get an account here and make a post like "Hey you animals!"

But he won't, because he didn't want to host animals on his site and he shouldn't, and we should not want to be there.

[Shaker]

Well, I'm not going to stop reading his books. Sorry, there's good information in them. I used to buy them new though, and now I'll buy them used. No more of my cash for Dick Dawkins. I also won't be loaning them to friends or recommending them to others. I certainly can't hold Dawkins up as a positive example after what has happened. He's damaged his brand with many of his core supporters, and there's a price to pay for that. It is extremely unfortunate that price is going to harm what I consider a worthy cause...the promotion of both atheism and science...but he's tarnished now.

That

[SpeedOfSound]

Well, I'm not going to stop reading his books. Sorry, there's good information in them. I used to buy them new though, and now I'll buy them used. No more of my cash for Dick Dawkins. I also won't be loaning them to friends or recommending them to others. I certainly can't hold Dawkins up as a positive example after what has happened. He's damaged his brand with many of his core supporters, and there's a price to pay for that. It is extremely unfortunate that price is going to harm what I consider a worthy cause...the promotion of both atheism and science...but he's tarnished now.

That

If someone screws you then vote by dollar and vote by word of mouth. Simple formula.

[ozewiezeloose]

RD could diffuse all this really easy and let people know it's all cool if he would get an account here and make a post like "Hey you animals!"

But he won't, because he didn't want to host animals on his site and he shouldn't, and we should not want to be there.

Looks like he really doesn't want anyone on his site, except for himself and Josh.

[PsychoSerenity]

You will notice that the forum has in fact been closed to comments (not taken down) sooner than the 30 days alluded to in the letter. This is purely and simply because of the over-the-top hostility of the comments that were immediately sent in.

I've just been re-reading what Thinking Aloud saved from the 'New Discussion Area, Death of the Forum' thread and it's a lot milder than I remembered it; there's barely a bad word in there and certainly no 'over-the-top hostility'.

By the way is that thread being hosted anywhere specifically? It's the best evidence we've got about the way the forum members have been mistreated.

[Peter Brown]

Well let's wait until we find out what Richard does and doesn't know.

I don’t feel that is necessary any longer. Richard decided to redecorate the forum side of the site and that is exactly what he intends to do and there were casualties.

The milk was spilt, the forum there is now dead, what might happen in RDF future is guesswork. Now it’s up to the casualties to accept the old home is gone and make a new one or not.

I don’t even see the point of writing to Richard about it anymore, as you don’t get to be a professor by changing your mind, you become one by proving your right and Richard is a man of that educational system.

[klr]

Well let's wait until we find out what Richard does and doesn't know.

I don’t feel that is necessary any longer. Richard decided to redecorate the forum side of the site and that is exactly what he intends to do and there were casualties.

The milk was spilt, the forum there is now dead, what might happen in RDF future is guesswork. Now it’s up to the casualties to accept the old home is gone and make a new one or not.

I don’t even see the point of writing to Richard about it anymore, as you don’t get to be a professor by changing your mind, you become one by proving your right and Richard is a man of that educational system.

Actually, RD has stressed time and time again that what makes science different from religion is the willingness/necessity to accept that one is wrong.

Of course, there may be a fine distinction between what usually happens in the pursuit of scientific truth, versus what often happens in the pursuit of an academic career. Just sayin' ...

[ozewiezeloose]

You will notice that the forum has in fact been closed to comments (not taken down) sooner than the 30 days alluded to in the letter. This is purely and simply because of the over-the-top hostility of the comments that were immediately sent in.

I've just been re-reading what Thinking Aloud saved from the 'New Discussion Area, Death of the Forum' thread and it's a lot milder than I remembered it; there's barely a bad word in there and certainly no 'over-the-top hostility'.

By the way is that thread being hosted anywhere specifically? It's the best evidence we've got about the way the forum members have been mistreated.

I want to read it! Where can I find it?

[Jerome23]

You know what? Let's just say that for the sake of argument Richard is 100% wrong. If that's the case, does that give us license to act like middle school kids about it?

yes I have never been a middle class schoolkid. I want to try it

j x

[Ilovelucy]

Well let's wait until we find out what Richard does and doesn't know.

I don’t feel that is necessary any longer. Richard decided to redecorate the forum side of the site and that is exactly what he intends to do and there were casualties.

The milk was spilt, the forum there is now dead, what might happen in RDF future is guesswork. Now it’s up to the casualties to accept the old home is gone and make a new one or not.

I don’t even see the point of writing to Richard about it anymore, as you don’t get to be a professor by changing your mind, you become one by proving your right and Richard is a man of that educational system.

Actually, RD has stressed time and time again that what makes science different from religion is the willingness/necessity to accept that one is wrong.

Of course, there may be a fine distinction between what usually happens in the pursuit of scientific truth, versus what often happens in the pursuit of an academic career. Just sayin' ...

Though I doubt anyone will be "clapping their hands raw" on this occasion.

[95Theses]

You will notice that the forum has in fact been closed to comments (not taken down) sooner than the 30 days alluded to in the letter. This is purely and simply because of the over-the-top hostility of the comments that were immediately sent in.

I've just been re-reading what Thinking Aloud saved from the 'New Discussion Area, Death of the Forum' thread and it's a lot milder than I remembered it; there's barely a bad word in there and certainly no 'over-the-top hostility'.

By the way is that thread being hosted anywhere specifically? It's the best evidence we've got about the way the forum members have been mistreated.

Can I have that link please?

[GeneticJen]

Meh.