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Post by turoldus on Jul 7, 2009 23:40:00 GMT
Okaaaaay.
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Post by merkavah12 on Jul 7, 2009 23:43:52 GMT
Strange indeed are the characters that pop up in comment sections, no?
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Post by bjorn on Jul 8, 2009 11:57:02 GMT
As he didn't really answer my questions (though confirmed some of my suspicions), I asked them again.
Only to get Tim, with his as usual sensible touch, to close his comment section for more stuff on James rather than on Freeman's book.
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endrefodstad
Bachelor of the Arts
Sumer ys Icumen in!
Posts: 54
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Post by endrefodstad on Jul 8, 2009 22:13:24 GMT
I, too, tried to appeal to the commentatories to actually handle the issues raised rather than waxing grandly on about the quality of other authors that are not directly relevant to the review, but it seems that such an endeavour is not worthwhile. Oh well.
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Post by merkavah12 on Jul 10, 2009 22:36:50 GMT
As the review/comment section shouting match comes to a close, I feel as if I have learned three valuable lessons.
1. To err is human. To refuse to admit an error is par for the course for internet arguments.
2. Don't let truth, facts, or historical realities get in the way of good polemic. After all, who needs things like integrity and academic rigor when you have "intellectual fun".
3. Don't make Tim angry. You won't like him when he's angry.
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Post by humphreyclarke on Jul 12, 2009 11:52:45 GMT
3. Don't make Tim angry. You won't like him when he's angry. On that note, if you ever fancy a laugh I would suggest signing up for the Richard Dawkins forum, finding the posts by user 'Tim O Neil' and watching his efforts to battle the endless tides of 'Jesus Mythers'. richarddawkins.net/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=42266It's like watching someone play 'whack a mole', but the kooks keep coming. I think every movement gets overrun by wackos eventually, no matter how sane the mission statement.
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Post by noons on Jul 12, 2009 13:49:49 GMT
I've decided that, unless someone comes directly at me with the Jesus Myth, to let it alone. The New Atheist movement needs a strong dose of humility, and the Jesus Myth is, in my view, how they'll get it. Let it spread throughout the internet, let them gobble it up like Cookie Monster with a box of Hob Nobs, and eventually the vast majority will realize how they were so quick to jump aboard a bandwagon theory with no academic support, simply because it supports their already held worldview.
Though I do not consider anyone in particular to be my enemy, I am reminded of Napoleon's words: Never interrupt your enemy while he's making a mistake.
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Post by James Hannam on Jul 12, 2009 15:23:35 GMT
Just back from a week on holiday in France.
I've been reading through the exchange over at Tim's blog. I'm not sure that calling Charles an amateur is exactly fair. He is a professional writer of history, even if he is not in an academic teaching post. I have little doubt that he would have been able to pursue that career if he'd pleased, but decided he'd rather be freelance.
I'd also reiterate that Egypt Greece and Rome is very good - by far the best introduction to ancient history and streets ahead of books by 'real' academics like Robin Lane Fox. Yes, Charles is wrong in the central thesis of Closing, but then I've lost count of the number of academic texts I've seen that are utter boll**ks, including some famous ones.
However, I exepct he is pleased that we are still talking about the book after all these years. After all, as someone once said, the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.
Best wishes
James
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Post by humphreyclarke on Jul 12, 2009 16:06:08 GMT
Just back from a week on holiday in France. Sounds great. I'm just back from a two week visit to Massachusetts. The weather was mostly awful. In an ironic twist of fate the U.K had a heatwave while I was away (got to watch it on the Wimbledon coverage) Did manage to get some reading done though. Polished off Ken Follet's 'World without End' and some tome about medieval natural phillosophers, the name of which escapes me.
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Post by humphreyclarke on Jul 12, 2009 16:09:24 GMT
Though I do not consider anyone in particular to be my enemy, I am reminded of Napoleon's words: Never interrupt your enemy while he's making a mistake. Great advice - e.g the Reason Project's attempts to berate Nature for being spineless or Coyne's sniping at Chris Mooney.
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Post by James Hannam on Jul 12, 2009 17:07:21 GMT
Welcome back to Blighty Humphrey. You are just in time to see the Aussies beat us...
Is Follet's medieval saga any good? I see two fat books around: Pillers of the Earth and World Without End, but I'm unwilling to start something so enormous unless I have good reason to know I'll enjoy it.
And the other tome - interested in your thoughts.
Best wishes
James
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Post by eckadimmock on Jul 12, 2009 22:57:10 GMT
Welcome back to Blighty Humphrey. You are just in time to see the Aussies beat us... ..or perhaps not.
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Post by wraggy on Jul 13, 2009 4:44:57 GMT
You have to be an Australian to understand just how much we dislike the name "Collingwood". evanmatthysse.com/worldwidepolls/pics/ [/img]
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Post by unkleE on Jul 13, 2009 8:23:45 GMT
There are apparently some Melbournites who love that football team! : )
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Post by wraggy on Jul 14, 2009 7:51:38 GMT
There are apparently some Melbournites who love that football team! : ) Yep. Melbourne's getto suburb Collingwood has lots of Bogans with bad mullet hair cuts, tattoos and next to no teeth. Unlike that fair country city 80 kms to the west.
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