“Ruining the top online community for atheists …” — Peter Harrison

_{William Dembski

February 24, 2010

Atheism}

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The “Oasis for Clear-Thinking,” otherwise known as RichardDawkins.net, still exists but seems to have dried up. For details, read the following lament by Peter Harrison:

Death of the Dawkins forum – The world’s busiest atheist forum closes
February 23, 2010 in Atheism | Tags: andrew chalkley, forum, josh timonen, rdfrs, richard dawkins, wankery of the most fulminating order

Yesterday, I was celebrating…. I was on a high all day…. But by the end of the day, I was brought back down to Earth as I discovered that the world’s busiest atheist forum was being closed down, and that the disgusting evening was to be filled with lies, censorship and cowardice….

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Comments

Great observation, Barb.CannuckianYankee_{February 25, 2010
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"Even some of those with more temperate language are responding to the proposed changes in a way that is little short of hysterical." "If you meet someone who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is stupid, insane, (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that)." Yeah, I guess he would know about hysteria, wouldn't he?Barb_{February 25, 2010
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Dawkins found the root of all evil ... on his own website ... I got to wonder!sxussd13_{February 25, 2010
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Dawkins should have remembered the old adage, 'I wouldn't want to belong to a club that would have me (as its guru)'.Charlie_{February 24, 2010
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Says Dawkins:
Surely there has to be something wrong with people who can resort to such over-the-top language, over-reacting so spectacularly to something so trivial. Even some of those with more temperate language are responding to the proposed changes in a way that is little short of hysterical. Was there ever such conservatism, such reactionary aversion to change, such vicious language in defence of a comfortable status quo? What is the underlying agenda of these people? How can anybody feel that strongly about something so small? Have we stumbled on some dark, territorial atavism?
Dawkins asks all the right questions. Gee, something wrong with them? Who'da thought?Charlie_{February 24, 2010
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On what foundations does Richard Dawkins judge the emotional excretions among the brain stems of his followers? Who is to say their vitriolic character, if left completely unimpeded, would not lead to a more successful society?Upright BiPed_{February 24, 2010
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Tragic, Actually, I'm beginning to see some shrewdness on Dawkins' part. I think he understands that the tone of his own blog did not help his cause. It's a shame he didn't notice this earlier, and I agree, that he contributed to the tone in a large way in his writings and public appearances. Question is, will this be a lesson learned? Let's face it, his 'moderators' did not do him any good.CannuckianYankee_{February 24, 2010
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Dawkins is reaping what he has sown. That's all I gotta say.tragic mishap_{February 24, 2010
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The team was multi-cultured, and highly skilled, including scientists, teachers, authors… These professionals offered their private time to help maintain what was arguably the best atheist forum on the internet...Josh and his people always made it clear that they thought nothing of the community of members and that the culture wasn’t something they considered worth keeping. ~ Peter Harrison Be that as it may, what this remarkable bile suggests to me is that there is something rotten in the Internet culture that can vent it. If I ever had any doubts that RD.net needs to change, and rid itself of this particular aspect of Internet culture, they are dispelled by this episode. ~ Richard Dawkinsbevets_{February 24, 2010
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Richard Dawkins finally weighs in and describes his flock of "clear thinking" atheists as they react against their messaiah: Dawkins Responds I don't quote it here because the language is a bit graphic. HT:Mike Genescordova_{February 24, 2010
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And why couldn't they just, you know, let evolution handle their server/moderator issues?tribune7_{February 24, 2010
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RDN dies UD survives The law of ToE Says the fittest is UDtribune7_{February 24, 2010
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Funny, I would go into the forums on RDN from time to time and all they ever seemed to do there was discuss Uncommon Descent and other ID websites, call Dr. Dembski and others IDiots, and rant and rave about this and that. Not a community I would have enjoyed even if I agreed with them. I'm heartened to know that now a major lampoon site for ID, which often gossipped about posters here by name (StevenB, VJtorley and others) with very negative and insulting vitriol, is no longer churning. Maybe they've done themselves in.CannuckianYankee_{February 24, 2010
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"Even if you make yourself a robot, and completely forget that we are real people, it’s an awful decision …"
Really. The nerve of some robots. At least they can take satisfaction in knowing there is neither justice nor injustice, that their forum was simply unfit to survive. This was all the predetermined consequence of the universe interacting at quantum levels with the brain chemistry of Dawkins' agents, moderators, and posters. It's not as if there was any conscious mind or free will that chose this outcome, or could have made a different choice for a different outcome.Charles_{February 24, 2010
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One quote I thought was particularly ironic: "Even if you make yourself a robot, and completely forget that we are real people, it’s an awful decision ..."William J. Murray_{February 24, 2010
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Given the fact that there are atheist trolls all over the Christianity and Religion forums on Amazon, I'm sick of atheist whining. Find another website forum to post on or start your own blog.Barb_{February 24, 2010
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