KarlX,

Thanks for your kind words. I thought your analogy fitting. I hope you hang around and enjoy the child-boxers at play. :)

People who vituperatively and unrelentingly attack others protected by the cloak of anonymity certainly don’t understand that such actions are those of the coward. Anonymity is a good idea on the net but when used in such a manner, especially as a mob, it is a spineless abuse of a helpful protection device.

Another sign of a deeper purpose in such attacks is the selective quote-mining with an overemphasis on non-important matters. A good way of spotting this kind of behaviour is that the substance under discussion is never positively referenced or given any credit.

The trouble is, those using this method know if they don’t ‘win’ the discussion, they will be seen by others in their true and tattered clothing. Therefore, escalation happens. It’s a bit like trapped rats.

As I say, I am unaffected by this but it is interesting to watch the shenanigans of a warped humanity.

Oh, and by the way Poirot, the proper spelling is, "Bonne nuit!"

Sqeers, KarlX is not here at my request and I do not know him (Karl is the clue for gender).

David

From my observations of Richard Dawkins, I would say he seems quite intelligent, but not particularly muscular or physically prepossessing. Nor does he strike me as being particularly charismatic (no criticism meant; how many of us are?).
This makes it very easy to imagine a scene 5 or 10,000 years ago:
Dick the Dawk: “Boss, I think we should roll up the tents and start moving south.”
Arnie the Conan: “Hmm. Why we do that, little Dawk?”
Dick: “I think bad things are coming. I think it's gonna start snowing in a week or 2.”
Arnie: “Hmmp. How you know that?”
Dick: “Ah, well, God told me.”
Arnie: “Who God?”
Dick: “umm, remember that lightning bolt that struck that tree yesterday? That was God.”
Arnie: “Hmm, this God pretty tough fella. How come he talk to little runt like you, and not chief, like me?”
Dick: “Ah, well, to be worthy, first I have to wash myself all over, stay away from women for a week, then kneel in front of this cross... I bet if you washed all over and stayed-”
Arnie: “Just made decision; we pack up tents.”
Dick: “whatever you say, O great and wise one.”

I reckon all the theists who claim we have replaced worship of religion with worship of science have got it exactly wrong.
We always worshipped greater knowledge. Religion just stopped delivering.

Dearest David,

While we're analysing tactics, I see you've pulled out your secret weapon. Strangely enough, I had occasion recently to comment on just such a tactic in another thread.

[Quote:]

"....some article authors who when defending their stance tend to use the 'you're a coward because you're hiding behind a pseudonym tactic'. It takes the substance of their argument nowhere, but it's an oft used tactic when they find themselves stymied."

Gawd! - I! omitted! the! exclamation! mark! - Mon Dieu!

Yep, You float like a butterfly and sting like a pedantic French grammarian. : )

Squeers,

Come now you don't really buy the line that Pericles is carry on the way he is because he is committed to principle,do you.

Its all about ego.

KarlX,
pray excuse my impertinence, but it was surely understandable I took you and David Nichols as acquainted; the latter's article is hyperbolical from beginning to end and your praise of it seemed therefore to strain credulity.
I have no comment to make against Pericles or anyone else here. I take no pride in my own contributions but I do aver the article and the author's comments set and maintained the tone throughout. Bear in mind too that this is only the latest of Nichols's efforts and tone was long-since established.

I look forward to more edifying debate elsewhere.

the grim/quote..""Religion just stopped delivering.""

interesting point..i agree its gone
for names/creeds..over good works of charity to other

nothing is more clear[ditto unions]

so who can give us hero's
dick dorkins is hardly a saint
and richard dawkins is a physisyst

who's that wheel chair guy[cause hes in a chair..KNOWS there is no god]
little knowing his great spirit..was built from that chair
many fail to see the underlying greatness that accepts these bit part[in lifes full revealing]

life is like watching a flower bloom
boom and bust[key material life conceps are gravity osmosis]
key spirit immaterial essence..is about like liking like[clumping]goats with goats[those loving the same sins being in the same place

so those who deney..a supreems good
live in that godless realm..til they get smarter[not more religious][not by creed]..but by meeting need[by ozmosis].