Comments on: Richard Dawkins to Speak at LibDem Conference on Libel Laws and Science. http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem.html Experiments and Thoughts on Quackery, Health Beliefs and Pseudoscience Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:47:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dr Benway http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem.html#comment-8931 Dr Benway Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:18:38 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem-conference-on-libel-laws-and-science.html#comment-8931 Bill Maher to receive the Richard Dawkins Award<br /><br />Thread about this here: <br /><br />http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=87830&start=25<br /><br />People are suggesting questions to be asked of Dawkins and Maher at the event here:<br />http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/ ... s_some.php<br /><br />One of the best posts so far:<br /><br /><i>To Dawkins:<br /><br />As many know, Simon Singh, a respected educator of the sciences, is currently facing legal battles in the UK from quacks. The scientific and rationalist societies rallied around him and launched a campaign against the bogus lawsuit. You, yourself, spoke in support of Simon calling him a "courageous hero" a few days ago ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/ ... libel-laws ). Do you feel, then, it is appropriate to give the RDA to another staunch quack?</i><br /><br />I might nitpick and call Maher a quack promoter rather than a quack himself. But I agree that Maher sounds like a quack in his rants against "Western Medicine." He minimizes the role of infections and over-emphasizes diet and supplements as a means to prevent disease.<br /><br />I find it strange that Dawkins can over-look Maher's anti-science side. Religulous was funny, but not that funny.<br /><br />Please add your comments to the threads listed above, if you feel so moved. Bill Maher to receive the Richard Dawkins Award

Thread about this here:

http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=87830&start=25

People are suggesting questions to be asked of Dawkins and Maher at the event here:
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/ … s_some.php

One of the best posts so far:

To Dawkins:

As many know, Simon Singh, a respected educator of the sciences, is currently facing legal battles in the UK from quacks. The scientific and rationalist societies rallied around him and launched a campaign against the bogus lawsuit. You, yourself, spoke in support of Simon calling him a "courageous hero" a few days ago ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/ … libel-laws ). Do you feel, then, it is appropriate to give the RDA to another staunch quack?

I might nitpick and call Maher a quack promoter rather than a quack himself. But I agree that Maher sounds like a quack in his rants against "Western Medicine." He minimizes the role of infections and over-emphasizes diet and supplements as a means to prevent disease.

I find it strange that Dawkins can over-look Maher's anti-science side. Religulous was funny, but not that funny.

Please add your comments to the threads listed above, if you feel so moved.

]]> By: SVETLANA PERTSOVICH http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem.html#comment-8923 SVETLANA PERTSOVICH Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:17:49 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem-conference-on-libel-laws-and-science.html#comment-8923 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/liberaldemocrats/6212052/Liberal-Democrats-back-calls-from-Richard-Dawkins-to-reform-libel-laws.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/liberaldemocrats/6212052/Liberal-Democrats-back-calls-from-Richard-Dawkins-to-reform-libel-laws.html

]]> By: Grumpy http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem.html#comment-8921 Grumpy Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:53:14 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem-conference-on-libel-laws-and-science.html#comment-8921 Dawkins is trying to find a party to embrace Science. The Greens wont have him. The Conservatives like God too much. So it is either Liberal or Labour. 40 odd Liberal MPs supported a Homeopathy motion a while back (dont know the ref) so he has a bit of work to do with the Liberals. Dawkins is trying to find a party to embrace Science. The Greens wont have him. The Conservatives like God too much. So it is either Liberal or Labour. 40 odd Liberal MPs supported a Homeopathy motion a while back (dont know the ref) so he has a bit of work to do with the Liberals.

]]> By: SVETLANA PERTSOVICH http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem.html#comment-8920 SVETLANA PERTSOVICH Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:06:10 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem-conference-on-libel-laws-and-science.html#comment-8920 And rather this way is only right, because juridical way (i.e. if "people of law" reform the libel law themselves, considering this law as obsolete) is unlikely to be possible, because legal system gains a profit, using this ancient law.<br />But other question arises. Will the using of the instruments of inner policy sufficient for this? It is possible that British legal system is so rigid and corny, that the switch-over to international political level will be necessary to solve the libel law problem. I told once in JackofKent's blog, that Singh's case allows such possibility. And rather this way is only right, because juridical way (i.e. if "people of law" reform the libel law themselves, considering this law as obsolete) is unlikely to be possible, because legal system gains a profit, using this ancient law.
But other question arises. Will the using of the instruments of inner policy sufficient for this? It is possible that British legal system is so rigid and corny, that the switch-over to international political level will be necessary to solve the libel law problem. I told once in JackofKent's blog, that Singh's case allows such possibility.

]]> By: SVETLANA PERTSOVICH http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem.html#comment-8919 SVETLANA PERTSOVICH Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:57:06 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem-conference-on-libel-laws-and-science.html#comment-8919 Richard Dawkins is excellent, as usual. The only minus of this story is that LibDems have not the majority of votes in government. However one of key posts - the post of Minister of Science - is in their hands.<br />Generally it would be great if the libel law is abolished by political way... ;) I wish good luck to Dawkins. His initiative is good! Richard Dawkins is excellent, as usual. The only minus of this story is that LibDems have not the majority of votes in government. However one of key posts – the post of Minister of Science – is in their hands.
Generally it would be great if the libel law is abolished by political way… ;) I wish good luck to Dawkins. His initiative is good!

]]> By: Mojo http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem.html#comment-8917 Mojo Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:01:53 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/09/richard-dawkins-to-speak-at-libdem-conference-on-libel-laws-and-science.html#comment-8917 Ah, "mountebank". A splendid word that so perfectly describes the internet activities of certain proponents of CAM that I'm surprised it isn't used more often. Ah, "mountebank". A splendid word that so perfectly describes the internet activities of certain proponents of CAM that I'm surprised it isn't used more often.

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