Bunkspubble!

[nippletwister]

Over the past year or two I have realised that I no longer listen to or read opinions by people like Aron Ra, Justin Griffiths, Steven Novella ... not because their opinions aren't incise, objective, informational or generally of interest ... but solely because they are associated with FtB or Rebecca Watson ...

I could go and tell them on their blogs that they should relocate or choose better bed partners, but it isn't my place, so I just choose not to read or listen to them.

Is that guilt by association, or ... ?

I'll still listen to their opinions on most subjects, same as I'll listen to Phil Plait for astronomy, whether I want to "be a dick" or not. I still have a duty to check things out for myself instead of relying purely on authority, but I have no problem with giving benefit of the doubt to expertise in a given area. When it comes to anything regarding certain dishonest players in the scene, the prevalence of sexism or harassment in the greater community, the need for various social policing and policies, or the merits of feminism and some other left-leaning political topics, I can't help but see their obvious biases and presumptions, and I definitely take that into consideration.

We've all got our blind spots, I suppose, and I'll admit that I rarely go to FTB anymore unless I hear of something really interesting, as they've mostly left rationalism and science and even secularism behind, in favor of flogging their pet ideologies and shaping the discourse to suit themselves.

[Za-zen]

Over the past year or two I have realised that I no longer listen to or read opinions by people like Aron Ra, Justin Griffiths, Steven Novella ... not because their opinions aren't incise, objective, informational or generally of interest ... but solely because they are associated with FtB or Rebecca Watson ...

I could go and tell them on their blogs that they should relocate or choose better bed partners, but it isn't my place, so I just choose not to read or listen to them.

Is that guilt by association, or ... ?

In fact, this post was inspired by seeing Aron Ra pop up with a new video in my YouTube stream and me thinking "I can't be bothered to watch him any more, his choice of company means I prefer to spend my time listening to people who can choose better friends and colleagues"

Wrong?

Aron is another one, who i think knows it's fucked up, but keeps his gob shut for the sake of "the big game". In other words takes a shit on reality for political expediency.

[decius]

I should add the caveat that I wasn't pleasurably impressed by the episode told earlier by Abbie, but in the absence of an open act of hostility, Novella's reasons cannot known. So far, his faux pas can be explained by oversight as well. He should be challenged about that, but it isn't up to me to do it.

[decius]

Aron is another one, who i think knows it's fucked up, but keeps his gob shut for the sake of "the big game". In other words takes a shit on reality for political expediency.

Personal expediency as well, according to some.

[free thoughtpolice]

That's fine. I'm still curious about the single fish.

Pish, not a word used by the English.

Scot?

I believe the accurate term is "Oatmeal Savage". :rimshot:

[bhoytony]

Scot?

Sweaty Sock

[katamari Damassi]

Over the past year or two I have realised that I no longer listen to or read opinions by people like Aron Ra, Justin Griffiths, Steven Novella ... not because their opinions aren't incise, objective, informational or generally of interest ... but solely because they are associated with FtB or Rebecca Watson ...

I could go and tell them on their blogs that they should relocate or choose better bed partners, but it isn't my place, so I just choose not to read or listen to them.

Is that guilt by association, or ... ?

I like Grittiths, Kagin, and Darksyde, but I visit their blogs only occasionally because I don't want FfTB to get my traffic. Sometimes it's a struggle to not click on FfTB when I'm in need of lulz.

[katamari Damassi]

Over the past year or two I have realised that I no longer listen to or read opinions by people like Aron Ra, Justin Griffiths, Steven Novella ... not because their opinions aren't incise, objective, informational or generally of interest ... but solely because they are associated with FtB or Rebecca Watson ...

I could go and tell them on their blogs that they should relocate or choose better bed partners, but it isn't my place, so I just choose not to read or listen to them.

Is that guilt by association, or ... ?

In fact, this post was inspired by seeing Aron Ra pop up with a new video in my YouTube stream and me thinking "I can't be bothered to watch him any more, his choice of company means I prefer to spend my time listening to people who can choose better friends and colleagues"

Wrong?

Aron is another one, who i think knows it's fucked up, but keeps his gob shut for the sake of "the big game". In other words takes a shit on reality for political expediency.

That and his wife got up on a soap box and declared her fealty to the Twatson Doctrine. Kind of hard for him to nut up now without making his wife look like an ass.

[Dick Strawkins]

I should add the caveat that I wasn't pleasurably impressed by the episode told earlier by Abbie, but in the absence of an open act of hostility, Novella's reasons cannot known. So far, his faux pas can be explained by oversight as well. He should be challenged about that, but it isn't up to me to do it.

It could be oversight but I highly doubt it.
This was a major piece of medical science, Novella's speciality. Of course he knew about it.
You could excuse other skeptic writers who do not follow the scientific literature but not those who are experts in the field.
The XMRV story was far more interesting than a comparatively smaller skeptical story such as the bleach treatment for Crohns disease that Rhys Morgan exposed yet consider how much coverage that Rhys Morgan got compared to the silence that greeted the XMRV story.

Remember, the XMRV debacle was uncovered by the work of a skeptical blogger.
Exactly how many major medical stories directly involve skeptical bloggers, rather than are simply reported by them (second or third hand)?

No. This was a deliberate act to neglect this story and the only logical reason is that it would show an enemy of Rebecca Watson in a good light.

[nippletwister]

I should add the caveat that I wasn't pleasurably impressed by the episode told earlier by Abbie, but in the absence of an open act of hostility, Novella's reasons cannot known. So far, his faux pas can be explained by oversight as well. He should be challenged about that, but it isn't up to me to do it.

Same here....I had gone to the origin of the slymepit at Abbie's blog a few times, but I was never up to speed on every aspect of the drama.

If that's an accurate description, that's kind of fucked up, and while it may be honest oversight, it may also be a symptom of the in-group/out-group and politicking bullshit that become such a pain in the ass.

Novella has done a good job of appearing neutral, and I'll give him some credit for that. I give essentially the same credit to Hemant at The Friendly Atheist- he's clearly a fairly liberal guy, and interested in promoting some feminist/social justice issues, but he's decent and smart enough to not go overboard and become the asshole he thinks he's fighting.

But this info makes me a bit suspicious of Novella's neutrality. That sucks, Abbie, and you have my sympathy.

[BarnOwl]

It's not just the American A/S conference circuit that has been infiltrated - the bullshit is crossing the Pond. From Ophelia's blog (also on PZ's):

Another upcoming event, this time in Dublin. Atheist Ireland is doing a conference called Empowering Women Through Secularism the weekend of 29-30 June 2013. I will be there.
Everybody should go to this! It will be fantastic.

Speakers will include
Ivana Bacik, Irish Senator and member of Atheist Ireland
Dan Barker, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Ophelia Benson, author and commentator, USA
Ann Brusseel, Member of Flemish Parliament, Belgium
Mairin de Burca, writer and secularist, Ireland
Jane Donnelly, Education Policy Officer Atheist Ireland
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Anthea McTiernan, Editor Irish Times Ticket Magazine
PZ Myers, science professor and blogger, USA
Maryam Namazie, Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain
Taslima Nasrin, novelist and activist, Bangladesh and India
Michael Nugent, Chairperson Atheist Ireland
Nina Sankari, Polish Rationalist Association
Farhana Shakir, lawyer and legal consultant, Pakistan
Kate Smurthwaite, comedian and activist, Britain
Anne Marie Waters, One Law for All Campaign, Britain
Rebecca Watson, Skepchick network, USA
Fantastic, I tell you.

So Ophelia and Rebecca - who do what, exactly, for a living - will receive all-expense-paid trips to Ireland, to talk about what, exactly? Internetz drama? Parody twitter accounts? Hair dye? Pity-driven Paypal Accounts for Fun and Profit? The Lazy Blogger's Guide to Copypasta?

Wouldn't it make more sense to invite someone like Abbie, to talk about developing a real career in a STEM field, and about applying skepticism and scientific knowledge to expose fabricated XMRV data that were published in a high-impact journal?

[DeepInsideYourMind]

Over the past year or two I have realised that I no longer listen to or read opinions by people like Aron Ra, Justin Griffiths, Steven Novella ... not because their opinions aren't incise, objective, informational or generally of interest ... but solely because they are associated with FtB or Rebecca Watson ...

I could go and tell them on their blogs that they should relocate or choose better bed partners, but it isn't my place, so I just choose not to read or listen to them.

Is that guilt by association, or ... ?

In fact, this post was inspired by seeing Aron Ra pop up with a new video in my YouTube stream and me thinking "I can't be bothered to watch him any more, his choice of company means I prefer to spend my time listening to people who can choose better friends and colleagues"

Wrong?

Aron is another one, who i think knows it's fucked up, but keeps his gob shut for the sake of "the big game". In other words takes a shit on reality for political expediency.

I get the "big game" approach, I really do ... but on issues like this, the cost to them of disassociating is fairly minor, and doesn't involve a direct critique of their former colleagues ... a number of others left, and my estimation of them went up.

Perhaps it is just in the Free Thinkers world this applies, but if you associate with, and therefore implicitly support, such strong opponents of free thought and rational inquiry, I can't help but feel your own rational position has been compromised.

[DeepInsideYourMind]

It's not just the American A/S conference circuit that has been infiltrated - the bullshit is crossing the Pond. From Ophelia's blog (also on PZ's):

Another upcoming event, this time in Dublin. Atheist Ireland is doing a conference called Empowering Women Through Secularism the weekend of 29-30 June 2013. I will be there.
Everybody should go to this! It will be fantastic.
<SNIP>
Wouldn't it make more sense to invite someone like Abbie, to talk about developing a real career in a STEM field, and about applying skepticism and scientific knowledge to expose fabricated XMRV data that were published in a high-impact journal?

Not surprising, Michael Nugent is a strong FTB and Skepchick supporter.

[decius]

I should add the caveat that I wasn't pleasurably impressed by the episode told earlier by Abbie, but in the absence of an open act of hostility, Novella's reasons cannot known. So far, his faux pas can be explained by oversight as well. He should be challenged about that, but it isn't up to me to do it.

It could be oversight but I highly doubt it.
This was a major piece of medical science, Novella's speciality. Of course he knew about it.
You could excuse other skeptic writers who do not follow the scientific literature but not those who are experts in the field.
The XMRV story was far more interesting than a comparatively smaller skeptical story such as the bleach treatment for Crohns disease that Rhys Morgan exposed yet consider how much coverage that Rhys Morgan got compared to the silence that greeted the XMRV story.

Remember, the XMRV debacle was uncovered by the work of a skeptical blogger.
Exactly how many major medical stories directly involve skeptical bloggers, rather than are simply reported by them (second or third hand)?

No. This was a deliberate act to neglect this story and the only logical reason is that it would show an enemy of Rebecca Watson in a good light.

Why don't you go and kick his nuts over that?

[welch]

Re: Novella.

Twatson obviously has him by the balls. I get the feeling Steven Novella does actually see the problem with the Creepy Clowns and their desperate attacks on people in the community. He recently defended Shermer, and he has defended TAM. However, when it comes to the crunch, he won't ever criticise Queen Bee, and now it seems he won't dare to upset the chief Baboon leaders by mentioning Abbie Smith and ERV.

Steven, seriously, GROW A PAIR and kick Twatson OFF the SGU podcast.

It is bewildering. He actually thinks watson has something. What that is? It's one of those things he feels in his bones. And hey her bullshit antics, and lack of any knowledge or talent, is because she's young ( she's not by the way Novella, that's another piece of shit you spout to justify your inexplainable support)

He feels her withe his bone...heh-heh

[decius]

It's not just the American A/S conference circuit that has been infiltrated - the bullshit is crossing the Pond. From Ophelia's blog (also on PZ's):

Another upcoming event, this time in Dublin. Atheist Ireland is doing a conference called Empowering Women Through Secularism the weekend of 29-30 June 2013. I will be there.
Everybody should go to this! It will be fantastic.

Speakers will include
Ivana Bacik, Irish Senator and member of Atheist Ireland
Dan Barker, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Ophelia Benson, author and commentator, USA
Ann Brusseel, Member of Flemish Parliament, Belgium
Mairin de Burca, writer and secularist, Ireland
Jane Donnelly, Education Policy Officer Atheist Ireland
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Anthea McTiernan, Editor Irish Times Ticket Magazine
PZ Myers, science professor and blogger, USA
Maryam Namazie, Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain
Taslima Nasrin, novelist and activist, Bangladesh and India
Michael Nugent, Chairperson Atheist Ireland
Nina Sankari, Polish Rationalist Association
Farhana Shakir, lawyer and legal consultant, Pakistan
Kate Smurthwaite, comedian and activist, Britain
Anne Marie Waters, One Law for All Campaign, Britain
Rebecca Watson, Skepchick network, USA
Fantastic, I tell you.

So Ophelia and Rebecca - who do what, exactly, for a living - will receive all-expense-paid trips to Ireland, to talk about what, exactly? Internetz drama? Parody twitter accounts? Hair dye? Pity-driven Paypal Accounts for Fun and Profit? The Lazy Blogger's Guide to Copypasta?

Wouldn't it make more sense to invite someone like Abbie, to talk about developing a real career in a STEM field, and about applying skepticism and scientific knowledge to expose fabricated XMRV data that were published in a high-impact journal?

Wait for the attendance to these sham events to go the same way as FTB popularity. I can hardly imagine one side not reflecting the other.
If so, it will hit them hard in the wallet, on the long run.

[nippletwister]

Over the past year or two I have realised that I no longer listen to or read opinions by people like Aron Ra, Justin Griffiths, Steven Novella ... not because their opinions aren't incise, objective, informational or generally of interest ... but solely because they are associated with FtB or Rebecca Watson ...

I could go and tell them on their blogs that they should relocate or choose better bed partners, but it isn't my place, so I just choose not to read or listen to them.

Is that guilt by association, or ... ?

I like Grittiths, Kagin, and Darksyde, but I visit their blogs only occasionally because I don't want FfTB to get my traffic. Sometimes it's a struggle to not click on FfTB when I'm in need of lulz.

I've been reading Darksyde and Hank Fox since they was a part of Unscrewing the Inscrutable before they closed up shop. They're not expert in any science, or firebrand leaders of secularism, but they are both reasonable and thoughtful people who do their best to promote a reality-based worldview.

I've noticed that Darksyde has done his best to stay the hell out of the sexism wars, which is probably for the best.
Hank Fox has dipped a toe here and there, but I think the general shittiness of many of his liberal co-bloggers has kept him from embracing too much of the SJW worldview. He keeps trying new ways of getting to the issues as he sees them, but his refusal to be a giant dickbag keeps him sidelined a bit. Which may again be for the best. I'm not sure if he's being quiet out of respect for women and minorities (not wanting to try to co-opt other people's problems as the Big White Daddy), or if he sees through some of the more transparent bullshit and doesn't want to become another dishonest ideologue. Or both.

I'd love to get the less SJW-oriented of the FTB lot together and see what they REALLY think of their colleagues and the politics involved. Might be fun, but I doubt it will ever happen unless some of them get shit on personally.

[windy]

Re: Novella.

Twatson obviously has him by the balls. I get the feeling Steven Novella does actually see the problem with the Creepy Clowns and their desperate attacks on people in the community. He recently defended Shermer, and he has defended TAM. However, when it comes to the crunch, he won't ever criticise Queen Bee, and now it seems he won't dare to upset the chief Baboon leaders by mentioning Abbie Smith and ERV.

It sounds like he agrees that legitimate criticisms of "specific feminists" have been made, but somehow we can't address them until all the internet trolls go home? Convenient. (He's between a rock and a hard place here, but this is just crawling deeper into that crack.)

[Tigzy]

Over the past year or two I have realised that I no longer listen to or read opinions by people like Aron Ra, Justin Griffiths, Steven Novella ... not because their opinions aren't incise, objective, informational or generally of interest ... but solely because they are associated with FtB or Rebecca Watson ...

I could go and tell them on their blogs that they should relocate or choose better bed partners, but it isn't my place, so I just choose not to read or listen to them.

Is that guilt by association, or ... ?

In fact, this post was inspired by seeing Aron Ra pop up with a new video in my YouTube stream and me thinking "I can't be bothered to watch him any more, his choice of company means I prefer to spend my time listening to people who can choose better friends and colleagues"

Wrong?

I'm with you. I used to check FTB daily, now I don't even bother. Reasonable Doubts is about the only podcast from there that I bother with anymore.

I still like reading Jon Ronson's stuff, even though he's good buds with Rebecca Watson. Not much interested in what she herself has to say though, unless she's being stupid again - otherwise, I wouldn't go to see her pop ping-pong balls out of her foof even if she was doing it for free.

[Dick Strawkins]

It's not just the American A/S conference circuit that has been infiltrated - the bullshit is crossing the Pond. From Ophelia's blog (also on PZ's):

Another upcoming event, this time in Dublin. Atheist Ireland is doing a conference called Empowering Women Through Secularism the weekend of 29-30 June 2013. I will be there.
Everybody should go to this! It will be fantastic.

Speakers will include
Ivana Bacik, Irish Senator and member of Atheist Ireland
Dan Barker, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Ophelia Benson, author and commentator, USA
Ann Brusseel, Member of Flemish Parliament, Belgium
Mairin de Burca, writer and secularist, Ireland
Jane Donnelly, Education Policy Officer Atheist Ireland
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Anthea McTiernan, Editor Irish Times Ticket Magazine
PZ Myers, science professor and blogger, USA
Maryam Namazie, Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain
Taslima Nasrin, novelist and activist, Bangladesh and India
Michael Nugent, Chairperson Atheist Ireland
Nina Sankari, Polish Rationalist Association
Farhana Shakir, lawyer and legal consultant, Pakistan
Kate Smurthwaite, comedian and activist, Britain
Anne Marie Waters, One Law for All Campaign, Britain
Rebecca Watson, Skepchick network, USA
Fantastic, I tell you.

So Ophelia and Rebecca - who do what, exactly, for a living - will receive all-expense-paid trips to Ireland, to talk about what, exactly? Internetz drama? Parody twitter accounts? Hair dye? Pity-driven Paypal Accounts for Fun and Profit? The Lazy Blogger's Guide to Copypasta?

Wouldn't it make more sense to invite someone like Abbie, to talk about developing a real career in a STEM field, and about applying skepticism and scientific knowledge to expose fabricated XMRV data that were published in a high-impact journal?

What is PZ Myers doing at a conference entitled "Empowering Women Through Secularism"?
Look, a conference in Ireland that seeks to "empower women thought secularism" should focus on one thing - the need for womens health policies that include safe termination of pregnancy, which is currently illegal there.
Now there may be a few on the list that have some expertise in this area - and believe it or not, Ophelia, due to her previous writings could qualify here - but PZ Myers and Rebecca Watson do not. They appear to be there for the sole reason that Nugent is trying to squirm his way into the FTB fold and invited them over as a bribe.

[decius]

Welch, check your PM box.

[nippletwister]

It's not just the American A/S conference circuit that has been infiltrated - the bullshit is crossing the Pond. From Ophelia's blog (also on PZ's):

Another upcoming event, this time in Dublin. Atheist Ireland is doing a conference called Empowering Women Through Secularism the weekend of 29-30 June 2013. I will be there.
Everybody should go to this! It will be fantastic.

Speakers will include
Ivana Bacik, Irish Senator and member of Atheist Ireland
Dan Barker, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Ophelia Benson, author and commentator, USA
Ann Brusseel, Member of Flemish Parliament, Belgium
Mairin de Burca, writer and secularist, Ireland
Jane Donnelly, Education Policy Officer Atheist Ireland
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Anthea McTiernan, Editor Irish Times Ticket Magazine
PZ Myers, science professor and blogger, USA
Maryam Namazie, Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain
Taslima Nasrin, novelist and activist, Bangladesh and India
Michael Nugent, Chairperson Atheist Ireland
Nina Sankari, Polish Rationalist Association
Farhana Shakir, lawyer and legal consultant, Pakistan
Kate Smurthwaite, comedian and activist, Britain
Anne Marie Waters, One Law for All Campaign, Britain
Rebecca Watson, Skepchick network, USA
Fantastic, I tell you.

So Ophelia and Rebecca - who do what, exactly, for a living - will receive all-expense-paid trips to Ireland, to talk about what, exactly? Internetz drama? Parody twitter accounts? Hair dye? Pity-driven Paypal Accounts for Fun and Profit? The Lazy Blogger's Guide to Copypasta?

Wouldn't it make more sense to invite someone like Abbie, to talk about developing a real career in a STEM field, and about applying skepticism and scientific knowledge to expose fabricated XMRV data that were published in a high-impact journal?

Well, yes and no, but mostly yes. I think such a talk would be far more interesting and generally useful to a smart audience, especially one gathered around science or skepticism or both. However, this seems to be first and foremost an "Atheist" gathering, and one specifically titled "Empowering Women through Secularism". I'm not familiar with most of the people listed, but I am glad that the American whiners brigade has only 3 slots.

of course, you could point out that Abbie is every bit as qualified to talk about "Empowering Women through Secularism" as any of the three listed....but such a talk might not focus enough on shutting up and listening to women whine about first-world problems, and handing executive positions to women on a quota system, or how free speech is harassment, and shit like that, which is likely what the three going would like to yammer about.

[Scented Nectar]

I know they already start out rather monsterous, but here's the baboons in an optical illusion video.

Try to watch it at a large size. If the embedded one's too small for it to have the illusion effect, full screen it, or go to the link below it to view it larger on youtube.

[youtube]dYarDnoRYrQ[/youtube]

[AndrewV69]

Remember, the XMRV debacle was uncovered by the work of a skeptical blogger.
Exactly how many major medical stories directly involve skeptical bloggers, rather than are simply reported by them (second or third hand)?

No. This was a deliberate act to neglect this story and the only logical reason is that it would show an enemy of Rebecca Watson in a good light.

That story was huge. If I remember correctly, the whole business had started to fray at the edges somewhat and then Abbie kicked the tissue of lies in the nads with her "magic" post on how two different slides with different labels were actually identical.

After that, a lot of people could no longer believe their lying eyes or something.

Abbie kind of has a certain way with words, and you will see comments to that effect from time to time by other people elsewhere. Do you read her blog? Remember this?
http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2012/01/03/ ... ing-for-x/

The very first sign Judy Mikovits was not just a little ‘off-her-rocker’ kook-coo, but full on ‘off-the-rocker-set-it-on-fire-and-dancing-around-the-flames-nude-while-using-feces-as-war-paint’ kook-coo, was this comment she made about XMRV, vaccines, and autism, before her shit paper was even published:

Well, it is stuff like the above that makes me suspect that the reason PeeZuss Christ refuses to even be in the same State, much less city as Abbie, is because he is afraid of what she might say to him.

I kind of doubt she would just say he was a "poopyhead" to his face and leave it at that myself. And we all know that courage is not exactly a strong point of out very own PeeZuss Christ.

I am pretty sure that this is one woman that PeeZuss "listen to what the women are saying" Christ really does not want to hear from, or about in any way shape or form.

[welch]

I should add the caveat that I wasn't pleasurably impressed by the episode told earlier by Abbie, but in the absence of an open act of hostility, Novella's reasons cannot known. So far, his faux pas can be explained by oversight as well. He should be challenged about that, but it isn't up to me to do it.

I'd believe that more if the FIRST COMMENT didn't point out Abbie's role in things. All he had to do was reply to that and say: "You're absolutely right, Abbie did play a critical role in this, and I was highly remiss in leaving that out. I am VERY sorry for that." Then just put in an addendum to the post about Abbie's role.

Giving her credit for work legitimately done is not becoming a "fan" or agreeing with her every utterance. It is what most of us would call "mature behavior". I see no reason for him to not correct this.

[welch]

It's not just the American A/S conference circuit that has been infiltrated - the bullshit is crossing the Pond. From Ophelia's blog (also on PZ's):

Another upcoming event, this time in Dublin. Atheist Ireland is doing a conference called Empowering Women Through Secularism the weekend of 29-30 June 2013. I will be there.
Everybody should go to this! It will be fantastic.

Speakers will include
Ivana Bacik, Irish Senator and member of Atheist Ireland
Dan Barker, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Ophelia Benson, author and commentator, USA
Ann Brusseel, Member of Flemish Parliament, Belgium
Mairin de Burca, writer and secularist, Ireland
Jane Donnelly, Education Policy Officer Atheist Ireland
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Anthea McTiernan, Editor Irish Times Ticket Magazine
PZ Myers, science professor and blogger, USA
Maryam Namazie, Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain
Taslima Nasrin, novelist and activist, Bangladesh and India
Michael Nugent, Chairperson Atheist Ireland
Nina Sankari, Polish Rationalist Association
Farhana Shakir, lawyer and legal consultant, Pakistan
Kate Smurthwaite, comedian and activist, Britain
Anne Marie Waters, One Law for All Campaign, Britain
Rebecca Watson, Skepchick network, USA
Fantastic, I tell you.

So Ophelia and Rebecca - who do what, exactly, for a living - will receive all-expense-paid trips to Ireland, to talk about what, exactly? Internetz drama? Parody twitter accounts? Hair dye? Pity-driven Paypal Accounts for Fun and Profit? The Lazy Blogger's Guide to Copypasta?

Wouldn't it make more sense to invite someone like Abbie, to talk about developing a real career in a STEM field, and about applying skepticism and scientific knowledge to expose fabricated XMRV data that were published in a high-impact journal?

You don't have to fly Abbie anywhere. I'm really, really sure that SOMEWHERE in Ireland, England, Scotland, or Wales is a really smart woman able to speak to those very issues.

[welch]

Remember, the XMRV debacle was uncovered by the work of a skeptical blogger.
Exactly how many major medical stories directly involve skeptical bloggers, rather than are simply reported by them (second or third hand)?

No. This was a deliberate act to neglect this story and the only logical reason is that it would show an enemy of Rebecca Watson in a good light.

That story was huge. If I remember correctly, the whole business had started to fray at the edges somewhat and then Abbie kicked the tissue of lies in the nads with her "magic" post on how two different slides with different labels were actually identical.

After that, a lot of people could no longer believe their lying eyes or something.

Abbie kind of has a certain way with words, and you will see comments to that effect from time to time by other people elsewhere. Do you read her blog? Remember this?
http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2012/01/03/ ... ing-for-x/

The very first sign Judy Mikovits was not just a little ‘off-her-rocker’ kook-coo, but full on ‘off-the-rocker-set-it-on-fire-and-dancing-around-the-flames-nude-while-using-feces-as-war-paint’ kook-coo, was this comment she made about XMRV, vaccines, and autism, before her shit paper was even published:

Well, it is stuff like the above that makes me suspect that the reason PeeZuss Christ refuses to even be in the same State, much less city as Abbie, is because he is afraid of what she might say to him.

I kind of doubt she would just say he was a "poopyhead" to his face and leave it at that myself. And we all know that courage is not exactly a strong point of out very own PeeZuss Christ.

I am pretty sure that this is one woman that PeeZuss "listen to what the women are saying" Christ really does not want to hear from, or about in any way shape or form.

It's one of the reasons I like Abbie. She has skill of a rarely-seen calibre with invective. Sometimes, it gets me all verklempt. She's almost the daughter I never had when she gets going.

[Dick Strawkins]

It's not just the American A/S conference circuit that has been infiltrated - the bullshit is crossing the Pond. From Ophelia's blog (also on PZ's):

Another upcoming event, this time in Dublin. Atheist Ireland is doing a conference called Empowering Women Through Secularism the weekend of 29-30 June 2013. I will be there.
Everybody should go to this! It will be fantastic.

Speakers will include
Ivana Bacik, Irish Senator and member of Atheist Ireland
Dan Barker, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Ophelia Benson, author and commentator, USA
Ann Brusseel, Member of Flemish Parliament, Belgium
Mairin de Burca, writer and secularist, Ireland
Jane Donnelly, Education Policy Officer Atheist Ireland
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Anthea McTiernan, Editor Irish Times Ticket Magazine
PZ Myers, science professor and blogger, USA
Maryam Namazie, Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain
Taslima Nasrin, novelist and activist, Bangladesh and India
Michael Nugent, Chairperson Atheist Ireland
Nina Sankari, Polish Rationalist Association
Farhana Shakir, lawyer and legal consultant, Pakistan
Kate Smurthwaite, comedian and activist, Britain
Anne Marie Waters, One Law for All Campaign, Britain
Rebecca Watson, Skepchick network, USA
Fantastic, I tell you.

So Ophelia and Rebecca - who do what, exactly, for a living - will receive all-expense-paid trips to Ireland, to talk about what, exactly? Internetz drama? Parody twitter accounts? Hair dye? Pity-driven Paypal Accounts for Fun and Profit? The Lazy Blogger's Guide to Copypasta?

Wouldn't it make more sense to invite someone like Abbie, to talk about developing a real career in a STEM field, and about applying skepticism and scientific knowledge to expose fabricated XMRV data that were published in a high-impact journal?

You don't have to fly Abbie anywhere. I'm really, really sure that SOMEWHERE in Ireland, England, Scotland, or Wales is a really smart woman able to speak to those very issues.

They haven't invited a single woman scientist (lady-science hero?)to speak at this conference.
It is also curious that they have nobody close to the Richard Dawkins Foundation who will be speaking.

[cunt]

How does Ophelia Benson get away with commentator. She's a CiF commenter who happens to post to a blog rather than directly underneath the article.

[DeepInsideYourMind]

They haven't invited a single woman scientist (lady-science hero?)to speak at this conference.
It is also curious that they have nobody close to the Richard Dawkins Foundation who will be speaking.

In their defence , this is about women in secularism, which requires no qualifications other than talking about other people who talk about secularism ... it's a promotional venue for a specific political objective, not for any scientific positions.

[BarnOwl]

What is PZ Myers doing at a conference entitled "Empowering Women Through Secularism"?
Look, a conference in Ireland that seeks to "empower women thought secularism" should focus on one thing - the need for womens health policies that include safe termination of pregnancy, which is currently illegal there.
Now there may be a few on the list that have some expertise in this area - and believe it or not, Ophelia, due to her previous writings could qualify here - but PZ Myers and Rebecca Watson do not. They appear to be there for the sole reason that Nugent is trying to squirm his way into the FTB fold and invited them over as a bribe.

Excellent points. Ophelia did write about the abortion issue several times, to be fair. Speakers who actually work in the areas of women's health and reproductive rights would be ideal - physicians and other healthcare professionals, for example.

Saaaaayyyy, don't we know someone who fits that description? :think:

[Dick Strawkins]

They haven't invited a single woman scientist (lady-science hero?)to speak at this conference.
It is also curious that they have nobody close to the Richard Dawkins Foundation who will be speaking.

In their defence , this is about women in secularism, which requires no qualifications other than talking about other people who talk about secularism ... it's a promotional venue for a specific political objective, not for any scientific positions.

That is fair enough.
But it makes the invitation of PZ Myers stick out even more.
He goes to various atheist/skeptical conferences and talks about biological evolution, his teaching subject.
He's never given the impression that he particularly understands the legal situation in countries outside the US.
What exactly is his role at a conference about empowering women in secularism?
That he's an expert at calling other men misogynists? :shock:

[Za-zen]

Seriously! Watson is returning to Ireland after the horrific events that happened to her last time! Wow she haz all the gurl power especially since irish elevators are notorious for rape occurence. I wonder if she'll take the stairs this time. Nope on second thought she isn't capable of taking the stairs, the motor skills required to do so at 4 am when you are fuck faced elude her. Elevator it will be then.

Atheist Ireland will of course have to hire personal security, or elevator security, whichever nugent thinks will get him more shakes from the ass cheeks of whatever american blogger nobody he's trying to ass fuck with his nose.

Hold on I live in Ireland. Doesn't that mean ophy and beccy should cancel! A slymepitter in the same country as them!

[cunt]

If you really want to work towards secularism, you might want to focus on getting more theists over to that position. From that roster it looks like just another circle jerk for atheists.

[Dick Strawkins]

Hold on I live in Ireland. Doesn't that mean ophy and beccy should cancel! A slymepitter in the same country as them!

OK, go on, admit it.
You are elevator guy! :snooty:

[BarnOwl]

It's one of the reasons I like Abbie. She has skill of a rarely-seen calibre with invective. Sometimes, it gets me all verklempt. She's almost the daughter I never had when she gets going.

Her posts during PepsiGate were hilarious too. Maybe I should go find some of the best lines, if they're still available.

The whole situation was as funny as hell: the anti-Pepsi science bloggers were all like "Oh noes, we'll all be turned into junk food-snarfing overweight couch potatoes, a complete 180 turnaround from our current vegan ultramarathoner hand-built eco-cabin in the woods lifestyles!"

Oh, wait.

[decius]

Hold on I live in Ireland. Doesn't that mean ophy and beccy should cancel! A slymepitter in the same country as them!

OK, go on, admit it.
You are elevator guy! :snooty:

His name was Otis, though.

[Dick Strawkins]

I've got the security tape from the elevator but remember... TRIGGER WARNING!

[youtube]phTFQQWaO4g[/youtube]

[Pitchguest]

Seriously! Watson is returning to Ireland after the horrific events that happened to her last time! Wow she haz all the gurl power especially since irish elevators are notorious for rape occurence. I wonder if she'll take the stairs this time. Nope on second thought she isn't capable of taking the stairs, the motor skills required to do so at 4 am when you are fuck faced elude her. Elevator it will be then.

Atheist Ireland will of course have to hire personal security, or elevator security, whichever nugent thinks will get him more shakes from the ass cheeks of whatever american blogger nobody he's trying to ass fuck with his nose.

Hold on I live in Ireland. Doesn't that mean ophy and beccy should cancel! A slymepitter in the same country as them!

Dude. You should go, and then you should glue a warning sign with a cup of coffee next to the elevator. That would be glorious.

[Za-zen]

Hold on I live in Ireland. Doesn't that mean ophy and beccy should cancel! A slymepitter in the same country as them!

OK, go on, admit it.
You are elevator guy! :snooty:

Nope sorry, i couldn't even claim it in jest, it would be like admitting you like eating shit because you think the audience will find it funny.

[Tigzy]

The occasional bubbles of oddness one gets from the FC crown never fail to leave me faintly bemused. This latest offering from Steffy, for instance:

Sending Sally

Promotion

by Stephanie Zvan

If you hang around these parts at all, you’ve probably seen SallyStrange. You’ve probably also seen some solid commenting from her and some information about the political and volunteer work that she does. You may even have seen how she’s been targeted by the slime pit disinformation factory for speaking up.

So it’s probably unsurprising that I’m happy to use this space and some of my resources to help Sally out. In this case, I’m acting as an intermediary to help get Sally to the American Atheists 50th Anniversary National Convention in Austin, Texas, in March.

I’m using my own PayPal account as a barrier between Sally and any potential malicious nonsense. She has plenty of friends around here who will be more than happy to donate, but she’s gotten enough of the unwanted attention too that an extra layer of identity protection seemed like a good idea to both of us.

So if you’re one of those friends, feel free to click and donate below. Let’s make sure she gets the good time that she’s more than earned, shall we?

Using her Paypal account as a barrier between Sally Syringe and any potential malicious nonsense?? What the hell is she going on about here? And 'extra layer of identity protection'?? Huh?

Does Steffy really think Sally Syringe registers much more than a the occasional amused blip here?

Sorry to disappoint Stef, but if you want to help a pal get to a conference, then as far as I'm concerned, good luck to you both. Really.

However, I must express some concern for Anthony K here, who is once more first in line to contribute - with the amount of donations he's been shovelling out to FTB recently, the poor guy'll be destitute long before next pocket money day comes around.

[decius]

She thinks we are like Greg Lackey.

[Za-zen]

The occasional bubbles of oddness one gets from the FC crown never fail to leave me faintly bemused. This latest offering from Steffy, for instance:

Sending Sally

Promotion

by Stephanie Zvan

If you hang around these parts at all, you’ve probably seen SallyStrange. You’ve probably also seen some solid commenting from her and some information about the political and volunteer work that she does. You may even have seen how she’s been targeted by the slime pit disinformation factory for speaking up.

So it’s probably unsurprising that I’m happy to use this space and some of my resources to help Sally out. In this case, I’m acting as an intermediary to help get Sally to the American Atheists 50th Anniversary National Convention in Austin, Texas, in March.

I’m using my own PayPal account as a barrier between Sally and any potential malicious nonsense. She has plenty of friends around here who will be more than happy to donate, but she’s gotten enough of the unwanted attention too that an extra layer of identity protection seemed like a good idea to both of us.

So if you’re one of those friends, feel free to click and donate below. Let’s make sure she gets the good time that she’s more than earned, shall we?

Using her Paypal account as a barrier between Sally Syringe and any potential malicious nonsense?? What the hell is she going on about here? And 'extra layer of identity protection'?? Huh?

Does Steffy really think Sally Syringe registers much more than a the occasional amused blip here?

Sorry to disappoint Stef, but if you want to help a pal get to a conference, then as far as I'm concerned, good luck to you both. Really.

However, I must express some concern for Anthony K here, who is once more first in line to contribute - with the amount of donations he's been shovelling out to FTB recently, the poor guy'll be destitute long before next pocket money day comes around.

Lol this is great. The revolution is coming brothers and sisters, but it's got to be paid for, so dig deep!

[decius]

Dude. You should go, and then you should glue a warning sign with a cup of coffee next to the elevator. That would be glorious.

I drew this one when this shit started.

twitbkg.png

(21.53 KiB) Downloaded 439 times

[Dick Strawkins]

The occasional bubbles of oddness one gets from the FC crown never fail to leave me faintly bemused. This latest offering from Steffy, for instance:

Sending Sally

Promotion

by Stephanie Zvan

If you hang around these parts at all, you’ve probably seen SallyStrange. You’ve probably also seen some solid commenting from her and some information about the political and volunteer work that she does. You may even have seen how she’s been targeted by the slime pit disinformation factory for speaking up.

So it’s probably unsurprising that I’m happy to use this space and some of my resources to help Sally out. In this case, I’m acting as an intermediary to help get Sally to the American Atheists 50th Anniversary National Convention in Austin, Texas, in March.

I’m using my own PayPal account as a barrier between Sally and any potential malicious nonsense. She has plenty of friends around here who will be more than happy to donate, but she’s gotten enough of the unwanted attention too that an extra layer of identity protection seemed like a good idea to both of us.

So if you’re one of those friends, feel free to click and donate below. Let’s make sure she gets the good time that she’s more than earned, shall we?

Using her Paypal account as a barrier between Sally Syringe and any potential malicious nonsense??

Steff Svan, the Father Ted of Freethought Blogs.
"That money was only resting in my account!"

[BarnOwl]

ERMAGERD PEPSIGATE!!11!!!

http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2010/07/08/ ... hysterics/

http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2010/07/10/ ... aker-oats/

Conflict of Interest Statement: I drank a Diet Pepsi with my lunch (broccoli grown in my backyard, hummus, wholewheat pretzels, two mandarins) today. ERMAGERD unhealthy!!!11!!!

[nippletwister]

The occasional bubbles of oddness one gets from the FC crown never fail to leave me faintly bemused. This latest offering from Steffy, for instance:

Sending Sally

Promotion

by Stephanie Zvan

If you hang around these parts at all, you’ve probably seen SallyStrange. You’ve probably also seen some solid commenting from her and some information about the political and volunteer work that she does. You may even have seen how she’s been targeted by the slime pit disinformation factory for speaking up.

So it’s probably unsurprising that I’m happy to use this space and some of my resources to help Sally out. In this case, I’m acting as an intermediary to help get Sally to the American Atheists 50th Anniversary National Convention in Austin, Texas, in March.

I’m using my own PayPal account as a barrier between Sally and any potential malicious nonsense. She has plenty of friends around here who will be more than happy to donate, but she’s gotten enough of the unwanted attention too that an extra layer of identity protection seemed like a good idea to both of us.

So if you’re one of those friends, feel free to click and donate below. Let’s make sure she gets the good time that she’s more than earned, shall we?

Using her Paypal account as a barrier between Sally Syringe and any potential malicious nonsense?? What the hell is she going on about here? And 'extra layer of identity protection'?? Huh?

Does Steffy really think Sally Syringe registers much more than a the occasional amused blip here?

Sorry to disappoint Stef, but if you want to help a pal get to a conference, then as far as I'm concerned, good luck to you both. Really.

However, I must express some concern for Anthony K here, who is once more first in line to contribute - with the amount of donations he's been shovelling out to FTB recently, the poor guy'll be destitute long before next pocket money day comes around.

Well, there hasn't been any good fodder for victim narratives the last few days, so of course they have to act preemptively to protect themselves from the utter horror of other people being allowed to speak.

[JackSkeptic]

Over the past year or two I have realised that I no longer listen to or read opinions by people like Aron Ra, Justin Griffiths, Steven Novella ... not because their opinions aren't incise, objective, informational or generally of interest ... but solely because they are associated with FtB or Rebecca Watson ...

I could go and tell them on their blogs that they should relocate or choose better bed partners, but it isn't my place, so I just choose not to read or listen to them.

Is that guilt by association, or ... ?

In fact, this post was inspired by seeing Aron Ra pop up with a new video in my YouTube stream and me thinking "I can't be bothered to watch him any more, his choice of company means I prefer to spend my time listening to people who can choose better friends and colleagues"

Wrong?

Aron is another one, who i think knows it's fucked up, but keeps his gob shut for the sake of "the big game". In other words takes a shit on reality for political expediency.

Aron is stuck between a rock and a hard place and I will always give credit to anyone who actually does something practical and useful to put his message across. I also feel he has integrity. I also have no issue with others stuck in the middle.

For people like Myers et al, I simply do not trust their judgement no matter what they are saying. That is not because of their beliefs but how they choose to express them. If someone is so eaten up with a political ideology they allow it to feed into everything they say I simply feel they have nothing useful to say to me. I can't learn anything useful from them as I simply do not have the time to check their sources or the basis of their argument (assuming they bother to provide them) I REQUIRE skepticism and free thought before I am able to believe something unless it is trivial. I would rather spend my time reading and listening to those who I feel have more integrity.

When I wish to learn about something I have to have a basis of trust. For some that trust is lost. I wouldn't trust Myers, Watson etc to tell me the time of day.

[EdwardGemmer]

It's not just the American A/S conference circuit that has been infiltrated - the bullshit is crossing the Pond. From Ophelia's blog (also on PZ's):

Another upcoming event, this time in Dublin. Atheist Ireland is doing a conference called Empowering Women Through Secularism the weekend of 29-30 June 2013. I will be there.
Everybody should go to this! It will be fantastic.

Speakers will include
Ivana Bacik, Irish Senator and member of Atheist Ireland
Dan Barker, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Ophelia Benson, author and commentator, USA
Ann Brusseel, Member of Flemish Parliament, Belgium
Mairin de Burca, writer and secularist, Ireland
Jane Donnelly, Education Policy Officer Atheist Ireland
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
Anthea McTiernan, Editor Irish Times Ticket Magazine
PZ Myers, science professor and blogger, USA
Maryam Namazie, Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain
Taslima Nasrin, novelist and activist, Bangladesh and India
Michael Nugent, Chairperson Atheist Ireland
Nina Sankari, Polish Rationalist Association
Farhana Shakir, lawyer and legal consultant, Pakistan
Kate Smurthwaite, comedian and activist, Britain
Anne Marie Waters, One Law for All Campaign, Britain
Rebecca Watson, Skepchick network, USA
Fantastic, I tell you.



They haven't invited a single woman scientist (lady-science hero?)to speak at this conference.
It is also curious that they have nobody close to the Richard Dawkins Foundation who will be speaking.

I can't understand this fascination for conferences. Are these conferences fun? I find the youtube videos from them excruciating, and that's not a knock on anybody on that list, I just can't imagine paying to go to one of these.

[DeepInsideYourMind]

I can't understand this fascination for conferences. Are these conferences fun? I find the youtube videos from them excruciating, and that's not a knock on anybody on that list, I just can't imagine paying to go to one of these.

Totally agree ... I might go to one if was a couple of miles down the road, was free, and I had nothing else to do that day

Beyond that, yeah most talks seem pretty tedious and self-affirming

[justinvacula]

The school I attend for graduate studies, Marywood University, continues to include promoters of psuedoscience at its campus health fairs.

I recently authored a piece on Skeptic Ink Network concerning this matter and the upcoming February 2013 campus health fair which will include (once again) a chiropractor who provides information pertaining to 'vertebral subluxations,' 'life energy,' and also claiming that chiropractic can cure virtually any adverse health condition. Also included is a call for 'skeptical activism.'

Any help drawing attention to this issue/contacting campus officials responsible for this health fair would be appreciated. I included a sample letter, Marywood's twitter handle (which is quite active), and the contact information for responsible parties.

http://skepticink.com/justinvacula/2013 ... doscience/

[16bitheretic]

The Slyme Pit Block Bot Watch.

26 Followers (despite much effort from Colon/Aratina, the total of new followers has increased by ONE in the last 24 hours!!!)

The Slyme Pit Block Bot Watch. Charting the phenomenal popularity of Oolon's Block Bot so you don't have to!!!

So my Twitter account got suspended again, and I'm not sure if it's because I clicked follow on like 40 people last night (adding people from the oolon/aratina enemies list) or if it's due to the block bot, but in any case I made sure to tell Twitter in my appeal email that if it's due to blocks they need to look into @ool0n, @aratina, @The_Block_Bot and #BlockSaturday.

If it's due to the number of people I added to my following list yesterday, fuck of twitter. I still have less than 200 people on that list, and yes my following list may be 3X the amount of people following me, but I'm not spamming people. Fucking automated scripts...

[JackSkeptic]

The occasional bubbles of oddness one gets from the FC crown never fail to leave me faintly bemused. This latest offering from Steffy, for instance:

Sending Sally

Promotion

by Stephanie Zvan

If you hang around these parts at all, you’ve probably seen SallyStrange. You’ve probably also seen some solid commenting from her and some information about the political and volunteer work that she does. You may even have seen how she’s been targeted by the slime pit disinformation factory for speaking up.

So it’s probably unsurprising that I’m happy to use this space and some of my resources to help Sally out. In this case, I’m acting as an intermediary to help get Sally to the American Atheists 50th Anniversary National Convention in Austin, Texas, in March.

I’m using my own PayPal account as a barrier between Sally and any potential malicious nonsense. She has plenty of friends around here who will be more than happy to donate, but she’s gotten enough of the unwanted attention too that an extra layer of identity protection seemed like a good idea to both of us.

So if you’re one of those friends, feel free to click and donate below. Let’s make sure she gets the good time that she’s more than earned, shall we?

Using her Paypal account as a barrier between Sally Syringe and any potential malicious nonsense?? What the hell is she going on about here? And 'extra layer of identity protection'?? Huh?

Does Steffy really think Sally Syringe registers much more than a the occasional amused blip here?

Sorry to disappoint Stef, but if you want to help a pal get to a conference, then as far as I'm concerned, good luck to you both. Really.

However, I must express some concern for Anthony K here, who is once more first in line to contribute - with the amount of donations he's been shovelling out to FTB recently, the poor guy'll be destitute long before next pocket money day comes around.

It's just another way to add victim points to get more money. As long as people like AK fall for it they will keep doing it. They have to come up with new and inventive excuses, this is just another one. It's all just marketing.

Soon they will be asking for funds for bodyguards and house alarms 'cos of Slympitters' .

[decius]

I can't understand this fascination for conferences. Are these conferences fun? I find the youtube videos from them excruciating, and that's not a knock on anybody on that list, I just can't imagine paying to go to one of these.

Then don't go. In pre-paranoid-policies time, I used to enjoy them - particularly those with a focus on science and a decent line-up.

[16bitheretic]

I can't understand this fascination for conferences. Are these conferences fun? I find the youtube videos from them excruciating, and that's not a knock on anybody on that list, I just can't imagine paying to go to one of these.

I've never been to one myself, so out of a lack of firsthand knowledge I've largely stayed out of the debates surrounding harassment policies and all that jazz. I do have to say the amount of hand-wringing over harassment policies puzzles me because I don't hear the same level of concern over much heavier sexualized events like gaming and anime cons which I would think tend to feature a younger, more hormonal, less mature audience on average than an atheist/skeptic con, but anyways...

While I do think sitting in a seat and listening to lectures would be boring for a whole day (and let's face it, the best presentations, like Lawrence Krauss's "A Universe From Nothing" end up on YouTube anyways), some atheist cons, like the upcoming American Atheist 50th Anniversary event, do sound like fun because they'll have stuff like a comedy night, rock concerts etc. I just haven't had a chance to go to one yet, so I don't know if the average atheist/skeptic convention has enough non-lecture happenings to keep me from getting bored.

[CommanderTuvok]

I like Aron Ra, but since he went to FfTB, he seems to have gone quiet. Naturally, part of this is down to the fact that I avoid ALL of FTB because the Creepy Clowns. Makes you wonder how many visitors the saner parts of FTB have lost because of the Creepy Clowns.

PS - I wonder if any pressure is put on Aron Ra to distance himself from Thunderfoot.

[EdwardGemmer]

I can't understand this fascination for conferences. Are these conferences fun? I find the youtube videos from them excruciating, and that's not a knock on anybody on that list, I just can't imagine paying to go to one of these.

Then don't go. In pre-paranoid-policies time, I used to enjoy them - particularly those with a focus on science and a decent line-up.

Well I'm not planning on it, but I'm am pretty curious as to why people go. Maybe I'm jaded because I'm a lawyer and they always make us go to that crap. I think one about science would be kind of interesting - my dad used to take me to things like that when I was a kid.

[Lost Moose]

ERMAGERD PEPSIGATE!!11!!!

http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2010/07/08/ ... hysterics/

http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2010/07/10/ ... aker-oats/

I remember that, the link to the Invitrogen blog went to the Sb front page by the time I read the first linked post in the afternoon. They even pulled it from the drop down list. I wouldn't have blamed Abbie if she had left Sb after they pulled her sources out from under her like that.

http://scienceblogs.com/erv/2010/07/08/ ... ment-17678

[CommanderTuvok]

I feel so sorry for the likes of Dan Barker, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Maryam Namazie, Kate Smurthwaite, and Anne Marie Waters, that they will have to put with the Baboons and their sycophants. Maryam, in particular, who I look up to a lot.

I notice Taslima is going as well. She really has gone a little crazy in the last year.

[another lurker]

I forgot to mention Mano Singham. He comes across as one of the nicer, more reasonable people at FTB - and he avoids the drama.

Darksyde got in big trouble with OB and her minions when he dared to use the word 'bitch' on his blog. I cringed for him as they attacked him like a bunch of piranhas.