Richard Dawkins - In Conversation (NCH, 5th June, 8pm)

MagicMarker

https://www.nch.ie/online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=A4BCEE8B-3803-4EA2-8445-8567A192C40D

Only €20, good value imo. Just bought myself a ticket, there's loads left! Maybe a chance for an A&A beers beforehand?

Galvasean

*cough*

Galvasean's birthday present?

RichieC

Nice, I'm there.

Sonics2k

I want to go to this simply to ask him a huge favour.

Something like: "Can you please make a quick two minute video, aimed at a guy called JC on boards.ie and clear up the complete nonsensical ****e he claims you say and believe, which he distorts out of half read sentences."

Beruthiel

10% discount for Groups of 10 or more.... Boards outing?

MagicMarker

Beruthiel wrote: »

10% discount for Groups of 10 or more.... Boards outing?

By the time that endeavour is planned tickets will probably be all gone! I don't mind spending the extra €2 to get my choice of seats now. (You can pick what seat you want, which is always nice)

Dades

It must be me but I don't feel compelled to be in the same room as him when he's talking. YouTube suffices!

I may however have to buy that Magic of Reality iPad app when I get my mitts on the new Ipad.

Zombrex

Dades wrote: »

It must be me but I don't feel compelled to be in the same room as him when he's talking.

No, I would feel similar. I admire his writing, but he has never been a great public speaker (a good public speaker, but not a great one).

If it was someone like Stephen Fry I would be all over it.

Yellowknife

why not buy the book and get him to sign it?

Zombrex

Yellowknife wrote: »

why not buy the book and get him to sign it?

Just make it out to Mr E. Bay.

Calibos

How much will ye gimme for a signed copy of the Greatest Show on Earth

strobe

Beruthiel wrote: »

Boards outing?

MagicMarker wrote: »

By the time that endeavour is planned tickets will probably be all gone! I don't mind spending the extra €2 to get my choice of seats now. (You can pick what seat you want, which is always nice)

Still, it must be time for another A&A beers again by now? There was no Christmas one this time around (unless it all arranged in secret by PM to prevent Strobe finding out about it like usual... ) so I would like to humbly suggest that an Easter A&A beers would be appropriate. Not actually on Easter as I'm sure several of you have children (that you have not eaten yet for some weird reason) but ye know, in around Easter.

Huzzah?

Peregrinus

This event - it's Richard Dawkins in conversation with who, exactly?

I mean, a conversation normallly requires a second person, but none is mentioned. Is this Dawkins conversing with . . . nothing? A vast, signficant, echoing emptiness?

It sounds like a metaphor for something!

iBumblebeetuna

Peregrinus wrote: »

This event - it's Richard Dawkins in conversation with who, exactly?

I mean, a conversation normallly requires a second person, but none is mentioned. Is this Dawkins conversing with . . . nothing? A vast, signficant, echoing emptiness?

It sounds like a metaphor for something!

That's exactly what I was wondering.

MagicMarker

Peregrinus wrote: »

This event - it's Richard Dawkins in conversation with who, exactly?

I mean, a conversation normallly requires a second person, but none is mentioned. Is this Dawkins conversing with . . . nothing? A vast, signficant, echoing emptiness?

It sounds like a metaphor for something!

You must have been up all night worrying about this extremely important question.

rccaulfield

Peregrinus wrote: »

This event - it's Richard Dawkins in conversation with who, exactly?

I mean, a conversation normallly requires a second person, but none is mentioned. Is this Dawkins conversing with . . . nothing? A vast, signficant, echoing emptiness?

It sounds like a metaphor for something!

Don't care, he'd make for great listning talking to an empty chair! I'm there will bring mrs rc who's a non practicing atheist:D

panda100

Peregrinus wrote: »

This event - it's Richard Dawkins in conversation with who, exactly?

I mean, a conversation normallly requires a second person, but none is mentioned. Is this Dawkins conversing with . . . nothing? A vast, signficant, echoing emptiness?

It sounds like a metaphor for something!

Thats actually a really good point. I recently went to see my favourite psychologist, Oliver James, in Dublin. He was in conversation with some Trinity psychologist. The trinity guy obviously completely disagreed with Oliver James, and so the whole conversation was Oliver defending his research and ideas. It was if he was under attack, and made the whole conversation quite unpleasant.

Ugh I hope its not Ryan Tubridy or someone like that.

Yellowknife

I'd rather listen to Dawkins blow his nose than any priest give a sermon.

Peregrinus

I ask because, like Panda100, I've attended "in conversation with . . ." type events with, e.g. Harold Pinter that were disappointingly buggered up by an inept interlocutor.

Muppet Man

well its being put together by the Dublin Writers Festival and it mentions

His latest book, The Magic of Reality, presents a luminous and lucid introduction to science, exploring everything from our genetic ancestry to tsunamis and shooting stars.

Join Richard Dawkins as he takes us on an illuminating and enthralling journey through scientific reality.

So I'd say more of an opportunity to advertise his book ... but I'm a bit cynical like that...

Yellowknife

Muppet Man, a lot of his books are sold to fund his foundation for reason and science.

Peregrinus

Muppet Man wrote: »

well its being put together by the Dublin Writers Festival and it mentions

So I'd say more of an opportunity to advertise his book ... but I'm a bit cynical like that...

It'sx a writer's festival Muppet Man. Audiences go because they are interested in writing. Participants go because they write. You can pretty much take it for granted that the participants are there to talk about their writing, and the audiences are there to hear about it. I don't see how that is grounds for cynicism.

Muppet Man

I was just making the point that it doesnt explicitly say on the web site who Richard is in conversation with, nor does it explicitly say what the conversation will be about. I am a very cycincal person, a trait I inherited from me auld man (thanks, dad ) - therefore I see this as nothing but an opportunity for Richard to flog his new book... I didnt say it was bad thing either, its just for me I would prefer not to spend 20 euro listening to some fella asking Richard some leading questions to facilitate him telling me how good his book is (I'm sure it is...). If he gave free copies of his book away... then sure, I would go

Of course I could be completely wrong too.... thats a frequent enough event, tbh.

Cheers
Muppet Man

GlenHelder

Good stuff! Will be great to hear him speak in person. Hopefully A&A gets behind this to encourage him to do more secular campaigning in Ireland since his Late Late Show appearances haven't been very hospitable.

wonton

feck it, think I will go, don't expect it to be hugely exciting stuff or anything I haven't seen on youtube already but sure , would be still pretty interesting to see him live I guess.

fitz0

Could we ask throw in a euro and buy John Waters a ticket?

Da Bounca

Sold out

Northclare

I'm thinking of buying his book "The God Delusion".
I am a believer but not in a religious sense I might be more instinctively pagan but on my own journey I just love the earth universe etc but that's my thing.
When I'm reading posts from the Atheism forums I found from taking a back seat, Ye have a sense of humor and don't push your views on other's.
So ill take back anything I said that brought down the decorum or messed up your discussions etc.

It's good to have an open mind and see things from both sides, I read a lot of holy books now it's time I read more books from a scientific perspective and make up my own mind.

wonton

Da Bounca wrote: »

Sold out

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU


was just gonna get my ticket tomorrow!

Jimmy Bottlehead

Northclare wrote: »

I'm thinking of buying his book "The God Delusion".
I am a believer but not in a religious sense I might be more instinctively pagan but on my own journey I just love the earth universe etc but that's my thing.
When I'm reading posts from the Atheism forums I found from taking a back seat, Ye have a sense of humor and don't push your views on other's.
So ill take back anything I said that brought down the decorum or messed up your discussions etc.

It's good to have an open mind and see things from both sides, I read a lot of holy books now it's time I read more books from a scientific perspective and make up my own mind.

I found that The God Delusion helped me clarify all the doubts I had, but that I couldn't clarify by myself. I'm a reasonably smart guy, but after a catholic upbringing I found it difficult to reason out exactly why the concept of god didn't make sense to me, even though I knew there was something amiss with it.

I'd definitely pick up a copy. Christopher Hitchen's 'God is not Great' is also excellent, and more of an 'entertaining' read.

Also, my girlfriend picked up tickets to this as a present, so we'll be there Hope it's a good night!

keane2097

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

I found that The God Delusion helped me clarify all the doubts I had, but that I couldn't clarify by myself. I'm a reasonably smart guy, but after a catholic upbringing I found it difficult to reason out exactly why the concept of god didn't make sense to me, even though I knew there was something amiss with it.

Yeah this was pretty much my exact experience as well.

paddyzk

Feck ya JC,feck ya

Gbear

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

I found that The God Delusion helped me clarify all the doubts I had, but that I couldn't clarify by myself. I'm a reasonably smart guy, but after a catholic upbringing I found it difficult to reason out exactly why the concept of god didn't make sense to me, even though I knew there was something amiss with it.

I'd definitely pick up a copy. Christopher Hitchen's 'God is not Great' is also excellent, and more of an 'entertaining' read.

Also, my girlfriend picked up tickets to this as a present, so we'll be there Hope it's a good night!

There was an interesting trend in my secondary school - when I was in 3rd Year I was more or less the only overt atheist. It was my "thing".
Then, when the God Delusion came out, a few more started springing up.
I think some people deride the effects that these kinds of books have (or don't have) but, at least in my experience, it did affect many people around me who read it.
These were smart, rational people who for the most part were good critical thinkers so they probably would've got there in the end but it definitely seemed to push them along.
When you're 16 something that can focus your thoughts on a subject can be quite powerful.

Beruthiel

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

I'd definitely pick up a copy. Christopher Hitchen's 'God is not Great' is also excellent, and more of an 'entertaining' read.

And perhaps to round it off, Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation.

Galvasean

Northclare wrote: »

I am a believer but not in a religious sense I might be more instinctively pagan but on my own journey I just love the earth universe etc but that's my thing.
When I'm reading posts from the Atheism forums I found from taking a back seat, Ye have a sense of humor and don't push your views on other's.
So ill take back anything I said that brought down the decorum or messed up your discussions etc.

Wahey! somebody finally gets our humor!

robindch

wonton wrote: »

was just gonna get my ticket tomorrow!

I believe a few more tickets have become available:

http://www.dublinwritersfestival.com/event/richard-dawkins-in-conversation

pts

robindch wrote: »

I believe a few more tickets have become available:

http://www.dublinwritersfestival.com/event/richard-dawkins-in-conversation

Cheers Robindch, I only noticed this event after it was sold out, but thanks to you I've got a ticket!

panda100

pts wrote: »

Cheers Robindch, I only noticed this event after it was sold out, but thanks to you I've got a ticket!

Me too,Thanks Robindch

Jeez I cant believe you guys were reading The God Delusion in 3rd year of secondary school,I was still reading sweet valley high then!

wonton

feck was sold out by the time I made it to town :mad:


If anyone finds out they cant make it and is selling their ticket feel free to pm me:o

robindch

There might be a few tickets for this still available -- check out Atheist Ireland's page on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/AtheistIreland

Anybody on for a beer before meeting up? Then post here!

MagicMarker

I actually might not be able to make it myself. So I might have a ticket for someone...

Gumbi

Gbear wrote: »

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

I found that The God Delusion helped me clarify all the doubts I had, but that I couldn't clarify by myself. I'm a reasonably smart guy, but after a catholic upbringing I found it difficult to reason out exactly why the concept of god didn't make sense to me, even though I knew there was something amiss with it.

I'd definitely pick up a copy. Christopher Hitchen's 'God is not Great' is also excellent, and more of an 'entertaining' read.

Also, my girlfriend picked up tickets to this as a present, so we'll be there Hope it's a good night!

There was an interesting trend in my secondary school - when I was in 3rd Year I was more or less the only overt atheist. It was my "thing".
Then, when the God Delusion came out, a few more started springing up.
I think some people deride the effects that these kinds of books have (or don't have) but, at least in my experience, it did affect many people around me who read it.
These were smart, rational people who for the most part were good critical thinkers so they probably would've got there in the end but it definitely seemed to push them along.
When you're 16 something that can focus your thoughts on a subject can be quite powerful.

That surprises me. I started approaching atheism in recent times, based mostly on critical thinking, and watching debates on YouTube. I realised the religious continued to repeat the same BS over and over again. None of their arguments convinced me. If I'd read The God Delusion as a 15 year old, I'm not sure I'd have been convinced. Society had moulded me into a strong believer.

I'm 19 now, my brother beat me to atheism about 6 months before me, and he's a year and a half younger than me. I've been an atheist for perhaps 6 months now. (He's remarkably intelligent, though) I guess it takes time for one's critical thinking faculties to fully develop.

Dades

I don't think developing critical thinking has much to do with it.

When I was in school I was more concerned with sport, gurls and getting into pubs. The concerns of religion were far from my mind.

Gumbi

Dades wrote: »

I don't think developing critical thinking has much to do with it.

When I was in school I was more concerned with sport, gurls and getting into pubs. The concerns of religion were far from my mind.

I think it was for me. I was a very open minded person, but went to mass every week believed in most of the teachings of the Church etc. Because it was so engrained I didn't really bother questioning it, at least not until I was able to think more independAntly.

panda100

Does it start at 8 tomorrow??

MisterEpicurus

panda100 wrote: »

Does it start at 8 tomorrow??

Yes

carlmango11

Someone give me their ticket.

thx.

MagicMarker

carlmango11 wrote: »

Someone give me their ticket.

thx.

You can have mine if you can pay by paypal, mine's an eticket so I can just email it to you.

Stargazer7

Anyone have on spare they're willing to sell?

robindch

Stargazer7 wrote: »

Anyone have on spare they're willing to sell?

I'd say at this point, if you're not far away, it's probably worth just turning up and seeing if there's any seats available. AI did say a few days ago that they had some spare tickets and I'm sure they'll be around in the foyer somewhere!

wonton

Id say rather than just turn up, just get your ass there asap , cos its first come first serve on the day the guy in the booth told me anyway