Neil deGrasse Tyson rebukes Dawkins for his rhetorical style, and Dawkins responds brilliantly.

[andrewducker]

via skreidle again.

I'm looking forward to the Cosmos that Tyson will be hosting.

Comments

[makyo.livejournal.com]

That's brilliant - thanks for posting it.

[erindubitably.livejournal.com]

Interesting video - certainly something that comes up a lot in science communication is the fact that it doesn't matter how cool the information you're presenting is if the way in which you're presenting it is off-putting or unengaging. As much as it might be nice to say 'if you can't see how interesting this is then fuck off', ultimately that does nothing to help your cause except make people see you as an elite asshole. And given that most important scientific efforts rely on public funding (edit: to SOME degree), it's quite crucial to make sure the public knows why what you're doing is important.

Anyway, I may steal this and write a longer blog post on it later, thanks!

[xenophanean.livejournal.com]

Very much agree, it's a strange attitude for someone who's meant to be a science ambassador.

[erindubitably.livejournal.com]

Totally. I mean, I get the self-satisfaction that comes from going "I understand this is awesome, you don't, therefore I am better than you", but that doesn't serve anybody's purposes. Much better to share your enthusiasm and passion and then you'll have someone to geek out with!

[xenophanean.livejournal.com]

"Here in Spain, we think our countryside is lovely, if you do not think the Spanish countryside is lovely, then Fuck Off!"

Thinking about it, this would actually make me curious about the Spanish countryside, so maybe it's not so bad a stance.

[erindubitably.livejournal.com]

Yes, but would it make you want to talk to Spanish people?

[xenophanean.livejournal.com]

Hmm, not so much.

[andrewducker]

I shall look forward to it!

Oooh, remind me what your Science Blog is - I must add it to my feeds!

[erindubitably.livejournal.com]

Let's Talk About Science!, co-written with my awesome friend clevermynnie.

[daveon.livejournal.com]

I think one of the problems Dawkins does have is he does come across as being a complete snob and a condescending bastard. Which, no matter how much I agree with him, probably doesn't help him too much.

[del-c.livejournal.com]

This is one of those irregular verbs, isn't it?

"He comes across the wrong way"
"You should present yourself better"
"I'm being tone-argumented!"

[daveon.livejournal.com]

How about: being a total dick to people you disagree with doesn't always help your cause in public discourse.

Dawkins has set himself up as something of a public face of the atheist movement but I don't think he's doing himself or atheism all that many favours.

Which is basically what was said to him.