This book changed my lifeThe Goat writes, "Some books have made a huge impact on my life." It's true. It wasn't until the b3ta mods read the Flashman novels that we changed from mild-mannered computer operators into heavily-whiskered copulators, poltroons and all round bastards in a well-known cavalry regiment.
What books have changed the way you think, the way you live, or just gave you a rollicking good time?
Friendly hint: A bit of background rather than just a bunch of book titles would make your stories more readable
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chthonic, Thu 15 May 2008, 15:11)
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Dawkins is rather arrogantand has a worrying tendency to suggest that those who work in the field of genetics and evolution have a higher plane of understanding then others (here's a clue: we don't)
But most of the criticism in the replies here I'm afraid does smack of not understanding his theories properly. I agree his somewhat smug self confidence can you wind you up, but the vast majority of his arguments are scientifically pretty fucking watertight.
and of course he's biased. Everyone is biased. The difference, and this is what you're missing calling his work "wank for the docile masses" is that he would change his bias in a hearbeat if there was ever any single piece of evidence to suggest that he was wrong. because he's a scientist, and that's what we do. Those with religious beliefs would not change their mind, because that's kind of how faith and religion work.
He is zealous because he is genuienly worried and afraid of the power religions hold in the world. and rightly fucking so. but being zealous about a scientific belief is not at all the same as standing on street corners spouting fundie beliefs.
(, Mon 19 May 2008, 9:34, Reply)
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