Now if I can just get Zara to learn the *scroll* part.

189. Comment #486148 by phil rimmer on May 3, 2010 at 5:23 pm

I'm just as eager as you are, to see Bill Maher move toward more sensible views on medicine. I just have trouble believing this forum will be the straw that breaks the camel's back. It wouldn't even surprise me if Maher himself browsed RD.net once in a while. He's obviously intelligent enough to understand your arguments, and has replied in forums like Huffington Post with his own version of events.

1) Are you actually trying to dissuade Bill Maher from his views?

2) Are you trying to dissuade Richard from his recent and very clearly stated views? (This thread, in fact.)

3) Are you trying to get in a few snotty digs at either Dawkins and/or Maher?

4) Are you trying to bore us all to tears?

5) Are you practicing for the big upcoming debate?

I believe we all are completely up-to-date on this matter. Further discussion will erode the increased solidarity sure to be arriving with the new website changes. The very last thing I want to hear on the new website, and please rest assured I understand this is a big fat opinion and that everyone knows what we're supposed to do with them, is more griping about Maher's vaccination views the very first time one of his images pops up.

Thank you very much.

185. Comment #486137 by Bonzai on May 3, 2010 at 4:57 pm

In the U.K where Steve is I am sure it is free.

Curse you Bonzai, you found the gaping hole in my argument.

;-P

183. Comment #486132 by Steve Zara on May 3, 2010 at 4:38 pm

He would be a very powerful ally.

Would be? I think you're a bit late in this assessment. Mr. Maher IS a powerful ally. Perhaps you think he could be more powerful if he would adopt your views on vaccination. Fine. You've made a most cogent argument, that is now becoming an argument ad nauseum.

Have you considered for one moment, that perhaps Bill Maher's current "power" is based on his talent as a comedian, and his unique ability to attract viewers to his television show?

Now stay with me... what kind of people comprise a Bill Maher audience? I'll venture a guess: a diverse, liberal audience, including those with religious views, and "anti-big-medicine" views which run counter to science and reason.

So, should Bill Maher simply jettison a large part of his audience wholesale, by performing a 180-degree turn in public on the issue of vaccinations? This would not make him more powerful -- it may make him less powerful.

I think it is a bit presumptuous to think we understand the vagaries of Hollywood. Bill Maher answers to powerful people, too, and these people may have quirky views themselves.

What if your own boss (assuming you had one) had views like Bill Maher's? Would you constantly harrass him about changing them for the good of science and reason? You may find yourself in the absence of a PAYCHECK, which certainly won't help you purchase any vaccination medicine.

My point is that there are constraints that you are not accounting for in your argument. To dismiss these constraints out of hand is ignorant and unproductive.

178. Comment #486119 by Steve Zara on May 3, 2010 at 3:47 pm

179. Comment #486121 by phil rimmer on May 3, 2010 at 4:00 pm

With respect to Bill Maher, I have two questions for both of you gentlemen:

1) Have you achieved ridicule?
2) What concrete steps are you advocating for the RDF in this matter? What are your actual recommendations? Do you have any?