What do you REALLY think about David B?

[Czarcasm]

Brother D thinks that we need a thread dedicated to our opinions about him.

Who's first?

[soulsling]

who?

jk.

would like to see more posts though. DavidB, your'e either too busy, or have nothing much to say?

and getting Slythe to ask for you, that's just cute.
IMHO that is...

[SkeptiJess]

Well, I just love him to pieces.

Okay, maybe I overstated that just a smidge. Seriously, I have no beef with our David. He is a skeptic's skeptic and I don't think there's anything wrong with that -- especially on this forum. Remember the Straight Dope motto, after all. A person (like our David) who refuses to suffer fools gladly is always going to rub certain people the wrong way.

[Chronos]

I think he's an overreligious zealot. What's that you say? He's an atheist? Yes, and atheism is a religion. A skeptic, you say? Prove to me that God does not exist. A true skeptic requires proof on either side of an issue. Yes, yes, I know... "Extraordinary claims call for extraordinary evidence", but who decides which claims are extraordinary?

[David B]

Slythe said:

Brother D thinks that we need a thread dedicated to our opinions about him.

No, no, no Slythe -- I said this whole FORUM could be used to praise me, not say what people really think! There have already been plenty of Pit threads about me for that!

[Czarcasm]

Oops, sorry. Total smeg-up on my part. Never happen again.

O.K. folks, this thread is for saying nice things about Brother D. Be lovey-dovey and treacly in your responses. Pour on the sugar. Lay it on thick.

Is that better?

[Missy2U]

In all seriousness, I can't even begin to explain how much I've learned from him both in GD, and from his website. I read GD, I just don't participate. I'm kind of an idiot, and hate to prove it on a regular basis so I keep my mouth shut. But he's been an invaluable source of information for me, and has helped clarify a whole lot of things for me.

[Ukulele Ike]

Slythe, for some reason, your above post made me think of cinnamon toast. Freshly made sugary cinnamon toast, oozing with melted butter.

[Trion]

DavidB is OK in my book. He surely knows what he's talking about when he posts. I've heard that he has no paitence, but on those few occasions when I've posted in Great Debates he hasn't said "boo" to me. And I refuse to believe that I got it all right on the first try.

[Spiritus Mundi]

I have always felt profoundly sorry for DavidB. He seems to be my kind of guy.

They have a 12-step program for that, but my kind of guys don't go to 12-step programs.

David, you have my sympathies, but I am still happy for the company.

[Initial Entry]

I think he's an overreligious zealot.[...] Yes, and atheism is a religion.

-Chronos

I suggest that, if you haven't already, you might want to bring this up over in GD.

On the subject of David, I like him, he really knows his shit and doesn't take any bull from anyone.

Of course, I'm also a bit scared of him too...but thats just common sense...

[coosa]

DavidB. is to be worshiped, revered, adored, and obeyed! On your knees, O Sinful Ones!

(I . . . I . . . I don't know what came over me. I just had to say that! I've been having these strange interludes ever since being inducted into the Church of DavidB. several months ago. And I keep dreaming of invisible pink unicorns!)

[David B]

Aw, shucks...

[Kat]

I have a shrine to David B in my living room.

[Threll]

From what I can tell he is a good person. He may seem radical at some times but I haven't yet heard a claim that he can't back up with logic.

[Krispy Original]

He's probably a nice enough guy to have as a neighbor or drink a beer with.

He reminds me though of a good friend of mine that is a little too wrapped up in his scientific view of the world.

Science can't explain everything and not all scientific "facts" will still be valid 50 years from now.

I fear for his sanity though if he should happen to encounter a ghostly being or a 2-mile wide floating triangle...

[Krispy Original]

Shit! I hit enter too soon!

I meant to add that if he did, I envision that he'd spin around like the robot on Lost In Space chanting "Does not compute!" "Does not compute!"

[vanilla]

I think David B. is a fine Christian man..

[2sense]

I DENOUNCE all FALSE PROPHETS of the CHURCH OF DAVID B!

Only I can lead you to the TRUTH of his HOLY WISDOM!

Forget the sandal. Follow the GOURD!!!!!

( Er... that's a thumbs up. )

[Holly]

I'd like to have a homosexual affair with him. Unfortunately, we're of opposite sexes, and we're both straight. ~~sigh~~

One time, I had a toothache, and I wrote something and he replied. At that point I noticed, incredibly, my toothache was gone ! What does that tell you??

Oh, and I hate to rip off the person who said this but I can't remember his name, but: if atheism is a religion, bald is a hair color.

Note to myself: don't post at 2am.

[WallyM7]

I genuinely like David.

Of course, I also like Attila the Hun, Torquamada and Britney Spears.

He tells it like it was. I mean like it is. No, wait, like it ought to be.

Yeah, that's it.

I particularly like it when he tees off on the fundies, especially the rabid ones. But I sense the beginnings of a mellowing out with him.

Pity.

[vanilla]

As usual, I got beneath you...

[Scylla]

I was lame and suffered from moon blindness.

DavidB examined me through the Spectacles of Scientific Supremacy and saw what was wrong. He then waived the Rod of Infallible Skepticism over me three times for redundancy while incanting the Chant of Replicability of Exerimental Data.

My illness flew from my body into the Irate Right Hand of Mikelikesit (which DavidB had produced from the bag where he keeps this evil and powerful totem.)

I was healed!

[soulsling]

oh David B, i'm so honored to have gotten an email from you. even though it was in the SDMB moderator order of business, you have shown exemplory performance in your carrying out of such duties. You deserve the engraved silver Zippo! Job well done man.

[Chronos]

Since a couple of folks have commented, I'd like to elaborate on my post. Religion is the maintaining of a belief which is not due to observations. Atheism is the belief that there is no God. The existance or non-existance of God has never been observed. Therefore, atheism is a religion. I'm not saying that atheism is any better or worse than any other religion, and someone like DavidB can be of great help in squashing the fundies-- I'd love to get my dad into a debate with him sometime. It's still a religion, though, and he can come on rather strongly at times.

The term for lack of religion, by the way, is agnosticism. An agnostic does not profess to know whether God exists, there being insufficient evidence to reach any conclusion.

[David B]

Atheism is not a belief system any more than bald is a hair color (yeah, somebody may have used it already, but it's still true). If I say I have no apples, that doesn't mean I have apples.

Now, "strong" atheism (the actual assertion that there is no god) is a belief system for the reasons you mentioned -- it cannot be proven. However, very few people around here make such strong statements (I can think of one or two only).

Most of us who are referred to as "atheists" are more properly designated agnostics, though probably with atheist leanings. Better yet, "nonbelievers." This has been discussed in great detail in GD, and that's where we should go if you want to discuss it more.

Of course, nobody should be either an atheist or an agnostic. They should worship at the First Church of David B. For I am the only deity who actually comes to the masses and converses with them. That is the evidence that I exist, and that I am the one true God.

Now, get back to praising me!

[Initial Entry]

I am the only deity who actually comes to the masses and converses with them.

What about Cecil oh wise one?

[aha]

And I'll praise ya...

[Shirley Ujest]

Any one who, when clearing out the piles and piles of books that he has to review for his job, sends me "And Idiot's Guide to Being Pyschic" is aok by me. (It's great bathroom reading, btw, along with the Weekly World News!)

I've heard he's hung like a horse.

[David B]

Initial Entry: Cecil doesn't converse with the masses as much as I do. But even I worship Cecil. Kind of like Zeus being the head of all gods.

Aha: Not this again. But I'll welcome you if you send in your dues to the First Church of David B. How's that?

[Greyson3]

I think David B is great.

Why, just add lemon juice, parmesean cheese, maple syrup and a dash of pepper, and buddy, you got yourself a meal!

Ha ha. Seriously, he's one of my favorite posters. He articulates my exact stance damn near every time he posts. I think he's a little too quick to anger on certain issues, but I guess there's only so many times you can hear "Evolution violates the second law of thermodynamics" without going insane. The most amusing threads on this board involve David B kicking some obnoxious creation scientist ass, IMO.

[David B]

The most amusing threads on this board involve David B kicking some obnoxious creation scientist ass, IMO.

A new motto!

[Gaudere]

I would've figured "I've heard he's hung like a horse" would have been the obvious .sig/motto pick, David.

[coosa]

I would've figured "I've heard he's hung like a horse" would have been the obvious .sig/motto pick, David.

Ah, but Gaudere, we know that DavidB. values truth above all else!

[Gaudere]

Good one, coosa. Maybe it's just an Urban Legend...

::ducking and running::

[DRY]

you know what's coming next....

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury (David B.), not to praise him."

--Julius Caesar, Act 3, scene ii

[David B]

Gaudere said:

I would've figured "I've heard he's hung like a horse" would have been the obvious .sig/motto pick, David.

I couldn't comment, because I've never seen a horse up-close enough to know. (Nor do I want to!)