# What's the deal with this Ebert column? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649 "2008-09-22T06:06:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/1 "2008-09-22T06:06:55Z")
[Here’s](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/COMMENTARY/809219997/-1/RSS) the article. Is it some kind of subtle sarcasm? It’s so hard to tell with creationists. I sent him the following email to get some clarification: Roger, WTF??? Your concerned friend, Baraqiyal. Do you think his web site got hacked, or does he actually believe this stuff? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/2 "2008-09-22T06:30:19Z")
Maybe he just watch the new Bill Maher film, “Religulous” and was pretending to be a teacher forced to teach creationism? Or maybe his medication kicked in while he was writing his column. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/3 "2008-09-22T06:45:39Z")
Seems like he’s trying to show how ridiculous the “alternative” to science teaching is. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/4 "2008-09-22T06:46:48Z")
–and he’s letting the ridiculousness speak for itself by presenting it without comment, straightfaced. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/5 "2008-09-22T06:48:23Z")
It’s a whoosh. Ebert commented on it personally on Richard Dawkins’ website [here](http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58421&sid=705e2a34692a777eff81befe836aeb6f). [Here](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050328/COMMENTARY/503280301) is a piece where Ebert rips Creationism without tongue in cheek. ---
**Author:** ![Baraqiyal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@Baraqiyal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baraqiyal)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/6 "2008-09-22T06:51:45Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s a whoosh. Ebert commented on it personally on Richard Dawkins’ website [here](http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58421&sid=705e2a34692a777eff81befe836aeb6f). > > [Here](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050328/COMMENTARY/503280301) is a piece where Ebert rips Creationism without tongue in cheek. Thanks, you’ve set my mind at ease. ---
**Author:** ![thwartme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@thwartme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thwartme)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/7 "2008-09-22T18:36:04Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s a whoosh. Ebert commented on it personally on Richard Dawkins’ website [here](http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58421&sid=705e2a34692a777eff81befe836aeb6f). > > [Here](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050328/COMMENTARY/503280301) is a piece where Ebert rips Creationism without tongue in cheek. Well good. I was almost feeling glad that he got smacked in the face at TIFF. thwartme ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/8 "2008-09-22T23:41:04Z")
The last Q & A, > [@](#): > > Q. Why would God create such an absurd creature as a moose? > > A. In charity, we must observe that the moose probably does not seem absurd to itself. suggested to me that it was satire. I’m glad it was. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/9 "2008-09-23T04:25:58Z")
Roger Ebert’s been getting more outspoken (ironically, considering that he still can’t talk yet) lately about political issues. It’s sort of like his illness and surgery made him feel like he has to seize the day, so to speak, and give his opinion on things more important than film. I kind of like it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/10 "2008-09-24T02:40:30Z")
Ebert has responded to the confusion. He is let down that evolutionists, or at least those that don’t believe in creation, frequently did not realize he was kidding. [Dawning Age of Credulity](http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2008/09/this_is_the_dawning_of_the_age.html) Roger is a firm evolutionist and if you have read his articles over time, this should be obvious. He’s actually a bit let down that fellow evolutionists didn’t figure this out, while creationists seemed to “get it”. Roger has become a bit of a free spirit since he lost his voice. I like it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-this-ebert-column/464649/11 "2008-09-24T03:44:41Z")
Free spirit indeed. Check out this answer to a question is his [“Answer Man”](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=ANSWERMAN) column a couple of weeks ago: > [@](#): > > **Q**. _Yo dude, u missed out on “Disaster Movie,” a hardcore laugh-ur-@zz-off movie! Y U not review this movie!? It was funny as #ell! Prolly the funniest movie of the summer! U never review these, wat up wit dat?_ > \*\*S.J. Stanczak, Chicago > > A.\*\* Hey, bro, I wuz buzier than $#i+, @d they never shoed it b4 hand. I peeped in the IMDb and saw it zoomed to #1 as the low$ie$t flic of all time, wit @ lame-@zz UZer Rating of 1.3. U liked it? Wat up wit dat?