Snippet From Th1sWasATriumph At Speakers' Corner, 13/09/09

[paramattic70]

I don't debate Christians for the same reason I don't debate someone who thinks the Moon is made of cheese. The notion of a God is preposterous in this day and age of science, reason and technology. Believers lack the common sense to debate among reasonable people. I won't tolerate the imposition of your God's rules on me from the get go. It's degrading. I don't have to prove that your God doesn't exist. I've evolved beyond God and the need to justify my position to those who remain stagnant.

[MaitreyaRocket]

CAKE OR DEATH !??!?!?!

[blackplatypus]

So... in short. God gives us "free will" and then expressly forbids us from exercising it?

[tipoomaster]

Those people gave me a headache. How you managed to not go apeshit is beyond me. 

[HonestTechnoAtheist]

Good job talking to those christians they were barely able to say anything. Most of them have no argument to support there lousy case for worship me or burn which is what their entire religion boils down to.

[rorshakks]

So is it just christianity you have a (major) problem with or other religions as well?

[Th1sWasATriumph]

@rorshakks Basically all of them. Christianity, along with Islam, is just the one I encounter most often.

[rorshakks]

@Th1sWasATriumph Hey that's great that you're trying to dissolve people's hope.

[Th1sWasATriumph]

@rorshakks Hey yeah, I imagine it IS great that I'm trying to dissolve the hold that ignorance and unquestioning obedience to anachronistic tradition has over both believers and the people who get in the way of them. . . . wait. Hope. Not the other thing. Thanks for your support.

[rorshakks]

@Th1sWasATriumph The fool says in his heart there is no God. Unquestioning obedience? Everybody questions it and has doubts at some time but christianity is historical and evidential - the opposite of your ideology that convinces you it's hysterical and evidence-less, right doucher? It'd be highlarious (yes highlarious, a Simpson's reference which you wouldn't get) if a Muslim slices you in half with a sword some day when you're trying to destroy hope by yelling incongruities at the them.

[Th1sWasATriumph]

@rorshakks I'm sorry, there is evidence for Christianity? Really? And quoting the bible as proof for itself really is monstrous fail.

A Muslim killing me because I question his religion is kind of proof why I'd question it. And your response is proof why I'd question Christianity; I'm a doucher, someone who deserves to die, because I'm challenging your faith. Good going.

[Th1sWasATriumph]

@rorshakks And while we're at it, my attitude is different from what you imagine. I was at Speaker's Corner inviting questions, to which I responded. I did NOT simply shout arguments at people. I invited debate. And I don't attack people indiscriminately for their faith. If it's contained, then fine. However, people who try to convert me, or judge me, or in some way impinge upon me as motivated by their faith? Those fuckers are fair game. I go after them.

[thethirdchimp]

@rorshakks re: 'the fool says in his heart there is no god'.

i prefer to use my brain. thanks anyway!

[ruserious22]

one of my fav videos so far (yes I'm watching them all, from old to new) I want more videos (subbtitled plz) that have you going at it with people in the streets. I find this more enjoyable to be honest.

[MarxKnewBest]

I think technically it is still a choice per se, however it is a woefully biased one. I'll illustrate it with the analogy you presented, just modified a bit.

It is like a man having a gun to your head and saying, you have a choice between going through door A or door B. By the way, I'll blow your head off if you go through B. You still have the choice, but it is so one-sided, I can't imagine any rational person picking B. Thus in essence, there is no choice to make. A is your only option.

[dewonthegrass]

It's not a choice at all, it's a coercion. Why are they calling it a choice?

[Xfangedxpyromaniacx]

My friend and I went to see you in Hyde Park in late september. Afterwards me and my friend had a long talk about the excellent points you'd made and other related queries. Itwas insightful and honest and I really want to thank you for giving us an excellent start to our London trip :)

[Th1sWasATriumph]

Awesome! Were you the guys (or guy and girl) I wrote my channel name for on a tube map? It was a madly hot Sunday and I was wearing sunglasses - am I thinking of the same day?

Even if it's not you, it's great you tracked me down and enjoyed my ranting. Stay in touch :)

-t

[Xfangedxpyromaniacx]

Yes we were! And it was awesome :D

[ShikaNinja]

your argument was solid, your delivery was poor. first you should have established that it is no choice if the out come is significantly slanted in one options favor. i like to bring up the story of a poor man who will give you $100 if you give him 50 cents, or will kill you if you don't. once you get them to admit that is no choice, then you go into the heaven and hell thing.. its more the way you spout your premises, not what they are. good vid 5/5

[Th1sWasATriumph]

Bear in mind I'd missed out a fair few minutes of context, the audio of which was completely unusable.

[ShikaNinja]

i considered that after i posted the comment, i meant no disrespect. my critique was merely academic. i have yet to grow the funds and the balls in get to hyde park and try that out myself.

[Euphobia1]

My parents took me there when I was 8 and believe it or not I heard Ian Paisley before he became famous. He was unbelievable then and hasn't changed a bit. He took his own soap box and would not answer questions!

I never forgot him.

If I ever get to London I'll have a go on Adam & Eve!

[themanwhoknew]

You should have gotten some regular youtube visitors to go.

A bunch of kids walking around saying "lol, zomg, omg, rolf, noob-takular etc" in the background would have been funny.

[Tylzen]

This is awesome! Keep it up! :D

[rabbitpirate]

Cool, looking forwards to seeing more of this. Was that old guy trying to argue that because bad things happen then earth can't be heaven and so heaven must be somewhere else? That's kind of what it sounded like.

Anyway good on you for putting yourself out there like that.

[SarahAntsez]

Excellent

[EndlessAxis]

Epic, I'd like to see more !

[SpasmodicMonk]

I too would like to see a more complete set of footage of the event. I admire that you have the energy to debate these people. Honestly, I've given up trying to get Christians to see sense.

[RobTheMonk8]

Uh, cake for me too, please.

[AnonEyeMouse]

I lasted three minutes at speaker's corner before I got hit with half a brick. What did I learn? Arguing with 30 fascist skinheads for christ isn't a good idea ANYWHERE.

I will point out that the only people there willing to help me out and make sure I was ok were a muslim girl and her brother. So, Neesh, if that is how you spell it, thanks to you and your brother for stopping me getting lynched.

[SMSBJM1981]

If believing in christ is the only criteria for which you need to be admitted to heaven. I think you will find a lot of people there you didn't expect.

[wickedlick]

Would love to see the full video.

[jmthetank]

Hey, if God can do it, so can I.

*pulls out gun and points it at your head*

You have a choice: Give me all your money, or I'll point the wall with your brains.

Apparently it's a fair choice, and, honestly, kind of me to offer it.

[dangerouslytalented]

Back in 2001, I was living in London, and went to Speakers Corner, and there were Muslims who were preaching how Islam would take over Britain, and there were Communists and conspiracy theorists and antisemites all getting big crowds, and those who weren't extremists were having conversations with like one or two people.

It's kind of like youtube in that respect.

[fatatheist]

there are many responses to this...

God says do what you wish, but make the wrong choice and you will be tortured for eternity in hell. That is not free will. It would be akin to a man telling his girlfriend, do what you wish, but if you choose to leave me, I will track you down and blow your brains out. When a man says this we call him a psychopath and cry out for his imprisonment and execution. When God says the same we call him 'loving' and build churches in his honor.

William C. Easttom II

[xxxFaustusxxx]

1:14 - *Points a gun to your head* GIVE ME THE MONEY OR YOU'RE DEAD! but.. it's up to you :) you have a free choice :)

[GriffinPilgrim]

Ah, Speaker's Corner, a fine old tradirion. Sometimes we Brits get it right.

[SpeciationEverywhere]

looks like fun!

[MsAntitheist]

lol I am going there next month :)

[SomethingOriginal86]

I wouldn't say a HEAPED plateful of ass. A lightly garnished, nouveau cuisine plate, possibly. But much props for putting yourself right in the thick of it and being vocal.

I'm slightly ashamed that the debate-ees were Welsh though. Letting the side down...

[thefutureisvegan]

There's no point arguing with a convinced idiot.

[bunnycatch3r]

Why waste your time with zombies? She doesn't have a brain, never had an original thought, never asked a serious question.

[Th1sWasATriumph]

The best debates were with people who sort of agreed but also disagreed, or who weren't complete fundies, but none of them were audible/as neatly encapsulated as this one.

[Atrocitas6]

As they say, those who shout loudest have the most to hide.

[Th1sWasATriumph]

Ironic, considering I opened this video by shouting loudly.

[Atrocitas6]

Hah, yes, but you know what I mean.

[Cowinspace]

Referencing eddie izzard is never a tactical error. :)

[Guncriminal]

Moar

[Josan117]

I used to love the concept of speakers corner, until I walked past there for the first time. There was a muslim talking about how Allah was love. A white dude with a crazy beard talking about evil jew conspiracies, and a third dude who was rambling so much shit I couldn't figure out what he was talking about. Each of them had a couple of hundred listernes.... *sigh*

[Tolrias]

at 0:06 LOL look at the guy to the right :D

[cheeekamoomoo]

Fantastic, I wish America had something like that.

Wait....

...Town hall meetings, here I come, with Dawkin's new book in hand!! A-hahah!!

[happysplodie]

Watch out for the ones bringing guns >.>

[hamiel85]

Omg I love Hyde Park. Are the nutters starting to come out in the UK? Or has it been like this always?

[MasterGhostKnight]

LOL!

[nurikosguardian]

Would you be able to type out that short exchange you had the older gentlemen, i listened a few times and couldn't make out your response.

Awesome video, maybe you should mic yourself up. Would love to see more videos of you at speaker's corner.

[Th1sWasATriumph]

At the beginning? I think I say "that's not proof for hell though" or similar.

Yes, micing up would be much better. We live and learn.

[mongolen]

Where do you get the patience?

Its like talking to a bunch of sheeps..

[Th1sWasATriumph]

I facepalmed for 5 minutes out of every hour.

[sykCalduil]

I wish I could facepalm that infrequently. You're a stronger man than I, TWAT. ;)

[sgtbigs22]

Yet another triumph