Slaves to Super-stition (2/5) - Richard Dawkins

[insanic1]

the average iq of white people is around a 100 so there is plenty of them to fall around 90 and below, which matches up to the number of superstitious people out there.

[sephiroththewise]

@insanic1 White people? The average IQ applies to every human on earth.

[TearsOfWar1]

Damn I love Richard.

[syd502]

the true story about every seer!..endless fleecing ideas..get a life..atheism forever

[maccarolldabass]

Why am I stuck amongst friends, family, strangers all believing in this crap where are all the sensible people!

[mQtek]

@maccarolldabass *waves' over here!

[outlaw87100]

@maccarolldabass I'm in the same predicament pal.

[UniversalRee]

I'm a slave to substition. I believe things that are really there, but that lots of people don't. (cribbed from a Pratchett novel)

[DJDangerHouse01]

Love Derren Brown

[baahhhFATALITY11]

People may very well feel that these things are true, because they WANT IT to be true.

[BrandonSchleifer]

2:37 Or, download Google Sky, and use your computer to examine the universe.

[nikhilnick]

people are sometimes so desperate for answers that they will listen to hacks like psychics.....

[TheRealXartaX]

If I hear another "I got a feeling", I'll go punch something.

[DestructiveMass]

Dawkins has a pretty good pokerface. I couldn't listen to most of it with a straight face :D

[bobbycathey]

@DestructiveMass Yea, Lol It took self control I bet to not laugh or call him a moron.

[benopolly]

@DestructiveMass i know!!!

[NAGANUGE]

Psychics shoul hit the lottery or be good at gambling if they can sense things, people, places, letters and numbers.

[IM2OFU]

cold reading, wonderfully easy to perform.

[IM2OFU]

Derren Brown and Richard Dawikings in the same show!!! made my day.

[Dietseleeuw]

''Uhh... my grandmother had a name beginning with E.''

At last something I can identify with?

"I do feel with her she had a lot of cats.'' -"A lot of...?!" -"Cats."

Perhaps not.

"She never had a cat. She hated cats, in fact." -"Right........"

LOL

[Viljarism]

I do enjoy how Dawkins first criticises the British for consulting media, and then goes to consult a medium. :-P When quoting how many have consulted a media, another relevant question would be how many did it in all seriousness, and how many did it 'just for laughs'.

[neglectoid]

love the rosie o'donald pop up ad !!!

[ptij0404]

Card readers and psychics are nothing but charlatans. These blood suckers use a technique called "cold-reading" to give gullible and ignorant fools the answers they're searching for.

[strokesfan1107]

I love Derren Brown and RD. It's awesome to see them together!

[MultiMooseProduction]

Until now, I always thought that astrology was just something that people did for fun but didn't actually take it seriously... *Sigh*

[SeedsOfHatred]

@MultiMooseProduction Never underestimate the power of Human stupidity.

[mindscrape69]

I really like this guy. And i understand his point entirely . And I agree with all his arguments against religion.Science and religion are two extremes.Religion suspends logical thinking and science assumes logic is the answer to everything. Since logic itself is highly subjective and we are still a five pound computer. that will always have its limits. In the bigger picture we are not even noticeable in this vast universe. to believe we are the only intelligence does not make sense to me

[1066design]

Dawkins is absolutely correct, but you could say the same about science fiction. I love astrology because it is fun even if I know it is utter rubbish. The problem lies with those who actually believe in astrology as truth.

[misinglink15]

Why aren't Dawkins's tv specials playing here in america? I have yet to see him on anything other than southpark.

[looneYeah]

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[monster762]

"She hated cats". You can't make this stuff up!

[yellowlynx]

@monster762 In Richard mind he said: Gotcha!!!!

[AtheistBelgium]

Somebody please give this guy the Nobel Price!!!

[aboyborninjune]

It's more interesting when he investigates religion than new age stuff, cause no sane person in the world takes that seriously, but a lot of sane persons takes religion seriously, although it's just filled with mythology and superstition. So that's really where the work has to be done.

[roont]

@aboyborninjune "cause no sane person in the world takes that seriously"

i disagree. my mother is perfectly sane, yet she reads her horoscope every day. She really believes in ghosts, yet she's not religious in any way. lots of people take things like auras and crap seriously.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@roont Then she is not, as you said, "perfectly sane"; any more than I could be considered "perfectly sane" if I conduct myself and my reasoning just as anyone else, but also happen to believe that an invisible T-Rex follows me around all day. An individual's entire idological construct is weakened to an extent (in regard to sanity) when just one small pillar of logic is nonexistant. Not to call your mother a raving lunatic, but, she's not perfectly sane.

[roont]

@SeedsOfHatred Well, keep in mind that "sane" is, unfortunately, a subjective term. That guy in the asylum wearing a strait jacket who thinks he's Ceaser? Insane. That guy that stands in front of people claiming that he can say some magical words and turn a cracker in the actual flesh of a man who (might have) lived 2000 years ago? Happens hundreds of thousands of times every day north America alone.

[roont]

@SeedsOfHatred

Not that I don't agree with you. I'd be happier if people took their beliefs a little more seriously. But there isn't really a fine line between "perfectly sane" and "simply doesn't care much" if their beliefs are true or not. A lot of people don't see why it's important. Mind you I used the phrase first, but I don't really think that any of us are "perfectly" sane. Despite what a lot of people think the brain doesn't give us a 100% accurate representation of the world around us

[roont]

@SeedsOfHatred And in the context of the guy I was replying to originally, he said "no sane person in the world takes that seriously, but a lot of sane persons takes religion seriously," Which is what I was disagreeing with. Those that take religion seriously are no more sane then those who accept the new agey stuff.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@roont So the "My mother is perfectly sane, yet she reads her horoscope every day." portion was just a really unique and unusually drawn-out typo?

[bassetter1]

Oh did i say that !!! LOOOL what an idiot .

[leegeorgeson]

I always wondered how there could only be 12 different paths in life :D

[roorazilla]

Dawkins is smart and all, but there's one thing he doesn't understand. Most people aren't as smart as him. That leads to a disconnect with regular people. That's why regular people would rather believe in stuff like astrology than science. Science is hard for a lot of people. If you work at it you might be able to understand the underlying concepts, but most either don't want to or are unable to. Explain the Big Bang Theory to Joe the Plumber and show him the math and see what you get.

[azalbar]

@roorazilla I don't think it has as much to do with intelligence as it does with people's emotional needs. Some very brilliant people hold onto extremely ridiculous beliefs because they benefit them emotionally. People don't like to entertain debate about these things because rationality isn't a law people really live by. They invoke it like religion or anything else to get their needs met.

[ptij0404]

@roorazilla

"That leads to a disconnect with regular people. That's why regular people would rather believe in stuff like astrology than science. Science is hard for a lot of people."

This is where charlatans (pastors, priests, card readers, etc.) and other quacks come in. They sure know how to take advantage of "regular" people with no intellectual curiosity whatsoever. Our contribution to society is to create awareness and let people decide.

[Serpico261]

"a lot of cats?" i like this guy lol

[Moreba]

5:01 just painful to watch

I'd like to tell him "stop please, it's for the best"

[Craplatte]

Don't you just want to puke in your soup when Mr. Goodfellow tries to "feel" someone or something at 5:00?

[johneamer]

Brilliant but I must admit that I still cross my fingers when my Toronto Maple Leafs are playing in over time.

[RadicalCoolDude]

hahahahaha Richard are hilarious, "not!! shenever had a cat, she hated cats she liked dogs!" ... "riiight !" hahaha amaaaazing

[Sodhats]

Is the whole documentary like this? It's not teaching me anything, just validating opinions I already have.

[dynasty11211]

I'm surprised Richard didn't recognize the trick the psychic was using. Maybe he did, but then why didn't he call the psychic on his cold reading. 

[rationalindian10]

We should be proud of the legacy of religions:

1. Community gathering

2. Festivals

3. Science

4. Music

5. Maths

ETC ETC

Though crude in their initial phases, we owe a lot to the "IMAGINARY" God(s) (dont worry, i am an atheist myself) for our very thought process to emerge. Lets be thankful to that "IMAGINARY" "CREATION" called God which has explored our thought process beyond our own "IMAGINATION". Thank God for that.

[rationalindian10]

Dawkins, you are one of the best minds I have come across. However, dont condemn astrology or religion because those were the first steps for humans to think scientifically. Read about Aryabhatta (who invented Zero being a Hindu), Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī (invented Algebra being a muslim) or Georges Lemaître (invented Big Bang theory being a Roman Catholic Priest). Do religions really do that bad? Whether God exists or not is a different issue but our thoughts DO!!

[TheMagpie3]

Thanks Richard, your doing great work

[shadyparadox]

My name is Charles... damn he's good!!!

[killerboyfoolz]

lol, "snake" in the chinese zodiac totally describe Dawkins. He's one of the lucky people to be describe well with their zodiac.

[nafativedec]

5:12 - He touches his ear - which means that he is nerveous and that he is bluffing.

[TheLovesoul1]

wow there really are some stupid people out there.

[zigglefritz1]

@TheLovesoul1 Its a very sad thing to realize but yes there are very stupid people out there. It is only dead wieght numbers added onto the superstitious and against intelligent indivisuals like Richard Dawkins.

[TheLovesoul1]

@zigglefritz1 yeah i hope your doing ok today take care pal.

[akatsu24]

i would liek to see richard dwell into the world of hauntings, and the occult. he would be very shocked with his findings

[karlkarlkarl1234]

@akatsu24

Hehe, I'm a science student but very very interested in the occult :) Agree.

[roont]

@akatsu24 Somehow, I don't think he would be.

[Shavarnarak]

I think a cold-reader would have a really hard time with me, considering the fact that I'm so not a people's person, my circle of friends and family is pretty small.

Maybe two or three good friends and four or five close family members. Hard to just guess something about them then.

[Rahavin1]

My dog jumped off a cliff chasing a squirrel and survived unharmed. My family says this is a miracle, but then I have to ask: Why would god save an animal made so stupid as to jump off a cliff after a squirrel?

[marvelona]

@Rahavin1 Hilarious and grimm at the same time.

[party489]

Anytime I even meet a cute women and she begins talking about astrology I am turned off instantly. We all need to publicly doubt and laugh at people with extremely silly ideas and beliefs. Silly beliefs hurt everyone exp childrens young minds.

[javis4javis4]

6:04 lol

[HeavyMetal469]

LMAO, she had a lot of cats

actually she hated cats

fucking loled hard

[Rahavin1]

wow, love the reading... love how he explains his failure after... uuhhhhh

[alconaftika]

@Rahavin1 mwahahahaaaaaaaaa

[creativeinsult]

lol fuckin cold reading :P

[shrikechan]

Someone once told me, in seriousness, that he could control energy with his will. It was the first time I had personally spoken to someone who was truly delusional. He said that he had friends who conjure and manipulate flames through will power, and move objects using energy. He compaired it to a case in which a man had willed himself to lactate. I explained that it was completely unrelated because it was a biological anomoly (if true at all) and had nothing to do with manipulating energy.

[MeetYourMeaker]

How on earth could anyone believe in astrology how can a rational human being believe in such a thing?!?!How?How?How?There are about 250 babies born every minute and there are 12 signs in astrology so the reading for one sing is for about 250*24*60*30(too lazy to type it in google to see what's the result) people AND that's just for one year.The average lifespan of a human being somewhere around 60-70 years so mutiple that by 60 and you just have how accurate that shit is.

[GenesisWidick]

I always read those horoscopes and figured no one believed that crap and did it for fun. How wrong I was.

[prestin01]

i have an ad that says christ is my life, free christian dating, resdiscovering god america lollololollolol.

[folliu]

subtitulosssssssssssssssssssss­

[bpbusstop]

Lmao! this future reader just got his ass handed too him.

[elberto9999]

LMFAO!!!! @ 1.12

xD

[dariuspajouh]

why does lady gaga have 100000000 views.. and this great video only 8571 ==????? ... that shows how far we are!:.

[icnivad86]

Hahaha as a fan of dawkins and someone who feels indebted for his services to science I can't help but feel sorry for Simon the medium pyschic. Of all the people he could have read cards for the spirit world was very unkind by dealing him Dawkins (perhaps Hitchens would be a little less kind). First sharlatan I have ever felt sorry for, hahaha.

[Nocturnalux]

This reminds me of a friend of mine who was into astrology and the whole hocus pocus deal. After a long time of trying to reason with her she finally conceded that seeing the future by tossing shells (a Brazillian practice, I believe) was rather silly. I was very happy. Then she goes on and adds that 'Now the tarot, that is simply amazing." Why, oh why.

[SolidSnake032486]

The delusions we come up with to deal with life.

[MinisterAilingTongue]

"Spirit from the aether"! Ha!

[AtheistBrit]

I agree with Richard about looking at the stars. When I visited New Zealand I went to a rather remote location (no cities nearby) to stay in a beautiful holiday home. One clear evening I walked onto the balcony and looked up at the stars, and saw the Milky Way in its full glory. I was almost moved to tears.

[MistressArte]

Lol I went to a card reading when I was New Orleans just as a thing to do that went with the culture. XD She said I had a strong Areas in my life and lol my mums one but she could have picked that out of any card. I think they are fun to play with just not to be taken seriously. The only "faith" I have is that wine keeps me healthy which does have some research to back me up on that claim. ;)

[MrBlamemeforit]

TBH...Looooove the sceptic illusionist :D epic xD

[MarcoManetta123]

wake up morons your future survival is at stake

[Ko252]

It is hard to watch the "psychic medium"

[dartfluke]

As I watch this, there is an ad on screen stating "What's in your future? 5 minute free reading." Those dead people trying to communicate with us seem to be quite stupid. Gimme a B, gimme a U, gimme an L, gimme an L, you know the rest.

[dawkinschannel]

Hahahaha, brilliant!

:-D

[ramiel05]

@dartfluke Yeah, a lot of times I'll see ads for churches and christian groups on atheism videos, haha

[marvy1118]

Almost feel sorry for the poor charlatan.

[Ko252]

i did feel sorry for him.

[StLennyBruce]

Dawkins is such an Aries!

[B4IRUTUARU16]

5:32 "but now another voice comes from the ether" lol thats funny

[CathySander]

Bersa888: I agree! Amazingly, people cling onto their ideas [like mystical forces] as if it was identical to who they are. A strange form of sympathetic magic: take the mystery/idea away, and the thing which they try to hide disappears as well. Fortunately, the universe is far more robust than our puny imagination!

[2plus2is9]

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence - Carl Sagan

[coolbeens21]

@2plus2is9

Carl Sagan FTW

[Helicoptersman]

these card readers. are cold reading. they tell u anything. the way they frame the context can make u feel conection.

[kmartmask]

The word you're looking for is ambiguous.

[Alkhameiry]

Pro.Richard is a great man ever seen and heard . We love u and believe in evidence for Evolution coz its there .

[gerjaison]

These Simon guy should go acting school!!

[bersa888]

The fact that we might one day understand completely how love or fantasy work, shouldn't take the beauty out of them ;-)

[dawkinschannel]

When people think storybooks are true, yes. When people say they can cure cancer with abacadabra, yes!

[Quincelee]

I agree people need a bit of fantasy. We have movies and other forms of entertainment for that exact reason. The difference is fictional books and movies tell you they are fiction, but religion and superstitions don't do that.

[OgyRugby]

When people kill in the name of Fantasy/storybooks, too right we need to destroy it.

[BohemianBlasphemy]

People need to understand what is real and what is not.

[petestrat07]

There's nothing wrong with fantasy and unleashing the imagination as that is what humans enjoy and have mastered but closing your mind to reality and basing your whole life on ancient outdated fairytales is holding the human race back and may even destroy us in the end.The world never was "flat." That theory was simply proven wrong and now is accepted.

We know how we evolved from more primative beings but due to "traditions" people can't seem to move on and realise that there is only one life.

[SlimeTron5000]

Because you feel fantasy stimuli is fun and entertaining, does not mean another margin of humans will agree.

It is human difference. Realize.

[shrikechan]

@JANNE45Y This is a bit less harmless than just a story book.

[lugia3]

@JANNE45Y Storybooks that label themselves to be facts - yes. *COUGH BIBLE COUGH* Oh I got a bad cold. Must be something I read.

[Jaxoff]

i'm a sun worshipper.

- george carlin.

[UltimoLatino]

Yes but he also believed in "the big electron"

[litetheory]

BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE !!!!

[blackcrossunited666]

i guess...it will never hurt you...

if you try this things...xD

[Massphyxiate]

"I do feel with her as well she had a lot of cats."

"A lot of...?"

"Cats yes cats."

"She never had a cat she hated cats."

Astrology is accurate.

[Rtv03]

I read this cold-reading bit in Derren Brown's book where the medium is actively fishing until something hits. There's even a mention of cats each time it concerns an old lady.

lol

[bloodcream]

What I love about Dawkins is how respectfull he is, even though he still asks the questions that needs to be asked.

[Macrochenia]

If you believe in Astrology, the stars want you to donate all your money to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and hitchhike to the tallest mountain on the continent you're currently on.

[T3rraBahamut]

the latter can actually be a quite fun sport

[arachnophile01]

is that capricorn? im pretty sure scorpio is just like it except with the flat earth society

[spiderweb20]

that guy was a horrible cold reader.

[utsawin09]

if you believe in astrology, you have the brains of a domesticated ox,

[sparkydog120]

If you believe in Astrology, YOU CAN GO FUCK YOURSELF.

[everl4stb]

hahah

[jkun17]

If you believe in Astrology, you are banned from the internet.

[slavyanka77]

Sweet clip with Derren Brown @ 7:00 a master mentalist.

[RealCrusadeHistory]

Why in hell is he trying to disprove astrology? I mean, if you believe in astrology, you're fucking retarded. End of story.

[Zeno1999]

Totally bogus experiment on astrology. Newspaper astro col is a sham and for entertainment only.

Every scientist I met who practiced astrology or learned it earnestly realised how hard it is to prove astrology works.

It is easy to prove astrology doesn't work and that's the key here - this is a propaganda campaign so that commoners have noone to turn to when their mind going crazy to make them guinea pig for local psychiatric lab. Guess what who investing their money in these labs/drugs.

[hoodmilk]

lmao...

[Gungfuwarrior]

Man I can't believe people fall for this shit. Or, seeing an episode of Crossing Over, maybe I can. Anyone seen the south park episode on John Edwards? Explains it all.

[snackynak]

hmmm, I feel a spirit that starts with a A? no? oh wait, maybe its a B... no? oh, how about C....

[QuinnnniuQ]

"hmmm, I feel a spirit that starts with a A? no? oh wait, maybe its a B... no? oh, how about C.... "

I know a Cathy!  You're very good.

[Screatus]

d,,,e???,,,f..g.h,i,j,k,l,m,n,­o,p

P!!!! Patty my grandmothers name was patty and she had cats!!!

yes !! she says she misses her cats..

My god!!! ur blowing my mind!!!!

hahahahaha

[Meloman0001]

The Psychic is ridiculous! Freaking faker.

[lapiz1969]

can this people be so stupid not to see Richard was mocking them? at least showing how fake they are!!!! I guess that the little money they charged him was worth playing a moron in front of the cameras.....

[jimyarien]

even though you know that astronomy is bullshit but it is too cringe worthy to challenge them.

[HumanitarianJ]

Astronomy or ASTROLOGY is bullshit?

[segmemtum]

you gotta mean astrology

[jimyarien]

yeah sorry my mistake i meant astrology.

actually English is not my first language so..

anyway thanks for correction.

[Bfdidc]

No problem, friend. Though it's scary how many people are running around saying that science (biology, physics, astronomy, etc.) is nonsense, when those disciplines cut against their spiritual beliefs.