Sam Harris vs. Robert Wright - Council for Secular Humanism conference 1/10

[Silhouette93]

8:52 is where it starts.

[MrShysterme]

I wish the camera would have panned onto the woman at the beginning who seemed intent to devour Sam as a sexual morsel. I for one have a few preconceptions about her general look and demeanor. I would've liked to see them tested.

[mnemoniccourier]

02:14 Aaah!!...There he iiis....mmm!...wooo!! XD

Who can blame her? We all love Sam. ;) lol

[sonykroket]

Reli-muppet doesn't understand technology

[filmsobere]

Why 8 Minutes of nothing. Basic Edit needed much?

[langbei]

The debate starts at about 8:20 into the video.

[gyniest]

Those technical problems are annoying! As a broadcaster myself, I know just what a pain in the ass it can be.

[l33tpwnzord]

Sam Harris gets consistently clowned whenever he debates anyone

[JarethGT]

@l33tpwnzord Did you watch the video.

[l33tpwnzord]

@JarethGT

Yes he is consistently clowned.

[JarethGT]

@l33tpwnzord Huh, I didn't see it. I guess personal bias makes us see 2 different debates.

[annata12]

Every mode of thinking that cannot be changed by new evidence and reason is bad.

Religion obviously is bad under this definition

[Yebisu22]

This video needs more footage of nothing happening please.

[AnnaMishel]

Robert Wright keeps waffling. He doesn't stick to a position and also doesn't know what he's talking about. He's totally outclassed by Sam Harris . . who is clear and brilliant. He should listen and learn from Sam, instead of trying to debate him.

[analubalitious]

9:03 is where Robert Wright begins after the introduction and some technical issues. So if you want to cut straight to the meat 9:03

[Fike2308]

Libertarians > Sam Harris

[eveningtsar]

I'm sure this is a great video, but we're now two minutes in and the debate hasn't started yet. Wonder if I should go downstairs for a snack. . .

[AjunkoMilitak]

To save time just jump to 3:30 that is where the MC actually opent the meeting. Thumbs up this to get it high enough so people see it.

[Bendz0]

UUUMMM

[dweeper1020]

I just watched this guy talk for 10 minutes and I have NO IDEA what it is he is actually trying to say! Very annoying. He needs to reify his concepts and just ... get to it.

On to part 2/10 now, but if this guy continues to ramble on like a politician, I'll have to just skip to Sam Harris.

[PlanetBongoSan]

you'd think they could spend a sliver of their $99,000 on a qualified sound engineer

[ppines1]

this is 15 minutes of technical difficulties.

[equsnarnd]

Sam says Libertarians don't believe in trademarks? That simply isn't true and is at best a stupid cheap shot. And why wasn't a simple letter from their attorney about the name Reason Foundation enough? Why the need for a law suit?

[JustJoeKane]

@equsnarnd it was a joke, lighten up

[equsnarnd]

@JustJoeKane And you know this how?

[sulljoh1]

Wright teaches at my school, but I can't find an excuse to take his class. I agree with Sam on just about everything, but it would still be cool

[Neanderthalcouzin]

Skip to 8:27

That's when the debate begins. Introducers practically put relish on their intro notes.

[sleepcity]

Robert Wright's thinking is very muddled and the very definition of accomodationist. Religion is wrong but we can't make judgments about its effects in the world? Religion is wrong but attempting to get religious people to see why is "right-wing." What exactly are you trying to say, Robert, apart from "I agree, but you're all wrong about everything"? The frequent comments about "what kind of crowd this is" are also rather pathetic.

[magnusjsolberg]

All "debates" featuring Robert Wright are disappointing, mostly because it's impossible to understand what positions he actually holds. Both Harris and Hitchens has stated this. That and Robert's constant whining make his debates almost impossible to listen to. Also, it seems like Sam didn't prepare at all for this one.

[nondescriptman]

@magnusjsolberg In both Robert and Sam's defense, the debate question was quite vague. I do (to some extent) agree with you about Robert but I have to say that I've come to appreciate his 'thinking out loud' style. I particularly enjoyed his debate with Hitchens (Clash of the Civilized diavlog).

[InnerSmile72]

@nondescriptman I have to agree with magnus that Robert is a fairly annoying whiner, in the iraq war debate I thought he was going to break some of my toys and run home to his mommy at one point. If I could nail one thing down about his style that annoys everyone, is that he has a problem with the way things feel instead of the way things are. The style of more rigorous thinkers is to recognize incongruity in our emotions and burn them to make room for new kinds of feeling

[BANGBANGBANGBBANG]

@magnusjsolberg sam's opening comments were brilliant, clear, creative, well-organized, well built up, full of imagery. he nails the point of belief determining behavior so many times. honestly his best opening iv ever seen.

[A0Candle0In0The0Dark]

@magnusjsolberg yeah but sam never prepares for anything as much as i like his books. he never truly engages with his opponents and he's just pissed off that robert is open minded and is still trying to decide which side to be on.

[zerr0ww]

@A0Candle0In0The0Dark i havet watched the debate yet but if your analysis is that Robert hasnt picked a side, then why the hell is he debating on it? if that is the case then im not surprised that Sam got annoyed, he is meant to be representing the opposing side of the debate.

surely you can empathise?

[lourak]

@magnusjsolberg Wright, it seems to me, is an honest agnostic - not the most comfortable philosophical position. One should not be surprised by the ambiguity of his presentations.

[Whyisthat101]

ofcourse religion is a major problem in a world of increasingly advanced technology.

[Whyisthat101]

Sam has a degree in philosophy and PHD in neuroscience, the guy didn't say that.

[Fike2308]

@Whyisthat101 And his penis is ten feet long, also not mentioned.

[yvranx]

3:27 to start the intro (yup, start), 8:25 to get to the first speaker.

[HecklerBoy7]

Who the hell was that dumbass hollering at the beginning?! What a douche!

[aristotleschild]

Might want to link to the full ustream video from CFI.

[TheHardProblem]

So far watched this 'debate' with growing disapointment, to a degree even embarrassing to watch. Bad sound, groupies, no concrete debating points, too many uhms and you-knows by Wright, Harris dodging some points, rude people "i didnt ask you". fuck me.

[TearTheRoofOff]

@TheHardProblem I agree - was disappointing to see so many points go unrecognized by the other person due to the format etc. Many for me were subjects that were uncomfortable to leave unfinished.

[nondescriptman]

@TheBigA82 I think this is the latest one available

[Whyisthat101]

@nondescriptman Thanks alot, did you know Sam is in favour of legalizing marijuana?

[TheHardProblem]

Jeez that woman at the start, how embarrassing.

From across the ocean, thanks for the upload, I couldnt keep myself awake for this part of the conference.

[nondescriptman]

@TheHardProblem my pleasure ... these debates deserve all the exposure they can get IMO

[revelwoodie]

@TheHardProblem Actually, I think there need to be more people like "that woman" at these debates.  She was obviously fired up and excited to see the upcoming debate. I certainly would be. Shouldn't we all be? Can you think of anything more exciting you can do in a hotel conference room than watch brilliant men debating topics on the cutting edge of the human conversation? If I was there, I'd have been hooting and clapping right along with her. You wouldn't? Oh yeah, you fell asleep, lol!

[TheHardProblem]

@revelwoodie This isn't some boxing match you're watching, IMHO the topic(s) discussed are of serious matter. Although I can see how one can find a game element within these debates, the impression does get made that the woman in question is more interested in seeing the person Harris rather than a genuine interest in the ideas that he spreads. Favoring a certain candidate outright before even the start of the debate testifies to a high level of dogmatic bias, which is ironic for an atheist.

[revelwoodie]

@TheHardProblem Lol, true -- She does seem partial to Dr. Harris, doesn't she?