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R to @RichardDawkins: Terrorism (noun) The unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. Terror (noun) The state of being terrified or extremely frightened. They meant “terrorism.” They actually said “terror.” Lazy journalistic misuse of English.

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2064620029300134331#m

Published: June 10, 2026 08:05

Terrorism (noun) The unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. Terror (noun) The state of being terrified or extremely frightened. They meant “terrorism.” They actually said “terror.” Lazy journalistic…

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/09/belfast-stabbing-live-somalia-man-arrested-kinnaird-avenue/ Man attempts to behead another man in the street. "No evidence of terror at this stage, say police" If that isn’t terror, what is? How much more terrifying does it need to be to qualify as terror?

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2064375411035754747#m

Published: June 9, 2026 15:53

telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06… Man attempts to behead another man in the street. "No evidence of terror at this stage, say police" If that isn’t terror, what is? How much more terrifying does it need to be to qualify as terror?

This unqualified bore says his secondhand opinions are “not up for debate.” Yes they are. At a university all opinions are up for debate. If you cannot defend your opinions rationally, either they are indefensible or you are too stupid to defend them. In either case you have no right to force them on students who have expressed their wish to attend a lecture by doing so. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/oxford-trans-protest-cancelled-lecture-series-glcknpwrx

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2064276605015404607#m

Published: June 9, 2026 09:21

This unqualified bore says his secondhand opinions are “not up for debate.” Yes they are. At a university all opinions are up for debate. If you cannot defend your opinions rationally, either they are indefensible or you are too stupid to defend them. In…

Belatedly, a government guidance document upholds the Supreme Court ruling that a woman is – guess what? – a woman. 70 MPs have signed a rearguard motion opposing it. Presumably they think a man is a woman if he says he is. Among them is Layla Moran, for whom I used to vote.

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2062252205051117613#m

Published: June 3, 2026 19:16

Belatedly, a government guidance document upholds the Supreme Court ruling that a woman is – guess what? – a woman. 70 MPs have signed a rearguard motion opposing it. Presumably they think a man is a woman if he says he is. Among them is Layla Moran, for…

Fifty years ago, The Selfish Gene was published. The ideas — replicators, memes, the gene's-eye view of life — have held up rather well. The 50th Anniversary Edition is out now. Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Selfish-Gene-50th-Anniversary/dp/0198985371/

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2061455480828920158#m

Published: June 1, 2026 14:31

Fifty years ago, The Selfish Gene was published. The ideas — replicators, memes, the gene's-eye view of life — have held up rather well. The 50th Anniversary Edition is out now. Available at: amazon.co.uk/Selfish-Gene-50…

newscientist.com/article/252…

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2057517626113364064#m

Published: May 21, 2026 17:43

newscientist.com/article/252…

The leader of the Lib Dems, and the leader and deputy leader of the Green party, think some women have penises. In itself, it seems like a relatively unimportant matter. But it is symptomatic of a contempt for science and evidence-based truth. Could you vote for a flat-Earther?

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2056812049590571269#m

Published: May 19, 2026 18:59

The leader of the Lib Dems, and the leader and deputy leader of the Green party, think some women have penises. In itself, it seems like a relatively unimportant matter. But it is symptomatic of a contempt for science and evidence-based truth. Could you…

R to @RichardDawkins: In this case, the selection pressure is intuitively reasonably obvious. “Haitch” includes the actual sound of the consonant “H”, while “Aitch” does not. But the selection pressures fostering the Great Vowel Shift are much harder to think about.

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2051186709900005452#m

Published: May 4, 2026 06:26

In this case, the selection pressure is intuitively reasonably obvious. “Haitch” includes the actual sound of the consonant “H”, while “Aitch” does not. But the selection pressures fostering the Great Vowel Shift are much harder to think about.

Interested in parallel between biological (genetic) evolution & (memetic) evolution of language. Mutations arise in both, but language equivalent of selection less clear. “H” was pronounced “Aitch” (as in OED). When did mutant “Haitch” arise? What selection pressure favours it?

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2051184909335589104#m

Published: May 4, 2026 06:19

Interested in parallel between biological (genetic) evolution & (memetic) evolution of language. Mutations arise in both, but language equivalent of selection less clear. “H” was pronounced “Aitch” (as in OED). When did mutant “Haitch” arise? What…

R to @RichardDawkins: My own title was, “If my friend Claudia is not conscious, then what the hell is consciousness for?” If Claudia is unconscious, her behaviour shows that an unconscious zombie could survive without consciousness. Why wasn’t natural selection content to evolve competent zombies?

https://nitter.poast.org/RichardDawkins/status/2050465374093643803#m

Published: May 2, 2026 06:40

My own title was, “If my friend Claudia is not conscious, then what the hell is consciousness for?” If Claudia is unconscious, her behaviour shows that an unconscious zombie could survive without consciousness. Why wasn’t natural selection content to…