For Reason and Science?

[lordpasternack]

Apology accepted.

My feelings regarding Dawkins are complex - probably because he is a complex person - and there is a lot of personal history, both with him as an individual, and through RD.net and RDF.

I'm happy to admit that my approach to handling a situation that has bugged me for a long time, hasn't always been appropriate - but I also know, from what I've read and followed up, and from the handful of former staff members and volunteers who've chosen to speak to me have said, and from those whom I've seen quietly resign amidst drama - that I'm right in pursuing the issue, and right in taking the actions that I am.

As to what you said about what I've achieved - I can tell you that had Dawkins taken my criticisms on board right from the start, and sought to utilise my particular strengths and abilities, I would have cooperated, and I'm confident that RDF would have been better for it.

I'm far from the only person who could say that, and that's part of the tragedy. Dawkins has completely shat on his charity, repeatedly, through his complete delegation to Cornwell, in addition to his unwillingness to engage, and listen to criticism.

Most recently (well, around the time of Faircloth's resignation) - Elise Andrew (from "I Fucking Love Science") quietly pulled out of an offer to give RDF lots of her time and assistance for free - because she kept finding herself being pushed and pushed and pushed away, by Cornwell. And Dawkins still hasn't fired that woman and called up Elise Andrew to beg her to come back. I mean, Dawkins is actually accepting that shit - I mean, in addition to all the other shit that Cornwell has wrought.

It's beyond ridiculous - and drastic measures need to be taken. It's sad - but true.

[klr]

You're making this Cornwell woman sound like the Queen of the Harpies.

[lordpasternack]

You're making this Cornwell woman sound like the Queen of the Harpies.

She's very charming on the surface, and very skilled at deception and manipulation. She doesn't tell elaborate lies or engage in particularly sophisticated manipulation - she's just good at sounding really sincere and convicted, while she strategically pulls people's strings and fucks people over.

And Richard, by his own admission, Is "easy to take for a ride". Match made in heaven.

Cornwell's achilles heel, though, is that she doesn't keep her eye on the longer term, and doesn’t keep track of which lies she's told to whom - and she easily comes unstuck when you start to poke holes in her story, and talk to other people about her behaviour. Her MO starts to become glaring.

I write these things in the full knowledge that she's fucked over more people in the atheist community than I have the faintest clue about - and that my words will sound familiar to them if they're reading this - and that this will give them a bit of comfort, and might empower them to start talking to others, or documenting things, as I have done.

[Bella Fortuna]

She's certainly not been charming when I've met her...

[lordpasternack]

She's certainly not been charming when I've met her...

The mask does require effort to maintain. And it doesn't really matter if some schmoe like you sees her for what she really is - so long as Dawkins still waits on her, hand and foot.

I mean, what are you gonna do - try to tell Dawkins she's bad news - like about fifty people have done already?

[klr]

She's certainly not been charming when I've met her...

Ah, but you're a en evil HR type, well practised in the darks arts of sizing people up.

[Scott1328]

She's certainly not been charming when I've met her...

I met her last year at Apostacon.

Ate dinner with her, in fact. Or rather was seated at the same table as she.

I do not like her. Obvious name dropping social climber is obvious.

[lordpasternack]

Obvious name dropping social climber is obvious.

... to practically everyone except Dawkins.

[Hermit]

She's certainly not been charming when I've met her...

Yabutt, did she sound convicted?

[Bella Fortuna]

She's certainly not been charming when I've met her...

Yabutt, did she sound convicted?

She wouldn't speak to me. In this particular situation it was a party and Richard was talking to me, and she kind of edged around in an annoyed fashion in the meantime. The three other people nearby I also introduced myself to and chatted with, but she gave me the cold shoulder. It was kind of hilarious.

[Hermit]

She's certainly not been charming when I've met her...

Yabutt, did she sound convicted?

She wouldn't speak to me. In this particular situation it was a party and Richard was talking to me, and she kind of edged around in an annoyed fashion in the meantime. The three other people nearby I also introduced myself to and chatted with, but she gave me the cold shoulder. It was kind of hilarious.

So, no conviction yet. No wonder Lordpasternack is gunning for her.

Also, good to see you found it at least kind of hilarious. Being able to take a step back and observe people's behaviour as an outsider does provide a lot of entertainment and mirth.

[Bella Fortuna]

Oh yeah. It was kind of a surreal thing for me anyway, I was kind of outside of myself, enjoying the whole thing.

[lordpasternack]

She's certainly not been charming when I've met her...

Yabutt, did she sound convicted?

She wouldn't speak to me. In this particular situation it was a party and Richard was talking to me, and she kind of edged around in an annoyed fashion in the meantime. The three other people nearby I also introduced myself to and chatted with, but she gave me the cold shoulder. It was kind of hilarious.

You're more attractive and interesting than she is, and Richard was talking to you. This explains much.

Banish the green-eyed monster? Ha! It's one of her few genuine emotions.

Same reason she couldn't countenance having Elise Andrew on board at RDF, for what it's worth. You're in good company.

[Thinking Aloud]

She's certainly not been charming when I've met her...

Yabutt, did she sound convicted?

She wouldn't speak to me. In this particular situation it was a party and Richard was talking to me, and she kind of edged around in an annoyed fashion in the meantime. The three other people nearby I also introduced myself to and chatted with, but she gave me the cold shoulder. It was kind of hilarious.

You're more attractive and interesting than she is, and Richard was talking to you. This explains much.

Banish the green-eyed monster? Ha! It's one of her few genuine emotions.

Same reason she couldn't countenance having Elise Andrew on board at RDF, for what it's worth. You're in good company.

Undoubtedly true!

[mistermack]

Is it actually important what happens to Dawkins organisation any more?

The website is now nothing like what it was, now it's mainly publicising Dawkins own events, the comments section has no appeal.
It's hardly a movement with potential any more.

( all my own impressions, maybe a bit dated, I don't look in there very often ).

Or am I missing something?