Comments on: So two atheists walk into a movie theater…

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By: Irishman

Irishman — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:57:24 +0000

I very much suspect that PZ wasn’t expelled for being an atheist, but rather for being a vocal anti-creationist. It is possible the rationale they were working under was that PZ would be disruptive (yell out in the movie, start chanting slogans, whatever), so they preemptively ejected him. Regardless of his real life personality, their mostly familiar with his online persona, which can be loud and demonstrative. Oddly enough, though, no one from the movie website has claimed this. So the only reasonable reason for keeping PZ hasn’t been claimed.

I also think this is the rationale for the cop hovering around Dawkins when he was speaking. It is the purpose of a security guard (which is the role he was serving) to keep riots from occurring. Someone with strong opinions at odds with a large group, especially the program organizers, is usually a focal point for any disruption and/or violence that occurs – whether it comes from the objector or the objectees. It is logical and practical for the cop to spend his time near Dawkins, especially if there were’t other hotbeds of potential disruption and violence.

I don’t think a lawsuit is justified, and even if it is, I think it is counter-productive. If they didn’t quiz everyone on entry for their religious beliefs, it would be very difficult to prove the reason they expelled him was for his beliefs and not over some concern that he would be disruptive.

By: BAC

BAC — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:53:17 +0000

Having had the pleasure of meeting PZ makes this all the more humorous.

BAC

By: Michael Lonergan

Michael Lonergan — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:46:25 +0000

Barton, The “Offensive” post was written by me, and was not meant to offend anyone, and I apologize if you were, but puleeze, equating what I wrote with racism is clearly over the top! It was meant in jest, and actually I take offense at that comparison! Even when I was in the church community, we could at least laugh at ourselves.

I find it quite amazing that many Christians will look at Muslims, who IMHO over-react to cartoons depicting their prophet, and make such comments as, “Get a life!”, or those who denigrate gays, yet scream, “Persecution!”, when someone points a finger at them!

BTW folks, Kevin Miller did issue an apology on his blog, concerning what happened with PZ. I still vehemently disagree with the premise of this movie, but at least he should be given credit where credit is due.

Hey he is Canadian, and this seems to be a ritual of ours, saying sorry! He lives 50 miles from me, so we’re practically neighbors!

By: David Marjanović

David Marjanović — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:14:59 +0000

Oopsie.

By: David Marjanovi&263;

David Marjanovi&263; — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:14:31 +0000

Ah, yeah, it’s the blog that’s too stupid for Unicode input again… really, you should ~~be assimilated~~ come over to ScienceBlogs.

By: David Marjanovi?

David Marjanovi? — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:11:49 +0000

Let’s reverse this for a moment. Let us suppose a Creationist blogger is in line with his friends and family to see a movie about Evolution. He is asked to leave.

Why should he be?

This screening of Expelled was being conducted in PZ’s home state of Minnesota and he had blogged that he would be in Minneapolis for a gathering of atheists. It’s not at all surprising that they expected PZ to show up (especially if they bothered to check who had signed up for tickets).

The funny thing is, Dawkins is on the program of that conference.