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← Atheists should be allowed to argue their case

Comment 24. By HenryFord:

21. Comment #359360 by njwong
"Off-topic: Why does Williamson refers to Baggini throughout as "Mr Baggini", while Richard is referred throughout simply as "Dawkins"? Why the difference? To be consistent, shouldn't he have also written "Mr Dawkins" throughout?"

It's the same reason you call someone you find irritating "Sir" whilst calling you best mate by their nickname. Dawkins gets a Dawkins 'cause everyone knows Dawkins, but Baggini gets a Mr 'cause he's a git. It's false respect, not too disimilar to those daft theist letters that go:
Dear Sir/Madam, I hope you burn in hell forever, yours respectfully. (but without the burning in hell bit)

Yes, false respect. Overt subtle derision, for anyone in the know. Just as Hitchens calls the pope Mr. Ratzinger. Or when,during an interview or debate, in response to something completely inane, he interrupts: "Excuse me, Sir..." I find it most times too difficult to maintain the patience necessary for exercising this form of subtle derision. More often than not, I'm like Kevin Kline, when he's supposed to apologize to John Cleese in A fish Called Wanda: "I'm ssssss I'm sorrrr Ahhhh fuck youuuu!"

Permalink Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:37:00 UTC | #343127