Comment #475667 by Bonzai on April 2, 2010 at 2:03 am

I was not talking about fear of death, but the desperation to get recognition through self aggrandizement.

Understood. But I think you are buying into the idea, at whatever level, that treating an old man to ridicule and scepticism is more unseemly than doing so with a younger one. This is nonsense, and I don't need Nonie to tell you. (!)

In Martin's case, the fact of death and the 'desperation to get recognition through self aggrandizement' seem inextricably linked. He simultaneously on these boards has sung his own praises and claimed with certainty that he will survive his body's disintegration. He's singing his swan song here, presumably because there are not more receptive audiences elsewhere, and so would prefer to go out arguing, fists clenched, railing against Richard Dawkins, a monumentally more successful, famous and intelligent man than Martin has ever been. Unable to engage directly with Dawkins, he takes a pop at the hugely capable members here, and has his arse handed to him on a platter with olives every single time, coming back without thanks and without substance every single time for another head-smack.

I quite like this kind of thing, and I'm glad Martin's entrance survived the condemnatory hand of that ignorantly censorious buffoon /Mike, but his years don't interest me in the slightest unless they add up to some wisdom.

He's shown none. He's a crass and nasty man, a crank, a self-seeking mountebank with neither integrity nor substance of any kind, despite repeated requests. No matter how old he is, fuck him.

Sean Tyrer

[Edit: Ignorant Amos - cheers. 'So far up his own bangle'- brilliant - must remember that one.]