affleck spars with bill maher & harris over islam

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Oldgamer

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Jan 15, 2013
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vln9D81eO60

I almost couldn't stand how they talk over each other. Painful to listen to.


I watched this and was really annoyed with Ben Affleck as he wouldn't allow Sam Harris to explain his points. So you get the impression by all the huffing and carrying on by Ben and the other guy that Bill Maher and Sam Harris are being racists which is not what they are nor what they were trying to explain.

I was just reading about Ben Affleck having some kind of bipolar issues too, so they way he was behaving maybe he was having a "manic" moment?
 

Oldgamer

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2013
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Here is Sam Harris's Blog site where he explains what he was trying to say during the Bill Maher show while he was a guest. He wasn't given the opportunity to speak but if you take a moment to read you'll understand what he was trying to say that night.

http://www.samharris.org/blog/category/islam
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
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They teach their children it is ok to kill people if they belong to another religion. Teaching hate an murder of innocent people is always bad and will always be bad. Hate is the mind killer. Throughout history every time Muslims get a foot-hold in some location they try to take over with violence and murder.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
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Here is Sam Harris's Blog site where he explains what he was trying to say during the Bill Maher show while he was a guest. He wasn't given the opportunity to speak but if you take a moment to read you'll understand what he was trying to say that night.

http://www.samharris.org/blog/category/islam

I actually understood what was happening. Affleck was attempting to bully and shame Maher and Harris into apologizing for stating the obvious. Affleck is the stereotypical tyrannical liberal, who even went for the "You know, black people, we know they shoot each other, they’re blacks!” The Race Card? Affleck needs a kick in the nads and Harris makes some excellent points.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
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They teach their children it is ok to kill people if they belong to another religion. Teaching hate an murder of innocent people is always bad and will always be bad. Hate is the mind killer. Throughout history every time Muslims get a foot-hold in some location they try to take over with violence and murder.

Why aren't you dead? If all Muslims wanted you gone you'd be gone. There's a billion and a half potential suicide bombers after all. No, the problem lies along other lines.
 

ivwshane

Lifer
May 15, 2000
33,725
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I actually understood what was happening. Affleck was attempting to bully and shame Maher and Harris into apologizing for stating the obvious. Affleck is the stereotypical tyrannical liberal, who even went for the "You know, black people, we know they shoot each other, they’re blacks!” The Race Card? Affleck needs a kick in the nads and Harris makes some excellent points.

Why aren't you dead? If all Muslims wanted you gone you'd be gone. There's a billion and a half potential suicide bombers after all. No, the problem lies along other lines.

You aren't being very clear or you are contradicting yourself.

What was Harris stating that was obvious?

"If all Muslims wanted you gone then you'd be gone", you are either acknowledging that all Muslims aren't thinking the same thing or you are saying Muslims don't "want you gone". Which is it?
 

moonbogg

Lifer
Jan 8, 2011
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I watched this and was really annoyed with Ben Affleck as he wouldn't allow Sam Harris to explain his points. So you get the impression by all the huffing and carrying on by Ben and the other guy that Bill Maher and Sam Harris are being racists which is not what they are nor what they were trying to explain.

I was just reading about Ben Affleck having some kind of bipolar issues too, so they way he was behaving maybe he was having a "manic" moment?

Yep. Mr. Fleck was hysterical, as in, crazy with emotion and no logic hysterical.
 

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
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Affleck is an extremely intelligent guy, but he's too emotional to discuss topics like this apparently. But every panel kind of needs a color/emotional person in it to keep it interesting and relevant in a way, because in a sense, a good portion of us are a hot mess.
 

momeNt

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2011
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So, based on statistical percentages of people who engage in "stereotypical behavior" against the entire population. Would you say it is valid that if we are to entertain a discussion with a "problem with Islam" that we also have a problem with "blacks in America"?

I personally vote for it being a cultural problem, with race or religion being merely a descriptive factor. A lot more than religion or race motivates action.
 

justoh

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Jun 11, 2013
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So, based on statistical percentages of people who engage in "stereotypical behavior" against the entire population. Would you say it is valid that if we are to entertain a discussion with a "problem with Islam" that we also have a problem with "blacks in America"?

I personally vote for it being a cultural problem, with race or religion being merely a descriptive factor. A lot more than religion or race motivates action.

Seems like either being black is an idea, like religion is, or that's an idiotic post.
 

ivwshane

Lifer
May 15, 2000
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So, based on statistical percentages of people who engage in "stereotypical behavior" against the entire population. Would you say it is valid that if we are to entertain a discussion with a "problem with Islam" that we also have a problem with "blacks in America"?

I personally vote for it being a cultural problem, with race or religion being merely a descriptive factor. A lot more than religion or race motivates action.

Exactly and socioeconomic factors are also a contributor.
 

realibrad

Lifer
Oct 18, 2013
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Bullshit and false. These things are time dependent, not religion dependent. Christianity has molded to the shapes of reformed societies and Islam has done so at a different rate or in different ways. Christians used to do all sorts of lovely things that are just as ugly as beheading, if not worse. People are often disgusting, but its because they are people.

How is what I said false? The context of my comment was not to look at Islam over all of its existence, which is why I used the word "Currently". Christianity has done horrible things as well. As you pointed out, they have reformed because of societal constraints, but that only means they are not as bad now. Don't get me confused with something I am not. I am not a Christian or a Muslim, so I don't think I have a bias toward either one.

http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/

2010-muslim-01-13.png


So, for your statement to be correct, show me data that any non Muslim believes in stoning at the same rates as the data I have provided for Muslims.
 

Hayabusa Rider

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"If all Muslims wanted you gone then you'd be gone", you are either acknowledging that all Muslims aren't thinking the same thing or you are saying Muslims don't "want you gone". Which is it?

You are giving a false choice, which is precisely what Affleck insisted upon.

To back up a bit I'd say that of those who are the most vocal who identify themselves as liberal have a remarkable ability to say that a thing is right or wrong in principle then become completely prejudiced to the point where it appears an almost psychotic disconnect. No that was and was not meant to be anything other than harshly critical.

In the "discussion" some principles were espoused by Maher and of course everyone did the "of course, of course" accepting thing, then Maher and Harris pointed out some glaring problems of hypocrisy frequently seen in our forums. The last abortion bombing was 1984 but we still hear about it. Textbooks? Egads. Creationism? End of the world. Would I endorse that nonsense? No. Neither do you or most here on the left. Christians are bad people and if you admit it or not that's the consensus. Then there's Muslims. Well, they're just misunderstood or whatever, and the most egregious violations of human rights on a massive scale are occurring in areas that are not only areas where the faith is followed, but are actually full blown theocracies. The statistics about apostasy happen to be consistent whoever does them. The penalty for leaving the faith should be punishable by death. One poster here said that it falls to "only" 40% once you get out of the hotbeds of violence. Can you imagine the outrage here if 40% of the Christians said those who change religion or abandon it should be outright killed? Some nut in VA wants "alternative science" and that's evil? Come on, someones moral compass is broken here, and it isn't Maher.

Yes, there are real problems here with how Islam is being practiced and the mindset of many is theoretically abhorrent to someone like Affleck claims to be.

That is the entire issue in a nutshell. Affleck and the other proceed to demonstrate Maher and Harris' point perfectly, and if you don't conform you are a bigoted black hater, that last point being clearly thrown out as a threat. Being tarred and feathered or conform and say and think what we tell you. Some Liberalism that is.

OK I shredded Affleck and pointed out real problem with how Islam is practised that Liberals defend or at least attempt to minimize, deflect or redirect from.

Now the other claim. For all the problems that Islam presents from anything worth calling a Liberal perspective they are not all out to kill us. That's not what any of this was about anyway. The problems are mostly internal where societal and religious conformity are expected and a substantial majority in some areas feel that violation should be subject to death. Note that is "internal", where the faith is accepted. They aren't out to kill us all. In fact the majority (well I hope it would be the case) in those Islamic regions wouldn't pursue death for leaving the faith.

In a nutshell I have never thought the goal of most who practice Islam is to "kill the infidel". I think most just want to live out a peaceful life. That said there's something seriously wrong when people are killed because a Korans were burned AFTER the advice of a cleric was sought and followed.

I'll also say there's something wrong with our Liberals like Affleck and many here. When a cartoonist draws a picture of Mohammed, no matter how offensive and is then threatened with death, where is their outrage? How about this little clip from South Park? Producers threatened and they remove the entire episode because of it? Imagine if Christians had done that, there'd be hundreds of posts about it. This? Oh, no problem.

Now if you don't see how skewed, bigoted, and prejudiced Affleck and his ilk are in reality then there's not much else anyone can say. Modern Liberalism as practiced by some very influential people is just that, and the sheeple follow. I'm not impressed with them any more than their counterparts.

I expect "Oh but conservatives this and Christians that". Well this issue isn't about them. It isn't about the Buddhists nor Communists or anyone else. It's the blindness and hypocrisy of those willfully taking good ideas and trampling them themselves with their own bullying, bigotry and blindness.
 
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Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
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Why aren't you dead? If all Muslims wanted you gone you'd be gone. There's a billion and a half potential suicide bombers after all. No, the problem lies along other lines.

False. They're shitty fighters and cowards for the most part. Also, hundreds of years of suppressing technological innovation have left them at a distinct disadvantage in warfare against the west. However their ancient methods of subterfuge, infiltration and outbreeding is still effective against some western nations.

But if it were a fight? 4,486 US troops died in Iraqs. Some estimates place the amount of Iraqis killed at one million.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
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So, based on statistical percentages of people who engage in "stereotypical behavior" against the entire population. Would you say it is valid that if we are to entertain a discussion with a "problem with Islam" that we also have a problem with "blacks in America"?

I personally vote for it being a cultural problem, with race or religion being merely a descriptive factor. A lot more than religion or race motivates action.

First of all, race and religion aren't the same thing. One is easily changed (unless your religion condemns you to death for it) and the other is in your DNA.

Second, while muslims do kill each other a lot, they also really like killing outsiders & infidels. But blacks mainly stick to killing each other, with most of their violent crimes being "black on black." If muslims would do the same, as they were doing for a long time prior to 9/11, the West would continue to not give a shit about them. Heck, I was even willing to not care when they were having civil wars in Libya and Syria! But then they started threatening us, and here we are, back at war with them.
 

Hayabusa Rider

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False. They're shitty fighters and cowards for the most part. Also, hundreds of years of suppressing technological innovation have left them at a distinct disadvantage in warfare against the west. However their ancient methods of subterfuge, infiltration and outbreeding is still effective against some western nations.

But if it were a fight? 4,486 US troops died in Iraqs. Some estimates place the amount of Iraqis killed at one million.

Wow that's good to know that you killed a million of those who weren't planning anything against us, which makes you worse than anything which the Muslims have done.

Clearly you aren't up on asymmetric warfare. There are a billion and a half or so Muslims, and if they really thought as you there'd be a lot of destruction. A handful of the million you killed were responsible for tying us up in Iraq. If 1% of the total number were as dedicated as those few we'd all be screwed.

I'm more worried about authoritarians such as yourself than I am of them.
 

moonbogg

Lifer
Jan 8, 2011
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How is what I said false? The context of my comment was not to look at Islam over all of its existence, which is why I used the word "Currently". Christianity has done horrible things as well. As you pointed out, they have reformed because of societal constraints, but that only means they are not as bad now. Don't get me confused with something I am not. I am not a Christian or a Muslim, so I don't think I have a bias toward either one.

http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/



So, for your statement to be correct, show me data that any non Muslim believes in stoning at the same rates as the data I have provided for Muslims.

I get what you are saying, and yes, you are right. This is an issue about the state of the world currently, and not 1000 years ago. I was pointing out that I don't see any fundamental difference between the behavior of Muslims and anyone else, except for a little time separating those unfavorable behaviors.
Sorry but I can't see past that fact that we are all the same kind of people and we are doing a lot of really stupid shit to eachother. They use suicide vests and we use expensive laser guided bombs.
Neither will cease unless the maturity of both parties increases. It has nothing to do with a book written 1600 years ago or whatever. If humans suddenly gained the insight, wisdom and maturity of our future selves, then all of this would stop overnight and those holy books would still remain on their shelves, exactly where they reside currently.
Our descendants 10 or so generations from now may look back and ask, "why did you do that to each other?" Maybe it takes longer, but the day will come when this shit stops.
 
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realibrad

Lifer
Oct 18, 2013
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I get what you are saying, and yes, you are right. This is an issue about the state of the world currently, and not 1000 years ago. I was pointing out that I don't see any fundamental difference between the behavior of Muslims and anyone else, except for a little time separating those unfavorable behaviors.
Sorry but I can't see past that fact that we are all the same kind of people and we are doing a lot of really stupid shit to eachother. They use suicide vests and we use expensive laser guided bombs.
Neither will cease unless the maturity of both parties increases. It has nothing to do with a book written 1600 years ago or whatever. If humans suddenly gained the insight, wisdom and maturity of our future selves, then all of this would stop overnight and those holy books would still remain on their shelves, exactly where they reside currently.
Our descendants 10 or so generations from now may look back and ask, "why did you do that to each other?" Maybe it takes longer, but the day will come when this shit stops.

I feel like this is a false equivocation of 2 groups. If you are going to frame the situation as us vs them, then I would say who attacked whom first? Even if you set that point aside, there is still the issue that Sam Harris was trying to bring up which is that people are not standing up to bad ideas because those ideas come from religion.

If I were to say that the western world is immoral and murders, I would for the most part, be dismissed, insofar that nobody really cares that much about those types of statements. If I were to make the same statement about Christians, again, much the same as the aforementioned. If I were to say that about Muslims, the situation changes. You have far more of the group as a percentage that believes I should be punished for that statement. Given that this group is 1.5 billion people, you potentially have millions who want you punished.

I would much rather have a world without religion, but that is not the case. Islam is being used as a tool just like Christianity "was" in the subjugation of people. I would would have pointed it out then, as I point it out now about Muslims. When 1-10 native born British Muslims believe someone should be punished for drawing a cartoon about the Muslim prophet, there is a problem.

I can go on and on, but my point stands. What I said was not bullshit, and is based in facts.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
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I get what you are saying, and yes, you are right. This is an issue about the state of the world currently, and not 1000 years ago. I was pointing out that I don't see any fundamental difference between the behavior of Muslims and anyone else, except for a little time separating those unfavorable behaviors.
Sorry but I can't see past that fact that we are all the same kind of people and we are doing a lot of really stupid shit to eachother. They use suicide vests and we use expensive laser guided bombs.
Neither will cease unless the maturity of both parties increases. It has nothing to do with a book written 1600 years ago or whatever. If humans suddenly gained the insight, wisdom and maturity of our future selves, then all of this would stop overnight and those holy books would still remain on their shelves, exactly where they reside currently.
Our descendants 10 or so generations from now may look back and ask, "why did you do that to each other?" Maybe it takes longer, but the day will come when this shit stops.

What they would ask is "why did they kill themselves over these things, and not the important issues like we are." It is in the nature of Homo Sapiens to dominate and kill. People blame religion but the fact is that more people have died in wars from nationalism and political agenda than that. Look at the last two hundred years. Almost every major conflict has been one nation against another for resources, political ideology or abject power and domination. Those things will continue because someone must have power.
 

smackababy

Lifer
Oct 30, 2008
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ivwshane

Lifer
May 15, 2000
33,725
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You are giving a false choice, which is precisely what Affleck insisted upon.

I'm not giving any choices, I'm asking you to clarify the contradictory statements you made.

To back up a bit I'd say that of those who are the most vocal who identify themselves as liberal have a remarkable ability to say that a thing is right or wrong in principle then become completely prejudiced to the point where it appears an almost psychotic disconnect. No that was and was not meant to be anything other than harshly critical. ...rant

Wow! It's like you wrote a wall of text to obfuscate the fact that you had nothing to say of substance! Not only did you do the very thing you complained about liberals doing, you then repeated the same crap in a much longer diatribe as you did in your previous post!

Your claim rests upon the belief that liberals hate Christians and paint them with broad strokes and are hypocrites because they don't do that with Muslims? Not only is that retarded, to again make such a broad statement because many liberals are religious, but just because some do that doesn't make it any less wrong.
 

ivwshane

Lifer
May 15, 2000
33,725
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I feel like this is a false equivocation of 2 groups. If you are going to frame the situation as us vs them, then I would say who attacked whom first? Even if you set that point aside, there is still the issue that Sam Harris was trying to bring up which is that people are not standing up to bad ideas because those ideas come from religion.

That's complete nonsense. As was pointed out by the panel (I don't remember who), plenty of people including affleck himself, condemned such abhorrent behavior, as have several Muslim leaders. Just because you aren't aware of that doesn't mean it's not happening.
 

realibrad

Lifer
Oct 18, 2013
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That's complete nonsense. As was pointed out by the panel (I don't remember who), plenty of people including affleck himself, condemned such abhorrent behavior, as have several Muslim leaders. Just because you aren't aware of that doesn't mean it's not happening.

I'm confused. Are you saying that was not his point, or that his view is unfounded?

I'm guessing the 2nd, and if so, I think I have a lot to say on that.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
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Wow! It's like you wrote a wall of text to obfuscate the fact that you had nothing to say of substance! Not only did you do the very thing you complained about liberals doing, you then repeated the same crap in a much longer diatribe as you did in your previous post!

Your claim rests upon the belief that liberals hate Christians and paint them with broad strokes and are hypocrites because they don't do that with Muslims? Not only is that retarded, to again make such a broad statement because many liberals are religious, but just because some do that doesn't make it any less wrong.

Going Affleck on me? :p

Quick- where did I say "liberals hate Christians."? When did Maher say this? Nobody came close. Do a search and fine one, yes a single, post where I make an all inclusive statement saying Muslims are dogs. I think some of them are like those behind ISIS, but I said in my post you didn't like that I strongly disagree with those thoughts. GTG, but think about what Maher and Harris and I are actually trying to say, not what you would have had us to say. It's not "everybody", but it is people like Affleck who are a real problem for liberalism as it ought to be.