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| | [[Richard Dawkins]] was also a prominent founder of the New Atheism movement. Dawkins is frequently seen as being an abrasive, aggressive and angry individual and he is less charismatic than Hitchens was (see: [[Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins]] and [[Richard Dawkins and anger]]). And post [[Elevatorgate]] scandal, Dawkins lost a large amount of influence (See: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]]). | | [[Richard Dawkins]] was also a prominent founder of the New Atheism movement. Dawkins is frequently seen as being an abrasive, aggressive and angry individual and he is less charismatic than Hitchens was (see: [[Abrasiveness of Richard Dawkins]] and [[Richard Dawkins and anger]]). And post [[Elevatorgate]] scandal, Dawkins lost a large amount of influence (See: [[Richard Dawkins' loss of influence]]). |
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| | + | == Christopher Hitchens and public speaking == |
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| | + | ''See also:'' [[Atheism and public speaking]] |
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| | + | Christopher Hitchens was known for being an eloquent and passionate public speaker who injected humor in his public speaking. |
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| | + | However, Hitchens had his critics in terms of his public debates. |
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| | + | Michael Wolff wrote in ''GQ'' magazine: |
| | + | {{Cquote|His frequent public forums - in which Hitchens' British-style debating skills were presented as a sort of miracle as well as a freak of nature, as if he were a more biting Rumpole - had become a significant and profitable part of his career. He had a cast of agents and hucksters who would organise and promote these events in cheap venues, reserving him a cut of the door. |
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| | + | In American media culture, he took a place last occupied by the conservative pundit [[William F. Buckley]], Jr who regularly wowed middle America with his hauteur and erudition on his talk show, |
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| | + | Firing Line. Of note, Hitchens seemed almost invariably to be matched in his debates with lesser lights - it was Hitchens among the stupids. |
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| | + | I was always on reasonable terms with Hitchens - or certainly had the younger man's good grace to mostly shut up while he talked - and once, at the height of the Iraq war, he asked me to moderate one of these encounters. |
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| | + | The other protagonist was probably demented (if not homeless) and borderline coherent. Still, it was a packed house. Hitchens arrived drunk - though I wondered if it was more pretend than actually drunk because he kept talking about how much he'd consumed - but at some point he certainly was drunk. While many people made the excuse for him about how well he could hold his liquor (another old-fashioned trope), he was, in this instance, as walleyed and uncomprehending as any other person I've known who was drinking at his level.<ref>[http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/michael-wolff-on-christopher-hitchens The damnation of St Christopher] by Michael Wolff</ref>}} |
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| | + | As noted above. Hitchen did very poorly in his debate with William Lane Craig. |
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| | + | The new atheist [[Richard Dawkins]] has a reputation for avoiding his strongest debate opponents (see: [[Richard Dawkins and debate]]). |
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| | == Hitchens on bestiality == | | == Hitchens on bestiality == |