Alan Alda - one of us?

Susan Gerbic · 27th September 2007, 11:45 AM

Just noticed this interview on Yahoo news. While reading about Alda's near death, I noticed that he never mentions God or any kind of belief.

Whatya Think? Is he one of us?

Susan

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/book...rss_topstories

shalomsteph · 27th September 2007, 12:08 PM

As a recent survivor of a near death experience, I am also not feeling the god thing. Thanks for posting that. I loved this:

So, for all of his own rigor, did Alda come to any conclusions about the meaning of his life?

He pauses.

"I think I come to some odd conclusions that sort of bring me back to where I was in the beginning," he says. He believes there's more to that existential interpretation: "I think that what they were constantly saying was that life is meaningless, except for the meaning you bring to it by the choices you make and the things you do."

Indeed.

Bell · 27th September 2007, 04:28 PM

Oh crap... phew...

I thought it said "While reading about Alda's death" and thought damn... how come I missed that? Had to check Wikipedia to make sure. And then reread your post to see my mistake.

ETA: I think Hawk One is Alan Alda, or atleast - iirc - he sported an Alda avatar a while ago

Cleon · 27th September 2007, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by Bell

ETA: I think Hawk One is Alan Alda, or atleast - iirc - he sported an Alda avatar a while ago

Yes, I suppose one might wonder why Hawk one would sport an avatar of Cpt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce. Complete mystery, there.

Bell · 27th September 2007, 05:00 PM

I was not recalling correctly.

The member sporting the Alan "Hawkeye" Alda avatar was Class.

He changed it to the Santa Claus avatar around christmas, and appearantly hasn't been on here since. Maybe Santa Claus took him with him to the Northpole?

RandFan · 27th September 2007, 05:18 PM

Alan Alda is one of my heroes. He hosts a PBS series Scientific American. It's fantastic. Alda is clearly a critical thinker and a skeptic. I haven't heard him refer to himself as an atheist but if not he's no fanatic either.

Alda was asked about playing a Republican in the Aviator and on West Wing. He talked about how a lot of his friends would ask "how can you play a Republican?" He noted that no one ever asks how an actor can play a serial killer. That's acting.

Alda is, I believe, liberal. But he said something that really struck me, are we so sure that the blue states are always right and the red states are always wrong? Skepticism.

Gravy · 27th September 2007, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by sgf8

Just noticed this interview on Yahoo news. While reading about Alda's near death, I noticed that he never mentions God or any kind of belief.

Whatya Think? Is he one of us?

Susan

I think you shouldn't assume that "us" means atheists.

Here's a Randi commentary item on Alda's 2002 Caltech commencement speech: this part's about the certainty of pseudoscience vs. the doubt that's necessary to science. Very nice.

Puppycow · 27th September 2007, 11:25 PM

Yeah, Hawkeye is one of the good guys.

KoihimeNakamura · 28th September 2007, 09:18 AM

(apologies to those who read this and don't get the refrence)

One of us! One of us! o_o

But that is pretty interesting, yes.

zombiebex · 28th September 2007, 09:28 AM

Gooble gobble, gooble gobble!

Miss Anthrope · 28th September 2007, 09:38 AM

I wonder if he's changed since this experience....I had the displeasure of doing business with him more than once in LA. He was a total diva. I won't argue with anything regarding his skepticism, but, when he calls ahead to have a parking space pressure washed so he can talk to you like you're dog poo on his shoes, I can't say he's a great human being on a personal level. Among all the "celebrities" I've had to do business with, Alan Alda ties with Jack Palance for being the most arrogant and demanding.

Good for him for pursuing a skeptical and fair path. I can only hope he's applied his critical thinking while looking in a mirror.

shalomsteph · 28th September 2007, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Miss Anthrope

I wonder if he's changed since this experience....I had the displeasure of doing business with him more than once in LA. He was a total diva. I won't argue with anything regarding his skepticism, but, when he calls ahead to have a parking space pressure washed so he can talk to you like you're dog poo on his shoes, I can't say he's a great human being on a personal level. Among all the "celebrities" I've had to do business with, Alan Alda ties with Jack Palance for being the most arrogant and demanding.

Good for him for pursuing a skeptical and fair path. I can only hope he's applied his critical thinking while looking in a mirror.

He can't be as bad as Rachael Ray. I used to wait tables and she came in our restaurant with her...entourage. This was WAY before her own daytime talk show, and I honestly didn't know who she was. She did NOT tip. No...I didn't mean she didn't tip well. She didn't tip AT ALL. Twelve people, $1500 tab, $0.00 tip. The gratuity was added to the bill at 15%, and she subtracted that amount. No, she was not displeased with the service. She just DID NOT BELIEVE IN TIPPING.

ponderingturtle · 28th September 2007, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by shalomsteph

He can't be as bad as Rachael Ray. I used to wait tables and she came in our restaurant with her...entourage. This was WAY before her own daytime talk show, and I honestly didn't know who she was. She did NOT tip. No...I didn't mean she didn't tip well. She didn't tip AT ALL. Twelve people, $1500 tab, $0.00 tip. The gratuity was added to the bill at 15%, and she subtracted that amount. No, she was not displeased with the service. She just DID NOT BELIEVE IN TIPPING.

You would think that would make it more into her $40 dollars a day show.

pgwenthold · 28th September 2007, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by ponderingturtle

You would think that would make it more into her $40 dollars a day show.

Well, she never actually specifies the tip. She just says, "with tax and tip, that comes to XXX"

It's lot easier to make her $40 budget if she isn't tipping.

ponderingturtle · 28th September 2007, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by pgwenthold

Well, she never actually specifies the tip. She just says, "with tax and tip, that comes to XXX"

It's lot easier to make her $40 budget if she isn't tipping.

Well it does show it on the bill. I will need to look at the more closely.

pgwenthold · 28th September 2007, 01:19 PM

Does it separate the tip from the other stuff? (like tax?)

ponderingturtle · 28th September 2007, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by pgwenthold

Does it separate the tip from the other stuff? (like tax?)

I can't remember. I never liked Rachel Ray enough to watch that show. Her on screen persona is way to saccharine sweet for me.

HarryKeogh · 28th September 2007, 07:10 PM

When I saw Richard Dawkins speak in downtown Manhattan last year (he was speaking at the New York Academy of Sciences or something like that...I became a member for the day to see Dawkins speak and get my book signed) Alan Alda (along with Brian Green) were in the audience and both asked questions of Dawkins at the Q&A after the reading.

Puppycow · 28th September 2007, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Miss Anthrope

I wonder if he's changed since this experience....I had the displeasure of doing business with him more than once in LA. He was a total diva. I won't argue with anything regarding his skepticism, but, when he calls ahead to have a parking space pressure washed so he can talk to you like you're dog poo on his shoes, I can't say he's a great human being on a personal level. Among all the "celebrities" I've had to do business with, Alan Alda ties with Jack Palance for being the most arrogant and demanding.

Good for him for pursuing a skeptical and fair path. I can only hope he's applied his critical thinking while looking in a mirror.

What? You mean he's not like Hawkeye IRL?

I'm disappointed. I still like Hawkeye though, if not Alda.

I heard a recent podcast of him on the Diane Rehm show, and he was talking about how his mother was psychotic, so that gave him a head start on skepticism because he realized early on that his mother was saying things that just weren't true and he learned to rely on his own judgment instead of simply taking what his parents said at face value.

RandFan · 28th September 2007, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by Miss Anthrope

I wonder if he's changed since this experience....I had the displeasure of doing business with him more than once in LA. He was a total diva. I won't argue with anything regarding his skepticism, but, when he calls ahead to have a parking space pressure washed so he can talk to you like you're dog poo on his shoes, I can't say he's a great human being on a personal level. Among all the "celebrities" I've had to do business with, Alan Alda ties with Jack Palance for being the most arrogant and demanding.

Good for him for pursuing a skeptical and fair path. I can only hope he's applied his critical thinking while looking in a mirror.

Wow, I wouldn't have guessed that. It's too bad.

pgwenthold · 29th September 2007, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by RandFan

Alan Alda is one of my heroes. He hosts a PBS series Scientific American.

Isn't this technically something like "Scientific American Frontiers"?

I usually find that a pretty interesting show.

RandFan · 29th September 2007, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by pgwenthold

Isn't this technically something like "Scientific American Frontiers"?

Not just technically but it is actually.

boloboffin · 29th September 2007, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by shalomsteph

He can't be as bad as Rachael Ray. I used to wait tables and she came in our restaurant with her...entourage. This was WAY before her own daytime talk show, and I honestly didn't know who she was. She did NOT tip. No...I didn't mean she didn't tip well. She didn't tip AT ALL. Twelve people, $1500 tab, $0.00 tip. The gratuity was added to the bill at 15%, and she subtracted that amount. No, she was not displeased with the service. She just DID NOT BELIEVE IN TIPPING.

Oh, no, [rule 10] no. The worst service I ever received got 15%, because servers work for less than minimum wage precisely because they get tips. I regularly do 20%-30% because I used to wait tables myself.

That's just low.

Wheezebucket · 30th September 2007, 12:00 PM

One of 'us'? Ack. It's like people who bond over marijuana - 'oh you smoke weed, too? We must be best friends then, let's all wear retarded t-shirts and laugh when the clock hits 4:20!' vomit vomit vomit.

Alan Alda's a hack, MASH can suck it! I don't want to be part of any group with him in it! It's bad enough we're both humans...

bigred · 1st October 2007, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Wheezebucket

One of 'us'? Ack. It's like people who bond over marijuana - 'oh you smoke weed, too? We must be best friends then, let's all wear retarded t-shirts and laugh when the clock hits 4:20!' vomit vomit vomit.

Alan Alda's a hack, MASH can suck it! I don't want to be part of any group with him in it! It's bad enough we're both humans...

LMAO

I liked MASH and he was far from a "hack" but bravo anyway.

Never did like Hawkeye though. What a naive, self-righteous ahole. Person-wise gimme Col Potter or Radar any day. (Well OK more literally gimme Hot Lips in her prime

)

Originally Posted by sgf8

Whatya Think? Is he one of us?

Thanks for reminding "us" JREF isn't an atheist site.

I couldn't care less about his beliefs.

Charlie Monoxide · 2nd October 2007, 03:44 PM

I never liked Alan Alda because of the character he played on MASH. I listened to his autobiography (narrated by him), "Never Get Your Dog Stuffed" and was very entertained and impressed. I don't recall any religion, but he was Italian and his parents were in vaudeville and probably weren't religious. I recommend the book.

Charlie (ex-Alan Alda hater) Monoxide

alfaniner · 3rd October 2007, 07:11 AM

Probably one of the first exposures I had to real skepticism was the show where he visited a Chinese herbalist. The guy made a diagnosis by looking at his tongue, and prescribed certain "ancient Chinese secrets". While Alda didn't totally blow him off, it was clear that he thought it was nonsense. It may have been my first clue to what cold reading (diagnosis) actually was.

Susan Gerbic · 3rd October 2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Probably one of the first exposures I had to real skepticism was the show where he visited a Chinese herbalist. The guy made a diagnosis by looking at his tongue, and prescribed certain "ancient Chinese secrets". While Alda didn't totally blow him off, it was clear that he thought it was nonsense. It may have been my first clue to what cold reading (diagnosis) actually was.

I'm glad to hear this. A very popular high school teacher (many many years ago) did not say "under god" when we said the pledge. He told us that he did not believe in god or gods, I don't remember any other discussion, maybe he told us that he was an Atheist. I had never heard this concept before, and looking back it probably was the first time my eyes were opened that there was something people were not telling me, that there were others who doubted that someone was listening when we prayed.

My point being, that IMO we need to be more out there. You can't know who you might influence to think more critically about the world. Maybe Alan Alda isn't doing it for you, but then again he might. As more and more people open up and discuss their values and beliefs those that are beginning to question will not feel so alone.

There is talk about Bill Gates being an atheist, and I'm sure to some that will settle matters as they already know he is Satan reborn. And to others they will think about the humanitarian efforts that he and his wife are engaged in, and maybe they will think that atheists arn't so horrible.

The more positive coverage critical thinking can get, the better. And if Alda helps then that's great.

Susan

zooterkin · 8th October 2007, 11:49 AM

Alan Alda was on the radio just now, talking about his latest memoir ("Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself "), and he did just say that he's not a believer. (You can listen again for the next week at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/fro...ogrammes.shtml)

Charles Livingston · 8th October 2007, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Miss Anthrope

I wonder if he's changed since this experience....I had the displeasure of doing business with him more than once in LA. He was a total diva. I won't argue with anything regarding his skepticism, but, when he calls ahead to have a parking space pressure washed so he can talk to you like you're dog poo on his shoes, I can't say he's a great human being on a personal level. Among all the "celebrities" I've had to do business with, Alan Alda ties with Jack Palance for being the most arrogant and demanding.

Good for him for pursuing a skeptical and fair path. I can only hope he's applied his critical thinking while looking in a mirror.

I want more gossip (good and/or bad) about your celebrity experiences.

Edited to add: I'm in no way referring to sexual "experiences".

27th September 2007, 11:45 AM	#1
Susan Gerbic Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Salinas Posts: 1,521	Alan Alda - one of us? Just noticed this interview on Yahoo news. While reading about Alda's near death, I noticed that he never mentions God or any kind of belief. Whatya Think? Is he one of us? Susan http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/book...rss_topstories
	__________________ Quit Complaining and Get Active! formerly known as sgf8

27th September 2007, 12:08 PM	#2
shalomsteph Critical Thinker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: St. Cloud, MN Posts: 356	As a recent survivor of a near death experience, I am also not feeling the god thing. Thanks for posting that. I loved this: So, for all of his own rigor, did Alda come to any conclusions about the meaning of his life? He pauses. "I think I come to some odd conclusions that sort of bring me back to where I was in the beginning," he says. He believes there's more to that existential interpretation: "I think that what they were constantly saying was that life is meaningless, except for the meaning you bring to it by the choices you make and the things you do." Indeed.
	__________________ "Those who make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."--Voltaire

27th September 2007, 04:28 PM	#3
Bell beautiful freak Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 20,486	Oh crap... phew... I thought it said "While reading about Alda's death" and thought damn... how come I missed that? Had to check Wikipedia to make sure. And then reread your post to see my mistake. ETA: I think Hawk One is Alan Alda, or atleast - iirc - he sported an Alda avatar a while ago
	__________________ Every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life. I♥NY You gotta love cops.

27th September 2007, 04:39 PM	#4
Cleon King of the Pod People Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20,536	Originally Posted by Bell ETA: I think Hawk One is Alan Alda, or atleast - iirc - he sported an Alda avatar a while ago Yes, I suppose one might wonder why Hawk one would sport an avatar of Cpt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce. Complete mystery, there.
	__________________ "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." - Newt Gingrich

27th September 2007, 05:00 PM	#5
Bell beautiful freak Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 20,486	I was not recalling correctly. The member sporting the Alan "Hawkeye" Alda avatar was Class. He changed it to the Santa Claus avatar around christmas, and appearantly hasn't been on here since. Maybe Santa Claus took him with him to the Northpole?
	__________________ Every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life. I♥NY You gotta love cops. Last edited by Bell; 27th September 2007 at 05:02 PM. Reason: sp

27th September 2007, 05:18 PM	#6
RandFan Mormon Atheist Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 53,423	Alan Alda is one of my heroes. He hosts a PBS series Scientific American. It's fantastic. Alda is clearly a critical thinker and a skeptic. I haven't heard him refer to himself as an atheist but if not he's no fanatic either. Alda was asked about playing a Republican in the Aviator and on West Wing. He talked about how a lot of his friends would ask "how can you play a Republican?" He noted that no one ever asks how an actor can play a serial killer. That's acting. Alda is, I believe, liberal. But he said something that really struck me, are we so sure that the blue states are always right and the red states are always wrong? Skepticism.
	__________________ Ego, ain't it a bitch? It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion. --Adam Smith

27th September 2007, 06:27 PM	#7
Gravy Downsitting Citizen Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the argyle Posts: 17,136	Originally Posted by sgf8 Just noticed this interview on Yahoo news. While reading about Alda's near death, I noticed that he never mentions God or any kind of belief. Whatya Think? Is he one of us? Susan I think you shouldn't assume that "us" means atheists. Here's a Randi commentary item on Alda's 2002 Caltech commencement speech: this part's about the certainty of pseudoscience vs. the doubt that's necessary to science. Very nice.
	__________________ "Please, keep your chops cool and don’t overblow.” –Freddie Hubbard What's the Harm?........Stop Sylvia Browne........My 9/11 links Last edited by Gravy; 27th September 2007 at 06:30 PM.

27th September 2007, 11:25 PM	#8
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,789	Yeah, Hawkeye is one of the good guys.
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

28th September 2007, 09:18 AM	#9
KoihimeNakamura Creativity Murderer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Graham, WA Posts: 6,868	(apologies to those who read this and don't get the refrence) One of us! One of us! o_o But that is pretty interesting, yes.
	__________________ Don't mind me.

28th September 2007, 09:28 AM	#10
zombiebex Critical Thinker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio, US Posts: 317	Gooble gobble, gooble gobble!

28th September 2007, 09:38 AM	#11
Miss Anthrope All your post are belong to us Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: A Tiny Oasis in the PNW Posts: 3,597	I wonder if he's changed since this experience....I had the displeasure of doing business with him more than once in LA. He was a total diva. I won't argue with anything regarding his skepticism, but, when he calls ahead to have a parking space pressure washed so he can talk to you like you're dog poo on his shoes, I can't say he's a great human being on a personal level. Among all the "celebrities" I've had to do business with, Alan Alda ties with Jack Palance for being the most arrogant and demanding. Good for him for pursuing a skeptical and fair path. I can only hope he's applied his critical thinking while looking in a mirror.
	__________________ We're not elected officials, nor are we paid professionals. You want us to act as such? Fine. Cough up the cash - because as a professional, I don't come cheap."-Jmercer, who happens to rock.[/color]

28th September 2007, 10:20 AM	#12
shalomsteph Critical Thinker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: St. Cloud, MN Posts: 356	Originally Posted by Miss Anthrope I wonder if he's changed since this experience....I had the displeasure of doing business with him more than once in LA. He was a total diva. I won't argue with anything regarding his skepticism, but, when he calls ahead to have a parking space pressure washed so he can talk to you like you're dog poo on his shoes, I can't say he's a great human being on a personal level. Among all the "celebrities" I've had to do business with, Alan Alda ties with Jack Palance for being the most arrogant and demanding. Good for him for pursuing a skeptical and fair path. I can only hope he's applied his critical thinking while looking in a mirror. He can't be as bad as Rachael Ray. I used to wait tables and she came in our restaurant with her...entourage. This was WAY before her own daytime talk show, and I honestly didn't know who she was. She did NOT tip. No...I didn't mean she didn't tip well. She didn't tip AT ALL. Twelve people, $1500 tab, $0.00 tip. The gratuity was added to the bill at 15%, and she subtracted that amount. No, she was not displeased with the service. She just DID NOT BELIEVE IN TIPPING.
	__________________ "Those who make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."--Voltaire

28th September 2007, 10:31 AM	#13
ponderingturtle Orthogonal Vector Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tarrytown, NY Posts: 26,434	Originally Posted by shalomsteph He can't be as bad as Rachael Ray. I used to wait tables and she came in our restaurant with her...entourage. This was WAY before her own daytime talk show, and I honestly didn't know who she was. She did NOT tip. No...I didn't mean she didn't tip well. She didn't tip AT ALL. Twelve people, $1500 tab, $0.00 tip. The gratuity was added to the bill at 15%, and she subtracted that amount. No, she was not displeased with the service. She just DID NOT BELIEVE IN TIPPING. You would think that would make it more into her $40 dollars a day show.
	__________________ Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no poofing in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin

28th September 2007, 12:53 PM	#14
pgwenthold Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 12,074	Originally Posted by ponderingturtle You would think that would make it more into her $40 dollars a day show. Well, she never actually specifies the tip. She just says, "with tax and tip, that comes to XXX" It's lot easier to make her $40 budget if she isn't tipping.
	__________________ "Baseball is a philosophy. The primordial ooze that once ruled our world has been captured in perpetual motion. Baseball is the moment. Its ever changing patterns are hypnotizing yet invigorating. Baseball is an art form. Classic and at the same time...progressive. Baseball is pre-historic and post-modern. Baseball is here to stay." (Stolen from the side of a lava lamp box, and modified slightly)

28th September 2007, 01:10 PM	#15
ponderingturtle Orthogonal Vector Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tarrytown, NY Posts: 26,434	Originally Posted by pgwenthold Well, she never actually specifies the tip. She just says, "with tax and tip, that comes to XXX" It's lot easier to make her $40 budget if she isn't tipping. Well it does show it on the bill. I will need to look at the more closely.
	__________________ Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no poofing in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin

28th September 2007, 01:19 PM	#16
pgwenthold Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 12,074	Does it separate the tip from the other stuff? (like tax?)
	__________________ "Baseball is a philosophy. The primordial ooze that once ruled our world has been captured in perpetual motion. Baseball is the moment. Its ever changing patterns are hypnotizing yet invigorating. Baseball is an art form. Classic and at the same time...progressive. Baseball is pre-historic and post-modern. Baseball is here to stay." (Stolen from the side of a lava lamp box, and modified slightly)

28th September 2007, 01:22 PM	#17
ponderingturtle Orthogonal Vector Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tarrytown, NY Posts: 26,434	Originally Posted by pgwenthold Does it separate the tip from the other stuff? (like tax?) I can't remember. I never liked Rachel Ray enough to watch that show. Her on screen persona is way to saccharine sweet for me.
	__________________ Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no poofing in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin

28th September 2007, 07:10 PM	#18
HarryKeogh Catholic School Survivor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 11,342	When I saw Richard Dawkins speak in downtown Manhattan last year (he was speaking at the New York Academy of Sciences or something like that...I became a member for the day to see Dawkins speak and get my book signed) Alan Alda (along with Brian Green) were in the audience and both asked questions of Dawkins at the Q&A after the reading.

28th September 2007, 08:25 PM	#19
Puppycow Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Japan Posts: 15,789	Originally Posted by Miss Anthrope I wonder if he's changed since this experience....I had the displeasure of doing business with him more than once in LA. He was a total diva. I won't argue with anything regarding his skepticism, but, when he calls ahead to have a parking space pressure washed so he can talk to you like you're dog poo on his shoes, I can't say he's a great human being on a personal level. Among all the "celebrities" I've had to do business with, Alan Alda ties with Jack Palance for being the most arrogant and demanding. Good for him for pursuing a skeptical and fair path. I can only hope he's applied his critical thinking while looking in a mirror. What? You mean he's not like Hawkeye IRL? I'm disappointed. I still like Hawkeye though, if not Alda. I heard a recent podcast of him on the Diane Rehm show, and he was talking about how his mother was psychotic, so that gave him a head start on skepticism because he realized early on that his mother was saying things that just weren't true and he learned to rely on his own judgment instead of simply taking what his parents said at face value.
	__________________ “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

28th September 2007, 09:20 PM	#20
RandFan Mormon Atheist Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 53,423	Originally Posted by Miss Anthrope I wonder if he's changed since this experience....I had the displeasure of doing business with him more than once in LA. He was a total diva. I won't argue with anything regarding his skepticism, but, when he calls ahead to have a parking space pressure washed so he can talk to you like you're dog poo on his shoes, I can't say he's a great human being on a personal level. Among all the "celebrities" I've had to do business with, Alan Alda ties with Jack Palance for being the most arrogant and demanding. Good for him for pursuing a skeptical and fair path. I can only hope he's applied his critical thinking while looking in a mirror. Wow, I wouldn't have guessed that. It's too bad.
	__________________ Ego, ain't it a bitch? It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion. --Adam Smith

29th September 2007, 08:58 AM	#21
pgwenthold Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 12,074	Originally Posted by RandFan Alan Alda is one of my heroes. He hosts a PBS series Scientific American. Isn't this technically something like "Scientific American Frontiers"? I usually find that a pretty interesting show.
	__________________ "Baseball is a philosophy. The primordial ooze that once ruled our world has been captured in perpetual motion. Baseball is the moment. Its ever changing patterns are hypnotizing yet invigorating. Baseball is an art form. Classic and at the same time...progressive. Baseball is pre-historic and post-modern. Baseball is here to stay." (Stolen from the side of a lava lamp box, and modified slightly)

29th September 2007, 09:09 AM	#22
RandFan Mormon Atheist Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 53,423	Originally Posted by pgwenthold Isn't this technically something like "Scientific American Frontiers"? Not just technically but it is actually.
	__________________ Ego, ain't it a bitch? It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion. --Adam Smith

29th September 2007, 11:57 PM	#23
boloboffin Guest Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 5,001	Originally Posted by shalomsteph He can't be as bad as Rachael Ray. I used to wait tables and she came in our restaurant with her...entourage. This was WAY before her own daytime talk show, and I honestly didn't know who she was. She did NOT tip. No...I didn't mean she didn't tip well. She didn't tip AT ALL. Twelve people, $1500 tab, $0.00 tip. The gratuity was added to the bill at 15%, and she subtracted that amount. No, she was not displeased with the service. She just DID NOT BELIEVE IN TIPPING. Oh, no, [rule 10] no. The worst service I ever received got 15%, because servers work for less than minimum wage precisely because they get tips. I regularly do 20%-30% because I used to wait tables myself. That's just low.

30th September 2007, 12:00 PM	#24
Wheezebucket Master Cylinder Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mr. Belvedere's House (in Seattle) Posts: 1,493	One of 'us'? Ack. It's like people who bond over marijuana - 'oh you smoke weed, too? We must be best friends then, let's all wear retarded t-shirts and laugh when the clock hits 4:20!' vomit vomit vomit. Alan Alda's a hack, MASH can suck it! I don't want to be part of any group with him in it! It's bad enough we're both humans...
	__________________ The Evangelists myspace.com/evangelistscomic "My nipples start to bleed on very long runs." - Ian "We called her the gorgon. Not because we liked her." - Nikki

1st October 2007, 06:07 PM	#25
bigred Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: USA Posts: 12,542	Originally Posted by Wheezebucket One of 'us'? Ack. It's like people who bond over marijuana - 'oh you smoke weed, too? We must be best friends then, let's all wear retarded t-shirts and laugh when the clock hits 4:20!' vomit vomit vomit. Alan Alda's a hack, MASH can suck it! I don't want to be part of any group with him in it! It's bad enough we're both humans... LMAO I liked MASH and he was far from a "hack" but bravo anyway. Never did like Hawkeye though. What a naive, self-righteous ahole. Person-wise gimme Col Potter or Radar any day. (Well OK more literally gimme Hot Lips in her prime ) Originally Posted by sgf8 Whatya Think? Is he one of us? Thanks for reminding "us" JREF isn't an atheist site. I couldn't care less about his beliefs.

2nd October 2007, 03:44 PM	#26
Charlie Monoxide Wag Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 2,761	I never liked Alan Alda because of the character he played on MASH. I listened to his autobiography (narrated by him), "Never Get Your Dog Stuffed" and was very entertained and impressed. I don't recall any religion, but he was Italian and his parents were in vaudeville and probably weren't religious. I recommend the book. Charlie (ex-Alan Alda hater) Monoxide
	__________________ Major General Wag of JREF

3rd October 2007, 07:11 AM	#27
alfaniner Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sorth Dakonsin Posts: 11,398	Probably one of the first exposures I had to real skepticism was the show where he visited a Chinese herbalist. The guy made a diagnosis by looking at his tongue, and prescribed certain "ancient Chinese secrets". While Alda didn't totally blow him off, it was clear that he thought it was nonsense. It may have been my first clue to what cold reading (diagnosis) actually was.

3rd October 2007, 04:36 PM	#28
Susan Gerbic Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Salinas Posts: 1,521	Quote: Probably one of the first exposures I had to real skepticism was the show where he visited a Chinese herbalist. The guy made a diagnosis by looking at his tongue, and prescribed certain "ancient Chinese secrets". While Alda didn't totally blow him off, it was clear that he thought it was nonsense. It may have been my first clue to what cold reading (diagnosis) actually was. I'm glad to hear this. A very popular high school teacher (many many years ago) did not say "under god" when we said the pledge. He told us that he did not believe in god or gods, I don't remember any other discussion, maybe he told us that he was an Atheist. I had never heard this concept before, and looking back it probably was the first time my eyes were opened that there was something people were not telling me, that there were others who doubted that someone was listening when we prayed. My point being, that IMO we need to be more out there. You can't know who you might influence to think more critically about the world. Maybe Alan Alda isn't doing it for you, but then again he might. As more and more people open up and discuss their values and beliefs those that are beginning to question will not feel so alone. There is talk about Bill Gates being an atheist, and I'm sure to some that will settle matters as they already know he is Satan reborn. And to others they will think about the humanitarian efforts that he and his wife are engaged in, and maybe they will think that atheists arn't so horrible. The more positive coverage critical thinking can get, the better. And if Alda helps then that's great. Susan
	__________________ Quit Complaining and Get Active! formerly known as sgf8

8th October 2007, 11:49 AM	#29
zooterkin Nitpicking dilettante Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Berkshire, mostly Posts: 24,622	Alan Alda was on the radio just now, talking about his latest memoir ("Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself "), and he did just say that he's not a believer. (You can listen again for the next week at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/fro...ogrammes.shtml)

8th October 2007, 01:01 PM	#30
Charles Livingston Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 425	Originally Posted by Miss Anthrope I wonder if he's changed since this experience....I had the displeasure of doing business with him more than once in LA. He was a total diva. I won't argue with anything regarding his skepticism, but, when he calls ahead to have a parking space pressure washed so he can talk to you like you're dog poo on his shoes, I can't say he's a great human being on a personal level. Among all the "celebrities" I've had to do business with, Alan Alda ties with Jack Palance for being the most arrogant and demanding. Good for him for pursuing a skeptical and fair path. I can only hope he's applied his critical thinking while looking in a mirror. I want more gossip (good and/or bad) about your celebrity experiences. Edited to add: I'm in no way referring to sexual "experiences".
	Last edited by Charles Livingston; 8th October 2007 at 01:04 PM.