IS Forum
Forum Index Register Members List Events Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Help

Go Back   International Skeptics Forum » General Topics » Education
 


Welcome to the International Skeptics Forum, where we discuss skepticism, critical thinking, the paranormal and science in a friendly but lively way. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest, which means you are missing out on discussing matters that are of interest to you. Please consider registering so you can gain full use of the forum features and interact with other Members. Registration is simple, fast and free! Click here to register today.
Reply
Old 5th March 2013, 04:20 PM   #1
Abdul Alhazred
Philosopher
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,023
Oprah Winfrey to give address at Harvard commencement

Oprah Winfrey to give address at Harvard commencement
The Boston Globe

Abdul Alhazred is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 5th March 2013, 07:01 PM   #2
Madalch
The Jester
 
Madalch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 9,763
Well, she is a successful businesswoman.
__________________
As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of resolving approaches zero. -Vaarsuvius
It's a rum state of affairs when you feel like punching a jar of mayonnaise in the face. -Charlie Brooker
Madalch is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 5th March 2013, 07:27 PM   #3
MinnesotaBrant
Philosopher
 
MinnesotaBrant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,519
googling this has the fact that she is black mentioned over and over. Really, I would think the fact that she is really famous would have more to do with it.
MinnesotaBrant is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 5th March 2013, 07:38 PM   #4
fuelair
Banned
 
fuelair's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 58,581
Why would people want her address - unless she's inviting them all to a party???
fuelair is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 6th March 2013, 02:23 AM   #5
Foolmewunz
Grammar Resistance Leader
TLA Dictator
 
Foolmewunz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Posts: 41,468
Ah, maybe that's why the Dow Jones broke it's previous record high yesterday?

Or not.

What is the point of this thread? Are we to, "Tsk Tsk!" at "just what higher education has come to in these here United States"?

She's a good speaker, probably will turn out to be less reprehensible than some of their previous speakers when all is tolled/told, and she gives free stuff away, not just with her foundation money but to audiences. Nice to see some of these future titans of industry and chairpersons of the bored getting some goodies. If I was Oprah, I'd give them all some "welfare cheese".

All things being equal, Harvard being Harvard and all that, one or more future POTUS, Supreme Court Justices, Senators or Third World dictators may be in the audience. Maybe she reaches some of 'em?
__________________
Ha! Foolmewunz has just been added to the list of people who aren't complete idiots. Hokulele

It's not that liberals have become less tolerant. It's that conservatives have become more intolerable.
Foolmewunz is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 6th March 2013, 04:18 AM   #6
Dubious Dick
Muse
 
Dubious Dick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 515
Her credulous promotion of woo e.g. Dr Oz etc etc etc etc should disqualify her, but sadly.........
__________________
"Let's stop being so damned respectful." Richard Dawkins, TED 2002[
Dubious Dick is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 6th March 2013, 04:38 AM   #7
Abdul Alhazred
Philosopher
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,023
"Because she's black" doesn't cut it as an explanation.

The are academically respectable blacks of the same generation who made it against the odds. Likewise black and rich.

Charles Bolden Jr
Kenneth Chenault

That's just off the top of my head.

Last edited by Abdul Alhazred; 6th March 2013 at 04:39 AM.
Abdul Alhazred is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 6th March 2013, 04:51 AM   #8
Foolmewunz
Grammar Resistance Leader
TLA Dictator
 
Foolmewunz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Posts: 41,468
Originally Posted by Dubious Dick View Post
Her credulous promotion of woo e.g. Dr Oz etc etc etc etc should disqualify her, but sadly.........
Now that's an argument I could get behind. Is there a skeptics group at Harvard? Anyone know how to get in touch with them?

Do any TAM attendees know Neil deGrasse Tyson? He's an alum, isn't he?

I'm not suggesting people stand up and heckle, but a nice egghead letter writing/email campaign might be in order. They won't change their minds, but it could get some ink for skepticism.
__________________
Ha! Foolmewunz has just been added to the list of people who aren't complete idiots. Hokulele

It's not that liberals have become less tolerant. It's that conservatives have become more intolerable.
Foolmewunz is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 6th March 2013, 01:51 PM   #9
MinnesotaBrant
Philosopher
 
MinnesotaBrant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,519
Originally Posted by Abdul Alhazred View Post
"Because she's black" doesn't cut it as an explanation.

The are academically respectable blacks of the same generation who made it against the odds. Likewise black and rich.

Charles Bolden Jr
Kenneth Chenault

That's just off the top of my head.
I was just counting off the top of the headlines on google. Apparently she is making history as being the first black woman to give a 10 minute commencement speech at Harvard. To me thats high level silly to bring this up. Its called making news.

Last edited by MinnesotaBrant; 6th March 2013 at 02:10 PM.
MinnesotaBrant is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 7th March 2013, 12:14 AM   #10
Travis
Misanthrope of the Mountains
 
Travis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 24,133
Originally Posted by Abdul Alhazred View Post
"Because she's black" doesn't cut it as an explanation.

The are academically respectable blacks of the same generation who made it against the odds. Likewise black and rich.

Charles Bolden Jr
Kenneth Chenault

That's just off the top of my head.
And do any of them have their own TV network and one word name recognition?

Harvard wanted someone ridiculously famous, that only they could get, to further rub their Harvardness in the face of other universities. So it is just more of the same. I fail to see why Oprah being a part of it is so different.
__________________
"Because WE ARE IGNORANT OF 911 FACTS, WE DEMAND PROOF" -- Douglas Herman on Rense.com
Zingiber Officinale

Travis is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 7th March 2013, 01:09 AM   #11
Dubious Dick
Muse
 
Dubious Dick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 515
Originally Posted by Foolmewunz View Post
Now that's an argument I could get behind. Is there a skeptics group at Harvard? Anyone know how to get in touch with them?

Do any TAM attendees know Neil deGrasse Tyson? He's an alum, isn't he?

I'm not suggesting people stand up and heckle, but a nice egghead letter writing/email campaign might be in order. They won't change their minds, but it could get some ink for skepticism.
Good idea. Have found the Humanist Community at Harvard here:

http://harvardhumanist.org/

Emailed to suggest that they might be able to use her appearance as a means of spreading the good skeptical/critical thinking word.
__________________
"Let's stop being so damned respectful." Richard Dawkins, TED 2002[
Dubious Dick is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 7th March 2013, 10:30 PM   #12
Foolmewunz
Grammar Resistance Leader
TLA Dictator
 
Foolmewunz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Posts: 41,468
Originally Posted by Dubious Dick View Post
Good idea. Have found the Humanist Community at Harvard here:

http://harvardhumanist.org/

Emailed to suggest that they might be able to use her appearance as a means of spreading the good skeptical/critical thinking word.
But, isn't it more fun to complain on an internet forum. (Translation: Thanks - I recognized the name of a staff member from her blog and emailed her.)
__________________
Ha! Foolmewunz has just been added to the list of people who aren't complete idiots. Hokulele

It's not that liberals have become less tolerant. It's that conservatives have become more intolerable.
Foolmewunz is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Old 8th March 2013, 10:24 AM   #13
Madalch
The Jester
 
Madalch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 9,763
Originally Posted by Abdul Alhazred View Post
"Because she's black" doesn't cut it as an explanation.

The are academically respectable blacks of the same generation who made it against the odds. Likewise black and rich.

Charles Bolden Jr
Kenneth Chenault
Never heard of either of them. Oprah, on the other hand, has been heard of by everyone and their dog.
__________________
As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of resolving approaches zero. -Vaarsuvius
It's a rum state of affairs when you feel like punching a jar of mayonnaise in the face. -Charlie Brooker
Madalch is offline   Quote this post in a PM   Nominate this post for this month's language award Copy a direct link to this post Reply With Quote Back to Top
Reply

International Skeptics Forum » General Topics » Education

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:17 AM.
Powered by vBulletin. Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

This forum began as part of the James Randi Education Foundation (JREF). However, the forum now exists as
an independent entity with no affiliation with or endorsement by the JREF, including the section in reference to "JREF" topics.

Disclaimer: Messages posted in the Forum are solely the opinion of their authors.