Barry Williams of Australian Skeptics has passed away

blutoski · 22nd January 2018, 10:28 AM

Barry Williams (Australian Skeptics cofounder, and then president of for over a decade) passed away on Saturday.

URL: [Barry Williams]

HarryHenderson · 22nd January 2018, 07:30 PM

It's pretty funny The International Skeptics Forum doesn't have much to say about the death of an apparent 'international skeptic'. There's just too darn many of 'em. Was he too skeptical of skeptic sites to post anything skeptical here? Like when they said that pool would take 10,000 gallons of water, Barry was very skeptical. He knew it was gonna be more like 10,900. And it was. Or that other time when he and his brothers Daryl and Daryl tawt they taw a puddy tat. Once again he was the skeptical one and he wasn't buying it. And of course the puddy tat turned out to be a snake. Always the skeptic. RIP Barry "Skep" Williams.

steenkh · 23rd January 2018, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by HarryHenderson

It's pretty funny The International Skeptics Forum doesn't have much to say about the death of an apparent 'international skeptic'.

What is there to say? I did not know him, but I always find it tragic when a voice of reason goes silent.

lionking · 23rd January 2018, 04:52 AM

Oh very sad news. I met Barry more than once, was a member of the Aussie Skeptics for many years (and have just realised that i have let my membership lapse), and their website, for good or bad, led me here.

Not only was he a passionate, influential skeptic, but a hell of a nice bloke. RIP.

carlitos · 23rd January 2018, 08:09 AM

I don't know how "funny" it is, but it's entirely possible that folks were thinking of a different Barry Williams when they saw the news.

LTC8K6 · 23rd January 2018, 12:17 PM

I never heard of him, but RIP. I'm glad he was out there fighting.

Resume · 23rd January 2018, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by LTC8K6

I never heard of him, but RIP. I'm glad he was out there fighting.

Agreed.

blutoski · 23rd January 2018, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Resume

Agreed.

I think I've known Barry for almost 30 years. While this was not unexpected (he was having health problems and passed away from complications during surgery), it's still a drag to lose one of the pioneers.

Barry was able to secure a $1M bequeathment back in the 1980s for Australian Skeptics, which helped them become financially independent.

He also worked with James Randi to funnel candidates for the MDC. I don't know Randi that well, but I'm worried he may be taking it hard, too.

Barry was especially proud of his beard. He volunteered to participate in fundraisers dressed up as Santa every year, because it made kids so excited.

22nd January 2018, 10:28 AM	#1
blutoski Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,562	Barry Williams of Australian Skeptics has passed away Barry Williams (Australian Skeptics cofounder, and then president of for over a decade) passed away on Saturday. URL: [Barry Williams]
	__________________ "Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." - Terry Pratchett

22nd January 2018, 07:30 PM	#2
HarryHenderson Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: All up in your business! Posts: 1,779	It's pretty funny The International Skeptics Forum doesn't have much to say about the death of an apparent 'international skeptic'. There's just too darn many of 'em. Was he too skeptical of skeptic sites to post anything skeptical here? Like when they said that pool would take 10,000 gallons of water, Barry was very skeptical. He knew it was gonna be more like 10,900. And it was. Or that other time when he and his brothers Daryl and Daryl tawt they taw a puddy tat. Once again he was the skeptical one and he wasn't buying it. And of course the puddy tat turned out to be a snake. Always the skeptic. RIP Barry "Skep" Williams.
	__________________ "If you vote for me, all of your wildest dreams will come true." - Pedro Last edited by HarryHenderson; 22nd January 2018 at 07:31 PM.

23rd January 2018, 03:57 AM	#3
steenkh Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 5,340	Originally Posted by HarryHenderson It's pretty funny The International Skeptics Forum doesn't have much to say about the death of an apparent 'international skeptic'. What is there to say? I did not know him, but I always find it tragic when a voice of reason goes silent.
	__________________ Steen -- Jack of all trades - master of none!

23rd January 2018, 04:52 AM	#4
lionking In the Peanut Gallery Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 42,027	Oh very sad news. I met Barry more than once, was a member of the Aussie Skeptics for many years (and have just realised that i have let my membership lapse), and their website, for good or bad, led me here. Not only was he a passionate, influential skeptic, but a hell of a nice bloke. RIP.
	__________________ A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. Sir Winston Churchill

23rd January 2018, 12:17 PM	#6
LTC8K6 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Directly under a deadly chemtrail Posts: 20,070	I never heard of him, but RIP. I'm glad he was out there fighting.
	__________________ What a fool believes, no wise man has the power to reason away. What seems to be, is always better than nothing. 2 prints, same midtarsal crock..., I mean break?

23rd January 2018, 08:09 AM	#5
carlitos "más divertido" Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 18,220	I don't know how "funny" it is, but it's entirely possible that folks were thinking of a different Barry Williams when they saw the news.

23rd January 2018, 04:11 PM	#7
Resume Troublesome Passenger Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 15,865	Originally Posted by LTC8K6 I never heard of him, but RIP. I'm glad he was out there fighting. Agreed.
	__________________ It is urgent for Americans to think and speak clearly about President Trump’s inability to do either. This seems to be not a mere disinclination but a disability. It is not merely the result of intellectual sloth but of an untrained mind bereft of information and married to stratospheric self-confidence. George F. Will

23rd January 2018, 05:27 PM	#8
blutoski Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 11,562	Originally Posted by Resume Agreed. I think I've known Barry for almost 30 years. While this was not unexpected (he was having health problems and passed away from complications during surgery), it's still a drag to lose one of the pioneers. Barry was able to secure a $1M bequeathment back in the 1980s for Australian Skeptics, which helped them become financially independent. He also worked with James Randi to funnel candidates for the MDC. I don't know Randi that well, but I'm worried he may be taking it hard, too. Barry was especially proud of his beard. He volunteered to participate in fundraisers dressed up as Santa every year, because it made kids so excited.
	__________________ "Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." - Terry Pratchett