talkingwomen

I’ve been watching a bit of Richard Dawkins lately.

I found a site called Atheist Nation which had an extensive collection of videos of Dawkins’ documentary films. Dawkins is of course an Atheist, a very vocal Atheist at that. I’m an Atheist too, but that’s not what I find compelling about the man. What I like is his thirst for knowledge and his ability to think. He is the ultimate scientist and I really admire his passion.

I found myself wondering if Dawkins would be as intense in private as he is in public debates and interviews. Would such a person be married or would his whole life be his work? Well Richard Dawkins is married, and of course to a beautiful English actress Lalla Ward. She is fair-haired and petite, meeting Dawkins through her work with Douglas Adams on Dr Who. Dawkins and Ward wed relatively late in life (1992), well after he had risen to prominance as a scientific genius. Was I a bit envious?

The man is like a hundred years old (well 67) and he looks just like every other socially awkward techy nerd. He has no outstanding physical attributes, other than the brain in his head. I think it is the idea of engaging in conversation with him that seems attractive. Imagine all the things you would learn just though general conversation.

What did you do at work today honey?

I discovered behavioural traits in chimps prove that morals and altruism are not exclusive to humans.

Wouldnt you just fall off your chair if your partner was such an active contibutor to human knowledge? Im sure significant discoveries are not made every day. Im sure plenty of time is spent writing books and scientific papers, and interviewing Creationists for documentary film, or preparing for university lectures and debates . . . oh what a life!

Maybe I have brain envy?

I can’t quite decide if I would rather have his brain, or being regularly in a close enough proximity to pick his brain.

Don’t worry, its not just wrinkly old Dawkins I have an intellectual crush on. Over on YouTube theres a Creationist debunker called Thunderf00t with a very droll voice and sense of irony, ive never seen his face but he’s addictive. And this isnt just a Evolution vs. Creation brain envy. I lust after the smarts of creative directors like Gus Van Sant, Danny Boyle, and Charlie Kaufman. The comedic smarts of Eddie Izzard, the eloquence of President Obama, or the sharp social commentary of Jon Stewart.

If I was in a TV show I’d like to be sitting at a coffe shop with Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, Niles Crane from Frasier, and Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds.

Enough with the tough guys and beefcake and washboard abs and suave James Bond pick-up lines . . .

Give me more nerds!