Reaction from someone who was there

Check out this description of events at the Minneapolis screening of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. A good counterbalance to the spin PZ and the crew are putting on things.

Comments

[Cedric Katesby]

Owned. Bady.

[Shaze]

You know, you've gotta wonder how many people tried to go back in time and kill Hitler.

I also gotta wonder how much of this so called "controversy" affects your point of view. Do you stop and wonder, wow, why are these people so angry at me? Is it because my idea's are offensive, or maybe because they are simply ignorant and defensive?

I gotta say Kevin, you are pretty dumb. I can't beleive someone would make a movie about something he knows so little about.

[Reed]

It's interesting that you don't link any other accounts from people who were there

Kristine
http://amused-muse.blogspot.com/2008/03/expelled-from-expelled.html
Rev Barky (in a comment)
http://amused-muse.blogspot.com/2008/03/expelled-from-expelled.html#c4761226740852901307
Collin Tierney
http://pharyngula.org/~collin/?p=17
account:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/03/a_late_night_quick_one.php

It's all about letting both sides have a fair say, right ?

[Physicalist]

I've looked, and it sure seems like you're the one providing the spin. Blessman essentially admits in the comments of your link that he was lying.

Tacitus's comment (9:16) is spot on: if you want to accuse PZ or Dawkins of "sneaking in" or even of not being invited to the event, then you'd better provide some facts to back up that claim.

Let's hear what a proper "invitation" consisted of.

Let's hear how Dawkins and PZ's family were admitted, if they were not "invited."

Do tell us how PZ was singled out from everyone else in line.

And far more pressingly, why, oh why, would a film whining about the suppression of opposing viewpoints want to bar a critic from seeing said film?

Surely you can see the pathetic irony?

[Rev. BigDumbChimp]

Hello Kevin? Answers?

[Chad]

I insist that everyone read the link that kevin provided.

You can see Stuart defending his email in the comments where he PROMPTLY contradicts his own claims and fails to realize that ANYONE can RSVP for the movie on the website. ( not to mention that Dawkins, Myers family, and others saw the movie - who weren't personally invited other then RSVPing )

C'mon kevin: You're lying, Stuarts story is contradictory, and the 'excuse' ( spin ) behind this is 'changing'.

First it was he was causing a disruption.

Then it became he didn't have a ticket.

Then it became he wasn't invited.

What is it going to be Mr Miller?

[tacitus]

Spin, Kevin? Okay, just tell us the facts:

1) How many people who saw the movie in that theater last night actually held tickets in hand that they presented at the door?

2) How many actual tickets did you send out for the screening last night?

3) Was PZ Myers' name on the list of invited guests used to check IDs at the door?

4) Was Richard Dawkins' name on the list of invited guests used to check IDs at the door?

5) Did you or your colleagues given PZ Myers or Richard Dawkins (both of whom you thank in the credits for the movie, I believe) any prior warning that they would not be allowed to attend a screening of your movie?

6) Was PZ Myers recognized by one of your colleagues before he got it and *then* disinvited?

7) Did any of your colleagues notice Richard Dawkins was in line outside the theater? If so, why was he not barred from entry just PZ Myers was?

Simple questions, Kevin. No spin required. Just honest answers.

[Nullifidian]

When you're claiming that the problem is that PZ Myers lacked an official invitation, I don't think PZ's the one who's in the middle of his spin cycle. The fact that you need to quote another contemptible liar in order to support you is all the indication we need about your own veracity.

For one thing, the theatre manager did not come over and ask him for his ticket. There were no tickets. One RSVPed online then filled out a form, the same process I went through myself back in October.

Secondly, as has been noted, the liar in question is contradicting himself about how PZ handled himself in public. I sincerely doubt you're going to get anyone to believe that PZ was behaving obstreperously while waiting in line for a screening *with a guest*, let alone an internationally-known and -read figure like Richard Dawkins.

[Rev. BigDumbChimp]

Yes Kevin, why don't you want people who are actually in the film to see it?

[mike]

Technicalities aside, I think the big question is "why didn't you want PZ to see the film?"

[Observer]

Notice that Stuart Blessman's initial account states that theater management apparently saw Myers harassing other other "invited guests," but in the comment section he then states that he was only three feet behind Myers the whole time, and Myers clearly didn't harass anybody. It appears as if he's contradicting himself in his comments. It makes his original report appear disingenuous.

[ellazimm]

I don't know Kevin, better go put another brick in the wall.

[MB]

Hmmm... the "description" you're linking to states "Management then approached the man, asked him if he had a ticket..." yet the RSVP site says "Please fill out one entry form per attendee. Once confirmed, your name will be on a list at the door of the theater. IDs will be checked." So if this guy filled out the RSVP, how wasn't he invited? Why would he have to sneak in? Was he the only one who should have had a ticket? He was with his family and this famous guy, and he was bugging people around him? But not calling attention to his family and the famous guy? Somthing doesn't smell right about this - you should probably get get your story straight before you go to print...

[Lee]

tickets? Everything I've read say there were no tickets - there was an invitation list, with an internet solicitation to sign up. All of PZ's party was legitimately signed up - all of them but PZ were checked in with IDs and saw the movie, meaning they all signed up with their real names and had matching IDs. PZ was also signed up under his own name, but was asked to leave. He did.

This young mans description is false on its face.