The worlds largest, most expensive social media influencer barbecue
Phil Mason AKA Thunderf00t
The quote can be found at around 13 mins 42 seconds
In context
…oh wait, you would have died the rocket doesn’t have an emergency abort system anything goes wrong on the way up or on the way down you’ll simply have the world’s largest and most expensive social media influencer barbecue ever and if you believe SpaceX that’s going to be flying around the Moon this year I mean this is some Peak Kool-Aid stuff with definite overtones of Darwin Award…
Phil Mason Wikipedia Entry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderf00t
Thunderf00t YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/thunderf00t
Thunderf00t Twitter
https://twitter.com/thunderf00t
Thunderf00t Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/Thunderf00t
About the Quote
Phil is saying that without proper safeguards in place then if something goes wrong, the SpaceX rocket will explode and kill the occupants. The clever part is that Mason has realised that the type of occupants on the early flights may not be qualified astronauts or scientists, but social media influencers. This shines a light on the mindset of a company that I think Mason believes is seemingly cavalier with safety but focused on publicity in the current world.
Thunderf00t: The British Chemist and Critic of Pseudoscience
Thunderf00t, also known as Philip E. Mason, is a British chemist and YouTuber known for his critiques of religion, pseudoscience, and creationism. He has gained a large following due to his articulate and knowledgeable videos, in which he exposes irrational behaviour and debunks false claims. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at Thunderf00t and his work, exploring his background, his views on science and religion, and the controversies he has been involved in.
Early Life and Education
Philip E. Mason was born on April 25, 1972, in the United Kingdom. He studied Chemistry at the University of Birmingham, where he obtained his PhD in 1999. After completing his studies, he worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Bristol.
Career
Mason is currently employed at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, where he works as a researcher in the field of food science. He has published numerous scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, including Nature Chemistry and Science.
In addition to his work as a scientist, Mason is also a prominent voice in the atheist and sceptic communities. He has contributed to the website Freethought Blogs and has made numerous appearances on podcasts and YouTube channels.
Views on Science and Religion
Thunderf00t is a vocal critic of religion, particularly Christianity, and has made a number of videos debunking creationism and other pseudoscientific claims. He argues that science is the best way to understand the natural world and that religious beliefs are often based on superstition and ignorance.
In one of his most famous video series, “Why Do People Laugh At Creationists?“, Mason takes apart the arguments made by creationists and shows how they are based on flawed reasoning and misrepresentations of scientific facts.
Controversies
Thunderf00t has been involved in several controversies over the years. In 2012, he was invited to join the Freethought Blogs network but was later removed due to his behaviour towards other bloggers. He was accused of being abusive and harassing towards his colleagues and using inappropriate language in public forums.
In 2015, Thunderf00t was accused of leading a campaign of harassment against feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian. He denied the allegations but was criticized for his aggressive and confrontational approach.
Legacy
Despite the controversies surrounding him, Thunderf00t remains a respected voice in the sceptic community. His videos have inspired many people to question their beliefs and to look critically at the claims made by religious and pseudoscientific groups.
Thunderf00t’s work as a scientist has also been widely praised, and his contributions to the field of food science have been significant. His research on solvated electrons dissolved in ammonia, published in the journal Science, helped to shed light on the chemical processes involved in the reaction of alkali metals with water.
Conclusion
Thunderf00t is a complex and controversial figure, but his contributions to the fields of science and scepticism cannot be denied. Whether you agree with his views or not, there is no denying that he has had a significant impact on the way people think about science, religion, and pseudoscience. His videos are informative, engaging, and thought-provoking, and his work as a scientist has helped to advance our understanding of the natural world.
Citations:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderf00t
[2] https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/08/10/summary-of-thunderf00tphil-masons-disgrace/
[3] https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Thunderf00t
[4] https://www.wehuntedthemammoth.com/2015/10/26/thunderf00t-rebuts-charges-he-commands-a-hate-mob-by-unleashing-a-hate-mob-on-a-woman-who-made-this-charge/
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/jmpu87/til_scientist_and_youtube_dr_philip_mason_aka/
