Hello everyone.
Well, this week, I will be talking about public speaking. Specifically, a public speaker I admire and why.
After considering scientists, such as Brian Cox or Neil De Grasse Tyson, and science communicators like Bill Nye, I have decided on Stephen Fry.
I have always admired him as a comedian and knowledgeable individual, especially after watching most episodes of Q.I. I enjoy watching him alongside Hugh Laurie in the sketch show, "A Bit of Fry and Laurie" and his fantastic characters in "Blackadder". His vocabulary is second to none, and his documentary series on the history of language, "Fry's Planet Word" is superb. Seeing him alongside Brian Blessed talking about swearing, is gold.
But, what really impressed me about this orator, was watching his presentation for his recent book, "More Fool Me". It was an interesting, thoughtful look into his past, with him reading excerpts from his book and telling stories of countries he's visited. It was performed live in front of the audience in the stadium, as well as being streamed live to different countries around the world.
He seemed to ooze confidence, but a short way into the proceedings, it became evident that he was feeling rather nervous. He was sweaty, he seemed awkward, and yet, he really pulled it off. I saw someone that I admired and wanted to be like. When I think about talking in front of an audience, I feel short of breath and my voice goes unusually deep. When he was nervous, he was still able to be entertaining and not lose the message at all.
Another public speech where he was admittedly nervous, was the debate on the importance of the Catholic Church. He was debating alongside Christopher Hitchens, another outspoken atheist. It's a wonderful, emotional speech that shows nothing but brilliance and the type of intelligence that only someone like Stephen Fry can get across. You can find this one here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SJ6AV31MxA
He is a wonderful debater and defender of being gay and has even discussed "gay therapy conversion" with some severely misguided people. His famous answer to the existence of a god is the single greatest answer I've ever heard from anyone. You can find it here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwNYSQo
The way he conducts himself when asked this question, which can be a tricky one for some atheists, is admirable.
He is a man with a colourful, imperfect past, as he admits in his book and in his presentation. He has a history of drug abuse, and never seems to deny that. He is a wonderfully spoken man that gets his point across in a brilliant, intelligent, respectful, and most importantly, entertaining manner.
I'll leave you with a quote. It's a quote that every person needs to embody, in science and the wider world.
"The only reason people do not know much is because they do not care to know. They are incurious. Incuriosity is the oddest and most foolish failing there is" - Stephen Fry.
