I'm amazed at how well Brian Cox kept his temper in check.
One of the things about Cox, is that while he has that almost angelic smile on him, I've seen him fly off on people when they've really pushed him with their ignorance. I don't blame him for that for even a second; imagine having his mind and constantly being on panels to debate people with the intellect (I apply the word in its loosest possible definition) of Malcolm Roberts. There were a couple of moments where I thought 'shit, he's going to lose it now!' but he managed to bring his face back from almost cramping up with the pain of the ceaseless stupid smacking into it.
Roberts works to the same formula that the Tea Party, Fox commentators, Cory Bernardis etc. do. It boils down to strongly denying everything which even mildly suggests that what they believe may have flaws in it. Incredibly, they deny it from a position where everything not just mildly suggests but strongly demonstrates that nearly everything they believe is utterly and completely out of step with reality.
I still cannot quite decide if I believe that these people actually believe the bullshit they are spouting, or if they are that cynical that they are willing to speak such garbage, to gain and maintain a following of people who will gobble it all up. I also cannot decide whether the former or the latter is more frightening.
