Someone beating up Stephen Hawking

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a news report alleging an incident involving Stephen Hawking, where he was purportedly attacked. Participants explore the plausibility of the claims, the nature of Hawking's communication abilities, and the implications of the story's details.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the credibility of the report, suggesting it may be fabricated or misinterpreted.
  • There is debate over Hawking's ability to communicate effectively, with some asserting he can convey complex ideas while others suggest limitations in his communication methods.
  • One participant speculates that Hawking might be protecting someone involved in the incident, raising concerns about potential motives.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that the incident could be a result of a malfunction in Hawking's wheelchair or even a whimsical attack by tadpoles.
  • Some express skepticism about the media's portrayal of the situation, indicating that the details may have been exaggerated or misunderstood.
  • There are references to a previous episode of The Simpsons featuring Hawking, which some participants use to illustrate points about his capabilities and the absurdity of the situation.
  • One participant mentions a press release from Hawking denying the truth of the news story, indicating a lack of consensus on the validity of the claims.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus regarding the truth of the news report or the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident. Multiple competing views and interpretations remain present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the details of the incident, including Hawking's communication abilities and the nature of the reported attack. There are also references to potential misinterpretations by the media and the implications of the story's claims.

wasteofo2
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http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20040119_134.html

For some reason it doesn't seem to add up. The man can talk, if someone were just randomly beating him I don't get why he wouldn't say something. And how could someone be left stranded in the middle of their own garden in an electric wheelchair? Are they implying someone in his home left him there without power in his chair and he didn't identify them?
 
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Somene's beating up crippled guys? How sad and dispicable.
 
Originally posted by wasteofo2
For some reason it doesn't seem to add up. The man can talk, if someone were just randomly beating him I don't get why he wouldn't say something. And how could someone be left stranded in the middle of their own garden in an electric wheelchair? Are they implying someone in his home left him there without power in his chair and he didn't identify them?
No, he can't talk and he can only control the wheelchair with small twitches in one hand. Take the controller out of his hand and put it next to his hand and he'd be stranded.
 


Originally posted by russ_watters
No, he can't talk
Yes, he can "talk".
He can communicate quite complex ideas and hold a normal conversation with his computer.
I think what wasteofo2 was getting at was that he has the capability to tell someone exactly what is going on, such as, "Yes, officer, I did see the man who did this. It was my gardener, John."
And he was making a comment that it doesn't add up that the police will have to even investigate whether or not someone HAS BEEN beating him, when they can just ask Stephen himself.
It's not like a murder investigation, you can talk to the victim and he can respond.
 
This is strange. I'm betting that the report is bogus...at the least, something is wrong with this story.

an unnamed source told the newspaper.

Otherwise, the only thing that seems to make sense is that Dr. Hawking is protecting someone who is harming him. If he can still communicate effectively, then why the mystery? Very strange.
 
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maybe he went too far into his garden and the plug came out of the wall leaving him stranded... i say it was a couple tadpoles that beat him up and he is too embarrased to tell anyone!
 
Originally posted by Javelin_mad
maybe he went too far into his garden and the plug came out of the wall leaving him stranded... i say it was a couple tadpoles that beat him up and he is too embarrased to tell anyone!
I say ARREST those dastardly tadpoles and toss 'em into the tadpole slammer! Wrap 'em up with Coban so they can't grow their little legs and escape to continue on their delinquent path of crime and evil.
 


Originally posted by one_raven
I think what wasteofo2 was getting at was that he has the capability to tell someone exactly what is going on, such as, "Yes, officer, I did see the man who did this. It was my gardener, John."
Thats not how I read it, but you may be right.
 
If anyone seen the Simpson episode featuring S W Hawking, then you should remember that stephen has an inbuilt security devise built into his chair, I believe it was a type of Boxing Glove at an end of a concertina/scissor extendable arm?

This being a prototype is plauged with teething problems, it sometimes Gets Stephen on the rebound!..Thus may be self-inflicted due to Stephen having a cold, and during a sneezing episode, wrong instructions were activated, hence the Prof got 'decked' by the fact that during a sneezing bout( as everyone knows, your Eyes atomatically shut!),,and caught one when he was not looking!

But this may also be need veryifying, this is correct?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/3414473.stm
 
  • #10
Originally posted by Ivan Seeking

Otherwise, the only thing that seems to make sense is that Dr. Hawking is protecting someone who is harming him. If he can still communicate effectively, then why the mystery? Very strange.

And "Munchausen by Proxy" is usually perpetrated by someone close to the victim. I'm afraid this is going to lead the police to suspect the wife first, and then the children.

I hope you're right, Ivan; I hope the whole thing is just the hoax.
 
  • #11
i think it is just a misinterpretation and the press jumped at the story and coincidence that Stephen Hawking is 62 years old.

The police said they had a report of an attack on a 62 year old man but no-one ever said that it was hawking. People injure themselves everyday, maybe his nurse was a little careless and gave him shaving cuts, i dunno!
 
  • #12
When I said Hawking could talk, I meant that he could communicate.
 
  • #13
Hawking says the news story was FALSE! Ranyart posted a BBC press release on here earlier today from Hawking saying it wasn't true.

Seems nobody here could swallow the story, Wasteof2 questioned everything about it.

edit...and Chompnik, very clever deduction!
 
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