Hi everyone.

Ratskep turns 2 years old next week and we've never had an awards week! So I've decided to set one up and see how it goes, if successful maybe it could become an annual thing? Anyway, welcome to the first "Ratskep Awards". Nominations will start now, voting will come soon and winners will be announced on the 25th/26th.

The most popular sections have a "top poster" award. Along with a couple of fun awards thrown in. The categories are:

Sagan Award - Your favorite poster in the physical science sections (maths/physics/chemistry/astronomy).

Darwin Award - Your favorite poster in the historical science sections (Biology/Medicine/Psychology/Neuroscience).

Plato Award - The best philosopher around the forum.

Non/stamp collector of the year - The most interesting poster in theism/nontheism. Whether they always have great arguments, or always offer a good insight. The award can go to anyone (stamp collector or not).

Ricky Gervais Award - The poster who always makes you laugh.

Pseudoscience Debunker of The Year - The best poster at debunking pseudoscience, everything from creationism to medical myths.

Stephen Colbert Award - Your favorite politics poster of the year. It doesn't have to be someone you agree with, just anyone who consistently offers an interesting/thoughtful viewpoint.

Social and Fun Poster of the Year - The most entertaining poster in the general forums. Maybe they always post good music, stories or jokes? Or maybe they excel at mafia games?

Christopher Hitchens Award for Excellence in Writing - The title explains itself. A poster who always expresses themselves clearly and entertainingly.

And finally...

The Einstein Award - The poster who you always find intellectually stimulating (anywhere on the forum). They always have something knowledgeable and evidence based to add to a topic. They are an all-round great poster who contributes vast amounts of knowledge to Ratskep.


Nominate as many people as you want in each category (2 or 3 would be good), I'll probably take the top 5-10 in each catagory depending on the popularity and how many poll options I can use. Don't forget you can nominate the same person as many times as you like.

Feel free to discuss everything in here as well, it's just a bit of fun. I will answer questions here or via PM if you have any.

Here is the nomination form:

Sagan Award:
Darwin Award:
Plato Award:
Non/stamp collector of the year:
Ricky Gervais Award:
Pseudoscience Debunker of The Year:
Stephen Colbert Award:
Social and Fun Poster of the Year:
Hitchens Award:
Einstein Award:

Posts your nominations in here, or PM them to me if you prefer a silent ballot.

Thanks Sityl and Hack.

I suppose I'll do mine as well:

Sagan Award: Pulsar, VazScep, Twister59
Darwin Award: Mr Samsa, Rumracket, Allan Miller
Plato Award: Tuton, Speed of Sound
Non/stamp collector of the year: Shurnk, Zwaarddijk, Spearthrower
Ricky Gervais Award: z8000783, Arcanyn, Lucidflight,
Pseudoscience Debunker of The Year: Rumracket, HughMcB, Paul Almond
Stephen Colbert Award: Chairman Bill, Brandy Spears
Social and Fun Poster of the Year: Animavore
Hitchens Award: Agrippina, Calilasseia
Einstein Award: susu.exp, Paul Almond, Darkchilde

At this rate, yea, sure. Nominate anyone you like, especially if you think someone who hasn't been nominated yet deserves to be.

I'm not on here enough to nominate sensibly - it's been a long time, but I'll have a go. Too many great people won't get a mention because I'm exhausted and forget user names!

Sagan Award - loads of candidates, but Twistor59 springs to mind, and Campermon.

Darwin Award - Again, loads. Mr. Samsa if i can only name one. Genes4Life would have been a great choice, and the rest of the Explorable team, but for the fgorum I'll give Samsa it for his efforts over the years

Plato Award - Susu exp, Teuton, Speed of Sound, Ian Tatum, Spinozagalt, Logical Bob, Zwaardjit and the Comte Serpenti all spring to mind immediately as people I have read and learned a lot from from. There are loads more: I therefore just can't nominate here, as I don't spend enough time there.

Non/stamp collector of the year - The most interesting poster in theism/nontheism has to go to: OldSkeptic. We have clashed many many times, but he has an awful lot of interest to say, and i enjoy our discussions.

Ricky Gervais Award - Oh so many! Thwoth is usually a laugh though Agrippina is fun too.

Pseudoscience Debunker of The Year - Campermon, fpr his sterling work arguing with me. Who else? Well if I had a second nomination it would definitely be The Metratron, a good sceptic. Campermon gets my nomination though for the debate.

Stephen Colbert Award - I nominate Chairman Bill. DaveD would win if it was based on his blog though, which is excellent.

Social and Fun Poster of the Year - can't nominate. Too many. Oh ok, Blip. I nominate Blip, and Sityl who always has something worth reading to say, and I havenofingerptints too, especially for this! And Animavore, and...

Christopher Hitchens Award for Excellence in Writing - Hackenslash of course. Cali and Samsa get honourable mentions, as does Teuton and many others deserve it. Ian T for instance. Many great writers on here. Genes4life for instance is a brilliant science educator.

The Einstein Award - So many possibilities. Tim O Neil, Crank, Grahbudd, Hugh McB and DaveD all contribute masses in their own ways, and Hackenslash is an obvious candidate too. If I have to take just one I'll go Tim for heroic efforts in the face of Christ Mythers.

I have missed out loads of people i really like and respect though But it is fun!
j x

Einstein award? Me?

Thanks for the kind thought though jerome.

People think I'm funny!

Must think about this one. I can fill out half without much thought but others I may have to make a half-list and then half it.

Animavore wrote:People think I'm funny!

Must think about this one. I can fill out half without much thought but others I may have to make a half-list and then half it.

I got one person who thinks I'm funny... but that one person is my WHOLE world right now

Can we also add "Forum MILF" just so I can vote for Paula?

Thanks for all the interest so far. I'll leave nominations open for a few more days, as many people are only stumbling across the thread today/and probably tomorrow. Also, we need some more nominations

There are no losers award: nominate myself everyone

Tory apologist award?

Can we have a Funniest Creationist Meltdown award?