Skeptic through and through And as always NOT a Socksuppet for any other Skeptic. Still here and still staying! Official?Countup var sc_project=11191535; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="9092736d"; var sc_https=1;
So having found myself with some time and nothing to occupy it, I went through and found some older posts that might help those newer to the skeptic scene. Some of these are also posts that can help you in a general way, as they talk about body language, linguistics, public relations, marketing, and how to tell if someone is lying. Perhaps if more people learned these types of skills, instead of things that are obsolete, like multiplication tables, (We have calculators on our phones now.) maybe we might have less strife in the world.
Hopefully, this can answer some questions for those new to this fandom or whatever this has evolved into. Some of us still admire Ben's acting skills in the movies, we just question his acting abilities in real life.
Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed that he underwent surgery following a shoulder injury.
The Roses actor, who was seen wearing a sling at the Cannes Film Festival in May, said the injury was the result of several factors, stating, “It’s a long time of ill use and a lot of surfing in very bad conditions and overdoing it.”
The Doctor Strange star has explained that he secretly had the operation after damaging his shoulder through years of surfing and “overdoing it”.
But I had a short operation this year, so I haven’t done it at all for about six months.
“I had a torn rotator cuff and then also a frozen shoulder on top of it, which I only found when I went into it to do the repair to the rotator, which was a complete tear,” he continued. “I lived with chronic pain for about a year and a half, not really realising that you didn’t have to.”
Link
IMO
I hate to talk about this. He kind of put his foot in his mouth again.
One, what doctor lets a shoulder patient wear that pitiful excuse of a scarf, instead of a proper sling?
Two, the term Chronic Pain.
Technically, the definition is more than three months of pain.
However, the pain community (and there is one), doesn't throw the term around lightly. Many pain patients feel undersupported by their doctors. They are also branded as "drug users". They suffer depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
If his account is accurate, his suffered a injury that was causing pain that was easily diagnosed and fixed.
So I have been contemplating this Letters Live contest. Besides the enormity of the bad idea that it is, I'm sure that a certain publisher is in need of writers to publish. I almost feel bad for the people who have to read and sort through those letters.
I did say almost, right?
If I had the ear of a follower or two, I might make a suggestion. Send in something. You don't have to sign your name. There are anonymous websites you can use. Or you could even send it in with your name if you want!
But tell your friends and neighbors and realtives, too. Flood the inbox.
Letters will be read by an independent editor appointed by Letters Live and the winner will be selected from a shortlist by an independent judging panel. Entries must be received by midnight on September 19, 2025, and must be no more than 500 words. Entrants must be 18 or over.
Letters Live has grown from one man’s blog into a celebrity phenomenon — and now Times readers can get involved, too
Resolution: No Marriage that includes an Actor can ever include love.
Fact: The majority of such marriages end in divorce before 10 years.
Fact: The majority of those that end through infidelity are with another actor.
Fact: A large portion of such marriages end acrimoniously.
Fact: Actors are masters of counterfeiting emotions and do this on a regular basis as part of their jobs.
Fact: Actors regularly engage in intimate actions with people other than their significant others.
Fact: Actors tend to certain behavoir profiles. Male and female actors scored significantly higher than nonactors on Antisocial, Narcissism, Histrionic, Borderline, and Obsessive–Compulsive personality disorder scales. Male actors scored significantly higher than the male comparison group on Schizotypal, Avoidant, and Dependent personality disorder scales. link
Fact: Acting can take a psychological toll even as far as mental instability.
[The Psychological Impact of Acting ]
Supposition 1:
Actors are able to counterfeit emotions easily due to psychological and mental illness. These conditions also hamper their ability to genuinely express emotions. This leads to a loveless relationship.
Supposition 2: Due to the extreme nature of the profession they engage in, actors rarely engage in permanent pursuits. Having access to money and sex in large quantities, they see no reason to make an effort on making a relationship work.
Although I haven't been posting too much(real life got in the way), I still get notifications for certain events, articles, and news items.
Celebitchy is a daily gossip and entertainment blog, started in 2006, which also focuses on liberal politics, royal coverage and fashion.
This article popped up on my regular news cycle and it caught my attention because of how it was handled. Although Benedict's picture is used with the article he is not tagged on the post. Benedict is an Ambassador for MDA, one of the two charities benefiting from the Ice Bucket Challenge.
It seems an extreme oversight to exclude his name from the tags. Tags are used to attract more views. Tags are ommitted when the subject matter is not subject matter that is high in search requests.
In the past, Cumberbatch was enough of a commonly searched term that it has its own bookmark on the website. The date of the articles shows when the articles began to wane.
Celebitchy is a daily gossip and entertainment blog, started in 2006, which also focuses on liberal politics, royal coverage and fashion.
Will Forte and Damon Wayans Jr. also star in this feature about a woman who pretends to be expecting, after growing jealous of a friend who'
The other article that caught my eye was about a small movie coming out on Netflix. The reviews are still coming in. I have seen mixed comments.
The movie plot concept is semi-novel, a woman fakes a pregnancy. It bears repeating that old adages are often a clichés for a reason, because they are generally true. The first thing they teach you in writer's classes and workshops is "write what you know". Another saying is never piss off a writer because they will immortalize you in print, and not in a good way. It makes me wonder who the screenwriter encountered in their own personal experience to use for inspiration. There are several interesting moments in the movie that could have been drawn from real life experiences. It is almost enough to make one feel sorry for the person who had those experiences.
In general, it wasn't a bad movie. The humour would have made any actor who had issues with appearing in Zoolander 2 blush. It was not necessarily politically correct or woke. There were lots of Prat[t] falls(No Chrises hurt, he wasn't in this one.) There are adult themed moments, language and definitely violence, albeit a cartoony type of violence.
I haven't been posting in a while. Life, you know. I have, like many others, been making use of the wonders of A.I. in all it's infinite diversity. I thought I'd throw some questions at ChatGPS about basic skeptic stuff. It had some interesting answers.
Can you create a word cloud from each of the following movies and TV Series starring Benedict Cumberbatch using the most common phrases from the reviews about Benedict Cumberbatch's acting and preformace?
Fourtysomething
Parade's End
Sherlock
The Imitation Game
Grinch
Patrick Melrose
Power Of The Dog
The Mauritian
The Thing with Feathers
Creating word clouds for each of Benedict Cumberbatch's performances is a fantastic idea. However, due to the limitations of this text-based platform, I'm unable to generate visual word clouds directly. Instead, I can provide you with a textual representation of the most frequently mentioned phrases from reviews of each of the listed movies and TV series. This will give you an insight into the common descriptors used for Cumberbatch's performances.
1. FortySomething (2003): Benedict Cumberbatch's role in "FortySomething" was one of his early television appearances. While specific reviews focusing solely on his performance are scarce, he was noted for his portrayal of the character Rory Slippery, bringing a youthful energy to the ensemble cast.
2. Parade's End (2012): In "Parade's End," Cumberbatch took on the role of Christopher Tietjens. Reviews highlighted his performance as:
"Nuanced and compelling"
"Masterful depiction of a man torn between duty and desire"
"Subtle yet powerful portrayal"
3. Sherlock (2010–2017): Cumberbatch's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes garnered widespread acclaim:
"Brilliant and captivating"
"Sharp, intelligent, and charismatic"
"A modern and riveting take on the classic detective"
4. The Imitation Game (2014): As Alan Turing, Cumberbatch received significant praise:
"Emotionally resonant and deeply moving"
"A transformative performance"
"Captures the complexity of Turing's genius and struggles"
5. The Grinch (2018): Voicing the titular character, reviews noted:
"Delightfully mischievous and entertaining"
"Brings a fresh and humorous twist to the classic character"
"Engaging vocal performance that appeals to all ages"
6. Patrick Melrose (2018): In this series, Cumberbatch's role was described as:
"A tour de force performance"
"Raw, unflinching, and deeply affecting"
"Masterfully portrays the complexities of addiction and trauma"
7. The Power of the Dog (2021): Cumberbatch's portrayal in this film was lauded as:
"Perhaps his best performance to date"
"A powerhouse performance"
"Excels as a sadistic villain"
8. The Mauritanian (2021): As Stuart Couch, reviews highlighted:
"A compelling and earnest performance"
"Brings depth to a morally conflicted character"
"Balances intensity with empathy"
9. The Thing with Feathers (2025): In this recent film, Cumberbatch's performance was noted for being:
"Nuanced and powerful"
"A tender and aching portrayal"
"One of his most alive and inventive performances"
These phrases capture the essence of critical responses to Benedict Cumberbatch's performances across various roles. If you have a specific film or series in mind, I can delve deeper into the reviews for more detailed insights.
Great question! Let’s break it down by comparing the early roles (2003–2014) with the more recent ones (2018–2025).
Early Roles (2003–2014):
FortySomething (2003) – Cumberbatch’s role was minor, and reviews didn’t focus much on him. However, his youthful energy was noted.
Parade’s End (2012) – His performance was described as "nuanced," "compelling," "subtle yet powerful." Critics praised his ability to convey emotional depth with restraint.
Sherlock (2010–2017) – This was his breakout role, earning praise for being "brilliant," "sharp," "intelligent," "charismatic." His fast-talking, high-energy portrayal of Sherlock Holmes made him a household name.
The Imitation Game (2014) – His portrayal of Alan Turing was "deeply moving," "transformative," "emotional." There was a shift toward highlighting his ability to play emotionally complex, real-life figures.
Recent Roles (2018–2025):
Patrick Melrose (2018) – Critics described his work as "a tour de force," "raw and unflinching," "deeply affecting." The intensity of his performance stood out, marking a shift toward darker, psychologically complex roles.
The Power of the Dog (2021) – Reviews called his performance "perhaps his best to date," "a powerhouse," "excels as a sadistic villain." There was a clear move from playing sympathetic geniuses to deeply flawed, even cruel characters.
The Mauritanian (2021) – Here, he was "compelling," "earnest," "balanced intensity with empathy." His portrayal was more restrained and morally conflicted compared to earlier works.
The Thing with Feathers (2025) – Reviews describe it as "nuanced and powerful," "aching," "alive and inventive." Critics seem to appreciate his maturity and range more than ever.
Comparison & Trends Over Time:
1. Shift from intellectual to emotionally raw roles – Early reviews praised his intelligence and wit, especially in Sherlock and The Imitation Game. Recent reviews focus more on emotional depth, darkness, and vulnerability (Patrick Melrose, The Power of the Dog).
2. More complex and flawed characters – Initially, he was known for playing brilliant but socially awkward characters. Now, he is being recognized for layered, sometimes villainous roles (Power of the Dog, The Mauritanian).
There's a clear movement toward describing his performances as more emotionally impactful rather than just intellectually impressive.
4. More praise overall – While he was always respected, recent reviews use stronger superlatives (e.g., "perhaps his best performance to date" for The Power of the Dog), suggesting critics see him as an even more accomplished actor now.
Conclusion:
The evolution of Benedict Cumberbatch’s career has been met with growing praise, shifting from admiration of his intelligence and wit to deep respect for his emotional range and complexity. His roles have become more layered, and the language used to describe his acting has become more intense and evocative.
Would you like a deeper analysis of any specific performance?
Professional analyses of Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife, Sophie Hunter, during red carpet events are limited. Some observers have noted that Hunter often appears reserved, which contrasts with Cumberbatch's more expressive demeanor. This contrast has led to interpretations that she may be the more dominant partner in their relationship.
It's important to recognize that such analyses are subjective and based on limited public interactions. Without comprehensive insights, drawing definitive conclusions about their relationship dynamics would be speculative.
These scenarios, while rare, are not entirely impossible. Let's break them down:
1. Faking a Pregnancy and Adopting a Child
Likelihood: Very low, but not impossible.
Why? Celebrities are under constant media scrutiny, making it difficult to fake a pregnancy convincingly. However, some have used surrogates while pretending to be pregnant, possibly due to personal or professional reasons.
Examples: There have been rumors (but no confirmed cases) of celebrities using prosthetic baby bumps while secretly planning to adopt or use a surrogate.
2. Faking the Existence of Children
Likelihood: Extremely rare.
Why? Fabricating the existence of a child would require maintaining an illusion over time, with staged photos, media reports, and possibly fake social media accounts. While some public figures have hidden children from the media, outright fabricating their existence would be difficult to sustain.
Examples: No widely known celebrity cases of completely fabricating a child's existence, but some have misled the public about parenthood (e.g., hiding a child's birth).
3. Non-Paternal Events in Modern Pregnancies
Likelihood: Estimates suggest 1-10% of children may be the result of non-paternal events (NPE), meaning the assumed father is not the biological father.
Why? This can occur due to infidelity, medical errors (e.g., sperm mix-ups in fertility treatments), or undisclosed past relationships. However, modern genetic testing has made NPEs easier to detect.
Examples: While there have been legal cases involving switched sperm in IVF clinics, personal cases often remain private unless revealed by DNA tests.
Would you like more details on any of these points?
The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, "See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels[1] of silver."
While they were in high spirits, they shouted, "Bring out Samson to entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them
__________________________
Not everything is symbolic, but signs are everywhere.
Had someone bring a thought up. I thought I'd see what the rabble thinks.
One of the least complex theories is that Ben accidentally knocked Sophie up or so Sophie led him to believe. He did the honorable thing by marrying her and just stuck it out because it seemed better for his reputation.
So let's play Turn Left. What would have happened if?
What if Sophie had said she was pregnant with Ben's kid and he either denied it or just paid her off? I'm asking if this had happened at the beginning, before anyone knew anything about Sophie.
I'm not curious about whether Ben would have done it. Obviously, this is all hypothetical.
My question is about how the fans would have reacted. Would he have survived, career intact, with either situation? Would he have gained different fans? Perhaps would a bad boy image have been helpful to him? Might it have helped him achieve different roles?
I noticed that interviews with Ben have becomed canned or targeted to sell whatever project he is currently involved in. The interview for The Imitation game in Out magazine for example. Ben also has a fluid style of answering which needs to be matched in his questions.
Here are some questions I would ask if I could interview Ben no questions barred.
__________________________
In the past you have made clear that you wished to keep your private life just that, private. Where do you draw the line? When does the woman you're dating become the woman you're engaged to, the woman you're married to, the mother of your children? Why did you release so much more information about your first two children? Have you hit "father fatigue"?
You have had some memorable experiences dealing with fans. Are the good or bad experiences more memorable? What experience sticks out in your mind of each? What could you tell your fans directly if you could?
Your fans have a certain demographic. What do you think that says about you? Do you wish it was different or that your fans behaved differently?
Everyone has something in their life they wish they could go back and do differently, the proverbial left turn. What would you change in your life if you could? Why would you change that one thing? Or is it a series of events that has lead you astray?
You seem to be very close to family, having famously hired your neice as a P.A. Are there family members who you don't get along with or who don't get along with you? Perhaps due to political differences or a long standing argument? How do you deal with those family members at family functions? Do you still attend things like reunions or Christmas dinner with extended family? Or does your status make it awkward?
Speaking of politics, you have made some bold statements in that regard. From refugees, to climate change to veganism, you have definitive viewpoints on everything. You have been called a Champange liberal by naysayers. What would you say in the basic tenant that you follow regarding politics? What would you change in the world if you could?
__________________________
I think we might get an honest interview and some interesting answers out of this.
So chances are it won't happen.
It doesn't hurt to put it out into the universe anyway. Maybe a journalist will find it.
