I was reading back over some of my archives today and realised that, in spite of my attempts to preserve my anonymity, anyone who’s ever played a decent game of Cluedo could probably piece together my life from old blog entries. With that in mind, I thought you might as well know the rest.
Here’s what regular readers will have deduced already: I’m male, I live in Bristol (specifically South Bristol), I’m married to the delectable Wifeshui, I work for a bookshop (and if you’ve clicked on any of the links in my book reviews you’ve probably established that it’s Blackwell), I have at least a passing familiarity with Japanese history and culture, I practice t’ai chi (though intermittently now) and aikido, I enjoy classical music and I am an avid reader. Oh, and I don’t believe in God.
Here’s what you don’t know: I will drink mojitos in preference to any other beverage, although I do have a yen for Fentiman’s Cola every now and then. I have a near encyclopaedic knowledge of 80s children’s cartoons, in particular the Transformers. I love cooking, and consider myself a skilled chef, although those who have tried my banana-and-courgette stuffed chicken may disagree. I studied Drama at Bristol University, which generally involved throwing meat about and wearing body paint, but now I have almost no interest in theatre, believing it to be populated by meat-juggling, silver-painted loons. I do not own a car or a television, but I do own a beautiful goban, which I never use because none of my friends know how to play Go (Wifeshui has learned, bless her, but doesn’t really enjoy it). It cost me more than two months’ wages…
Why yunshui? It’s a hangover from my days as a Taoist, and I never bothered getting rid of it. The word (two words, really) means “clouds and water”, and was used to refer to wandering Taoist priests in medieval China. It’s pronounced about halfway between “yoon-shway” and “yin-shoo”. Should you wish, you can find me on Brainking (and a dozen or so other sites) under the same moniker – feel free to look me up and challenge me to a game of Go should you feel inclined.
If you want to get in touch, you can e-mail me at
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stuart.e.turner@hotmail.co.uk
And yes, that is my real name, so now you know pretty much everything about me that’s worth knowing. So much for anonymity.
14 comments
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August 21, 2008 at 6:27 pm
mohmood
thank you asking me to return to your post for the comments which for all purposes must be above the level kingtergarden.the atheist blog; although; preachs the intellectuall culture of high standard; yet; you can see it is real face at site; “Al Kafir Akbhar” where the author claiming to hve found the foolish world of believers {muslim believers} and out of hate and anger shot holy Quran five times andplaced its footage for display.the horor of insane words and teachings of Quran were so visible which were likely to overpower the most acceptable reasoning of philosiphy of athiests and shooting was desired.I am hurt; had it been with other two books; I would have been hurt thrice.A philosiphy which has such impatience to tolerate even unreasonable book{as held by you} shall require lot of time to groom’ at least to behave with tolerance and patience. thanks
August 21, 2008 at 8:39 pm
yunshui
Hi mahmood, I wondered how long it would take you to find your way here. As it happens, Tom and I disagree on a number of things (I take issue with his skepticism over global warming for example), and I found the flag-planting in the Qur’an distasteful – not because of any religious belief, but because I felt it reflected a nationalistic, rather than rationalist, perspective. That said, I still agree with the point I think he was trying to make: that no book or system of thought is deserving of respect simply by virtue of existence.
In any case, if you want to discuss his actions, I recommend you head over to Al-Kafir Akbar and take it up with him! Atheists across the internet have a wide variety of conflicting ideas – our only commonality is our unbelief, so I won’t attempt to mount a defence of someone else’s activities purely on the grounds that they, like me, happen to be sky-fairy deniers.
August 22, 2008 at 4:20 am
mohmood
thanks. there is no question on regretting for my pserson being below the average of athiest intellect.you have forgotten the point that {foolish holy books as held by you} were the source of inspiration for athiests to develop cantra thoughts which rather extended you the identity “being rationale”had there being no such books you were supposed to seach for below average persons and their ideology to counter them.most surprising; part of your high logic is that book which teachs trash desreve no respect and in other words needs shooting.what about groups of persons/class of persons groomed in pursunace of illogical books not derserving respect? then; how to treat them?I avoided to enter into argument with concerned author of the post.for just being muslim which in your inner heart definition means; terrorist; emotional; bigot; and perverse.thanks
August 22, 2008 at 9:11 am
yunshui
If I’ve understood you correctly that’s some pretty hardcore straw-manning you’ve got going on there. Are you suggesting that because I’m an atheist I automatically assume all Muslims are “terrorist; emotional; bigot; and peverse”? I’d be interested to see you point out the post where I said that, ’cause I don’t recall writing it.
The first part of your comment is confusing – are you arguing that atheism exists only because religion exists? If so, I agree with you – as a movement (if we can call it that), atheism is indeed a reaction to religion.
As for “what about groups of persons/class of persons groomed in pursunace of illogical books not derserving respect? then; how to treat them?”, you’re again attacking a straw man. I believe all people are worthy of respect, whether they follow some loopy religion or not, but I reserve the right to disrespect their ideas. That’s how humanity progresses – if we slavishly kowtow to someone’s beliefs just because they believe them, then we are doomed to eternal stagnation.
August 22, 2008 at 10:29 am
mohmood
Dear brother yunshui; you being so knowledgable person ;yet; it looks strange that due to some particular mind set you try to ignore the factum of concepts. there is sharp difference between “disowning” ideology to “disrespecting ideology”while; reverting to disrespect generates the hate which had been cause of trouble throug out history.your athiest blog stress on the dictum”negating the hate”shooting the quran being trash book{per atheists} carries a delicate and outright sura known as sura kafiroon which says “there is no compulsion in Din{religion}and your religion to you and my religion to me”a trash booh dating 1400 hundered years back was moderate to address its opponets; how about present scientific age where the horror of book had been so intense on the Al kafir Akbhar blog author that he opted to shoot it.surprisingly; he had no argument to rebut it.question is how trash and illigoical book created a society in this world ? The bertrand rusell has answer for it .Quote”Mohammedan civilization in its great days was admirable in the arts and many technical ways; but it showed no capacity for independent speculation in theoritical matters. it is importance; which must not be under-rated is a transmitter between ancient and modern European civilization”{ History of western philosiphy pg 390-97}Unquote.one is surprised to find a trash book influencing an impact on a group of people which moulded itself in such a way that base of present knowledge explosion of Europe became its basis.Merely on material perspective of history how that group derserve to be disrespected; because; athiests feel they are bigots{kindly see other blogs of your fraternity}thanks
August 22, 2008 at 11:16 am
yunshui
Again, you seem to be presuming that all atheist bloggers hold the same set of standards and beliefs. We don’t. As a Muslim (I’m extrapolating this assumption from the focus of your comments), do you automatically believe that the terrorists of 9/11 or the July 7th bombings are justified? Do you hold the exact same interpretation of the Qur’an as them? It would surprise me if you did. Why, then, do you insist on tarring all atheists with the same brush – do you believe “in your inner heart” that all of us are arrogant, intellectual, hateful and disrespectful? If you have an issue with what another blogger has written, take it up with them – I don’t know what their thoughts and motivations are.
As to the rest of your post, again, we find ourselves in agreement. The rise of Islam was a huge force for unity in the Arabic world, and was a highly progressive religion compared to many of its contemporaries. But as Bertrand Russell says “Mohammedan civilization in its great days was admirable in the arts and many technical ways”. Those days are long past. As with 21st century American Christians attempting to adhere to the teachings of a first centrury Palestinian, the gulf between what Muhammad preached and our modern world is too great a divide. If you insist on following seventh-century ideas, you cannot expect to be taken seriously after 1400 years of progress (progress which the Islamic world in many ways began).
August 22, 2008 at 2:46 pm
mohmood
thanks. i agree that there is point to disagree.since; you quoted athiest class a movement against religion; I have reason to find your feternety; who are rationale commited to your conviction even while asserting quite abusive stand taken by Kafir Girl,those who are rationale can;t disown rationale of others.well; 9/11 or london bombing is serious human tragedy motivated on political grounds.united states has delusion to qualify the merit and demerit of his friends and foes. Sadam was his long stood friend who automatically turned its foe which historical reason for such change american history has to explain. similarily; terrorists at afgan were previousely mujahideen owned by united states to repulse the soviet occupation; later on they were held terrorists.please; mistake me not to clear their stands; nor; any of their act working perverse to quranic dictum could gain any religious approval for them.in the preceeding century hitler is worst example of terror but not any way linked to christain ideology or its teaching.if we could mutually feel patient I can to my best ability show you that the grounds of disagreement taken by you on islamic teaching are differently understood by you; which; shall never mean or infer that you may not have other grounds to differ being your complete intellctuall option or liberty.thanks
December 2, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Lorena
Nice meeting you, Yunshui. I wish I were as brave as you to disclose my identity. But I suppose that, like you, anybody who reads my 3 whole years of blogging would have a complete picture of who I am. And if anybody who knows me happens by the blog, they would probably guess who I am. Unfortunately, there aren’t many opinionated, ex-Christian Latin American females who live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
But the chances of such a familiar happening by my blog are so low that I prefer to keep my assumed name.
As for your life and personality, I do envy your bookshop job. I often wish I had the guts to apply for one. Maybe I will one day.
December 3, 2008 at 3:12 pm
yunshui
It’s not all shits and giggles in the bookselling world, believe me. Unless you’re lucky enough to work for a small indy retailer, it’s just like working in a supermarket, only with books instead of beans and milk.
Now a library job, that’s the Holy Grail for bibliophiles…
March 2, 2009 at 4:31 pm
The Ridger
“Do you have that book, I think it was in the back half of the store and it was blue? Or green, maybe?”
Ah, the memories…
April 1, 2009 at 8:49 pm
wolfshowl
Hey thanks for the blogroll add!
April 18, 2009 at 9:26 am
gypsycrack
Kind sir, don’t you mean unsui? It is a Zen term. Yes, it does mean “cloud, water–to drift like clouds, and float like water.”
April 18, 2009 at 10:01 am
yunshui
It is indeed – but I’m using the Chinese transliteration (same characters as the Japanese “unsui”, though), which is the Taoist term for the same thing.
June 24, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Joules
Greetings!
Just found your blog today – actually, found it and spent the next hour reading back through entries before I suddenly realised I’d better stop reading and make dinner as sprog was on his way home from school…
We’re in South Briz too – Brislington. (The blog is really just a family journal type of thing, although the whole family is atheist, although I probably come down more heavily as a quiet anti-theist.) Will be checking back often!