Greatest living orator
- Thread starter TheLodger
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jonny_greenings_sock
Well-known member
Overrated - and outdated - skill in my opinion, relic of the 19th century and self congratulatory Eton debating societies.
No one changes their mind after listening to an argument anymore. Views are too entrenched and information about everything is widely available. You don’t need to artfully present it using Greek oratory. I think politics - and the world in general - would be a much better place if people just shut the **** up and got straight to the point. The House of Commons, for example, is 99% self indulgence. And this comment is already too long
Saying that, your choices are very good. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up a few times listening to Obama, he was a transcendental speaker.
No one changes their mind after listening to an argument anymore. Views are too entrenched and information about everything is widely available. You don’t need to artfully present it using Greek oratory. I think politics - and the world in general - would be a much better place if people just shut the **** up and got straight to the point. The House of Commons, for example, is 99% self indulgence. And this comment is already too long
Saying that, your choices are very good. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up a few times listening to Obama, he was a transcendental speaker.
ThePrisoner
Well-known member
To the best of my knowledge Brian Blessed is still alive.
jeff_potato
Well-known member
I'm not sure that oratory is as potent in an age of soundbites and focus group honed media lines.
But I do think that anyone with the rich timbre and delivery of Roger Allam would find it much easier to sway voters to their way of thinking.
But I do think that anyone with the rich timbre and delivery of Roger Allam would find it much easier to sway voters to their way of thinking.
Ingleby_Flash
Well-known member
I saw Arthur Scargill speak at the Durham miners gala in 1983, the year before the strikes. He was brilliant, made the most outrageous claims about how many pits the Tories would close and how they’d ‘run’ the economy. Over the next couple of years a most of what he predicted came true and for a while he appeared to be a disciple…….. until he turned into an ârsē. Kinnock had just become leader of the Labour party and had crashed his car on the M1 the day before (he drove like a maniac) he spoke brilliantly too. Kinnock and Scargill hated each other, Kinnock turned out to be right, in the long run, imho.
jonny_greenings_sock
Well-known member
In a dark way it makes me wish I could understand German. My German friends say that Hitler’s speeches are largely nonsensical and it’s often said that they can’t be translated, and don’t work in the written word. But surely no one in human history has achieved such terrible, hypnotic things through the sheer power of oratory. It would be fascinating to hear one.
Interesting that at the same time you have Churchill, an absolute giant of oratory, FDR who was great with words, but Stalin who was apparently awkward and uninspiring as a speaker.
Interesting that at the same time you have Churchill, an absolute giant of oratory, FDR who was great with words, but Stalin who was apparently awkward and uninspiring as a speaker.
Ingleby_Flash
Well-known member
To the best of my knowledge Hitler isn’t a living orator though, pretty sure he’s dead
He has been reincarnated as Suella BravermanTo the best of my knowledge Hitler isn’t a living orator though, pretty sure he’s dead
Ingleby_Flash
Well-known member
I think given the opportunity she could be more evil
Johnny Vincents Motorbike
Well-known member
its one of the greatest gifts of man - its not about winning arguments, its about talking with a soul, moving you to laughter, tears, thought and self assessment.
should you have asked this question before February of this year i would have Zia Mohyeddin - an absolute master.
of the political americans that are still with us, Jesse Jackson has always been worth listening to - its no act with him, its from the school of dead hard knocks - it becomes very powerful.
gas bags like farage, kinnock, de pfeffel, etc are best ignored, politicians such as Starmer & Corbyn, Major & Truss, are just not very good at speaking to crowds.
hitler spoke codswallop and all that shoutin and arm movements is quite tedious - history says that Trotsky was a mesmerising speaker
whilst actors are just that - an Act .
the rules for public speaking are; know your stuff - know who your stuffing - and stop when they are stuffed.
should you have asked this question before February of this year i would have Zia Mohyeddin - an absolute master.
of the political americans that are still with us, Jesse Jackson has always been worth listening to - its no act with him, its from the school of dead hard knocks - it becomes very powerful.
gas bags like farage, kinnock, de pfeffel, etc are best ignored, politicians such as Starmer & Corbyn, Major & Truss, are just not very good at speaking to crowds.
hitler spoke codswallop and all that shoutin and arm movements is quite tedious - history says that Trotsky was a mesmerising speaker
whilst actors are just that - an Act .
the rules for public speaking are; know your stuff - know who your stuffing - and stop when they are stuffed.
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red_clowne
Well-known member
I must give a huge shout out for Dennis Skinner.
In the 1980's, particularly during the Miners' Strike, he would easily outshine Scargill at the rallies that I attended.
He was the most motivational politician of the time, without doubt.
His health is not what it was, he used to cycle around his constituency in the 70's and 80's - he never drove, but he is still with us.
In the 1980's, particularly during the Miners' Strike, he would easily outshine Scargill at the rallies that I attended.
He was the most motivational politician of the time, without doubt.
His health is not what it was, he used to cycle around his constituency in the 70's and 80's - he never drove, but he is still with us.
TheLodger
Well-known member
I agree, to be a truly great orator, you really do have to believe what you say.
Zoophonic
Well-known member
Absolutely spot on. Used to go out of my way to see him speak at Glastonbury and boy can he hold an audience.
BlindBoyGrunt
Well-known member
I have always believed that powerful discourse could influence people but now, having read your post, I must say I totally agree. No argument, no matter how well framed, has the power to change minds.Overrated - and outdated - skill in my opinion, relic of the 19th century and self congratulatory Eton debating societies.
No one changes their mind after listening to an argument anymore. Views are too entrenched and information about everything is widely available. You don’t need to artfully present it using Greek oratory. I think politics - and the world in general - would be a much better place if people just shut the **** up and got straight to the point. The House of Commons, for example, is 99% self indulgence. And this comment is already too long
Saying that, your choices are very good. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up a few times listening to Obama, he was a transcendental speaker.
Zoophonic
Well-known member
Shakespeare would disagree when he wrote Julius Caesar.
coluka
Well-known member
It is all incredibly subjective topic and people will generally align to their view of the person and the content of their speech. I always thought Bernie Sanders was particularly passionate about in his speeches on important areas such as financial inequality and healthcare. I have said on another thread I thought it a joy to listen to the late great Brian Clough but I doubt he’d make the list of many were he still alive.