Brian Sapient is a machine.
When I walked into the RRS compound there was Brian, at his computer, working away. I’ve been here for 2 days now, and he hasn’t slowed down one bit. If he isn’t uploading videos, he’s checking stats on ads, checking his websites, or talking with other activists via skype or the phone. Oh, and did I mention he’s got a cold ?
Fortunately, Brian has two people that help him pick up the slack. Rook and Kelly.
The only other time I’ve ever seen people sitting at a big table with computers surrounding it, is at a lan party. However with these three, the party will be when theism has been ended. While Brian uploads and checks, Rook is surrounded by stacks of books reaching as high as his computer monitor. Toiling away at the book he is trying to write, or an article he’s responding to, Rook studies and reads and writes. Meanwhile, Kelly is busy checking up on emails and forwarding them to relevant parties. Later, she’ll spend a few hours fixing a sound driver problem that is preventing them from recording live calls.
Together the three of them work hard at accomplishing their goals.
” I don’t want people to think that their donations to us aren’t being put to good work. ” Brian tells me as we chat alone in his bedroom, sitting at a table with a laptop on it from which Brian is showing me statistics relating to incoming links to the RRS website. ” I take all of this very seriously. ” he says as he lights a cigarette in order to take what he considers a break. ” People trust us to work hard and to do what we do best, and I don’t want to let them down. “. The truth of what he’s telling me is all around. Book shelves and tables filled with different books on atheism and evolution, boxes of t-shirts proclaiming the pride of the RRS, mail and computer wires overlap each other on the giant 10ft by 10 ft table from which they do the majority of their work on the computer. The entire house is a testament to their efforts. Their kitchen itself is filled with microwavable foods, snacks, and other foods which take little or no preparation to make. They don’t want to waste any time.
” Sometimes I worry that Brian will burn himself out. ” Kelly tells me, ” He’s very driven and takes pride in that fact. Sometimes though, he needs to take a break and relax.” Later I echo Kelley’s concern to Brian. ” She’s probably right. ” he tells me, ” but I think I can handle it. I’ve just got a lot of work to do if the RRS is going to remain relevant and succeed at it’s goals. “.
Brian admits that a large part of his success with the RRS is due to the donations he gets from the thousands of people who log in every day to http://www.rationalresponders.com . ” If we didn’t have the people out there who are willing to keep us afloat, none of this would be possible.” Brian doesn’t see the money as a means to goof off and do nothing. He see’s it as an important trust between himself and those who are willing to give him their hard earned money. ” I don’t want to blow this. I want to continue making this something worthwhile so that people can see their money being put to good use. “. His biggest fear right now ? ” I know I haven’t been focusing lately on the shows that we produce, and I’m afraid that people who were tunning into them will wonder where we are and assume that we aren’t working. We are, and we’re trying to do the best we can.”
Indeed they are. There’s no way you can walk into this house and deny that.
