Why intelligent design "proofs" are pointless

[Clueless Morgan]

But, sadly, those who advocate for ID don't realize how vacuous and lazy a position it actually is.

They may realize it and not care. I get the impression that ID wants to appear as if it is straddling a line between science and mysticism. It identifies what it sees as weak points in the theory of evolution and demands that those be explained satisfactorily. As long as they can keep coming up with proposed weak points, they can keep the con alive. There is no attempt at "defending" ID, since that might lead towards a religious discussion, and they want to avoid that because it could very well kill the whole idea of teaching ID in schools.

I'm willing to bet that upwards of 75% of the people who accept ID have no idea how lazy a position it is.

I'm not sure professional ID advocates (e.g. Michael Behe) think ID is a lazy position. And I'm not sure laymen realize how lazy a position ID is because professional ID advocates try to cultivate the image that they're doing lots of hard work.

(The other 25% would be made up of those who, as you say, may realize it and not care, and those who realize it, care, but have some agenda to push regardless, and all other options...)

Creationist are not as stupid as we would like them to be. They are using ID, not to prove a specific gawd, but to attempt to wedge the idea of a gawd into science. Then they attempt to use other arguments to suport the idea that their particular gawd is that desigher.

I don't think creationists or ID advocates are stupid, but I think do think that they use suspicious tactics to gain traction in much the same way a car salesman will give you the hard sell in order for you to not go home and research the clunker he's trying to sell you.

Not a particularly good way to sway people who have at least a basic understanding of science, but effective with the ignorant.

I know a gal that I would classify as having a basic-to-good understanding of science, but I know that she accepts ID, and that she doesn't accept evolution. Not even theistic evolution.

Having a basic understanding of science can mean nothing if you've got your god goggles on and properly calibrated.