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RE: The simple truth
February 18, 2014 at 1:11 pm
(February 18, 2014 at 10:58 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: To take the matter at hand, the "people evolved from monkeys" thing. That's a nonsense spread by the uneducated to ridicule a model they don't understand. I'd like to see people question that. However if the explanation is pre or suffixed by "you fucking moron" (or variation) the explanation is more likely to be shrugged off as Atheists being hateful.
That's actually why I started out more "disappointed, but attempting to be reasonable," this time around; though the conduct is shameful, one has to allow for the possibility that this person just hasn't ever been exposed to correct information about evolution before. So I tried pointing out how continuing to use misrepresentations is lying by omission, and I linked to some references the guy could use to learn first.
He has, clearly, not done so, and has in fact repeated the same incorrect assertions again. I still corrected him, but we're now beyond the point where we can use honest ignorance as an excuse, and I don't think lies need to be treated gently.
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The simple truth
February 18, 2014 at 1:19 pm
(February 18, 2014 at 1:11 pm)Esquilax Wrote: (February 18, 2014 at 10:58 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: To take the matter at hand, the "people evolved from monkeys" thing. That's a nonsense spread by the uneducated to ridicule a model they don't understand. I'd like to see people question that. However if the explanation is pre or suffixed by "you fucking moron" (or variation) the explanation is more likely to be shrugged off as Atheists being hateful.
That's actually why I started out more "disappointed, but attempting to be reasonable," this time around; though the conduct is shameful, one has to allow for the possibility that this person just hasn't ever been exposed to correct information about evolution before. So I tried pointing out how continuing to use misrepresentations is lying by omission, and I linked to some references the guy could use to learn first.
He has, clearly, not done so, and has in fact repeated the same incorrect assertions again. I still corrected him, but we're now beyond the point where we can use honest ignorance as an excuse, and I don't think lies need to be treated gently.
Especially in instances where it's perfectly clear the poster will multi-quote and respond to every point except the correction, and conclude "so as you can see, your claim we evolved from monkeys is wrong".
They didn't read the objection, they're not interested in any. Their mind is already made up.
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RE: The simple truth
February 18, 2014 at 2:09 pm
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RE: The simple truth
February 18, 2014 at 2:55 pm
(February 18, 2014 at 11:00 am)fr0d0 Wrote: Those Christian forums have the better idea. Just block and ban rather than insult etc. To atheist forums it seems a major part of why they exist. Either that or people genuinely believe there's the chance someone will pop up with the answer.
Maybe it seems that way in practise, however in principle the raison d'être for this forum, at least, is outlined in the rules:
Quote:The Purpose of Atheist Forums
These forums were created for the purpose of providing friendly discussion and debate between atheists and other like-minded individuals, as well as theists. Theists are more than welcome to join and enter into discussion but please bear in mind the nature of this community and take a few moments to read the 'Important Information for Theists' thread before contributing.
We believe in freedom of speech / expression, which means you can discuss your ideas without fear of censorship or limitation, provided you are not breaking the rules & guidelines below. In the interests of communication, we ask that you do not diverge from definitions of words that are found in the dictionary(s), unless a thread's specific purpose is to discuss various alternative definitions.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: The simple truth
February 18, 2014 at 2:59 pm
(February 18, 2014 at 1:11 pm)Esquilax Wrote: (February 18, 2014 at 10:58 am)Jacob(smooth) Wrote: To take the matter at hand, the "people evolved from monkeys" thing. That's a nonsense spread by the uneducated to ridicule a model they don't understand. I'd like to see people question that. However if the explanation is pre or suffixed by "you fucking moron" (or variation) the explanation is more likely to be shrugged off as Atheists being hateful.
That's actually why I started out more "disappointed, but attempting to be reasonable," this time around; though the conduct is shameful, one has to allow for the possibility that this person just hasn't ever been exposed to correct information about evolution before. So I tried pointing out how continuing to use misrepresentations is lying by omission, and I linked to some references the guy could use to learn first.
He has, clearly, not done so, and has in fact repeated the same incorrect assertions again. I still corrected him, but we're now beyond the point where we can use honest ignorance as an excuse, and I don't think lies need to be treated gently.
There is, of course, a time and a place for everything...
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken."
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RE: The simple truth
February 18, 2014 at 4:12 pm
(February 17, 2014 at 11:00 pm)Revelation777 Wrote: Reptiles evolved into birds, really? Based on what? If so why did some evolve and some didn't? Wouldn't of all reptiles of ceased to exist and there be just more birds? Who decides they stay a lizard and another will be a bird?
OMFG! I can't believe someone actually dragged out the old "Why are there still monkeys?" bullshit.
Save a life. Adopt a greyhound.
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The simple truth
February 18, 2014 at 4:17 pm
(February 18, 2014 at 4:12 pm)popeyespappy Wrote: (February 17, 2014 at 11:00 pm)Revelation777 Wrote: Reptiles evolved into birds, really? Based on what? If so why did some evolve and some didn't? Wouldn't of all reptiles of ceased to exist and there be just more birds? Who decides they stay a lizard and another will be a bird?
OMFG! I can't believe someone actually dragged out the old "Why are there still monkeys?" bullshit.
He's done it multiple times, despite being provided an explanation.
He ignores the explanation, and re-states it: this time with "wouldn't of".
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RE: The simple truth
February 18, 2014 at 4:18 pm
(February 18, 2014 at 4:12 pm)popeyespappy Wrote: (February 17, 2014 at 11:00 pm)Revelation777 Wrote: Reptiles evolved into birds, really? Based on what? If so why did some evolve and some didn't? Wouldn't of all reptiles of ceased to exist and there be just more birds? Who decides they stay a lizard and another will be a bird?
OMFG! I can't believe someone actually dragged out the old "Why are there still monkeys?" bullshit.
Because creationists are like parrots. They just repeat the arguments they've heard numerous times. Though some think they're clever by changing the argument a litte, as in this case, from monkeys to reptiles.
Playing Cluedo with my mum while I was at Uni:
"You did WHAT? With WHO? WHERE???"
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RE: The simple truth
February 18, 2014 at 4:29 pm
Exactly. That makes it one we've never heard before. Right?
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: The simple truth
February 18, 2014 at 4:37 pm
It does highlight the total disconnect that some theists have when it comes to evolution. They believe that evolution refers to a complete genetic overhaul that creates a whole new species in a single generation by "chance." Because something like this is so unlikely as to be impossible, scientists therefore disingenuously cover themselves by calling it a "theory." When you consider it from that perspective, it becomes obvious that "science" is lying, and the only possible explanation is that they seek to lead people away from god.
They reject the actual understanding of evolution because to do so means that they've been lied to, and god wouldn't let that happen to them... would he?
"Well, evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts don't go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's in this century, but apples didn't suspend themselves in midair, pending the outcome. And humans evolved from ape- like ancestors whether they did so by Darwin's proposed mechanism or by some other yet to be discovered."
-Stephen Jay Gould
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