America the Ignorant - DPChallenge Forums

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

09/23/2010 07:01:19 PM · #401

Originally posted by K10DGuy:

Holy crap, is this actually bordering on emotional!? From Dr. Robot!?

Does...not...compute.

I get kinda a kick out of this, because don't more people complain that I start making personal snipes when I get all hot and bothered? You always think I'm some robot.

Message edited by author 2010-09-23 19:03:25.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/23/2010 08:01:55 PM · #402

Originally posted by K10DGuy:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Give me some credit guys. Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist. I'm more than willing to listen to him when he speaks on his area of expertise. He is not a philosopher or theology major. He isn't worth listening to then.

Get a grip Rich. I'm a bit offended by your reply. Of course you are also saying that Dawkins is the devil, which I don't mind you pointing out. But since you guys seem to like the Devil, I thought I'd quote him some. :P

I could quote Edward Wilson instead if you want:

"Let me grant at once that the form and intensity of altrustic acts are to a large extent culturally determined. Human social evolution is obviously more cultural than genetic."

Holy crap, is this actually bordering on emotional!? From Dr. Robot!?

He could be using the new iEmote chip that just came out. I hear it comes with a fully functioning tear dispensing program, but unfortunately still no empathy plugin.

Message edited by author 2010-09-23 20:03:13.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/23/2010 08:34:51 PM · #403

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Give me some credit guys. Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist. I'm more than willing to listen to him when he speaks on his area of expertise. He is not a philosopher or theology major. He isn't worth listening to then.

So, you're an allergist, meaning we shouldn't listen to your opinions on areas of science having nothing to do with that very specific area of medicine. Seems to me you're always using your credentials to remind us of your "scientific" expertise. Or perhaps you mean to say that your opinions on theology and philosophy are likewise worthless?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/23/2010 08:38:59 PM · #404

Louis, Jason's giving personal opinions. We're ALL giving personal opinions. The objection is to Dawkins being cited as an *authority* on philosophical or theological issues, because he's not. In those areas, he's a man with an opinion, like the rest of us. In matters of evolutionary biology, on the other hand, Dawkins is an honest-to-Pete authority.

R.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/23/2010 08:39:48 PM · #405

How's about we let him answer for a change, Robert?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/23/2010 08:42:11 PM · #406

Originally posted by Louis:

How's about we let him answer for a change, Robert?

Aw. c'mon Louis. "For a change"? He does plenty of answering. Any reason why I can't wade in, just like the rest of y'all do, when i see someone saying something I think is just plain wrong?

You can do better than that.

R.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/23/2010 08:46:35 PM · #407

Stop admonishing. Or at least rephrase so that it doesn't look like you're admonishing. Though I don't mind a bona fide thrashing on point, a finger wag is intolerable.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

09/23/2010 08:52:34 PM · #408

I'll just keep wagging the finger, Louis; it's all the energy your BS deserves.

R.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

09/23/2010 08:55:14 PM · #409

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Authority? I was thinking more like Jason's obsession. Every time I see Dawkins name in these threads it's in Jason's posts.

09/23/2010 08:58:58 PM · #410

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

I'll just keep wagging the finger, Louis; it's all the energy your BS deserves.

Classy.

09/23/2010 09:04:36 PM · #411

Originally posted by Louis:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
Give me some credit guys. Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist. I'm more than willing to listen to him when he speaks on his area of expertise. He is not a philosopher or theology major. He isn't worth listening to then.

So, you're an allergist, meaning we shouldn't listen to your opinions on areas of science having nothing to do with that very specific area of medicine. Seems to me you're always using your credentials to remind us of your "scientific" expertise. Or perhaps you mean to say that your opinions on theology and philosophy are likewise worthless?

We all bring a varied expertise to the table. I do have my expertise and it goes beyond specialization but can extend into general science. So, at time, I AM an expert. However, like Bear said, these conversations are usually just a bunch of people talking, which is fine. I'm not expecting people to just take my position on my authority and I certainly haven't written any books about anything...

But my quoting Dawkins is quite reasonable even though I have disparaged him on other fronts for two reasons:

1) I'm quoting him where he has expertise. Put it this way, if we shouldn't pay attention to him when he talks about evolution, we certainly shouldn't pay attention to him when he talks about other things.

2) In a debate it's plenty reasonable to quote a source your opponent seems to respect even if you do not yourself. Why not allow your opponent's allies to correct him? Perhaps it will carry more weight.

09/23/2010 09:08:06 PM · #412

So we should ignore Dawkins when he puts forward an opinion that is not in his area of educated expertise, specifically philosophy, but we should not ignore you when you do the same? Just asking, because it seems to me that you have described his opinion as worthless when he does exactly as you have done.

Message edited by author 2010-09-23 21:08:32.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/23/2010 09:08:56 PM · #413

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I'm quoting him where he has expertise. Put it this way, if we shouldn't pay attention to him when he talks about evolution, we certainly shouldn't pay attention to him when he talks about other things.

Why do you quote the Bible on matters of cosmology, biology, sociology, geology, etc. when it's really only an authority on theology?

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

09/23/2010 09:10:49 PM · #414

Anyone gone to the bar lately and just had a beer?

Beer Stop

09/23/2010 09:41:00 PM · #415

Originally posted by Louis:

Perhaps I was strong when I used the word "ignore". Does that make peace? When Dawkins doesn't talk about evolution he is just another voice like you or me.

09/23/2010 09:41:27 PM · #416

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I'm quoting him where he has expertise. Put it this way, if we shouldn't pay attention to him when he talks about evolution, we certainly shouldn't pay attention to him when he talks about other things.

Why do you quote the Bible on matters of cosmology, biology, sociology, geology, etc. when it's really only an authority on theology?

Can you give me an example? I don't think I'm guilty of any of this.

09/23/2010 09:52:12 PM · #417

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

When Dawkins doesn't talk about evolution he is just another voice like you or me.

The difference being that the evolutionary biologist in him informs his perception of human behaviour. Read one of his books. His theories of altruism are informed by his knowledge of evolution.

09/23/2010 10:22:13 PM · #418

Originally posted by Louis:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
When Dawkins doesn't talk about evolution he is just another voice like you or me.

The difference being that the evolutionary biologist in him informs his perception of human behaviour. Read one of his books. His theories of altruism are informed by his knowledge of evolution.

Well, of course. Didn't I just quote him talking about altruism? He wrote a whole book about it.

The God Delusion is an example where I think he is just another voice in the rabble.

09/23/2010 10:29:50 PM · #419

Erm, in the God Delusion, he discusses his theory of altruism.

09/23/2010 10:36:07 PM · #420

Originally posted by Louis:

Erm, in the God Delusion, he discusses his theory of altruism.

Erm, for one chapter...

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

09/24/2010 12:16:33 AM · #421

One in five Americans truly believe the sun revolves around the earth? Seriously?? That's disturbingly sad when think about it. No wonder we're losing our grip on reality, other than reality TV of course.

One in five??

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/24/2010 12:47:28 AM · #422

Originally posted by Melethia:

Only 69% of American women know that America's freedom was won from England.

(Looks suspiciously at Deb)

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

09/24/2010 12:51:36 AM · #423

What? You mean not from the Brits???

To be honest, though, I didn't know that the 4th of July was the day the Declaration of Independence was approved, not signed. So why don't we offer fireworks on August 2nd? Hmm?

I wonder how many people think it was the day the film "Independence Day" was released. :-) Reminds of being in a theater for Apollo 13 with people who truly didn't know if they made it back or not...

Message edited by author 2010-09-24 00:57:52.

09/24/2010 03:12:58 PM · #424

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Originally posted by Louis:
Erm, in the God Delusion, he discusses his theory of altruism.

Erm, for one chapter...

Ah, okay. Which chapter of "Mere Christianity" can we disregard as "just another voice in the rabble"?