All Replies on Evolution...Open to anyone with an opinion.

DKV,

How does your “invitation” for a discussion of creationism vs. evolution and the science/religion conflict debate NOT violate the new ban on religion and politics? It’s one thing to discuss the scientific method, theories or developments in science more generally. It’s quite another to invite discussion about science and religious belief and their supposed compatibility or incompatibility. The latter is not a scientific discussion.

There are a buttload of other sites dedicated to these type of discussions. Given LJ’s new rules and the reasons for implementing them, I just don’t see how such a discussion fits. What’s the point in pushing the boundaries here?

Pierce, ordinarily I would not answer questions from the website police without first asking to see their badge. But (edit) I will deign to answer you with this question. Where did you get the idea and then jump to the conclusion that I want to “discuss creationism vs evolution”, given that in post 101 the words were never written?

I am merely seeking more opinions on the subject of evolution and don’t want religion to keep anyone from contributing. After all, most christians do believe in the theory of evolution and have valuable insight to add to the thread. I can assure you that the first post that seems to be leading towards an “us vs them” discussion will be flagged and the police called. With any luck you will be the responding officer and can then interrogate to your hearts’ content.

Sorry if post 101 mislead you.

Definition:
Self-righteousness –  (also called sanctimoniousness, sententiousness, a holier-than-thou attitudes¹) is a feeling of (usually) smug moral superiority² derived from a sense that one’s beliefs, actions, or affiliations are of greater virtue than those of the average person.

-- I would drink a river of the kool aid before I took the smallest sip of the tea...

I took the pew quiz. Demographically, I do not fit in any category, got ‘em all right; therefore, I must be 10 years old again. ;-)

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

Just so you can say you got one more LJ member to post their opinion here on Evolution let me just say and only say this about that…evolution is real and I am the physical proof as I have evolved above and beyond everything, including this discussion as of now. See you when you get here.

-- ~Just A Guy With A Hammer~

I didn’t evolve from an ape; I am one.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

”ordinarily I would not answer questions from…”

Since when?

You need to work on your slight of hand a bit more. It’s not all that convincing.

Cheers

The mathematical probabity of evolution for all things on the planet is about the same as winning the state lottery 10,000 times straight in a row.

~Never Under Estimate the Stupidity of the General Public~

DKV, let me state up front that none of your posts have personally offended me in any way. In fact, I find myself pretty much in agreement with most , if not all, of the views you have expressed.

Having said that, pretty much every post you make seems like a calculated effort to pick a net-fight with anyone who might disagree with you. If that’s how you like to entertain yourself, this new no-politics-or-religious-discussion policy enforcement is going necessitate your becoming much more creative in your pot-stirring efforts.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Pierce and Charlie, I guess being totally open and honest in a parnoid and suspicious world takes everyone by surprise. Based on the history of nonshop posters I can kind of see your point.

-- I would drink a river of the kool aid before I took the smallest sip of the tea...

Most folks that have never studied anything about evolution but think they understand how it works are more than likely wrong. A lot think that species evolve when conditions change. It is just the opposite. Read the explanation below and then tell me what you think.

Evolution does not “plan” to improve an organism’s fitness to survive.[191][192] For example, an incorrect way to describe giraffe evolution is to say that giraffe necks grew longer over time because they needed to reach tall trees. Evolution doesn’t see a need and respond, it is instead a goalless process. A mutation resulting in longer necks would be more likely to benefit an animal in an area with tall trees than an area with short trees, and thus enhance the chance of the animal surviving to pass on its longer-necked genes.

Tall trees could not cause the mutation nor would they cause a higher percentage of animals to be born with longer necks.[193] In the giraffe example, the evolution of a long neck may equally well have been driven by sexual selection, proposing that the long necks evolved as a secondary sexual characteristic, giving males an advantage in “necking” contests over females.[

-- I would drink a river of the kool aid before I took the smallest sip of the tea...

Good, we’re back on topic ;-)

What you describe is a classical Lamarckian theory of evolutionary inheritance. It was discarded in favor Darwinian and Mendelian “models” long ago. However, recent research (relatively speaking) is suggesting that Lamarckian inheritance may not be so far off the mark.

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/411880/a-comeback-for-lamarckian-evolution/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090518111723.htm

PineChopper: can you explain your statement? Thanks.

Not to put words in his/her mouth, but arguments like Pinechopper’s usually arise from those who believe all evolution is random chance (old argument that evolution is like a tornado going through a junk yard and ‘randomly’ assembling a 747). It’s a gross mischaracterization of the theory.

Interesting articles on Lamarckian inheritance; it will be interesting to see where the research goes with that. I expect it to be a minor effect, if it turns out to be real, or it probably would have been noticed before, but who knows.

-- John