I had to start teaching evolution today...

[tnf]

Nothing more depressing than seeing the fact that almost 50% or more of your students come in to the class completely opposed to the idea - and completely closed to listening to the MOUNTAINS of evidence supporting it.

I guess it took awhile for the Copernican revolution to really take hold...so hopefully one day, one gloriously fine day, I will be able to use the "E" word without invoking the rage of parents and students alike...

I made a big distinction between "grown up science" vs. "intelligent design" (which I called the strategy of intelletual surrender) and "creation science" (which I called an oxymoron).

But I did make a dent, I think...most of the kids had no idea that the Church had such a history of stifling intellectual progress...some were a bit surprised to hear the stories of Galileo and Copernicus - things like believing Galileo's telescope was possessed by the devil because it showed craters on the moon.

Anyway, the little red light on my office phone will probably be flashing tomorrow morning when I come in from angry parents. Oh well.

[^misantropia^]

Where do you live, tnf? This doesn't sound like contemporary Europe to me.

[losCHUNK]

wtf students actually bitch about shit like that ?

thats quite unbelievable

[Oblivi0.on]

hahaha, not really. the girlfriend doesnt believe evolution at all. she despises it.

fucking christians.

[4g3nt_Smith]

This is the same country where my fellow classmates wore "Save a deer, kill a queer" t-shirts yesterday, on the Nat'l day of Silence to protest ridicule for being homoesexual.

[sys0p]

I always thought, if evolution is a fact, how come there aren't loads of half evolved things running around? Does it not work like that?

[blood.angel]

Ask them if they believe in computers or televisions.
When they obviously say yes, say that half the components are made based on principles of quantum theory.
Then ask them how much they know of quantum theory.
Then when they obviously say 'duh' say that if an everyday appliance is based on such exotic out side the box thinking, what exactly is the problem of a simple elegant but yet verifyable one such as evoultionary theory.

[Oblivi0.on]

I always thought, if evolution is a fact, how come there aren't loads of half evolved things running around? Does it not work like that?

flamingtp's brother comes to mind....

[losCHUNK]

its not that i believe it, well i aint given it any thought, this is how much i care probaly

...

^^ that much

i just cant believe someone would be so bitchy because it goes against what the bible says... and i went to a roman catholic school

[HM-PuFFNSTuFF]

sounds like you approached the subject in a very thoughtful way.

nice one

[Massive Quasars]

tnf, you're a hero. You're on the frontlines trying to educate the next generation, and for that you've more than earned my respect.

Have you decided whether to get your PhD or continue teaching?

[blood.angel]

And for on the record: lol dumb yanks.

[^misantropia^]

I always thought, if evolution is a fact, how come there aren't loads of half evolved things running around? Does it not work like that?

No, because evolution goes in slooow, small steps. Mutation could happen before your nose and you wouldn't notice it because there isn't just enough visual difference (excluding Tjernobyl-babies).

[tnf]

I always thought, if evolution is a fact, how come there aren't loads of half evolved things running around? Does it not work like that?

No, and there are, in one sense...

But we aren't necessarily selecting for 'intermediates' - once reproductive isolation takes place, changes will continue to accrue...you won't just stop at a 'half-evolved' thing...

It's not 'directional' either.

[sys0p]

I always thought, if evolution is a fact, how come there aren't loads of half evolved things running around? Does it not work like that?

No, because evolution goes in slooow, small steps. Mutation could happen before your nose and you wouldn't notice it because there isn't just enough visual difference (excluding Tjernobyl-babies).

Even more reason for their to be a bunch of half evolved things running about. Like elephants with wings and giraffes that live in trees.

[losCHUNK]

just noticed your post said 50% of your students

american by any chance ?

[Oblivi0.on]

yes hes american.

[tnf]

Ask them if they believe in computers or televisions.
When they obviously say yes, say that half the components are made based on principles of quantum theory.
Then ask them how much they know of quantum theory.
Then when they obviously say 'duh' say that if an everyday appliance is based on such exotic out side the box thinking, what exactly is the problem of a simple elegant but yet verifyable one such as evoultionary theory.

I always ask them if they realize that the two primary theories that govern physics are mutually exclusive (quantum vs. relativity). If they are big 'creation science' types, I always follow up with a question as to why they aren't trying to solve that problem with their faith also...

[tnf]

I always thought, if evolution is a fact, how come there aren't loads of half evolved things running around? Does it not work like that?

No, because evolution goes in slooow, small steps. Mutation could happen before your nose and you wouldn't notice it because there isn't just enough visual difference (excluding Tjernobyl-babies).

Even more reason for their to be a bunch of half evolved things running about. Like elephants with wings and giraffes that live in trees.

Not exactly...

[sys0p]

No, and there are, in one sense...

But we aren't necessarily selecting for 'intermediates' - once reproductive isolation takes place, changes will continue to accrue...you won't just stop at a 'half-evolved' thing...

It's not 'directional' either.

Ok, that makes sense.

[Guest]

Damn... that's pretty sad when half your students are retards.

[Massive Quasars]

And for on the record: lol dumb yanks.

token

[^misantropia^]

I always thought, if evolution is a fact, how come there aren't loads of half evolved things running around? Does it not work like that?

No, because evolution goes in slooow, small steps. Mutation could happen before your nose and you wouldn't notice it because there isn't just enough visual difference (excluding Tjernobyl-babies).

Even more reason for their to be a bunch of half evolved things running about. Like elephants with wings and giraffes that live in trees.

Most changes will be internal and rather miniscule. An an aside, the strain that wings big and strong enough to lift up an elephant would impose, would rip the poor animal apart.

[blood.angel]

I read that theres a moth species in Britain that was proof of evolution as it evolved over 250-300 years from a white moth to a dark brown one.
Reason being that the inustrial revolution came along and all the soot from factories coated trees and buildings making them darker. The white ones were spotted easier and therefore eaten more. The ones that had randomly generated darker colors survived more, and over the time they turned to brown.

[-Replicant-]

true BA. same with Darwin's birds that he studied