Evolution question...

[and-justice-for-all]

I have a friend who likes to argue, sort of. He knows I am an Atheist and a Darwinist; a few days ago he said that 'Evolution was proven false 20 years ago." Well, of course that is bullshit but I want to know what he is referring to? so I can through it back in his face.

Evolution, is, based on its mountains empirical evidence, a fact.

[Random_Australian]

1. I doubt anyone will be able to pick it.

Creationists have been known to say things like "it was a viable theory before the existence of DNA disproved it"

In other words, they make up random shit all the time. A *lot* of it.

Try and get him to quote his evidence and why, otherwise you'll get nowhere.

[and-justice-for-all]

2. Ok, thanks..I will do that..nt

[TZ]

12. R_A's right. Creationists just make up stuff

I used to work with one and his whole argument why evolution was incorrect was because carbon dating was unreliable? WTF? and a book rewritten about a thousand times is?

[mduffy31]

3. I have found that many times it just not worth it

Just can't argue with dumbshits

[Birthmark]

4. He might be talking about IC

"Irreducible Complexity" was invented by creationists about sixteen years ago. It has since failed miserably. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreducible_complexity

[Occulus]

19. I just read that page

Man, Behe got smacked down hard by the court, didn't he?

[Buzz Clik]

5. Why didn't you ask?

I have this feeling it's going to be based on some religious nut's "scientific" discovery.

[and-justice-for-all]

13. I spaced it...nt

[fasttense]

6. Wasn't that when they found those faked dinosaur and human footprints?

Someone found dinosaur footprints and carved or otherwise faked human footprints over or near them. Then they touted them as real to prove that humans and dinosaurs coexisted.

There is just so much made up, illogical crap these creationist believe that arguing with them is useless.

Just tell him God gave you intelligence and logic to use, not to hide your gifts under a basket.

[chaplainM]

11. Glen Rose, TX, Paluxy River

The "human" footprints weren't faked, they were another dinosaur's tracks that were misidentified as human.

[Ediacara]

22. Some were faked, but most were underprints of heel-walking theropods

http://www.paleo.cc/paluxy/paluxy.htm

[Dogmudgeon]

7. Ask him to explain

When an idiot with a chip on his shoulder tries to explain something, there comes a point where he starts talking gibberish -- and knows it.

So just ask him to explain why he has made his assertion.

SOME of these questions involve perfectly legitimate philosophical issues -- which are hijacked for propaganda use. (Example: What is intelligence? You can't have "Intelligent Design" without answering that question first.) The problem is that they are even more ignorant of general philosophy than of the history and methods of science. So you could also ask him about the philosophical end of the statement if he managed to get a degree in science. (A certain Dr. Dembski would qualify for this approach).

Such intellectual bullies seldom have the ability to compose an argument that even passes the most basic tests of coherence. If you can get the person to even start to make the case, they quickly come to the point where they just plain can't.

Not only will you "win" the argument, the arguer will begin to question his own ideology. Like the FSM's Parable of the Two Meatballs, it's Win-Win.

--p!
That Socrates was a pretty sharp feller, weren't he?

[and-justice-for-all]

15. He is a 'repeater' and not a knower...

He recites ID bullshit, nothing more.

[moggie]

8. What's a "Darwinist"?

I dislike that label, because it's mostly used by creationists. It's nearly 150 years since the Origin was published, and the study of and evidence for evolution hasn't stood still since. You wouldn't refer to someone who studies gravity as a Newtonist, would you?

Creationists like the term because tying the subject to one man makes it easier to attack, or so they think (and, in many cases, because deference to a holy authority figure is in their bones: they think we worship Darwin). Best to avoid using their terminology, I think.

[and-justice-for-all]

16. Oh, sorry, I did not think of it like that...nt

[Orrex]

9. Is your friend 20 years old, by any chance?

Just wondering...

[and-justice-for-all]

14. Nope, early 30s..nt

[Dr. Strange]

20. pfftth!

:rofl:

[zbdent]

10. I can prove that a frog with no legs is deaf ...

[Indenturedebtor]

17. I know PRECISELY what he's referring to

November 21 - Ted Turner Officially Buys Jim Crockett Promotions, known as NWA Crockett, and turns it into World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988

Yep. That little event, and the subsequent 20 years of droolers watching steroid enhanced mullets in man-panties cavorting around on a trampoline stage proved that most of America has been let down by "evolution".

[Orsino]

18. Evolution's fact, backed up by a fossil record...

...and proves your friend is wrong.

[anigbrowl]

21. Don't waste your time

If he has an argument, he can present it. If not, he is just trolling you.