Teabaggers misuse the word "theory". O'Donnell did this.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

She was talking about the "theory of evolution". She had it exactly backwards when she said they should teach creationism and Coons corrected her, that the courts had ruled that creationism is not science, it is religious instruction.

They use the word "theory" to mean "not proven".

Evolution is a theory and it's proven. Newton's laws are a theory and they are proven. General and special relativity are theories and they are proven.

As Cenk said tonight on Countdown, gravity is a theory too.

Let's see what happens when you jump out of a window in a tall building and you hit the ground....

You ignore gravity and Newton's laws at your peril. But they then don't understand science, nor do they want to. Ignorant and proud of it.

I have a biology degree and a law degree, and the amount of ignorance Miss "I am Not a Witch" displayed on both those topics was stunning.

:banghead:

[meowomon]

1. They mean hypothesis

A hypothesis is backed up by data(facts)that show a theory. Der...

[thereismore]

21. Exactly. Stupid idiots. nt

[Rhiannon12866]

2. K&R. I am totally stunned at the amount of ignorance and misinformation

Being spouted by so many of the sorry excuses for candidates in this election season. I'm in NY and many of the candidates that we've been presented with are no exception... x(

[Rex]

3. I can't tell you how many times I have heard, "it is only a theory."

Whereas facts just smack them in the face...hey...maybe that is why they are so dense. Facts just bounce off of their mental radar, like alien rays off of tinfoil hats!

[Lucian]

4. Well, theories are set up so they can be disproven...

but theories like gravity, evolution, etc., are practically fact. There's just no evidence to the contrary.

But you're right. If you jump out of a window 3,000 feet in the air, you're going to go splat.

It annoys me to no end on how a lot of people misuse the word theory in everyday language.

[Blecht]

17. Gravity is not a theory

There are observations about it that are summarized in the laws of gravity.

Theories involve explanations; laws do not.

Evolution is a theory. It is tested constantly. It will never be a "fact."

[upi402]

5. Gravitation is a theory. A *scientific* theory is a set of facts...

that tell a story. It is tested and critiqued rigorously by peers.

We need to ram this down their throats. Cenk did this on KO in crushing manner, while Brother Moore missed his chance on Larry King. Next time Mike!

[Ikonoklast]

6. Whenever someone says. "I have a theory..." it means

"I'm making either a wild-assed guess based on absolutely nothing of which I am an expert, casually studied, or even have the vaguest idea about; or I'm just making shit up."


O'Donnell does both.





I, however, have a theory about her.


She's nuttier'n a squirrel turd.

[geckosfeet]

11. Again, misuse of the word. Should be 'I have a hypoyhesis'.

[Ikonoklast]

14. No, not really.

It has been proven using rigorous scientific methods to determine that O'Donnell is actually entirely made of nuts. The only question now is what type.

The theory is currently being expanded as more information becomes available.







And what is an 'hypoyhesis', anyway?

:P

[geckosfeet]

22. It's a hypothesis for people who are made entirely of nuts - or, in this case - nutz.

[DaveinJapan]

7. I agree with you to a point, however nothing is ever REALLY "proven"

only disproven.

Thus a theory is an acknowledged way of thinking backed up by lots of facts. An hypothesis, more of a working way of thinking in search of enough facts to become a theory.

You can always *add* facts to a theory (happens in the fossil record all the time), doesn't make it any more or less "proven" than it already was.

In any case, the idiotic use by the fundies of a term like "just a theory" shows just how ignorant they really are. Fuck, don't they still teach that in 7th grade science class? Or even in English class?

EDIT: oh, and recommended, by the way. :)

[tulsakatz]

8. the real problem is that they think creationism should be taught as an equal to evolution.....

...but it's not, in any way equal to science! It's religion masquerading as science.

They speak of creationism as if it's an alternate opinion but it's not even close to being an alternative to science. In the book Idiot America, Charles Pierce discusses this issue. There is a place for creationism to be taught.....it's called church! The problem that these 'alternate theory' people have is, they are trying to sell it as science. It just isn't science....and never will be!!

[Warren DeMontague]

9. Right, there's the "theory" that the sun's energy is driven by nuclear fusion

and the "theory" that if I sprinkle pixie dust on my roof, I can fly with Peter Pan.

They're both "theories", so they must be equally valid. :crazy:

[Flubadubya]

10. Of course, her backers and followers "appreciate the ignorance"...

They think it is a badge of honor that she and they wear proudly. I know, it's disgusting, but it's true... and quite dangerous!

[NoPasaran]

12. Newton's Laws are laws, not theories

[Viking12]

13. Proof is a mathematical term, not a scientific one.

[Blecht]

15. It's amazing to me that you have these degrees

and you do not understand what a theory or a law is.

Get your terms straight before you (rightfully) criticize the Teabaggers.

A theory is never "proven." There can be substantial support for it, but it is not considered "proof."

A law is a concise summary of observations.

Here is the scientific method (the short message board version):

One takes observations and tries to come up with an explanation (hypothesis or model). One designs experiments intended to test this hypothesis, which generate more observations. The larger set of observations is then used to refine the hypothesis, and new tests are designed. The whole process is repeated. If no changes are deemed necessary to the hypothesis, the result is a well-tested hypothesis, which we call a theory. If one can come up with a concise statement that summarizes the observations, we call that a law. Please note that a law does not contain an explanation; that is what a theory is for.

[Viking12]

16. +1

[Manifestor_of_Light]

23. Yes, I know how the scientific method works.

[Hosnon]

24. -1 for hyperbole. nt.

[FirstTimeVoterAt37]

18. "Evolutionary Theory" attempts to explain the mechanics of evolution (the fact)

[supernova]

19. Spot on! "Theory"

When RWers say "it's just a theory.." what they really mean is, "it's just your guess, so your opinion is no more important than mine. In fact, my opinion is more important that yours because I'm --pick all that apply--

a) wealthier than you;
b) Backed by the Church,
c) Possess bigger lungs,
D) and look better in miniskirts

So it must be true that I'm more qualified than you on topic X because, that's why."

:crazy:

But they completely misunderstand the definition of theory as it is applied in the sciences. Theory in scienceworld means "a framework for understanding," against which experiments are carried out to either validate or disprove that framework. In the cast of the theory of gravity, as noted above, it works unequivocally. Sometimes all you get is, you need more experiments. It's how we know what we know about the physical world.

[LynneSin]

20. Can we test that theory of gravity using Christine?

:rofl: