Where are the dinosaurs?

[RickG]

If humans evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys? Because some of the monkeys are mentally handicapped?

Oh! no, no no. You are mistaken, humans evolved from "apple pie" because the genetics of "apple pie" are more complex and very adaptive to their surroundings. And of course we all know that apple pie evolved from turtles which is fully supported in the scientific literature.

 

[Jazer]

Oh! no, no no. You are mistaken, humans evolved from "apple pie" because the genetics of "apple pie" are more complex and very adaptive to their surroundings.

Oh no you got it all wrong. They evolved from the slug in the apple that ended up in the apple pie. Those silly scientists were dealing with a contaminated sample and got their results all mixed up and confused. This must have been the same lab that said modern day turkeys are almost an exact match for Ancient Dino DNA. Of course they were eating a turkey sandwich for lunch that day. But they did not see how that would have any effect on their results.

 

[RickG]

I don't agree with you at all.

Put yourself in my place -- here's the question:

"Why aren't there more dinosaur bones?"

Now how am I supposed to answer this?

You already did in a previous post by suggesting climate and other physical conditions. What you stated was not entirely correct but it had merit and was a legitimately presented scientific explanation. It impressed me.

 

[RickG]

Actually Jazer, my post to our "one-liner" newbie had a purpose. How will the bot respond? Nevertheless, good post. I liked it.

 

[CaliforniaSun]

Actually Jazer, my post to our "one-liner" newbie had a purpose. How will the bot respond? Nevertheless, good post. I liked it.

Does that make him a "newbot?"

 

[CaliforniaSun]

I don't agree with you at all.

Put yourself in my place -- here's the question:

Now how am I supposed to answer this?

What you're basically saying, is that I shouldn't be allowed to answer this question, because saying the bones are on Neptune is a religious belief?

Not a religious belief, but still worthy of ridicule. See how that works?

 

[Lion Hearted Man]

What you're basically saying, is that I shouldn't be allowed to answer this question, because saying the bones are on Neptune is a religious belief?

No one really cares that your religious beliefs and interpretation of the Bible motivate the things you say or the pet theories you have. It's the ridiculousness of the things you say that inspires rebuttal.

There are atheist posters here who say inflammatory and ridiculous things. They don't get a free pass and are called out on it.

You. Are. Not. Being. Persecuted.

 

[TeddyReceptus]

You do Turing tests, do you?

In some ways the poster may have actually failed the Turing test since some are questioning here. And the pattern seems indicative not of human conversation but bot generated questions.

Humans have "conversations". We leverage off each others ideas and pose questions back, yes, but we also engage in the conversation. Not just one or two line questions back.

I don't get the feeling the other poster is actually "reading" what is being said, just looking for key phrases to know which question will sound "human" in the next one-line post.

 

[driewerf]

Why? what if the correct answer is, "God did it?"

The problem is that "God did it" is no answer at all. After you have answered every question with "God did it", you haven't learned anything. Now, some smartass will object that the same goes for "Evolution did it". But that's not true. The theory of evolution offers much more than just "Evolution did it".

The ToE explains why zebras are closer related to horses than to crocodiles. "God did it" doesn't says anything alike. The ToE teaches us that species A split off from species B 20 million years ago. Not 150 million years ago, not 20.000 years ago. This might not interest you, but it says much more anyway than just "God did it".
The ToE explains why bacteria get more resistant to antibiotics during the time. "God did it" doesn't explain anything alike.

"God did it" has never been, is never and will never be an answer that helps humanity forward.

 

[driewerf]

If I started a thread and asked why Hurricane Katrina occurred; how should a Taoist answer?

In fact, it bothers me when Taoists answer with scientific jargon; and I've even called them on it.

Why? Why can someone not be a sincere taoist and expert in hurricanes? Both aren't mutually exclusive.
RickG is a sincere christian and a climatologist (correct me if I'm wrong).
Dobzhansky was a devote orthodox christian and a well known biologist. Robert Bakker is a pentecoastal preacher and world wide known paleontologist. Abdu Salaam is a muslim and a hysicist (shared the Nobelprize with Steven Weinberg).

Our religious beliefs aren't just something one can turn off when science enters the room.

Well that is what every scientist tries to do the moment (s)he enters the lab.

 

[AV1611VET]

You. Are. Not. Being. Persecuted.

Did I say I was?

 

[AV1611VET]

In some ways the poster may have actually failed the Turing test since some are questioning here. And the pattern seems indicative not of human conversation but bot generated questions.

Humans have "conversations". We leverage off each others ideas and pose questions back, yes, but we also engage in the conversation. Not just one or two line questions back.

I don't get the feeling the other poster is actually "reading" what is being said, just looking for key phrases to know which question will sound "human" in the next one-line post.

Does that bother you?

 

[AV1611VET]

Why? Why can someone not be a sincere taoist and expert in hurricanes?

Now you're an expert on the Tai Ji Tu, are you?

 

[Lion Hearted Man]

Did I say I was?

Your whining says it all. You claim the reason people "ridicule" you is because you're a Christian.

Persecution:
Hostility and ill-treatment, esp. because of race or political or religious beliefs

Thus, you believe you are being persecuted.

lawyered.

 

[AV1611VET]

Persecution:
Hostility and ill-treatment, esp. because of race or political or religious beliefs

Interesting -- thank you for convincing me I'm being persecuted.

dictionaried.

 

[RickG]

RickG is a sincere christian and a climatologist (correct me if I'm wrong).

Well, a slight correction. I do have academic training in climatology (M.S. 1977) and a good understanding of the current science, but I am not a climatologist. I spent most of my working career as a chemist and educator.

 

[TeddyReceptus]

Does that bother you?

I don't think you need to worry about people confusing you with a "machine".

Maybe a deus ex machina, but not a computer.

 

[TeddyReceptus]

Your whining says it all. You claim the reason people "ridicule" you is because you're a Christian.

AV1611VET does say that on occasion doesn't he? Maybe that isn't persecution.

Persecution:
Hostility and ill-treatment, esp. because of race or political or religious beliefs

Thus, you believe you are being persecuted.

lawyered.

I bet he'll be able to "out-pharisee" you .

 

[Lion Hearted Man]

Interesting -- thank you for convincing me I'm being persecuted.

dictionaried.

Alright, so now you agree that you believe you are being persecuted. Too bad the fundamental assumption -- that you are ridiculed because you are a Christian -- is completely and utterly false.

So keep enjoying your persecution complex!

 

[TeddyReceptus]

Alright, so now you agree that you believe you are being persecuted. Too bad the fundamental assumption -- that you are ridiculed because you are a Christian -- is completely and utterly false.

So keep enjoying your persecution complex!

But what if what AV1611VET says is so fundamental to his Christianity that when people make fun of it means they are making fun of his faith?

Wouldn't he be correct is saying he is being persecuted for his faith?