Give Minority Viewpoints Some Breathing Space?

[Art (Arthur Hunt)]

@Krauze

It might be helpful if an ID/creationist supporter was allowed to pick a few people to have a discussion with and have a thread where just those people were allowed to discuss a topic.

That sounds like a really good idea.

I foresee some hurt feelings …

[Michael_Callen (Herculean Skeptic)]

@Faizal_Ali

Politeness has been tried with the ID creationists for over 20 years. It has made no difference. They’re still pumping out their antiscientific propaganda.

Please remember that conversations take place with and between individuals. When you shame an individual, you don’t win them over, and you never do anything to change the organizations that control the messages to the public (the propaganda.) It is always the best course of action to kindly and peaceably convey your points, because, unlike those organizations, the individuals following them can be affected by cogent thoughts properly presented.

[swamidass (S. Joshua Swamidass)]

@T_aquaticus

It might be helpful if an ID/creationist supporter was allowed to pick a few people to have a discussion with and have a thread where just those people were allowed to discuss a topic.

This is always allowed, and encouraged.

[swamidass (S. Joshua Swamidass)]

@Faizal_Ali

Perhaps dialogue will be more productive if we act more politely, even if we don’t think they deserve it.

I don’t think anyone is advocating merely politeness.

[Faizal_Ali]

I’m advocating overt ridicule, hostility and rudeness.

[dga471 (Daniel)]

Yeah I don’t think this is in line with our goals here

[swamidass (S. Joshua Swamidass)]

@T_aquaticus

I know @swamidass hates memes, but it helps to remember the psychology of the internet:

I hate memes but xkcd is welcome, and not a meme.

[Jordan (Jordan Mantha)]

@Timothy_Horton

I agree there is no such thing as a theory of ID-Creationism. There is not even a scientific hypothesis of ID-Creationism. Right now there is a non-testable and non-falsifiable philosophical idea of ID-Creationism being pushed by religious True Believers.

@Timothy_Horton, at this point I think you’ve made yourself clear, repeatedly, I don’t think you need to continue to in this thread.

[dga471 (Daniel)]

@Timothy_Horton, @Edgar_Tamarian, please get off this thread if you want to continue your debate. I will be flagging all posts which are off-topic from now on.