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View Full Version : Really really bad anti-evolution arguement


Yahweh
12th June 2003, 10:52 AM
I got one of those chain mails again. Usually I delete them because they are a waste of my time. But this one caught my eye. The subject was "Petitition to take evolution out of schools". I had to see who would want to sign something like that because in all honesty, evolution is facts, not a religion (if your not Jack Chick). The primary arguement against evolution went like this:
Evolution is flawed. It cant happen. It says that mutations make animals evolve and everyone knows that god made animals like they are today. And even if evolution is real, god makes evolution happen. It is flawed because what if a monkey "evolved" one day to be born blind, well then that monkey is blind for the rest of its life. Thats it, the monkey is blind.

The email went on to describe how the monkey would continue to be blind because obviously if it didnt do that then we would all be confused to if that monkey is blind a little, or blind entirely </sarcasm>. I just had to put that whole blind monkey arguement on these boards because it was hysterically bad. I've never caught myself laughing at something like that. Before I thought about putting it on these boards I deleted it (crap?!?). I wanted to find the original creator of this "logic" and tell him that if the monkey was born blind it probably couldnt live long enough to make other blind monkeys. Yes there are animals who have poor eyesight but in the case of a monkey, being blind is a handicap and animals in the wild with handicaps will almost always die and will never produce offspring.

There were some 500 names and addresses. When the next person gets the chain mail please put a copy of it on the boards so everyone can enjoy its idiocy. I hope that all who signed this petition know that no government couldnt give 2 s**ts to how many names are signed on any petition let alone an anonymous chain mail petition.

While I wasted my time reading that email I began thinking to myself if they really took the "dice principle" seriously. For future reference the "dice principle" asks the question "If I say the word 'sixes' over and over, will it increase the likely hood that I will throw a pair of sixes". Dont strain trying to figure out the answer to that mystery.

Upchurch
12th June 2003, 10:55 AM
Originally posted by Yahweh
I just had to put that whole blind monkey arguement on these boards because it was hysterically bad. So.... would you put the whole blind monkey argument on the thread so we can read it?

Yahzi
12th June 2003, 11:53 AM
He can't, Upchurch, he deleted it by reflex.

I realize that wasn't entirely obvious, but some of us enjoy the occasional grammar puzzle.

;)

Thanz
12th June 2003, 12:07 PM
Well, I don't know much about blind monkeys and I am not a scientist, but it is my understanding that evolution can take place even when the mutation is not something that is obviously an improvement at first glance.

The best example of evolution I was ever told was about a moth in England (I think) that was usually white. It would hide in the light/shadows of the trees (looking like a dapple of sunlight) so that the birds wouldn't eat it. Once in a while a mutant moth would hatch that was black. They usually got eaten fairly quickly.

Well, along came the industrial revolution and all of a sudden there were lots of places for the black moths to hide (pollution from coal burning) and the white ones stood out. Over a relatively short (evolutionary speaking) period of time, the species went from being predominately white to predominately black. Truly fascinating.

Which is a long winded way of saying, maybe some unforeseen event will happen in the future that puts an advantage to being the blind monkey.

Crossbow
12th June 2003, 12:10 PM
When I first saw the title for this thread, I thought something like: "A really, really bad anti-evolution arguement, eh? Well, so what? They are all bad and this one cannot be any worse".

Well my mistake, this is the worst I have ever heard.

Do not believe in evolution because of blind monkeys.

Egads! And that, your honor, is why I am so fond of my tag line.

Martin
12th June 2003, 12:10 PM
Really really bad anti-evolution argument:

There's another kind?

Upchurch
12th June 2003, 12:35 PM
Originally posted by Yahzi
He can't, Upchurch, he deleted it by reflex.

I realize that wasn't entirely obvious, but some of us enjoy the occasional grammar puzzle. D@mmit! A blind monkey wouldn't have missed that! :(

Darwin
12th June 2003, 01:00 PM
Yes.
It is a total fallacy and in all it´s absurdity,it does not even need refuting.

They would have been better off clinging to their old "eye" argument.
Was I amused reading the "Origin" regarding that argument.
Creationists quote it off context,they quote Darwin´s thoughts on
it´s evolution.
They let you know how he was wondering on how it could be possible to evolve an eye by natural selection,they are quick to cut that quote short (if you read longer,there will be an explanation)

Creationists,criminals?

rachaella
12th June 2003, 01:18 PM
The blind monkey argument proves to me that evolution needs to be in the classroom. Whoever came up with this argument needs to do a little brushing up on their Darwin.

SteveW
12th June 2003, 03:19 PM
Those damned mutated blind monkeys are evidently the origin of Monkeypox! Egads, it will destroy mankind through anti-evolution!

Khalid01
12th June 2003, 09:01 PM
On the same vein, I saw awebsite recently that had a form one could fill out to send to their school board. The tactic was an arguement from authority. The pre-fab letter contained a quote from Richard Feynman which was encouraging skepticism within science. While this is entirely valid, they were using it to replace science with creationism. I will not venture any further to display their fallicious ideals.

Upchurch
13th June 2003, 07:15 AM
Originally posted by Khalid01
The pre-fab letter contained a quote from Richard Feynman which was encouraging skepticism within science. While this is entirely valid, they were using it to replace science with creationism. The key part is that skepticism should take place within science. :cool:

Barkhorn1x
13th June 2003, 09:24 AM
Originally posted by Yahweh
I got one of those chain mails again. The subject was "Petitition to take evolution out of schools".

Man, how come I never get the good ones. I always get the "Love Thy Neighbor - Pass it On to 5 People" *****. :(

Wish I knew more ignorant people! ;)

Regards,
Barkhorn.

aggle_rithm
13th June 2003, 10:15 AM
Originally posted by Upchurch
So.... would you put the whole blind monkey argument on the thread so we can read it?

It wouldn't help anyway. It no doubt has to be delivered VERBALLY, with great PANACHE, sermon-style, or it makes no sense whatsoever.

Everyone knows that speaking loudly and authoritatively bestows correctness on even the lamest argument. ;)