dubois@uwmacc.UUCP (06/12/85)
/* Written 11:37 am Jun 10, 1985 by miller@uiucdcsb.Uiuc.ARPA in uiucdcsb:net.origins */
/* ---------- "Flames, Inc." ---------- */
In a previous note, Keebler { hua@cmu-cs-gandalf.arpa } made the silly
assertion that creationists are much more likely to start a nuclear war than
are evolutionists. I took the scenario he wrote, and constructed one from the
opposite viewpoint in an attempt to demonstrate the fallacy in his reasoning.
At this point, he threw what I can only describe as a tantrum. I guess I
didn't provide him with enough ammunition for this fit, however, as he charges
me with all sorts of positions/beliefs I never even discussed. A few cases in
point: Did I mention "right-winged"? No. Did I mention "ultra-conserva-
tives"? No. Did I mention "Walter Mondale"? No. Did I mention "subversives"
or "homosexuals" or "pinkos" or "feminists" or ...? Of course not. You are
welcome to grep all of my notes on net.origins and you will not find these
things. Yet Keebler attributes positions on all of these topics to me (as well
as others in which he used profanity).
Next, I was floored when I read the following:
> A Ray Miller (by the way, what is your first name?), please move this
> topic over to net.religion, as it deals with moral/ethical principles
> and the misapplication of science to them. This newsgroup is strict-
> ly scientific. (Or at the very least, it SHOULD be. Too many people
> have already grossly violated this.)
The reason this surprised me was: 1) It was Keebler's original article
which dealt "with moral/ethical principles and the misapplication of science
to them" when he claimed that because of the moral/ethical/philosophical
position of Christians, they are more likely to start a nuclear war; and
2) Keebler brought up Rev. Falwell, Rev. Robertson, and the Bible in his first
note, whereas I have *never* mentioned any of those on the net. And HE tells
ME to move it to net.religion? (And finally, as I have mentioned before, my
first name is Allan.)
I've noticed a pattern of similar behavior in Keebler. grep -i fool on
a previous note of his (not one of those mentioned above) reveals 4 instances.
In that same note (directed towards another person this time, not me) we find:
> That's right! In fact, I hope some grads read this, and pound your
> face in. Say, what DO you do at DEC? Take out the trash? Obviously
> your education stopped in kindergarden.
and
> Please die. Don't prosper. You don't deserve it.
Such behavior has no place on the net. I hope it does not represent the
attitude of most evolutionists. Furthermore, it does not even help your cause.
Name calling and profanity really demonstrates the poverty of your position.
It would be much better to discuss the evidence for evolution, if you have any,
than to resort to such tactics.
It is perfectly acceptable to attack strongly people's *ideas* and *posi-
tions*. I've done that myself. Attacking the *person*, however, is counter-
productive and wrong. I stated a few months back that I would refuse to
respond to people I felt had gotten too emotional. Keebler is the first (and I
hope only) one I now have on that list. I can't speak for the other creation-
ists, this is a unilateral decision, but until his behavior improves (soon, I
hope) I intend to ignore him.
A. Ray Miller
Univ Illinois
P.S. Having said all that, Keebler did ask me for a reference a while back.
Now that is a reasonable request, so here it is:
H. Blum, "Time's Arrow and Evolution," 2nd edition, Princeton, New Jersey,
Princeton University, 1955, p. 178a.
/* End of text from uiucdcsb:net.origins */
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Paul DuBois {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois --+--
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