Should BHTV invite Perez Hilton to debate the fearsome Man Bat? Michael Behe is as credible an author as Pamela Anderson, although not quite as illuminating. I used to think that the worst kind of ignorance was when you knew you were wrong and refused to accept it. Now I think the worst kind is when you know you’re capable of knowing when you’re wrong but refuse to let yourself. Michael Behe wants to be ignorant of his own ignorance. Let him do so in the peace and quiet of his own sad little world.
You’re shifting the goalposts some. I’m not defending the original decision to invite Behe. I’m questioning the notion that inviting Behe is such an egregious offense against BHTV’s “respectability” that it should be boycotted. I wouldn’t boycott BHTV if 90% of the diavlogs were replaced by midget porn, if it meant that I would get the occasional episode of Free Will.
I think Behe’s critics should just admit that what’s really motivating the reaction is the notion that Creationists not only should not be given forums to speak, but those who do grant Creationists forums to speak should be actively identified and boycotted in a way which is reserved for an arguably arbitrarily-defined set of social undesirables. This isn’t an indefensible position, but people have to admit to holding this belief (or some similar belief which is constructed in a more-charitable manner) before a meaningful debate can be enjoined.
[Edit]
Reading over the comments section of the CV posts, it looks like a lot of people are quick to point to Megan McArdle as the political crackpot equivalent of Behe. Should her presence be boycotted too as detrimental to the site? Where should the line be drawn? Where do you actually think the line would be drawn, if not along questionable ideological lines? Why have a line at all?
I think Behe’s critics should just admit that what’s really motivating the reaction is the notion that Creationists not only should not be given forums to speak, but those who do grant Creationists forums to speak should be actively identified and boycotted in a way which is reserved for an arguably arbitrarily-defined set of social undesirables.
What critic will not admit that? It’s hardly a fringe opinion in the scientific community that Creationists should not be given forums to speak on the thoroughly unscientific topic of Creationism, and that those who do so and call it science are being absurdly and unnecessarily tolerant. Creationism has never been more or less than an attack on science. It’s extremely toxic, and while I would never try to “silence” anyone, I don’t think it deserves more publicity. I grew up being taught that dreck in a fundamentalist Christian school and I’m more familiar with Behe than I’d care to be. Frankly, he’s an idiot, and his life purpose seems to be toward making more idiots. He doesn’t need anyone’s help.
As for McArdle, I don’t really care. Politics is not a hard science, and while she’s something of a crackpot, she’s not that way because somebody proved her map doesn’t follow the territory. It’s the difference between someone who thinks the earth is flat and someone who thinks it’s run by the Illuminati. The former is just wrong, the latter is just crazy. I don’t mind crazy, because crazy isn’t nearly as dangerous as wrong.
Should BHTV invite Perez Hilton to debate the fearsome Man Bat? Michael Behe is as credible an author as Pamela Anderson, although not quite as illuminating. I used to think that the worst kind of ignorance was when you knew you were wrong and refused to accept it. Now I think the worst kind is when you know you’re capable of knowing when you’re wrong but refuse to let yourself. Michael Behe wants to be ignorant of his own ignorance. Let him do so in the peace and quiet of his own sad little world.
You’re shifting the goalposts some. I’m not defending the original decision to invite Behe. I’m questioning the notion that inviting Behe is such an egregious offense against BHTV’s “respectability” that it should be boycotted. I wouldn’t boycott BHTV if 90% of the diavlogs were replaced by midget porn, if it meant that I would get the occasional episode of Free Will.
I think Behe’s critics should just admit that what’s really motivating the reaction is the notion that Creationists not only should not be given forums to speak, but those who do grant Creationists forums to speak should be actively identified and boycotted in a way which is reserved for an arguably arbitrarily-defined set of social undesirables. This isn’t an indefensible position, but people have to admit to holding this belief (or some similar belief which is constructed in a more-charitable manner) before a meaningful debate can be enjoined.
[Edit]
Reading over the comments section of the CV posts, it looks like a lot of people are quick to point to Megan McArdle as the political crackpot equivalent of Behe. Should her presence be boycotted too as detrimental to the site? Where should the line be drawn? Where do you actually think the line would be drawn, if not along questionable ideological lines? Why have a line at all?
What critic will not admit that? It’s hardly a fringe opinion in the scientific community that Creationists should not be given forums to speak on the thoroughly unscientific topic of Creationism, and that those who do so and call it science are being absurdly and unnecessarily tolerant. Creationism has never been more or less than an attack on science. It’s extremely toxic, and while I would never try to “silence” anyone, I don’t think it deserves more publicity. I grew up being taught that dreck in a fundamentalist Christian school and I’m more familiar with Behe than I’d care to be. Frankly, he’s an idiot, and his life purpose seems to be toward making more idiots. He doesn’t need anyone’s help.
As for McArdle, I don’t really care. Politics is not a hard science, and while she’s something of a crackpot, she’s not that way because somebody proved her map doesn’t follow the territory. It’s the difference between someone who thinks the earth is flat and someone who thinks it’s run by the Illuminati. The former is just wrong, the latter is just crazy. I don’t mind crazy, because crazy isn’t nearly as dangerous as wrong.
I haven’t seen BhTV endorse Creationism as science in any official capacity.