02-05-2014, 10:37 AM
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Purveyor, Fine Asian Porn
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 38,323
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Quote:
Originally Posted by _Richard_
amusing how many of the scientific community who aren't 'interested in talking'
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Unlike members of the GFY community, many scientists don't want to waste their time arguing with scientifically illiterate people. 
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There are two viewpoints here, and I think both are reasonably valid.
Dawkins takes the viewpoint that debating Creationists lends weight and credence to the Creationist's argument -- IE, 'it's worth debating.' This is a fair point.
Nye's perspective is that he'll take any interview, debate, or public appearance that's offered him with people who don't get science. He'll go on Fox News, he'll debate Ken Ham, because, to him, the people that need to hear these things aren't the people that will regularly tune in to already scientifically literate programming.
The only way to reach scientifically illiterate individuals is by engaging on their level, and within their community. This is also fair.
It basically comes down to what the individual is comfortable with -- whether they have the patience and will to go through the process and give a positive and thorough argument.
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Quote:
A third viewpoint, similar to Nye's:
The only way people will learn that atheism is a viable, and preferable, alternative to delusion and faith is if they hear about and understand atheism from the mouths of atheists themselves, rather than from the mouths of religionists aiming to discredit intellectually superior individuals by creating anti-atheist stigma.
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