Just in case you hadn't heard
Mar. 24th, 2008 02:50 pmThere are a bunch of people who told a bunch of biological scientists they were making a documentary about evolution and religion, called 'Crossroads." Being the nice guys they were, several of the scientists agreed to be interviewed. Two of the scientists were Richard Dawkins and P.Z. Myers.
The film came out with a different name. There were special previews you could sign up on the internet to go see. Being curious about how it came out, P.Z. signed up online and said he was bringing guests, one of whom turned out to be Richard Dawkins.
The producer of the film had one of his security goons throw P.Z. Myers out of the theater. The story is here. And a follow up here. It's understandable, because PZ. had been lied to, and the film wasn't actually about evolution; it was actually promoting Intelligent Design, which is to say, Creationism, stuffed into an unfamiliar white garment and claiming that scientists really aren't so smart "I mean, look at this lab coat; the buttons and pockets are on the inside! How stupid is that?"
The weird thing is--they threw out the mildly famous blogger scientist, but let the truly famous author and speaker scientist, Richard Dawkins, in. He just reviewed the film.
Now the producer is just saying he just wants P.Z. to pay to see the movie (it's in paragraph 8 of this piece if you don't want to read the whole thing, though I think it's worth your time). Gosh, I thought usually a contributor gets a free copy--what happened to common-sense good manners?
But the really funny part of the whole thing? The film's name: "Expelled" . And the subtitle is even funnier: "No Intelligence Allowed."
The film came out with a different name. There were special previews you could sign up on the internet to go see. Being curious about how it came out, P.Z. signed up online and said he was bringing guests, one of whom turned out to be Richard Dawkins.
The producer of the film had one of his security goons throw P.Z. Myers out of the theater. The story is here. And a follow up here. It's understandable, because PZ. had been lied to, and the film wasn't actually about evolution; it was actually promoting Intelligent Design, which is to say, Creationism, stuffed into an unfamiliar white garment and claiming that scientists really aren't so smart "I mean, look at this lab coat; the buttons and pockets are on the inside! How stupid is that?"
The weird thing is--they threw out the mildly famous blogger scientist, but let the truly famous author and speaker scientist, Richard Dawkins, in. He just reviewed the film.
Now the producer is just saying he just wants P.Z. to pay to see the movie (it's in paragraph 8 of this piece if you don't want to read the whole thing, though I think it's worth your time). Gosh, I thought usually a contributor gets a free copy--what happened to common-sense good manners?
But the really funny part of the whole thing? The film's name: "Expelled" . And the subtitle is even funnier: "No Intelligence Allowed."
no subject
Date: 2008-03-24 08:29 pm (UTC)Okay, so...why weren't Myers' guests ejected as well? Per Dawkins, their names weren't on any list, but it would've been a simple matter to insist that the rest of Myers' party remain outside as well.
Come to that, it should have been even simpler to contact Myers via e-mail and retract his online-issued ticket once this "untruth blogging" started.
There is a fallacy that ascribes the success of one's own side to skill, and the success of one's adversaries to luck. It occasionally includes ascribing the failure of one's adversaries to incompetence. I try to avoid falling into that mindset.
But honestly, it's difficult to see anything but purest incompetence in this.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-24 09:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-25 05:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-25 06:14 pm (UTC)