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Author Topic:   January 2009 Posts of the Month
Adminnemooseus
Administrator
Posts: 3974
Joined: 09-26-2002


Message 1 of 16 (492632)
01-01-2009 9:57 PM


Find a post that is too good to be missed, make your January, 2009 Post of the Month (POTM) nominations here.
Subtitle should include the author's name and topic/thread title.
Message Format
Author: Author's Name
Forum: Forum where posted
Thread: Thread title
Message #: Number and Link to the nominated message
Nominations should include a link to the nominated article, and a short comment on why the message deserves nomination.
As always, this is not a thread for debates.
Posts should be limited to nomination, seconds, and acceptance statements by nominees.

Blue Jay
Member (Idle past 2698 days)
Posts: 2843
From: You couldn't pronounce it with your mouthparts
Joined: 02-04-2008


Message 2 of 16 (493043)
01-05-2009 2:00 PM


Modulous, "What I Can't Understand about Evolution"
I particularly like this rather lengthy post (#234) that covers a broad range of material, from Modulous's usual sound reasoning to an exposition about the psychology of belief systems and its effects on people's decision-making.
It's a long post, but a good read.
Bravo!

I'm Bluejay.
Darwin loves you.

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Granny Magda, posted 01-05-2009 2:41 PM Blue Jay has replied
 Message 4 by Annafan, posted 01-06-2009 8:08 AM Blue Jay has not replied

Granny Magda
Member
Posts: 2462
From: UK
Joined: 11-12-2007
Member Rating: 4.0


Message 3 of 16 (493045)
01-05-2009 2:41 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by Blue Jay
01-05-2009 2:00 PM


Re: Modulous, "What I Can't Understand about Evolution"
Ninja'd!
I was just about to nominate this, but Mantis beat me to it. It is an excellent post, although that is nothing out of the ordinary for Modulous. I hope we will see more of the same in the near future.
quote:
it is a teensy bit arrogant for someone who has spent zero years at university studying the subject to believe they have a grasp of the subject superior to that of people who have been in the field for twenty years actually doing the experiments, reading the primary literature and even writing some of it.
Absolutely. It is especially galling when the person in question seems barely able to compose a coherent sentence in their own language, as is often the case. I wish that I could summon up the patience and lack of combativeness that characterises Mod's writing. Good work.
Mutate and Survive

"The Bible is like a person, and if you torture it long enough, you can get it to say almost anything you'd like it to say." -- Rev. Dr. Francis H. Wade

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Blue Jay, posted 01-05-2009 2:00 PM Blue Jay has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 5 by Blue Jay, posted 01-06-2009 12:23 PM Granny Magda has not replied

Annafan
Member (Idle past 4579 days)
Posts: 418
From: Belgium
Joined: 08-08-2005


Message 4 of 16 (493117)
01-06-2009 8:08 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Blue Jay
01-05-2009 2:00 PM


Re: Modulous, "What I Can't Understand about Evolution"
Thirded! A joy to read. One of those "I would have said the same if I were a little bit eloquent" posts.

This message is a reply to:
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Blue Jay
Member (Idle past 2698 days)
Posts: 2843
From: You couldn't pronounce it with your mouthparts
Joined: 02-04-2008


Message 5 of 16 (493148)
01-06-2009 12:23 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Granny Magda
01-05-2009 2:41 PM


Re: Modulous, "What I Can't Understand about Evolution"
Message #255 was a very nice sequel to that, as well.
Modulous has a gift for efficient usage of words to describe in a sentence what could take ma an entire thread to say. Here's an example:
Modulous writes:
Would you trust the religious ideas of the ancient Egyptians or the Babylonians to deduce if your house has been wired safely over the opinion of a qualified electrician? Would you say that they are both equally a matter of faith?
Granted - we could get absurdly philosophical about the issue, and lose sight of reality in the process. But in pragmatic reality? Not a chance.
It's good to read such in-depth work that criticizes without belittling, and makes a detailed argument without getting overly technical or wordy.
Good job!

I'm Bluejay.
Darwin loves you.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Granny Magda, posted 01-05-2009 2:41 PM Granny Magda has not replied

Modulous
Member
Posts: 7801
From: Manchester, UK
Joined: 05-01-2005


Message 6 of 16 (493154)
01-06-2009 2:17 PM


*humbly bows*
Thanks guys. Always a pleasure to get positive feedback

Buzsaw
Inactive Member


Message 7 of 16 (494554)
01-16-2009 8:52 PM


Cavediver Perceptively Diagnosed Ignorance
Member: Cavediver
Forum: Social and Religious Issues
Faith and Belief
Thread: My mind's in a knot... (Re: Who/what created God?)
Message 146
Cavediver writes:
Expressing opinions about technicalities of the subject just makes you look stupid, so I would discourage that. I encourage questions. To voice an opinion like yours (which I appreciate you now admit was mispoken to some degree) simply reveals an ignorance of the subject and, even worse, an ignorance of ones own ignorance. That is a huge barrier to learning. You need to be aware of your own ignorance to be able to effectively cure it. Don't worry, in my early days my own ignorance of my ignorance dwarfed yours
Abe: Key gem:
You need to be aware of your own ignorance to be able to effectively cure it.
WOW! Cavediver, my hat's off to you for the way you articulated this wisdom! It commentates on the wisdom of Solomon.
Edited by Buzsaw, : Additon as noted.
Edited by Adminnemooseus, : Changed the "m=121#146" to "m=146#146" in the link. Members have control over how many messages per page are displayed, and the first version does not get you there if messages 121 and 146 are not on the same page. You just get the page containing message 121. It's best that both those numbers are the same, the message number of interest.

BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW.
The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.

Replies to this message:
 Message 8 by DevilsAdvocate, posted 01-16-2009 9:19 PM Buzsaw has not replied
 Message 9 by cavediver, posted 01-17-2009 11:37 AM Buzsaw has not replied

DevilsAdvocate
Member (Idle past 3101 days)
Posts: 1548
Joined: 06-05-2008


Message 8 of 16 (494558)
01-16-2009 9:19 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by Buzsaw
01-16-2009 8:52 PM


Re: Cavediver Perceptively Diagnosed Ignorance
I second Buzzsaw's nomination of CaveDiver for Best Post of the Month (if not the entire EvC forum).
BTW, it was to Agobot and myself that he was speaking to, concerning our rather ignorant and tripe squabble about quantum mechanics. A slice of humble pie is best served cold .
Edited by DevilsAdvocate, : No reason given.

For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
Dr. Carl Sagan

This message is a reply to:
 Message 7 by Buzsaw, posted 01-16-2009 8:52 PM Buzsaw has not replied

cavediver
Member (Idle past 3644 days)
Posts: 4129
From: UK
Joined: 06-16-2005


Message 9 of 16 (494639)
01-17-2009 11:37 AM
Reply to: Message 7 by Buzsaw
01-16-2009 8:52 PM


Re: Cavediver Perceptively Diagnosed Ignorance
Thanks Buz - I've sent some harsh words your way at times, and it's quite humbling to receive praise back the other way. I appreciate it, thank you sir.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 7 by Buzsaw, posted 01-16-2009 8:52 PM Buzsaw has not replied

kuresu
Member (Idle past 2513 days)
Posts: 2544
From: boulder, colorado
Joined: 03-24-2006


Message 10 of 16 (494950)
01-20-2009 8:10 AM


Author: Subbie
Forum:[forum=-14]
Thread:On this day, let us all be proud of America
Message #:Message 1
Wonderful sentiment and well put. Hope you don't mind that I copied it to the Dreamcatcher forum (gave credit and link).

Minnemooseus
Member
Posts: 3941
From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior)
Joined: 11-11-2001
Member Rating: 10.0


Message 11 of 16 (495513)
01-23-2009 5:02 AM


Malcolm, at "Evolution would've given us infrared eyesight"
Author: Malcolm
Forum: Intelligent Design
Thread: Evolution would've given us infrared eyesight
Message #: 153
There have been quite a few POTM quality messages from the usual suspects, but I though I'd throw a bone to what I thought was a new member, but just now realize to be Meddle in disguise.
Anyhow, nice little message on how eyes work, in various species.
Moose

Professor, geology, Whatsamatta U
Evolution - Changes in the environment, caused by the interactions of the components of the environment.
"Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will piss on your computer." - Bruce Graham
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." - John Kenneth Galbraith
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." - H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)
"Nixon was a professional politician, and I despised everything he stood for ” but if he were running for president this year against the evil Bush-Cheney gang, I would happily vote for him." - Hunter S. Thompson
"I know a little about a lot of things, and a lot about a few things, but I'm highly ignorant about everything." - Moose

Replies to this message:
 Message 12 by RAZD, posted 01-23-2009 7:26 AM Minnemooseus has not replied

RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 12 of 16 (495527)
01-23-2009 7:26 AM
Reply to: Message 11 by Minnemooseus
01-23-2009 5:02 AM


Re: Malcolm, at "Evolution would've given us infrared eyesight"
Second.
I particularly like this little point:
This isn't helped by the fact that the retina is backwards, so there is a network of capillaries carrying warm blood between these IR cone cells and the environment.
Enjoy.

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
Rebel American Zen Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.


• • • Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click) • • •

This message is a reply to:
 Message 11 by Minnemooseus, posted 01-23-2009 5:02 AM Minnemooseus has not replied

Modulous
Member
Posts: 7801
From: Manchester, UK
Joined: 05-01-2005


Message 13 of 16 (496642)
01-29-2009 4:13 PM


Rahvin explains why they're confident
Message 394
This might be a great OP in its own right. It is a nice coverage of the kinds of ideas J. Anderson Thomson and Dan Dennett (and others) have been discussing over the past few years (or decades in some people's cases)

Replies to this message:
 Message 14 by Rahvin, posted 01-29-2009 6:03 PM Modulous has not replied
 Message 15 by zern, posted 01-31-2009 7:04 AM Modulous has not replied

Rahvin
Member
Posts: 4032
Joined: 07-01-2005
Member Rating: 9.2


Message 14 of 16 (496653)
01-29-2009 6:03 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by Modulous
01-29-2009 4:13 PM


Re: Rahvin explains why they're confident
Thanks Mod!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by Modulous, posted 01-29-2009 4:13 PM Modulous has not replied

zern
Junior Member (Idle past 5523 days)
Posts: 3
From: Scotland, UK
Joined: 01-20-2009


Message 15 of 16 (496865)
01-31-2009 7:04 AM
Reply to: Message 13 by Modulous
01-29-2009 4:13 PM


Re: Rahvin explains why they're confident
I would like to nominate Rahvin's post also. It was very well put. An excellent summary of an interesting thread.
Conversely, if there is a poll for the worst post...
Edited by AdminModulous, : There is not a poll for the worst post. We try and keep things positive in this thread

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by Modulous, posted 01-29-2009 4:13 PM Modulous has not replied

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