Pheobe Debates The Theory of Evolution

Original scene from the show... Friends. ^ | NA | NA

[Mr.Atos]

I was just lisening to Medved debating Creationism with Athiests on the air. I found it interesting that while Medved argued his side quite effectively from the standpoint of faith, his opponents resorted to condescension and beliitled him with statements like, "when it rains, is that God crying?" I was reminded of the best (at least most amusing)debate that I have ever heard on the subject of Creationism vs Evolution, albeit a fictional setting. It occurred on the show, Friends of all places between the characters Pheobe (The Hippy) and Ross (The Paleontologist). It went like this...

Pheebs: Okay...it's very faint, but I can still sense him in the building...GO INTO THE LIGHT MR. HECKLES!!

Ross: Whoa, whoa, whoa. What, uh, you don't believe in evolution? Pheebs: Nah. Not really. Ross: You don't believe in evolution? Pheebs: I don't know. It's just, ya know, monkeys, Darwin, ya know, it's a, it's a nice story. I just think it's a little too easy.

Ross: Uh, excuse me. Evolution is not for you to buy, Phoebe. Evolution is scientific fact. Like, like, the air we breathe, like gravity... Pheebs: Uh, okay, don't get me started on gravity.

Ross: You uh, you don't believe in gravity? Pheebs: Well, it's not so much that ya know, like I don't *believe* in it, ya know. It's just...I don't know. Lately I get the feeling that I'm not so much being pulled down, as I am being pushed.

Ross: How can you NOT BELIEVE in evolution? Pheebs: [shrugs] I unh-huh...Look at this funky shirt!!

Ross: Well, there ya go. Pheebs: Huh. So now, the REAL question is: who put those fossils there, and why...?

Ross: OPPOSABLE THUMBS!! Without evolution, how do YOU explain OPPOSABLE THUMBS?!? Pheebs: Maybe the overlords needed them to steer their spacecrafts!

Pheebs: Uh-oh! Scary Scientist Man!

Pheebs: Okay, Ross? Could you just open your mind like, *this* much?? Okay? Now wasn't there a time when the brightest minds in the world believed that the Earth was flat? And up until what, like, fifty years ago, you all thought the atom was the smallest thing, until you split it open, and this like, whole mess o' crap came out! Now, are you telling me that you are so unbelievably arrogant that you can't admit that there's a teeny, tiny possibility that you could be wrong about this?!?

Pheebs: I can't believe you caved. Ross: What? Pheebs: You just ABANDONED your whole belief system! I mean, before, I didn't agree with you, but at least I respected you. Ross: But uh.. Pheebs: Yeah...how...how are you gonna go in to work tomorrow? How...how are you gonna face the other science guys? How...how are you gonna face yourself? Oh! [Ross runs away dejected] Pheebs: That was fun. So who's hungry?

[js1138]

So my question: I don't mind forgetting about past unpleasantness, and past insults. Life is too short to dwell on such matters. But what do you think should be done with unadmitted factual errors? It goes to a person's credibility. We live on our track record here. We can't start each thread with a clean slate.

I think most factual errors can be dealt with as they come up. I tend to agree that we should deal with errors as they come instead of saying, "This is just as stupid as the time you said xyz." I have the urge to do this, but it just isn't productive.

I make an exception, however when someone repeats an error. In such a case I think it is reasonable to call attention to a continuing history of making that same error. But the exposure of this history should be factual, and be backed up by examples, rather than just a blanket claim of stupidity.

As I have just posted, I think there is sometimes a need to bring back old predictions in the light of new evidence. This has nothing to do with errors; it is just how science works. Make a prediction; live with the data.

[inquest]

On the other hand, his theory might help to explain why major chords produce one emotional response in every culture, whereas minor chords produce a very different response.

[exmarine]

Your theory doesn't explain rap music, polka music, or velvet Elvis paintings.

Hahaha - Elvis? For one thing, these are man-made and humans' sense of beauty can be quite warped and debased. As an example, there was that crucifix in a bucket of urine that someone called "art". A sunset or a starry night is not manmade. However, music does use physics and mathematics that have been created by God. When used properly, music can be quite moving to the human soul, e.g. worship music to a Christian.

[NewLand]

Self-correction of my statement..."It will be brought up whenever necessary, which I expect to be often, unfortunately."

I will honor the new agreement as of August 1 (or whenever) and not bring up anything from the past...as long as PH signs the agreement and abides by the rules.

All else in my previous post stands.

[VadeRetro]

If one cannot adapt to the change - right there and then - one dies.

Ah yes! >>> When Plate Tectonics Strikes!! <<

One minute your continent is in the tropics. Suddenly you're at 70 degrees North and being flash-frozen with buttercups in your mouth.

[js1138]

Your theory doesn't explain rap music, polka music, or velvet Elvis paintings.

Or Jerry Lewis movies. Nor does it explain why I have to stop whatever I'm doing when I hear the Pachelbel Canon, while most people around me don't even notice it.

[NewLand]

"But what do you think should be done with unadmitted factual errors? It goes to a person's credibility. We live on our track record here. We can't start each thread with a clean slate."

I find your statement of this to be incredulous, considering what you have attempted to do to me, without any remorse or admission on your part.

You are incredibly, maybe totally, one sided.

[Dataman]

I think it's time you came in here and gave your story of what you remember. I do believe it was you in the thread at the time the game of not saying yes or no about the prof took place.

I remember the evos refusing to submit evidence when asked. But this is nothing new.

[exmarine]

On the other hand, his theory might help to explain why major chords produce one emotional response in every culture, whereas minor chords produce a very different response.

Some things pass for music and art these days that have no business in that category. And I think we can all think of examples. Much of the music and art of today is warped and degenerate - it is the ugly fruit of humanistic atheism. Can anyone think of anything beautiful that came out of the USSR? I can't. Atheism is just plain Ugly with a capital U.

[VadeRetro]

First, here is the post where I "lampoon" Patrick's post, exactly as he said:

You have to realize that people who haven't studied Abnormal Psych are likely to see bizarre behavior as sinister. Patrick simply misinterpreted, as I tried to explain to him when he brought it up on this thread. Echolalia is a symptom common in people who aren't living in the same world as the rest of us.

[Right Wing Professor]

EO Wilson's 'Consilience' has several examples of human aesthetic preferences that appear to be hard-wired and seem to have evolved. Wilson, incidentally, is a very fine and politically conservative biologist.

[Dataman]

moronic Christian bashing

They don't know what a fundamentalist is. They think a fundamentalist is someone who believes in creation. Again, mockery is what is to be expected from those who claim a mountain of evidence yet cannot produce a pebble.

[Aric2000]

You see Junior, if it shows catholicism in a positive light, it is still somehow Christian bashing.

I guess the only christians in a fundamentalists worldview are fundamentalists. Isn't that a fascinating concept?

Such arrogance, such like I have never seen.

Both of the jokes, the one I posted, and the one ALS posted FOR me, and which he did again, thanks ALS, basically bashes fundamentalist Christians, of which a vast majority of christians are not.

Fundamentalists are the ONLY ones that come to my doorway, besides Mormons and JW's, and Fundamentalists are the only ones that whine when you poke fun at them.

They are also the ONLY ones arrogant enough to think that they know what god was thinking and what he did.

"God doesn't like to be told what he thinks", is the punch line, and it is so true of a fundamentalist, it offends them like nothing else. Because they really seem to think that they are the only ones that know what god thinks.

Well, sorry, unless you are in direct ommunications with god, he or she, is keeping their thoughts to themselves.

[VadeRetro]

I have read this over. I think I know how Trent Lott should have felt when he was making peace after peace with the Senatorial Dems, people capable of misunderstanding what "is" is. I suspect real progress will come from concerted action unilaterally among the evos to VI those who need VI-ed. I have to be away for a good bit today and will take a harder look at how things are going later.

[Aric2000]

My motivation is NOT in question.

ALS was being a jerk, so I sent him something that I knew would piss him off.

That was my motivation, and it worked, he freaked out!!

LOL, and he posted it FOR me to boot.

That was my motivation, and it was OBVIOUS that that was indeed my motivation.

[NewLand]

I'm not interested in your analysis, your diversions, or your insults. I have no business or beef with you and intend none of either.

Let him speak for himself.

[AndrewC]

Echolalia is a symptom common in people who aren't living in the same world as the rest of us.

Kinda like "Placemarker" and "1⁷²⁰"

[Aric2000]

I am NOT an atheist, I just don't happen to be a fundamentalist.

See, you did it again, because I don't believe like you do, I am somehow and atheist.

Such arrogance, unbelievable.

[Aric2000]

Good enough, I take back what I said in the earlier post.

[Right Wing Professor]

Can anyone think of anything beautiful that came out of the USSR?

Much of the music of Shostakovich and Prokofiev is very beautiful. You are almost certainly familiar with Prokofiev's 'Troika' from the Lieutenant Kije Suite; it's been co-opted, usually without attribution, as a standard piece of Christmas music; yet it was written as the soundtrack for a Bolshevik propaganda film.