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Modern "science" is now become the result of one form of an opinion poll or another.

1. Global warming is considered "real" because a significant number of scientists think it's man's fault. Not because of studies or experiments. Just a show of hands from the properly chosen group of "scientists."

2. Katrina was a result of global warming, a new poll shows. Who cares about actual meteorology?

3. Abortion is not considered murder. Don't bother with facts, like DNA that differs from the mother. Just a show of hands from the properly chosen group of "doctors."

4. If we don't have embryonic stem cell research, we'll never cure paralysis. Never mind the fact that adult stem cells are ready for approved treatment for over 70 kinds of ailments and embryonic stem cells have only caused cancer in lab rats. But the public demands it! polls say.

5. And now Pluto is not a planet. We couldn't wait 10 years until a probe is sent there to learn more about it. Forget the science...we need a vote, and we need it now!

You forgot string theory: 40 plus years without a testable prediction, unless you count the existence of the 'dilaton', a massless scalar field not observed in nature. An awful lot of the 'research' in string theory is adding bells and whistles to 'explain' why the dilaton field is not observed.

Modern "science" is now become the result of one form of an opinion poll or another.

This isn't about science. It's about a definition, and (except when imposed by force) those are always a matter of opinion.

If some of the salient characteristics of Pluto were in dispute scientifically, then it would indeed be bad science to declare as fact what is unproven. But a definition is inherently a declaration, not a matter for data (except to the extent data demonstrate 'natural' distinctions among classes of objects and thus highlight bases for differentiation).

Modern "science" is now become the result of one form of an opinion poll or another.

Shhhhh! Are you crazy? Talk like that on an Evo thread and you'll be burned at the stake as a heretic!

No, Moderator, this was not an attempt to hijack this thread. It was just a piquant piece of cross-threaded humor.