[CobaltBlue]

>>"It is thought that we split off from chimps 5-6- or eight hundred million years ago..." used to disguise a no-fact fact. It is thought-- By whom? Sez who?<<

I don't concede that your f'rinstance is a real example, but let's agree to discuss matters in a broad and general manner.

I don't agree - for a second - for a nanosecond - that a heavy-duty research study reported in a peer-reviewed journal has ANY hands waving. On the contrary, they are so dense with footnotes as to be almost indigestible.

Which leads me to suspect that everything you know about the subject you learned in a college survey lecture class, where it's sort of not expected for the professor to provide footnotes during his lecture, and, indeed, more likely than not that your lecturer was a grad student or associate prof who doesn't know very much, or maybe you learned it on TV.

I studied anthropology undergrad and worked as a research assistant to the head of the department, and, sister, if you tried that "hands wavink" bullony on my former boss, he'd blow you out of the water.

[Mamzelle]

Oh, please don't post your CV.

When a discussion board thread devolves into dueling credentials, it becomes a dead bore.

If you're so teddibly smart, why bother even talking to me?