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]

My first complaint about images was sent directy to you via freepmail. Look it up.

Sent	Re: Genetic Changes In Mice 'Question Evolution Speed'
To	ALS, sent 05/26/2003 6:52 PM PDT

[Doctor Stochastic]

407 They mock Bible believers and suggest that their "scientific" theories are superior to the Word of God.

425 Questioning Genesis or pointing out contradictions it has with contemporary scientific knowledge is not rejecting God or His law.

[whattajoke]

Wow. Can't believe I missed this thread today. From what I can tell, we are up against a wall. Each thread topic has it's disruptive forces (anti Bush folks, anti abortionists, vehement anti gays, etc). Understood.

After 2 years or so of lurking/posting in these Crevo threads, I can unequivocably state this new breed of disruptor is particularly horrid. Of course we know who they are... ALS, C-babe, JesseSherun. Simple as that. Asking for "evidence" of this is perfectly suited for the whole Crevo thread conundrum: Evo's post evidence, Crea's demand more/better evidence. There's a mountain of "evidence" that ALS is a (self admitted) disruptor, but some fail to see it. Mind boggling.

I can appreciate friendships like A-G has with ALS, since her article is posted on his website. But please, A-G, I urge you to step away from that and ask yourself, why the sudden HUGE increase in flame wars and pulled threads? It's a simple corollary. We managed quite well over the years previously.

Of course we all write insults now and again, and of course we've all been ticked off in the past. But the new breed, as I call them, have hijacked threads to the point of some of us (me included) quitting them altogether. Which is, of course, their desired result.

We've all battled with Gore3K, but he's no where near this new level. f.christian is harmless. AndrewC is probably the best of the bunch. Others (MEGoody, bondserv, bettyboop) pose no problems. It's funny... I'm sure we've all noticed a dramatic fall in G3K's and AndrewC's postings... wonder if it has anything to do with the new flavor these threads take on?

I took PH's sage advice a month or so ago and have completely ignored the bait. I have not posted to the 2 biggest "trolls" (for lack of a better term) in that time, and I didn't ping them to this.

Hopefully, someday, they will be banished and we won't have to deal with their antics anymore.

[ALS]

ok, I'm looking it up.

and that has what to do with the conversation in the thread?

[Virginia-American]

I simply can't stand -- the one really unforgivable thing -- is when I post an "argument," and, no matter what its subject may be, my "respondent" changes it into an argument about me: My motives are questioned! Or worse, motives that I do not have at all are gratuitously attributed to me.

Couldn't agree more.

[f.Christian]

Basically ...

did you ever read David Horowitz - Malcom Muggeridge - Elridge Cleaver ---

they all renounced idealism the higher intellect and the goals - methodology of liberalism !

They travelled the world and saw everywhere reality - conservatism is denied ...

and political ideology - bias (( idealism )) is hyped ---

they are backward - animals - RETROGRADES !

Conservatism is based on caps --- safety valves --- checks and balances in govt and evolution is a full open throttle train on a collision course with reality --- FALSE DREAMS - science too !

[ALS]

another self-canceling evo

All you do is step into a thread, take a swipe, and leave

The only thing horrid is watching you come back for more

[Junior]

It's like night and day. But then again, many of our long-posting creationist comrades have more class than the entire horde of recently-joined trolls. Like I said, I've been posting on these threads for more than four years (I think it was a crevo thread that prompted me to join in '98), and, while the discussions in the past could get heated they seldom dipped to the level of the flamewars that have become de rigeur of late.

[js1138]

I'm sure we've all noticed a dramatic fall in G3K's and AndrewC's postings...

Andrew has been posting quite fluently in the last 24 hours. In fact there's an interestion discussion going on on the old "box" thread. Proof, I think, that on-topic discussions can happen.

[ALS]

the evos are unveiled

no mystery here

[ALS]

#477

wake up

[whattajoke]

Someone recently posted: "KNOCK OFF the christian bashing!"

But when that someone sees "christian bashing" in everything and anything a none christian bible literalist posts, it becomes impossible.

The B. Russell quote in my profile, for instance. That is not christian bashing, that is a statement on how I feel about any religion taken too far. Some people immediately infer it must be about christianity, which speaks to my point in having the quote up there in the first place.

The fact that some of us accept evolution as fact is not "christian bashing." There is no mention of any religion in any scientific papers regarding a theory that attempts to explain the diversity of life we see on teh planet earth.

No one is being persecuted here.

[VadeRetro]

Proof, I think, that on-topic discussions can happen.

We have the disruptor nailed down over here for now, but how many of us were kept from that thread in so doing?

[aruanan]

In the words of "Devo" (...of all bands to quote for this thread). Lord! I am so tired. How long does this go on?

As long as there is time. Besides, it would be entirely within keeping with the intellectual level of Friends that her name on the show would actually be spelled "Pheobe". Don't take it personally.

[js1138]

...and that has what to do with the conversation in the thread?

This, from a couple of posts ago.

I remember well you complaining about graphics. The complaint was page load times. It was at that point there was a marked drop from me(i'm not responsible for others- evos). I even told js1138 that he should have told me personally rather than make a whiney stink.

Looking back, my freepmail wasn't diplomatic, but it was in response to the frustration of wading through 20 consecutive graphics.

[Junior]

AndrewC can be rather cryptic at times, but he is one of the few creationists who make an effort to back up his assertions and who seems to have more than a layman's grasp of the topic. I do not agree with his views, but his posts are often illuminating.

If we could only break g3k of his calling anyone who disagrees with him "liars," he might make his way off of more than one VI list. The new trolls ... well, they don't even make an effort, do they?

[ALS]

ahhh, but the facts are that YOU guys love to inject christianity and bibles into the posts.

Particularly when you are losing
and especially when you hope it will force us to do your will.

You can't have it both ways.
If you don't use such tactics, you won't hear people complaining about the christian bashing.

simple enough, why can't you see that?

what's the agenda behind the refusal to end the christian bashing and bible bashing and God bashing?

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM?

[ALS]

YOU and the other evos LOVE to call gore3000 a liar.

I'm SURE he could pull up many posts just in the last few days.

Again, you cancel out your complaint when YOU partake of the same(worse).

[Right Wing Professor]

AndrewC can be rather cryptic at times, but he is one of the few creationists who make an effort to back up his assertions and who seems to have more than a layman's grasp of the topic.

I learned to use BLAST just to keep up with him.

[Virginia-American]

"Higher Superstition" is a real eye-opener.