Time to change the diapers
April 17th, 2008 RWA Posted in News | Comments Off
We’ve already linked to Michael Shermer’s brilliant evisceration of Expelled in our last post. Now, Shermer is one of the best defenders of science out there, and everyone concerned with scientific literacy should be proud to call him a friend. Like Eugenie Scott or Ken Miller, he’s very wise and diplomatic, respectful of people even when they disagree with him, but still not afraid to call out ignorance or stupidity when he sees it. And besides, I have to love someone who writes an article like this. Alas, being wise, diplomatic, and damned near 100% right on everything carries with it a heavy price; it means putting up with the willingly ignorant and insufferably stupid, who won’t listen to the facts no matter how clearly and persuasively you try to present them.
People like Casey Luskin, who has reacted to Shermer’s dispassionate piece with a furious and childish temper tantrum. The title of Luskin’s piece, “Michael Shermer’s Fact-Free Attack on Expelled Exposes Intolerance of Darwinists towards Pro-Intelligent Design Scientists” (geez Case, take breath as well as a chill-pill) is doubly ironic. First, Shermer provided a wealth of facts, evidence and sources to back his claims up. Secondly, Luskin himself is incapable of providing any facts of his own. The first three paragraphs are nothing more than an extended ad homneim comment, calling Shermer a “one-sided skeptic”, and the remainder is a description of Shermer’s “general method” of dealing with persecution allegations, which Luskin completely fails to back up with citations or even quotes from Shermer to indicate that this is indeed Shermer’s “method”. The money quote is Luskin’s second-to-last paragraph:
If only Shermer would turn some of his skepticism against the perpetrators instead of waging all of his skepticism against the victims. This is typical behavior of persecutors: Deny and blame the victim, telling them they are conspiracy theorists. This unwillingness to believe the facts fits perfectly with Shermer’s modus operandi: unyielding and eternal skepticism…unless it supports Darwinism.
Not since Mary Mapes and “Fake but Accurate” has there been such a pathetic display of obstinate refusal to admit to fraud and error. Luskin is no better than 9/11 truthers and other moonbats who cry about “suppression of dissent” when someone exposes them for the lunatics they are. He has promised to follow his piece with two more installments which will “provide a closer analysis” of Shermer’s criticisms. Which is creospeak for “I don’t have any evidence for my position but by golly, I’m going to argue for it anyways!”
EDIT: Also read what The Sensuous Curmudgeon has to say.
