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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBill Nye Booed in Waco for saying Moon doesn't have its own light.
http://www.thinkatheist.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1982180%3ABlogPost%3A44493I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Lionessa
(3,894 posts)Bill Nye, the harmless children's edu-tainer known as "The Science Guy," managed to offend a select group of adults in Waco, Texas at a presentation, when he suggested that the moon does not emit light, but instead reflects the light of the sun.
As even most elementary-school graduates know, the moon reflects the light of the sun but produces no light of its own.
But don't tell that to the good people of Waco, who were "visibly angered by what some perceived as irreverence," according to the Waco Tribune.
Nye was in town to participate in McLennan Community College's Distinguished Lecture Series. He gave two lectures on such unfunny and adult topics as global warming, Mars exploration, and energy consumption.
I think we are in some pretty serious and scary times when ignorance is revered.
AllyCat
(16,184 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)That means the moon shines of its own luminescence, not reflected sunlight.
...well, you asked.
AllyCat
(16,184 posts)Oh jeez are we in trouble. Apparently, both those lights are exactly the same. You can't have one incandescent and one carbon filament I guess.
Bandit
(21,475 posts)What's the difference?
Throckmorton
(3,579 posts)Former costal defense battery, and a great place to picnic.
It is not anywhere near Waco.
Lionessa
(3,894 posts)as well as much of their specific ignorance.
IGNORANCE is their deity these days.
dmr
(28,347 posts)on smart phones & such.
Lionessa
(3,894 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)Any hint of intellect, education, or just common sense automatically makes you suspect in the land of Big Hair.
"Everything I need to know I get from what somebody told me the Bible says".
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)I have ever read.
How can people that hopelessly fucking stupignorant (a neologism combining the word "stupid" and the term "pig ignorant" be trusted to tie their own shoes much less drive a car, reproduce or vote.
We are done as a society.
JHB
(37,159 posts)One word. Works here.
fasttense
(17,301 posts)They might have had a stampede if he'd mentioned that fact too.
(You know the bible says there are 4 corners to the earth.)
Response to nolabear (Original post)
A HERETIC I AM This message was self-deleted by its author.
nolabear
(41,960 posts)That's what I come to DU for, to post something I find interesting and have it shot down by someone with an attitude. Sure does make me feel like DU is a good place to talk about things I find interesting, it does.
rfranklin
(13,200 posts)but it would be helpful to post 2-3 paragraphs of the story as well as the date if it's not fresh.
nolabear
(41,960 posts)And thanks for saying it well.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)I don't know exactly what the other poster said ... but, try to remember, communication on a message board can be very imperfect and sometimes a seemingly rude response wasn't posted to be rude, but rather to inform ... of course other times some are just jack-a$$es
Wait Wut
(8,492 posts)Glad you reposted...I think. Yep. I think I may just cry. Totally thought the moon was a big glass ball full of fireflies.
Edit 'cause spelling is just as scary as science.
DefenseLawyer
(11,101 posts)but then again I am from Indiana, so being two years behind is pretty normal for me.
Son of Gob
(1,502 posts)and the link from the article shows that this story happened 6 years ago.
northoftheborder
(7,572 posts)kentauros
(29,414 posts)"Wacko"
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)also an additional light source this close to the Earth would be probably burn us all up.
I digress though...Really they're both correct because the Bible doesn't specify that both light sources are emitters, only that there are two sources of light, which a reflector is.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)It took far less energy for god to be created as a figment of man's imagination, than for "him" to have to actually put in the time and effort to be real.
Well, as they say, "just a theory!"
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)everything than for everything to just exist randomly with no plan. I would think "efficiency" would have to include some type of goal or defined outcome. Otherwise efficiency is irrelevant.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Yet essentially meaningless.
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)Unless either of us has some facts regarding any of the god vs non-god debate, it's just two dumbasses arguing about nothing.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)As in, fine, first define the word "god". Otherwise you might as well be opining about the "flinglesnatz vs. no flinglesnatz debate", as if it is a logical, either/or premise.
As it is, you were the one who attempted to introduce the concept of "efficiency" into this, ah, discussion (a discussion about as logical, serious, and evidence-based as the 'debate' over whether leprechauns wear boxers or briefs) ...presumably you mean energy efficiency, although why an entity such as "god" would be interested in or even worried about energy efficiency, I suppose is yet another open question...
...frankly, from where I sit, it looks like yet another in a long line of attempts to retroactively "explain" the unscientific, flat out goofy and factually ridiculous gibberish contained in the Bible.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)We shall use this as an opportunity to pass on the message from my God friend....
My name God, as it is written: G O D
Comes from the efficient use of the following:
Generation
Organization of
Dirt
We are dirt, we are generated from dirt and we are organized dirt.
GOD means: the force that turns an acorn from dirt into an Oak tree.
You probably knew all that, as smart as you are, but hey, always glad to help folks think.
Now don't go jumping in my shit, all the before comes from GOD.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Nevertheless, the "force" that turns an acorn from dirt into an oak tree, is life, as expressed through DNA, proteins, and the amazing cellulose-enclosed cellular machinery of plants.
You will note that no amount of observation has ever witnessed dirt and dirt alone magically turning into a tree. Similarly, all manner of stuff has been attributed to magic and magical explanations over the years, only to discern that they are explainable by natural phenomena, logic, rational evidence-based processes, and science.
Now you are certainly free to call natural phenomena, logic, rational evidence-based processes and science "God" or "Generation Dirt" or whatever, but if you're attributing a mystical, magical, supernatural force to it, you either need to show some evidence for the magic force, or accept that yours is another in a very long line of interesting religious speculations that belong in the realm of faith, magic, unicorns and wee folk, and not in the realm of logic or scientific debate.
Find the hard evidence, of course, and that changes.
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)to take my posts with any sort of seriousness, especially on a topic as ridiculous as the OP here.
Good luck to you in whatever your goal is.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)from here on out, I won't take anything you write seriously.
Is that better?
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Teach the controversy!
nolabear
(41,960 posts)Geez, posting around here is like leaving a lamb with a wolf pack. Its ass is gonna get chewed no matter how innocent it is.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Dammit, the CORRECT question is whether there's a VEEBLEFETZER or not.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)For 1000 years the followers of the holy finglesnatz have attempted to smite the veeblefetzer infidels.
UnrepentantLiberal
(11,700 posts)And I learned from this thread that there are people in this country who are dumber than I ever imagined.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)"I've yet to meet a theist who wants to have that "debate" and is willing to even define their terms"
When I am unable to become acquainted with a particular demographic, I usually lay the blame with myself rather than the demographic itself. More often than not, it's usually for just one reason-- I didn't really try, but it makes for a good bumper-sticker.
However, I'm fully confident that you have indeed attempted to in many ways...
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)I don't mean come up with a cute acronym for the letters in the word, I mean explain the logical underpinnings, the capabilities the limitations of the being, if it is a "being".. explain why that God and not any or all other gods. Are we arguing for the self evidence of the existence of Zeus? Osiris?
What, PRECISELY are we talking about here and why is that word or entity exempt from the very logical underpinnings and constrictions which are placed on reality, i.e. "nothing can exist without god creating it" "okay, what created god"...etc.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)that they all went out and educated themselves to bring themselves up to the knowledge of a fifth grader
killbotfactory
(13,566 posts)Renew Deal
(81,856 posts)Last edited Tue May 1, 2012, 07:02 PM - Edit history (1)
This is pretty funny too
The lesser light, he pointed out, is not a light at all, but only a reflector.
At this point, several people in the audience stormed out in fury. One woman yelled "We believe in God!" and left with three children, thus ensuring that people across America would read about the incident and conclude that Waco is as nutty as they'd always suspected.
jp11
(2,104 posts)School?!?!?!?!?!
DefenseLawyer
(11,101 posts)NYC Liberal
(20,135 posts)JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)I mean come on!!!
If an alien race was going to send spotters ... they would place them on the moon.
The GOP are a bunch of clowns.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)has been there for millennia. And that's just as good a source for science as the bible.
Posteritatis
(18,807 posts)downwardly_mobile
(137 posts)The panda GIF really sends it over the top! The thread almost reaches "I don't drink with you" levels of comedy!
NYC Liberal
(20,135 posts)I haven't frequented the Lounge in a long time, so I never saw that one.
neverforget
(9,436 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)But the players are still here.
On the Road
(20,783 posts)He's got more lives than a cat.
http://onion.com/ahIqHE
nolabear
(41,960 posts)It was right after his brief stint with a Disney show began. I mentioned that we'd been watching him just that morning on the Disney Channel. His reaction wsa "Wait a minute...I'm not getting a residual for a show shown today. When was it on? I've got to check this out." Made me laugh. It was so NOT The Science Guy.
Lionessa
(3,894 posts)malaise
(268,968 posts)Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise
Initech
(100,068 posts)Blue Owl
(50,356 posts)Grins
(7,217 posts)Look at the dates.
This is not current news, if you open the link the post shows this was posted in Feb of 2009. And, if you look at the link in the article, you will see that the actual story goes back even further, to 2006.
redqueen
(115,103 posts)but no less a goodie.
A truly shameful example of the staggering ignorance of fundies.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Nah, I'm sure there are no anti science creationist goobers in the us today.
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)crazylikafox
(2,755 posts)siligut
(12,272 posts)At least that is what Joseph Smith taught. The Mormons I met believed the moon landing was faked.
siligut
(12,272 posts)That is what we are dealing with.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)- Stephen Colbert, White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, 4/29/2006
Quantess
(27,630 posts)hfojvt
(37,573 posts)he was booed because he apparently could not discuss science without disrespecting the Bible. He's supposed to be Bill Nye, the Science guy, not Bill Nye, the Bible debunking guy. Just the facts man, just the facts. Leave your lack of religion out of it.
One_Life_To_Give
(6,036 posts)Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)First of all, he wasn't booed in the first place. Some people left. That's it.
Next, there was no disrespect to anyone, unless you're a flat earther who has zero use for real science and believe the bible is a fax from god that can't possibly be refuted. Naturally in a place like Waco, Bill Nye managed to find a few of those. All he did was quote the bible verse as a reference to how people thought about the moon in biblical times vs how your typical 3rd grader knows better. That is all.
Here's the account from the reporter who originally reported the story several years ago...
http://www.examiner.com/article/reporter-of-bill-nye-moonbat-story-speaks
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)SidDithers
(44,228 posts)is disrespecting it.
Sid
NickB79
(19,236 posts)What kind of ridiculous crap logic is that?
One_Life_To_Give
(6,036 posts)I don't see a good reason to mention it other than to try and get a few laughs at others expense. Just because we know better and could make sport of others ignorance. Doesn't make doing so right.
w8liftinglady
(23,278 posts)Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)You notice it more when you get outside the big cities, but there's no shortage of fundies in Texas that have a complete disconnect from anything most people would call reality.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)How Woods characterized the audience reaction, and others characterized his characterization, would cause blog swarm. And how others characterized the characterizatons of those characterizing his characterizations later (including yours truly) would cause the story to explode again, three years later.
http://www.examiner.com/article/reporter-of-bill-nye-moonbat-story-speaks
Cause they are so dedicated to scientific method they always check their facts & sources.
Iggo
(47,552 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)the story (which isn't honestly reported) appeals to prejudice. fundies are illiterate morons, etc.
Iggo
(47,552 posts)I thought I was having fun with people who didn't realize this is a 3+ year old story.
Thanks for setting me straight.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)Iggo
(47,552 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)targets are, that's all. and every bit as liable to witch hunt.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)Iggo
(47,552 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)he said the moon reflects the sun, he had trouble because *he* brought the bible into it; his aim was to show that the bible was false. *That* was what people took exception to.
And now here we are, using a three-year old somewhat distorted story to show how "stupid" religious people are & 99% in the thread are fully on-board with it.
Not much difference between the fundies & DUers to my mind.
Logical
(22,457 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)have to bring the bible into his talk. i'm from the seattle area where he got his start, & his schtick had nothing to do with the bible. people who bought tickets to see him didn't come expecting an anti-bible talk.
nye chose to go there & some people were offended. they weren't offended because he said the moon reflects the son, they were offended because he decided to highlight how that fact contradicts the bible. it was gratuitous, intended to poke religious people in the eye. it's disingenuous to poke people & then go whining about how they yelped. also dishonest to say it was about the science.
LadyHawkAZ
(6,199 posts)In the same state that's cut Planned Parenthood funding for religious reasons, and in the same city that was home to the Branch Davidians, it's certainly much better to pander to their delusions lest they get offended and leave. Because, you know, teaching scientific fact that might make them question those delusions before they hurt somebody is offensive and dishonest.
And somehow, the fact that we agree with this puts us on a par with fundies that do things like, say, cut funding to Planned Parenthood because of their religious beliefs.
*headdesk*
Logical
(22,457 posts)Person go hear a scientist talk if they are offended easily. The two topics do not mix!!!!
Javaman
(62,521 posts)"But nothing got people as riled as when he brought up Genesis 1:16, which reads: "God made two great lights -- the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars."
The lesser light, he pointed out, is not a light at all, but only a reflector.
At this point, several people in the audience stormed out in fury. One woman yelled "We believe in God!" and left with three children, thus ensuring that people across America would read about the incident and conclude that Waco is as nutty as they'd always suspected."
----------------
he was pointing out the conflicting and completely wrong concept as proposed by the bible. Granted, one should know their audience when making a presentation on a particular subject, but that doesn't mean he should censor himself either.
The woman yelling "we believe in God" only underlines the fallacy of the bible's assertion that there is another "light" at night.
I live in Texas and run into various types of fundies from time to time and yes, I have had people tell me that the sun revolves around the earth.
Sometimes they need a to be told things with a verbal hammer.
I will now step slowly away from the the computer and make no other comment.
Feel free.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)the audience booing. and the people storming out would have stayed had nye simply chosen to say that the moon reflects the sun's light without tweaking their noses about the bible.
i'll leave the discussants on this thread to continue the ritual attack on those who walked out. Even if it was three years ago, even if it was just "several," and even if it was more because nye tweaked them on the bible rather than any belief that the moon has it's own light.
why get in the way of a good public witch-bashing?
Justpat
(3,567 posts)and have it taught in schools in science classes, I would say Mr. Nye had every
right to poke the religious types in the eye.
If more scientists did more poking it would be a good thing.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)actors.
poking people in the eye generally makes things worse, not better.
LadyHawkAZ
(6,199 posts)which wasn't mentioned in this blog but was in the original story.
http://web.archive.org/web/20100110212547/http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/04/06/04062006wacbillnye.html?
"The Emmy-winning scientist angered a few audience members when he criticized literal interpretation of the biblical verse Genesis 1:16, which reads: God made two great lights - the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.
He pointed out that the sun, the greater light, is but one of countless stars and that the lesser light is the moon, which really is not a light at all, rather a reflector of light.
A number of audience members left the room at that point, visibly angered by what some perceived as irreverence.
We believe in a God! exclaimed one woman as she left the room with three young children."
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)what's wrong with pointing that out.
Oh, and pi isn't equal to 3 either.
Sid
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)How is that light generated? AFAIK, there are two ways to generate light - chemical (think bioluminescence) and thermonuclear processes such as fusion (i.e., the sun) and fission (happy old Mr. A-bomb). Were the moon to produce light thermally, the astronauts who landed thereon would have been instantly incinerated down to an atomic level. Were there a chemical process, evidence of said chemicals would have almost certainly have turned up in the hundreds of pounds of moon rocks brought back to Earth, which they most assuredly did not.
These dumbasses are so stupignorant, scientifically and otherwise, it's a small miracle that they can tie shoes or work zippers correctly.
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)In the 1650's, the church would burn you at the stake.
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)Every red-blooded Murkin knows it's made of 100% Murkin cheese.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Couldn't somebody start a reality show that embarrasses people who are totally, completely and stubbornly ignorant?
There would be lots and lots of subjects. Texas and Alabama are nice in the winter by the way.
And you could start with really simple stuff like this moon thing or how oil was "created" and why it is, therefore, not available in endless supply. (The real story.)
This is to cry.
I consider myself pretty ignorant when it comes to science. There is so much to learn, but . . . . . . .
This is where the reality show industry could really do society a service.
SomethingFishy
(4,876 posts)change the "moon lamp" to a more expensive LED bulb. It's Obama's fault.