# Bill Nye the Science Guy vs Creotard Ken Ham **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 3, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764 "2014-01-03T01:52:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pythonzzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@pythonzzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pythonzzz)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/1 "2014-01-03T01:52:53Z")
Ol’ Kenny baby is getting a chance to ‘debate’ Bill Nye the Science Guy. Flogging tickets for $25. :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham Debate at the Creation Museum > > TV’s famed “Bill Nye the Science Guy” will argue the case against creation and for evolution as he faces the founder and president of the Creation Museum, Ken Ham, on February 4, 2014, in the museum’s 900-seat Legacy Hall. The museum, which has drawn two million guests in six years (including 20,000 visitors at its recent Christmas Town programs), is located in Petersburg, Kentucky (near the Cincinnati Airport). > > The agreed-upon topic for the 7 PM debate is “Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern scientific era?” > > “A debate with Mr. Nye, nationally known for his children’s TV program and for promoting evolution, will be one of our major events in 2014 to highlight how children and teens are being influenced by evolutionary thinking," declared Ham. “This year, our AiG theme is ‘Standing Our Ground, Rescuing Our Kids.’ Having the opportunity to hold a cordial but spirited debate with such a well-known personality who is admired by so many young people will help bring the creation/evolution issue to the attention of many more people, including youngsters.” > > Ham added, “I hope to show Mr. Nye and our debate audience that observational science confirms the scientific accuracy of the Genesis account of origins, not evolution.” > > Nye is the former host of the popular Bill Nye the Science Guy PBS-TV program for children, the current executive director of the Planetary Society, and a frequent guest on TV interview programs. > > Ham also noted, “If his travel schedule permits that day, Mr. Nye will be my guest at the museum. I would personally show him through our museum before the debate. I would also like him to meet our several full-time staff members who hold earned doctorates in science.” > > AiG is willing to participate in public debates with serious evolutionists with credentials. Even though some mocking, strident evolutionists have challenged AiG to public debates, their requests are not considered. As a serious advocate for his beliefs, Nye’s opinions carry weight in society. > > Ham, who debated at Harvard in the 1990s, has pointed out that evolution/creation debates featuring serious debaters have sadly become rare. > > Tickets are $25 each and will be available for purchase through the debate event page starting Monday, January 6. > > Editor’s note: This article was adapted and distributed as a news release today to the national media. Via the Hamuseum’s website: > **[Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham Debate at the Creation Museum](https://answersingenesis.org/creation-vs-evolution/bill-nye-vs-ken-ham-debate-at-the-creation-museum/)** > > On February 4, 2014, TV’s famed “Bill Nye the Science Guy” will debate Creation Museum founder and president Ken Ham on the topic of evolution, creation, science, and origins. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/2 "2014-01-03T02:00:01Z")
Hmmm…that’s about a two-hour drive for me. Tempting. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/3 "2014-01-03T02:04:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Ham, who debated at Harvard in the 1990s, has pointed out that evolution/creation debates featuring serious debaters have sadly become rare. Of course they’ve become rare. I can’t imagine very many serious scientists wasting their time on such nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/4 "2014-01-03T02:25:06Z")
I don’t know how Ham stacks up as a public speaker, but my bet is on a “Gish Gallop” where he just blurts out a long, fast list of things he asserts contradict evolution – including items that have nothing to do with the actual debate. (I remember, with amazement, hearing Gish denounce foolish scientists for believing in odorless, colorless gases. It quite took my breath away!) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/5 "2014-01-03T02:42:56Z")
[QUOTE=Ken Ham] I would also like him to meet our several full-time staff members who hold _ **earned** _ doctorates in science. [/QUOTE] (emphasis mine) Nye, with his measly _earned_ BS in (Jebus help us!) Engineering and US Patent #7,254,904 for a (I can’t bear to say it) ballet toe shoe (shudder!), is toast. No, wait–he’s not an idiot. Perhaps there is hope after all! That is, if Ken doesn’t Gish Gallop all over him and declare victory without Bill getting a word in. What is the defense against that, other than not bothering to debate (the choice of the sensible)? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/6 "2014-01-03T02:45:33Z")
While it’s about a debate, I’m not seeing a debate here. Off to MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![pythonzzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@pythonzzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pythonzzz)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/7 "2014-01-03T03:12:14Z")
Kenny’s spinning on his facebook like the propeller on a beanie: > [@](#): > > Atheists are going ballistic over the news that Bill Nye will be debating me on February 4th. Many of them are calling on Bill Nye to cancel. These atheists are so insecure in their beliefs. Not only that, but atheists have managed in many ways to censor information concerning creation from the public–they basically have been involved in getting legislation to protect the teaching of evolution in public schools and stop students even hearing about creation. These secularists do not want people hearing about the evidence that confirms the creation account in the Bible. Now that a well respected personality like Bill Nye will be debating me on the origins topic, many of these atheists are worried–they just do not want people to hear such a debate! Why would they be worried if it is so obvious that evolution is true? > > I must admit that we were surprised today at how quickly social media took the release of the information about this coming debate and made it go viral. Our website visits have hit a record and overwhelmed our site for a while–our web team are working feverishly to increase our ability to receive many more visitors (I think we’ve had a similar problem to Obamacare–but our fix will cost much less! ). > > Tickets for the event will go on sale Monday–I will post a link when they are available, but I expect them to sell out quickly. > > Here are some of the comments people have been posting on Bill Nye’s Facebook: > ( [Redirecting...](https://www.facebook.com/billnye?filter=2)) > > Here are a few: > > Don’t debate Ken Ham. > > Do a video where you debate a cooked ham. We can all guess what Ken’s > arguments are going to be. “Darwinianism is a religion! The bible is > historically and scientifically accurate! Creationism is a scientific > proof where all they have is a theory! Yeah, but how did life start!? > What created life in the first place, and why? How do you know? Were > you there?!” > > ## Do a bait and switch… have AronRa or Matt Dillahunty go up there and debate for you. Don’t let Ken Ham ride on your coat-tails and gain any notoriety. > > ## Bill, why are you willing to debate with creationists? You will legitimize their superstitious nonsense just by being there. Just laugh at there willful ignorance and move on. You can spend your time better by inspiring the next group of scientists and engineers. (BNTSG the next generation!) Meanwhile the creationists will give huge advantages to the children of rational people by not preparing them to live in the real world. > > Why’d you agree to debate Kan Ham, the Creationist Guy? All you’re > doing is giving creationism an air of legitimacy. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/8 "2014-01-03T03:46:22Z")
I wonder how many tickets will be available to the general public, and how many will be distributed to Ham’s supporters? The fact that this debate is being held at the Creation Museum instead of neutral ground is bad enough. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/9 "2014-01-03T04:04:42Z")
Not to rain on anybody’s parade, but calling people “creotard” doesn’t help our side. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/10 "2014-01-03T04:06:29Z")
It’s a trap! I’m afraid Nye is walking into a no-win. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/11 "2014-01-03T04:16:06Z")
The _only_ reasonable way for this debate to go is for Nye to start his opening statement with “Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern scientific era? No.” and leave. The reason prominent creation/evolution debates have become so rare is because most intelligent evolutionary biologists just straight-up have better things to do then waste their time banging their heads against a brick wall. Ken Ham is not a reasonable person, and to assume that this is the case, or that there is _anything_ to be gained in a debate which puts a scientific discipline backed by centuries of extreme evidence and scrutiny on the same stage as an unscientific hypothesis which makes zero sense, is extremely foolish of Nye. Dawkins nailed it when he explained it [here](http://old.richarddawkins.net/articles/119-why-i-won-39-t-debate-creationists). At this point in the “discussion”, you don’t “debate” with creationists. You laugh at them. And then there’s the fact that this is Ken Ham we’re talking about. I’m sorry, for whose benefit is this supposed to be, exactly? Ham is a constant and habitual liar, and his website, Answers in Genesis, proves this. He, for all intents and purposes, does not believe in science, and considers the bible to be infallible. The debate is basically starting with one party saying “I will never give an inch because doing so would force me to reevaluate not just my beliefs, but essentially dismiss my entire worldview and my career”. That’s a pointless, harmful waste of everyone’s time. What the fuck was Nye thinking? EDIT: Shit, this is being held _at the creation museum_? _What the fuck was Nye thinking?_ The _only_ rational answer here is “cancel”. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/12 "2014-01-03T06:47:41Z")
I know yahoo answers generally sucks, but answers to the question - Are there ANY atheist willing to debate Dr. Ken Ham? (with the follow up of - So I take that as a no. Since all of you sounds like real morons with no critical thinking ability.) gives us some great gems. “Why would one wish to debate an idiot on his personal fantasy?” “Debating creationists on the topic of evolution is rather like trying to play chess with a pigeon; it knocks the pieces over, craps on the board, and flies back to its flock to claim victory.” “There is as much point in “debating” Ken Ham as there is in debating a border collie. Probably even less, because border collies are cute and playful. But they do understand about as much about evolution.” ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/13 "2014-01-03T07:02:41Z")
As a Christian myself, and fairly devout, I can’t help wondering why Bill Nye would debate an **IDIOT** like Ken Ham. I mean, why waste your time on someone who isn’t willing to listen, and can’t possibly learn anything from what you will say? Nye can’t win, ecause no matter how brilliant his points are, and no matter how stupid Ham will sound. Ham will declare victory. He’ll spin whatever goes on into a defeat for the opposition. So why is Nye going to bother? I wouldn’t walk across the street to see that stupid museum, much less pay to see a debate of unrepentant unwillingness to observe scientific fact over an open mind. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/14 "2014-01-03T08:12:05Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > “Debating creationists on the topic of evolution is rather like trying to play chess with a pigeon; it knocks the pieces over, craps on the board, and flies back to its flock to claim victory.” Too funny. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/15 "2014-01-03T08:14:20Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > As a Christian myself, and fairly devout, I can’t help wondering why Bill Nye would debate an **IDIOT** like Ken Ham. > > I mean, why waste your time on someone who isn’t willing to listen, and can’t possibly learn anything from what you will say? > > Nye can’t win, ecause no matter how brilliant his points are, and no matter how stupid Ham will sound. Ham will declare victory. He’ll spin whatever goes on into a defeat for the opposition. So why is Nye going to bother? > > I wouldn’t walk across the street to see that stupid museum, much less pay to see a debate of unrepentant unwillingness to observe scientific fact over an open mind. I agree - no matter how carefully structured and moderated, these public debates always allow the creationists the opportunity to spin and create a false impression that they’re winning. For example, using the so-called ‘[Gish Gallop](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_Gish#Debates)’ technique, where the creationist flits from one topic to the next, blurting out a long list of nonsense that is too voluminous, nebulous, or unreferenced to be addressed - and the more gullible component of the audience is left with the impression that the creationist has a lot of strong arguments and that his opponent is a spluttering dunce. Maybe Nye will manage to avoid this somehow though. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/16 "2014-01-03T11:09:14Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > (I remember, with amazement, hearing Gish denounce foolish scientists for believing in odorless, colorless gases. It quite took my breath away!) That’s probably just the carbon monoxide getting to you. 😃 So basically I’m seeing Ham getting people to pay $25 a ticket to come to his museum. Even if Nye gets a cut, it’s a win for Ham before a word is spoken. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/17 "2014-01-03T13:17:13Z")
It’s not hard to guess why Ham would want to have this debate. He’s an expert at bringing people down to his level and beating them with experience. But what’s in it for Nye? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/18 "2014-01-03T13:52:21Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > It’s not hard to guess why Ham would want to have this debate. He’s an expert at bringing people down to his level and beating them with experience. > > But what’s in it for Nye? :dubious: It doesn’t seem likely he would be unaware about how the creationists play the debate. I imagine he thinks he has a trick up his sleeve and will succeed where others have failed. I hope he’s right. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/19 "2014-01-03T14:11:49Z")
It seems to me there are three reasons to have a debate. 1. Honest intellectual exploring of the issue. I doubt either Mr. Ham or Mr. Nye have any illusions this is what’s going to happen. 2. Pandering to your base. Pretty clear this is what Mr. Ham will do; Mr. Nye doesn’t need to. 3. A monetary payout for showing up. Hmm, anybody know what Mr. Nye’s finances have been like lately? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764/20 "2014-01-03T14:20:29Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > It’s a trap! I’m afraid Nye is walking into a no-win. Wanna bet that his mike gets cut off “accidentally”? God did it! I’m a great fan of Nye, but I’m not sure his strong-point is in an honest-to-god (hah) debate. Please don’t be offended, Bill, but I hope you get some pointers from the experts. Maybe Randi, Dawkins and Dillihunty offstage, whispering into a wireless mike. Sorta like Peter Popoff in reverse. I can’t wait for the video. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-nye-the-science-guy-vs-creotard-ken-ham/677764.md?page=2)