# Intelligent Design prof requires student to troll on 'hostile' websites.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [August 11, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072 "2009-08-11T16:18:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Joe_Meager)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/21 "2009-08-11T18:35:12Z")
> [@Lobohan](#):
>
> It’s like the anti-health care crowd. Can’t win the argument? Scream like a frightened child.
“anti-health care crowd”? Do you mean people who care about anti-health? (Whatever that is.)
“anti-health care crowd”? Do you mean people who are against health care? Apart from a very few people who reject modern healthcare (it’s one word, like “dumbass”) for religious reasons, who is this “crowd” you speak of?
“anti-health care crowd”? Or do you mean people who are opposed to the current attempt at health _insurance reform being pushed by Democrats? Are you aware that they aren’t actually trying to reform healthcare_, but rather who pays for it and how?
Since you can’t clearly articulate what it is you’re afraid of, but take the opportunity anyway to sling insults at those who disagree with you, I posit it’s you who’s screaming like a frightened child.
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### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/22 "2009-08-11T18:50:33Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#):
>
> Since you can’t clearly articulate what it is you’re afraid of, but take the opportunity anyway to sling insults at those who disagree with you, I posit it’s you who’s screaming like a frightened child.
Every swinging dick in here, you included, knew what he was talking about.
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### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/23 "2009-08-11T18:56:09Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#):
>
> Since you can’t clearly articulate what it is you’re afraid of, but take the opportunity anyway to sling insults at those who disagree with you, I posit it’s you who’s screaming like a frightened child.
This was a sad and pathetic post. You really ought to be ashamed of yourself.
---
### Author:  [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/24 "2009-08-11T18:58:57Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#):
>
> “anti-health care crowd”? Do you mean people who care about anti-health? (Whatever that is.)
>
> “anti-health care crowd”? Do you mean people who are against health care? Apart from a very few people who reject modern healthcare (it’s one word, like “dumbass”) for religious reasons, who is this “crowd” you speak of?
>
> “anti-health care crowd”? Or do you mean people who are opposed to the current attempt at health _insurance reform being pushed by Democrats? Are you aware that they aren’t actually trying to reform healthcare_, but rather who pays for it and how?
>
> Since you can’t clearly articulate what it is you’re afraid of, but take the opportunity anyway to sling insults at those who disagree with you, I posit it’s you who’s screaming like a frightened child.
I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were that stupid. I’ll try again with small words that your knobby little mind can gum into the tasty pap of understanding.
I’m referring to the people against the current health care reform going through congress. If you care to actually discuss it, why don’t we pop over to another thread?
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/25 "2009-08-11T19:00:42Z")
And just to prove that you can’t top reality when it comes to irony, I see that Dr Dembski also teachs courses in Critical Thinking.
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### Author:  [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/26 "2009-08-11T19:04:07Z")
> [@Lobohan](#):
>
> I’m referring to the people against the current health care reform going through congress. If you care to actually discuss it, why don’t we pop over to another thread?
Why didn’t you do that originally, instead of dropping a brain-dead drive-by into a thread on ID?
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### Author:  [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/27 "2009-08-11T19:07:57Z")
> [@Lobohan](#):
>
> Hrm. There goes my week. 😃
>
> Seriously though, it’s because they can’t win based on the merits. Intelligent Design proponents are stupid, uneducated and / or cowardly. This sounds like just the sort of thing they would do.
>
> It’s like the anti-health care crowd. Can’t win the argument? Scream like a frightened child.
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#):
>
> Why didn’t you do that originally, instead of dropping a brain-dead drive-by into a thread on ID?
Because, Pig, I was drawing a comparison to another issue where the right is in the wrong and behaving like stupid children.
Does that answer your question, Pig?
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### Author:  [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/28 "2009-08-11T19:24:51Z")
> [@Lobohan](#):
>
> Because, Pig, I was drawing a comparison to another issue where the right is in the wrong and behaving like stupid children.
>
> Does that answer your question, Pig?
Yes, and it provides an all-purpose excuse for hijacking any thread at any time–The side I don’t agree with on Issue A is stupid, just like the side I don’t agree with on Issue B. This makes a message board very tiresome, very quickly.
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### Author:  [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/29 "2009-08-11T19:54:44Z")
Except that there’s an actual equivalency to the whole thing:
Health Care Reform Opponents - Go the Town Hall meetings and disrupt things.
ID Proponents From This Classroom - Go to message boards and disrupt things.
It was the first thing I thought of too, seeing as the two situations are so similar. If he hadn’t said it, you be freaking out at me right now.
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### Author:  [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/30 "2009-08-11T21:20:45Z")
> [@Voyager](#):
>
> It doesn’t say anything about them having to respond to counterarguments, or even evaluate them. Clearly the most efficient thing for a student to do is post and run.
>
> Trolling for credit. What a concept.
Maybe I’m reading it wrong. It says “(3) provide at least 10 posts defending ID that you’ve made on “hostile” websites”. I took that to mean that they’re _defending_ a particular point against some counter argument. I guess that’s not necessarily the case, but if I were the teacher that’s what I’d expect. In which case I would consider it a great learning experience. But even assuming that’s not the case. These kids will get exposed to more counter arguments than they’d probably get in class.
Wait, just thought of a big downside. If they came and quickly posted here and they ran away after one response from Der Trihs. That’d be enough to turn them into YECs. :eek:
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### Author:  [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/31 "2009-08-12T00:52:49Z")
> [@mswas](#):
>
> I think we should sic /b/ and somethingawful on them. 😉
Not your personal army. Now if you can trick /b/ into thinking they failed to deliver tits, then lord have mercy on their souls.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/32 "2009-08-12T01:08:45Z")
> [@magellan01](#):
>
> Maybe I’m reading it wrong. It says “(3) provide at least 10 posts defending ID that you’ve made on “hostile” websites”. I took that to mean that they’re _defending_ a particular point against some counter argument. I guess that’s not necessarily the case, but if I were the teacher that’s what I’d expect. In which case I would consider it a great learning experience. But even assuming that’s not the case. These kids will get exposed to more counter arguments than they’d probably get in class.
If you were the teacher you’d be a much better one than Dembski.
How likely is there going to be an ID thread on a hostile website - without an IDer starting it? It is not like we are spending a lot of threads trying to think up clever refutations to ID, which would be defended by the brave dope. I’d suspect that the student would start a thread, saying ID is correct because - and then dump the standard crap. That would seem to meet the requirements. It would be nice if the poster stuck around to really defend ID, but he or she would no doubt get their asses handed to them, and probably wouldn’t want Dembski seeing it. After all, that is what usually happens in GD ID threads.
I know it is against the rules to start a board war, but I wonder if it is against the rules to invite the students to try their hand here? Then we’ll know for sure what’s what.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/33 "2009-08-12T01:21:05Z")
> [@Sitnam](#):
>
> The science department at a Theological Seminary is illogical?
Why does a seminary even **have** a science department?
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/34 "2009-08-12T01:38:21Z")
> [@mswas](#):
>
> I think we should sic /b/ and somethingawful on them. 😉
Do it! Do it!
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> Why does a seminary even **have** a science department?
For godsakes, again – NOT ALL CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS TEACH CREATIONISM!!! Gah! Dude, are you aware that the guy who came up with the Big Bang theory was a [Catholic priest](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Lema%C3%AEtre)?
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/35 "2009-08-12T02:14:08Z")
> [@magellan01](#):
>
> Maybe I’m reading it wrong. It says “(3) provide at least 10 posts defending ID that you’ve made on “hostile” websites”.
Dammit! I was looking forward to September, when the students generally have better things to do than troll this board. Now September will be June all over again. :mad:
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/36 "2009-08-12T02:22:43Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> For godsakes, again – NOT ALL CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS TEACH CREATIONISM!!! Gah! Dude, are you aware that the guy who came up with the Big Bang theory was a [Catholic priest](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Lema%C3%AEtre)?
True. And the guy who first figured out that descent is provided by genes was a [Catholic priest](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregor_Mendel). And the guy who married Mendelian genetics to (the as of that point, unidentified mechanism for) Darwin’s Descent with Modification was a devout [Orthodox Christian](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobzhansky).
I knew a number of guys who went to the seminary who studied biology, chemistry, and physics. (I suspect that they only had a single intro course, each, but the classes were there. Of course, they were Catholic and Lutheran seminaries and not associated with Dembski’s outfit.)
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/37 "2009-08-12T02:32:02Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> For godsakes, again – NOT ALL CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS TEACH CREATIONISM!!!
I know that, but why is any science relevant to training for religious ministry? I mean, I wouldn’t expect a business school to have an anatomy department.
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/38 "2009-08-12T02:35:41Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> I know that, but why is any science relevant to training for religious ministry? I mean, I wouldn’t expect a business school to have an anatomy department.
However, priests and ministers generally receive liberal arts degrees that require some minimum amount of science in the curriculum if they wish to be accredited. I would be surprised to discover that a business school offering a bachelor degree had no science classes, (although I would be equally surprised if they offered anything as specific as anatomy or organic chemistry).
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/39 "2009-08-12T03:03:33Z")
> [@tomndebb](#):
>
> However, priests and ministers generally receive liberal arts degrees that require some minimum amount of science in the curriculum if they wish to be accredited. I would be surprised to discover that a business school offering a bachelor degree had no science classes, (although I would be equally surprised if they offered anything as specific as anatomy or organic chemistry).
I must have had the wrong idea about seminaries. I thought it was a specialized professional-graduate program like med school or law school – not like, say, West Point or Annapolis, where you get a complete college education with emphasis on military training.
---
### Author:  [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-design-prof-requires-student-to-troll-on-hostile-websites/506072/40 "2009-08-12T03:12:41Z")
[Dembski responds:](http://www.uncommondescent.com/education/the-intellectual-equivalent-of-spray-painting-graffiti/)
> [@](#):
>
> It seems that sending my students to post on “hostile” websites, however, sticks especially in their craw. Slashdot has since picked up on it (go here — the keyword tags are precious).
>
> Want to know how Darwinists really think? Go to the websites listed here and find out. Thus, when I require students to go to these websites and defend ID, it is sound pedagogy. Darwinists reflexively call this trolling (a projection of their own propensity to troll). One individual even emailed me that this is “requiring your students to participate in the intellectual equivalent of spray painting graffiti.” Nonsense. These sites provide a forum and, ostensibly, encourage discussion. My students go to these sites not to pretend to be something they are not but to defend their views — with civility.
>
> In any case, I’ll make you a deal: let Darwinist, atheist, skeptic, freethinking, and infidel websites state prominently on their homepage the following warning — “Intelligent Design Supporters Strictly Prohibited” — and I’ll make sure my students don’t post on your sites.
Sound pedagogy? Right. Cuz internet boards are where education comes alive! Send a few this way, we’ll give 'em a few questions to ask you.
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