Comments on: Stupidity squared http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/ The Universe as seen from the perspective of an astronomical researcher, presenter and writer. Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:50:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Graham Chambers http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/comment-page-1/#comment-99202 Graham Chambers Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:06:32 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/#comment-99202 You know, I rather agree with the Head of NASA wrt global warming/climate change. His position is little different from that of James Lovelock and the Gaia hypothesis. We humans of course look at things from a very anthropocentric viewpoint- this is natural, but the planet doesn't care whether we survive as a species or not. And at the end of the day, global warming and all other attendant ills visited on our planet come from one single source - human overpopulation. If we don't stop it, we'll pay for it. The idea that we as humans occupy a special place on this planet or in the universe is rather arrogant is it not? Indeed it begins to sound rather like "Intelligent design"! You know, I rather agree with the Head of NASA wrt global warming/climate change. His position is little different from that of James Lovelock and the Gaia hypothesis. We humans of course look at things from a very anthropocentric viewpoint- this is natural, but the planet doesn’t care whether we survive as a species or not. And at the end of the day, global warming and all other attendant ills visited on our planet come from one single source – human overpopulation. If we don’t stop it, we’ll pay for it.
The idea that we as humans occupy a special place on this planet or in the universe is rather arrogant is it not? Indeed it begins to sound rather like “Intelligent design”!

]]> By: Ciaron Drain http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/comment-page-1/#comment-36596 Ciaron Drain Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:44:19 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/#comment-36596 I don't know what is funnier intelligent design or the people who proport still I recommend the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster on http://www.venganza.org/ their heaven has a beer volcano which is definately an improvement. I don’t know what is funnier intelligent design or the people who proport still I recommend the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster on http://www.venganza.org/ their heaven has a beer volcano which is definately an improvement.

]]> By: Alice Sheppard http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/comment-page-1/#comment-14118 Alice Sheppard Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:57:39 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/#comment-14118 The link for Gill's comment is http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article1805870.ece (Don't encourage us, Chris . . .) The link for Gill’s comment is http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article1805870.ece
(Don’t encourage us, Chris . . .)

]]> By: Chris Lintott’s Universe » A watery Venus http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/comment-page-1/#comment-13821 Chris Lintott’s Universe » A watery Venus Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:01:49 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/#comment-13821 [...] On Earth, there’s (currently - see the comments on this post below for the latest discussion here of our attempts to warm the planet) only one place where this happens (in the Pacific, just NE of Australia) but this must be what happened across the whole of Venus billions of years ago. [...] [...] On Earth, there’s (currently – see the comments on this post below for the latest discussion here of our attempts to warm the planet) only one place where this happens (in the Pacific, just NE of Australia) but this must be what happened across the whole of Venus billions of years ago. [...]

]]> By: Gill Colling http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/comment-page-1/#comment-13276 Gill Colling Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:35:26 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/#comment-13276 I wonder if the predicted sea level rise displaces huge numbers of people by flooding low lying coastal areas they would appreciate Mike Griffin's comments? Maybe he could explain to them that it's OK, they may be homeless but others are much happier with the new climate thankyou very much!!! In May the news broke that the Southern Ocean isn't absorbing as much carbon dioxide as it used to, in fact the amount it absorbs are continuing to decrease, as a direct result of climate change causing increased wind and changing ocean currents, bringing carbon dioxide rich deep waters to the surface. So with a such a huge sink of carbon dioxide affected the rate of climate change will increase. Ready to change your life style Mr Griffin?? As for ID it seems that God still uses the time honored technique of trial and error. Maybe we should provide God with powerful computers and CAD applications so he can model his 'creations' ! After all computers don't mistakes.....do they? ;) I wonder if the predicted sea level rise displaces huge numbers of people by flooding low lying coastal areas they would appreciate Mike Griffin’s comments? Maybe he could explain to them that it’s OK, they may be homeless but others are much happier with the new climate thankyou very much!!!
In May the news broke that the Southern Ocean isn’t absorbing as much carbon dioxide as it used to, in fact the amount it absorbs are continuing to decrease, as a direct result of climate change causing increased wind and changing ocean currents, bringing carbon dioxide rich deep waters to the surface. So with a such a huge sink of carbon dioxide affected the rate of climate change will increase. Ready to change your life style Mr Griffin??
As for ID it seems that God still uses the time honored technique of trial and error. Maybe we should provide God with powerful computers and CAD applications so he can model his ‘creations’ ! After all computers don’t mistakes…..do they? ;)

]]> By: Alice Sheppard http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/comment-page-1/#comment-13180 Alice Sheppard Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:52:59 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/#comment-13180 Having seen Stuart's comment, it occurs to me perhaps, according to ID, we do react to a build-up of carbon dioxide in order that we may burn fossil fuels to our hearts' content in perfect safety, but not to displacement of oxygen because we aren't really supposed to do chemistry experiments lest we become too knowledgeable and get arrogant enough to make scientific decisions . . . Or perhaps not. ;-) Sorry folks, how could I resist!? Having seen Stuart’s comment, it occurs to me perhaps, according to ID, we do react to a build-up of carbon dioxide in order that we may burn fossil fuels to our hearts’ content in perfect safety, but not to displacement of oxygen because we aren’t really supposed to do chemistry experiments lest we become too knowledgeable and get arrogant enough to make scientific decisions . . .

Or perhaps not. ;-) Sorry folks, how could I resist!?

]]> By: Rob http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/comment-page-1/#comment-13124 Rob Mon, 04 Jun 2007 10:42:06 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/#comment-13124 Well written Chris. The toxic effects of "Intelligent Design" (and the 'No Child Left behind') trends are increasingly evident in science education in parts of the US. It is indeed unfortunate to see the spread of ID's influence to the UK. We had a nasty scare here in Australlia a couple of years ago when the then Sience and Education minister said that schools could teach it if that was what parents want - he later clarified (modified) his statement to say that it should be covered in religious studies classes but the damage was don. Fortunately the topic has been relatively quiet over recent months. The head of science at the CoE obviuosly doesn't have a firm grasp of either history or science. Well written Chris.

The toxic effects of “Intelligent Design” (and the ‘No Child Left behind’) trends are increasingly evident in science education in parts of the US. It is indeed unfortunate to see the spread of ID’s influence to the UK. We had a nasty scare here in Australlia a couple of years ago when the then Sience and Education minister said that schools could teach it if that was what parents want – he later clarified (modified) his statement to say that it should be covered in religious studies classes but the damage was don. Fortunately the topic has been relatively quiet over recent months.

The head of science at the CoE obviuosly doesn’t have a firm grasp of either history or science.

]]> By: Alice Sheppard http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/comment-page-1/#comment-12641 Alice Sheppard Sat, 02 Jun 2007 18:39:02 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/#comment-12641 Oh, I see. It's fine to change the composition of the atmosphere by pumping masses of carbon dioxide into it, but only so long as we don't have the arrogance to make decisions as well. (I never get why people say the addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere shouldn't make any difference. Add any chemical to something, and its composition and characteristics will change. I dare say polonium amounted to a very small percentage of the total mass of Litvinenko . . .) Millions of years ago we weren't really in a position to make decisions or changes, but biology is a major factor that drives the climate - why else is oxygen such a large component of the atmosphere? People in a position of power shouldn't make pathetic excuses to avoid responsibility! And as for Unintelligent Design, if I have to teach it I will explode! What a shame this country has taken to copying so many U.S. attitudes. Historically, here, there has been little conflict between science and the church. A lot of priests, bishops, etc., supported Copernicus and wrote 17th and 18th-century sci-fi, often full of new and controversial science. I bet they wouldn't have subscribed to this "let God take care of everything, we're not arrogant" business. I'll look out for your letter in the Guardian . . . Oh, I see. It’s fine to change the composition of the atmosphere by pumping masses of carbon dioxide into it, but only so long as we don’t have the arrogance to make decisions as well. (I never get why people say the addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere shouldn’t make any difference. Add any chemical to something, and its composition and characteristics will change. I dare say polonium amounted to a very small percentage of the total mass of Litvinenko . . .) Millions of years ago we weren’t really in a position to make decisions or changes, but biology is a major factor that drives the climate – why else is oxygen such a large component of the atmosphere? People in a position of power shouldn’t make pathetic excuses to avoid responsibility!

And as for Unintelligent Design, if I have to teach it I will explode! What a shame this country has taken to copying so many U.S. attitudes. Historically, here, there has been little conflict between science and the church. A lot of priests, bishops, etc., supported Copernicus and wrote 17th and 18th-century sci-fi, often full of new and controversial science. I bet they wouldn’t have subscribed to this “let God take care of everything, we’re not arrogant” business.

I’ll look out for your letter in the Guardian . . .

]]> By: Stuart http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/comment-page-1/#comment-12620 Stuart Sat, 02 Jun 2007 16:33:45 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/#comment-12620 Sue, to add to your comment about "design", our lungs only react to a build up of carbon dioxide rather than a lack of oxygen. So, if you find yourself working in a low oxygen environment (e.g. if you are working with liquid nitrogen which turns to vapour and displaces the oxygen), your breathing doesn't become heavy as there is no build up in carbon dioxide. So you can asphyxiate without really being aware of it. Of course with nature cobbling things together via mutation and natural selection, you just need something to work well enough that it gives an advantage. If you were actually designing a human body with an aim in mind you probably would do a much better job of it. Perhaps the word intelligent should be replaced with stupid. Sue, to add to your comment about “design”, our lungs only react to a build up of carbon dioxide rather than a lack of oxygen. So, if you find yourself working in a low oxygen environment (e.g. if you are working with liquid nitrogen which turns to vapour and displaces the oxygen), your breathing doesn’t become heavy as there is no build up in carbon dioxide. So you can asphyxiate without really being aware of it. Of course with nature cobbling things together via mutation and natural selection, you just need something to work well enough that it gives an advantage. If you were actually designing a human body with an aim in mind you probably would do a much better job of it. Perhaps the word intelligent should be replaced with stupid.

]]> By: Sue Mitchell http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/comment-page-1/#comment-12571 Sue Mitchell Sat, 02 Jun 2007 11:34:19 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/06/02/stupidity-squared/#comment-12571 Re: 'Intelligent Design' The human body has a useless bit of equipment called an appendix whose sole purpose seems to be to become inflamed and removed. It also has nerves in *teeth.* How can anyone possibly call a Designer of such a flawed piece of kit "Intelligent?" It beggars belief! -- Re: ‘Intelligent Design’

The human body has a useless bit of equipment called an appendix whose sole purpose seems to be to become inflamed and removed. It also has nerves in *teeth.*

How can anyone possibly call a Designer of such a flawed piece of kit “Intelligent?” It beggars belief!
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