Reflectorites
On Sat, 21 Oct 2000 08:48:27 -0700 (PDT), Dawn wrote:
D>Greetings Lurkers and NonLukers,
>Okay, I admit it...I am one of the elusive uncommited lurkers you've been
warned about. {Do not feed us after
midnight and keep your hands within the confines of your conveyance at all
times.}
Welcome to Dawn.
D>I am on a journey of understanding and knowledge. Since I knew
relatively little about either side of this coin, I
chose to join and inturn 'To Learn'...Not necessarily to 'actively participate'.
It has been my experience that one
learns best when one keeps one's mouth shut, observing and absorbing the
knowledge of those more learned in a
particular subject than oneself.
I am not sure this is correct.
D>Any questions that arose from my 'learn-by-lurk' technique were usually
addressed quickly, without even having to
ask.
Good.
D>I know more now than I did when I first joined, however I doubt I
could hold my own in a lively debate on the
subject. I haven't the depth of knowledge that it appears each of you have
in this matter, nor will I ever. Which is
fine, since that was not my purpose in joining.
This is the limitation of "learning by lurking".
D>The posts have been educational, certainly... sometimes funny,
sometimes boring, sometimes heated, sometimes
so far over my head I couldn't see dry land...but always informative.
Great!
D>Through it all I have come to two main conclusions:
>1. Evolutionist and IDers will NEVER see eye to eye, thus the debate will
continue infinitum.
This is probably correct. The real problem is one's starting philosophy and
assumptions.
But one can learn from criticisms of one's position to make it more
consistent with the evidence.
For example, I accepted common ancestry from the evidence that
evolutionists presented.
AFAIK this is the only example on this List in 5+ years of anyone changing
their position in a major way.
D>2. Some things are not meant to be deconstructed and put into a tidy
little box with tidy little labels.
Maybe not a "tidy little box with tidy little labels" but no position can claim
to be immune from deconstruction.
D>And there you have it folks, the straight goods from one uncommited
lurker. Questions?
Thanks to Dawn.
Steve
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"Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of
having been designed for a purpose." (Dawkins R., "The Blind
Watchmaker," [1986], Penguin: London, 1991, reprint, p.1)
Stephen E. Jones | Ph. +61 8 9448 7439 | http://www.iinet.net.au/~sejones
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