Re: [asa] Altruism and ID

Pim,

Oh and one last thing. It appears you didn't even read Wikipedia properly
in cherry picking your quote:

*Duh* is an American English <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_English>
slang <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slang> exclamation that is used to
express disdain for someone missing the obviousness of something. For
example, if one read a headline saying "*Scientific study proves pain really
does hurt*" or "*New reports show death is bad for one's health*", the
response might be "Well, *duh* !"

Bold underline bit is my emphasis. That's the first paragraph, not the one
you cherry-picked. Expressing disdain for someone is a clear instance of ad
hominem, and hence Wikipedia agrees with me.

Iain

On 6/17/07, PvM <pvm.pandas@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On 6/17/07, Dave Wallace <wdwllace@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> > Iain Strachan wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > On 6/16/07, *PvM* <pvm.pandas@gmail.com <mailto:pvm.pandas@gmail.com>>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> >
> > > Duh hardly is an insult,
> > >
> > >
> > > It is very much an insult. The generally accepted source of the
> > > expression (in my country at least) is that it imitates the sound made
> > > by someone who is mentally defective. In other words: "That's obvious,
> > > stupid!".
> >
> > Duh is an insult in Canada as well and I expect also in the North East
> > of the USofA as they tend to be culturally/linguistically very similar
> > to us.
>
> Again, I respectfully disagree, neither Duh nor calling ID
> scientifically vacuous is an insult. Perhaps
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duh
>
> <quote>Many other expressions in American English are synonyms of
> "duh." "Ya think?" and a sarcastically pronounced No way! are the most
> common.</quote>
>
>
> or Mirriam Webster can come to the rescue
>
> Pronunciation: 'd&, usually with prolonged &
> Function: interjection
> 1 -- used to express actual or feigned ignorance or stupidity
> 2 -- used derisively to indicate that something just stated is all too
> obvious or self-evident
>
>
> or "(used to express annoyance at banality, obviousness, or stupidity.)"
>
> >
> > Iain Strachan wrote:
> > To be told what I already know, that their ideas are "scientifically
> > vacuous" doesn't help. As Christians we should try and treat our
> > brothers and sisters with respect, not repeat ad nauseam derogatory
> > statements, however true they may be. Pim is preaching to the choir by
> > repeating this mantra as if every time he says it, that it will achieve
> > something. It will achieve absolutely nothing, because those of us who
> > agree will not be affected, and those who aren't in the same choir will
> > simply be antagonized and insulted.
> > </quote>
>
> > Actually even for those of us who agree with Pim it probably has a
> > negative impact as well. At times, I for one, simply stop reading a
> > note from Pim when I see him getting into that mode. Yes I know that
> > probably I will miss something worthwhile but the needle is hard to find
> > in the straw.
>
> Yes, even when knowing there is a needle, it may be hard to find the
> 'gem'. However, expressing the simple observation that ID is
> scientifically vacuous is neither insulting nor derogatory. While some
> may express a concern that this will affect how people receive this
> news, I find the claim that it is insulting overly simplistic.
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
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>

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