Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site cadovax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!think!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!trwrb!trwrba!cadovax!keithd
From: keithd@cadovax.UUCP (Keith Doyle)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: Ethics 'n Stuff
Message-ID: <550@cadovax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 22-Apr-85 15:16:22 EST
Article-I.D.: cadovax.550
Posted: Mon Apr 22 15:16:22 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 26-Apr-85 08:25:40 EST
References: <945@uwmacc.UUCP>, <1481@hao.UUCP>
Organization: Contel Cado, Torrance, CA
Lines: 41

[.................]
>> (As an illustration of the poor job evolutionists do of transmitting
>> information about their work, consider that the first place I learned
>> of punctuated equilibrium was in an ICR publication!  One might
>> hypothesize that I only read creationist literature, but I don't.  I
>> read very little of it, actually.)
>
>I, too, first heard of punctuated equilibrium from a creatonist - 
>in this newsgroup, as a matter of fact.  But all I needed was
>the name "Gould", and I have found little difficulty in continuing
>my education.  I have spoken to several high school students
>about this subject lately, and none of them have heard of Steven
>Gould or punctuated equilibrium or creationism.  The task of
>educating our citizens does not lie with the creationists or
>the scientists.  It lies with the school systems.  Unfortunately.
>
And, unfortunately, the creationist ravings have had the effect of
crippling what little education on these subjects that there is.
Rather than attempt the ridiculous posture of 'equal time' between
evolution and 'magic', most textbook publishers simply remove what
information is in the textbooks with regards to evolution.

>Scientists tend to do a very good job of transmiting information
>about their work to other scientists.  They tend to do a poor
>job of transmiting this information to the public.  This is usually
>left to news reporters and textbook writers.  Reporters never
>seem to understand, whatever it is they are writing about.  Textbook
>writers seem to be at least twenty years behind whatever field
>they are writing about..
>
>What all this means is that for a discussion to be meaningful,
>a great deal of education is needed on both sides.  
>Both sides should be engaging in this education.  A good place
>to start is right here.  How about it - where's that exposition
>of the theories of creation that we've been waiting for?
>
Don't hold your breath.

Keith Doyle
#  {ucbvax,ihnp4,decvax}!trwrb!cadovax!keithd