Orlando Sentinel poll

The Orlando Sentinel education blog, School Zone, has a post up about the “critical analysis” bill. They also created a poll asking readers if intelligent design should be taught. Of course, PZ Myer’s minions have crashed the poll.

I hate these polls. I understand that the newspaper wants to make its online offerings interactive, thus the reason for the polls. But why can’t the poll just offer yes, no, and I don’t know. Why do the poll creators insist on skewing the poll by putting words in the respondents’ mouths? In the process of doing so, the poll introduces an error in fact: “Intelligent Design provides an alternative explanation to evolution, which is just a theory.” Yes, evolution is a scientific theory, but it is not “just” a theory. Saying “just” a theory implies that the everyday usage of the word is being used, as in a guess or hunch. That’s an error in fact. Scientific theories are explanations of a body of facts and observations. They’re the exact opposite of guesses.

Sheesh.

About Brandon Haught

Communications Director for Florida Citizens for Science.
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11 Responses to Orlando Sentinel poll

  1. Ben Abbott says:

    PZ Myer’s minions have crashed the poll.

    It’s ok, I live in Orlando, and gave PZ and his clan implicit permission to “crash the pole” 😉

  2. Jonathan Smith says:

    Brandon: PZ’s minions do not “crash” polls they PHARYNGULATE them!!!

  3. JJay says:

    Not to worry, all of you will be creationists one day.

  4. PatrickHenry says:

    JJay Says:

    Not to worry, all of you will be creationists one day.

    But why are there still monkeys?

  5. CyberLizard says:

    But why are there still monkeys?

    Because they’re cute and we can dress them up and make them do funny things, duh!

  6. Jonathan Smith says:

    JJay :Not to worry, all of you will be creationists one day.

    So JJay Could you be a little more precise on exactly which day we all turn in to creationist?

  7. James F says:

    Not to worry, all of you will be creationists one day.

    Actually, I’ve never watched The Flintstones thinking it was a documentary, I comprehend the Second Law of Thermodynamics, I know the difference between randomness and selection, I’m a scientist with a Ph.D. in biochemistry, I understand that evolution does not equal atheism…well, you get the picture.

  8. Karl says:

    Maybe if some sort of highly infectious virus that damages the brain in a way that turns the infected into gullible twits with limited learning capacity were to spread through the human population, I can see how this may be possible…

  9. zygosporangia says:

    I highly doubt that I will ever be a creationist. Some day, JJay, your descendants will recognize evolution.

    The whole reason why the ID fight is heating up is because some backwards interpretations of Christianity are “left behind” when children realize the lies that their parents have been telling them.

  10. S.Scott says:

    I think the heat down here “meltz peoplez branze”.

  11. Green Earth says:

    I think the heat down here “meltz peoplez branze”

    Why do you think I moved to Michigan? Well, actually it was for school, but now I have the reverse issue- mah branze freeze!

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