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Piltdown
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
 Posted - 12/30/2001 : 00:02:19
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To say the least, 2001 has been an eventful year, especially in the flourishing, though as yet not formally recognized, science of Morology. This year has brought extraordinary, unprecedented leaps of illogic and stupidity beyond anything that I, for one, had previously supposed possible. I would not presume to assemble a list of nominees from the millions of worthy candidates, so this is not a poll. I want your suggestions as to who best exemplifies the time-dishonored principle that stupidity is no impediment to status, attention, and high self-esteem. This is a skeptic site, so please give some rational reason for your selection. We can then assemble a list and conduct a poll to select a final winner from among the cretinous nominees. The winner will receive a handsome, albeit second-hand, certificate, and e-mail notification of the award.
Abducting UFOs and conspiring against conspiracy theorists since 1980.
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PhDreamer
SFN Regular
USA
925 Posts |
 Posted - 12/30/2001 : 00:47:52 [Permalink]
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I had a chance to listen to www.wtma.com today, as recommended by CSICOP. It was a debate between Massimo Pigliucci and Kent Hovind, broadcase live, with call-ins and whatnot. Hovind made a strange claim, that abiogenesis and big-bang cosmology were currently being taught in high school biology classes (which he of course objects strongly to), and he had the textbooks to prove it; other than that, he had absolutely nothing of worth or novelty to say. Hovind had to leave in the middle of the show, so his son Eric came on to try to cause more damage. Eric picks up the textbook dialogue but seems to think that Pigliucci claimed that bio textbooks don't contain info on evolution! He proceeds to argue that it is this that he can produce evidence of (no further mention of BB Cosmo or abiogenesis) with a textbook he has right in his hands. Pigliucci is understandably dumbfounded and concedes that, yes, evolution is included in modern bio texts. Thus begins the "evolution is not science" nonsense. I offer before you all a prediction, of sorts: Eric Hovind will prove to be a bigger idiot than his father. I don't know if this qualifies him for moron of the year, but it's food for thought.
Adventure? Excitement? A Jedi craves not these things. - Silent Bob |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2001 : 06:14:51 [Permalink]
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I'd like to go out on a limb here and nominate Osama bin Laden. While he did successfully orchestrate the attacks of September 11th that same act cost him everything. His model of Islamic perfection in Afghanistan is gone, his organization is not destroyed but is less effective than it was before, no wider war materialized, he himself may be dead and last but not least the US is united in a way it hasn't been in a long, long time and many of the world's nations are likewise united against bin Laden and everything he stood for. Talk about a miscalculation.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2001 : 07:26:12 [Permalink]
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But there are so many!! How might one choose?
I think I'll initally go with Taliban John Walker. He lacks the grandure of a bin Ladin and the sheer idiocy of a Hovind, but he has to be at least the world's most pathetic moron.
F
The more I learn about people, the better I like rattlesnakes. |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2001 : 10:43:44 [Permalink]
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How about the remarks Jerry Falwell made after the 9/11 attacks? Muslim extremists attack the US, so Jer blames in on, among others, atheists. The one group who doesn't care what extremists think, and really doesn't give a rat's ass what anyone else believes, either.
At a time when the religious fundamentalists in this country are trying to gain political respectibility, Mr. Falwell managed to plant both feet right behind his back molars.
Lisa
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room. |
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James
SFN Regular
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2001 : 10:46:52 [Permalink]
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quote:
I offer before you all a prediction, of sorts: Eric Hovind will prove to be a bigger idiot than his father. I don't know if this qualifies him for moron of the year, but it's food for thought.
quote:
I'd like to go out on a limb here and nominate Osama bin Laden.
quote:
I think I'll initally go with Taliban John Walker.
While all those are very good choices(especially Eric Hovind), I have to nominate the one man who was the first of the fundies to fall flat on his face right after the attacks. That's right, I nominate Jerry Falwell. If'n he had just kept his big mouth shut....
Can we nominate two people? If so, another recommendation is Pat Robertson. Dude needs to get his hearing checked....
"Necessity may be the mother of invention, but laziness is usually the father." -Bailey's First Law
[edit] D'oh! Lisa, you beat me to it!   Falwell's still a very good candidate.
Edited by - James on 12/30/2001 10:48:19 |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2001 : 11:37:40 [Permalink]
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quote:
Can we nominate two people? If so, another recommendation is Pat Robertson. Dude needs to get his hearing checked....
Pat can be first runner-up in case for some reason Jerry is unable to fufill his reign.
I couldn't believe that whole episode. Jerry blathering on, while Pat is nodding his head up and down. He reminded me of those little dogs people put in the backs of their cars.
Lisa
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room. |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2001 : 12:51:38 [Permalink]
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quote:
The winner will receive a handsome, albeit second-hand, certificate, and e-mail notification of the award.
Nothing personal D, but I still can't stand listening to your x-governor and our now president. I know that Texans do speak better English than he and are more intelligent. I will never consider Mr. Moron, I mean Mr. Bush MY leader.
Rap Crap is to music what Paint by Numbers is to art. |
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rubysue
Skeptic Friend
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2001 : 13:47:41 [Permalink]
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The year 2001 overflowed with moronic behavior, so one nomination is not possible. I hereby submit my lengthy list of stupid idiots, egregious behaviorists and pugnacious commentarians for your consideration:
Stupid Idiots and their followers:
1) Osama bin Laden: Although successful in his attacks on September 11 (as you noted, Atomic), he has shown himself to be an egocentric and cowardly megalomaniac who never really succeeded in stirring up the "Islamic street" with his hatred and venom and who rapidly lost his local base of support (the rancid and vicious Taliban) in Afghanistan.
2) The "average man in the street" in the Middle East and Pakistan, for stubbornly believing in ugly anti-Semitic stories and hoaxes (e.g., Israel committed the terrorist acts) and refusing to acknowledge the overwhelming evidence of guilt surrounding bin Laden.
3) The criminal, two-faced and hopelessly corrupt behavior of certain "allies" of the United States, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt. I'll concede that we're partially to blame for this state of affairs (before anyone can start a flame war over this).
4) The Fox network producers of the moon hoax show and the mouth-breathing public who bought into the theory. How can we forget how this pile of noxious and lying tripe and how it brought such stunning intellects such as piper out of the dank caves of ignorance where they dwell?
5) We mustn't forget Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, for reasons that are amply explored by others on this forum. We could also add to the list the louder and louder calls for renewed God worship from pulpit pundits across the globe (this is in response to an act of terrorism inspired by religious zealotry from fanatics who thought they were playing for the “right” God team – I just don't get it…)
Journalistic "excellence" (not) was evident everywhere this year, on both sides of aisle:
1) The top of the list has to be Robert Fisk, of the UK Independent, for his self-loathing and racist behavior after being beaten by a group of Afghan refugees (who have probably read examples of his terrible writing and decided to take him out). His behavior is a classic example of the radical leftist racist, because he considers the behavior of those who beat the snot out of him to be perfectly acceptable and justified (they are the true victims who have no responsibility for their actions, poor little oppressed wogs). Fisk has also recently “taken credit” for personally giving bin Laden the idea to expand his fatwa to include all of the American people. The dreadful journalists at the Independent also found a way to justify the actions of the infant rapists in South Africa by blaming colonialism and Apartheid for this putrid and vile behavior. The Guardian is not far behind the Independent in the race to exonerate personal behavior, but at least they have one voice of reason on the left (Christopher Hitchens).
2) Geraldo Rivera – No further explanation necessary (learn to read a map when lying for the television audience, Geraldo!). A fine addition to the stellar Fox News team.
3) The indymedia.org site – “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.” Created as a “news group” for the anti-globalization, anti-capitalism, anti-American crowd, this site is loaded with hatred of Jews (including advocates for a resumption of the Holocaust), wacko conspiracy theories about the “real” causes for the September 11 terrorist acts (including alien conspiracies), and obnoxious diatribes from little weed-smokers gloating about the deaths of “pigs” at the WTC and cheering about the victims at the Pentagon and hoping they suffered (I'm not kidding about this, by the way). This indy media site represents truly repulsive behavior from a snotty little group of work-avoiders; this is the type of “journalistic excellence” advocated by Chomsky zealots because it's not “tied to the corporate centers of power”. All it made me want to do was throw up. If you deci |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2001 : 14:19:33 [Permalink]
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I'm with Lisa on this. I have to nominate the nutty team of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson as morons of the year. I also nominate the Institute for Creation Research as a close runner up.
I know this stuff isn't new here but in this context I think a review of these offenders is in order.
quote:
Falwell: I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.
quote:
I do believe, as a theologian, based upon many Scriptures and particularly Proverbs 14:23, which says 'living by God's principles promotes a nation to greatness, violating those principles brings a nation to shame.
Referring to the ACLU and other organizations:
quote:
which have attempted to secularize America, have removed our nation from its relationship with Christ on which it was founded.
I therefore believe that that created an environment which possibly has caused God to lift the veil of protection which has allowed no one to attack America on our soil since 1812
Falwell made these remarks on a 700 club show. Robertson offered his support of Falwells statements with this little prayer:
quote:
We have sinned against Almighty God, at the highest level of our government, we've stuck our finger in your eye. The Supreme Court has insulted you over and over again, Lord. They've taken your Bible away from the schools. They've forbidden little children to pray. They've taken the knowledge of God as best they can, and organizations have come into court to take the knowledge of God out of the public square of America.
Ironically, Falwell and Roberston seem to be saying that Bin Laden, an Islamic terrorist, was an instrument of vengeance for God. He was doing Gods work. I'm sure all three of these guys can agree on that. Since Bin Laden was doing the Lords work, it seems to me that Falwell and Robertson should have nothing against him....
Falwell offered an apology of sorts. All of this can be found at:http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/14/Falwell.apology/index.html
The Institute for Creation Research, has equated the WTC terrorist attacks with the to the teaching of evolution.
Ken Cumming, speaking about the PBS series "Evolution," for the ICR said this:
quote:
Only 13 days after the act of terrorism on NewYork, Public Broadcasting Stations delivered a different, but another event of grave importance that was witnessed by millions of Americans—a seven-part, eight hour special entitled "Evolution." PBS, with the aid of WGBH in Boston and Clear Blue Sky Productions televised one of the boldest assaults yet upon both our public schools with the millions of innocent school children and the foundational worldview on which our nation was built.1
These two "assaults" have similar histories and goals. The public was unaware of the deliberate preparation that was schemed over the past few years leading up to these events. And while the public now understands from President Bush that, "We're at War"2 with militant Islamics around the world, they don't have a clue that America is being attacked from within through its public schools by a militant religious movement of philosophical naturalists (i.e., atheists) under the guise of secular Darwinism. Both desire to alter the life and thinking of our nation.
I would attempt a rational explanation on why I chose the above for its monumental stupidity, but I'm running a bit late for my regular Sunday meeting with my fellow militant religious philosophical naturalists. We are planing our next terrorist attack in hopes of altering the life and thinking of our nation...
The rest of this moronic essay can be found at:
http://www.icr.org/headlines/pbsevolution.html
The Evil Skeptic
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous. |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2001 : 18:24:02 [Permalink]
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RubySue, re your #4 under journalism. I remember reading the offending article. At the beginning of it, she was mourning a friend who'd lost her life during the attacks. She was offering condolences to her family and co-workers, and celebrating what she had achieved in her young life. You know, she really had me going. I was thinking, wow, an ultra-conservative really can be compassionate. Then she blindsides me with the rest of the piece. She advocates invading Afghanistan and forcing its citizens to become xians. Violence for those who did not comply. This is one of the few times I've let myself get pissed while reading a commentary. Usually I just file even the most idiotic statements under "everyone has an opinion". This time, I just wondered who the hell this bitch thinks she is.
Lisa
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room. |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2001 : 22:32:04 [Permalink]
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This from the Washington Post:
quote:
Falwell Wins Mad Magazine's 'Dumbest People' Grand Prize
Washington-The editors of Mad magazine who describe themselves as "America's foremost experts in stupidity," have given their top award in
"The Dumbest People, Events and Things of 2001" to Jerry Falwell. former head of the now-defunct Moral Majority.
John Ficarra, co-editor, said: "We thought Falwell had reached his personal pinnacle of dumbness a few years ago when he accused the Teletubbies of promoting homosexuality.... We underestimated him."
Falwell won the award for charging that "abortionists, feminists, gays and lesbians" were responsible for the Sept.11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The Evil Skeptic
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous. |
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2001 : 08:07:39 [Permalink]
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I would like to nominate (as an alternative to the obvious ones) Governor Ryan of Illinois. This mental midget promised a lot. He told people "campaign promises were meant to be broken". Add that to his serious problems keeping out of jail over the "licenses for bribes" fiasco causing multiple deaths and injuries over the years during and after his tenure as Secretary of state for Illinois. The noose tightens around this yoyo who insists on the "bathroom" defense first used by George Bush Sr during Iran-Contra. The current secretary of state objected to the doubling of registration fees as "his department of the government did not need the revenue that Gov. George Ryan insists on". Those funds were, of course, funneled into the "Illinois First" pet project of his via the general fund. When income for the state is down (due to his votes for bribes attempt. (Illinois homeowners recieved a property tax rebate.)) instead of cutting his precious Illinois First program, he cuts staffing.
My only regret is that there is no mechanism for recall in the state of Illinois. He would have to be convicted of a crime to be removed by the legislative branch.
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