It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by melatonin
I see the cavalry has arrived.
Originally posted by Majic
Doing The Wave
When I call "hand-waving", it's because I'm seeing arguments based on logical fallacies, such as ad hominem (i.e., "people who disagree with me are idiots"), appeal to authority (i.e., "I have a college degree, therefore I can never be wrong") and the ever-popular straw man (i.e., "you believe [something the person doesn't actually believe], therefore you're wrong").
If you don't have time for this, then don't post. If you think something is a waste of bandwidth, then don't post. If your argument relies on personal commentary targeting other members, then don't post.
Posting is optional. Courtesy is not.
Thanks.
Originally posted by Majic
If you want to indulge in hand-waving and obtuse ad hominem attacks against other members, please do so somewhere else.
Originally posted by Majic
Topic: Not What We Think About Each Other
I understand what you're saying, so please understand what I'm saying: we need to focus on the topic.
If you disagree with or have any problems with the nature of another member's argument, that's fine, and I encourage you to pursue them.
Commentary of any kind directed at the person of another member, however, is unwelcome and further commentary of that nature will be subject to punitive action.
That's not open for debate.
Stay on topic.
Originally posted by Flyingdog5000
Slincky you mentioned about rocks in Hawaii being tested and showing to be millions of years old when they had been freshly formed. You also mentioned that this was done via Carbon 14 testing I believe.
Carbon 14 decay is almost total by about 50,000 years. Thus there is no way that Carbon 14 can show something to be millions of years old. Additionally, Carbon 14 dating only works on organic compounds, that is something that used to be alive.
Originally posted by speaker
You see no evidence because there isn't any!
Originally posted by speaker
All of the so called evidence..
Originally posted by speaker
merely demonstrates that evolution is one of many possibilities
Originally posted by speaker
and an extremely unlikely one at that!
Originally posted by shaunybaby
Originally posted by speaker
You see no evidence because there isn't any!
Here you say there is no evidence.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
Originally posted by speaker
All of the so called evidence..
Here you say there is evidence.
I find that quite odd.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
State the obvious, why not? Scientology is one of the many possibilities, albeit not one I believe in. Christianity is another possibility, again not one I believe in. Evolution is another possibility, one I choose to believe in. It's just the one that makes most sense to me.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
Evolution is 'unlikely' to it's own admittance. The chances of it happen are very small. However, in a universe that is infinite, possibility is non-existant, as everything that could happen, will happen. So to say evolution is 'unlikely', it doesn't take away any of it's credibility.
Originally posted by speaker
Incorrect! Note the inclusion of "so called."
Originally posted by speaker
Agreed, but the purpose of evidence is to demonstrate the only possibility.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
Evolution is 'unlikely' to it's own admittance. The chances of it happen are very small. However, in a universe that is infinite, possibility is non-existant, as everything that could happen, will happen. So to say evolution is 'unlikely', it doesn't take away any of it's credibility.
Originally posted by speaker
Yeah, that's a real strong argument. I'm sure scientist's fall back on that one all the time. (In case you can't tell, I'm being sarcastic!)
Originally posted by shaunybaby
Even so, you're still saying there is evidence. Yet, merely saying that you believe the evidence is 'so-called'. Although it'd be good if you could shed some light on what you think exactly is 'so-called' evidence, or are you just putting 'all' the evidence of evolution in the 'so-called' group?
Originally posted by shaunybaby
No it isn't. Evidence is used to support a statement/claim. In this case the claim is 'we shared a common ancestor with apes'. Evidence is there to support this claim.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
There's always going to be other possibilities, no amount of evidence for evolution will change this.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
Well it's better to fall back on the infinite universe and the fact that possibility has no meaning in a place that is infinite, than to fall back on petty sarcasm.
Fact is you tried to take away the credibility of evolution by saying it is very unlikely to happen. But if the universe is infinite, then evolution will eventually occur, whatever the odds.
Originally posted by speaker
Wrong again! I'm not saying so called evidence is a specific category of evidence for evolution at all. I'm saying it is "SO CALLED" because scientists call it evidence for evolution. Pretty self explanatory I thought. This should answer your question above.
Originally posted by speaker
It is not the evidence which supports a statement, it's one's interpretation of what said evidence means that supports the statement. As mentioned before proof/evidence of a given statement must prove that statement is true, not a mere possibility of being true.
Originally posted by speaker
Here's your problem. It's not evidence FOR EVOLUTION, it's merely evidence. There is no evidence FOR EVOLUTION as you put it!
Originally posted by speaker
This is going to come back to bite you. In order to avoid any contradictions you will have to refrain from ever opposing anything that is a possibility, because your argument dictates that all possibilities will at some point, be realised. Good luck! You'll need it.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
But whether evidence helps to prove or disprove something, it's evidence nevertheless. Whether you like it or not, and whether you choose to accept this fact, there is evidence 'for' evolution.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
There's a whole host of supporting evidence for evolution. For me it's the only possibility. The evidence fits in my mind, and seems like the most rational of all possibilities as to 'why we are here'.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
I've always said there is evidence 'for' evolution. Not sure why you seem to think I said the opposite.
Originally posted by shaunybaby
My arguement dictates that on a long enough time scale, in this case it was 'infinite', infinite being forever, that possibility has no meaning.
For 'us', human beings, possibility is a factor, as the time scale we live on is not infinite. I could go my whole life, everyday playing poker, and never get a royal flush. This is possibility. The same goes for a golfer, who might go his who career and never get a hole in one. Possibility is in our lives because the time scale we're on is finite.
''Possibility has no meaning on a time scale that is infinite''.
Originally posted by speaker
It's not evidence for evolution, as I said, it's merely evidence. Isn't that what this thread is all about?
Originally posted by speaker
I told you it was going to come back to bite you. You are contradicting yourself. Now you say evolution is the only possibility, but previously there were many possibilities. All possibilities, at some point, become reality according to you. Make up your mind.
Originally posted by speaker
I know you said this, but as I pointed out, it can only be evidence 'for' evolution if evolution was the only possibility, which it isn't, thus it is NOT evidence 'for' evolution.
Originally posted by speaker
Where in evolutionary theory is there any mention of an infinite timescale? I have never come across this before.
Originally posted by speaker
There is no evidence for evolution. This is why the opening poster cannot see any. Neither you, nor anyone else here has shown otherwise.
Originally posted by speaker
You can say what you like about contradicting yourself. You can call it an attack on your personal character if you wish. I merely pointed out the contradiction in your statements. It's there for all to see. I also indicated that ALL of the 'so called' evidence is 'so called.' Try reading my posts in future.
Originally posted by speaker
There you go again. First you say evolution is the only possibility to you, then you concede that maybe God put evolution in place. If it's the only possibility to you, how can you concede the existence of an alternative possibility?
Originally posted by speaker
I'll pose the question again. Where in evolutionary theory is the timescale infinite?
Originally posted by speaker
Clearly you don't seem to understand the concept of using evidence as proof of a given hypothesis. Here is an example:
Originally posted by speaker
This is exactly what you are doing.
The Bible is not evidence at all, but that's another debate.
Originally posted by speaker
Yet another contradictory statement. First you say possibility has no place in an infinite timescale, implying that it's an invalid basis to oppose evolution on. Then you say that evolution theory makes no mention of infinite timescales. Make up your mind!
Originally posted by shaunybaby
1) The fossil record of change in earlier species.
2) The chemical and anatomical similarities of related life forms.
3) The geographic distribution of related species.
4) The recorded genetic changes in living organisms over many generations.
What a waste of a post - When will you people understand that the ToE has absolutely bugger all to do with the creation of anything, life, proteins, universes, ANYTHING.
Originally posted by smartie
The theory of evolution is a theory that fails at the very first step. The reason is that evolutionists are unable to explain even the formation of a single protein. Neither the laws of probability nor the laws of physics and chemistry offer any chance for the fortuitous formation of life.
What a waste of a post - When will you people understand that the ToE has absolutely bugger all to do with the creation of anything, life, proteins, universes, ANYTHING.