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Author Topic:   A Guide to Creationist Tactics
Bikerman
Member (Idle past 4955 days)
Posts: 276
From: Frodsham, Chester
Joined: 07-30-2010


Message 123 of 136 (571730)
08-02-2010 2:12 AM
Reply to: Message 118 by Bolder-dash
08-02-2010 2:03 AM


Re: cognitive dissonance and belief
Have you drawn the triangle yet ? Do you know what you will get if you carry on repeating? Any clue?
Want to see?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 118 by Bolder-dash, posted 08-02-2010 2:03 AM Bolder-dash has not replied

  
Bikerman
Member (Idle past 4955 days)
Posts: 276
From: Frodsham, Chester
Joined: 07-30-2010


(1)
Message 124 of 136 (571731)
08-02-2010 2:19 AM


Lovely isn't it - a fractal called the Sierpinski triangle. You can zoom in as much as you like and the pattern remains - each triangle surrounded by 3 more. I remember when I programmed this on an old BBC micro and left it running overnight (my prof had given me the algorithm and told me I would be surprised).
So out of a random set of choces you get this beautiful order...see what I'm talking about yet???

  
Bikerman
Member (Idle past 4955 days)
Posts: 276
From: Frodsham, Chester
Joined: 07-30-2010


Message 135 of 136 (571812)
08-02-2010 2:01 PM
Reply to: Message 134 by Dr Adequate
08-02-2010 1:11 PM


Re: example of the rabbit hole tactic.
Personally I saw some merit in letting one or two run and then analysing later, but I guess you are correct and it has strayed which is partly my fault.
OK, tactics I've met...
many of them are already mentioned - would it be possible to keep a list in a sticky or whatever similar mechanism is available? That way we can easily add/change a master list rather than having to summarise periodically?

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 Message 134 by Dr Adequate, posted 08-02-2010 1:11 PM Dr Adequate has not replied

  
Bikerman
Member (Idle past 4955 days)
Posts: 276
From: Frodsham, Chester
Joined: 07-30-2010


Message 136 of 136 (572113)
08-03-2010 7:35 PM
Reply to: Message 134 by Dr Adequate
08-02-2010 1:11 PM


Re: example of the rabbit hole tactic.
There is one factor that we (the supporters of science in general and evolution in particular) tend to forget. The majority of 'creationists' I debate on the internet are, i think, not creationists at all. Many of them are just trolls. Those I would subdivide into contrarians and social.
The social troll is someone for whom the internet is their social life. There are many examples of this type of poster on all messageboards. They crave attention and are willing to support any notion just to get attention. The fact that the majority of attention is negative doesn't matter, they just want to know that they are still alive by getting some sort of response. I suspect the psychology many be similar to that of many self-harmers, but that is way out of my area of expertise so I'll not develop it here.
The contrarian troll is similar but the basic motivation is to attack what they see as any cosy consensus. This type of troll often sees themself as a brave defender of individualist thought and freedom against a mass of conformist robots. They commonly post on climate science but are also found attacking any established theory or commonly held point of view.
I submit that neither of these two groups are creationists in the sense of starting with a deep belief which they are compelled to defend. It could be that either type would eventually persuade themselves of the 'truth' of creationism, but I doubt many do.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 134 by Dr Adequate, posted 08-02-2010 1:11 PM Dr Adequate has not replied

  
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