From: specimenNOSPAM@curioustaxon.omy.net   
      
   On 2/13/26 8:59 AM, John Harshman wrote:   
   > On 2/13/26 7:53 AM, sticks wrote:   
   >> On 2/12/2026 5:23 PM, John Harshman wrote:   
   >>> On 2/12/26 12:33 PM, sticks wrote:   
   >>>> On 2/12/2026 12:38 PM, John Harshman wrote:   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>>>> I'll see if they will answer an email and explain the source of   
   >>>>>>>> that sentence.  But I think since he used the same “more of the   
   >>>>>>>> same” in the last paragraph describing the Cambrian, it is meant   
   >>>>>>>> to depict their "common" response at these Cambrian announcements.   
   >>>>>>>> FWIW, it was unnecessary.  Should have just made their points   
   >>>>>>>> and left it at that.   
   >>>>>>>   
   >>>>>>> What points, exactly?   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>> If you can't seem to recognize them when they made them, I doubt   
   >>>>>> you would if I did.   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> I'm just asking for your opinion of what points they made. My   
   >>>>> opinion is that they made no points. Is it that hard?   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Not hard, just pointless.   
   >>>   
   >>> You have learned much from Martin Harran.   
   >>   
   >> Though Martin spends time in some areas I find interesting, some are   
   >> not things I would rate all that important to MY interest in origins,   
   >> and my time on TO.  That said, I did find some of the conversation   
   >> you've had with him fair, until they seemed to take the usual course   
   >> of degradation.  The initial back and forth appeared cordial and not   
   >> intentionally or unfairly dismissive.  I respected that and would like   
   >> to see it more often here.   
   >>   
   >> I posted the link to the Burgess Shale finding on the S&C site because   
   >> I remembered seeing it noted here earlier, and thought the short read   
   >> might be of interest to both creationists and evolutionists.   
   >> Creationists get much more insight into materialism than the other way   
   >> around, but I would think it is of value to the evolutionist to know   
   >> what the reasons for the creationist arguments are.   
   >   
   > I know the reasons. It's just that they are usually mis-stated. And in   
   > the article you linked, the creationism and its reasons aren't even   
   > explicitly stated. All we get are vague innuendos, and that's why I   
   > asked you to explain their points.   
   >   
   >> It is a short read, and obviously a thoughtful person like you could   
   >> understand their position and the points they were making.   
   >   
   > Again, I ask "What points?"   
   >   
   > This is a serious question. What points do you believe that article made   
   > or attempted to make?   
   >   
   >> However, instead of responding to them you chose to first ridicule   
   >> them with "S&C is a mindless creationist site", and then question a   
   >> rather irrelevant issue about "who are the "some evolutionists" who   
   >> greeted the new site with "consternation"?"   
   >   
   > But they are a mindless creationist site, and the guy who wrote that   
   > article is a young-earth creationist. Nor is that issue irrelevant. It   
   > was another example of attack by unsupported innuendo.   
   >   
   >> That is a fair question, and I did attempt to find an answer to it, as   
   >> I found it odd, too.  But their points were easily understood, and you   
   >> choose not to address them, instead claiming "they made no points."   
   >   
   > That remains my claim.   
   >   
   >> All I will tell is is I can understand their points, and yes, I agree   
   >> with them.  There simply is no need for me to spend time in discussing   
   >> them here, as that would be pointless.  I would suggest you make a   
   >> case on why they are wrong and perhaps that might change.   
   >> Unfortunately, you don't think they made any points.   
   >   
   > I could make a case if I knew what you thought the points were. But I   
   > don't.   
      
   The points are: 1) I don't understand it, and therefore 2) God did it.   
      
   --   
   Mark Isaak   
   "Wisdom begins when you discover the difference between 'That   
   doesn't make sense' and 'I don't understand.'" - Mary Doria Russell   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)