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Janet D. Stemwedel (whose nom de blog is Dr. Free-Ride) is an associate professor of philosophy at San Jose State University. Before becoming a philosopher, she earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Email her at dr.freeride@gmail.com.
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Category: Blogospheric science • Communication • Reader participation • Science Blogging Conference
Posted on: January 11, 2010 4:36 PM, by Janet D. Stemwedel
Today, on account of the fact that I'm pinned down doing course updating activities, I present you with a poll. In answering the question, go ahead and use whatever is your preferred definition of "civility".
Of course, use the comments to discuss to your heart's content (including where I went wrong in constructing the poll options).
Humanities & Social Science
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Comments
In order of incompatibility with civility, from least to greatest:
the status of funding/jobs for scientific trainees nowadays; string theory; same-sex marriage; the status of underrepresented minorities in science; climate change; any issue where some blogger is using a poll to generate something with the appearance of empirical data; animal research/animal rights; drug laws; health care reform; vaccination; anything to do with religion (including atheism); abortion; anything involving comrade physio prof; rainbows and puppies
Posted by: becca | January 11, 2010 5:40 PM
Autism is in a league of its own.
Posted by: Michelle Dawson | January 11, 2010 5:43 PM
I have a suspicion that the nationality of the voter will affect their vote, e.g. in some countries gay marriage is less of an issue, ditto for religion.
Posted by: Grant | January 12, 2010 5:14 AM
Tisk, tisk, you violated one of Dillman's principles for writing survey questions: "Develop response categories that are mutually exclusive."
"Anything to do with religion (including atheism)" intersects with... well, almost everything else on the list, in one way or the other ;)
Posted by: Pat Cahalan | January 12, 2010 1:09 PM
I voted for vaccination, but wow geez religion is the clear winnah. You now know what to write about Janet. WooooHooooo! I'm rarin' fer a FahYer FaHight!!
Posted by: domsooch | January 12, 2010 3:15 PM
One of my favorites isn't on the list. Want to see a breakdown in civility? Go visit the comments section of any NYTimes article on infertility. Yowza.
Posted by: kickabout | January 13, 2010 10:04 AM
Hehehehhe.... Depends on what crazy guy shows up. The whole canoe stunt almost rivals eating babies.
Posted by: Adam_Y | January 14, 2010 8:45 AM
The places I usually visit, it's nationalism. You haven't seen a flame war until you've seen Bosnians, Albanians, Serbs, and Croats all arguing about which country a certain town belongs to...
Posted by: truth is life | January 15, 2010 1:29 AM
You forgot genetic engineering. Although the one I voted for - climate change - would still win in my view.
Posted by: Skeptico | January 16, 2010 6:35 PM
Gun control debates are way up there. I don't think I've seen a group of people quicker to anger than those who are obsessed with carrying guns.
Posted by: Epinephrine | January 17, 2010 8:47 AM