Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
…and this is a pharyngula stage embryo.
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It is not the slavish remnant of a religious worldview to admit that the person who has gone and looked is more of an authority than one who has not. It is not just convention which dictates that years of surveying, or years in the archive or laboratory give you a better title to be listened to on your subject than years spent ignoring the issue.
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Category: Weblogs
Posted on: January 8, 2007 11:30 AM, by PZ Myers
Greg Laden makes a simple analysis of what triggers comments on Pharyngula: it turns out the least interesting subject is me (my self-esteem is being battered lately), with science close on my heels, but that you love to chatter about creationists and godlessness.
Now I wonder how strong the response will be if I say this post is about none of those things: it's about you.
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Comments
Me? Well here is something you may not know about me... I was People Magazine's person of the year for 2007.
Cheeto
Posted by: Cheeto | January 8, 2007 11:35 AM
Hey, you got tons of comments on the Blank Post... How is that classified?
Posted by: coturnix | January 8, 2007 11:42 AM
I wish to correct you PZ: The least interesting topic is not "PZ Myers," per se, but self deprecation of PZ Myers.
Maybe you should go easier on yourself...
(Probably a bad idea, though, could go badly wrong.)
Posted by: Greg Laden | January 8, 2007 11:42 AM
Coturnix: "Hey, you got tons of comments on the Blank Post... How is that classified?"
Holy crap, I missed that. Yes, this says something important. But I think I'll leave it unsaid.....
Posted by: Greg Laden | January 8, 2007 11:46 AM
Maybe its not so much what people are interested in but what people feel confortable responding to.
Most of the scientific papers and finds PZ posts really don't require much comment.
"Wow, thats cool" or "So thats how that works" need really only be said once.
Where as posts on creationists and ID inspire much debate as they are usually topics people feel they have something worth saying. "Ken Ham puts up new museum" is something even a novice evo-creation debator can say something about and not seem like a total fool.
Posted by: Ryan Kitchel | January 8, 2007 11:54 AM
I've got a troll who seems to think my blog is about him. (Though he has been providing me with source material for my Doggerel series, lately.)
Posted by: Bronze Dog | January 8, 2007 11:54 AM
I expect we're also seeing the Matthew Effect — the rich get richer — thanks to the "Top Five / Most Active" sidebar.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | January 8, 2007 11:58 AM
I honestly think "you love to chatter about creationists and godlessness" could easily be rephrased as "arguing is what people like to do on the internet."
Posted by: Fox1 | January 8, 2007 12:05 PM
Do we get a pretty magazine cover with a shiny mirrorlike panel in the middle of it too?
Posted by: Warren | January 8, 2007 12:08 PM
I'd just like to say that I think Fox1 is completely wrong about this arguing business.
I came here for a conversation.
Posted by: Zeno | January 8, 2007 12:14 PM
Buy me a beer, and I'll tell you everything about me worth knowing! }:-0
Posted by: minusRusty | January 8, 2007 12:14 PM
I was People Magazine's person of the year for 2007.
Well! I was SPIN magazine's Artist of the Year for 2006! (And so were you... and you... and you, and you!)
Posted by: Kseniya | January 8, 2007 12:21 PM
I think Ryan Kitchel hit the nail on head. I enjoy reading the science posts the most (the Marathon Man post was got me reading this blog in the first place), but I usually don't have any worthwhile comments to write about those.
Posted by: Jeff | January 8, 2007 12:27 PM
I'd rather be talking about the use of godless Angelina Jolie in religious imagery.
Posted by: quork | January 8, 2007 12:34 PM
The science posts generally don't really call for too much comment, except to pat you on the back at reasonable intervals for doing such an impressive job of summarizing and explaining.
Posted by: Steve LaBonne | January 8, 2007 12:43 PM
So we'd love to chatter the MOST about godless creationists. Be nice and go find some for us...
Actually, when I think about it, those Deepok Chopra rants probably fit the bill. He was attacking evolution from the holistic "It's-not-a-God-it's-Cosmic-Consciousness" perspective. As I recall, there was chatter.
Posted by: Sastra | January 8, 2007 12:44 PM
People already has a person of the year for 2007?
I was offered Time's Man of the Year for 2006, but I turned it down. Was worried I'd have to start hanging out with Ted Turner.
About the science posts: Pharnygula is an opportunity to avoid work. Reading science is work! (Also, like other commenters, I'm much less willing to shoot my mouth off when talking about science.)
Posted by: RickD | January 8, 2007 12:46 PM
Bronzedog, did you see this?
http://pharyngulatopics.blogspot.com/
Apparently your troll is none other than A Good Christian Man. Not that he would have the time to troll under ten different names of course...
Now I'm wondering how many of these people have a real boner for Pharyngula or if it's just one or two obsessed people. There seem to be a lot of anti-PZ blogs out there.
Posted by: Mena | January 8, 2007 12:54 PM
Threads where I am commenting are typically the most populated.
Coincidence?
I think not, my friends. I think not.
Posted by: Great White Wonder | January 8, 2007 1:07 PM
Mena:
Bronzedog, did you see this?
http://pharyngulatopics.blogspot.com/
Apparently your troll is none other than A Good Christian Man
How cool is that... having an entire blog-o-spot dedicated to hating you.
Posted by: Greg Laden | January 8, 2007 1:14 PM
I expect we're also seeing the Matthew Effect -- the rich get richer -- thanks to the "Top Five / Most Active" sidebar.
Maybe the powers-that-be at seed should change it to activity/usual activity, so posts that are unusually active for any blog appear
Posted by: zwa | January 8, 2007 1:14 PM
Posting about us, eh? I see you've taken the Time cop out. An interesting gambit, Dr. Myers, but not interesting enough!
Posted by: Joshua | January 8, 2007 1:25 PM
BOOOOORRRRRIIIIINNNNGGGGGG!!!!
Let's get back to atheism and creationism.
Posted by: Ric | January 8, 2007 1:31 PM
How many religionists does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Posted by: Great White Wonder | January 8, 2007 1:45 PM
GWW - you're asking the wrong question. The right one is "How many prayers does it take before a light bulb is miraculously screwed in?".
Bob
Posted by: Bob O'H | January 8, 2007 1:55 PM
Wouldn't it be better for Jesus to return and bring the old lightbulb back to life?
Posted by: Dianne | January 8, 2007 1:59 PM
My favorite was always the one where PZ was "sex posed", but it seems that even Jason has now grown bored and given up.
Posted by: RavenT | January 8, 2007 2:08 PM
me? hell, i can talk about me for... minutes!
Posted by: cleek | January 8, 2007 2:12 PM
Atheist Creationists? There's always the Raelians.
Posted by: quork | January 8, 2007 2:18 PM
It is simple why this is. It's a lot easier to write political rants than scientific essays, since political rants need no relation to reality or even logical coherence.
Same goes for comments.
Posted by: Babbler | January 8, 2007 2:30 PM
It's sweet of PZ to say that this blog is about me, but having been named Time's Man of the Year for 2006, I'm already top-heavy with honors.
"Good Christian Man"--why is that the people who are noisiest about being Christian are the least likely to behave like Christ? Mind, volunteering to be crucified would be a nice start.
Posted by: Gobear | January 8, 2007 2:40 PM
Very clever, PZ. We all hop over to Greg's site, where we read this:
"I am fairly new to this blogging thing, and I have to say that as I try to learn the ropes, I am in awe of PZ Myers Pharyngula."
This post is not about US, it's about YOU! YOU YOU YOU.
Posted by: George | January 8, 2007 2:46 PM
Very clever, PZ. We all hop over to Greg's site, where we read this:
"I am fairly new to this blogging thing, and I have to say that as I try to learn the ropes, I am in awe of PZ Myers Pharyngula."
This post is not about US, it's about YOU! YOU YOU YOU.
.... as the so-called "Greg Laden" reaches to his neck and pulls off the very handsome and debonair rubber mask revealing himself to be none other than ....
Posted by: Greg Laden | January 8, 2007 2:55 PM
Zeno said:
"I came here for a conversation."
It might just be me, but I find blog sites are more intersecting dialogues than conversations.
Posted by: E-lad | January 8, 2007 3:19 PM
I really could have used that. I have this f-ing reindeer my wife likes me to put in the lawn every December, and it has one blown bulb, so the antlers don't light up.
Where is He when I need Him?
Posted by: MikeM | January 8, 2007 3:28 PM
About me?? Is it a slow news day or something?
Posted by: Leon | January 8, 2007 3:49 PM
Me? Very interesting choice of subject, if I do say so myself. Did you know I once shook hands with Dame Margot Fonteyn?
Posted by: Richard Carter, FCD | January 8, 2007 3:50 PM
::raises hand::
I like your science posts. You put enough phylogeny in everything to keep my interest even in you mol-bio posts. I suspect the reason why people don't comment is because most people (including myself) aren't biologists and most of your science posts are pretty bio-heavy. (I try to have input when you talk about geology or paleontology, though!)
Posted by: octopod | January 8, 2007 4:13 PM
Oh, right, an addendum: and you don't get trolls and the ensuing troll-mocking when you post about myosin. Trolls don't like having to read up on topics before posting.
Posted by: octopod | January 8, 2007 4:16 PM
I'm sure part of it is a positive feedback loop (am I using that correctly? x.x) kind of effect. I know I certainly tend to pay more attention to the comments section of posts that already have quite a few...and tend to start rhetorical barfights... ^.^
Posted by: Azkyroth | January 8, 2007 4:47 PM
The creationism posts have more comments because we keep feeding the trolls that pop up there.
Posted by: j | January 8, 2007 4:52 PM
PZ,
OT but If you don't already know, Michael Bérubé is closing down his blog today - last post is up.
Posted by: Jim in STL | January 8, 2007 4:52 PM
MikeM: Never a cop or a god around when you need one.
Posted by: Dianne | January 8, 2007 4:52 PM
...it's about you.
Finally, some attention.
Posted by: A. Archaea | January 8, 2007 4:59 PM
I commented on a posting about The complete, perfect, and only review of Dawkins' The God Delusion that anyone ever needs to read, and wrote the only Pharyngula post you ever need to read:
I guess I could have added:
Naturally we all want to comment on the stupid people out there -- what better way to distinguish ourselves from them!
Posted by: Sonja | January 8, 2007 5:07 PM
Have you seen this?
http://www.marriedtothesea.com/010807/dont-even-get-me-started-on-intelligent-design.gif
Posted by: wolfa | January 8, 2007 5:26 PM
And we're going to try to wiretap aliens.
http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3616600
Wonder if they'll ask the NSA for help.
Posted by: Steve_C | January 8, 2007 5:56 PM
I really could have used that. I have this f-ing reindeer my wife likes me to put in the lawn every December, and it has one blown bulb, so the antlers don't light up.
Where is He when I need Him?
Have you checked the obvious places?
http://bitsandpieces1.blogspot.com/2006/09/jesus-image-found-in-dogs-butt.html
Posted by: Great White Wonder | January 8, 2007 6:12 PM
This blog is a refreshing antidote to daily stupidity.
Posted by: Mondo | January 8, 2007 6:18 PM
Listen, unless I'm an octopus or a creationist, I really don't want to hear about it!
Posted by: Saint Gasoline | January 8, 2007 6:31 PM
Well these results don't surprise me at all. It's the talk.origins syndrome at work. Comments get used nearly ten times as much when commenters are arguing with each other. When they're all just responding to the main blog post, you don't get nearly the same kind of levels of commenting.
Posted by: Cyde Weys | January 8, 2007 6:40 PM
Screw in a light bulb? It's hard enough screwing in the back seat of a car!
Posted by: Bob C | January 8, 2007 7:15 PM
In Simon Green's latest Nightside book (Hell to Pay, the protagonist John Taylor briefly meets a new God Of Creationism. The meeting is brief because Taylor makes him disappear in a puff of logic. (He's not really the religious sort.... ;-) )
Posted by: David Harmon | January 8, 2007 7:44 PM
PZ, I love your science posts, but not being a biologist, I don't know enough to comment on them.
Recall that comments are a measure of emotional excitement - that's why the PZ-vs-whomever slugfests get so many comments.
Posted by: llewelly | January 8, 2007 7:47 PM
I'm interested in the science but I lack the requisite knowledge to understand most of the things you post here.
Sad, too, considering that I took AP Biology in high school and aced it. You'd think taking the skin of a cat would have taught me something.
Posted by: MomSquared | January 8, 2007 8:49 PM
I tune in for the cephalopods. I have always had an affection for them and to find a blogger with the same love of them is splendid. If I commented on those posts it would be to say "Nice cephalopods". And it's just stating the obvious, since everybody knows that cephalopods are amazing creatures.
Posted by: Tanya | January 8, 2007 8:56 PM
I realized that I had forgotten what exactly a pharyngula is (if I ever knew) so I went looking....
Have you any idea how difficult it is to Google the word "pharyngula" and find a link that is not to, or in reference to, this blog? You OWN the term!
Posted by: cory | January 8, 2007 9:07 PM
Cory: Have you any idea how difficult it is to Google the word "pharyngula" and find a link that is not to, or in reference to, this blog? You OWN the term!
I had a similar experience when I first tried to learn about the statistical programming language "r" ... r is not what you want to Google.
Posted by: Greg Laden | January 8, 2007 9:17 PM
Ditto Tanya and llewelly. I am not a scientist (nor will I ever be, not by the standards of this community) but I am a fan: a fan of science, of nature, of rational thought, of human curiosity and invention, of minds who use their light to dispell shadows , rather than to cast their own shadow upon others.... And of intelligent sea creatures, too, of course!
Posted by: Kseniya | January 8, 2007 9:23 PM
CYDE: Well these results don't surprise me at all. It's the talk.origins syndrome at work. Comments get used nearly ten times as much when commenters are arguing with each other. When they're all just responding to the main blog post, you don't get nearly the same kind of levels of commenting.
I'm sure you are absolutely correct. But in this particular case, I think we are passing 50 or so posts and it looks like we all totally agree with each other on everything so far.
Posted by: Greg Laden | January 8, 2007 9:26 PM
If you're still curious cory, there is a "pharyngula stage embryo" link on the upper left column of the blog. It leads to an article that is certainly information packed.
What amazes me is how popular this blog has become with a name like that!
Posted by: Paguroidea | January 8, 2007 9:27 PM
Yea, but did you know that I once shook hands with PZ Myers .....
Posted by: Desert Donkey | January 8, 2007 9:55 PM
it looks like we all totally agree with each other on everything so far.
No it doesn't. ;)
Posted by: Great White Wonder | January 8, 2007 10:14 PM
Is it really true Desert Donkey?
Posted by: Paguroidea | January 8, 2007 10:15 PM
Great White Wonder says:it looks like we all totally agree with each other on everything so far.
No it doesn't. ;)
Well, you are obviously some kind of troglodyte, go back into your cave!!!
And another thing .....
Posted by: Greg Laden | January 8, 2007 10:23 PM
So what was this about a blind watch
maker?I'd put the blank post in the "atheism" category, since it was clearly intended as a post about God[lessness]. But, seriously, I prefer the science posts by a wide margin; they generate far more illumination than heat, which is the opposite of what the Atheism posts do, even if the latter garner more comments.
Posted by: idlemind![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/nav-commenters.gif)
|
January 8, 2007 11:54 PM
Idlemind: But, seriously, I prefer the science posts by a wide margin; they generate far more illumination than heat, which is the opposite of what the Atheism posts do, even if the latter garner more comments.
Perhaps what is needed is a button you can press indicating some kind of reaction to the science posts. Perhaps something like what we often see on "help" web sites ..
"what this information useful to you" or "did this information answer your question"
... but taylored to science posts. Any suggestions as to what that would entail?
Like ...
Please check one of the following:
___ Yeah, I knew that
___ Interesting, but kind of boring too.
___ Wow, that's cool but I'm not sure I believe you
___ Holy crap! I gotta tell somebody about this
___ Omygod you changed my life with this post,
I wanna have your baby
Posted by: Greg Laden | January 9, 2007 1:31 PM
Interesting, but kind of boring too.
Heh! Gotta love that one:)
Posted by: outeast | January 10, 2007 4:40 AM
outeast: Heh! Gotta love that one:)
Well, this (interesting/boring) probably describes most important stuff in science.
Posted by: Greg Laden | January 10, 2007 5:54 AM