…and this is a 
Poll…but you'll have to see Ken Ham's homely face to do it
Category: Creationism • Pointless polls
Posted on: September 4, 2008 9:04 PM, by PZ Myers
This is a danged ugly poll, accompanying an interview with the slimy Ken Ham. It asks,
Regarding creation and evolution, I believe:
The universe was created in six days as described in Genesis.
Evolution is true, but God began and/or directs it.
Evolution is true, and religion has nothing to do with it.
Answer 2 is winning, with answer 3 dead last. Can you all fix that, please?
Comments
Posted by: Dahan | September 4, 2008 9:11 PM
Consider mine the first drop of water in the deluge to come.
Posted by: Jared | September 4, 2008 9:15 PM
Ah, skewing poll results, I love it.
Posted by: Sir Craig | September 4, 2008 9:16 PM
How old is this interview? I'm seeing comments on the side of the page that are dated from May of last year, and I can't view the videos while I'm at work.
(I still voted my conscience, however, and gave evolution the big non-theistic thumbs up.)
Posted by: I am so wise | September 4, 2008 9:16 PM
Out of curiousity, how does poll crash rate on the evil scale? Specially, is it worse than Old Man Myers' cracker attack or merely worse than all prior acts of evil before the Great Crackercyclsm?
Posted by: OJ | September 4, 2008 9:16 PM
Done.
And dang, he really is an ugly old Aussie.
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead | September 4, 2008 9:18 PM
My pleasure.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT | September 4, 2008 9:21 PM
That beard always creeps me the fuck out.
Posted by: Bride of Shrek OM | September 4, 2008 9:22 PM
Thank you PZ, you could have warned us that the link sends us to a page with Ken Ham's smug smarmy face on it. Evertime I see that face I want to slap it.
On behalf of all Australians, everywhere and throughout known time, I would like to deeply apologise to the United States of America for foisting that prick upon you. Dogammit, we're supposed to be allies and we go and do that to you.....(but thanks anyhow for taking him off our hands)
Posted by: BobC | September 4, 2008 9:24 PM
The same poll worded a bit differently by Gallup shows that only 14% of Americans answer this question correctly. 86% of Americans either completely reject evolution or they invoke the magic man to invent and/or direct it. Americans want to stick their sky fairy into biology for some reason.
Posted by: Bride of Shrek OM | September 4, 2008 9:24 PM
Actually, I just realised you did warn us. Maybe I should READ post titles before I get all cocky. *forehead slap*
Posted by: Realist Golfer | September 4, 2008 9:24 PM
Happy to help, I'm so worked up over Palin that I'm looking for anything I can to vent.......ahhhh, that's better.....
Posted by: Alnonymous | September 4, 2008 9:24 PM
This is the first time I've gotten in on the ground-floor... how many poll hits do I need below me to get to the "inner circle"?
#4 - Poll crash can't be evil at all - God diths not smote for poll crashing... And the FSM probably approves, as it is almost an act of piracy...
Posted by: craig | September 4, 2008 9:27 PM
"Evolution is true, but God began and/or directs it. "
Ok, this one is strange.
God began and/or directs it. Meaning either he began it and directs it, or he directs it but he DIDN'T BEGIN IT. hmmmm. Who did?
And of course that rules out the "God began it but doesn't direct it" option, which is silly but somewhat popular.
Posted by: Piscean Rubble | September 4, 2008 9:31 PM
OOOH! I love to help in polls! Now we're tied with question #1. Keep it going!! :) PS. I'd never seen Ken Ham before...but EW!! One of God's creepier minions...
Posted by: rich fraser (richmanwisco) | September 4, 2008 9:31 PM
Done.
30/40/30
Posted by: ekted | September 4, 2008 9:34 PM
This kind of thing just fosters the very real belief that public opinion equals fact. Do not give in!
Posted by: chancelikely | September 4, 2008 9:34 PM
So, is it sexist to point out that he has a silly Amish beard, along with the fact that he's a lying sack of shit who's trying to destroy decent science education in this country?
Posted by: Kaddath | September 4, 2008 9:36 PM
Great... supper time and not hungry anymore... what an ugly guy (outside and inside)... in any case #3 is now 30%.
Posted by: fly44D | September 4, 2008 9:36 PM
Done... 29/40/31
Like others... Palin has me in a mood.
Posted by: Ian of Brisbane | September 4, 2008 9:38 PM
Bugger! The poll only lets me vote once.
Posted by: Holbach | September 4, 2008 9:39 PM
I voted, and then attempted to watch and listen to that creepy Hambone but could not get past five seconds of that insane drivel. Damn, what insane puke from something that evolution left by the swamp.
Posted by: HolyRusk | September 4, 2008 9:40 PM
Done my duty and feel proud.
Posted by: B. Scott Andersen | September 4, 2008 9:42 PM
It isn't clear to me that flash-mobbing any online poll about evolution, religion, or climate change and stuffing votes from rationalists is helpful. Even if we got 20,000 people to click the little radio button for "God is dead", "Darwin had a point", or "What? You need to be ankle deep in rising ocean water in Kansas before you believe?", it doesn't help sell our case. It just makes us look like the smug jerks they want to believe we are.
Instead, we should be alert for these polls, and, though they are unscientific by definition (they do not have a random sample), watch for any trends towards sanity or clarity of thought. It would be nice if the numbers were to one day start swinging away from supernatural explanations for things and more towards natural explanations. We'll never spot such a shift if we're constantly diddling in the raw data.
Just a thought...
Posted by: El Herring | September 4, 2008 9:45 PM
I have a problem with the very first line:
I don't believe in evolution, I accept it as fact. There is overwhelming evidence for it. Likewise; I don't believe in gravity or relativity. The evidence in each case makes simple belief irrelevant. They are facts, pure and simple.
What is it with these religious nuts and their belief that everyone has to have a belief system? I have something far better; a REALITY system!
Anyway, I voted for the last option of course.
Posted by: Patricia | September 4, 2008 9:45 PM
No worries Bride! You'd have to send 50 of him to add up to Bush.
You may have to ship some vegamite over for me to ram down Pathetic Palins throat though. ;)
Posted by: PS | September 4, 2008 9:46 PM
We hear and obey master.
:\
Posted by: Skepticat | September 4, 2008 9:48 PM
Between the theocrats and the creationists, I have little hope left for this country.
Posted by: Holbach | September 4, 2008 9:50 PM
Could only get one vote in, damn it! Wish there was a way to insert your own questions.
Question: Is Ken Hambone one ugly fucker or:
1 Uglier than a bag of shit;
2 Uglier than a bag of assholes;
3 Uglier than a chacma babboon's ass with fungal rot;
4 All above, with the addition of being an ugly corpse that was shit out by a wart hog.
Posted by: Celtic_Evolution | September 4, 2008 9:54 PM
A place like beliefnet isn't going to be (normally) visited by those imbued with either sanity or clarity of thought. In fact, those who frequent such sites are generally unlikely to even be aware of the existence of a fair amount of opposing viewpoints, and as such, the point behind "skewing" these polls is to make it clear to those that might think everyone thinks the way they do and thus should have no reason to question it, that in fact many, many do, and perhaps they should... sitting back and looking for "trends towards clarity of thought" in a place like that is simply an effort in futility.
Posted by: Rick Schauer | September 4, 2008 9:56 PM
#24 El:
"I have something far better; a REALITY system!"
-lol-
Nice observation!
Posted by: BobC | September 4, 2008 10:00 PM
Americans are very slowly making some progress. If you look at the Gallup poll I linked to in #9, you will notice that in 1982 only 9% of Americans agreed that Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God had no part in this process, but in 2008 14% agreed that people developed from other animals without any supernatural magic. 14% is disgraceful, but not as bad as 9%.
Posted by: Nicolas | September 4, 2008 10:01 PM
Voted twice... using 2 browsers. 32% now. Going to vote from my work PC now :-) Hey, maybe it's the time to try Chrome!
Posted by: scooter | September 4, 2008 10:03 PM
Turn off your TV, check out the Pacifica stream, it's much less gagging, and let's blog on Crash McPlane.
http://kpft.org
Personally I think he's pretty hot, and I'd do a three way with him and larry craig in any bathroom stall.
Posted by: Zeno | September 4, 2008 10:03 PM
Every time I see a picture of Ken Ham it reminds me of my theory that he is a manikin from a museum's "Early Man" exhibit who came to life. Ever since he escaped from the museum he's devoted all of his time to getting even with his creators -- and found a particularly clever way of doing it.
Hey, it's as good a theory as any of Ham's!
Posted by: scooter | September 4, 2008 10:05 PM
oops wrong thread, see yall at the callipoe thread, sorry
Posted by: Patricia | September 4, 2008 10:05 PM
Don't be hasty... poll crashing against the authority of gawdawful or The Church should merit you at least an abomination. I'll have to try harder to see if it garners you a stoning.
So if you poll crash while being gay or lesbian, shaved or bearded, wearing two different materials you get six possible abominations.
I did it while imagining giving gawd the finger so I got one extra. But I'm an abomination queen anyway. ;)
Posted by: formetaphor386sxmetaphorfor | September 4, 2008 10:08 PM
Is the Book of Genesis a Metaphor?
Metaphor for what? You mean the people who wrote Genesis knew the literal stuff but they made a bunch of metaphor stuff that was metaphor for the literal stuff? Or do you mean God told the writers of Genesis a bunch of metaphor stuff for the literal stuff, and then they wrote down the metaphor stuff, and then God told them the literal meaning of the metaphor stuff? Or did they write down a bunch of metaphor stuff about the literal stuff, but didn't know what literal stuff the metaphor stuff was metaphor for? I don't know what you mean.
Posted by: Ole Blue | September 4, 2008 10:14 PM
Evolution is catching up! But the site does seem like the place mostly religious hangout.
"Regarding creation and evolution, I believe:
The universe was created in six days as described in Genesis.
28%
Evolution is true, but God began and/or directs it.
38%
Evolution is true, and religion has nothing to do with it.
33% "
Posted by: Agersomnia | September 4, 2008 10:15 PM
The Genesis 29%
Evolution is true, but God began 39%
Evolution is true 33%
We're getting close. At least the literal interpretation is in third place now.
Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD | September 4, 2008 10:21 PM
Ummm. Bride of Shrek -
No one blames the Ozzies for Ken Ham. We are more ashamed that he realized that in order to make money at what he does, he came to the U.S.
P.T. Barnum did not die a poor man.
Posted by: 386sx4meta4 | September 4, 2008 10:22 PM
We're getting close. At least the literal interpretation is in third place now.
Yeah but that doesn't mean it's a metaphor though. If metaphor ends up winning, it might be a metaphor for metaphor being in third place and for literal being in first! You never know what a metaphor's for!! Get in them votes people!!
Posted by: Brandonazz | September 4, 2008 10:24 PM
Descend upon the believers mine legions!
Posted by: Patricia | September 4, 2008 10:24 PM
UUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHH!
Scooter!
Gack! I gotta go brush my teeth, and rinse my eyes out.
Posted by: AmyD | September 4, 2008 10:27 PM
The universe was created in six days as described in Genesis.
28%
Evolution is true, but God began and/or directs it.
38%
Evolution is true, and religion has nothing to do with it.
34%
Posted by: fly44d | September 4, 2008 10:28 PM
I voted two more times with Mozzella and Safari.
Now I need to go to my gal's computer...
It is hard... Ham is ugly... Must vote more...
Posted by: thedude | September 4, 2008 10:33 PM
Voted three times- explorer, firefox and safari
Posted by: R.C. Moore | September 4, 2008 10:43 PM
I can't believe we are putting ad money in this site's pockets just to vote in a stupid poll.
But I can't help myself. Maybe it is the hand of God monkeying with my free will.
Posted by: 386sx | September 4, 2008 10:46 PM
Not taking Genesis literally is a step towards rejecting the whole Bible, says the founder of the Creation Museum.
Yeah, well... duh! The the founder of the Creation Museum must be Mr. Captian Obvious or something!
Posted by: Mena | September 4, 2008 10:47 PM
Here's something else to crash. Is Ken Ham annoying? One of the reasons that they give for him not being annoying should be on the "why he may be annoying" list so maybe this site is annoying. Right now he's at 67.12% annoying, but we all know that he's far, far more annoying than that.
Posted by: «bønez_brigade» | September 4, 2008 10:50 PM
Currently,
YEC 28%
OEC 38%
Reality 35%
Posted by: Dick M. | September 4, 2008 11:07 PM
I tried to vote but the "Submit" vote did not work, perhaps by "design".
Posted by: Patricia | September 4, 2008 11:09 PM
Isn't Ham in prison?
Posted by: thedude | September 4, 2008 11:15 PM
Yipee! 'The way, the truth and the data' is winning.
Posted by: S.Scott | September 4, 2008 11:15 PM
Answer 3 isn't "dead last" anymore! :-)
Posted by: Roy | September 4, 2008 11:16 PM
Reality by 1% with skydaddy in second and YEC 10% back.
Posted by: @ngelo | September 4, 2008 11:19 PM
Hmmm... disable cookies.... moved that poll 3 points in a few minutes (yea that was me)
--A
Posted by: Jivlain | September 4, 2008 11:21 PM
Religion had nothing to do with it?
Not God, but religion?
Posted by: ihateaphids | September 4, 2008 11:22 PM
they have no cookies. you can leave the page and revisit and vote over and over :)
Posted by: Justin Chase | September 4, 2008 11:22 PM
We're up to 39% right now.
#1 26%
#2 35%
#3 39%
This is great.
Posted by: uhh... | September 4, 2008 11:22 PM
Voted using Firefox, Seamonkey, Epiphany, and Konqueror.
Posted by: ihateaphids | September 4, 2008 11:24 PM
oh nevermind :(
They do have a cookie detector. Back to clearing cookies :)
Posted by: BobC | September 4, 2008 11:24 PM
Hovind is in prison. Hovind is even more wacko than Ham if that's possible.
Posted by: justin chase | September 4, 2008 11:27 PM
That dude really has one creepy chin strap.
Posted by: SiMPel MYnd | September 4, 2008 11:30 PM
[force] I will crash this poll. I serve my master well. I will be rewarded. [/force]
Voted from multiple computers as well. Still at 39% for the home team.
Gotta agree with Rev BigDumbChimp @#7, that beard is some kind of weird. I wonder if it's actually some kind of alien symbiote that's controlling him.
Posted by: mims h. carter | September 4, 2008 11:30 PM
crane - 39%, skyhook - 33%, yec 28%. Still pisses me off it is that close. Add up sky hook and yec and you get 61%. This is not good.
Posted by: mims h. carter | September 4, 2008 11:32 PM
crane - 39%, skyhook - 33%, yec 28%. Still pisses me off it is that close. Add up sky hook and yec and you get 61%. This is not good.
Posted by: crazyharp81602 | September 4, 2008 11:35 PM
I'm not going to bother with this poll.
Posted by: Corey | September 4, 2008 11:35 PM
So I took the Belief-O-Matic (creative) quiz on BeliefNet, and I got 100% Secular Humanism. Sweet. I'm surprised they even offered it as a choice.
What I want to know is how I got 50% in agreement with New Age and 46% for Reform Judaism.
Most encouraging is that I was raised Roman Catholic and attending Catholic schools for 12 years, and I have the second least in common with Roman Catholicism. Needless to say, I was not offended by Crackergate.
Posted by: Jivlain | September 4, 2008 11:40 PM
Heh, why not actually watch those videos? They actually argue against the existence of God. Ah, I love modus tollens.
Posted by: Patricia | September 4, 2008 11:41 PM
Thanks BobC. It's hard to keep up on which ones are in prison, gay, taking drugs, committing adultery, raping children, moving to Enumclaw - ya know, all the stuff other people go to hell for.
Posted by: Iason Ouabache | September 4, 2008 11:42 PM
Ah yes, Ken Ham... the idiot who screams that he isn't related to a monkey, while looking exactly like an unfrozen caveman.
Posted by: Patricia | September 4, 2008 11:49 PM
Rev. BigDumbChimp - I've been worrying about you, the Mrs. and your bacon supply. Have you got somewhere safe to hide from all that nasty wind and water headed your way?
It's all your fault ya know. Gawds mad because you aren't praying, giving him money or burning witches.
Oh yeah. He's mad about the bacon too, you heathen.
Posted by: llewelly | September 4, 2008 11:50 PM
Every time I see Ken Ham, I think: homo erectus in a suit. I know, I know, homo erectus doesn't deserve that, but I can't help myself.
Anyway - looks like this poll is over a year old.
Posted by: Tom Ames | September 4, 2008 11:57 PM
Another poll:
"John McCain's speech was effective"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26552748/
Posted by: TBRP | September 5, 2008 12:00 AM
I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with almost half of what Ham says in the "What's wrong with believing in Evolution?" interview. He gives the drivel about atheism = EVIL!!1, but then goes on to say that if evolution is true, there is no need for a god. Hmmm...right on, Ken! And if you're curious, empirical evidence never came up.
Posted by: Beadknitter | September 5, 2008 12:01 AM
YEC 24%
OEC 32%
Reality 44%
Yes!!!!
Posted by: JamesR | September 5, 2008 12:07 AM
We're closing the gap at 45%
Posted by: Mercurious | September 5, 2008 12:08 AM
For multiple votes in Firefox.
1) Open poll link
2) VOTE!!
3) In firefox. Tools > Options > Privacy > Show cookies
4) Close options window but keep open cookies window.
5) Delete "beliefnet" cookie folder.
6) No reload needed.. just hit vote again
7) rinse and repeat steps 5 and 6
Side note on the 2nd vote the beliefnet folder will be at the very bottom.
Posted by: Toddahhhh | September 5, 2008 12:18 AM
Are there any net savvy folks that could change option two to Tracie Harris' (Atheist Experience) "Argument from Wile E. Coyote"? (I'm kidding, of course, I only said it to showcase Tracie's most excellent comparison).
Posted by: yoeruek | September 5, 2008 12:21 AM
21/29/50
Posted by: Miss Elaine | September 5, 2008 12:23 AM
50% now!! Keep it coming!
Posted by: Sneaky | September 5, 2008 12:32 AM
I voted (figuring that deleting cookies was a good idea before anyone mentioned it) until Reality went from 50% to 51%. Looks like I had plenty of help, though.
Posted by: Jason | September 5, 2008 12:33 AM
20/27/53
w00t w00t
Posted by: Patricia | September 5, 2008 12:37 AM
Quiet Desperation - If you're here, come over to the Open thread. Bride, Truth Machine & I are defending your honor against a really nasty troll. He doesn't even taste good!
Posted by: Ranxerox | September 5, 2008 12:46 AM
19, 26, 55
What do his looks have to do with anything? Paste your own mugs online and lets have a beauty contest.
I certainly don't like the looks of his message though.
Posted by: «bønez_brigade» | September 5, 2008 1:03 AM
YEC 18%
OEC 25%
Reality 56%
Posted by: Jparenti | September 5, 2008 1:03 AM
Woot! We're up to 57% now. Suck it, Ken!
Posted by: Trish | September 5, 2008 1:03 AM
19 - 26 - 56 now
We should collaborate and do billboards as well.
Posted by: Trish | September 5, 2008 1:05 AM
No fair. Jparenti hit the button before I did. :(
Posted by: Ranxerox | September 5, 2008 1:13 AM
Ken's and his website sheep are having a math-illusion.
Sum the %ages in the last few posts :)
Posted by: Patricia | September 5, 2008 1:13 AM
Time for this star trooper to buzz off to bed. I made the troll up a sugar tit.
Good night sweethearts!
Posted by: Randy Stimpson aka Intelligent Designer | September 5, 2008 1:22 AM
I don't see an option for me to pick.
Posted by: charfles | September 5, 2008 1:26 AM
The first step is always the hardest.
Personally saw that poll go from 59->60% in 5 minutes.
Posted by: Carbonfish | September 5, 2008 1:29 AM
Ahhhh, the poll seems to have turned around nicely. Now if we could just put as much effort into keeping the lunatic republican fundies out of the White House I would sleep better.
:^/
Posted by: Dire Lobo | September 5, 2008 1:29 AM
FIXED!
3 - 60%
2- 23%
1 - 17%
Posted by: Lurker | September 5, 2008 1:31 AM
"Answer 2 is winning, with answer 3 dead last. Can you all fix that, please?"
And behold, answer 3 smote answer 2 and Dr Myers saw that it was good...
Posted by: «bønez_brigade» | September 5, 2008 1:48 AM
YEC 15%
OEC 20%
Reality 65%
And the machines arise...
Posted by: Zack | September 5, 2008 2:18 AM
And the glee sets in.
Posted by: Cowcakes | September 5, 2008 2:18 AM
Up to 66% now.
I braved his ugly visage and discovered this:
"Ham received a Bachelor's degree in Applied Science from the Queensland Institute of Technology in Australia."
Pity he has never applied any himself.
Note to self: Write letter to QIT demanding they lift their game. Letting Ken Ham graduate WTF were they thinking. But then that's Queensland for you the, too much sun rotting the brain.
Posted by: varlo | September 5, 2008 2:26 AM
Yep, 66% correct. (I'm up early to catch a plane.)
Posted by: Ruth Ellen | September 5, 2008 2:32 AM
14% / 19% / 67%. You'd think they'd learn not to put these polls up. The poll-crashing power of P.Z. is MIGHTY!
Posted by: Barry Pearson | September 5, 2008 2:35 AM
1 - 14%
2 - 19%
3 - 67%
Posted by: Dag Yo | September 5, 2008 2:56 AM
69%. Gotta love internet polls.
Posted by: yoeruek | September 5, 2008 3:00 AM
13/18/70
right now it needs about 1.300 clicks to make 1per cent.
Posted by: yoeruek | September 5, 2008 3:11 AM
...and a few more to cut it down to 13/17/70
Posted by: Tmuk | September 5, 2008 4:11 AM
Can't help thinking that voting multiple times rather undermines the result...
Posted by: Rob | September 5, 2008 4:23 AM
Pleased to see the good guys are up to 70%!
Still at 13/17/70.
Posted by: Tony Sidaway | September 5, 2008 4:25 AM
Well that didn't take long.
Posted by: Vidar | September 5, 2008 4:53 AM
Done. We're leading with 70% of the votes.
Posted by: Zeb | September 5, 2008 5:09 AM
Still at 70%
I was just thinking that if polls like this keep going up and ending with results against them, maybe they'll get the idea and stop doing it. I'm hoping not though; there may well be people looking a