OK, remember that post by Michael Flynn refuting one of the more inane atheist websites? Someone told them about it, and they tried to write a rebuttal. You'll think I'm joking, but they actually claim that Flynn's list of references doesn't count because you can't read them online. "This is the world of the internet and Flynn provided no links for his readers to check his sources. They just have to believe that he got his information correct." Well, either that or, you know, read the books.
Fortunately, we're not left to our own resources in debunking their deep learning because Flynn has done it for us. Here's part 1 and part 2. Flynn's also blogging at the TOF Spot so you can read the same posts there as well (part 1; part 2).
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009
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14 comments:
no links for his readers to check his sources
How stupid can you get? Or maybe it's how lazy? I mean most local libraries are guaranteed to have at least one or two of those books. How hard is it to go down to the library, check one out and read it?
Yet more evidence for my theory that the internet is dumbing down the new generation.
Read Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. It's about how television is dumbing us down, but I think it applies to the Internet to some extent.
I notice Mr. Walker has a new chart up. Since when did the Renaissance start in 1300?
Jim,
Thanks for the heads up. I will see if my library has a copy when I take my current check-outs back.
"This is the world of the internet and Flynn provided no links for his readers to check his sources. They just have to believe that he got his information correct."
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
*pause to catch breath*
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
etc.
Since when did the Renaissance start in 1300?
Since he couldn't deny the accomplishments of the 14th century medievals. He had to promote them to Renaissance.
I for one think he has a small point about no way to check sources but not in the way he intends...
I suspect more and more in the future all books will be online, and that is certainly a good thing. I also suspect older books will also be put online.
Then you can do the source check he calls for.
I suspect more and more in the future all books will be online, and that is certainly a good thing. I also suspect older books will also be put online.
And then we will have a new generation of kids that will be even more helpless when the power goes out. Ah, progress.
Then you can do the source check he calls for.
I think Mr. Walker, and other people like him, would still find an excuse to not look the information up. Considering Mr. Walker also made the comment:
And no, I do not accept his comical list of pictures of books copy & pasted at the end as a valid way to cite source material. Did he actually derive his sources from them or did he just go to Amazon.com and search for books that look like it might impress his readers. I don't know. Lets hope not, because if he did get his sources from them, then the authors of those books got the information wrong, wrong, wrong.
That alone tells me he isn't going to pursue any information that challenges his personal beliefs regardless of whither or not it is on the internet.
I confess it will suck if all books , letters , magazines , newspaper etc are only online when the power goes out. But as long as people read them I don't see what the great problem is. It will make books more available to everyone and it will be great for the environment.
Aha. The cavalry has arrived.
http://richardcarrier.blogspot.com/2010/01/flynns-pile-of-boners.html
And it looks like I'm in his sights too. Can't wait.
Apparently, this Carrier dude is also convinced that the Renaissance began in 1300. It must be a new meme.
Now high school textbooks sometimes do get things wrong or grossly overgeneralized, but from what I read, the dark ages began roughly around 500 AD, and the renaissance began roughly around 1500 AD.
Or, if measured by clothing...
Togas->rags and chain mail->male pantyhose
Apparently, this Carrier dude is also convinced that the Renaissance began in 1300. It must be a new meme.
Unless, of course, the subject is witch burning or the like, and then "The Dark Ages" last into the 17th century.
I'm sure google will be to the rescue eventually for those who don't want to go to the library. hehe
Ben
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