Unsupported assertions

Gene Dunbar Godbold (gdg4n@avery.med.virginia.edu)
Fri, 20 Jun 1997 09:43:00 -0400 (EDT)

I have resubscribed to this list and have been listening for the past
week. I have noticed the distressing tendency of several participants,
when discussing evolution, to make blanket assertions which they do not
take the trouble to support. I know that all of us are quite busy, but it
would add greatly to the educational benefit of the list if assertions
for and against various aspects of evolutionary theory might be
illustrated with reference to specific experiments or examples.
Merely stating that there is "no evidence" for something isn't very
helpful and gives the impression that the person might just not personally
know of any. Much more convincing and impressive is to say that "the best
evidence for this is...and then go on to list what the evidence is. If it
is weak, this will be apparent.

Sorry if I sound cranky.

Gene

--
____________________________________________________________
Gene D. Godbold, Ph.D. Lab: 804 924-5167
Research Associate Desk: 804 243-2764
Div. Infectious Disease/Dept. Medicine Home: 804 973-6913
and Dept. Microbiology Fax: 804 924-7500
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