PZ Myers on the Pharyngula at Glasgow Skeptics

[dangriff12]

very good talk. I am a chemist (who usually hates biology) whenever I was confused about the terminology used he immediately clarified in laymens terms.

[lazycackle]

Can anyone tell me which embryo was which @6:48? I couldn't tell from the video alone. Was it Cat, Dolphin, Human from left to right?

[forkboy84]

"Even Wikipedia has called this a discredited theory."

Quite. As in "quite depressing how much nonsense you sort are full of."

[MorganMarvinson]

"To make you more stupid [implying that he thinks his audience is already stupid] ... They don't want you to get the scientific Amer--- information ... Not learn a single damn thing and believe what they say ..." Sounds like what we have now. In America, we have some really bright kids and then we have everybody else. Under our present scientific education, how are we doing? How competitive for technological jobs are we with the superpowers of the East?

[MorganMarvinson]

"I'm going to ignore the questions for a while and then I'll give you the story I'm trying to tell you." Apparently his "while" is a LONG while--except the ubiquitous ridicule. Hmm. And then he gives us a "story"--to the glee of those present.

Story-giver, question ignorer ... what a waste of intellect.

[benthemiester]

The initial theory of biogenetic law concerning embryological similarities which he conveniently left out was based on the notion that since in our initial stages we look like little fishy thingies, then we must come from fishy thingies.....

[benthemiester]

cont..... How can you argue with logic like that? I mean corn starch and baking soda look like plaster of paris and Reba Mcentire looks just like former San Francisco Quarter back Joe Montana, so they must be related, right? Simple evolutionary logic. The reason PZ excluded fish is for the same reason that in the initial stages of development fish get

[benthemiester]

cont.....nourishment from a yolk sac but mammals get their nourishment from the placenta, and he knew that this is exactly what the question was about concerning initial stages. He cleverly used birds as an example of having a yoke sac and the implied the reasoning why he didn't use an example in the photos displayed is because the picture would not have been clearer.The whole theory is based on ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny otherwise know as biogenetic law.

[benthemiester]

cont... This is smoke and mirrors. Even Wikipedia has called this a discredited theory. PZ has simply tried to redefine this same discredited theory with the fact that vertebrates look similar during this stage. I have respect for those who are willing to make a case for the neo Darwinian synthesis, but this guy is a joke, but at least he admitted the gill slit reference (which has been taught to school children for a 80 + years is false) Or what was the word he used.... colloquial?

[GlasgowSkeptics]

The Q+A is online!

[123backinyerface]

Excellent lecture. You can always tell the intelligence and the persons knowledge of their field when they can explain their work to someone who is not an expert but can be made to understand the basics from logic alone.

This is why creationists do the exact opposite, they hit you will technical jargon pulled from a book you have never heard of, make it sound so complicated that is sounds right, and ridicule you for not knowing about it, by avoiding "logic" entirely.

Great upload, thank you.

[Wrath0fKhan]

Thanks for the fascinating lecture, PZ! Thanks for uploading that lecture, GS! :-)

[ConsciousAtoms]

Very good lecture on a thoroughly fascinating subject. Thanks for uploading!

[Eldequeel]

After this, I can't wait to see the creationist's faces get decomposed

[gamotter]

What a fascinating lecture. Brilliant as always PZ. Thanks!

[jimmyusee]

Pity I couldn't attend, it's really quite interesting. Thanks for posting. PS, does he call himself PZ (Zee), or PZ (Zed)? Just a bit of trivial nonsense from me.

[CDEggebrecht]

@jimmyusee PZee, but he gets called PZed all the time. I'm sure he doesn't mind

[Diderooot]

I know he hates this, but - awwwww, what a cute teddy bear.

[Divergedwoods]

Pz as usual is dynamic and entertaining. I also want to give my highest complements for the amazing quality in the production of this talk, truly outstanding

[coasterpro]

Loved the talk! Don't let the length discourage you It's worth listening to from beginning to end.

[richardhealy]

fantastic - and shared! Can't wait for the Q&A!

[deconvertedguy]

All university lecture halls should have bars with beer on tap.... helps people think.

[coasterpro]

@deconvertedguy

... about beer. But all true intellectuals think about beer so it's totally a good fit.

[Mjhavok]

@deconvertedguy It isn't University lecture hall. It is a bar in Glasgow called The Crystal Palace. This floor of it is used as a function sweet.

[deconvertedguy]

@Mjhavok Yeah, I can see it isn't a bar. I was also wondering what the bar staff were thinking of the lecture and whether they were actually sympathetic to what PZ was saying. Imagine if they were creation apologists!

[Mjhavok]

@deconvertedguy It is a bar. The bar staff likely don't even know what creationism is.

[mcmanustony]

@Mjhavok

Glasgow bar staff are smarter than you think!

[deconvertedguy]

@deconvertedguy whoops, I meant to say I can it isn't a "lecture hall"...

[MorganMarvinson]

@deconvertedguy Beer helps you think? Reading you guy's observations about where the "lecture" took place suddenly helps me understand why PZ says ID proponents want "to make you more stupid." ;)

[AcroStigma]

Brilliant talk. Was wondering if you were putting up the Q&A though?

[stephenpaton134]

@AcroStigma I'll be putting the q+a up next week so we can all enjoy PZ's "skewering" from the creationists.

[AcroStigma]

@stephenpaton134 Excellent news. I'll keep an eye out for it.

[efctony]

@stephenpaton134 Awww! I want to see them now!

[Mjhavok]

@stephenpaton134 LOL

[WALKINGonaSPIRAL]

Awesome!