It helps to go to the source.
May 24, 2005

Are you folks familiar with the whole Rubinstein affair? Rubinstein is the history professor who recently traded on his Ph.D that he was unconvinced that evolution ever really happened.

He was subsequently skewered across Blogdom over his view, most excellently by Orac and my current blog idol, PZ Meyers. In response, Rubinstein, replied to his critics that he wasn't a creationist and that he would gladly donate $100 dollars if, in the next 10 years, anyone could show him evidence of speciation occurring in any place other than a lab.

Now, folks, you all know what a kind hearted, expansive and loving soul I have. I figured that Rubinstein must not understand that speciation is well documented, with sources easily available on the web, and that were I to simply direct him to Talk Origins, he could read the list for himself and come away the better for it.

(Okay, you got me. I don't believe in souls, I used to snatch children in the night from their parents, and I'm fairly crumedgenly, bitter and vindictive. But if IDers can believe the fiction that the universe is intelligently created, I can at least believe the fiction that I'm perfect and innocent. Just go with me on this, alright?)

I proceeded with my plan and sent along the following email (his stuff is in red, mine's in green.)

Secondly, I would be happy to donate say one hundred dollars or fifty pounds to charity if, by the end of ten years from now (May 2015) anyone can produce an example of evolution in the animal world which has occurred during that time span - that is, the appearance of a new species of animal, which does not exist today, but which is descended from an existing species....

Professor, there is no need to wait to make your donation. Current speciation has been documented extensively. Here's a small list of source material. More can be found at http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-speciation.html.

Pretty nice, simple and too the point.

I tried not to be bitchy.

It was very hard.

I zipped the the little electronic correspondence off and drummed my fingers on the desk, eagerly awaiting his response.

Well, that's technically not true either. I did write a screenplay, finished a paper on independent film marketing for school, went shopping, got gas for the Mustang, did laundry, ordered Thai, read "How we Believe" by Michael Shermer, outlined a novel, played "Republic Commando," delivered meals to the needy, catalogued my library, went to a birthday party, avoided anacondas on a hunt for the blood orchid, rebuilt the engine on my car, did a HAHO jump and got a little further in my search for a cure to the common cold. Oh, and I watched some porn.

By the time I was done with all of that -- I think it took about two hours -- low and behold, Rubinstein reponded! Glory days! My grand exercise in eye-opening, mind-expanding, horizon-broadening, was about to pay off! Accolades! Joy! I opened what was sure to be a touching note from Dr. Rubinstein, expecting to read that through my own careful and reasoned argumentation -- oh, yeah, and that stuff at Talk Origins -- a thank-me for pointing out the errors in his thought, helping him to move through his ignorance, and join we happy folk in the 21st Century. With baited breath, I clicked on the message and read :

Many thanks. I was aware of some of the reports you cite, and, of course, according to evolutionary theory there have been millions of instances of speciation during the past two billion years. My offer, however, relates specifically to the period I stated, when I can examine the evidence as it is reported. Best wishes, Bill Rubinstein

Astonishment.

My heart sputtered.

My mind tumbled in confusion: He'd already read those sources??

It churned still further, like a chicken in the gears of a well oiled clock: Rubinstein was familiar with the work of countless scientists across the planet, who for decades have gathered data point after data point in support of a theory first popularized by Darwin over a hundred years ago? He knew the research, the results, the discoveries, all utilized daily, consistently, productively, to make life better for him, for me and for the billions of people on the planet? He knew all of that and, like a petulant teen, stuck his fingers in his ears and crowed "I"M NOT LISTENING!! I'm NOT LISTENING" by demanding it all be made real to him in a ten year period of his choosing?

Betrayal.

A crushing blow to my ideals.

The world is not full of kind, loving, and intelligent people, who honestly wish to discourse, discover and understand the environment they live in. No, people are, as Dr. Shermer pointed out, emotionaly commited to their own points of view and support them with a selective reading of data. Sulk. Shuffle off to a far corner and bemoan the horrendous iniquities of Life. How, how pray tell, could I deal with such a weighty discovery, with the existential pall, the sudden and complete rending of my here-to-fore comforting cloak of Pollyanish Idealism?

After I got done watching more porn, I figured that I should also send along a snappy rejoinder. I couldn't let the good doctor continue on in his willful ignorance. I, steeped in my personal greatness, as a proud purveyor of truth, justice and light, knew that I had to make someone who didn't want to see it, who clung gleefully to their ignorance, see things my way. It just wasn't right to allow this man to continue on unchallenged. I had the responsibility, the duty, nay the right to make this man see the truth! Focusing all my special powers, my deep insight into human nature, and on my truly alien grasp of words, I typed my short, piercing and definitive reply and sent it off:

Oh, brother.

Posted by Jody at May 24, 2005 11:25 PM

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» Rubinstein keeps digging, apparently from Respectful Insolence
...All I really wanted to say in this post was that Jody's account of her e-mail exchange with Rubinstein gave me a chuckle, and I think it will give you one too. [Read More]

Tracked on May 26, 2005 06:16 AM

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