Self-proclaimed "journalist, author, and blogger" and all-round Canadian pseudo-scientific quack and Intelligent Design dingbat Denyse O'Leary can't figure out what all the ruckus is about:
U of T course generates huge rage? Why?
Apparently, a vast fracas started on the Small Dead Animals blog, sparked by some alarmblog comments about my course in the intelligent design controversy starting this coming Tuesday evening at the University of Toronto. I posted the following response: ...
If Denyse is truly baffled as to why some folks who care about science might be a bit miffed, I'd be happy to clear this up for her.
First, let's notice something fairly significant: O'Leary's course is not an official U of T offering that is part of any established programme. Rather, it's being offered under the aegis of the U of T's St. Mike's College as a non-credit, continuing education course, which means (not to put too fine a point on it) that there's nothing stopping it from being utter rubbish. Not to sound unsympathetic, but that's kind of what "non-credit, continuing education" means. And if St. Mike's wants to offer that, they're certainly free to do so, and more power to them. That's not the problem.
The problem (if you haven't figured it out already) is O'Leary's slimy tendency to refer to her offering as a "U of T course" without qualifying its potential worthlessness. Just look at O'Leary's innocent protestations above, where you read the phrases "U of T course" and "my course in the intelligent design controversy starting this coming Tuesday evening at the University of Toronto" with no disclaimer that it's a non-credit, cont-ed course. And, yes, that carefully-excised bit of information makes a world of difference.
So if Denyse wants to teach scientifically illiterate nonsense through St. Mike's non-credit, cont-ed program, hey, go wild. But she shouldn't be allowed to puff up her credentials by describing it as a "U of T" course, and she should be corrected vocally every time she does.
You're not a faculty member at U of T, Denyse, so let's quit trying to leave that impression, shall we?
13 comments:
I propose we have a class in intelligent design wherein we illustrate only the Greek interpretation of how the world came into being.
Ooo ooo! Or the Norse!
Hmm... maybe one of the Native American traditions. Hmm.. which one...
Hmm... maybe one of the Native American traditions. Hmm.. which one...
I believe that Religious Studies faculties often offer such courses under the banner of "Comparative Religion".
I can't get past that picture of her on her blog. The vacant stare, the beatific look...a complete loon.
I have nothing left but cheap insults for these faith-based liars.
...to be honest, I never had much else to begin with, but..well, anyway...
I have nothing left but cheap insults...to be honest, I never had much else to begin with, but..well, anyway...
A rare moment of reflection. I shall treasure this comment always.
Great. Glad to hear it.
She'd make a great "victim" to be featured in Ben Stein's new film.
I wouldn't even care if she was giving a course in creationism (at St. Mike's), but I find ID especially loathsome because it's a stealth attempt to dress creationism up as science. It's the equivalent of suggesting that The Cat In The Hat is a veterinary text.
Auuggh!
E in md, you surely can't leave out the Egyptian creation myth of how Amon stood on the Primordial Mound and masturbated the world into existence?
All Denyse needs now is a mailorder Ph.D. and she'd be insufferable.
Oh...wait...
Aw...I didn't mean to be that crabby. But since when is "21st c." obscure academic jargon? Jeebus!
Stardust said: Is ignorant name- calling a hallmark of atheists? Listen before you speak. If it turns out [in death] there is a creator of a universe of atoms that evolved to all things, all life, & an arrogant you,then you better have answers.
Oh, dear ... someone apparently just discovered "Pascal's Wager." Who would like to do the honours?
I'll offer 3 to 1 that the next edition of Denyse's CV boasts of her position as a U of T Professor.
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