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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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Category: Creationism
Posted on: April 25, 2008 10:36 AM, by PZ Myers
You know how we all love to screw up online polls … here's another one. Scroll down to just below "What others are saying", on the left, where the poll question is:
Do you think the theory of Intelligent Design should be taught in our education system?
"Yes" is currently leading by about 3:1. If everyone goes over there and votes "no", it will raise Mark Mathis's blood pressure a few points.
(via Skippy)
(TrackBack URL for this entry: )
Comments
Will his blood pressure increase proportional to the numbers of people voting no?
I sure hope it will be exponential. Anyway, I'm guessing they will just reset the vote as soon as they are losing. They can't afford bad publicity on their own webpage, right?
Posted by: Simon C. | April 25, 2008 10:42 AM
Done!
Posted by: mezzobuff | April 25, 2008 10:44 AM
Done! Don't read the comments there unless you enjoy pain.
Posted by: iain | April 25, 2008 10:46 AM
It's surely appropriate to vote "no", but I'd really like to hear the answers to, "What is it?"
Posted by: Mike Kandefer | April 25, 2008 10:46 AM
Wow...already less than 2:1. Nice!
Posted by: J | April 25, 2008 10:47 AM
What a great poll, whenever we need a policy decision made, we should consult the people of Myspace. The National Academy of My Space. If Mark Mathis is somehow now de-aging to 17 years old, that violates the laws of thermodynamics, so that means there was a designer, so... I can't keep track of their arguments anymore.
Posted by: Dennis N | April 25, 2008 10:51 AM
We're catching up! Hee hee. Oh, how I love the smell of steaming mad IDiot in the morning...
Posted by: Dana Hunter | April 25, 2008 10:53 AM
That site design would confirm the faith of a dystheist. Fucking MySpace.
I was the 374th person to vote No, against 491 who voted Yes.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | April 25, 2008 10:54 AM
interestingly enough, that's the first decent looking MySpace page I've ever seen. it's unfortunate that it's Expelled's page...
Posted by: Zeph | April 25, 2008 10:54 AM
oh yeah! keep 'em comin'
Posted by: mikeg | April 25, 2008 10:54 AM
Ha! It even lets you vote multiple times (but I got bored after 5...)
Posted by: Penny | April 25, 2008 10:54 AM
Someone should try to get this on fark.com. The combined PZ/Fark attack could be kind of fun.
Posted by: Mike | April 25, 2008 10:55 AM
916 total votes when I voted NO
Posted by: V | April 25, 2008 10:56 AM
It's 491 Yes to 393 No - keep up the good work, everybody!
I love the "comments" from such luminaries as James Dobson and Michael Medved.
Posted by: Paul Burnett | April 25, 2008 10:56 AM
Keep it up. we're almost equal now.
Posted by: Barklikeadog | April 25, 2008 10:57 AM
And I understand "W" wants to use tax money to shore up these bible thumping yahoo's educational system!! What a dunce! What a fuckin' dunce!! When will these slime molds learn to read??!!
Posted by: Steven Lingard | April 25, 2008 10:57 AM
It won't accept multiple votes, I just looked. You can push the button repetedly but the counter does not change. The most horrorfying part is the comments,"My 16 year old home schooled daughter and I saw Expelled last night. Great Flick!!! Here's Kent Hovind, Dangers of Evolution..." poor kid has'nt got a chance....
Posted by: Rich | April 25, 2008 10:59 AM
Aaaaand the NOs are winning, 492 to 503, as of now.
Posted by: Aaron Golas | April 25, 2008 10:59 AM
We're now officially ahead.
Posted by: Ericb | April 25, 2008 10:59 AM
999 votes, and Yes and No are at 49 per cent each.
Posted by: Chili Pepper | April 25, 2008 10:59 AM
Awesome, apparently i was the tying vote!
Posted by: Matt | April 25, 2008 11:00 AM
Incidentally, someone with a MySpace account should post a note like the following: "Nice idea for a movie. But why don't you tell the stories of the people who REALLY got "EXPELLED" -- people like Steve Bitterman, Alex Bolyanatz, Richard Colling, Chris Comer, Christopher diCarlo, Terry Gray, John E. Jones III, Nancey Murphy, Gwen Pearson, Paul Mirecki, Eric Pianka and Howard Van Till? You know, the people, many of whom are faithful Christians, who have been pressured, harassed, fired and even threatened with death for accepting evolution."
Posted by: Blake Stacey | April 25, 2008 11:00 AM
Cool. It only took 20 minutes for us to beat their poll. Keep it up! Run the scoreboard!
Posted by: PZ Myers | April 25, 2008 11:02 AM
Home schooled children have their computer time limited, so they can't do much voting. It's so they don't stumble upon the 8th deadly sin: PZ's blog. I wonder how many Hail Mary's they'd have to say to make up for reading this.
Posted by: Dennis N | April 25, 2008 11:03 AM
just stay on the page and refresh after each vote
Posted by: mikeg | April 25, 2008 11:04 AM
I just voted
45.06% yes
53.66% No
Wooot!
Posted by: firemancarl | April 25, 2008 11:05 AM
I really do not understand the commenters, from what I've heard it's a terrible film even if you support intelligent design, it's that bad.
Posted by: Slyer | April 25, 2008 11:06 AM
Question: What are we trying to accomplish with this stunt?
Heh. Nevermind.
That was fun!
Posted by: MikeB | April 25, 2008 11:06 AM
Rich @ #17. It did allow me to vote twice. I think it may be because I use the Flashblock extension in Firefox. And if I want to see a flash element played I have to click on it to allow it.
The no's are ahead now! Woot!
Posted by: Chris | April 25, 2008 11:08 AM
i voted "NO", but then thought it over and would like to recant:
why stop at teaching Intelligent Design in biology? we should also teach Flat Earth Science in geology courses. and Perpetual Motion science in physics. and Conspiracy Science in history. discussion of the 4 elements: Air, Earth, Water and Fire should be mandatory in chemistry. Everyone knows the moon landing was faked. This should be brought up in all astronomy courses. also, cooking classes would be vastly improved if it was mentioned that the moon was made of cheese-a infinite source of mozarella!
mmmm...pizza...
hey, what wine would go well with the moon?
Posted by: dennis | April 25, 2008 11:09 AM
"I really do not understand the commenters, from what I've heard it's a terrible film even if you support intelligent design, it's that bad."
You're assuming that the comments are from actual people rather than sockpuppets posted by a PR firm they hired.
Posted by: ericb | April 25, 2008 11:09 AM
I actually had trouble deciding what to vote on this one. The question "Do you think the Theory of Intelligent Design should be taught in our educational system" had two excellent responses -- and the best one was probably the last one: What is it?
What IS the "Theory of Intelligent Design?" In science, the word "theory" does not mean "some idea someone came up with." It's a formal term. What are the mechanisms, the model, the testable predictions? Saying "this sure didn't happen through evolution" is not a science theory. Neither is "looks like someone could have put it together." Nor is "if it works well, someone must have wanted it to work like that."
Still, I voted "no" because, like with all polls, you have to kind of psych out what they intend each response to mean, and I thought the "what is it?" answer was too open to being interpreted as "Great, tell me more!" as opposed to "You ain't got nothin', do ya?"
And I voted once, because I am one.
Posted by: Sastra | April 25, 2008 11:12 AM
Well, I did my part.
If it actually required any effort I'd have passed it up. But the general nature of the site would produce a self selected sample group biased towards Yes. Right up until the anti-selected sample group shows up with our shivs and zip guns like at mob riot at a wedding.
Posted by: wildcardjack | April 25, 2008 11:13 AM
What's the bet the poll will quietly vanish away...
Posted by: rattitude | April 25, 2008 11:13 AM
Just voted:
Yes 493
No 733
Its gonna be a landslide!!!!
Posted by: Rowan | April 25, 2008 11:13 AM
493 vs 758 good job :)
those comments on their site are really sickening.
Posted by: Forodrim | April 25, 2008 11:13 AM
voted.
We're up by about 2:1 now.
Posted by: wintremute | April 25, 2008 11:14 AM
Heh, we're winning pretty comprehensively now. I had a quick visual tour around the rest of the site, but the stupid was so overwhelming that I was temporarily blinded. Maybe that's really what happened to Saul on the road to Damascus?
Posted by: embertine | April 25, 2008 11:15 AM
It is now at 61 % now and climbing fast enough to see significant differences as fast as you can refresh.Woohoo!
Posted by: sidelined | April 25, 2008 11:15 AM
My vote single handedly put NO to 61%.
Posted by: MicroZealous | April 25, 2008 11:15 AM
Apparently if you reload the webpage you can vote again. You've got to love this (Creation) Scientific polling stuff. It makes ballot box stuffing so easy.
Posted by: Bob L | April 25, 2008 11:16 AM
How long before this "poll" gets pulled down? Anyone taking bets?
Posted by: wintremute | April 25, 2008 11:16 AM
62% for logic and reason. 803-493 is the current tally.
Posted by: Jason G. | April 25, 2008 11:16 AM
DONE!
Wow, I got a little thrill from helping to crash that poll, what's wrong with me?
Posted by: Deb | April 25, 2008 11:16 AM
sock puppets? sock puppets?!?
Oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can lie on the internet will. There is a pestilence upon this land, nothing is sacred. Even those who arrange intelligent design sites are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
Posted by: dennis | April 25, 2008 11:16 AM
The counter on the "no" side is going up too fast for me to tell if I can vote multiple times or not. It seems to be gaining 5-10 people in the time it takes the page to refresh and then process my vote. The "yes" side has been at 493 since I started paying attention.
Posted by: qbsmd | April 25, 2008 11:17 AM
Of course, the really sad part is that, when they notice that they are losing the vote, they are going to (a) blame it on a vast atheistic, Darwinianismist conspiracy, and claim that they are being oppressed by big science. This will be taken as a sign that they are in the right! Heh.
Also, ewwwww! MySpace!
Posted by: xander | April 25, 2008 11:20 AM
Gained 100 yes votes sionce I posted about 4 minutes ago.
Posted by: Jason G. | April 25, 2008 11:20 AM
@#45
That gave me a good idea. I tried voting for "yes." Still 493.
Posted by: Alex | April 25, 2008 11:21 AM
866 No to 493 Yes
@Blake Stacey - I tried, but you have to be their friend to do it, and I'm not willing to go that far.
Posted by: peterbr | April 25, 2008 11:21 AM
Always glad to help!
Posted by: yank in london | April 25, 2008 11:21 AM
When Blake (post #8) voted it was yes (491) v no (374)...
...now its yes (493) v no (924)
What a response...LOL!!!
Posted by: Rowan | April 25, 2008 11:21 AM
The trouble is that folks like us see things like Pharyngula each day-- it's troubling to read those comments, and remember just how many people are totally deluded. Anyways, I did my part, and the NO votes are in a far lead at the moment.
Posted by: DaveX | April 25, 2008 11:21 AM
I came across the poll from elsewhere, but was pointed here, too. I wanted to leave a comment saying, "I love propaganda" but of course, I can't because that "user" is not my "friend" on the site. Oh well.
Posted by: Clair | April 25, 2008 11:21 AM
Bam! A vote no... wow... rather high on the no sides. I dig. :D
Posted by: ishmael9913 | April 25, 2008 11:22 AM
Sorry. My previous post should have said 100 NO votes.
Posted by: Jason G. | April 25, 2008 11:22 AM
I think we should start teaching Alchemy.
With a little effort there we could soon have the national debt all fixed.
Posted by: Britomart | April 25, 2008 11:23 AM
Rattitude & wintremute re bet:
I'll bet a pledge of $10 to NCSE! Poll will be offline in 12 hours.
Posted by: MicroZealous | April 25, 2008 11:24 AM
Done, m'lord. Now the No is leading. :P
Posted by: Michelle | April 25, 2008 11:24 AM
the NOs outnumber the YESs 2 to one now.
last count : 493 for YES (this hasn't changed at all over twenty minutes)
995 (make that 1005) for NO.
yay!
Posted by: croor | April 25, 2008 11:24 AM
Done! Whoo-hoo fun! And that's a good question: What is intelligent design? Yes why don't they answer that? I propose the following: "It's a scientifically scientific science-dealy that proposes certain life forms (Behe, Dembski, Hovind, Ham) began their existences abruptly and with certain of their features intact (scales, tails, horns, fake memories, fake sanctimony, idiocy, odor, etc.)
Posted by: jetmags73 | April 25, 2008 11:25 AM
493 yes:1015 no now
Less than a third voting yes at this time.
Posted by: drew | April 25, 2008 11:26 AM
We were way ahead when I voted. When will people LEARN! If you're going to release a piece of nonsense propaganda and annoy a lot of well-informed people, don't put up a poll! It will get stuffed - always!
Posted by: Armchair Dissident | April 25, 2008 11:26 AM
(.)(.)
Posted by: wÒÓ† | April 25, 2008 11:26 AM
If you follow some of the comment on the expelled myspace site, you will find some really amusing blogs:
http://www.atheismisdead.blogspot.com/ :D
Posted by: Forodrim | April 25, 2008 11:26 AM
1014 to 493. They must not have as rabid a blogoblog following. All hail use of technology and information for good! oh god I created a new religion... scientology! wait, that one's taken? damn
Posted by: matt | April 25, 2008 11:26 AM
Still about 2:1 for No, keep up the good work!
Posted by: Epinephrine | April 25, 2008 11:27 AM
493 yes vs. 980 no: so at least 247 people have voted no since the past person voted yes. Schweet! More fortunately, they are using a third-party poll, so they probably don't have a way to gin the results.
Posted by: rhonan | April 25, 2008 11:28 AM
Done.
You know, they say getting atheists to organise en masse is like trying to herd cats... but every time you give us a heads up on an internet poll, we always manage to turn it our way.
Posted by: Matt | April 25, 2008 11:29 AM
Just voted it now stands at:
493 Yes
1075 No.
Posted by: Joel | April 25, 2008 11:29 AM
[sarcasm]
Big Science tries to silence ID Truth again...
[/sarcasm]
Posted by: Etha Williams | April 25, 2008 11:30 AM
I would kind of like to see this movie shown in schools. In science class, in fact. It should be shown, as part of a segment on critical thinking, as an excellent example of Orwellian doublespeak propaganda. It really demonstrates how a claim/position, that has no merit what so ever, can be considered viable by people who have never learned how to think objectively.
Posted by: Blondin | April 25, 2008 11:30 AM
Matt:
Unbeknownst to you, cat's special power is poll domination.
Posted by: matt | April 25, 2008 11:30 AM
These people (Creationists/ID proponents) make /no/ sense. Even when I thought I was religious, I absolutely didn't want this subject to be taught in school. Frustrating.
*scratches head*
Posted by: Clair | April 25, 2008 11:31 AM
I don't see why they can't teach the Theory of Intelligent Design in class. After all, it would only take less than 30 seconds.
"Today, children, we're going to learn the entire Theory of Intelligent Design. Are you ready? Here goes...
God did it, now stop asking stupid bloody questions.
There. Now, get your biology textbooks out, and we'll crack on with evolutionary theory."
Posted by: Gareth | April 25, 2008 11:31 AM
What about the possibility they created the pool at 400ish Yes and 0 No, to give themselves a head start? No, they'd never bear false witness like that...
Posted by: Dennis N | April 25, 2008 11:31 AM
493 to 1149.
Let this be a lesson to Ass-Prod Mathis and the rest of Premise Media: don't pin your hopes on something completely unscientific.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | April 25, 2008 11:32 AM
Someone used their "comments" section to post a Kent Hovind video, but Intelligent Design has nothing to do with Creationism. Uh huh.
Posted by: Reginald Selkirk | April 25, 2008 11:32 AM
11:30, and it's already >2:1 for NO. Nice work everybody!
Posted by: jghughes | April 25, 2008 11:33 AM
You'd be surprised how easy it is to herd cats when you sling an opened can of catfood or spill milk willy-nilly in your desired direction.
Posted by: Stanton | April 25, 2008 11:33 AM
we're killing them. And surprisingly, poll is still online.
Posted by: charles | April 25, 2008 11:34 AM
Sorry, didn't realize they used a 3rd party. Although maybe they used it without permission, but they don't have a history of doing that already. Wow, I'm incessantly sarcastic.
Posted by: Dennis N | April 25, 2008 11:36 AM
Wow-- that site is an ugly sight. Couldn't bring myself to list them as 'friend' just to post a comment. But the no vote continues to climb. It's important, I think, not to let these people imagine that their little club is unnoticed or unopposed-- if one call to flood a poll overwhelms their numbers, it's a good message to send, especially if it leaves them gnashing their teeth.
Posted by: Bryson Brown | April 25, 2008 11:38 AM
Actually, I've been able to vote quite a few times, and I've been paying attention to the counter and it definitely goes up. I'm trying to get the "What is it" vote up.
Good times.
Posted by: Robert Ward | April 25, 2008 11:39 AM
Someone stuffing "What is it?" now? It's up from 7 to 200 and rising...
Posted by: Aaron Golas | April 25, 2008 11:39 AM
You forgot the maroon banner alerting us to our orders. :)
Posted by: Carlie | April 25, 2008 11:39 AM
I refuse.
I'm not doing anything until I get my Friday cephalopod, thank you very much.
Posted by: Sili | April 25, 2008 11:39 AM
Coral Ridge Ministries is on their friend list.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Posted by: J | April 25, 2008 11:40 AM
The results of the poll show the text "Thank you, we have already counted your vote." at the top. That would suggest that one cannot vote twice.
1375 No vs 495 Yes.
Yesss! :D
Posted by: QuickEye | April 25, 2008 11:40 AM
Who's taking bets on how long it stays up now that it's
65.74% no to 24.12% yes?
Can't wait to see the "PZ hacked our website" claims...
Posted by: MB | April 25, 2008 11:41 AM
Just voted and this is so much fun. The NOs are way ahead.
Posted by: sf atheist | April 25, 2008 11:42 AM
Done! Don't read the comments there unless you enjoy pain.
That's a good warning for any myspace page, really. But I do have to agree somewhat with #9. Unlike most myspace pages, the site didn't IMMEDIATELY make my eyes bleed.
Well, except for the pictures of Ben Stein...
Posted by: Rick at shrimp and grits | April 25, 2008 11:43 AM
495 Yes
1400 NO
As of 1142 EDT
BWAHAHAHAHA!
Just a thought, PZ, in the future, you might consider creating an e-mail alert list for situations like this. I'm fairly sure that someone from the creo camp will read this post, and cry 'FOUL' about this effort. It would be more effective to be able to do this kind of action on the sly...
Posted by: Blaidd Drwg | April 25, 2008 11:45 AM
496 Yes
1509 No
As of 10:47CDT
Made me laugh out loud, that did.
I mean, er... sorry, poor little film! So sorry!
>>chortle
Posted by: William | April 25, 2008 11:48 AM
It's now 1483 to 496.
It's depressing, though, the number of reasonably intelligent people who are being taken in by the film. Go check out www.mrcranky.com/movies/expelled.html.
The reviewer there, even though he pans the movie, accepts as fact the moviemakers' claims that people are being fired and harrassed in the scientific/educational community for promoting Intelligent Design. Oh, and the reviewer also mixes up Evolution with Abiogenesis. Please, a couple of people, pop by the site and leave comments.
Posted by: Hairhead | April 25, 2008 11:49 AM
#92, some wrong people will sneak onto the list and point to a secret conspiracy, might as well keep it in the open. Its a public vote either way.
Posted by: Dennis N | April 25, 2008 11:50 AM
Yes (496 votes)
No (1683 votes)
Posted by: RT | April 25, 2008 11:54 AM
Guys, you're only 200 votes away from pushing 'yes' into 3rd place behind 'What is it'.
I suggest a change of tactics!
Posted by: Giford | April 25, 2008 11:55 AM
Soon the poll will be gone and all that will remain will be their traffic statistics.
Maybe we haven't thought this through...
Posted by: Darby | April 25, 2008 11:55 AM
LOL this is hilarious, the pharyngula community is amazing. vote tied in 20 minutes, and 1:3 --> 3:1 reversal in an hour!
i want to vote but cant go on myspace during work! :(
Posted by: sasha | April 25, 2008 11:55 AM
it's now less than 20% yes, more than 65% no, with the rest as What is it, or Not sure.
Did anyone else notice the Petition they link to near the top
of the page? They're planning to send it to "appropriate state and federal education officials and departments."
Posted by: biogeek | April 25, 2008 11:56 AM
Well, it's hardly a fair or meaningful vote in the first case, being based on the Expelled myspace.
Posted by: FhnuZoag | April 25, 2008 11:56 AM
I can't see the poll, just a gray box that says "POLL" at the top but is otherwise empty. Did they pull it?
Posted by: Curt Cameron | April 25, 2008 11:57 AM
Why all of a sudden the increase in "What is it?" votes?
Someone just put up a "Stop Atheism in Our Schools" Expelled flyer on a bulletin board at work. I have removed it and will keep checking for more.
Good to see the votes adding up.
Posted by: MikeB | April 25, 2008 11:59 AM
Come on, only a few more votes to push "What is it" past "Yes"!
Posted by: boomer | April 25, 2008 11:59 AM
Hmm, fair enough, maybe people were just voting right around the same time I did and I missed that little bit, but the counter still went up. Either way this is great haha.
Good stuff.
And #102, the poll is still there right now at 12:00 EDT.
Posted by: Robert Ward | April 25, 2008 12:00 PM
Right click, you've probably got crap protection enabled.
Posted by: Hank Roberts | April 25, 2008 12:02 PM
has anyone seen densha otoko? (japanese drama and movie and novel and manga)
the pharyngula online community reminds me of that :p
Posted by: sasha | April 25, 2008 12:04 PM
The score is hugely in our favor: 65% No, 17% Yes. They've been pwned! It's like the Harlem Globetrotters vs. the Washington Generals.
Posted by: Michael Svihura | April 25, 2008 12:04 PM
Boo yah! Just voted and it now stands at:
17% yes
64.61% no
and there are more "what is it" votes than ID yes votes.
Posted by: Kelly | April 25, 2008 12:04 PM
Classy! Interesting lives many of you lead... getting this much pleasure out of messing up an online poll that means nothing- NICE!
Posted by: Me | April 25, 2008 12:04 PM</