The fact that it does not work, notwithstanding. Here, University of Toronto evolutionary biologist Larry Moran justifies his use of insulting terms for ID sympathizers/theorists, and here, David Klinghoffer of the Discovery Institute says, fine, bring it on:
You stumble upon the blog, named in honor of Charles Darwin’s famous “Sandwalk,” of a University of Toronto biochemist and man of mature years who writes this way, over and over and over. He will, for example, reproduce a photo of an Internet Darwin critic with the words “I’m an IDiot” superimposed. This same biochemistry professor and Darwin advocate writes blog posts trying to defend and recommend this approach, including his favorite term “IDiot,” to others. Are you impressed? That’s a self-answering question.
Of course it would be different if Moran were not a guy who teaches in a relevant scientific field at a university you’ve heard of. If he were just another one of those pseudonyms that populate comment boxes around the Internet, and who dish out their own vicious/viscous stuff, no one would care. Much as it’s distasteful to read Moran’s blog (as I very rarely do), there’s reason to be grateful for its existence.
Yes, indeed. These people tend to see no relationship between the insults and general childishness and their failure to convince a majority of their position. They, of course, think that that’s because the public is stupid.
Actually, most members of the public look at that and think, eee-YI!!, whatever this is, I don’t want in.
Darwin’s followers struggle with unfavourable poll numbers
Breaking: 46% of Americans still believe God created man, woman