Only 15% of Americans accept evolution.

[Divair]

I'd be interested to hear if you don't.

It would depend why people aren't denying evolution.

You mean why they are?

[Frisivisia]

I still wonder if it even matters whether anyone believes in evolution or creationism. We're all here, can't we all just get along?

Neville, is that you?

[Torisakia]

I still wonder if it even matters whether anyone believes in evolution or creationism. We're all here, can't we all just get along?

No.

Of course not.

Seriously everyone, stop acting like children about it. So only 15% of Americans accept evolution, big deal. Doesn't mean it's bad. They just have different views.

Except, no one here can accept someone with different views than them.

[Frisivisia]

No.

Of course not.

Seriously everyone, stop acting like children about it. So only 15% of Americans accept evolution, big deal. Doesn't mean it's bad. They just have different views.

Except, no one here can accept someone with different views than them.

Neville?

[Divair]

No.

Of course not.

Seriously everyone, stop acting like children about it. So only 15% of Americans accept evolution, big deal. Doesn't mean it's bad. They just have different views.

Except, no one here can accept someone with different views than them.

It's horrible. That means that 85% of Americans are scientifically incorrect and many of them could end up impacting the lives of many. That is unacceptable. If you want people to "get along", don't post on a political forum.

[Dyakovo]

47% is still a minority. And the fact that 32% of those who acknowledge evolution acknowledge it only because an unprovable God guided it makes them either bad theists or bad evolutionists.

And, as Bottle pointed out earlier, people saying they accept evolution doesn't mean that they actually have the slightest clue what evolution is.

Shit, I bet there's at least some of the same thing happening with evolution as happening with Obamacare. I don't remember where he got the numbers from, but Gravlen posted something a while ago showing that if you poll Americans asking about Obamacare, they don't like it. But if you poll them asking about the provisions that Obamacare sets out, but without calling it Obamacare, they do like it.

I bet there are people out there thinking "Evolution? That's bullshit. I mean, sure, life changes over time based on what best facilitates passing on its genes, but there's no evolution"

I wouldn't doubt it considering the number of times we've seen someone come into a discussion about the current Theory of Evolution and start going on about what Darwin did or didn't do/believe...

[Torisakia]

Of course not.

Seriously everyone, stop acting like children about it. So only 15% of Americans accept evolution, big deal. Doesn't mean it's bad. They just have different views.

Except, no one here can accept someone with different views than them.

Neville?

Who?

[Frisivisia]

Neville?

Who?

It's you! Neville Chamberlain! How's it going, Prime Minister?

[Norvenia]

This is, to me, a disturbingly extreme statement. I don't want to put words in your mouth, so correct me if I'm wrong, but is it your belief that the world would be a better place if there were no people who deny evolution?

I'd be interested to hear if you don't.

I don't. Because, quite honestly, I try my level best not to believe that about any group of people. Thinking that the world would be better off without such-and-such a group tends, historically, to have truly horrendous effects. Nor do I feel myself to be in possession of sufficiently absolute truth as to feel comfortable with saying that the world would be better off if everyone else on the planet agreed with me. That kind of absolute certainty, too, also tends to lead to monstrous crimes. All I can say is that I feel my beliefs to be true and valid. Whether everyone else should agree with me on them? That's a question which I am entirely unqualified to answer.

[Torisakia]

Of course not.

Seriously everyone, stop acting like children about it. So only 15% of Americans accept evolution, big deal. Doesn't mean it's bad. They just have different views.

Except, no one here can accept someone with different views than them.

It's horrible. That means that 85% of Americans are scientifically incorrect and many of them could end up impacting the lives of many. That is unacceptable. If you want people to "get along", don't post on a political forum.

And that's exactly why I'm leaving NSG. No one can get along. If it wasn't for this place being moderated, you people would kill each other.

It's just science, it's not like it's the end of the world. Why the hell do I even put up with you people?

[Divair]

It's horrible. That means that 85% of Americans are scientifically incorrect and many of them could end up impacting the lives of many. That is unacceptable. If you want people to "get along", don't post on a political forum.

And that's exactly why I'm leaving NSG. No one can get along. If it wasn't for this place being moderated, you people would kill each other.

It's just science, it's not like it's the end of the world. Why the hell do I even put up with you people?

Then leave. This is a political forum meant for debate. If you can't handle it, it isn't for you.

[Ifreann]

It would depend why people aren't denying evolution.

You mean why they are?

No. I mean a hypothetical world where no one denies evolution could be better or worse depending on why they aren't denying evolution. If people aren't denying evolution because there's effective universal education that has given everyone a good understanding of evolution, then that's good. Very good. We should totally go for that. Conversely, if people aren't denying evolution because deniers are rounded up and forced to participate in some class of Battle Hunger Royale Games, that would be bad. Very bad. Let's not do that.

[Divair]

You mean why they are?

No. I mean a hypothetical world where no one denies evolution could be better or worse depending on why they aren't denying evolution. If people aren't denying evolution because there's effective universal education that has given everyone a good understanding of evolution, then that's good. Very good. We should totally go for that. Conversely, if people aren't denying evolution because deniers are rounded up and forced to participate in some class of Battle Hunger Royale Games, that would be bad. Very bad. Let's not do that.

I do believe we're advocating the former.

[Torisakia]

And that's exactly why I'm leaving NSG. No one can get along. If it wasn't for this place being moderated, you people would kill each other.

It's just science, it's not like it's the end of the world. Why the hell do I even put up with you people?

Then leave. This is a political forum meant for debate. If you can't handle it, it isn't for you.

Gladly.

Also, evolution and creationism, regardless of who believes in what more, are both right in their own ways.

[Widgetalia]

I love polls like this - they're vague enough to prove the point of any argument one wishes to have!

There's no nuanced choices, even though it appears that way.

With all the very improbable events and circumstances that have had to occur for us to arrive to be us on this planet - from orbit to Moon to just the right species surviving each mass extinction event - it's very easy to ask if there isn't a paranormal/supernatural nudge here and there, and to come up with the conclusion that there probably is.

Taking such a line of thought does not mean one "rejects science" or any other unreasonable rhetorical device used by the sorts of people who use overt rhetorical devices.

Only 15% of those that are the sorts of people who actually answer calls from and then stay on the line with pollsters asking about evolution state they are Literal Creationists. Personally I find that a huge triumph of science and a great concern for fundamentalists considering the polling pool; it should also be a concern for those looking for contestants of reality TV shows (as it means they've got a tiny population to recruit from).

As far as being like Europe, it's probably never going to happen since we are a nation made up largely by the misfits that were so out of sync and disenchanted with how things were done there that they came here. And the sorts of people who chuck it all for a life in an unknown place with no real clue as to how well they will do when they get there tend to be both aggressive and mildly irrational.

Naturally, we are the richest, most powerful, most diverse nation on the planet because of it. Man, I love this place - always time for a disagreement about anything or anyone.

[Divair]

Then leave. This is a political forum meant for debate. If you can't handle it, it isn't for you.

Gladly.

Also, evolution and creationism, regardless of who believes in what more, are both right in their own ways.

There's nothing right about creationism.

[Samozaryadnyastan]

Yes, how dare we believe in a God.

Nothing wrong with that.
There's everything wrong with ignoring centuries of scientific theory and advancement that, a few hundred years before, people had to die and be tortured to have published - typically by the church that believes that God to be correct over everything.

[Torisakia]

Gladly.

Also, evolution and creationism, regardless of who believes in what more, are both right in their own ways.

There's nothing right about creationism.

And that's your own view and I can live with that. But do you have any idea of the other 85% in the US who don't even care? I'm one of them.

[Geadland]

The title is wrong. Really, the poll shows that a narrow majority of Americans (52%) accept evolution, while 46% are full-on creationists.

[Samozaryadnyastan]

There's nothing right about creationism.

And that's your own view and I can live with that. But do you have any idea of the other 85% in the US who don't even care? I'm one of them.

Which is wilful ignorance of scientific consensus, which is why your country is rather heavily ridiculed.

[Divair]

And that's your own view and I can live with that.

It's not my view. It is the objective truth.

There are many subjective things. Facts are not one of them.

But do you have any idea of the other 85% in the US who don't even care?

Don't dictate people's beliefs for them. It's not a matter of caring, it's a matter of education.

I'm one of them.

Good for you. I, on the other hand, detest apathy.

[Torisakia]

The title is wrong. Really, the poll shows that a narrow majority of Americans (52%) accept evolution, while 46% are full-on creationists.

Not everyone here is American...

[Divair]

The title is wrong. Really, the poll shows that a narrow majority of Americans (52%) accept evolution, while 46% are full-on creationists.

Not everyone here is American...

The poll is about Americans.

[Torisakia]

But do you have any idea of the other 85% in the US who don't even care?

Don't dictate people's beliefs for them. It's not a matter of caring, it's a matter of education.

So people who don't believe in evolution aren't educated?

[Torisakia]

Not everyone here is American...

The poll is about Americans.

But th-oh, nevermind.