MikeGene Complaints Dept.
by MikeGeneFor my 200th blog, I offer something different. Periodically, there are people in cyberspace who have a complaint about something they think I said. More often than not, such complaints are rooted in stereotype or taking things out of context. For example, recently someone complained that I became upset anytime an atheist spoke up to offer an opinion. Yet when I asked the person to document this complaint, he could not find any examples.
So if you have a complaint about me or about something I have written on this blog, my web page, or on an internet forum, here is the chance to publicly air those complaints. Maybe your complaints are valid. If so, it will become apparent to most readers. As such, I can either apologize or dig myself deeper into the hole. On the other hand, maybe your complaints are rooted in misunderstanding. In that case, it would be helpful for me to explain the nature of this misunderstanding.
Have a complaint? Welcome to the MikeGene Complaints Dept. How can I help you?
March 25th, 2006 at 5:15 pm
Still waiting for you to admit that you were either a Druid or a Rostafarian… though after confiding that bit about the head shop, I suppose matty was right.
Comment by Bilbo — March 25, 2006 @ 5:15 pm
March 26th, 2006 at 12:02 am
I think you take Ed too seriously.
Comment by macht — March 26, 2006 @ 12:02 am
March 26th, 2006 at 9:54 am
I think your Grandmother has an unhealthy influence on you.
Comment by Douglas — March 26, 2006 @ 9:54 am
March 26th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
I think you sit on your ass too much while the Forces of Darkness are taking over this country. Start fighting against the theocracy. Pull out the steeled toed boots and brass knuckles.
Either you're with them or you're against them. There is no middle ground.
Comment by bipod — March 26, 2006 @ 1:02 pm
March 26th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
I think you're too hard on the animal rights movement. They at least have rationality on their side. No one in their right mind can deny that animals feel pain just as intensely as humans.
Comment by bipod — March 26, 2006 @ 1:04 pm
March 26th, 2006 at 2:12 pm
bipod,
"I think you sit on your ass too much while the Forces of Darkness are taking over this country. Start fighting against the theocracy. Pull out the steeled toed boots and brass knuckles."
First of all, there's lots of butt-kicking that can be done by sitting on one's ass. (Not to mention that this strategy serves to protect one's own butt in many real ways.) Second, which "theocracy" are you talking about? The "Christo-Taliban" theocracy, or the "Atheist-Nebulous Designer" theocracy? Third, haven't you ever heard the saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword" Fourth, wouldn't it logically follow that "The laptop is mightier than the pen"
Comment by Douglas — March 26, 2006 @ 2:12 pm
March 26th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Less is sometimes more.
Comment by David — March 26, 2006 @ 2:17 pm
March 27th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
No ambition. No direction. Always has to be told what to do. Doesn't know how to deal with "criticism."
(I love you, Mike Gene. If I didn't, I would never "criticize" or "complain"about you.)
Comment by Rock — March 27, 2006 @ 4:03 pm
March 28th, 2006 at 1:03 am
Okay, the Complaint Dept is Open.
I was only buying incense. Next.
Sometimes it is fun to take some people seriously. Next.
Lucky for you, she's in the other room. Better lay low over at ARN. Next.
I'd speak out, but I don't want to piss off Uncle Pat. Next.
I suspect that the standard of care in most animal research facilities is better than that of your average nursing home. And old people feel pain as intensely as mice. Next.
Now, now, we can't have the complainees arguing with each other in line. Next.
True. I'm a slow learner, but coming around. Next.
Er"¦"¦Dad?!….Is that you?
Next.
Comment by MikeGene — March 28, 2006 @ 1:03 am
March 28th, 2006 at 4:09 am
Here's a complaint for you: You spend too much time complaining about other people's complaints about ID. How many of your 200 posts boil down to "ID critics are biased against me!"
Comment by Nick Matzke — March 28, 2006 @ 4:09 am
March 28th, 2006 at 5:14 pm
Yeh. Would it kill ya to call home occasionally? We worry, ya know.
Comment by Rock — March 28, 2006 @ 5:14 pm
March 28th, 2006 at 9:39 pm
Nicke Matzke,
"Here's a complaint for you: You spend too much time complaining about other people's complaints about ID. How many of your 200 posts boil down to 'ID critics are biased against me!'?"
Listen, we were trying to keep this amongst ourselves, but since you've basically just described it, we might as well tell you - Telic Thoughts is really a final resort therapy approach for Mike Gene. He doesn't realize this, but those of us in positions of power decided it was the best we could do for him - give him some safe place to vent and play, and work out some of his inner aliens. But now you've gone and ruined it.
Comment by Douglas — March 28, 2006 @ 9:39 pm
March 28th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Ooops…"Nick", not "Nicke". ("Hey Nicke you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind. Hey Nicke. Hey Nicke.") [Yikes. I must really be tired.]
Comment by Douglas — March 28, 2006 @ 9:44 pm
March 29th, 2006 at 8:48 am
Nick,
I would say that the answer to your question is "none." How many of my 200 posts do you think boil down to "ID critics are biased against me!"
Comment by MikeGene — March 29, 2006 @ 8:48 am
March 29th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
You use weird avatars.
Comment by Guts — March 29, 2006 @ 3:46 pm
March 29th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
Why won't you say what fields of study you've focussed on in your undergrad and perhaps post-grad education?
From the sounds of it, it was philosophy and literature (maybe L.N. Tolstoy) that caused you to doubt (neo)-Darwinism. From your claims to ID-Behe-he-heism, there's some biology and chemistry involved. From the repeated interest in (cdn) American ID-politics (hmmm…just a wee bit) and the psycho-social dimension of promotional IDism and anti-IDism it would seem social sciences float your boat. Who do you claim then as your home-room class/teacher?
Is there an aversion to authority somewhere in Mike Gene-land?
Comment by g arago — March 29, 2006 @ 7:06 pm
March 29th, 2006 at 10:42 pm
G. arago:
I've explained this before. I am not going to make any appeal to qualifications or training. If I have no qualifications or relevant training, this may cause some to dismiss or overlook a good argument for this reason alone. If I do have qualifications and relevant training, this may cause some to embrace a bad argument for this reason alone. I would rather let the arguments stand on their own. The nice thing about cyberspace is that we can strip most of the extraneous material from an argument (a person's reputation, degrees, popularity, etc.) and can focus on the core of the argument and the data used to support it.
Comment by MikeGene — March 29, 2006 @ 10:42 pm
March 30th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
This would be known as 'argument without authority'?
Don't worry Mike, I don't think you're a dog. :->
It would help your case, however, if you actually had higher appeals to make; it isn't simply cyberspace that allows for the type of argumentation about which you speak.
Comment by g arago — March 30, 2006 @ 6:09 pm
March 30th, 2006 at 11:38 pm
LOL. Argument without authority. I like that.
An argument without authority is just that - simply an argument. People are free to agree or disagree; I'm satisfied if they make people think.
Comment by MikeGene — March 30, 2006 @ 11:38 pm
April 1st, 2006 at 9:46 am
Biker-rabbit, and scaredy-cat. What's next? A black labrador wearing a white coat with pocket protector? (With the caption, "My science lab".)
Comment by Douglas — April 1, 2006 @ 9:46 am