Comments on: Crash This Parade Magazine Poll

By: Paul Fidalgo

Paul Fidalgo — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:28:02 +0000

I am astounded at the wording of the question: “Do you agree???” Are they assuming all readers of Parade are biologists? Have they all taken graduate level courses in life sciences? Who cares if they agree?

Sigh. Deep breath.

In other words, “accept” or “believe” would be better, no?

By: David D.G.

David D.G. — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:44:43 +0000

I don’t even see this as “crashing” a poll; I see it as participating in it.

~David D.G.

By: Tao Jones

Tao Jones — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:44:15 +0000

Was anyone else really annoyed at the article and the wording of the poll?

The article because it seemed to suggest that only “scientists and secularists” accept evolution while everyone else rejects it.

The poll itself is problematic because it seems to assume evolutionary theory begins and ends with Darwin, that evolution is something that happened in the past rather than something that is ongoing, and finally that the only nonscientific alternatives are related to God. If the superstitions of a bunch of bronze-age goat herders can be a valid response to a question of modern science, why not other superstitions too? At least Raelianism is modern.

Can we please do something about this nonsense? Poll crashing isn’t enough. I wrote them a letter.

Updated stats:

Yes. 91% (974 votes)
No. 4% (39 votes)
Yes and no. 5% (51 votes)
I don’t know. 1% (5 votes)
Total Votes: 1069

By: Nick Awesomeson

Nick Awesomeson — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:10:31 +0000

Yes. Humans evolved without divine intervention 90% (794 votes)
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No. God created humans as they are 4% (34 votes)
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Yes and no. Evolution required divine intervention 6% (49 votes)
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I don’t know. 1% (5 votes)

Wee! Skewing statistics is fun!

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:39:24 +0000

I dunno! Maybe we did too good a job. Have you looked at the results lately? Hardly convincing from a nation where almost 50% of the public believes that the Earth was created in just under a week by a megalomaniac with too much free time.

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:21:19 +0000

cookie based. child’s play.

By: Ron Gold

Ron Gold — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:40:07 +0000

I voted “Yes,” but I’m rooting for “I don’t know.”

By: OzAtheist

OzAtheist — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:05:13 +0000

crash done

crash is also being promoted on twitter

By: Chal

Chal — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:56:52 +0000

Yes is still going strong at 650+ votes.

By: larryd

larryd — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:38:54 +0000

Thank you for voting!
Yes. 87% (512 votes)
No. 5% (30 votes)
Yes and no. 7% (39 votes)
I don’t know. 1% (5 votes)
Total Votes: 586