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Going to the Creation "Museum"

Robster FCD

Critical Thinker
Robster FCD
Joined
Apr 27, 2008
Messages
379
Some of you may know that there will be a ravening horde of evolutionists descending on Ken Ham's Creation "Museum" as part of the Secular Student's Association meeting. PZ Myers will be there, and will be giving the keynote speech the next night in Columbus, OH. So I have two things to ask from my fellow JREFers...

1. Will any of you be going?

2. If not, do you have any questions that you would like to have asked?

Thanks in advance.
 
2. What is the point of going to a museum where you know the views directly contradict your own?

Seriously, isn't this like going to a racetrack because you think Nascar sucks?
 
I teach college introductory biology, and want to know what some students may have been exposed to. The entry price is also a much lower group rate, so I don't feel quite as bad giving them my money.
 
Robster said:
I teach college introductory biology, and want to know what some students may have been exposed to. The entry price is also a much lower group rate, so I don't feel quite as bad giving them my money.
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If you wish to know what the creationists have been "up to", you might look up their websites and the crap contained therein... webhits aren't as bad as giving them even a penny of money.
 
Magnifico2.0 said:
If you wish to know what the creationists have been "up to", you might look up their websites and the crap contained therein... webhits aren't as bad as giving them even a penny of money.
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At some point you have to view the creature in it's natural habitat.
 
Magnifico2.0 said:
If you wish to know what the creationists have been "up to", you might look up their websites and the crap contained therein... webhits aren't as bad as giving them even a penny of money.
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Agreed. I think beauty pagents for children are dispicable and nauseating as well, but I'm not going to show up at one to see what my enemies "are up to." Like I would with the absurd idea of Creationism, I'll express my disgust of covert pedophilia from afar... ...and without giving them my money.
 
Magnifico2.0 said:
2. What is the point of going to a museum where you know the views directly contradict your own?

Seriously, isn't this like going to a racetrack because you think Nascar sucks?
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By this logic Bill Maher shouldn't have gone to The Holy Land Experience during the filming of Religulous and should just have downloaded a brochure of the Internet instead.

There are a number of critical reviews of Creationist schlock venues (not the least the thread Geni linked to) including the ICR museum and Carl Baugh's abortion here in Texas.
 
UnrepentantSinner said:
By this logic Bill Maher shouldn't have gone to The Holy Land Experience during the filming of Religulous and should just have downloaded a brochure of the Internet instead.
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I don't know if that works... his students aren't going to the museum to make a "religion sucks" documentary. I agree with their outlook on Creationism being nonsense, but I disagree with their choice for a "field trip" location.

From what it looks like, they're going to the museum purely to antagonize the venue's employees. Not cool. By the OPers own admission, they're showing up in a "horde." I'm sure the people at work that day will enjoy the "invasion."
 
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I'd disagree with showing up en masse to disrupt operations or try and create a confrontation, but otherwise I don't have a problem with it.
 
Ask this at the Noah flood display
"What did God do with all the puppies and kittens and other baby animals and all the human babies. Why did'nt he save them to?"
 
I might go if they paid me a large sum of money. They would have to pay me even more to hear their stupid creationist mumblings. I'd feel so uncomfortable in that so called museum I'd need a xanax to stick around.
 
It is an interesting concept. There have been 'reviews' and videos made of the Creation Museum. But sometimes it is a good idea to see what it is that others are saying, and experience it for yourself.

I just hope that everyone attending is courteous, and doesn't create any problems. Though I'd love a picture of myself sitting on the saddled dinosaur. Its like they used the Flintstones as a Documentary!
 
If you're worried about giving money to creationists, just donate double the amount to a scientific cause.

I'm thinking of starting a scheme similar to carbon offsetting. They're called Idiocy sequestration credits
 
We will be courteous, no worries there. Shoot, we have even been warned that their security (with guns and guard dogs) is ready to throw us out if we act up, and that we can expect to be denied entry if they so much as dislike our t shirts. At last count there were over 240 of us, which I do believe, is close to 2.5 hordes (which is a joke).

Shalamar encapsulates my intent. Not to start fights, but to actually see this place. Its like going to a haunted house to hear their "best evidence."
 
I've been reading about this on other websites, including Pharyngula, and I think the whole thing is a really bad idea. It's a classic violation of the wise old adage, "Never wrestle a pig in its own pigsty because when you do, you get all muddy and the pig loves it."
 
ohp said:
If you're worried about giving money to creationists, just donate double the amount to a scientific cause.
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Even better yet, give all three portions to a scientific cause. ;)
 
I can sympathize with the idea of a covert visit just to see what the museum is like, but going there as a large organized group of people who are openly hostile to their beliefs, with their advance knowledge that you're coming, has the appearance of a transparent attempt to create an uncomfortable situation for them if not an outright confrontation.

If you people are realistic about this, you'll face the fact that with over 240 people going, you'll have no chance of avoiding trouble because you can't possibly control that many people, most of whom you don't even know. All it will take is one single troublemaker and that will be the end of it. And even in the unlikely event that every single one of you obeys their rules, what's to stop them from planting one of their own in your midst to trigger a scene that spoils it for all of you?

No, I'm afraid the claim that the only purpose of the trip is to see the place just doesn't make sense. I'm not buying it.
 
Towlie said:
I can sympathize with the idea of a covert visit just to see what the museum is like, but going there as a large organized group of people who are openly hostile to their beliefs, with their advance knowledge that you're coming, has the appearance of a transparent attempt to create an uncomfortable situation for them if not an outright confrontation.
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Its not the best situation, but there are lots of people there for the meeting, others who have wanted to go to the museum out of curiosity, and the group rate was too good to say no, and then there are those who just want to meet PZ.

Towlie said:
If you people are realistic about this, you'll face the fact that with over 240 people going, you'll have no chance of avoiding trouble because you can't possibly control that many people, most of whom you don't even know. All it will take is one single troublemaker and that will be the end of it. And even in the unlikely event that every single one of you obeys their rules, what's to stop them from planting one of their own in your midst to trigger a scene that spoils it for all of you?
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This is something that has been discussed nigh-endlessly, and the organizers are well aware of it. I have a feeling that there will be a briefing, discussion of what the SSA expects of us, identifying stickers to separate us from them. Also, you can bet that we will be put into small groups, probably 10 at a time to go through the museum. If somebody makes trouble, you take pictures, video and back away. Somebody starts yelling stuff or being belligerent, get away from them. Pretty standard stuff.

Towlie said:
No, I'm afraid the claim that the only purpose of the trip is to see the place just doesn't make sense. I'm not buying it.
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You are quite right. I'll get a chance to meet some people who I have only talked to online or by phone. Meet the organizers of a student group that I would like to act as a faculty sponsor for. Make friends from the larger secular community. Networking, etc.
 
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