From: Carl Wilson
when: 22-Jun-93 01:10am
what: Bible_Science? Nah!

I discovered something interesting about the creationist Bible_Science
echo. Not only do they resort to the usual creationist distortions,
but also to censorship.

Several days ago, Steve Winter came up with a batch of "quotes",
supposedly the words of Gould and a few others. They were obviously
out of context, so I decided to research them. Not only were they
out of context, but they had two sentences substituted!

The following are taken from my replies:
=============================================================

 -=> Quoting Steve Winter to All <=-
SW> All of the quotes used in this critique were extracted from various
SW> scientific writings, journals, and periodicals.

SW> Stephen J. Gould Natural History Vol. 93; Feb. 1984
SW> "I regard the failure to find a clear vector of progress in
SW> life's history as the most puzzling fact of the fossil record.
SW> ..we have sought to impose a pattern that we had hoped to
SW> find on a world that does not really display it."

Quote out of context. The following is the actual quote:

"I regard the failure to find a clear 'vector of progress' in life's
history as the most puzzling fact of the fossil record. But I also
believe we are now on the verge of a solution, thanks to a better
understanding of evolution in both normal and catastrophic times."

Somewhat different message than in the hacked version you present,
isn't there? For anyone that wants to judge for themselves, read
"The Flamingo's Smile -- Reflections in Natural History, page 241,
a collection of some of Gould's earlier writings.

-=> Quoting Steve Winter to All <=-
SW> Stephen J. Gould "The Return of The Hopeful Monsters" 1977
SW> "The fossil record with it's abrupt transitions offer no support
SW> for gradual change.."

Another quote out of context. Here is the actual quote:

"The fossil record with it's abrupt transitions offers no support for
gradual change, and the principle of natural selection does not require
it -- selection can operate rapidly." --"The Panda's Thumb, Chapter
entitled "Return of The Hopeful Monster", page 188.

Gee Steve, seems you hacked this one up too. The actual quote doesn't
seem to send the same message to the reader that your hacked version
does...

===============================================================

To these I received no reply at all. After a few days with no replies,
I got curious. I called a PrimeNet BBS, and download a QWK packet with
all the BiBle_Science messages. My messages were missing. The sysop
of the BBS informed me in chat that he had just polled Mr. Winter
right before I called, so that his message areas were current. It
seems that no only does this particular creationist resort to lies,
but to censorship as well! He's simply manually packing all outbound
mail, giving him the chance to delete message as he sees fit!
Why am I not surprised?

... 5th Rule of Creationism: Lying for the Lord is okay.