Bad, from The Bad Idea Blog (the guy who uses that amazingly ugly fish with the huge proboscis-like thing as his avatar), has done a fine job of defending Darwin, evolution, science, reason, manners, Mom, apple pie, the American flag, free markets, liberty, and the 8th Amendment, over at a blog called Seedlings.
The proprietor of Seedlings is unhappy with people who contest his claims. That he’s let Bad go so long is a tribute to Bad — and worthy of your looking in. There is nothing quite so pompous as a creationist ruling that biologists don’t know beans about biology. It’s astounding such rooms full of balloons don’t attract more kids with pins.
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 
Thank you for the reinstatement, forester.
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Ed, you are now reinstated on my blog. I hereby invite you to return. (I will also understand if you decline.)
I explained the reason I blocked you here. When you first arrived on my blog, I encouraged you to attack me for what I believe, not for what I don’t. It was your relapse into mischaracterization that prompted me to boot you. I hereby repent of that decision. Say what you like on my dime.
When our paths crossed on another blog a few weeks ago (can’t find the link now), you presented your overarching “God is not a deceiver” argument more coherently, and with much more dignity. That version was actually mentally stimulating, and I have hoped to revisit it at a later point. As I said, for now my priorities are elsewhere.
I would also like to point out that my blog has from you 23 comments weighing in at 9,920 words — all perfectly intact. It doesn’t take much clicking to find others whose comments have challenged my thinking. The charge of “so quick to censor” should at least keep this in mind.
And since you ask, I’ve banned only two people from my blog. You are now reinstated. The other is a theology student who repeatedly mischaracterized the gospel. Since actions speak louder than words, I’m also reinstating him. Consider this a lesson I’ve learned from you; thank you for pushing me on it.
Some time in the future I’ll revisit with a question about how Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac relates to the relationship between science and faith. Until then …
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Bad is righteous, to coin a phrase.
Good on ya, fella.
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You banned my comments on the basis of what is already there. Nothing I can say makes the point greater than that.
If you think it impugns your reputation, change your actions. How many others are banned? For what reasons? Why is it that creationists are so, so quick to censor? And here you imply that Bad gets to respond only because you haven’t had time to ban him? I cannot hear what you say, your actions speak so loudly.
Any “Darwinist” can do more credit to rationalism than any creationist, and there are many who do it much more credit than I do, too. It’s difficult to know how many of them visit your site, if you ban them when they disagree.
I’m still not sure what grievous sin you think I committed. Discussion is open here.
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As the “proprietor” of seedlings, allow me to point out several facts. First, I have always welcomed comments and challenges; that thread, and all others on my blog, speak for themselves. Second, I’ve “let Bad go so long” not out of any inability to reply, but because I’m spending time with my family after the recent birth of my second child — hardly a “tribute to Bad.” Third, you imply that I am “pompous” in arguing that biologists “don’t know beans about biology” — yet I have never suggested this anywhere.
Others are welcome to comment on what I have posted on my blog, for or against. Often I participate; in recent weeks I haven’t had the time. But your fact-poor characterization of my blog, not to mention my character, does nothing to make me respect anything else you might have to say. A great many Darwinists do more credit to rationalism than you do.
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Hey thanks for the kudos! Unfortunately, unlike the above splogglink, I can’t offer any FREE IPODS over at my site, but I do hope I can keep things interesting enough even if I can’t hold a candle to the volume of high-quality content and coverage you manage to put out, Mr. Darrell. :)
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[…] Chris Pirillo wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerptPuncturing gas bags November 24, 2007 Bad, from The Bad Idea Blog (the guy who uses that amazingly ugly fish with the huge proboscis-like thing as his avatar), has done a fine job of defending Darwin, evolution, science, reason, manners, Mom, apple pie, the American flag, free markets, liberty, and the 8th Amendment, over at a blog called Seedlings. The proprietor of Seedlings is unhappy with people who contest his claims. That he’s let Bad go so long is a tribute to Bad — and worthy of your […]
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