Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

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Benocrates

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Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« on: April 18, 2008, 09:18:07 AM »
I don't know if anyone has heard about it, but the movie Expelled: no intelligence allowed is coming out soon. I figured I'd see what you guys thought about it.

It is a movie by the Intelligent Design community that portrays themselves as an oppressed minority who are "expelled" from jobs, positions, etc. due to their views on ID. Many reputable scientists were tricked into believing they were being interviewed for an honest film about evolution science and the oppositions to ID.

    Overall, a garbage movie with psuedo science, disgusting visuals of nazism, gas chambers, violence and other emotional appeals with no rational argument. I don't want to elaborate much further, I'll just provide the links and you can take a look for yourself.

Official movie site: http://www.expelledthemovie.com/
Response site: http://www.expelledexposed.com/
PZ Myers being kicked out: http://richarddawkins.net/article,2384,EXPELLED,PZ-Myers-Pharyngula
Hillarious spoof by Dawkins: " class="bbc_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
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divito the truthist

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2008, 10:18:44 AM »
If you have a such a view on this film, I wonder what you think of "What the BLEEP do we know?"

As for this movie, my friend was able to get a copy but I haven't watched it yet.
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Roundy the Truthinessist

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2008, 10:23:09 AM »
It is a movie by the Intelligent Design community that portrays themselves as an oppressed minority who are "expelled" from jobs, positions, etc. due to their views on ID. Many reputable scientists were tricked into believing they were being interviewed for an honest film about evolution science and the oppositions to ID.

My understanding is that all interviewees were given full disclosure about the nature of the movie before they signed their release forms.  They're just giving their honest opinions anyway.

Out of curiosity, do you have the same strong bias against Michael Moore's "documentaries" because of the dishonest tactics he uses?
Where did you educate the biology, in toulet?

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fshy94

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2008, 10:47:54 AM »
It is a movie by the Intelligent Design community that portrays themselves as an oppressed minority who are "expelled" from jobs, positions, etc. due to their views on ID. Many reputable scientists were tricked into believing they were being interviewed for an honest film about evolution science and the oppositions to ID.

My understanding is that all interviewees were given full disclosure about the nature of the movie before they signed their release forms.  They're just giving their honest opinions anyway.

Out of curiosity, do you have the same strong bias against Michael Moore's "documentaries" because of the dishonest tactics he uses?

Yep. Actually, they weren't. You aren't required to tell the truth, IIRC. You just have to get them to sign the forms, and then you can do whatever the hell you want.
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Benocrates

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2008, 12:00:48 PM »
       I think most of Moore's movies are sensational and don't really serve to add anything to the legitimate debate...however, everybody knows what Michael Moore is about, they know the kind of movies he makes. The problem with this example, from what I've read from all of the scientists involved, is that the purpose of the film was completely misrepresented, and the edits were done in a clearly insulting and demeaning way. That's not really the point, it goes much further.

    The basic fact for me is, they are completely wrong and insulting in a way that legitimizes the ignorance. To say that Darwinism leads to fascism is a gross misunderstanding of evolution...in every appreciable way. Also, the way in which they juxtapose Darwinism with horrendous images of Nazi death camps, with one scene of Ben Stein (the hos) standing in a gas chamber, looking horrified as if he had never seen this before.

Not to mention, kicking out PZ Myers from the screening....what idiots.   
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divito the truthist

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2008, 12:47:46 PM »
I think most of Moore's movies are sensational and don't really serve to add anything to the legitimate debate

Well yes, but they are made that way on purpose. Devised and produced in the same way as An Inconvenient Truth for the purpose of bringing issues to light.

The basic fact for me is, they are completely wrong and insulting in a way that legitimizes the ignorance. To say that Darwinism leads to fascism is a gross misunderstanding of evolution...in every appreciable way.

And a poor subjective opinion on fascism to boot.
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Roundy the Truthinessist

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2008, 01:06:22 PM »
       I think most of Moore's movies are sensational and don't really serve to add anything to the legitimate debate...however, everybody knows what Michael Moore is about, they know the kind of movies he makes. The problem with this example, from what I've read from all of the scientists involved, is that the purpose of the film was completely misrepresented, and the edits were done in a clearly insulting and demeaning way. That's not really the point, it goes much further.

Divito's right, that's really how these movies are made.  I think your biggest problem with this one is that it presents a viewpoint to which you are opposed.  The kind of controversy embroiling around it is exactly what the filmmakers wanted, it is just assuring more people will see the movie just out of curiosity.

Have you seen it yet?  If not, do you intend to?
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Space Cowgirl

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2008, 01:38:05 PM »
I won't see it in the theater, but I might rent it one day to find out what it's all about.  The commercials for it kind of piss me off, because I know it's just more ID political bullshit. 
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Wakka Wakka

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2008, 05:12:56 PM »
I'm a believer in some form of evolution but I still believe in a God.  What teh hell is so hard to grasp about that?
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Roundy the Truthinessist

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2008, 05:38:15 PM »
About PZ Myers being kicked out:

It was a private screening to which he was not invited.  In all honesty the fact that such a big deal is being made out of it by Dawkins and co. exposes how unethical the atheist community can be. 

So how about if they stop throwing stones?  ::)
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fshy94

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #10 on: April 18, 2008, 06:44:57 PM »
Quote from: WIKI
Myers was waiting with his family and guests to attend a private screening of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, having reserved seats for himself and guests under his own name using the freely available online procedure set up by the film's promoters. Shortly before the film started a security guard told him that the producer Mark Mathis had instructed that Myers be removed from the premises.[/quote}

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #11 on: April 18, 2008, 07:22:53 PM »
I believe in God, but I also hold evolution to be true.  Is it too hard for some people to accept that maybe the major intelligence in God's design is humans that explore, question and find the truth of the world around them rather than fully trusting in blind faith?

Maybe there was an intelligent creator.  But the theory of evolution has been accepted as it is for quite a while.  Until there's solid proof that either:

1.  It would be impossible for life as we know it to evolve without outside help or
2.  That such help was indeed present at the time of evolution

I think I'll follow the theory that conditions on early Earth in the primordial soup led to the formation of highly primitive single celled organisms that evolved on their own over time.

God creates the planet, we adapt to live on it.  God's like a parent that gives a kid an art set to see what pictures they paint alone rather than giving them a color-by-numbers book.
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Roundy the Truthinessist

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #12 on: April 18, 2008, 08:07:33 PM »
Quote from: WIKI
Myers was waiting with his family and guests to attend a private screening of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, having reserved seats for himself and guests under his own name using the freely available online procedure set up by the film's promoters. Shortly before the film started a security guard told him that the producer Mark Mathis had instructed that Myers be removed from the premises.



To elaborate:

Quote from: WIKI
One blog claimed that Myers had gatecrashed the showing. Jeffrey Overstreet, a film critic for Christianity Today, cited an e-mail from a college student who was at the screening. The student assumed that Dawkins and Myers had not been invited, and suggested that Myers had been "hustling and bothering" invited guests. The student subsequently stated that Myers "didn't cause a disruption per se; he was kindly escorted out."  However, the producer later wrote:
“Yes, I turned Mr. Myers away. He was not an invited guest of Premise Media. This was a private screening of an unfinished film. I could have let him in, just as I invited Michael Shermer to a screening in Nashville. Shermer is in the film as well. But, in light of Myers' untruthful blogging about Expelled I decided it was better to have him wait until April 18 and pay to see the film. Others, notable others, were permitted to see the film. At a private screening it's my call."

Understand that I'm not necessarily saying it's right, but obviously the producer had the right to not allow him in, and if he feels that Myers had written something untruthful about the movie I can understand his sentiments.

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fshy94

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #13 on: April 18, 2008, 11:45:47 PM »
Sure he had the right. That's a stupid defense. I have the right to call you an ******* **** **** in public. Doesn't make it a very bright idea. Funny thing is that hordes of people are going to call it a great movie, do you know how much of the public doesn't believe in evolution?

And if he feels that way and isn't deliberately being a douchebag, then he's completely retarded/insane. Either way, it doesn't look good for him.
« Last Edit: April 18, 2008, 11:49:56 PM by fshy94 »
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Benocrates

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #14 on: April 19, 2008, 09:14:36 AM »
Sure he had the right. That's a stupid defense. I have the right to call you an ******* **** **** in public. Doesn't make it a very bright idea. Funny thing is that hordes of people are going to call it a great movie, do you know how much of the public doesn't believe in evolution?

And if he feels that way and isn't deliberately being a douchebag, then he's completely retarded/insane. Either way, it doesn't look good for him.

Absolutely. I've really tried to make an effort and stand back from this to see any personal bias. I'm a big fan of Dawkins and  Myers, so it's possible I automatically side with them...but I try hard not to let that happen.

    To me, it comes down the the alleged sensationalism involved that makes the scientific community appear sinister and fascist. The problem with ID theory is that it is not an acceptance of evolution with the addition of a divine spark, that is a relativly legitimate hypothesis. This movie sets out to make evolution appear to be a silly idea with no legitimate basis of evidence.

    They copied Harvard Universities cell animations, and used them to claim the Irreducibly Complex argument. The bigger problem is, there was no rational basis for the evidence, it was entirely based on incredulity. It twists the evidence, laughs at the theory of evolution (which, by the way, is validated by 6 independent methods and is beyond a reasonable doubt a "fact", as much as anything can be so..natural selection is still under discussion though valid as a hypothesis).

This movie panders to the ignorant, and plays the hurt feelings card. These are subversive, anti-scientists...creationists in a cheap tuxedo. This info about the film is from the multiple reviews by parties given the screener to review, Scientific America as an example.

Perhaps this controversy is exactly what the producers want, but I really hope you guys can see the deliberate attempt to subvert science for irrational and mystical guesses at the truth.
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Roundy the Truthinessist

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #15 on: April 19, 2008, 09:36:45 AM »
To me, it comes down the the alleged sensationalism involved that makes the scientific community appear sinister and fascist.

The inherent irony in this statement is that Dawkins, Myers and co are guilty of the same attitude toward the religious community.  So I guess in my view turnabout is fair play.
Where did you educate the biology, in toulet?

Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #16 on: April 19, 2008, 11:06:43 AM »
If you have a such a view on this film, I wonder what you think of "What the BLEEP do we know?"

As for this movie, my friend was able to get a copy but I haven't watched it yet.

Not that you asked me, but I'd like to answer. That movie is garbage as well.

Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #17 on: April 19, 2008, 04:31:51 PM »
"penguins"

Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #18 on: April 19, 2008, 04:38:48 PM »
To me, it comes down the the alleged sensationalism involved that makes the scientific community appear sinister and fascist.

The inherent irony in this statement is that Dawkins, Myers and co are guilty of the same attitude toward the religious community.  So I guess in my view turnabout is fair play.

I tend to agree here. I think Dawkins is a terrible philosopher, regardless of his eminence as an evolutionary biologist. Basically, he thinks he has knock-down arguments against theism which are, in academic philosophy, ignored because they're just totally weak.

I just think ID is not even science, so my sympathies are with Dawkins since we both agree it should not be encouraged as a legitimate to evolution.

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Benocrates

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #19 on: April 20, 2008, 01:23:06 PM »
To me, it comes down the the alleged sensationalism involved that makes the scientific community appear sinister and fascist.

The inherent irony in this statement is that Dawkins, Myers and co are guilty of the same attitude toward the religious community.  So I guess in my view turnabout is fair play.

I tend to agree here. I think Dawkins is a terrible philosopher, regardless of his eminence as an evolutionary biologist. Basically, he thinks he has knock-down arguments against theism which are, in academic philosophy, ignored because they're just totally weak.

I just think ID is not even science, so my sympathies are with Dawkins since we both agree it should not be encouraged as a legitimate to evolution.

Perhaps you're right. Dawkins is almost like the layman's philosopher on the topic of religion. I guess it's just good that he serves a purpose to get the discussion going. I just approve of his technique and despise the Expelled producers for their tricks and garbage science.
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Benocrates

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #20 on: April 22, 2008, 08:51:49 AM »
        I just watched a documentary on Michael Moore, and it appears that he has included absolute fabrications and theatrics that undermine his legitimacy. If this is true, then I'd have to include Moore with the unscrupulous producers of Expelled, though I would make a qualification. I think that, anyone who is asked to be interviewed for a Moore film knows the trickery he uses. Mathis and Stein were not known tricksters and was able to secure interviews with scientists attempting a legitimate exploration into ID.

     A great video, called flock of dodos, is an excellent response to Expelled (though I think expelled might have been a response to it). It is done quite evenhandedly, with no trickery or excessive obfuscation. It appears honest and was a pretty interesting movie to watch. I found the Moore video streaming somewhere, but can't find it again. And I had to torrent the dodos movie. But I suggest you all watch them.
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Masterchef

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #21 on: April 22, 2008, 12:37:16 PM »
This movie is a steaming pile of propaganda, misinformation, and blatant lies.

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Space Cowgirl

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #22 on: April 22, 2008, 02:16:28 PM »
This movie is a steaming pile of propaganda, misinformation, and blatant lies.

And the fundies will eat it up!   

I wouldn't be surprised if Ronda Storms (if you live in FL you know who that psycho bitch is) tries to make it mandatory viewing in high schools.
I'm sorry. Am I to understand that when you have a boner you like to imagine punching the shit out of Tom Bishop? That's disgusting.

Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #23 on: April 23, 2008, 07:06:32 PM »
Bah, I just read the wikipedia article on Ronda Storms.  Assuming all the info is as trustworthy as I believe it to be (and articles like this usually are) allow me to say two things.

1.  I agree with you Space Cowgirl, in fact I'm surprised that the article didn't mention her planning to do anything like that yet.

2.  Such grossly intolerant people like her make me sick.

I mean really, she's such a #$!@#.  We all have to live on this world together, so why not at least make an attempt to get along?
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Space Cowgirl

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #24 on: April 24, 2008, 09:14:27 AM »
Her "Academic Freedom Act" just passed the FL senate too.  She is opposed to the teaching of evolution in public schools, but the theory is written into Florida's curriculum, so she introduced this new bill that would allow teachers the "freedom" to mention an alternative (ID) without fear of being fired or persecuted for it.  The thing is, Florida is pretty heavily populated with Christians in the first place, so no one feels persecuted for their beliefs here.  She will do anything to remain in the spotlight.. don't be surprised when she becomes more than a Florida senator in the future.  She's a professional politician and knows how to work the Christian right.  People like her scare the crap out of me.  There's another thread here that asks why we fear religion and she (and others like her) is the reason I fear religion. 

Here's the latest news http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/24/me-senate-approves-evolution-bill/
I'm sorry. Am I to understand that when you have a boner you like to imagine punching the shit out of Tom Bishop? That's disgusting.

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fshy94

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #25 on: April 24, 2008, 11:18:00 AM »
Bull. But to be honest, she'll never get much achievement in that national spotlight. This country isn't that bad, thank goodness.
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Space Cowgirl

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #26 on: April 24, 2008, 05:03:12 PM »
Bull. But to be honest, she'll never get much achievement in that national spotlight. This country isn't that bad, thank goodness.

Knock on wood!  Bush is the president after all  :o
I'm sorry. Am I to understand that when you have a boner you like to imagine punching the shit out of Tom Bishop? That's disgusting.

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fshy94

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Proof the Earth is round!
http://theflatearthsociety.org/forum/index.php?topic=19341.0

Quote from: Althalus
The conspiracy has made it impossible to adequately explain FE theory in English.
^^LOL!

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #28 on: April 29, 2008, 06:20:53 AM »
While this video is obviously crazy it does point out some of the difficulties that are similar in getting the world to realize the flat earth truth.
The illusion is shattered if we ask what goes on behind the scenes.

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beast

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Re: Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
« Reply #29 on: May 03, 2008, 09:20:26 PM »
        I just watched a documentary on Michael Moore, and it appears that he has included absolute fabrications and theatrics that undermine his legitimacy. If this is true, then I'd have to include Moore with the unscrupulous producers of Expelled, though I would make a qualification. I think that, anyone who is asked to be interviewed for a Moore film knows the trickery he uses. Mathis and Stein were not known tricksters and was able to secure interviews with scientists attempting a legitimate exploration into ID.

Documentaries with clear agendas should be treated with a great deal of scepticism, and this applies as much to documentaries attacking other documentaries as it does to the documentary being attacked.  I think it's pretty clear that Michael Moore tries to give a personal sense of the issues he deals with, rather than merely putting out the information.  When you look at this last 3 documentaries (I haven't seen the rest), regardless of criticism about the way he presents his material, I'd say that the objective independent evidence about the issues of gun control, foreign policy and the US health system largely backs up the overall claims of those documentaries.

I agree there's a moral issue about whether it's ok to essentially trick people into believing a position for a greater good, but I also think Moore is incomparable with Stein.  The premise of Moore's documentaries are legitimate, while the premise of Stein's is not.