1. Comment #61039 by Rtambree on August 3, 2007 at 11:52 am

Colbert is impersonating someone who is pretending to agree with the guest while trying to challenge the ideas because he actually disagrees, all the while, keeping a straight face - not a bad juggling act.

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2. Comment #61040 by Roll on August 3, 2007 at 11:54 am

What else is there to say? Wouldn't it be cool if my post was the last in this thread? Why butter the mans ego? Leave it - pls.

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3. Comment #61045 by Quetzalcoatl on August 3, 2007 at 12:12 pm

I listened to this (can't see the video itself, for some unknown reason)and I was thinking, surely he can't believe this? Can he really believe what he is saying? The analogies he was coming out with- I know little about biology, but even I knew they were flawed.

I do think, though, in a very subtle way, Colbert was mocking him. Giving him enough rope to hang himself with. Behe seemed to have no idea.

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4. Comment #61048 by bruce on August 3, 2007 at 12:25 pm

OMFG, that mousetrap analogy is just ridiculous. Maybe someone needs to clue Behe into the fact that mousetraps don't biologically reproduce, they are designed because they are inanimate objects incapable of evolving in the first place. I guess the abstinence only education in our public schools is contributing to even more ignorance than I originally feared. Although, to be fair, I can see how he would get confused seeing as he is basically a puppet for creationists.

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5. Comment #61056 by Devolution on August 3, 2007 at 1:11 pm

I love it when Colbert calls Bill O'reilly "Papa Bear". So classic

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6. Comment #61057 by Barbara on August 3, 2007 at 1:25 pm

I watched this interview on television last night. Did anyone notice how the interview ended? Colbert made a comment (I wish I could remember what he said) and Behe said "Well, you'd be wrong" or something to that effect. Colbert said "What?" and abruptly ended the interview there.

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7. Comment #61058 by Russell's Teapot on August 3, 2007 at 1:27 pm

Colbert brilliantly refuted the mousetrap analogy, and Behe looked (and responded like) his brain short-circuited.

The ending of the interview was perfect as well. "I was what?" :D

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8. Comment #61070 by doctor_regtools on August 3, 2007 at 2:12 pm

On the subject of mousetraps, here's the reduced complexity of it:

http://udel.edu/~mcdonald/mousetrap.html

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9. Comment #61076 by Solarium Solaris on August 3, 2007 at 2:19 pm

Quetzalcoatl,

A bit off topic. This is somewhat awkward for me as I have never been a religious person, but...can I be your newest devotee?

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10. Comment #61077 by Duff on August 3, 2007 at 2:21 pm

I thought Behe had more substance than he came across here. Is it possible he is smaller than life? "Dweebburger" kept popping into my mind.

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11. Comment #61080 by Yorker on August 3, 2007 at 2:30 pm

I'm in the minority here I know, but this Colbert guy does nothing for me, I dislike his pretentiousness and find him irritating.

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12. Comment #61099 by fallenone on August 3, 2007 at 3:15 pm

@ Yorker: I've felt pretty much the same until I've watched Colber's speech at the White House Correspondent's Dinner in 2006. Simply brilliant. In 3 parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa-4E8ZDj9s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOYZF3It848
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAvFM4TYQKU

Other than that, the show has some good points most of the time... Then again, I seldom watch it on telly...

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13. Comment #61106 by IQHQ on August 3, 2007 at 4:37 pm

Thanks, fallenone... "simply brilliant" just about sums it up!

As regards to the above interview, whilst Behe's ideas may be ludicrous I think he came across as a very likeable guy. Not that this has any real relevance here, of course... just an observation.

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14. Comment #61107 by a tree with roots on August 3, 2007 at 4:40 pm

I saw this last night (I'm a semi-regular viewer). It irritates me how Behe seems unaware that each of his arguments have been entirely torn down, and how he goes on trying to convince people with them. He still uses the mousetrap analogy, and I was just waiting for him to come out with the flagellum example again. He probably would have, had he been given enough time.
I did like the *subtle* challenging that Colbert did while pretending to agree completely. Could've done a bit more, but he has to stay in character, after all. Luckily Behe didn't get much out anyways.

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15. Comment #61111 by Jolly Wally on August 3, 2007 at 5:09 pm

Wonderful mockery!

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16. Comment #61112 by Crazymalc on August 3, 2007 at 5:18 pm

"So you're saying you're Darwin's Einstein?" was the best comment of all.

Very funny and very clever at the same time. Because that is in fact what Behe is suggesting. Darwin et. all are fundamentally wrong.

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17. Comment #61118 by darkenergy on August 3, 2007 at 6:30 pm

I'm pretty sure i saw Colbert say in an interview he gave Sunday School or something like that... so i wouldn't think he's completely against the God idea.

It was a funny interview... the part "Darwin's Einstein" hahaha

On the other sidecthat guy Behe preaches pseudo-science to try to distort true scientific knowledge on mainstream media... that's pretty dangerous i think

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18. Comment #61119 by Aidan86 on August 3, 2007 at 6:35 pm

"...all you have is wood, a piece of metal and a spring, and there's no possible use for any of that stuff." LOL, perfect Colbert style response that actually gets to the heart of why the reducible complexity argument is bunk.

"Darwin's Einstein" was another good one. lol.

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19. Comment #61121 by Dr Benway on August 3, 2007 at 6:50 pm

Yorker:

I dislike his pretentiousness and find him irritating.

Colbert is a parody of Fox talking heads like Bill O'Reilly, whose self-satisfaction knows no bounds. Fox is very popular, although I find the channel overstimulating. Stewart/Colbert help ease the pain.

I note that you Brits laugh more when cultural relativism is being lampooned. We must suffer different annoyances.

I like the irriducible complexity retort. Can't remember it exactly, but something like: "So without the catch, all you have is a piece of wood, a spring, and a bit of metal, and those things have no use whatsoever."

I'm not sure I could think so fast on my feet.

edit: oops! Aidan86 beat me to the punch. I shouldn't make a snack and hit 'submit.'

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20. Comment #61122 by LeeC on August 3, 2007 at 7:03 pm

Colbert has to be taking the p1ss... and if so excellent stuff.

If not, then I can obviously laugh at anything.

It certainly made Michael Behe with his ID "theory" look like a joke.

Lee

"Look a woman with a piece of wood hitting mouse. That's no way to trap a mouse! Use the piece a bit of metal instead!"

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21. Comment #61127 by Zaphod on August 3, 2007 at 7:36 pm

Oh my FSM. He almost used a Ray Comfort argument. If you take something away from a mouse trap its no longer a mouse trap. Is he serious with this?

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22. Comment #61139 by RickM on August 3, 2007 at 10:54 pm

Incredible! On Amazon.Com Buzzhead Behe makes the following post:

[snip]
4:52 PM PDT, August 3, 2007
Dear Readers,

This past Thursday I was a guest on The Colbert Report, where I was interviewed about The Edge of Evolution by the inimitable Stephen Colbert. You can watch the video here.
[snip]

Behe is totally ignorant of the fact that Colbert is making a completely fool of him.

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23. Comment #61144 by pewkatchoo on August 3, 2007 at 11:55 pm

What a twat!

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24. Comment #61161 by Morro on August 4, 2007 at 1:41 am

Behe has all the understanding of evolutionary theory found in someone who has not yet completed Biology 101.

Literally. I TA Bio 101, and I see people come in with his views, and leave with them dispelled. I'm not sure how he got his PhD, but I know it wasn't by talking about this crap.

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25. Comment #61166 by Algebratheist on August 4, 2007 at 2:21 am

"if you take away the parts of the mousetrap all you have is wood, a piece of metal, and a spring and there's no other possible use for any of that stuff"

LOL!!! Brilliant mockery. If any of you here have seen the Ken Miller video on youtube "The Collapse of Intelligent Design," then you know the uses of the "wood", "spring", etc. such as the type III secretory system. Ken Miller states, "The parts of this supposedly irreducibly complex system actually have functions of their own." Of course, paperweights don't become mousetraps though...

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26. Comment #61167 by Algebratheist on August 4, 2007 at 2:23 am

Damn, Dr Benway and Aidan86 already got it.

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27. Comment #61172 by Quetzalcoatl on August 4, 2007 at 3:00 am

Solarium Solaris-

like I already said on another thread, you are more than welcome to join my religion. Now stop asking. :)

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28. Comment #61268 by Solarium Solaris on August 4, 2007 at 12:12 pm

Haha. Great. I thought I had asked you that before, but I forgot if I really did or if it was a dream. Too many pills...

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29. Comment #61269 by Solarium Solaris on August 4, 2007 at 12:14 pm

What thread was that?

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30. Comment #61272 by Quetzalcoatl on August 4, 2007 at 12:26 pm

On "The flea circus invites a newcomer" thread

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31. Comment #61285 by windfall on August 4, 2007 at 1:10 pm

Absolutely brilliant mockery! That's hard to pull off, mocking someone to their face while taking care to keep them from picking up on it.

Though I find it hard to believe Behe didn't realize he was being mocked. It's kind of pathetic for that reason, though. You almost feel sorry for the guy.

But that mousetrap retort was worth its weight in gold!

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32. Comment #61434 by Sathya_Sai_Baba on August 5, 2007 at 6:29 am

Did anyone else pick up on that Colbert didn't advertise his book at the end of the segment. I'm a fan of Colbert and I've never seen him not hold up the book and repeat its title at the end of the interview segment. He clearly must not be a fan of Behe.

Instead of the "Colbert Bump" he got the "Colbert Snub" :)

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33. Comment #61550 by Tumara Baap on August 5, 2007 at 5:39 pm

Behe may have zero credibility amongst posters here but I'm sure he manages to convince many others out there. Frankly, I thought Behe spoke with conviction and confidence. How he can still manage to do this unfazed despite having been humiliated by Judge Jones and having all of his books and works torn to shreds is a little jarring. But then come to think of it Behe's modus operandi was intellectual deceit at the outstart, and cherry picked to fight his war in the court of public opinion. He probably calculates correctly that a majority of people have never been exposed to the ruthless and disparaging critique of everything he stands for. It's therefore business as usual to try and weave an illusion of controversy about evolution even after being shot down utterly in the science arena. Such sickening duplicity.
Yorker, Colbert is a parody of a smug, stupid, right wing nut case (of which we have one too many in this country). Ali G may not be a good comparison, as Colbert's content is highly incisive, brilliantly infused with sarcasm, and sans the toilet humor. That you find him "pretentious" and "irritating" is actually a tribute to his class act. For Brits curious about this TV phenomenon, check out this Economist report:
http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8929430

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34. Comment #61688 by Algebratheist on August 6, 2007 at 10:59 am

WOW. a breath of fresh air for those disappointed in Lehigh University can be found here: http://www.lehigh.edu/~inbios/news/evolution.htm

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35. Comment #61697 by heathen2 on August 6, 2007 at 11:53 am

The disclaimer from LeHigh is interesting. I guess they have to keep him on due to tenure? Or maybe he can't be let go just due to "personal views" even though I imagine those impact what he teaches. Propagating lies in the academic environment is wrong but I don't know what he actually teaches his students.

Like Tumara, I too am disturbed by his composure and confidence in the face of all the lashings he has recieved. He must be getting positive reinforcement from some quarters, I suppose, in order to keep going. What a joke he is, and does not even realize it.

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36. Comment #61700 by thirdchimpanzee on August 6, 2007 at 12:10 pm

Too bad Colbert didn't pick up on the disclaimer from Lehigh University. There are so many ways he could have played with that in the interview...

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37. Comment #61718 by MAS2007 on August 6, 2007 at 1:38 pm

35. Comment #61688 by Algebratheist on August 6, 2007 at 10:59 am

WOW. a breath of fresh air for those disappointed in Lehigh University can be found here: http://www.lehigh.edu/~inbios/news/evolution.htm

Very glad to see the nonsupport of Behe's nutter position.

Other Comments by MAS2007

38. Comment #61719 by Quetzalcoatl on August 6, 2007 at 1:45 pm

For the love of all that is good in the world, Heathen2, what are you DOING? To read your post I had to put my hand over the avatar! Please, think of the children!

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39. Comment #61893 by Tyler Durden on August 7, 2007 at 10:13 am

My local bookstore here in Dublin, "Chapters", had Behe's Darwin's Black Box in the Popular Science section (same shelf, right next to RD) so I informed the owner, who smiled, when I informed him who Behe was.

He assured me Behe would be moved to the Religion or Fiction section (Religion or Fiction, all the same really!!) :-)

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40. Comment #62209 by Yorker on August 8, 2007 at 7:16 pm

Dr. Benway and Tumara Baap

Thanks both for your explanation, but I was already aware of the Colbert deal, I lived in the USA until fairly recently. For me he's one of those people one takes an instant dislike to, I'm sure you know what I mean. But perhaps I'll change; I had the same feeling about Tom Hanks until I saw him in "Cast Away", after that I liked him.

With Colbert, even though it's an act, there's something about him that doesn't sit well with me. I'd need to find out about the real person in order to make a fair judgment, but he's only a TV personality so I won't bother.

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41. Comment #62210 by Yorker on August 8, 2007 at 7:25 pm

37. Comment #61700 by thirdchimpanzee

"Too bad Colbert didn't pick up on the disclaimer from Lehigh University."

Indeed, his bosses probably would have considered it impolitic, or maybe just a simple case of no cujones!

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42. Comment #62211 by Yorker on August 8, 2007 at 7:33 pm

34. Comment #61550 by Tumara Baap

"Behe may have zero credibility amongst posters here but I'm sure he manages to convince many others out there. Frankly, I thought Behe spoke with conviction and confidence."

I think you're right and speaking confidently was the correct thing for him to do, I mean, you couldn't really expect him to be humbled or embarrassed!

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43. Comment #62212 by Yorker on August 8, 2007 at 7:43 pm

23. Comment #61139 by RickM

"Behe is totally ignorant of the fact that Colbert is making a completely fool of him."

Surely he can't be that dumb! He's probably banking on the old showbiz maxim: 'There's no such thing as bad publicity'

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44. Comment #62213 by Yorker on August 8, 2007 at 7:57 pm

20. Comment #61121 by Dr Benway

"I'm not sure I could think so fast on my feet."

I'm not sure it's quick thinking, just research.

Bear in mind that he drives the show in the direction he wants it to go, the interviewee is at his mercy. Look at the faces of the victims, they're always smiling from the outset, they know what to expect. I'd like to see someone go on with feigned but well acted seriousness, beat Colbert at his own game, now that would be good entertainment!

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45. Comment #62214 by HappyPrimate on August 8, 2007 at 8:10 pm

Stephen Colbert is priceless! That was such a good laugh and Behe actually didn't get it. What a hoot!

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46. Comment #62217 by heathen2 on August 8, 2007 at 9:04 pm

Comment #61719 by Quetzalcoatl on August 6, 2007 at 1:45 pm

For the love of all that is good in the world, Heathen2, what are you DOING? To read your post I had to put my hand over the avatar! Please, think of the children!

Lord Q, is this a test of my faith in you?

I have no avatar,so what are you talking about? (Sorry, that was a disrespectful way to address a god), I got rid of scary smile lady a couple of days ago.

Please explain, unless you prefer that I remain in utter confusion like the adherents of other gods.

Oh.....ok, I reacted too quickly, I see by your post date that you must have posted this when I had my scary smile lady on.

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47. Comment #62221 by bouwe on August 9, 2007 at 12:55 am

Maybe it's just me but...the Behe beard and the Behe bald makes him look like he Behe Darwin? Perhaps even CULTivated to look that way?

Bizzaro Darwin, how ironic.

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48. Comment #62497 by scooternyc on August 10, 2007 at 1:49 am

I tried to watch BookTV on Monday when they presented his talk from June 2007, it was so stupid, so ridiculous, both my roomies and I had to turn it off. One of my roommates is a zoologist and knows a LOT about science and he found Behe just so out of it that he left the room.


What I did find interesting is that he spent so much time disavowing Darwin but with no other "theory" by which empirical evidence could be shown from controlled experiments which lead to conclusions, of any kind. Everything is about denouncing Darwin.

Perhaps I'm simplifying it, but the Irreducible Complexity hypothesis(not theory)never states that if all the components were taken out of the bacteria, they would be useful somewhere else.

He used the mousetrap example, but failed to say, "of course, all the parts of the mouse trap are useful for other things" - not as a mouse trap, but they ARE useful - pieces of wood, springs, metal, - you've got to be kidding me!

The perseverating on Darwin is obsessive in every sense of the word, "If I keep saying it loud enough and often enough then you'll start to believe me".

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49. Comment #112958 by robotaholic on January 18, 2008 at 10:33 am

what a nasty little fellow he is- Behe reminds me of a cult leader preaching his biological cult message

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50. Comment #116085 by salgiambruno on January 25, 2008 at 1:16 pm

Is Behe a glutton for punishment or what?

Even after having had his lame arguments in support of ID smacked down by the Supreme Court and becoming the laughing stock of the REAL science community so many years ago, he's still trying to pawn his lame book of bad science off on the uninformed.

What a Loser!

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