2000-05 AiR: Bomby The Bombardier Beetle Review: Difference between revisions
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Quelle: [http://improb.com/ <font color=lightgrey>Annals of Improbable Research</font>], Sept./Oct. 2000, Nr. 5(5):5<br> | |||
=<font color=orange>Bomby: Thoughts of a Forensic Entomologist</font>= | |||
==<font color=orange>This is a raw version of the published article</font>== | |||
[More [[All Mark Benecke Publications|articles from MB]]] [Articles [http://wiki2.benecke.com/index.php?title=Media#Interviews_.26_Articles <font color=lightgrey>about MB</font>]]<br> | |||
'''AUTHOR: MARK BENECKE'''<BR> | |||
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'''A review of Bomby The Bombardier Beetle, written by Hazel Mae, illustrated by Sandy Morton, published by the Institute for Creation Research, El Cajon, California, <nowiki>ISBN 0-932766-13-7</nowiki>, 40 pages'''<br> | |||
As a person unvoluntarily dealing with the borders of human behavior, I am used to all sorts of statements that seem to be weird in the beginning only to become resonable after digesting them further. I got to know, and to understand people of every possible color of skin, sexual preference, mother tongue, people who mutilate themselves for the purpose of self-expression, serial killers, cops, drug users, not to mention computer nerds (like my brother), and oddballish scientists (like myself).<br> | As a person unvoluntarily dealing with the borders of human behavior, I am used to all sorts of statements that seem to be weird in the beginning only to become resonable after digesting them further. I got to know, and to understand people of every possible color of skin, sexual preference, mother tongue, people who mutilate themselves for the purpose of self-expression, serial killers, cops, drug users, not to mention computer nerds (like my brother), and oddballish scientists (like myself).<br> | ||
One particular type of persons, however, I still do not understand: biologists who are convinced that other than evolutionary forces might have created the diversity of species on earth. The most startling example was a guest scientist in our lab who clearly stated that she did believe in | ===<font color=orange>'''Unfathomable Biologists'''</font>=== | ||
One particular type of persons, however, I still do not understand: biologists who are convinced that something other than evolutionary forces might have created the diversity of species on earth. The most startling example was a guest scientist in our lab who clearly stated that she did believe in some higher power, and that therefore (!), something higher must explain everything that happens on earth. The point is not that there may or may not be some higher force beyond what is happening on earth, and in the depth of space. But speaking from a scientific, and a criminalistic point of view, I do not see why one would deviate in everydays life from a strictly evidence-based argumentation just for the purpose of assuming that something somewhere out there is, well, somewhere out there.<br> | |||
===<font color=orange>'''Enter the Bombardier Beetle'''</font>=== | |||
For many years now, the example of the bombadier beetle is well-known in local German communities that wish to prove the presence of creational forces. Especially Jehova's Witnesses approach me once in a while in this matter. As scientists, my colleagues and I sometimes take the chance to discuss with them, and one of the most interesting sentences that we were told during a conversation was We do not want to convince you, we want you to believe. To me, this seems to be the essence of what the Bomby book tries to do in a very naive way -- not to convince but to make believe in creation. Of course, creationists would turn this argumentation around and claim that anybody who trusts evolution would have to believe in a lot himself, especially in all missing fossile proofs of adaptive radiation. However, as my co-referees explain, from a rational point of view, modern evolutionary theories are still the best possible explanation for biological processes of all kind - until a better theory might come up.<br> | |||
===<font color=orange>'''Why I like the Bomby'''</font>=== | |||
Personally, I must say I like the Bomby book, especially because it takes kids (and insects) serious. Furthermore, it has a funny dialogue on the extinction of dragons, and the glossary lists friends as a term that obviously needs explanation ("person who knows and like another"). Those little, obviously nosensish details might make the book a good start for a discussion on evolution, even with smaller kids. For example, I would ask my child if it believes in dragons -- and why, or why not. Then, I would ask it if it believed in the creation of animals -- and again why, or why not. I am sure that most children have a gut feeling that any creator might have had a very hard time in figuring out all the details that one can observe in nature. Some other kids might just not care at all.<br> | |||
===<font color=orange>'''Fear?'''</font>=== | |||
Noone should be afraid of the Bomby book as long as the AIR Teacher's Guide is around and makes people ask: "Can you think of even one different explanation that works as well or better?" That is what I believe in: children can -- with or without a little help from their friends.<br><br> | |||
===<font color=orange>suggested readings</font>=== | |||
<i> | |||
* [[2016 07 Hanauer Anzeiger: Der natuerliche Lauf des Lebens|Der natürliche Lauf des Lebens]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2016 03: Radio Eins: Nestbau und Zigarettenstummel|Warum Vögel Zigarettenstummel in ihre Nester einbauen]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[1998 10 Die Zeit: Spinne im Spinat|Spinne im Spinat]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[1995 05 Die Zeit: Der vertonte Fadenwurm|Der vertonte Fadenwurm]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[1998 Die Zeit: Forschung im Namen der Ente|Forschung im Namen der Ente]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[1995 Die Zeit: Kartoffelchips im Windkanal|Kartoffelchips im Windkanal]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[1995 03 Die Zeit: Vom Schneck zum Schreck|Vom Schneck zum Schreck]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[1998 Die Zeit: Hoelle nach Herzenslust|Hölle nach Herzenslust]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[1998 Die Zeit: Kampf der Wissenschaftshumorjournale|Kampf der Wissenschaftshumorjournale]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[Media#Beispiele_f.C3.BCr_Radio-Beitr.C3.A4ge|Alle Radio-Beiträge von MB]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN LANGUAGE</font><br> | |||
* [[All_Mark_Benecke_Publications#Science_Humor.2C_Leeches.2C_Hissing_Roaches.2C_Fish.2C_Magnetic_Mountains.2C_Skeptic_Stuff|Mehr Wissenschafts-Humor]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [http://www.radioeins.de/archiv/podcast/die_profis_benecke.html <font color=lightgrey>Die Podcasts von MB bei radioeins</font>] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN LANGUAGE</font><br> | |||
* [[2014 06: Online Interview zum Thema Paranormales|Online Interview zum Thema Paranormales]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [http://benecke.com/pdf/Hausarbeit_Polizei_Spontane_Menschliche_Selbstentzuendung_Laura_Hofmann.pdf <font color=lightgrey>Spontane menschliche Selbstentzündung</font>] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2010-02 Skeptiker: Dreiundzwanzig|Dreiundzwanzig]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2006 MAGIE PUR!: Über Geistererscheinungen|Calmet. Vorwort "Über Geistererscheinungen"]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2005 Laborjournal: Spiderman: Sex hat sehr wohl stattgefunden|Spiderman & MJ: Sex hat stattgefunden]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2004 Skeptiker Magazin: Das Blutwunder von Neapel|Das Blutwunder von Neapel]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2004 03: Sueddeutsche Zeitung Das Geheimnis der Piraten|Das Geheimnis der Piraten]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2002 Skeptical Inquirer: Magnetic Mountains|Magnetic Mountains]]<br> | |||
* [[2001 12 FAZ: High - Tech - Ritter Troy Hurtubise|Ein High-Tech-Ritter im Kampf gegen Schläger, Jeeps und Bären]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2001 09 Sueddeutsche Zeitung: Pharaonenfluch|Endlich Ruhe im Sarkophag - Das Ende des Pharaonenfluchs]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [http://www.gwup.org/component/content/article/107-sonstige-themen/761-spontane-menschliche-selbstentzuendung <font color=lightgrey>Spontane menschliche Selbstentzündung</font>] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [http://archiv.sueddeutsche.de/sueddz/index.php?id=A12522828_EGTPOGWPPOPAWAGOWSWWHWH <font color=lightgrey>Bigfoot auf Asiatisch</font>] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2001 Die Zeit: Geliebte mit Hunderttausend Volt|Geliebte mit hunderttausend Volt]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2000-01 Skeptiker: Patente Unternehmer|Patente Unternehmer. US-Patentbehörde erteilt Ideenschutz, ohne die Erfindungen zu prüfen]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2001-11-28 SeroNews: Angewandte SHC: Plötzliche Selbst-Entzündung von Menschen|Angewandte SHC]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[1999 01 Die Zeit: Manche Tote leben laenger|Manche Tote leben länger. Lenins Leiche erzählt die Geschichte russischer Präparierkunst]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[1998 Skeptical Inquirer: Spontaneous Human Combustion|Spontaneuos Human Combustion (SHC) - thoughts of a forensic biologist]]<br> | |||
* [[1998 06 TAZ: Chindogus|Nie wieder nasse Bücher]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[1998-12 AIR: Solution for the Chicken/Egg Problem by use of Toothpaste Arithmetic|Toothpaste Arithmetic and the Chicken/Egg problem]]<br> | |||
* [[2018 duz: Mein Preis-Favorit: Der Ig-Nobelpreis|Mein Preis-Favorit: Der Ig-Nobelpreis]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
* [[2000 AIR: Bomby|Bomby]]<br> | |||
* [[2004 07 Neon: Sticht Das Mueckenquartett|Sticht! Das Mückenquartett]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | |||
== | * [[2017 05 FAZ: Cyberwuermer|Cyberwürmer]] <font size="-2" color="#FF0000" face="helvetica">GERMAN TEXT</font><br> | ||
</i> | |||
{{Addressfooter}} | {{Addressfooter}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 14:26, 7 October 2019
Quelle: Annals of Improbable Research, Sept./Oct. 2000, Nr. 5(5):5
Bomby: Thoughts of a Forensic Entomologist
This is a raw version of the published article
[More articles from MB] [Articles about MB]
AUTHOR: MARK BENECKE
A review of Bomby The Bombardier Beetle, written by Hazel Mae, illustrated by Sandy Morton, published by the Institute for Creation Research, El Cajon, California, ISBN 0-932766-13-7, 40 pages
As a person unvoluntarily dealing with the borders of human behavior, I am used to all sorts of statements that seem to be weird in the beginning only to become resonable after digesting them further. I got to know, and to understand people of every possible color of skin, sexual preference, mother tongue, people who mutilate themselves for the purpose of self-expression, serial killers, cops, drug users, not to mention computer nerds (like my brother), and oddballish scientists (like myself).
Unfathomable Biologists
One particular type of persons, however, I still do not understand: biologists who are convinced that something other than evolutionary forces might have created the diversity of species on earth. The most startling example was a guest scientist in our lab who clearly stated that she did believe in some higher power, and that therefore (!), something higher must explain everything that happens on earth. The point is not that there may or may not be some higher force beyond what is happening on earth, and in the depth of space. But speaking from a scientific, and a criminalistic point of view, I do not see why one would deviate in everydays life from a strictly evidence-based argumentation just for the purpose of assuming that something somewhere out there is, well, somewhere out there.
Enter the Bombardier Beetle
For many years now, the example of the bombadier beetle is well-known in local German communities that wish to prove the presence of creational forces. Especially Jehova's Witnesses approach me once in a while in this matter. As scientists, my colleagues and I sometimes take the chance to discuss with them, and one of the most interesting sentences that we were told during a conversation was We do not want to convince you, we want you to believe. To me, this seems to be the essence of what the Bomby book tries to do in a very naive way -- not to convince but to make believe in creation. Of course, creationists would turn this argumentation around and claim that anybody who trusts evolution would have to believe in a lot himself, especially in all missing fossile proofs of adaptive radiation. However, as my co-referees explain, from a rational point of view, modern evolutionary theories are still the best possible explanation for biological processes of all kind - until a better theory might come up.
Why I like the Bomby
Personally, I must say I like the Bomby book, especially because it takes kids (and insects) serious. Furthermore, it has a funny dialogue on the extinction of dragons, and the glossary lists friends as a term that obviously needs explanation ("person who knows and like another"). Those little, obviously nosensish details might make the book a good start for a discussion on evolution, even with smaller kids. For example, I would ask my child if it believes in dragons -- and why, or why not. Then, I would ask it if it believed in the creation of animals -- and again why, or why not. I am sure that most children have a gut feeling that any creator might have had a very hard time in figuring out all the details that one can observe in nature. Some other kids might just not care at all.
Fear?
Noone should be afraid of the Bomby book as long as the AIR Teacher's Guide is around and makes people ask: "Can you think of even one different explanation that works as well or better?" That is what I believe in: children can -- with or without a little help from their friends.
suggested readings
- Der natürliche Lauf des Lebens GERMAN TEXT
- Spinne im Spinat GERMAN TEXT
- Der vertonte Fadenwurm GERMAN TEXT
- Forschung im Namen der Ente GERMAN TEXT
- Kartoffelchips im Windkanal GERMAN TEXT
- Vom Schneck zum Schreck GERMAN TEXT
- Hölle nach Herzenslust GERMAN TEXT
- Kampf der Wissenschaftshumorjournale GERMAN TEXT
- Alle Radio-Beiträge von MB GERMAN LANGUAGE
- Mehr Wissenschafts-Humor GERMAN TEXT
- Die Podcasts von MB bei radioeins GERMAN LANGUAGE
- Online Interview zum Thema Paranormales GERMAN TEXT
- Spontane menschliche Selbstentzündung GERMAN TEXT
- Dreiundzwanzig GERMAN TEXT
- Calmet. Vorwort "Über Geistererscheinungen" GERMAN TEXT
- Spiderman & MJ: Sex hat stattgefunden GERMAN TEXT
- Das Blutwunder von Neapel GERMAN TEXT
- Das Geheimnis der Piraten GERMAN TEXT
- Spontane menschliche Selbstentzündung GERMAN TEXT
- Bigfoot auf Asiatisch GERMAN TEXT
- Geliebte mit hunderttausend Volt GERMAN TEXT
- Patente Unternehmer. US-Patentbehörde erteilt Ideenschutz, ohne die Erfindungen zu prüfen GERMAN TEXT
- Angewandte SHC GERMAN TEXT
- Manche Tote leben länger. Lenins Leiche erzählt die Geschichte russischer Präparierkunst GERMAN TEXT
- Nie wieder nasse Bücher GERMAN TEXT
- Mein Preis-Favorit: Der Ig-Nobelpreis GERMAN TEXT
- Sticht! Das Mückenquartett GERMAN TEXT
- Cyberwürmer GERMAN TEXT