Despite the fact that I live in a state where you can't swing a bag without hitting a fundamentalist-type christian, I rarely discuss evolution with those that don't already believe it.
This Friday, I was enjoying time with friends when some new people (new to me anyway) joined our table. Inevitably, the "what do you do for a living" question came up and I gave one of my stock answers, "I'm a microbiologist." My friend then chimed in, "she has a PhD." Immediately the guy turned around and said, "Oh, well then I'd like your opinion on this awesome movie that I saw a couple of weeks ago." I figured I was about to get asked about a somewhat microbiology-themed movie, like 28 Days Later or Outbreak, so I said, "sure" and took a big ole swig of my beer while he formulated his question.
Guy: "I can't think of the name of the movie, but it was really informative and it had that Ben Stein guy in it."
Me: I snarf the beer. (snarfing = verb, when liquid that you put into your mouth comes out of your nose. You can also snarf a solid.) Finally, after I composed myself, I asked him if he was referring to expelled.
Guy: "yes!!" Followed by, "I just wanted to know what you thought about it."
Me "I think the movie is propaganda for the Discovery Institute."
Guy: "Oh, why?" So I tell him, and I am pretty nice about it. Eventually, he asks me why I don't think intelligent design should be taught in the science classroom, to which I replied, "There is no evidence for intelligent design and science is evidence-based." Then he said, "Well, there is no evidence for evolution either." I paused, shocked at the statement. I was prepared for comments about the gaps in fossil records and the like, not flat out denial that there is any evidence for evolution. Finally, I calmly replied, with a five or so pieces of evidence for evolution. Afterwards, he gave me the evil eye and started playing with his phone.
I think I need to take this as a wake-up call to get better prepared to talk to people. At the very least, I think I should avoid blowing beer out of my nose. I don't think it gave me too much cred.
This Friday, I was enjoying time with friends when some new people (new to me anyway) joined our table. Inevitably, the "what do you do for a living" question came up and I gave one of my stock answers, "I'm a microbiologist." My friend then chimed in, "she has a PhD." Immediately the guy turned around and said, "Oh, well then I'd like your opinion on this awesome movie that I saw a couple of weeks ago." I figured I was about to get asked about a somewhat microbiology-themed movie, like 28 Days Later or Outbreak, so I said, "sure" and took a big ole swig of my beer while he formulated his question.
Guy: "I can't think of the name of the movie, but it was really informative and it had that Ben Stein guy in it."
Me: I snarf the beer. (snarfing = verb, when liquid that you put into your mouth comes out of your nose. You can also snarf a solid.) Finally, after I composed myself, I asked him if he was referring to expelled.
Guy: "yes!!" Followed by, "I just wanted to know what you thought about it."
Me "I think the movie is propaganda for the Discovery Institute."
Guy: "Oh, why?" So I tell him, and I am pretty nice about it. Eventually, he asks me why I don't think intelligent design should be taught in the science classroom, to which I replied, "There is no evidence for intelligent design and science is evidence-based." Then he said, "Well, there is no evidence for evolution either." I paused, shocked at the statement. I was prepared for comments about the gaps in fossil records and the like, not flat out denial that there is any evidence for evolution. Finally, I calmly replied, with a five or so pieces of evidence for evolution. Afterwards, he gave me the evil eye and started playing with his phone.
I think I need to take this as a wake-up call to get better prepared to talk to people. At the very least, I think I should avoid blowing beer out of my nose. I don't think it gave me too much cred.
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