BS: Astronaut Ed Mitchell on Alien visits

Subject: RE: BS: Astronaut Ed Mitchell on Alien visits
From: Stu
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 05:08 AM

CarolC: Thanks for those links, but I still disagree. This idea of 'primitive' is not accepted in modern palaeontological circles; This article explains it about as well as any and centres around the derived characteristics of Platypi (?). Note that it's thought the marsupials and placentals branched off the mammalian lineage at the same time, so one is not more advanced than the other, they're different. It's worth checking out his other blogs too.

Actually, I am wondering if we're arguing slightly at cross-purposes here because when I was reading this blog on the mammalian family tree I realised we're both right in a sense, although I still dispute the fact modern montremes and marsupials are more primitive than placentals.

Good debate : )

Subject: RE: BS: Astronaut Ed Mitchell on Alien visits
From: Paul Burke
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 05:35 AM

Platypuses, or if you insist on Greek, platypodes (with the E pronounced).

Subject: RE: BS: Astronaut Ed Mitchell on Alien visits
From: Stu
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 07:37 AM

I thought before I chose Platypi - apparently it's the the word the locals use (although I actually read this on the internet, so stand to be corrected by anyone who lives near a Platypus).

Subject: RE: BS: Astronaut Ed Mitchell on Alien visits
From: CarolC
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 01:11 PM

I think the problem is that some people are placing a value judgment on the word "primitive" that doesn't exist in the way I am using it.

In the training that I have received in the natural sciences, the word primitive in contexts like this one simply means - closer to earlier forms in development than those that are not being described as primitive. There is no value judgment implied.

Subject: RE: BS: Astronaut Ed Mitchell on Alien visits
From: CarolC
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 01:16 PM

JtS and I were discussing this last night. He was having some problems with my use of the word 'primitive' also, and he was asking some questions about it. He wanted to know if being primitive in the way I was using the word, suggested lesser intelligence than less primitive. I told him that it did not. Birds are more primitive than mammals (in terms of development), but many kinds of birds are far more intelligent than some mammals. I think some people just don't understand how the word primitive is used in this kind of context.

Subject: RE: BS: Astronaut Ed Mitchell on Alien visits
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 09:21 AM

Here we go...Jackie and Dunlap weigh in on the Edgar Mitchell story and give us their opinion.

"Them astronauts think they're so damn smart! They don't know nothin'! "

Subject: RE: BS: Astronaut Ed Mitchell on Alien visits
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 01:58 PM

The gettin in a diaper and drivin across the country to kidnap her boyfriend's girlfriend thing set the credibility of astronauts back a tad.