Comments on: Bad Science Writing Gene found in people

By: Joan’s Research Blog » comedy in science writing

Joan’s Research Blog » comedy in science writing — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:00:29 +0000

[...] http://dreamcafe.com/words/2008/09/04/bad-science-writing-gene-found-in-people/ They found that variation in a section of the gene called IMl33t were more likely to use insufficiently large samples, confuse their research, and make uncalled-for generalizations. [...]

By: Links and Video of the Week (2008/37) :: cimddwc

Links and Video of the Week (2008/37) :: cimddwc — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:25:34 +0000

[...] Bad Science Writing Gene found in people (via Bad Astronomy) [...]

By: skzb

skzb — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:22:46 +0000

Praise from Caesar is praise indeed.

By: Brandon Keim

Brandon Keim — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:34:35 +0000

Genius!

(says a science writer at wired.com)

By: Lewis Himelhoch

Lewis Himelhoch — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:12:26 +0000

Since there are so many stupid people in the world, we have to come to the conclusion, however frustrating it may be, that stupidity is a survival trait. This isn’t true on an individual basis, of course. If you are stupid, you probably get eaten by a saber tooth. On the other hand IF YOU ARE STUPID ENOUGH you get left behind in the cave so you don’t screw up the day’s hunting. If you are stupid AND good looking then while you are behind in the cave you probably get to mate.

A few millenia of this and voila you end up with the likes of Tom Cruise and Paris Hilton.

By: skzb

skzb — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:03:56 +0000

Curious @ 14: God, that’s brilliant! I wish the whole thing was still available.

By: curious

curious — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:57:32 +0000

almost as good as the “evolutionary psychology” gene…

unfortunately the full report from Creek Running North doesn’t seem to be available anymore, but a nice excerpt is here:

http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/10/19/is-belief-in-evolutionary-psychology-hardwired-or-is-it-just-a-biological-imperative-to-cling-with-death-grip-to-privilege/

By: James

James — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:46:22 +0000

@dvcastle:

“I think a lack of ability to properly place an apostrophe is also a clear marker.”

…also the ability to avoid splitting infinitives, I feel… ;)

By: So how do you spell DNA? | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

So how do you spell DNA? | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:36:24 +0000

[...] Well, this explains PZ at least. [...]

By: jdc

jdc — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:38:05 +0000

Haha – nice work.

“Not only that, men with two copies of IMl33t were more likely to pull random facts out of actual research and completely misinterpret them”
I reckon having two copies of IMl33t must be quite common given some of the forum comments I’ve seen on the internet.