Mark Robert said: "Good points. But they don't suggest you can't apply taxonomy to humans. They only suggest it is not easy. But applying taxonomy to many living organisms is not easy, especially things like quickly mutating fungus and microorganisms. Taxonomists often don't agree on naming these organisms either. But does that mean there is inherent bigotry or racism involved? Not really."
This is the second time you've brought that up. When the fuck did I claim that taxonomists were the ones promoting racism and bigotry? You are confusing threads or lists or just plain confused. Mark Robert said: " The inherent problem with tx is as you imply: the complexity of life and its mutant/adaptive capacity. As soon as you think you got something defined and named, you look up and the damned thing has changed on you already." Actually, the damned thing was never defined properly from the start. Mark Robert said: "Tx is a frustrating balance between splitting and lumping. Much of the points you make consist of the former, and the arguments between the two types of txists rage on. Oh well. What shall we do? Give up the science of naming and defining? That would be unfortunate, because that is the essence of much biological science - and we would be giving up a lot of the mechanics of understanding life along with it." Naming and classifying serves no purpose when the classifications are contradictory, muddled and arbitrary from the very start. Again, why draw the dividing line at skin color? And where exactly is that pesky, elusive line? Why not hair color? Why not blood type? Don't preach the values of "racial" classifications if you and yours are going to refuse to name said classifications and then provide real, hard data and measurable parameters to justify said classifications. Mark Robert said: "Let's consider dispensing with splitting. OK, but where would you prefer to draw the dividing line? Besides subspecies, should we also avoid species-rank nomenclature and start going up the taxon-tree? In other words, can we still call ourselves "homo sapiens" without fear of some kind of repercussion?" If you wish, it is your rant... Mark Robert: " Maybe we should just start calling ourselves "homos". Or is that also too selective? Let's go up another rank to "hominids". OK, but that still contains selectivity, so let's go with the more conservative "primates". Yeah well one man's "safe" is another man's "radical"; let's be safer and stick with good old dependable "mammal". Aww fuck all that complicated shit and admit that we are nothing more than "animalia"! (Surely the plants aren't gonna come around with some bs racial claim over that one!)" This is exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned people getting emotional when their illogic is challenged. Thank you. Point proven. Mark Robert: "No science is perfect. It's just "more perfect" than the alternative. Imperfect does not equal junk." However, this is far worse than imperfect. Its blatant grasping at straws and making broad generalizations on the basis of traits that do not fit even a slim majority of the population they are using said straws to label. In short, junk science. __________________________________________________________________ James Landrith <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] cell: 703-593-2065 * fax: 760-875-8547 AIM: jlnales * ICQ: 148600159 MSN and Yahoo! Messenger: jlandrith Taking the Gloves Off - <http://www.jameslandrith.com> http://www.jameslandrith.com The Multiracial Activist - <http://www.multiracial.com> http://www.multiracial.com The Abolitionist Examiner - <http://www.multiracial.com/abolitionist/> http://www.multiracial.com/abolitionist/ __________________________________________________________________ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back! http://us.click.yahoo.com/VpgUKB/pzNLAA/cUmLAA/KlSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
