Avoiding the Word "Evolution"

jakosc tips us to a disturbing article in PloS Biology on the avoidance of the word "Evolution" in scientific papers and grants. From the paper: "In spite of the importance of antimicrobial resistance, we show that the actual word 'evolution' is rarely used in the papers describing this research. Instead, antimicrobial resistance is said to 'emerge,' 'arise,' or 'spread' rather than 'evolve.' Moreover, we show that the failure to use the word 'evolution' by the scientific community may have a direct impact on the public perception of the importance of evolutionary biology in our everyday lives... It has been repeatedly rumored (and reiterated by one of the reviewers of this article) that both the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation have in the past actively discouraged the use of the word 'evolution' in titles or abstracts of proposals so as to avoid controversy."

Re:What do you expect?

[Joebert]

In God we trust, all others pay cash.

Nobody told you?

[Anonymous Coward]

God is an acronym: Guns, oil, and drugs.

Re:It IS disturbing...

[catbutt]

You should tell them that you are evolving to preferring to hang out with non-idiots.

ObObscure

[Anonymous Coward]

Editors: "Hey, we've been doing market research in Power Cable, Nebraska, and other centers of culture, and the evolution bit doesn't work for us, it's a bit of a downer, we have a prarm with it, so lose the evolution."
You: "Did you read the paper?"
Editors: "Sure, we LOVE it, it's GREAT, it's HIGH CONCEPT. Just lose the Evolution angle, man"

yes

[Patrik_AKA_RedX]

I've notified the proper authorities about your question. The Spanish Inquisition will be over shortly to discuse this matter with you. Feel free to inform them of your favorite methode of torture and any allergic reactions to leather whips or red-hot metal you might have.

Re:Eh it goes both ways?

[Patrik_AKA_RedX]

god says it aint good to gamble.

Damn, I was trying to make Russian Roulette popular among the religious.

Re:yes

[niconorsk]

You fool. Why did you tell him the Spanish Inquisition is coming. Now he's going to expect it.

Storks!

[Jugalator]

"If we are going to teach creation science as an alternative to evolution, then we should also teach the stork theory as an alternative to biological reproduction." -- Judith Hayese [celebatheists.com]

Re:Unfortunate?

[laejoh]

So? If you present Gravity as a theory in our schools I want equal time for the theory of Intelligent Falling [wikipedia.org]!

Re:Read your own history, mate

[Phroggy]

but hey, that is not my country so fuck it up as much as you wish, as long as you keep a sane foreign policy of "hand off"....

Um, yeah, we'll uhh, get right on that.

Microsoft !

[__aahlyu4518]

It is a conspiracy started by Microsoft !! They want us to use 'Outlook' i.s.o. 'Evolution' !!!

Re:What do you expect?

[Anonymous Coward]

'In God we trust' is actually a typo. The original sentence was 'In GOLD we trust'.

Re:Sorry Skinflute.. We are a Democracy.

[TapeCutter]

How the hell do you electroplate a non-conducting surface?

I guess the GP wasn't kidding when he said: "quite an advanced process really".

Re:Unfortunate?

[EveLibertine]

You know, science has fucked enough of this stuff up.

We used to know that the earth was flat, and the universe revolved around it. Then scientists with their "theories" came along and screwed everything up. If only they had focused on the "known facts" at the time, instead of messing around with these scientific theories, we wouldn't be in this mess.

Re:Sorry Skinflute.. We are a Democracy.

[zakezuke]

Yes, and according to similar polls, 34% believe in ghosts, 34% believe in UFOs, 29% believes in astrology, 25% believe in reincarnation and 24% believes in witches. With other words: a sizeable portion of the population will just believe whatever they come across without much, if any, criticism.

This is allowed... but fortunatly seperation of church and state keeps those pesky witches, ghosts, flying saucers, astrologers, and reincarnations of Julius Caesar out of our schools and goverment buildings. It may have been to keep the goverment out of their way, which I'm sure they appricate.

Astrology though was always a sore point with me in highschool. Study of Greek/Roman mythology was mandatory but astrology was banned. I guess they were afraid if they let in astrology, they'd have to let in the witches, ghosts, aliens from another planet, and reincarnations of Julius Caesar.

Re:Evolution, with numbers.

[VultureMN]

How dare you challenge "Argument by Incredulity" with reasoned, logical, and sane mathematical models?

You're going to hell, mister!

Re:What do you expect?

[Anonymous Coward]

how about "in the flying spaghetti monster we trust"?

Re:Unfortunate?

[markbt73]

Gravity is a theory. Are you saying physicists discussing rocks falling to the floor should avoid mentioning it?

Yes. Gravity is the tool of Satan, trying to pull everything down closer to Hell. You need to pray until you learn to fly, to avoid the Devil pulling you earthward.

(oh crap... I'm giving them ideas, aren't I?)

Re:Storks!

[khallow]

I'm sorry but the Flying Spaghetti Monster is so dated. Sure he'll have a place in the classroom pantheon alongside J. R. "Bob" Dobbs and Jesus, but we need a new religious inspiration. I think some sort of fungal shamanism for now. It'll help me get in touch with the spiritual side of my fridge.