Re: Are we sure?

On Sun, 5 Feb 2012 02:24:38 -0800 (PST), Tim Anderson
<timothya1956@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Feb 2, 10:51 am, Walter Bushell <pr...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
In article <1ketwhs.1cea1fxhymlm3N%j...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
 j...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx (John S. Wilkins) wrote:









Klaus Hellnick <khelSPAMln...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On 1/30/2012 10:08 AM, Richard Norman wrote:
On Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:12:50 -0800 (PST), UC
<uraniumcommit...@xxxxxxxxx>  wrote:

That all the trilobites are extinct?

Is this an attempt at a koan --  how can we be "sure" of anything?

If it is serious, then you should simply do a little research.
Trilobites of a wide variety of types were commonly seen in fossil
records up to the end of the Permain, about 250 million years ago.  At
that time perhaps 90% of all species were eliminated.  Given that they
haven't been seen since it is as sure as anything can be that they
will not somehow turn up again.

I have seen small creatures that closely resembled trilobites to the
naked eye in the wet sands of Galveston. I did not capture any. I
suspect they were either larval horseshoe crabs, or possibly isopods.
Some creatures have survived from the Cambrian period, such as the
tardigrades, which are miniature versions of aquatic onychophorans.

I will bet a lot of money that any trilobite specialist (I know two)
would dispute your claim that they in any real way resembled trilobites.
What "looks like" something depends crucially on the degree of
familiarity and knowledge of the observer. Like, I don't know, thinking
a Jackson's chameleon looks like a triceratopsian...

The test of wether something is a trilobite is not wether it walks like
a trilobite etcetera, but wether it "reproduces"[1] like a trilobite.
This also goes for stegosaursen etcetera.

[1] I do dislike obfuscation, but it's better than being crude.

--
It is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant
and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting. -- H. L. Mencken

"Wether"! Sheep pun cascade starts here.

Ewe wouldn't recognise a trilobite if it rammed into you.


That one pulled the wool over my eyes.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Are we sure?
    ... records up to the end of the Permain, ... would dispute your claim that they in any real way resembled trilobites. ... The test of wether something is a trilobite is not wether it walks like ... It is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Are we sure?
    ... I have seen small creatures that closely resembled trilobites to the ... would dispute your claim that they in any real way resembled trilobites. ... The test of wether something is a trilobite is not wether it walks like ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Are we sure?
    ... Trilobites of a wide variety of types were commonly seen in fossil ... the thylacines eat them at low tide if the wind ... Which they can't, moas being in New Zealand and both being extinct, like ... It is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant ...
    (talk.origins)