Pharyngula::Conversations from the fair

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Friday, August 12, 2005

Conversations from the fair

PZ Myers • 16 Comments

It was a very slow day manning the Humane Society booth at the Stevens County Fair. This is my afternoon.

"Ooo, candy! Can I have some?"

"Got any horses?"

"Sorry, not right now."

"Candy! and balloons! Bye!"

(I had a copy of Valentine's On the Origin of Phyla^{(amzn/b&n/abe/pwll)} with me, to tide me over the slow spots.)

"What's the book about?"

"Evolution."

"Have you ever heard of the Cam-Brain explosion? It disproves your evolution."

"The rapid increase in preserved complexity of fossilized animal forms over the course of tens of million years half a billion years ago? Sure. This book is all about the evidence for the evolution of many of the groups that arose then."

"I don't need your book. It's all in the Bible, son."

"Which chapter?"

"Can I have a second piece of candy for my little brother?"

"Of course you can."

(Little brother trundles up in his stroller a moment later—he's about a month old. Smart kid.)

"Got any little dogs?"

"Mostly cats right now, and a few large dogs."

"Yuck. I hate them."

"You're running out of candy, mister."

"Do you have a building yet?"

"No, we have a network of foster homes in the community to take care of our animals. Would you like to volunteer or join the society?"

"I'll join when you're a real humane society."

(Man with cute little lap dog walks by.)

"Spay and neuter? That's what my widdle tiddly-poo needs, don't oo? Want the nice man to chop oo widdle ballsy-wallsy off?" (the dog did look a bit nervous, but I think it was because his owner is a psycho.)

That was about it. I hope the thrills pick up when I'm in the DFL booth this evening.

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Comments:

#35140: coturnix — 08/12 at 02:01 PM
Hillarious!

Valentine's book and Valentine's heart-shaped candy? It all goes together so well....

#35142: — 08/12 at 02:05 PM
Oh man...I needed that laugh this afternoon!

My experience working the state fair booth for my particular state government agency:

Man (in monotone, halting voice): Is it true that you guys maintain a list of key citizens to be assassinated in the event of a national emergency?

Me: Um...gee. I'm really not aware of one. I'll have to ask about that... (Man leaves.)

Co-worker: Darn. I should have asked him if he'd like to be on it.

#35144: — 08/12 at 02:09 PM
Oh, and uh, OUCH about the "real" humane society comment. A network of foster homes, people banding together (a society) to do what they can to help unwanted animals (humane), not "real."

#35145: — 08/12 at 02:09 PM
I bet there may be a DFLer or two that says, "You? You're that biologist who kicks creationist butt? Cool!"

#35149: — 08/12 at 02:16 PM
Hey, Humane Society, huh? Would you mail me a kitten?

Nah, never mind. I'm sure our local HS has plenty-I'll stop by this afternoon & snag one. The two I have just aren't enough ...

#35158: Dan S. — 08/12 at 02:43 PM
"Would you mail me a kitten?"
Hey! That's mean!

You can get chicks by mail, though.

Um, let me rephrase that.

You can get very young chickens by mail . . .

#35162: — 08/12 at 03:00 PM
Your experience reminds me of a scene in the beginning of the movie Real Genius.
Mitch's Mom is talking to Dr. Hathaway at the science fair and says "I saw your program on radioactive isotopes and I have a question for you."
Dr. Hathaway: "Yes?"
Mitch's Mom: "Is that your real hair?"
Dr. Hathaway: "Tell me, is Mitch adopted?"
Mitch's Mom: "Why no!"
Dr. Hathaway: "It's amazing."
MM: "Isn't it?"

#35188: — 08/12 at 04:31 PM
You also get chicken shit...

#35191: Shelley — 08/12 at 04:49 PM
That was great. What a wonderful break from the dulls. Thanks, PZ.

#35193: — 08/12 at 05:00 PM

"Do you have a building yet?"

"No, we have a network of foster homes in the community to take care of our animals. Would you like to volunteer or join the society?"

"I'll join when you're a real humane society."

I'm reminded of a quote by the very smart Warren Buffett. "When you see a company with a big impressive building, it doesn't mean they're a good company. It just means they know how to build a building."

(that's a paraphrase.)

#35204: — 08/12 at 06:25 PM
I had a similar conversation about evolution today. I was at the doctors earlier today. Being reasonably smart I had taken along my copy of "Human Evolutionary Anatomy" to read while I was waiting for the doctor. When they called me back the first thing they did was put me on a scale, so I put the book down with the title face up. The person weighing goes "Oh, you believe in evolution" I said "No, belief isn't involved, it's a matter of following the scientific evidence" She says "So you believe humans evolved from apes" I replied "Again belief has nothing to do with it, it's a matter of following the scientific evidence" She says "You are in room 6" and walks off. I thought "Crap, I'm going to die" Fortunately, I have had several conversations about evolution with this particular doctor (inspired by the reading material I always bring)
and know that he doesn't subscribe to faith based medicine.

#35214: — 08/12 at 07:40 PM
Incidentally, fostering animals can be a lot of fun, and I reccomend it if you enjoy animals. My little sister (still in high school) picked up the practice, and we often have an extra handful of cats to supplement the permanent population. "Socializing" kittens... my my, what a chore. We do it for an orginization that does have its own building, but not enough space to store all the animals, and we only take care of them until they're old enough, and large enough, to be spayed or neutered.

#35217: — 08/12 at 08:02 PM

"I don't need your book. It's all in the Bible, son."

"Which chapter?"

Every time I read that, I laugh again. Man, I needed that.

Thanks.

#35234: — 08/12 at 10:16 PM

(Man with cute little lap dog walks by.)

"Spay and neuter? That's what my widdle tiddly-poo needs, don't oo? Want the nice man to chop oo widdle ballsy-wallsy off?" (the dog did look a bit nervous, but I think it was because his owner is a psycho.)

LOL, hillarious.. Priceless.

-----
"As with all of ID, the important thing is first to have the concept. Production can then follow as a matter of course.” -Dembski

#35260: Martin Wagner — 08/13 at 03:26 AM

"I don't need your book. It's all in the Bible, son."
"Which chapter?"

So what did the f**ktard say?

#35669: — 08/15 at 12:34 AM
During Engineer's Week sitting at the Society of Women Engineers booth:

Older guy: So what relationship do you have with the NOW?

Me: None. We are more than 20 years older and have more scholarships.

... other times (including leaving work with bags being check that included SWE material by a security drone) ...

A couple of times a young man of color (sorry, I am trying to be politically correct): So where is the Society of Men Engineers?

Me: For a while all those but us, but no longer. If you are interested I can give you the contact information for the National Society of Black Engineers (or the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers).

The nice thing is the groups like SWE are not needed much anymore... or are they?

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Friday, August 12, 2005

Conversations from the fair

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