#37400: — 08/25  at  12:34 AM
Interesting seperation of the posts. Also, while I expected that my post at Orac's place could make it to the Skeptics' Circle, I hadn't expected it to mentioned in The Tangled Bank.

#37527: — 08/25  at  05:36 PM
Feh. It's a sad day when science is too "controversial" to include in a blog about...science. I'm afraid I've lost some respect for Cognitive Daily. We can't keep politics out of science if we bend over backwards to accomodate the sensibilities of people who are offended by a discussion of fact.

#37529: PZ Myers — 08/25  at  05:44 PM
Oh, no, don't think that way. CD included a link directly to the poli posts, hosted on Dave Munger's own blog. It's not that anyone was ashamed of them or anything, but it was just an attempt to promote posts of a particular character on the Tangled Bank.

It's clear not everyone was happy with it, but I think it's fine for TB hosts to experiment.

#37537: — 08/25  at  06:10 PM
Gah. Now you've interrupted the fine sulk I had going.

You're quite right; I've become such a blog addict that I forget just how young the medium is. Of course there's room to try different permutations.

Many science blogs are frequented by laypeople with an interest in a variety of fields. I'm a chemistry guy that uses them to keep up with developments elsewhere- I can't stay atop my own journals, let alone someone elses. By this, I mean that I feel it's important that science blogs, and carnival collections in particular, aren't just preaching to the choir (pun intended).

I suppose I worry that controversial topics may find themselves ghettoized into special "comfort zone" postings, which can only serve to curb intelligent debate.

I think I just called for teaching the controversy. Aw, geez.

It occurs to me that the most frightening thing about the politicization of science is just how unprepared we scientists are to operate in that realm. I'm just not used to thinking in those terms- but it's getting harder and harder to avoid.

There. Now I've got my sulk back.

#37539: PZ Myers — 08/25  at  06:15 PM
I know what everyone who complains about this can do: volunteer to host the Tangled Bank, and do it your way! Take every apolitical submission and describe its political context; argue or support the political interpretations of every post that already discusses those ramifications.

The only control I have over the Tangled Bank is to act as a gatekeeper, and keep it out of the hands of the raving lunatics. But once I hand over those biweekly reins, the host can ride it however he or she wants.