Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Starboy · 07-28-2002, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Camaban:
as for Durian: I was in Thailand recently, and passed a stand selling durian. First thing I did was start looking for the dead animal (LONG dead animal)

But, apparently it's an extremely delicious fruit (I wasn't game)

Why make an extremely delicious fruit like that smell THAT bad?

Could it be that something thinks it smells good?

Starboy · 07-28-2002, 05:27 PM

Jesus Freak,

I gotta thank you for that post. We had a great time with it. Got any more good ones?

Starboy

Valentine Pontifex · 07-28-2002, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pz:


Whoa...you mean this was actually presented as a serious argument by someone? I thought this was a joke!

Though it been taken seriously by some I strongly suspect that your instinct is correct: it was originally a joke. It reminds me too much of the bit about ears and nose being designed to hold up glasses which itself a bit of parody itself if memory serves.

Doubting Didymus · 07-28-2002, 05:43 PM

This one has been around for ages! It is such a common argument that Richard Dawkins put in in one of his books (I can't remember which one).

Unfortunately, as dear Mr Dawkins points out, the banana is exactly as we would expect evolution to make it: made to be eaten to better spread its seeds.

I am reminded of the lamented Douglas Adams, who had a mavellous imitation of a puddle of water. He would say: 'My this little depression in the ground fits me well. You know, I do believe this hole in the ground was made especially for me to lie in.'

Kosh · 07-28-2002, 06:28 PM

What a shame that God would create a fruit just for man, that doesn't grow in the middle east, where his "chosen people" were....

Camaban · 07-28-2002, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Could it be that something thinks it smells good?

Yes.

God DOES love bugs, etc more than us, doesn't he?

*could almost feel so lonely*

Talking Rain · 07-28-2002, 10:04 PM

Truth be told bananas weren't the best tasting fruit in the world originally. It took human ingenuity and a few centuries of breeding to produce the perfect fruit that was "created" for man. Here's the <a href="http://www.arc.agric.za/institutes/itsc/main/banana/origin.htm" target="_blank">Origin of the banana</a>.

-TR

07-28-2002, 10:51 PM

What percentage of DNA would I share with a Bannana?

Albion · 07-28-2002, 10:57 PM

According to something I read in a magazine (don't remember if it was a science one), 50%.

Oolon Colluphid · 07-29-2002, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Albion:
According to something I read in a magazine (don't remember if it was a science one), 50%.

One of Steve Jones's favourite quips, in relation to the oft-quoted 'sharing 98% of our genes with chimps', is that we also share 50% with bananas.

And in a recent Open University programme with Jones and Steve Rose, Rose said the same of peaches, and Jones again joked that he uses bananas to make that point.

So there's plenty of hearsay evidence from people who should know. I've not seen it documented anywhere... but then again, I haven't really looked

.

Oolon

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07-28-2002, 05:27 PM	#42
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	Jesus Freak, I gotta thank you for that post. We had a great time with it. Got any more good ones? Starboy

07-28-2002, 05:43 PM	#44
Doubting Didymus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East Coast. Australia. Posts: 5,455	This one has been around for ages! It is such a common argument that Richard Dawkins put in in one of his books (I can't remember which one). Unfortunately, as dear Mr Dawkins points out, the banana is exactly as we would expect evolution to make it: made to be eaten to better spread its seeds. I am reminded of the lamented Douglas Adams, who had a mavellous imitation of a puddle of water. He would say: 'My this little depression in the ground fits me well. You know, I do believe this hole in the ground was made especially for me to lie in.'

07-28-2002, 06:28 PM	#45
Kosh Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Orions Belt Posts: 3,911	What a shame that God would create a fruit just for man, that doesn't grow in the middle east, where his "chosen people" were....

07-28-2002, 10:04 PM	#47
Talking Rain Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Cascadia Posts: 435	Truth be told bananas weren't the best tasting fruit in the world originally. It took human ingenuity and a few centuries of breeding to produce the perfect fruit that was "created" for man. Here's the <a href="http://www.arc.agric.za/institutes/itsc/main/banana/origin.htm" target="_blank">Origin of the banana</a>. -TR

07-28-2002, 10:51 PM	#48
Synaesthesia Guest Posts: n/a	What percentage of DNA would I share with a Bannana?

07-28-2002, 10:57 PM	#49
Albion Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: US east coast. And www.theroyalforums.com Posts: 2,829	According to something I read in a magazine (don't remember if it was a science one), 50%.

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