Oolon Colluphid

Both Sagan and Dawkins have used that, and a quick Google attributes it to either Anne Landers or Robert Low (whoever they are).

I have my own version (though it may be a meme I’ve picked up from somewhere):

A mind is like a loo seat: the more you leave it open, the more crap you’ll get in it.

Oolon

Ojuice5001

Here's one from my man G.K. Chesterton:

"An open mind is like an open mouth--good only to clamp down on something solid."

babelfish

I'm not sure who Robert Low is, but Ann Landers was a popular (recently deceased) advice columnist here in the US.

mibby529

I always liked Hovindian ad homs. Yeah, sure, Darwin was a communist; that's why it's more in line with CAPITALISM. And that Darwin was a racist; Darwin wasn't even born when the trans-Atlantic slave trade began. LOL

Albion

Reminds me of a conversation I had with someone who was telling me about all the great scientists who believed in creationism. I asked for some names and she came up with William Dembski, Duane Gish, and Ken Ham. Really puts Einstein in the shade, doesn't it?

Coragyps

I agree that you would have a hard time convicting C Darwin of being racist, particularly in his century. But check this statement: IIRC, he was born three years or so before the slave trade into the US was ended. The transatlantic trade started before 1600 into Brazil and the Caribbean.

[ August 07, 2002: Message edited by: Coragyps ]</p>

Quetzal

Err, not to be pedantic, but the slave trade into the US didn't really end until 1865, after the final defeat of the southern Confederacy. Bit after Darwin's birth.

However, the Brit slave trade ended around the turn of the century, IIRC (that's the beginning of the 18th). It's doubtful that there were too many Europeans who condoned slavery by the time Darwin wrote "Origins".