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Vorpal Rabbit-o-Saurus

guacamolefoo writes "CNN reports that a rabbit-o-saurus fossil was discovered in China. Apparently it lived about 128 million years ago and was related to the T-rex. It had feathers and large, buck teeth. Paleontologists are finding more and more bizarre things. Some seem so strange that they must appear to some to be made up. When the science skeptics get ahold of the rabbit-o-saurus, they'll put it right next to their moon landing hoax books and their creationism propaganda."

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  1. Quick question by thewheeze · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How many scientific discoveries are mistakes? I just have to wonder how many animals may have died side by side or next to one another. I'm dreading the day they find a "two-headed" sloth.

  2. Respect Creationists by jeramybsmith · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Not all creationists are trolls who go into science forums and talk about non-science. Your average creationist is usually a meek person who keeps to themself. If people want to believe in Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, or that a new drug can dramatically increase the size of their genitals; let them.

    I used to think I was a creationist because I believed that the hand of God was behind the big bang . Then I met "creationists" who thought the earth was only 4000 years old. After wondering whether I was a true creationist for a while, I decided that these people aren't creationists but are luddites who attend churches.

    --
    Never overestimate the end user. -jeramy b. smith
  3. Could be a freak? by TheLink · · Score: 3, Interesting

    For arguments sake: isn't there just a chance that it could be a freak. Some genetic defect or something. I mean we've only got one example right?

    There's this guy who collects unusual farm animals - extra legs, two heads etc.

    Would be interesting if future bone diggers stumble on those ;). Would be even funnier if they try to use the popular belief (IMO fallacy) that "evolution produces optimum solutions" to explain them (e.g. selfish gene, and all those popular explanations for animal/human behaviour using evolution/genes).

    "This cowlike animal has two heads - it evolved this to allows it to chew grass and look out for enemies at the same time".

    "The extra limb could serve as a decoy, much like a gecko's detachable tail". Or could help chasing away flies.

    It's funny, then it's sad when you find out that everyone seems to believe those scientists.

    In a less harsh environments, lots more silliness can survive or even thrive. So the reason why an animal looks or acts in a particular way could just be because it's cool (and there's no reason why it's cool, except that just a bunch decided it is). If you can afford it and the environment is kind, why not have a bit of fun in your life eh?

    Real example: the panda is crap at digesting bamboo (has carnivore's digestive system), but it still eats it. Why? Probably coz it thinks it tastes great.

    So another reason for the buck teeth could be - "Hey it's fun. And we can whistle the top hits really loud too". Not to mention our granddads and moms were kicked out from the tribe coz they had slightly different teeth (and whistled loud whilst sleeping), so we're gonna show em we're better and cooler.

    Cheerio,
    Link.

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  4. Re:Why the jab at Creationism? by GMontag451 · · Score: 3, Interesting
    If you look into "religions" from around the world, a large number of them have stories of a great flood. Couldn't it be that this is all the same great flood, and that the stories have come down from the 8 people that survived that flood (see the book of Genesis in the Bible), as they would be the starting point of all mankind?

    If you actually look into it, only religions that originated near the fertile crescent in the middle east have flood myths. The most logical explanation for the flood myth is the flooding of the plain that is now the Black Sea. Approx. 10,000 years ago the Mediterranean broke through the Bosporous Strait and flooded the Black Sea. There is some evidence that prehistoric people were living on that plain when it happened. From then on, the story was passed down through oral tradition until it was incorporated into the religions of the area. This would also explain how religions that originated earlier than Judaism have flood myths.