Spore and the debate on evolution

[Limasol]

Bear in mind that "evolving gills" is a bit of a misnomer too, it takes three steps for a bacterium that feeds on lactose to evolve to feed on critic acids, a minor change indeed. However fossils have been found where fish nostrils are half through the process of moving between nostrils leading to lungs to part of the gills, its weird because the fish has nostrils inside its head that do nothing useful, but clearly there's an aim in mind thee, it just happens in baby steps.

 

[LisaB1138]

Unfortunately, those that choose to see a hidden motive in this game will not be swayed by any argument. What's interesting is how the game can play out for either side.

Personally, I've never understood people who think taking the "seven day" theory magnifies the glory of God. I actually much prefer the idea that He took His time with it, that He put a lot of thought into it and came up with the glorious self-sustaining universe we see today. Things evolve and renew themselves, which speaks (IMO) to the ever-lasting nature of God, and how encompassing and eternal His perspective is. This "*splat* there it is and nothing ever will change" philosophy reeks of human conceit.

 

[DamienHell]

This "*splat* there it is and nothing ever will change" philosophy reeks of human conceit.

And ignorance, don't forget ignorance

 

[Ixus Illwrath]

Richard Dawkins probably doesn't like spore a whole lot, either. This game has about as much to do with evolution and natural selection as guitar hero.

 

[internutt]

I'm Christian and I do not personally believe evolution. I think humanity has always been here, we have not changed much over the centuries, we have simply changed technologically. I do however believe in natural selection. Creatures die out and change to adapt to different areas.

Animals like dogs started out as tamed wolves before adapting to the specific tasks that humans required of them.

Good for Spore. Evolution is a great game mechanic, much like Black and White it is like being God and controlling life from the microscopic level.

 

[zirnitra]

... but they don't seem to mind evolution in this game (I will NOT refer to it as a theory.) ...

But a "theory" is exactly what evolution is. It is the highest honor that can be handed to anything in science. Other examples are the "theories" of thermodynamics and gravity. The only thing higher on the hierarchy of science is the realm of mathematics.

Actually no, it goes Hypothisis, Theory, Law like Newton's Law of Gravitation..which are generally accepted as fact.

Three words: evolution is a lie.

Also, monkeys don't live several million years. Ergo, evolution is a lie.

Thank you!

Well, we didn't evolve from monkeys. We evolved from apes. Common misconseption. Ergo, you're aregument is misinformed and invalid.

Actually. Humans and Apes both evolved from one very early hominoidea we did not in fact evolve from apes.

 

[Ixus Illwrath]

I'm Christian and I do not personally believe evolution. I think humanity has always been here, we have not changed much over the centuries, we have simply changed technologically. I do however believe in natural selection. Creatures die out and change to adapt to different areas.

Animals like dogs started out as tamed wolves before adapting to the specific tasks that humans required of them.

Oh come on, what the fuck. Did we just get dropped off by a goddamn space ship after the dinos were long gone? You and your band of creationists should be banned from teaching anyone anything outright and forever.

 

[zirnitra]

I'm Christian and I do not personally believe evolution. I think humanity has always been here, we have not changed much over the centuries, we have simply changed technologically. I do however believe in natural selection. Creatures die out and change to adapt to different areas.

Animals like dogs started out as tamed wolves before adapting to the specific tasks that humans required of them.

Oh come on, what the fuck. Did we just get dropped off by a goddamn space ship after the dinos were long gone? You and your band of creationists should be banned from teaching anyone anything outright and forever.

come on now that's not fair, people should be allowed to belive whatever they wish no matter how deluded, wishful and sometimes just ignorant they seem when faced with an overwhelming amount of evidence against their beliefs. people being taught should be given all sides of the argument.

PS creationist's do not believe that dinosaurs ever were.

 

[Versuvius]

Well im playing spore right now. Where brains evolve in big leaps and get to being in the tribal stage in 3 hours. If this is teaching religion and deluding our precious god fearing children my ass is actual the Terminator about to EAT YOUR FACE. Eating/Slaughtering other clans of animals doesnt give DNA points in REAL LIFE. So...yeah...it all boils down to 'Games are bad especially when you can pretent to be A GOD! Now down on your knees like a good ***** and take this priest'. ¬_¬ yes im done now

 

[Cheesus333]

Three words: evolution is a lie.

9 words: There(1) are(2) four(3) words(4) in(5) "evolution(6) is(7) a(8) lie(9)." And don't discount 'a' as a word. It is an indefinite article. I'd like to thank my resources for this post: my fingers, for the counting, and a dictionary, for the indefinite article information. In miscounting the words, you have proven yourself not quite evolved from apes, and DISproved your own argument. Also: resources & tools- things evolution have given us.

 

[DamienHell]

Spore doesn't even LOOSELY follow the theory of evolution, cause if it did, people would get pissed off, "I DON'T NEED THAT!" "I NEEDED THAT!" "STOP FUCKING WITH IT!" "NOW I'M FUCKING DEAD! THANKS ALOT YOU SOB!" and as funny as would be to WATCH someone play that, it would suck to play it.

 

[Ixus Illwrath]

If this game had any respect for real evolution you wouldn't be able to sell back all your body parts and switch from being veggies/meat at a whim.

Strangely enough, don't the Civ games seem to support a creationism standpoint? I always get disappointed in myself trying to make a badass civ and having to pick a religion at some point

Not to mention you always start out at 4000BC. That says a whole lot in itself.

 

[DamienHell]

I always get disappointed in myself trying to make a badass civ and having to pick a religion at some point

Well unfortunatly all early civilizations require religion, its the only way to enfore rules and governing laws. (I'm an atheist so don't freak out that I'm spreading propaganda) personally I LOVE it when people start worshipping me in god games (civ doesn't have that option) But I'm going to love religion in spore. WORSHIP ME!

 

[Yassen]

Here's an articule on how militant atheists are mad at spore http://kotaku.com/5035628/militant-atheists-are-moaning-about-spore
Apparently, the atheists are mad because a game based on evolution or darwinism or whatever you want to call it, develope religion during the tribal phase. They argue no religion should be in the game at all.

Personally i find that idiotic. While i'm not religious myself, i acknowledge that religion played a major part in shaping our society. However, religion will often be replaced by logic but the ideals taught in that religion are still publicly accepted.

The point is there's nothing wrong with spore but it seems as long as a game is popular, 'someone' somewhere will be mad at it. I can't wait till something else comes along so games can stop being this generations favourite whipping boy.

 

[DamienHell]

Personally i find that idiotic.

No matter what group you look at theres always the idiots. Like the guy who wanted to sue some other guy for having a bumper sticker that was offensive to atheists (we all flamed him)

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Mmm, hypocrisy related to policital/religeous beliefs. The McDonalds dollar menu of the internets- cheap, common, and made of particle board.

I will first address anyone whose mocked anyone elses religeous or philosophical or scientific beliefs- your such a trend setter! No ones ever done that on the internet EVER before! Surely you shall make them realize the error of their ways, o wise one.

Terse sarcasm aside, Spore is perhaps the most non-offensive family freindly videogame since Barbies Supertime multiethic funtime house. Anyone becoming offended by Spore, or indeed any videogame, art, song, or otherwise expression of the self needs to take a time to calm themselves down, then bash their heads in against the wall so they never breed.

Part of freedom is the ability to be superbly assbackwards stupid, which is fine except when you get sticks and go around enforcing your brand of stupid on others and complaining when no one else believes in the same things you do. It's a game, you play it to amuse yourself- wether this is the simple mindless enjoyment of slaughtering a billion and one Ewoks while desperatly trying to forget the prequels in the latest Star Wars game (we can only hope LucasArts decieds to make this), or for something more subtle or thought provoking. If you do not find a game amusing, you shouldn't play it. If you feel THREATENED by a game or anyone elses artistic expression, you need to stop being such an immature twat.

I shall finish by adding that I am a Protestant (in the same way a catholic that never goes to church is a Catholic), a particular brand of Christianity known both for it's stodgy depressing and stubborn adherance to uncompromised scripture. I think Spore is a cute game, and i'd like to play it. I also accept that the Bible isn't the highnonnyno of the universe, and that I am not fully informed of the full complexity of gods universe. My intention is not to suggest a happy happy alternative religeous where everyone hugs and swaps philosophical silliloqueys about their particular relationship with the creator, but to point out that, Not all religeous people are illogical *insert holy text here* thumpers and that some of you need to tonedown your projected hostility.

Also, we can all agree that anything "militant" that is not infact the Military tends to be batshit crazy and unhealthy.

 

[Geo Da Sponge]

Really, it's a matter of those who are offended (young earth creationists, mostly) that you would hear from, because people don't get all worked up and take to the streets yelling "I agree with that!"

That perfectly summarised my feelings and was pretty humourous. Good job.

 

[Ixus Illwrath]

While i'm not religious myself, i acknowledge that religion played a major part in shaping our society. However, religion will often be replaced by logic but the ideals taught in that religion are still publicly accepted.

Truer words have never been spoken. From how I see it, these people shouldn't have much issue with religion being represented as in the game it serves the same purpose as a military or an economy. All can be used as weapons against another culture you'd love to assimilate.

I previously posted in this thread about how the Civ games seem to take a creationist view, but I still play the shit out of Civ4. You don't have to believe in god to want to be him. After all, it's just a game, not a political statement.

But seriously, there's about 15 minutes of evolution in the game anyways. After that you're stuck with what you've got and it's off to RTS land. Then after that it's a romp in a pretty but watered down Sins of a solar empire.

 

[Ixus Illwrath]

Also, we can all agree that anything "militant" that is not infact the Military tends to be batshit crazy and unhealthy.

QFT but sometimes the latter is just as bad...