Several people have noticed that their comments have not shown up since around 6 PM Eastern Daylight Time this evening (Friday). That’s because we’ve decided that everyone needs to take a little break and read (and think about) the Rules of Engagement for this site. You might be interested to know, for example, that not one registered student member of the class has posted to this website yet. As two of them said this evening (the class starts at 6 PM and ends at 9), “Those people are all so angry!”

What this says to me is that the level of acrimony recently exhibited by both sides has had the effect of stiffling comment (maybe even participation) by the members of the course for whom this website was originally established. Several of us have exhibited our distain for the generally accepted rules of debate (and I include myself in this indictment), and generally made asses of ourselves in the eyes of people with cooler heads and more respect for the “community of scholars.”

So, the weekend is upon us and we should all get outside and enjoy the summer that is so rapidly slipping by. This website is currently open to posts and comments from students registered in the Cornell Evolution and Design class ONLY, until at least next Monday. Then, children, we will see if we can all “play nice” once again.

And while you’re at it, have some strawberry shortcake for me; I missed mine tonight, because I was in class.