I’m rethinking this website (no, I’m not at the point where I’ll give it up, although all the cool kids are doing podcasts—which I simply can’t do), and am asking readers what they’d like to see more of. Please don’t tell me what you want to see less of, or what you don’t like, as I’m sensitive today. Science posts don’t seem to be very popular, and, given that they’re the hardest posts to write, I’d like to know if people want more of those.
And of course there are other kinds of posts I could write about, but I’ve pretty much covered the gamut: wine, my life, music, and so on. I’m not trying to cater to readers’ whims to get clicks, but, truth be told, the usual run of posts has gotten a bit boring, and I’m looking for new directions.
Feel free to comment below, but don’t say stuff like, “I could do with fewer Caturday posts”!
Thanks.
your posts are full of humanity, warmth, tolerance and kindness. whatever you write i read. i look forward to seeing your ducks, witnessing your compassion, reading about religion and science, about music and wine. Please continue. My mornings (life even) would be much emptier without you
Dear PCC(E), hi Jerry,
I just love WEIT exactly the way it is. It’s the first thing I read in the morning (over in Europe, that’s why I’m always a day late …). My favorites: Hili Dialogue, Cats, Science … The only improvement, which is impossible, I know: more d*gs. I’m grateful for everything you do. So keep on. Please.
Hello Jerry,
I just came to your blog in last few months or so. I love it esp. the science posts (am an active mol.biol. bench rat in UK). Not a big cat fan sorry. I’ll admit they are pretty, but the wildlife slaughter….:-(
Everything else is great.
Hope you are getting a lot of love for the blog, you deserve it. Please keep it up if you can.
cheers,
Andy Hamilton
Thanks, but the mention of wildlife slaughter was completely unnecessary. My cats were always indoor cats.
Apologies for the faux pas. To make amends I’ve added a comment on one of your fab science posts
Don’t change a thing! Your website is a fascinating, entertaining, and informative expression of a perceptive, smart, and, yes, fascinating and entertaining mind and personality.
I love your website as is, in particular when you offer your views or takes on all topics. I enjoy the variety you have here. I do not comment on the science posts as I feel my ignorant comments would be of no use. (I guess it is a self-confidence problem of mine.) I look forward to your website every day, and your efforts have enriched my life! I learn so much. I am so grateful, been a reader for over a decade
You have created an amazing amount of high quality content here. Perhaps you could look back at older posts to discuss if and how your opinion has changed or whether predictions made have come to pass. Not a lazy “greatest hits” post but a sincere re-examination of what was important to you and your readers 5-10 years ago.
On another note, I love the posts on books. I have gotten more great recommendations from this site than any other. You have cultivated the best online community I am aware of. Thanks for all you do.
I enjoy your thoughts about free will as well as current social issues such as free speech, for instance.
• More reader surveys: I feel like I “know” many of the regulars, and value their collective insight. Can’t say the same for most other surveys which don’t attempt to present the complexities of a problem before voting.
• More about the technology and “Are we living in a computer simulation (and how would we know?”
Which of course, are impractical and useless the host himself is interested in them.
I have learned a lot from the Hili Dialogue associated “On This Day” tidbits. I never knew the Emmett Till story, or particulars of Nixon’s shenanigans, to name obvious ones. These writeups are also occasionally engrossing.
In particular, these tidbits can begin to mark the year – for instance, Columbus’ voyage – Magellan – so their departure is noted one day, then a number of days later other events on that voyage.
That sort of effect is fascinating. It comes up every year, which might sound repetitive, but it isn’t for that.
More OTD writeups? Not sure.
More problems and puzzles would be great too – Car Talk had one per show, with the answer given for the previous week’s show. For this website it could be mathematic, historic, folkloric, automotive – or even evolutionary! It is good for the mind.
For the record : I abhor Twi773r and the other one, so I am under a rock, in a way, learning facts and history.
I must say I also learn – or at least pause and rethink my life choices – when PCC(E) comes into the comments section to straighten things out, so to speak.
Jerry, don’t change anything! I love everything, it is a wonderful mix of delightful reading.
Re: Science posts :
Indeed, very high quality. Indeed, precisely what hooked me on The Selfish Gene – examination of primary literature in a rigorous but accessible way. Indeed, many times over my head.
However, some facts are – expressed in a rough way :
Science post metrics might be likened to emergency website metrics : perhaps small number of clicks (or what GBJames said) but that does not report on importance.
Science posts are not, of have not yet matched a journal club style discourse.
Science is not a religion.
[breaking a rule ] Science posts might be fewer in number but still exceptional.
After all that, I say give PCC(E) a break if he wants it – he’s earned it!
Yes – & honestly would you prefer to lecture to 1,000 students who do not care very much, or 20 who are really interested?
Don’t have much to add except to say that I love the threads where commenters talk about books they have read.
WEIT is the first thing I read every morning, usually with a cup of tea, and the cat beside me. It’s comforting, interesting and thought provoking. It’s amazing how you have kept this up, as it is so much hard work. I appreciate it every day.
The only comment I disagree with is the person who said “too many cats and ducks”. Say what?!?
I really appreciate your website, Jerry, and I enjoy most things you post! I appreciate criticism of religion, and was sorry to see less in the national media as the New Atheism became less prominent. As a former Mormon, I am just very sensitive to the claptrap promulgated in an age in which we clearly know better. Your criticism of Pastor Trish is important.
How about some writing with a more philosophical bent such as posts on naturalism, secularism, our place in the cosmos etc. I’m thinking of Carl Sagan here 🙂
I recently came across Lucretius’ poem De Rerum Natura which promotes a materialist philosophy. I was fascinated that this perspective was around in 50 BC. There is a history of materialism and scientific thought that is not promoted enough (the collision with the prevailing religious and political authorities makes for interesting reading as well).
Feynman lamented that this was not yet a scientific age. I guess I like posts and articles that promote and celebrate scientism (scary word); the buried and and forgotten history of a materialist perspective, the stories of the men and women who tried to usher in the scientific age, and a celebration of the knowledge we have gained through science.
Leucippus-Democritus-Epicurus-Lucretius-Gassendi-Boyle is an interesting chain 🙂
Thanks Chetiya, do you know of any history book that covers those natural philosophers and others as well ? A book specifically about the history of materialism? I never found one.
I have not read a comprehensive work that covers the history of atomism from Leucippus and Democritus to modern times, but I looked around and found From Atomos to Atom: The History of the Concept Atom by Andrew G. van Melson. It looks promising.
I’ve often found the SEP to be useful: [1] and [2]. It is also a good source of sources.
Thank you!
I read your web site for the reasonable well thought out commentary on actions of the extreme left, particularly in academia. I am a professor in a STEM field at a four-year college and I am bewildered by how easily intelligent people have been brainwashed into cruel unethical behavior in the name of social justice. I am horrified at what is happening in my field. It affects hiring, promotion, pay raises, and even how we teach our classes. Your commentary is helpful in deciding what I agree with and what I believe is harmful.
Your science posts, photos and cartoons keep me breathing. But since you post stuff showing other animals, why not include d-gs? Just a different species and their antics are loads of fun (check out the Border Collies!). Dont reduce science content! Would like more critiques of articles in journals and newspapers that are dumb and/or wrong. Like the New Yorker for example.
I like the critiques of science in the news, philosophy related to the free will debate, and pseudoscience critiques. I like wildlife photos. Podcasting, whatever. Audio is inherently less useful for understanding complex subjects than writing. Video has its place, but worthwhile video is extrordinarly expensive & time consuming to produce.
Oh oh – I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again :
You’ve heard of “____con”, e.g. ComicCon.
Thus :
“WEIT-con”, or the Why Evolution Is True Convention.
I doubt you will get to this posting….Anyhow, I have deeply appreciated your support of the debate in New Zealand regarding Matauranga Maori incursions into all things science. You have kept up to speed with the issue with uncanny insight, and this has been of enormous assistance to those fighting the battle in NZ.
What I read of your daily output depends on whether I have time to read them in full. Suffice to say they are all examined each morning. You are a treasure to those of us interested in science but who are well beyond the studying the wider literature, and for this reason your ‘science posts’ are invaluable.
I have on my shelves most of SJ Gould’s publications and it has occurred to me that a ‘best of’ J. Coyne anthology would keep you in finest wines for many years to come! While I have many of your posts on file in my computer, I along with many others of your ‘followers’ would enjoy being able to dip into a book of an evening before turning out the lights.
Thankyou.
Yes a book based on that would be using material Jerry has already posted just re-shaping it.
Coming to this late. I have tried to cut back on internet as I never enjoy reading long pieces on a screen anyway. Since I was made redundant I no longer have the internet on all the time, & WEIT always matched my lunchtime in those days. You used to do maybe 3 posts a day, but are so much more prolific that I struggle to follow it all. I am therefore more likely to not read something that looks like it is US politics related, as it means much less to me.
I came to WEIT because of Darwin & therefore always appreciate the science/natural history posts most. I appreciate they take more effort & perhaps fewer people read them. If you want lots of readers the culture wars in their broadest states are going to get read most I would guess, but there is only so much of those one can take.
Do what makes YOU feel happiest. If that loses or wins you readers, so what? I shall maintain an interest even if I no longer read it all & comment frequently, as you (& your writing) are a part of my life.
Be kind to yoyrself!
I come to Twitter for your pix of dux and cats, but once I’ve clicked through to WEIT, I stay for the articles, Jesus and Mo, etc. It was actually Bret Weinstein and Heather who got me interested in evo.bio. and now I slightly regret my lifelong disdain for the squishy sciences over the hard sciences. It was your talks on atheism that originally led me to your corner of the web.
Why do you say you can’t do podcasts? I watch/listen to quite a few podcasts myself, and I’ve lately gotten bored with Sam Harris’ podcast because the topics just seem less interesting of late. There’s a gap to be filled!
I read every article but from the main page so there is no click on individual articles. I only click on them when I have a comment and even then I don’t comment if someone else has already said what I wanted to say.
I do like the science posts and all the other kinds of posts, especially the Hili dialogues.