This post is a response to a question posed in its complete format: “If Darwin’s theory is correct, then there is always fierce competition within each species in which only a few survive. Why is the human population increasing?”

This question is an example of someone reading something about what someone else proposes, not to learn from them or to understand what they mean by what they write or say, but to find reasons to be critical and dismissive.

This behaviour is quite common on social media and in communication dynamics everywhere.

The attitude displayed within this question is an example of an attitude governed by catering to one’s ego. The Dunning-Kruger arrogance would be astounding if it were not so prevalent among humans so entirely subservient to their egotistical compulsions.

The audacity of ignorance reeks throughout this question, beginning with “If Darwin’s theory is correct.”

Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection has transformed the world through a deeper understanding of the mechanics of life. It has not only stood the test of time but spawned innumerable initiatives and several new branches of science. Yet, some under-educated schmuck on social media declares their suspicions of its value while providing a badly butchered rendition of a god-awful misinterpretation of it on a fundamental level.

This attitude is why many believers are often considered abusively ignorant.

This attitude demonstrated by so many people in many contexts is why conflicts occur between people.

If you’re going to cite Darwin’s theory, then at least try to understand it correctly on the most basic level.

Others have gently corrected this arrogance of misinterpretation and have convincingly explained how and why it’s a disservice to scientific progress. I want to focus my venting on this arrogance so often displayed by people who assume their juvenile grasp of something they haven’t understood is magically superior to a mind that has transformed human society on such a fundamental level in such a dramatic fashion.

This style of ignorance is why we struggle everywhere in every endeavour, whether scientific or political, as human society gets bogged down by idiocrats.

This isn’t even close to the worst example of a Dunning-Kruger level of arrogance, but the timing was fluky, and so, lucky you.

I have no idea what the communication dynamics within a high school environment are these days. I can, however, easily recall how the arrogance displayed by this question by students would often be met with a comeuppance of some sort by the instructor.

If you were a scientist yourself, never mind that you would not have concocted such a butchered misinterpretation, you would still not present yourself with the kind of arrogance displayed within this question.

There would be some respect in your tone for the work done by someone so significant to human history and the evolution of our society. You would be aware of the benefits you have been living with as a consequence of his work, if not on a detailed level, but on a level that shows some appreciation for its value.

Your lack of knowledge of his work is not justification for your arrogance. It does, however, scream your ignorance to the world, and that should be an embarrassment to you while it isn’t, nor is it for all the many who barf up similar expressions of unearned arrogance.

Over and over again, and every day, a believer pulls out their cynically dismissive arrogance gun to shoot themselves in the foot in the same way you have.

Here’s a clue for you, though… in case you want to demonstrate some respect in future for someone who outclasses you from beyond the grave, this is how you would broach your confusion over what you don’t understand with a modicum of humility and respect for the work of a significant contributor to humanity’s progress:

Instead of huffing your ego like this,

“If Darwin’s theory is correct, then there is always fierce competition within each species in which only a few survive. Why is the human population increasing?”

I’d recommend reigning it in with something demonstrating a little more awareness of the limits of your knowledge with something like this:

“Why is the human population increasing if there is always fierce competition within each species and in which only a few survive?”

Do you notice the difference, or is it too subtle for you? Is this response to your question an example of being too sensitive over something that doesn’t matter to you? — If that’s how you feel, you sorely misunderstand why the world is always in conflict. The difference between the two examples of word choices can be between reaching an agreement within a sensitive negotiation and going to war against a new enemy.

In this case, the subject is not critical to resolving anything. It is, however, an example of how often cynically dismissive arrogance pushes people past their tolerance limits.

In essence, this answer isn’t even so much for your benefit as it is for every other believer who decides they can dismiss 165 years of scientific progress based on being too lazy to educate themselves properly on a subject they believe their cartoon degree of self-assuredness compensates for their lack of interest in doing their homework.

It would be best if you could manage some gratitude for so many people who gave you polite answers while entertaining your somewhat mild rudeness in this case. Like Chinese water torture, however, enough of it eventually breaks people’s ability to be polite in the face of self-serving delusions like believing your gut feelings trump the hard work of countless professionals who have dedicated their lives to improving all of ours.

Eventually, you will run into a pushy someone like me who will call you out on your disrespect because that seems to be the “skill god gave me.” I’m sure you might feel it’s not a pleasant experience to find yourself confronted by this kind of venting… truth be told, I wish I weren’t triggered into a need to vent in this manner, but that’s the world we live in.

C’est la vie.

I feel better now, and I’m sorry if you don’t. I hope you pass on this message if you read it to understand it rather than look for reasons to dismiss it.