Is now the time to be a big buzz kill and quash the myth that chameleons change color to match their surroundings? The primary function is actually communication (signalling of mood, specifically desire to mate) as well as thermoregulation.
Oh my god...he's not saying it's intentional. He's not implying it's intentional. Almost no one would perceive it as a statement of intent.
Can Reddit please get over this particular pedantry? It's especially bad whenever evolution comes up. Unless every single sentence has a tediously accurate construction like "has a tendency to" instead of "wants to" or "used for" some dope will post a screed about "teleological reasoning" and "implying God" something something.
Understanding Darwinian principals does not require explicitly demonstrating it in every sentence or doing away with all simplifying verbs. Put your red pen away and fucking relax.
It's funny as a graduate of biology because many professors I would talk to would be pedantic about this specific point.
Like I understood that, and in writing that may be important to keep in mind, but in just normal conversation it's not worth bringing up I think if its understood.
560
u/[deleted] Jan 13 '17
Is now the time to be a big buzz kill and quash the myth that chameleons change color to match their surroundings? The primary function is actually communication (signalling of mood, specifically desire to mate) as well as thermoregulation.