Hi everybody! Frank N. Foode here. Biofortified is workin’ on building its community of editors, contributors, and readers with the new profile system. We’re also coming up on our first Biennial celebration on the 31st of the month, making this an exciting month for talking about plant genetics. Plus we’ll have more to say about our own Rally to Restore Sanity in the debate over genetic engineering, and if that was not enough, there will be opportunities for everyone to be able to win fabulous prizes – and I’m going to tell you about your first chance!
The first Biofortified Community Contest is on, and it will be a contest for the best comment or comments. That’s right, just by writing just one awesome comment that contributes to the discussion here, you can win a prize! It could be about some of the many things we talk about on the blog such as the science, politics, social and philosophical issues, personal beliefs, or a collection of helpful links that you have scoured the internet for.
Here are the rules:
- Anyone can nominate someone for this contest, but must link to at least one comment (can be several) by that author.
- You may nominate yourself!
- Editors (and me) are ineligible for the contest – but contributing authors can get in on the action.
- Comments can be from any date in the past, present, or future. They can be comments on posts or in the forum.
- In order to accept the award, comment author must be registered, fill out at least some of their profile, and have a picture uploaded for their avatar. (Profile can be done after the winner is announced. Picture need not be a human photo – how about a cool plant?)
- The winner(s) will be judged on how awesomely smart, cool, funny, and productive their comments are. We want to reward people that help elevate the discussion and give them a special status in the community.
- Nominations will close on Friday October 15th at midnight Pacific Standard Time. (End of the day, not the beginning!)
- Winner(s) will be decided by Biofortified’s editors, and will be announced on the 17th of October.
What do you win, aside from eternal glory? Why, some genetically engineered blog schwag.
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Take it down a notch
Hi everyone, Frank N. Foode speaking. I am delighted to see that discussions are really sprouting forth here at Biofortified. For the first time ever, one of our posts has gathered more than 100 comments, as both those in favor and against genetic engineering are engaging in healthy repartee. I am glad to see Duncan and Jasmine offering their perspectives on labeling issues. Reading the comments, it is almost as if everyone is surprised to be enjoying talking to each other!
In the tweetverse, I think I have made a new friend in Gavin (@morethanorganic), and although we both strongly disagree on both genetically engineered golden rice and cross-pollination issues, we both learned that we agree that sovereign nations should have the right to decide for themselves whether to allow their people to grow it. If I had thought that he was just another hard-line anti-GE person I might have thought that he believed that wealthy nations could tell the Philippines ‘no’ to keep orange grains from showing up in their imports. Imagine how horrible that would be if it happened! I think most people can recognize that fact, and are not lacking in moral grounding. He also learned that genetic engineers aren’t haphazardly throwing genes out in the wild without analyzing the potential consequences. This is what everyone can gain from civil and indeed, friendly dialogue.
On the other hand, someone else who I have talked to through twitter has on many occasions lashed out with abusive language, and holds some very strong opinions about genetic engineering, myself, and the companies involved as well. Talking of #GMO-tards, apparently a reference to some sort of medieval weapon? Others usually add the hashtag of #evil to almost every tweet that has #gmo in it. Recently, even a few comments here on Biofortified have pushed the boundaries of civil dialogue with words such as “drama queen warrior hybrid”, ethical narcissism, and a few other things. While things are far more civil here than elsewhere in the world of this debate, how can we make it better? Jon Stewart on the Daily Show I believe has the answer! Have a looksie:
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