Well, that was interesting. Here’s a transcript of a conversation between myself and self-proclaimed “anti-Darwinist” and serial blogwhore¹ John A Davison (that’s “John A Davison”, damnit!), which he “threatened” to publish if I cared to respond. I don’t care to respond further to such an agressive posturing arsehole, so I’m publishing it myself here for the edification of anybody who is having the same conversation with John A Davison yet hasn’t prematurely concluded it.

All emails are verbatim, although I have removed the previous reply quoting for brevity.

From: john a davison
To: null
Date: 3 Mar 2008 11:41
Subject:

Why not tell us who you are?
John A. Davison, Professor Emeritus of Biology, University of Vermont. Mailing address: L4 Grandview Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403
Telephone (802) 863-2995
email nosivadaj@msn.com

From: null
To: john a davison
Date: 3 Mar 2008 12:59
Subject: Re:

Dear Professor Davison,

my personal identity is of no concern to anybody except myself.

Regards,
null

From: john a davison
To: null
Date: 3 Mar 2008 15:12
Subject: Re: Re:

I am not interested in your identity either. What concerns me is that so many are ashamed to identify themselves. Their comments mean nothing except to themselves. If that is your legacy, so be it.

John A. Davison, Professor Emeritus of Biology, University of Vermont.
Mailing address: L4 Grandview Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403
Telephone (802) 863-2995
email nosivadaj@msn.com

From: null
To: john a davison
Date: 3 Mar 2008 15:38
Subject: Re: Re:

I am curious as to why you felt the need to ask me (a random character on the Internet) as to my reasons for not revealing my identity when you claim to have no desire to know it, and when you seem to have already come to your own (incorrect) conclusion. I don’t know why you’ve taken it upon yourself to be concerned with my (and, it seems, others’) lack of public persona.

But I’m not *that* curious: there’s no reason for you to respond.

You make too many assumptions, at least about me: I am not “ashamed”, but I am concerned with privacy and security. I also have no desire to leave a “legacy” outwith the confines of my personal life and relationships. If you are wont to parade yourself in front of the world, that’s your prerogative.

And, for what it’s worth, your opinion on the perceived value of my comments is moot: I write and/or respond for my, not your - nor anybody else’s, benefit.

Regards,
null

From: john a davison
To: null
Date: 3 Mar 2008 16:26
Subject: Re: Re:

That is right. You write for yourself. I write for posterity. So did everyone of my sources, some of the finest minds of the post Darwinian era. None were anonymous

Visit my weblog and participate if you choose.

john.a.davison.free.fr/

John A. Davison, Professor Emeritus of Biology, University of Vermont.
Mailing address: L4 Grandview Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403
Telephone (802) 863-2995
email nosivadaj@msn.com

From: null
To: john a davison
Date: 4 Mar 2008 11:58
Subject: Re: Re:

Of course I’m right, I know why I do something. I don’t need your validation to know this, and you are in any case, I’m afraid, in no position to tell me whether I am right or not.

And I care not why you write anything, nor those you quote, nor who they were, nor the topic of their writings, nor their personae. What makes you think I do?

Thank you for your invitation, but thankfully I live in a free society and have no compulsion nor desire to visit or participate in your weblog. I really have no idea as to why you thought I might be interested in an invitation to do so. I can only surmise that you must be desperate for visitors and the attention if you’re so keen to solicit people randomly.

Regards,
null

I obviously touched a nerve with my last response, seeing as he’s now reduced to the schoolyard tactic of name-calling:

From: john a davison
To: null
Date: 4 Mar 2008 12:22
Subject: Re: Re:

Thanks for telling the truth about yourself.

I do not invite people randomly. I invite my adversaries. Cowards that they all are, they refuse to respond. Don’t answer this email because, if you do, I may reproduce the whole exchange as an example of what is wrong with internet communication. Trust me.

I have no respect for you whatsoever. Got that? Write that down. Thanks for exposing yourself as just one more mindless anonymous inconsequential blowhard.

John A. Davison, Professor Emeritus of Biology, University of Vermont.
Mailing address: L4 Grandview Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403
Telephone (802) 863-2995
email nosivadaj@msn.com

What a loon. As I really don’t care to respond — not because I’m wary of his threat - obviously, seeing as I’m posting this here — I’m simply going to quickly fisk his last blurtation and ignore him henceforth:

I do not invite people randomly. I invite my adversaries.

We’re adversaries? I didn’t even know that we’d met. If we have, I must apologise for not having noticed you.

Cowards that they all are, they refuse to respond.

I’ve responded, so I can’t assume that you’re talking about me here.

Don’t answer this email because, if you do, I may reproduce the whole exchange as an example of what is wrong with internet (sic) communication.

How odd. As far as I can see, I’ve received all of your email contributions. There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with Internet communication in this case.

Trust me.

Hardly.

I have no respect for you whatsoever.

Really, what makes you think that I value your opinion at all?

Got that?

Yes. I still don’t give a shit.

Write that down.

If you give me a valid reason, I may acquiesce to your demand. Otherwise, “no”.

Thanks for exposing yourself as just one more mindless anonymous inconsequential blowhard.

And this is me you’re talking about here? Aside from the obvious falsity of the word “anonymous” (although you do appear to be overcompensating somewhat) you seem to be suffering from a classic case of projection. That must play havoc when you look in a mirror.

So, having found my email address on the Internet, John A Davison now has a bit more of the publicity he so obviously craves. Somehow I doubt it will win him any more friends, but he’s now. And now I am the proud owner of a brand new “adversary”. Aren’t I special? :-)

The only thing I’m grateful for is that, in wasting my time, he didn’t go mad, as he usually does, in spewing forth endless quote like a true logomaniac.

Oh, and if you are John A Davison reading this, then feel free to comment or spew your tedious vitriol: but I repeat myself… I can’t say that I’ll reply, but at least you’ll leave something more of your legacy, which is all you want, isn’t it?

And, for amusement, John A Davison orders a pizza.

1. lately here, although I expect that to last as long as his previous efforts [↩]

This entry was posted Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 at 2:47 pm and is filed under dialogue, evolution denial, gobshite, John A Davison, web, wow. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.