“Quote mining” is the practice of misrepresenting someone by selective quotation. It is a favorite technique of creationists. They comb through scientific literature and find a caveat to quote, making it appear that the author holds a view exactly opposite to that expressed when the quote is read in context. You can learn more at Wikipedia and see some current examples at the Panda’s Thumb, and The Questionable Authority.
I had an indirect experience with quote mining on the fly, which you can read about after the break.
It was the early 80’s, before laptops were invented and before PCs were in wide use. I accompanied a biologist as he debated Dr. Henry M. Morris. Morris was a well regarded hydraulic engineering (canals, locks, dams, etc.) professor at Virginia Tech. He wrote a widely used textbook. With John C. Whitcomb, Morris also wrote The Genesis Flood, published in 1961. This book eventually evolved into “scientific creationism,” which Morris created. In 1972, Morris founded the Institute for Creation Research, which he headed for many years. Now it is lead by Dr. John D. Morris, Henry’s son.
The debate (creationist debates are debates in name only; they would be more accurately called lectures) alternated between the two speakers. While the biologist was speaking, Morris sat at a table flipping through 3″ x 5″ index cards. He had brought a huge leather briefcase from which he pulled two trays of cards. It has been a long time, but I would guess that he had 8,000 cards!
These cards each contained a quote that Morris had culled from the scientific literature or other source. He was listening to the scientist speak when one of his quotes was useful for undermining a point, he would pull the card and add it to his growing stack. When it came time for Morris to speak, he punctuated his talk with quotes from the cards. Like his writing, Morris’ talk was shamelessly peppered with mined quotes.
Does anyone know which creationist introduced quote mining? Does it go as far back as George McCready Price, or even before?
Rocky
