Some more awesome about Charles Darwin...

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**mattyrm**

I found this amusing.

I mean, everyone who has actually taken the time to educate themselves about the man knows what a stand up bloke he was, but this article made me smile because I could imagine the exact same list coming from a modern man in 2012, and possibly one that is really into 40k or video games or comic books or something. The fact he ended his marriage "equation" with Q.E.D made me laugh, he really must have been a 19th century nerd.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/charles-darwin-notes-marriage-discovered-better-dog-anyhow-230308581.html

Charles Darwin’s notes on marriage discovered

Despite devoting his life to science, Charles Darwin had a long and reportedly happy marriage, fathering 10 children after proposing to his cousin Emma Wedgwood in 1838.

But the naturalist and father of modern evolutionary theory wasn't always sold on matrimony, writing out a list of pros and cons on marriage in a journal entry that was first made public on Tuesday. The musings are part of the Darwin Correspondence Project, an online database of Darwin's writings, and were discovered by the site Brain Pickings.

Using the back of a letter from a friend, Darwin sketched out some of his thoughts in a journal entry dated April 7, 1838.
Amongst the pros: "constant companion," "charms of music & female chit-chat"
And some of the perceived cons: "means limited, Feel duty to work for money. London life, nothing but Society, no country, no tours, no large Zoolog. Collect. no books. … Could I live in London like a prisoner?"

In July, just four months before his proposal, Darwin returned to his list.
On the possibility of having children: "Children —(if it Please God) — Constant companion, (& friend in old age) who will feel interested in one, — object to be beloved & played with. — —better than a dog anyhow."
But after several back and forth meditations, Darwin eventually reached the following conclusion: "Marry — Mary — Marry Q.E.D."

And, in fact, Darwin and Wedgwood stayed together for the next 44 years, until the time of his death in 1882.

I also liked "better than a dog anyhow"

**sarpedons-right-hand**

Do you not find it a little wierd that one of the fathers of evolution married his cousin?

**mattyrm**

I do now!

I suppose we wouldn't think it that strange back in the day.

Especially if your cousin was super hot.

**sarpedons-right-hand**

That's true, in some cultures it's still the done thing.... Back to Darwin though, unusual choice of partner, but still a dude!

**notprop**

Daft beard, had 10 kids after marrying his cousin, doesn't sound like the sort of feller you would usually look up to Matty?

**sarpedons-right-hand**

No such thing as a daft beard notprop, they are all kinds of awesome!

**mattyrm**

notprop wrote:Daft beard, had 10 kids after marrying his cousin, doesn't sound like the sort of feller you would usually look up to Matty?

Most obviously, beards are hoofing.

Also he was intelligent and articulate and a forward thinker who wrapped on going to church when almost everuone else did, and he was vehemently against slavery at a time when everyone thought Johnny Whiteman had a God given right to be the best at everything.

I hate stupidity, and people that support slavery... so I like him.

The blokes the great emancipator! Greater than Lincoln. The man basically helped to rid us all of the blight that is mono-theism. Anyone that encourages people to think for themselves will always be praised by Matty, regardless of the failing of not having a hoofing beard.

**notprop**

sarpedons-right-hand wrote:No such thing as a daft beard notprop, they are all kinds of awesome!

O'rly?

The peadobeard says you're wrong!

**mattyrm**

notprop wrote:
sarpedons-right-hand wrote:No such thing as a daft beard notprop, they are all kinds of awesome!

O'rly?

The peadobeard says you're wrong!

Haha..

Hey we didn't stipulate it was the dreaded pedo-beard!

**AustonT**

mattyrm wrote:

The blokes the great emancipator! Greater than Lincoln. The man basically helped to rid us all of the blight that is mono-theism.

How's that Matty? Not argumentative, inquisitive. I know bible beaters hate him but most folks can't even be bothered to read the bible let alone Origin of the Species.

**rubiksnoob**

Hahaha I love his opinion of children. . . "Better than a dog, anyhow."

**mattyrm**

AustonT wrote:
mattyrm wrote:

The blokes the great emancipator! Greater than Lincoln. The man basically helped to rid us all of the blight that is mono-theism.

How's that Matty? Not argumentative, inquisitive. I know bible beaters hate him but most folks can't even be bothered to read the bible let alone Origin of the Species.

The point is, he had the balls to crack on with the publication even when he knew the gak storm that would erupt. Darwin has been described as one of the most influential figures in human history because he is the poster boy. I don't doubt its a wee bit unfair, especially on poor old Alfred Wallace, but there you have it.

Many people who have as much distaste for organised Religion as I do hold him in high regard as a result of this.

Lincoln helped free slaves in America. Darwin helped everyone in the entire world have a "what the feth are this lot talking about?" moment.

**hotsauceman1**

If only more people did pros and cons of getting married, maybe there ould be less divorces.
Also he married his cousin? That seems odd for the father of evolution.

**Mr Hyena**

Genetics often uses a technique called back-crossing...breeding mice with desired traits (transgenic mice say) with their parents. It genetically selects for a stronger presence of a desired trait. Genetics also is heavily involved in evolutionary study.

Is it really so surprising with this in mind?

**Leigen_Zero**

It was the early 1800s,

practically everyone's family tree was a little bonsai back then...