Comments on: Jerry Coyne On The Adaptive Significance of Semen Flavor http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/ Where science collides with life, slams into culture, crashes with politics, and gets totaled. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:21:55 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Coturnix http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/comment-page-1/#comment-16422 Coturnix Sat, 02 May 2009 23:31:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/#comment-16422 I am quite surprised to see so many people here taking Coyne at face value. His post was a SATIRE, a good one, too. People were linking to it and laughing and high-fiving all over twitter last week. Exposes brilliantly the emptiness of EvoPsych co-called "methodology" as well as motivations. I am quite surprised to see so many people here taking Coyne at face value. His post was a SATIRE, a good one, too. People were linking to it and laughing and high-fiving all over twitter last week. Exposes brilliantly the emptiness of EvoPsych co-called “methodology” as well as motivations.

]]> By: Chris O http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/comment-page-1/#comment-16409 Chris O Sat, 02 May 2009 13:34:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/#comment-16409 What bothered me the most about Coyne's column is that the analysis can be taken and flipped around. Coyne assumes for no good reason that if semen tastes well it shall end in all the wrong places. However, even if it were true that men whose semen tasted better ended up 'loosing' some of it down their lovers throats; it does not necessitate that they will thus forgo copulation. That is, one could argue - that there is an advantage to better tasting semen - as women would be more willing to engage in sexual activities with those men (both oral and vaginal). So, I am somewhat distraught because explanations that appear to make sense and that appear plausible can be completely overturned. In the filed of evolutionary psychology we must tread carefully for we are too liable to fall prey our own folly and prejudice. What bothered me the most about Coyne’s column is that the analysis can be taken and flipped around. Coyne assumes for no good reason that if semen tastes well it shall end in all the wrong places. However, even if it were true that men whose semen tasted better ended up ‘loosing’ some of it down their lovers throats; it does not necessitate that they will thus forgo copulation. That is, one could argue – that there is an advantage to better tasting semen – as women would be more willing to engage in sexual activities with those men (both oral and vaginal). So, I am somewhat distraught because explanations that appear to make sense and that appear plausible can be completely overturned. In the filed of evolutionary psychology we must tread carefully for we are too liable to fall prey our own folly and prejudice.

]]> By: Science Etcetera, Jupiterday 20090430 | ideonexus.com http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/comment-page-1/#comment-16310 Science Etcetera, Jupiterday 20090430 | ideonexus.com Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:03:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/#comment-16310 [...] Here’s a controversial topic to cover on a blog: The Adaptive Significance of Semen Flavor. [...] [...] Here’s a controversial topic to cover on a blog: The Adaptive Significance of Semen Flavor. [...]

]]> By: Coturnix http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/comment-page-1/#comment-16306 Coturnix Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:53:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/#comment-16306 I ROFL-ed when I read the semen "theory" by Coyne a few days ago (and yes, I tweeted the link so others could laugh, too). A great satire of the ridiculousness of Just-So-Stories of Evo-Psych. I ROFL-ed when I read the semen “theory” by Coyne a few days ago (and yes, I tweeted the link so others could laugh, too). A great satire of the ridiculousness of Just-So-Stories of Evo-Psych.

]]> By: Marion Delgado http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/comment-page-1/#comment-16295 Marion Delgado Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:45:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/#comment-16295 This reminds me of when, after I switched from ecology to physics, my then girlfriend came back from a bio class with the definite assertion that human beings sweat because our ancestral lemurs secreted packets of salt as a grooming reward. She knew that one would drive me crazy, so she had a little smile when she told me. Coyne is in that territory here. This reminds me of when, after I switched from ecology to physics, my then girlfriend came back from a bio class with the definite assertion that human beings sweat because our ancestral lemurs secreted packets of salt as a grooming reward. She knew that one would drive me crazy, so she had a little smile when she told me. Coyne is in that territory here.

]]> By: GeekGirlsRule http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/comment-page-1/#comment-16293 GeekGirlsRule Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:46:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/#comment-16293 Honestly, the taste is so varied from guy to guy depending on diet, does he smoke, take drugs, drink, etc... I think Coyne's theory and "survey" are nigh unto useless. Seriously, Dan Savage has dedicated numerous "Savage Love" columns to how to alter the taste of your lover's sperm. Honestly, the taste is so varied from guy to guy depending on diet, does he smoke, take drugs, drink, etc… I think Coyne’s theory and “survey” are nigh unto useless.

Seriously, Dan Savage has dedicated numerous “Savage Love” columns to how to alter the taste of your lover’s sperm.

]]> By: Philip H http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/comment-page-1/#comment-16277 Philip H Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:42:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/#comment-16277 Cant' beat your take Ed. But I actually htink it is an interesting idea to explore. Human sexual practices have evolved in many directions, and one has to wonder how much is natural, and how much is nurtured or cultural. Would the results be the same in Africa, or the Middle East? Who knows. But I am intrigued by the notion that response to taste in this "arena" might well be influential of reproductive success in some way. Cant’ beat your take Ed. But I actually htink it is an interesting idea to explore. Human sexual practices have evolved in many directions, and one has to wonder how much is natural, and how much is nurtured or cultural. Would the results be the same in Africa, or the Middle East? Who knows.

But I am intrigued by the notion that response to taste in this “arena” might well be influential of reproductive success in some way.

]]> By: Ed http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/comment-page-1/#comment-16261 Ed Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:13:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/#comment-16261 Heres my theory : women who like sperm have children women who dont like sperm they dont have children try to beat that Heres my theory :
women who like sperm have children
women who dont like sperm they dont have children
try to beat that

]]> By: MadScientist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/comment-page-1/#comment-16259 MadScientist Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:03:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/#comment-16259 *yawn* I wonder if Jerry's just trying on a really lame joke with the "bad taste encourages this behavior instead". *yawn* I wonder if Jerry’s just trying on a really lame joke with the “bad taste encourages this behavior instead”.

]]> By: Billingham http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/comment-page-1/#comment-16258 Billingham Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:21:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/04/28/jerry-coyne-on-the-adaptive-significance-of-semen-flavor/#comment-16258 While there's not much in the way of a poll there, I'm surprised that the survey didn't include gay men. If there's a notable difference, that would certainly be worth reporting. While there’s not much in the way of a poll there, I’m surprised that the survey didn’t include gay men. If there’s a notable difference, that would certainly be worth reporting.

]]>