Q1. Is this the official blog for The Design of Life?

A1. Yes, this is the official blog and Denyse O’Leary is the administrator/moderator. (Other moderators may be added and will be introduced.)

Q2. To whom can I address questions/concerns?

A2. Send an email to blogger@thedesignoflife.net and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Q3. How can I add comments to a post?

A3. To add comments to a post, you must be registered on the site. If you are already a member, please log in to your account. Otherwise, click here to register. Click on the ‘Add Comment’ link for the post. You will be prompted to log in to the site, if you are not already logged in.
Note: By default, on registration, a user becomes a One Time Commenter. In this role, a user may comment ONE TIME on a post that already has AT LEAST one comment. In other words, a ‘One Time Commenter’ does not have permission to start a thread.

Q4. I registered on the site and logged on, but when I try to post a comment, I get a message saying that I do not have sufficient privileges.

A4. See the Note below Q3 above. By default, a user becomes a One Time Commenter on registration. In this role a user may only comment ONE TIME on a post that already has AT LEAST one comment. A One Time Commenter does not have permission to start a thread. If you have just registered and are trying to post a comment on a post that has no existing comments, you will get an “insufficient privileges” message.

Q5. What levels of commenter does your site permit?

A5. The Design of Life Blog has three types of Commenter:
One Time Commenter – This default level is assigned to a user on registration. The user can post a comment only ONCE and only on a post that has AT LEAST one comment. A One Time Commenter may not start a thread.
Commenter –The administrator has the discretion to upgrade an account to this level. This level allows users to post unlimited comments on multiple posts. However, a commenter may not start a thread to a post.
Contributor - The administrator can upgrade an account to this level as well. This level allows users to post unlimited comments on multiple posts, without restriction. A contributor may start a thread as well.

Q6. How can I request a level upgrade for my account.

A6. To request an upgrade to your account please write to blogger@thedesignoflife.net . The Administrator’s Welcome below is worth reading first.

Q7. I posted a comment but it doesn’t appear under the post

A7. All comments posted are flagged inactive by default. An administrator will approve your comment within 2 business days and make it live. Approvals of comments are at the discretion of the administrator, who – as a matter of organization policy – does not enter into discussions of rejected comments. If you are concerned about the possibility that your comment may be rejected, please read the Administrator’s Welcome below.

Q8. How can I change my password?

A8. Currently the blog doesn’t have this facility. We are regularly upgrading the blog and the feature will be made available shortly. In the interim, write your password down somewhere or print it out and keep the page. Otherwise, please feel free to request a password change to blogger@thedesignoflife.net

Q9. I forgot my password

A9. Go to the login page by clicking ‘Login/Register’ on the top menu bar. Click on “forgot password.” Enter your username and click “send password.” An email will be sent to the email ID you used when you registered on the site.

Q10. I have forgotten my username and password

A10. This misfortune can be avoided by writing down or printing out the information. If not, please email a request to blogger@thedesignoflife.net.

Administrator’s Welcome

Welcome to Design of Life blog, which supports The Design of Life, a textbook supplement written by William A. Dembski and Jonathan Wells! Design of Life addresses issues in the origin and evolution of life that are not covered or inadequately covered in many current biology textbooks. Once a book is published, it is history. But today, the blogosphere enables us to provide readers with a new service – continuous updates of news and features relevant to the topics covered in the book. Consistent with that purpose, this blog is aimed at students, teachers, parents, and mid-life adults seeking further education. It is not intended as a host for violent controversies between political or religious advocates, or partisans of a theory who seek to shut down discussion of alternatives. All of these parties are free to advocate their causes in other forums.

Here are some specific guidelines that will help avoid the unnecessary rejection of posts:

• The moderators of DoL blog will not approve posts that disparage the authors of this book or of other books on either side of the controversy between Darwinian evolution and intelligent design. If accusations like “stupid,” “moron,” “evil moron,” “dishonest,” “liar,” et cetera, appear in a post, that post will be rejected. If it should be accidentally accepted, it will be removed later when the moderators learn of the mistake.
• Further to the introductory comments, DoL blog will not host disputes about politics or religion. Note: “Age of the Earth” controversies that depend on specific interpretations of the Book of Genesis in the Bible (or other religious sources) are assumed, for our specific purposes, to be disputes about religion.
• DoL blog is not equipped to publish dissertations. Keep your post to under 400 words.
• Apparent advertising of any kind will not be accepted.
• Do not send DoL blog a URL with no further information. Take a moment to explain why you think readers of DoL blog should be interested.
• As with any quality-friendly site, we will not publish profanity, blasphemy against any religion or religious orientation, partisan politicking, or insults to any nation, race, gender, or ethnic group. If such material is published by accident, it will be removed when the moderators notice the mistake.
• Moderators will reject posts that they suspect to contain incorrect information. Be sure of your sources before you post.
• Moderators will not enter into any discussion of rejected posts.
• For best results, state your point in a courteous manner, source your information, and keep your post to 400 words or less.