NOT the collecting debate :-)

Mark Walker MWalker at gensym.com
Thu Jun 24 18:27:29 EDT 1999


I thank Alan and Jeri for this contribution.

I guess the bottom line is - and I probably need to hear this more than
anyone - if you've nothing to hide, then why tend to be defensive?  Act
confidently, and respond with honesty, clarity, and surety (didn't we decide
that this was also the way to deal with the scientific name pronunciation
quandary?).  The inquirers are likely to benefit from our knowledge - and
may be genuinely interested in it - once they know who we are.

In my defense, however, being somewhat of a non-confrontational guy (and not
being formally educated in entomology), I have been known to be easily
intimidated by those who tend to bark loudly.  Perhaps to the surprise of
some out there, my natural tendency is not to respond like the unnamed
entomologist in the excerpt below.  Instead, I'm more likely to claim
ignorance or apologize for something I didn't even do.

Oh well.  Like the 1st grade boys urinal trial of 1965, I guess that's
really a personal problem.

Mark Walker.
Mission Viejo, CA
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: alan5319 at aol.com [mailto:alan5319 at aol.com]
> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 1999 4:06 PM
> To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: Re: NOT the collecting debate :-)
> 
> 
> We were not going to prolong this debate as it is a bit 
> pointless - but - We
> did recall reading a wonderful letter on the matter from a 
> most eminent
> entomologist. 
> 
> We quote:
> **The best way to deal with do-gooders is aggression. Here is 
> an account of an
> actual incident, though of course I can't remember the 
> precise words used:
> 
> Indignent lady: "Why must you catch all the butterflies?"
> 
> Me: "Actually, I'm not catching butterflies at all; but how 
> splendid to meet
> someone who is interested in conservation. Which conservation 
> body do you
> belong to?
> 
> I.L.: "I beg your pardon?" I repeated my question with explanatory
> amplification.
> 
> I.L.: "I'm not a member of any conservation body".
> 
> Me: "Yet you have the effrontery to critise me, who was a 
> contributing author
> to the Red Data Book on endangered insects; who in my younger 
> days joined
> working parties to improve habitats by clearing scrub; who by 
> my study of life
> histories have helped provide the information needed for planning and
> conservation policy - you should be ashamed! Now if you will 
> give me your name
> and address, I'll arrange for your county Wildlife Trust to 
> send you an
> application form for membership, so that at least your money 
> can help the cause
> you hold so dear".
> 
> At this point the indignant lady ran away, weeping copiously.**
> 
> Sometimes things may not be as they seem......
> 
> Alan & Jeri Coates
> 


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