Glassberg's public statement on collecting.

[Stan Gorodenski]

Paul Cherubini wrote:
> 
> them, the anti-release group is trying to impose their beliefs on everyone.

Could you elaborate on these so called 'beliefs', and who composes this
'group', Glassberg and NABA excluded - we already know about that. Are
we talking about Nazis here (I recall seeing a photo somewhere that had
a Nazi symbol on the underwing)? It almost sounds like we're getting
into religion here with all this talk of 'beliefs'. From what I've been
reading on this site there appears to be sound scientific evidence to
justify not releasing butterflies not native to an area. Were it
necessary to do so to save a population, that would be one thing, but
from what I've read the sole motivation appears to be the greed for
money an any social or environmental cost. 

This release practice reminds me of a company who has suckered people
into paying to have a star named after them, or whatever person they
choose. They get a fancy document making them believe the star name has
been recorded in the archives of science, little knowing the name has no
scientific value whatsoever, or any other kind of posthumous value. It
sure makes money for the company, though, in fact so much so that they
have threatened to sue astronomers for attempting to reveal the fraud it
is.

As much as some would like to think we should and can have the freedom
to do whatever we want, in reality this is not feasible, or else we
would live in anarchy. Interjecting the 'release' issue in the context
of the debate on collectors vs. non-collectors does not make it any more
acceptable to me. Were it to stop (i.e., the releases at weddings,
funerals, etc.), there would not be any significant negative impact on
human society at all. The only negative impact, which would actually be
a good one, is that owners and employees of companies involved in
promoting this practice would have get a 'real' job and make a 'real'
contribution to society.
Stan

 
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