[Leps-l] [leps-talk] Monarch Armageddon

[MexicoDoug]

Hi Stan

Criticism completely accepted and embraced!  And thanks for confirming 
that at least one person reads my posts !

For what it's worth, I did give thought to this sort of Xeno paradox 
(name dropper!), but it really was not my intent, though I was not 
concerned enough about it.

In truth I agree 100% with all of these premises of Sagan's Baloney 
detection tool kit, and I don't mean to use him as an authority, but 
rather it is in referencing the methodology he cristalized and in my 
view simply citing my reference for their guidelines for scientific 
methodology, rather than saying it was my original idea.

But it does have that effect you point out, and your point is well 
taken (still, I don't know how to cite a such a good work and avoid the 
effect you mention, except to say it is the scientific method ... but 
then the scientific method may be open to interpretation without 
clarification and then we get into circular logic - so hopefully by 
agreeing with you and explaining it is more clear my intent).

Best
Doug

-----Original Message-----
From: Stan Gorodenski <stanlep at commspeed.net>
To: leps-l <leps-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Sent: Sun, Feb 17, 2013 5:03 pm
Subject: Re: [Leps-l] [leps-talk] Monarch Armageddon



On 2/17/2013 2:50 PM, MexicoDoug wrote:
> Thanks Jim, Thanks Dennis,
>
> Finally, the ugly: I hope anyone reading this knows that my question
> was not whether the test-tube bred corn was detrimental to habitat.  
It
> was whether the Bt-Corn pollen, is killing the larvae as the Cornell
> study said it would and was used indiscriminately under what would be
> pseudoscientific pretences to create anarchy in the agricultural
> industry and all of its dependents 12-15 years ago, and was still
> kicking and screaming 10 years ago.  If it didn't, I'm relieved but
> need to re-evaluate the reputation of those who jumped on this
> bandwagon and see whether they fudged their research techniques for 
the
> purpose distorting truth and advancing an agenda.  Please don't think
> I'm supporting the use of these agricultural techniques.  I need
> Bt-corn in my zone as much as I want to live next to a garbage dump.
> But a balanced approach is imperative where scientific credibility is
> not abused by those who prey on the ignorance of the public perception
> because they feel they have a superior moral calling.  There is no 
room
> in science for Popes.  In Sagan's words - there are no "scientific
> authorities", just a method and to that I would add a scholarly 
conduct
> which is as old as science itself, when it branched off from 
philosophy
> and religion.
>
>

Just as an aside and no criticism intended, although Sagan may be right
that there are no "scientific authorities", when he is quoted like this
he in effect is being treated as a scientific authority. Would the 
quote
have had as much impact if it was attributed to, say, John Zilchbach?
Who's he? Oh, he teaches 3rd and 4th graders in a Louisiana Bayou
elementary school. :-)
Stan

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