Xref: utzoo sci.bio:1384 sci.misc:2198
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!uwmcsd1!nic.MR.NET!umn-cs!ns!logajan
From: logajan@ns.UUCP (John Logajan x3118)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.misc
Subject: Re: Strange results in Nature article (fallout...)
Summary: Debunking -- it's a dirty job, but ...
Keywords: skepticism debunking
Message-ID: <668@ns.UUCP>
Date: 29 Jul 88 16:15:19 GMT
References: <1911@aecom.YU.EDU> <6445@megaron.arizona.edu> <492@metapsy.UUCP>
Organization: Network Systems Corp. Mpls MN
Lines: 23

In article <492@metapsy.UUCP>, sarge@metapsy.UUCP (Sarge Gerbode) writes:

> [Randi] is committed to debunking.

This may or may not be true, but your claim that he twists facts to fit his
own notions -- requires substantiation.

>  We do not need a special "thought police" 

Debunkers, as distasteful as we may find them, are not police because they have
no coercive power.  If you don't like what they say, don't listen to them.

The effect of debunkers, to the disapproval of their targets, is to scare away
money and students.  Both of these are valuable resources.  I think it is
always in the interest of these individuals to have access to all sides of
an argument.  To suppress one side or the other would lead to stagnation or
quackery.

True science has a tendency to win in the long run.  Astronomy triumphed over
tourture.  I think modern "theories" can handle a little debunking.

- John M. Logajan @ Network Systems; 7600 Boone Ave; Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 -
- {...rutgers!dayton, ...amdahl!ems, ...uunet!rosevax!mmm} !viper!ns!logajan -