Xref: utzoo sci.bio:1436 sci.misc:2274
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From: hollombe@ttidca.TTI.COM (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.misc
Subject: Re: Nature article /James Randi bashing
Keywords: homeopathy
Message-ID: <3014@ttidca.TTI.COM>
Date: 3 Aug 88 00:52:22 GMT
References: <10465@lll-winken.llnl.gov> <20850@beta.lanl.gov> <2444@cxsea.UUCP> <5826@dasys1.UUCP> <1935@aecom.YU.EDU>
Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcb.tti.com (The Polymath)
Organization: The Cat Factory
Lines: 30

In article <1935@aecom.YU.EDU> werner@aecom.YU.EDU (Craig Werner) writes:
}	I can't understand the animosity people have against James Randi.
}For one, he could probably make just as much money, if not more, sticking
}to his first calling as a professional stage magician.  Secondly, in almost
}every instance where he set out to expose charlatanism, there turned out
}to be charlantanism to expose. Are people just envious of his success rate,
}or is there something more sinister? 

Randi goes around destroying illusions and cherished beliefs used to
nourish hopes and excuse failings.  He offers only cold reality as
substitute.  You expect people to thank him?

}	Maybe its me, but why does it seem that nearly everybody in 
}sci.bio/sci.misc seems to believe in astrology, telekinesis, miracle 
}cures, mythical creatures, and whatever fad is hot, and only a handful 
}seem to believe in evolution, relativity, and the scientific method.

No everybody.  Just the more vocal ones.  Those of us who _understand_
evolution, relativity and scientific method (as opposed to merely
believing in them) consider them so obvious as to not merit repeated
explanation.  We've also noticed that no amount of logic, debate and/or
explanation will convince the mystics, romantics and vitamin pushers.  I
once posted a 150 line condensation of a graduate text chapter on
experimental design.  It was ignored.  It's too much work to do it again.

-- 
The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, hollombe@ttidca.tti.com)  Illegitimati Nil
Citicorp(+)TTI                                                 Carborundum
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