Here is what I don't get about these people. Suppose cold fusion is a mistake, or fraud. It is inconsequential. The worst that can happen is that a few retired professors waste their time and Rossi steals some money.
I can understand why people get worked up about other scientific controversies which have large consequences, such as the fights over global warming or vaccinations. But I cannot understand why anyone who thinks that cold fusion is wrong would spend any time fretting about it or discussing it, or trying to prevent research. Science is full of mistakes, dead ends and wacky theories. But you never see *Nature* magazine calling for mockery and vituperation in opposition to these things. They only reacted this way to cold fusion. I will never understand why. - Jed
