[1] from < jc> to Santoshbab Helekar I accept that one cannot convert hard heads with science and reasonable debate. But, has the information provided by you (or for that matter, me) changed the views of those who had no opinion?
[2] Frederick Noronha responded: My dear JC-bab: [2](1) Whatever made you believe that changing people's views was the goal of such an exercise? [2] (2) We just want to feel superior and more right than someone else, no? [3] And we all believe we are on the side of righteousness, truth, science or reasonable debate. [4] Whether it was the Inquisition or the 21stCentuisition ==== jc's response ==== My dear FN-baba, With due respect, I will ignore # [4] above. I do not enjoy fish (as in red herrings) on Saturdays. I will stick to the topic of "medical advice and challenges to urban myths" as proffered by Santoshbab. wrt # [2] I am not aware of your experience with the scientific community, but I come across (usually at scientific conferences) very learned individuals who go out of their way to "show" others the difference between what is right and what is less right or even wrong. Some stubborn heads ignore wise counsel (usually on the basis on non-knowledge) but most individuals either accept the new realities OR "test the null hypothesis" themselves, if they have the time, funds and ability to do so. You may not be aware but Santoshbab is one learned gentleman - holding his own at a major and very competitive US teaching Institution. I am not sure what your (FN's) experience has been (or is) with the level of competition (for status as well as for research funding) within (even) Indian Universities but I can tell you that in 2010, in the US, one is either with substance or one is on the street. In that regard, I find your slight against Santoshbab (and you may deny it) replete with ignorance of what really scientific research is about in 2010. The days of fudging,swiping and plagiarising at will .....are gone. Just ask Robert Gallo - his eventual 'clearing' having been noted. It might interest you to learn that until some years ago, I held views which you hold now. My views were ignorant of the reality of how research was done and how research papers were analysed. Then, I was "dumped into the deep-end of the pool" during my PG stint in Ireland. I soon realised that I could no longer reel out inferences and conclusions based on crude (say 45%) statistics. There had to be a study design, a significant "p" value indicating that the result was not obtained purely by coincidence AND the study-result had to be independently reproducible. See FN, if you were aware, you would NOT have scripted the Times of India report based on the fudged Chagas da Silva "alcoholism" study. Hopefully, in future, you may consider consulting individuals who have been through the rigors of the research process & personally handle their own statistical tests - before you rush to print. If you request such a person, it is more than likely that he/she will request additional information e.g. How the sample size was generated, How the subjects were randomised, if the study was double-blind, how the data was collected, How bias was excluded, What statistical tests were used to 'test the hypothesis' AND the raw data minus the names of individuals in order to protect client-confidentiality. Now, do you believe that I am being self-righteous or do you believe I am being reasonable? Let's face it - if one goes out for a walk on the street, one will find some folks who are taller, others shorter than us; similarly - some richer, some less richer, some more capitalist like you and me, some less capitalistic like Santoshbab, I conclude by stating the obvious: You (Frederick) and I will never, in the foreseeable future, know more about Research and Neuroscience than Santoshbab, about Colo-Rectal disease than Anil Desai, about Radiation Oncology than Gilbert Lawrence, about Cardiology than Tony Gomes or about music than Lea Rangel-Ribeiro (just a few examples .....there is a huge list of Goans who know more about their specialty than you (Frederick) and me. Please let us research the level of their training and international competition they have 'seen off ' before we shoot our mouths from the hip. It is best that when they speak about their areas of specialty, we (especially you and me) listen or at least just sit quiet .....instead of blowing the horns founded on gas and non-knowledge. Nobody says that one cannot challenge them in their respective fields but it is hardly the place for tin to challenge gold, is it? (Tin and Gold used metaphorically to denote level of specialty knowledge) BTW: Your sniper attacks on Santosh's intentions points to a rather crude attempt to 'silence' him. That is my opinion and you may disagree with me. good wishes and have a pleasant Sunday and week ahead. jc
