Wow. The learning curve seems to remain very steep.
Peter, my above comment isn't meant as a criticism, simply a reality. My
initial interest in meteorites was sparked by the countless meteorwrongs I
encountered before making the decision to study. Having a comprehensive
type collection in hand, reading and reading and reading, and then diving
into advanced texts, allows me to look back into some of my naiive queries,
when I was asking silly questions.
I trust that the wisdom here on this List will be taken to heart, spark your
intrigue, and invite you to start a journey. It's amazing!
No egos in truth. Only egos in blame for wished outcomes.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matson, Robert D." <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2013 5:14 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] A Bunch of Irregular Stones I Found (+How
IThink They May Have Originated)
Hi Peter,
I am open to opinions, but, in truth, it is almost an atrocity
the way the objects depicted in some, to my own discredit, less-
than-stellar photographs can be absolutely dismissed off-handedly,
and so quickly!
In this particular case, your pictures are not at fault. They show
enough that apparently a number of experienced members here are
willing to offer strong opinions (even if not always quantifying
it) that what you have is not meteoritic. [If I were to put a
number on my own certainty, having just looked at your pictures
for the first time, I'd feel safe in pegging it at the 4-sigma
level (99.994%)].
Why is it that people think they can gain, or maintain prestige,
in a scientific field by failing to qualify their opinions, as
such.
I think in most cases people aren't trying to be boastful of
their pronouncements -- they are honestly trying to be truthful
and helpful. Resist the temptation to shoot the messenger.
By the same token that Ms. Black has suggested I read Korotev
on meteorwrongs, I would suggest some of you read material,
perhaps even from Freud, discussing "the ego" in order to
understand why you wouldn't, at least, qualify, your assertions,
to some extent, by saying, "I am nearly certain," or "rather
sure," because you must know you are fallible ...
I would counter that Freud's ego can work both for and against
you. I'm sure you are aware that there are a disturbing number of
people who are willing to believe outlandish things in the face
of ample evidence to the contrary. (I'm not saying you fall into
this category.) The bottom line is that if you are looking for
an expert opinion on the meteoritic possibilities of a rock
based solely on images presented, there is no more authoritative
online group from which you can get an instant and reliable
response than this Meteorite List.
Best wishes,
Rob
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