(I first came into contact with Rhonda Shearer about a year ago when she
was doing the groundwork to expose Jared Diamond's "stinky
journalism"--the name of her website--in the New Yorker.)
#
Thank you so much for this essay series. I learned a lot and although my
late husband Steve Gould isn’t here, I am confident, even though I am no
expert, that he would have enjoyed them too as the points are well
argued and have splashes of humor to boot.
It is truly odd from my perspective that my and my team’s research led
to this discovery that Diamond’s general claims for his revenge theory
were unsupported by the facts that he wrongly asserted. I only say it is
odd because to outsiders the circumstances provide the false appearance
that I am somehow following up on Steve’s work–even, perhaps, carrying a
torch.
I would not be opposed to carrying on Steve’s fight(s). I agree with you
and Steve in the general principles laid out here. But in truth, since I
know very little about biology and evolution –that was Steve’s life–I
would be of little use as a torch bearer. Steve and I shared a common
interest in the general history and culture of a science and it’s
connections to art and representations, creativity and optical illusions.
Frankly, I can’t even remember Steve saying anything much about Diamond.
I wasn’t interested enough in the subject to bother to read Diamond’s
books. I think I may have met him once?
What I do know now is from the past year of looking at this case.
Diamond, as judged by his lack of interest in knowing and pursuing the
truth or the well-being and safety of his single informant, Daniel Wemp,
informs me that at least in this case, in this past year, he has clearly
and shamelessly abandoned both scientific method and his sense of humanity.
Rhonda Shearer
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