Jim Clark commented: "I missed one disturbing part of Mike S's statement here ... namely the phrase "(And I would say just by doing good scientific work.)". This seems to be saying that scientists' jobs are done once they have conducted the research and they have no further responsibilities to the political or wider communities ... i.e., they should mind their own business and stay in the lab. Is Mike S really saying that scientists should NOT respond when false information is publicized? They should NOT comment on global warming, cold fusion, the age of the earth, or any other matter once it is in the public domain? Their job ends in the laboratory and they should just go home and leave the rest to others. Rather perverse view of scientists, many of whom are also educators."
What I meant was that 'good scientific work' will attest to the firmness of the conclusions and will tend to resist claims of fraudulence to any open-minded person who takes the trouble to have a look at it. Of course individual scientists can 'respond' or get involved in politics if they want (witness that clown Dawkins). But when doing so, they are engaged in politics not science. And yes, I would say that no scientist or any other individual is obligated to get involved in politics (which I do not find disturbing in the least). --Mike --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
