>From Alexander Hollins: > Everything about the list says it was intended to discuss SCIENCE.
It seems to me that science -is- discussed here. In addition to pure science I think many of us would also like vortex-l to continue to include discussions concerning the politics behind why science is occasionally derailed in undignified ways. Unfortunately, religion can also play a role in the derailment of science – which is why religion occasionally crops up as well. Being able to occasionally discuss these OT matters can help us all understand better what can be done about why science is occasionally hijacked or derailed. According to Jed, who has been a Vortex-l participant far longer than I, the pros and cons of discussing related political "policy" which have influenced scientific progress has always been an integral part of what has been discussed within Vortex-l. Ed Storms has also made several succinct comments to the effect and the importance of understanding the occasionally scrappy world of politics and religion and how they can affect the progress (or lack) of scientific research. I would point out that few have ever complained about this dynamic arrangement, at least not until recently. It seems to me that it has only come up as an apparent issue for certain vort participants because he-who-shall-remain-nameless arrived on the scene and started trashing the complex dynamics of the vortex-l environment. But now that so-and-so has been banned from vortex-l there is every reason to assume that a healthy amount of dynamic stability will once again be restored to vortex-l. I also think it's important not to gloss over the fact that Individuals like Jed Rothwell and Steven Krivit (as well as others) have, IMO, performed an invaluable service of bringing to our attention some of the idiotic things the "politics" of the situation have done to the scientific community and also to specific scientists who have had the misfortune of being at the wrong place at the wrong time in history. Regards Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com www.zazzle.com/orionworks
