Ladies and Gentlemen,
I believe in liberty and equality, two of the founding principles of the United States of America. Admittedly, this may be idealistic and may not apply to individuals from all countries on this list, but I say to you that as scientific professionals, we must hear and listen to debate on scientific theories in our discipline. If we refuse, where does that leave us? I think most of us understand enough to recognize reasonable arguements and that last time I checked, you were not required to respond to any given posting.
I would like to believe that scientific communities are the most tolerant and willing to hear alternative views, although there are numerous historical examples to the contrary. I would propose, however, that we do not engage in personal attacks in this forum. If there are any questions as to a person's qualifications, post your own CV and challenge them to post theirs, then let educated and intelligent (I hope I am not assuming too much;-) subscribers make their own determination.
Maybe I'm idealistic and naive, but there you go.
Andy Scott
-----Original Message-----
From: DAVID LOVETT [mailto:dlovett@PRODIGY.NET]
Sent: 13 August 2001 20:43
To: Raymond Shadis; Franz Schoenhofer; SAFarberMSPH@CS.COM;
radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: Re: PROFESSIONALS?
I agree with Ray............. No matter what diffeerent opinions are here,
all needs to be heard..........We just don't want to monopolize the board.
Dave Lovett
----- Original Message -----
From: "Raymond Shadis" <shadis@ime.net>
To: "Franz Schoenhofer" <franz.schoenhofer@CHELLO.AT>;
<SAFarberMSPH@CS.COM>; <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2001 3:48 PM
Subject: PROFESSIONALS?
> FRANZ,
> You write,
> "Another question of course is that you are not only no professional, but
> > that you lack obviously any knowledge about the matter you write on.
> > Therefore the harsh reaction of other RADSAFErs is well understandable,
> > especially since it is not the first time that somebody - for instance
> once
> > a declared anti-nuclear activist with as little knowledge as you -
wanted
> to
> > explain to us, what radiation protection is, what are the hazards of one
> > single radioactive atom and one single quantum from a radioactive
element
> > etc. etc.
> > But you - and so many others! - who have not the slightest idea about
> > radiation, nuclear technology, radioecology etc. etc. - you want to tell
> us
> > professionals what is right and wrong? It is bad enough when we look
what
> > charlatans are in the mass media, in authorities and influencing the
> > decision makers and politicians.
> >
> > This list is - if I remember correctly - for the exchange of information
> for
> > professionals. Also non-professionals have been tolerated, at least to
my
> > knowledge nobody has been denied to read the contributions. Many
> > non-professionals have asked for advice in questions concerning
> radiation -
> > and they have been given it to the best of our knowledge. This list has
> > always been very tolerant.
> >
> > If you have a little bit of self-criticism, please stop sending messages
> to
> > the list. Read the contribution, you might be able to learn a little."
> >
> Franz,
> When I first signed on to the list, I indeed thought it would not only be
an
> exchange among professionals, but also that the exchanges would be
> professional. I received generous replies and references to a question on
> calculating dose from hot particles, to a question on the work of W.I
> Vernadsky, Soviet scientist, and to a question on Pu-240 concentrations in
> various types of fuel.
> However I found the list contibutions peppered with ridiculous and
> unsubstantiated assertions which were anything but professional. I think
it
> is plain that threshold of acceptance on radsafe is more philosopical than
> it is professional. The demonstrated inabilty of some radsafe responders
to
> follow a simple linear progression of reason does not bode well for the
> future of radiation professions.
>
> " But you - and so many others! - who have not the slightest idea
about
> radiation, nuclear technology, radioecology etc. etc. - you want to
tell
> us
> professionals what is right and wrong? It is bad enough when we look
> what
> charlatans are in the mass media, in authorities and influencing the
> decision makers and politicians."
> Franz,
> I just completed service on the US NRC's Initial Implementation Evaluation
> Panel on the new Reactor Oversight Process. Federal law says these FACA
> panels must be made up of experts. I have been invited, on Friday, to
> present my views (for the fourth time) at a Briefing of the NRC
> Commissioners. Now, I admittedly don't know much after only twenty-two
years
> of generalized nuclear study, but it is wrong to say that I haven't the
> slightest idea about " radiation, nuclear technology, radioecology, etc."
I
> do have a "slight" idea. What is surprising to me is not that youngsters
> with a fresh HP ticket may also have only a "slight" idea, but that so
many
> PhDs act like graduates of a Skinner box; incapable of considered and
> thoughtful dialogue. Some of the "charlatans" in the mass media and
journals
> have the same professional credentials that many members of your list
have.
> Should we also listen to them without question? All-in-all, I would much
> rather live in an overly protective frame of reference where we hope we
are
> wrong, than in an attitude of non-conservative assumptions about risk in
> which one is so afraid of being wrong that you can't stand a single
> contradiction or disagreement, even on semantics.
> I will attempt initiating no further dialogue.
>
> Thank You, Ray
>
> >
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> >
>
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