To accept irrational fears as "reality" is defeatist. ..."
Unfortunately, even irrational fears are reality whether or not we choose to "accept" them - whatever that means. The key is to address what's bothering people, not dismiss it our of hand or ask our regulators to ignore it.
To expand your "earth is flat" analogy, say that someone is afraid to take a voyage because of a fear that the earth is flat and the boat will fall off. It seems that the approach of many Radsafers would be to either:
1. Tell him he's too stupid to understand.
2. Get the police to force him to get on the boat.
My approach is to assure him that we will have a lookout posted who can warn us when we get within 100 miles of the end of the earth, and that, if this occurs, we will turn back, immediately.
Maybe not "rational" to a scientist, but a lot better for business.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Curies forever.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com