Re: LNT/Radon "Debate"

[Bernard L Cohen <blc+@pitt.edu>]

	I did not mean anything personal in categorizing the tactic as 
"name calling". I'm sure Dan Strom does not intend to be doing something 
"childish". I was simply pointing out that the tactics were equivalent to 
a childish behavior; that was not immediately obvious. If anything I said 
was interpreted as a personal attack, I apologize categorically; it was 
certainly not intended to be such.

Bernard L. Cohen
Physics Dept.
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Tel: (412)624-9245
Fax: (412)624-9163
e-mail: blc+@pitt.edu


On Mon, 22 Jan 1996 /I=J/S=PRESLEY/O=AECB.CCEA@mhs-atomcon.attmail.com wrote:

>      
>      I give you the following snippet of a quote from Dr. Cohen's
>      note on the LNT/Radon "debate".
>      
>      """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
>         Please be assured that there is nothing personal in my
>      disagreements with Dan Strom. We have always been, and continue to be
>      good friends. ......
>      ..........
>      ..........
>         What Strom and other objectors seem to be saying is ......
>      ............ 
>      I would call what these people are doing simply "name calling" which 
>      is a very childish behavior.
>      
>      """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
>      As an objective observer, I have a couple of comments on the debate.
>      
>      Firstly, I respect the work of both gentlemen and am continuing to 
>      assess my own views on the ongoing LNT debate. The words of these 
>      gentlemen obviously have impact on that thought process.
>      
>      However, regarding the quoted snippet of a RADSAFE post above.
>      
>      1. Is Dr. Cohen's opening remark consistent with his closing remark ?
>      Personally, I think not.
>      
>      2. Emotional statements of these kind should be excluded from 
>      scientific debate at all costs whether they seem justified or not 
>      because :
>      -They detract from the issue at hand and tend to "get one's back up".
>      -They make the reader/listener wonder about the author's objectivity.
>      
>      
>      I guess this is why a journal may be a more "objective" medium than 
>      RADSAFE for serious debate as, I would assume, that any emotional 
>      statements would be "filtered out".
>      
>      Sorry, Professor Cohen, not meaning to single you out, but I couldn't 
>      help commenting on this subject.
>      I am actually leaning towards your side in this debate.
>      
>      James Presley
>      Health Physicist
>      jpresley@synapse.net