Re: NAL response Sanet
Mac Horton (mac_horton@quickmail.clemson.edu)
28 Feb 1994 10:52:11 -0500
Reply to: RE>>NAL response Sanet
The bst controversy certainly has been an interesting one, as it has been
displayed upon my terminal. It could easily compete with any soap opera on
radio/tv, and feels like it has been almost as long running as most of them. It
has been most educational to witness first-hand the degree to which many of the
respondents ignored basic principles and tenets of democracy, science, and
logic, as they castigated and condemned the USDA, the FDA, big business and
capitalism, land-grant institutions, the process of peer-reviewed scientific
effort, and many of their peers. I am astounded by the emotionalism and hearsay
that has been used to justify psuedo-scientific positions, and the
condemnation of the processes and institutions that has made valuable and
useful technology, such as Sanet, available. I am even more astonished that
many of those who expressed what I perceive as unfounded and unscientific
views, are currently located at and presumably beneficiaries of land-grant
institutions. Many of these individuals appear to place more confidence in
emotionalism and testimonials than they do in the scientific method. Freedom of
speach and opinion is one thing; mob rule, rumor-mongering, and yellow
journalism quite another.
My compliments to David Watt, for his well-stated commentary on this issue.
I certainly recommend that all of us play close attention to the
recommendations and wise counsel of Phil Rasmussen as we participate in this or
any other information net.
Mac Horton
Professor, Extension Entomologist
Dept. of Entomology
Clemson University
voice:803:656-3111
fax:803:656-5072
mhorton@clust1.clemson.edu