X-Delivery-Notice:  SMTP MAIL FROM does not correspond to sender.
X-Vmsmail-To: MX%"info-gcg@utoronto.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu"
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.info-gcg
Date:         Thu, 8 Oct 1992 11:23:14 -0500
Reply-To:     "(Bill Melchior, NCTR/FDA)" <WMELCHIOR@NTET.NCTR.FDA.GOV>
              <INFO-GCG@UTORONTO.BITNET>
From:         "(Bill Melchior, NCTR/FDA)" <WMELCHIOR@NTET.NCTR.FDA.GOV>
Subject:      Re: Open-mindedness to unorthodox thinking

>Regarding the message on biological transmutations and the two (so
...
>I am surprised at how one little misplaced, unorthodox message could
>so pique the intolerance of well-educated and supposedly intelligent
>individuals, who should know the virtue and benefit of open-
>mindedness in dialogue and debate on scientific subjects?
...
>True, the subject of that unusual message was not appropriate for
>this forum. True, the tone was weird. (I'll assume the message was
>sincere, and not somebody's idea of a joke.) True, the claims were
>unsupported, hard to believe, and very unlikely to be valid (IMHO).
>However, as long as such "radical" messages enter this discussion
>only infrequently, can we not tolerate their expression of strange
>and different notions?

I have had the fortune (?) of receiving several of the postings by the
same individual, who has been sending material to many internet lists.
They are all similar collections of wishful thinking and statements which
are not only "unlikely to be valid", but are so obviously based on
no knowledge of scientific facts as to be not WORTH discussing.  The
statements on biological transmutation of elements are NOT in the same
league as, for instance, theories of quantum mechanics proposed by trained
individuals after a careful study.

...
>If you make it a habit of coldly rejecting unlikely scientific theories,

This cannot be classified as a scientific theory.

...
>Also, it's just plain rude and insensitive to ridicule a person or
>his/her viewpoint when you really don't know that such strident
>criticism is warranted, if indeed it ever could be.

On one of the other lists (SKEPTIC-L, I think), someone posted a message
from an administrator at UW-EC, where McElwain is located.  He is evidently
causing problems there with widespread dissemination of such views.
(Lawsuits reagarding his activities are at least threatened, if not
actually in progress.)  The posting to INFO-GCG is evidently only a small
part of what he's been doing.  I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he
doesn't even read most of these lists.  For instance, I have personaly seen
messages from him to the skeptics list, a list primarily for professional
astronomers, and a list on forensic science.  I don't think we need to
worry about hurting his feelings.
________________________________________________________________________________
The opinions stated are mine, not those of NCTR or its sponsoring organizations.

Bill Melchior                                ||     OMNISCIENCE
National Center for Toxicological Research   ||    Knowing what
Jefferson, AR  72079                         ||    thou knowest not
(501) 543-7206                               ||    is in a sense
                                             ||    omniscience.
WMELCHIOR@NTDOC.NCTR.FDA.GOV                 ||       from Grooks, Piet Hein