From: stead@skadi.CSS.GOV (Richard Stead)
Newsgroups: ca.earthquakes
Subject: Re: fax
Date: 24 Jul 92 20:03:19 GMT

Sheesh, after reading this one, I feel guilty that I commented on Sue's
negative comment regarding scientists.  Her's was a complement compared to
this guy.  Sorry folks, but I think I'll be venting a little spleen at this one.

In article <6q9eoB3w163w@quake.sylmar.ca.us>, nateh@quake.sylmar.ca.us (Nate Hawthorn) writes:
> I would like to receive messages fom ANYONE that is using RF and 
> other methods to PREDICT quakes. It would be interesting to have
> that DATA myself and look it over..

Check out the guys at Geo-Monitor.  That's a newsletter for amateur earthquake
prediction, etc.  They are very interested in RF monitoring, and it's very
informal by scientific standards.  (65 Washington St, #400, Santa Clara, CA,
95050 - phone (408) 749-6770).

> why are you people always so CLOSED minded anyway??? Is this why
> the USA is so BEHIND in most things, because you all have closed minds
> and think you know it all??

Excuse me?  Just what are we so far behind in?  Not computers, not physics,
not chemistry, not biology, not medicine.  The list goes on.  The only
thing we're behind in is mass-produced cheapo electronics, cars (blame the
big 3), and steel.  Everything else, we're the recognized world leaders.
Who produces the most Nobel Prize winners?  We do.  We spend the most money
on pure and applied research of any country in the world.  We have the most
PhD's.  Etc, etc.

This kind of question doesn't belong in this group - but clearly this guy
is talking about things he knows nothing about.  Who is this "you" he keeps
talking about?  I smell a frustrated individual here.  Could he be someone
who tried to patent something and was rejected and now focuses his anger
on "them", the scientists he believes are to blame?

> If I said I could make a CERAMIC into a CONDUCTOR 10 years ago, you
> all would have LAUGHED at me.

Not likely.  The principles that led to the discovery of ceramic superconductors
were well known at that time.

> Now we have CERAMIC SUPERCONDUCTORS and all the "scientists" NOW SAY
> "sure you can do that". But it was like TWO years AFTER their announcement
> that the "scientific community" finanally said thast they were OK.

Excuse me?  I'm afraid that scientists MADE the discovery.  How can you say
that scientists didn't accept it until two years later when they discovered
it?  When the breakthrough was made it was immediately the hottest topic
in physics and materials science.  At conventions immediately after the
discovery 100's of scientists attended round-table discussions that lasted
long into the night.  Many groups the world over immediately attempted to
duplicate the discovery and did so successfully and varied the materials
making further discoveries.  The scientific method was followed all the
way.  Did you ever wonder why several groups working independently managed
the same discovery within a short time of each other?  Sure one group was
first, but why were so many others working in the same area at the same
time?  Might it not be that the field had advanced far enough that such
a discovery had become feasible?

> I am really tired of all this, you have got to quit thinking that you
> know everything and OPEN YOUR MIND TO NEW STUFF!! (talking about
> "scientists" in general)..

What do you know about it?  You are clearly not a scientist.  If for no
other reason than the repeated use of "you" in your post to refer to
scientists, clearly making a distinction between yourself and them.

> I consider myself a "scientist", and I get CLOSE MINDED sometimes on

Yeah right.  Look at your post again.  Anyway, you can call yourself
a scientist - that doesn't make you one.  What are your qualifications?
A scientist is a person who pursues the study of the natural world via
the rigors of the scientific method.  Go ahead and make up any other
definition you want - but understand you will suddenly be alone speaking
a language only you can understand.

> If Mr. Cole or anyone else would like to send me mailings on their
> data, or would like a place to UPLOAD and distrubute their data, please
> write.

Mr Cole is not in the business of distributing his data or methods.  This is
why scientists have a problem with him, and why he won't be sending you anything
any time soon.

> I would like to see the data myself.

So would I and many other scientists

> (the following is my own opinion, and my fire proof suit is now on)

How's it holding up?  :-)


--
Richard Stead
Center for Seismic Studies
Arlington, VA
stead@seismo.css.gov