Kurt,
        I did not feel that you were trashing the scientific community.  Then
perhaps it may be because I know you and at least I think I know where you
are coming from.  I think it is important that the scientific community
police itself to some degree and I personally think that discussions such as
this are part of that process.  If being a scientist means surrendering one's
ideas and thought processes to some "accepted" bias or mode of thinking.
Count me out.  You and I have a common philosophy - "Question everything."  I
do not accept something simply because it is in print or because "someone in
authority" said it was so.  I too have a mind (however limited it might be)
and am capable of reasoning things out for myself.  Those who know me best
may sometimes deem otherwise, but I support free thought and skepticism so
long as it is honest and objective.  Well, that became quite a soap box
didn't it.
        Let's try to move this discussion to another level.  Let's discuss
zoogeography and species distribution among mollusks.  Any thoughts folks!

Doug Shelton
Alabama Malacological Research Center
2370-G Hillcrest Road #236
Mobile, AL 36695


In a message dated 6/4/99 8:47:49 AM Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> One more posting on this subject and I'm out.  I want to clear up one
>  aspect of this discussion.  My diatribes of late were not meant to
>  completely trash the academic community at large, although it may have
>  sounded like they were.  There are many hundreds of very competent, very
>  ethical, very diligent researchers out there working on very meaningful
>  projects which will indeed change the courses of mankind and snaildom.
>  However, they are forced to work in a political system which has aspects to
>  it that I have personally found distasteful.  And within this system there
>  are those who thrive in it, which I find even more distasteful.  I should
>  be able to say, "More power to them.", but I can't.  I apologize to anyone
>  who may have been offended.
>
>  The main thrust of my perhaps vitriolic attack was that more moola and
>  emphasis should be placed on field work of an alpha-taxonomic nature at
>  this point in our history.  The rest of our questions can wait awhile.  The
>  next decade or two spell biologic disaster in the terrestrial Tropics of
>  the World.  We need to get these critters (OK, plants too) in museums so
>  future generations of enthusiasts can marvel as we have.
>
>  OK, time to get some work done.   Everyone, have a great weekend.  Kurt
>
>