Dennis,

> I don't know how this relates to the fact that there is a really strong
> antiscience movement in our society (Stuart, I *barely* managed to resist
> commenting on your description of a scientist), and to some extent it's
> correlated with a metaphysical approach that places more importance on
> feelings than knowledge.


Tongue in cheek, Dennis, but with a pinch of truth - personal experience has
shown this to be sometimes the case. I wasn't generalising - that would be
wholly inaccurate and very disrespectful. Science is VERY competitive. Limited
resources in any environment will sometimes generate "agressive" behaviour.


Incidently as the founding father, what role do you think WOS has to play in
motivating birders/ornithologists to participate in more scientific
endeavours. The breeding bird surveys would seem to be an ideal vehicle, but
what level of interest is typically shown by local birders ?


It would be interesting to really thrash this out on tweeters, but I think to
do so thoroughly would take weeks of interaction and would certainly alienate
birders from the more scientific, aspiring - like myself or otherwise,
subscribers.

Incidently, why do you feel there is a need for mainstream birders to
participate in ornithology. Would it not better to get a core group of 20
really motivated people, rather than 200 casual observers. Discuss.....

I think this is very much an on-going debate, do you think it would be worth
taking this off-line by setting up an information mailing list and advertising
this on tweeters, or are we getting into the elistist stage in a mailing
lists life cycle.


Stuart "next time, engage brain before opening mouth" MacKay