Hi Tweets,

>>In a message dated 97-11-07 22:36:15 EST, Jerry Tangren wrote:
>>
>><< I do want to
>> defend those of us who are global rather than analytic. We both
>> need each other and to understand each other. >>

This debate around global and analytical is one of those 'The world is
divided into two types of people: those who divide the world into two types
of people and those who don't'-type discussions, often with a certain
prejudice against the analytic.

Herman Kahn, the 'On Thermonuclear War' thinker, was once criticised for
devoting his immense intellect to being coldly analytical. His
response--which he just cranked over the centerfield wall--was, paraphrased,
'When the chips are down, would you prefer a nice warm human error?'

Essentially each are simply descriptive tools, to be used appropriately: the
global describes a reality by embedding it in context; the analytical
defines that same reality by setting the limiting boundaries; each are
interwoven (ID'ing a distant Red-tailed Hawk without needing to trudge
explicitly through all the identifying marks of of plumage, flight profile
and behavior in the first case, describing definitively why a certain small
Calidris shorebird has to be a Alternate-plumaged Red-necked rather than a
Little Stint in the second) as inseparably as frogs and pollywogs.

>> Certainly we need both types but I think I would rather have an
>>analytical person writing up a Rare Bird Report.
>
>That's probably why I've never submitted a Rare Bird Report in over 30 years
>of birding. Although I've received lots of how-to tips over the years, I'm
>hopelessly analytically challenged.

Well, based on recent breakthroughs in medical science, the
analytically-challenged now have only two things to do on a Rare Bird
Report: 1) establish the ID beyond reasonable doubt (with clear field
notes); 2) using the marks in your field description, eliminate beyond
reasonable doubt all likely similar species. The more detailed your field
notes on a particular bird, the less you'll have to rely on personality type
to get it accepted by a competent Rarities Committee. Science strides on. '-)

Michael Price We aren't flying...we're falling with style!
Vancouver BC Canada -Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story
mprice at mindlink.net