Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 16:18:34 -0400
Subject: Re: HAB: lessons in Power, Sharon's latest production





Well actually I was being a bit ironic.  A few weeks ago I posted a link to my
review of Stephen Jay Gould's last book in The Nation, and then along came Dumain
and demanded to see my "qualifications" for daring to question the diktat of
Science.  I thought it was a bit rich for him to be insisting on qualifications,
because he makes a great fuss of proclaiming from the rooftops that he hasn't got
any qualifications, he's such an "autodidact," blah blah, and then as soon as
someone writes something he doesn't like, its "Oh no, where are your
qualifications?"  So I was sort of joking.

But since you bring up the subject, I actually think its not such a bad idea to
insist on a few qualifications from the posters in this forum.  I propose the
following qualifications, failure to produce which will result in immediate and
irrevocable expulsion from this list: (1) The equanimity to participate calmly,
without protesting "what does this have to do with Habermas" whenever anyone
posts something the pertinence of which isn't immediately obvious to the simplest
undergraduate.  (2)  The self-restraint to refrain from posting annoying nonsense
about evolutionary biology.  (3)   The magnanimity to spurn the ad hominum (4)
The ability to prove that one is not Ralph Dumain.

Most people will be able to fulfill these four simple qualifications with little
trouble.  Those who cannot are welcome to continue their discussions elsewhere.

Cheers,

David Hawkes

malgosia askanas wrote:

> David Hawkes wrote:
>
> > Once I see some
> > qualifications I may take a different view, but for now the matter is
> > settled: no qualifications, no right to  comment on anything, ever.
> > Sorry, but that's the way it has to be.
>
> That's funny.  I am the listowner, and I didn't realize that one needed
> "qualifications" to write to this list, let alone that "that's the way it
> has to be".  Exactly what qualifications do you have in mind?   If we are
> going to require qualifications, we better make it all official and establish
> the proper procedures.  Then of course there is the question of whether
> _you_ have sufficient qualifications to establish qualifications.  We better
> get to all this right away; so much to do and so little time.
>
> -m
>
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