Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id JAA26669 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 20 Jul 2000 09:01:18 +0100 Message-ID: <20000720075922.23156.qmail@nwcst323.netaddress.usa.net> Date: 20 Jul 00 08:59:22 BST From: Derek Gatherer <derek-gatherer@usa.net> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: RE:Memes and sexuality X-Mailer: USANET web-mailer (34FM1.5A.01A) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
This thread is still drifting off on an imaginary tangent, rather reminiscent
of the recent Cons and Facades thread......
Derek Freeman has made many cogent criticisms of Mead's work. These have been
independently backed up to a large extent by researchers at the University of
Samoa, and by Martin Orans. Freeman is not a 'bully' or a 'cretin' or any of
the other abusive things that have been said about him here. True, not
everybody agrees with everything he has said. But independent researchers
have concluded that he is substantially correct in his criticisms. Freeman
does not have to issue any 'long list of retractions' or 'stop promoting his
work' or any of the other things that have been suggested in this thread.
Anyone who wants to follow the real controversy, can find a useful list of
references at:
http://www.angelfire.com/sk/jrlaurie/meadmar2.html
Fortunately in memetics there is no question of any such controversy. Ours is
a field in which bad work is honestly criticised. It would be very wrong,
after all, to leave such work uncriticised, as many people might be fooled by
it. Indeed, I see it as my duty as a scientist to make sure that shoddy work
is given a good seeing to, and I hope I will always continue to do so. If my
criticisms serve the purpose of discrediting bad work, then I have done a good
job.
Maybe, like Freeman, I will be the subject of a Skeptical Inquirer article
suggesting that my criticisms were actually gross misrepresentations. That
would be most amusing, and I look forward to that honour. I recommend that
anybody who thinks I am guilty of such things should immediately set about
contacting that journal.
Derek 'the Freeman of memetics' Gatherer
PS: Okay, bad joke, but come on... what is this thread about? I think it's a
bit obvious.....
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