[Coral-List] Insults to scientists

[Sheppard, Charles]

Sarah Frias-Torres says she has been called an ‘Environmental Nazi’ when she tells people what sort of things need to be done to help reefs (or indeed any of the oceans’ habitats).   Let us on Coral-List have a competition for the most imaginative insult.  I would like to offer two entries: I have been called in public:

a ‘scientific fascist’ (by a lawyer representing a vested interest) for using data to demonstrate an unwelcome point – clearly a shocking thing to try and do!  Also, a ‘people killer’ when pointing out in a keynote at a sustainable development conference that the number of people already living on the island that the conference was held in was not sustainable.

Our competition might award a ‘Virtual Coral’ prize to the recipient of the most absurd or imaginative insult.  Then, seriously, we should use the list in a well-placed article on this whole head-in-the-sand and denial problem.   

Best wishes
Charles Sheppard
Professor Emeritus