[Coral-List] Insults to scientists

Billy Causey - NOAA Federal billy.causey at noaa.gov
Tue Mar 7 11:27:18 EST 2017


I have a whole range of insults and cartoons that I could offer, but I
don't see this as a positive way to get at the issues.  Positions and
attitudes change and I am not sure "picking scabs" is a good was to
solve our communication problems.

The very community that seriously hung me in effigy in the early
1990's, made me the Grand Marshall of the 4th July parade in the mid
2000's. Clearly this was a change in attitudes.

Insults and verbal assaults are indicative that communication is only
occurring in one direction.  Some of us in government tend to be
guilty of not listening well, but the same is true with other groups.

My suggestion is to let the insults roll off your back like water
rolls off a duck and take a close look inwards.

Sincerely,  Billy Causey

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 7, 2017, at 11:02 AM, Sheppard, Charles <Charles.Sheppard at warwick.ac.uk> wrote:
>
> 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
>
>
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