[From Bruce Abbott (960129.1610)]
Rick Marken (960129.1100) --
Bruce Abbott (960129.1055 EST)
Creation "scientists" argue that variation and natural selection cannot
explain the origin of species, and prove their case with a little simple
probability.
I'm sorry you think that the research and modelling we've done on the nature
of human controlling is comparable to that done by creation scientists. But
that explains a lot.
And I'm sorry that you have chosen to offer this total distortion as
something I actually said or implied in my post. You demonstrate that
intellectual honesty is absolutely the last thing you concern yourself
about. I didn't say anything at all about the research and modelling you've
done, let alone compare it to work done by creation scientists.
Regards,
Bruce
[From Rick Marken (960129.1400)]
Me:
I'm sorry you think that the research and modelling we've done on the nature
of human controlling is comparable to that done by creation scientists. But
that explains a lot.
Bruce Abbott (960129.1610) --
And I'm sorry that you have chosen to offer this total distortion as
something I actually said or implied in my post.
Sorry. I guess I misunderstood your "parable" [Bruce Abbott (960129.1055
EST)] about the creationists. In that parable you said:
The making of such erroneous claims by creation "scientists" destroys their
credibility in the scientific community...
Those who attempt to establish their position -- right or wrong -- by
misrepresenting and distorting opposing views, destroy their own credibility
and get their views rejected out of hand.
Your parable seemed to be saying that we (PCT researchers) misrepresent and
distort opposing views, so I thought you were comparing what I do (PCT
research) to what creation scientists do. If you think this is a "distortion"
of the implication of your parable, then that's the way it goes. But I
suggest that one way to avoid this kind of "distortion" in the future is to
stop talking in parables and start saying what you mean.
As far as distortions of other views goes: as far as I can tell, the only
ones here who have been "distorting" views are you and your fellow S- R
reinforcement theorists. You guys are either doing this intentionally to keep
people (including yourselves) from seeing the obvious failures of cause-
effect models of behavior or you don't know how these models work. I don't
discount the possibility that both are true.
Best
Rick