11-04-2003, 08:02 PM
Hi,
In order to make a decision, you need two things: facts and the knowledge to use those facts.
Now, maybe you could get the facts. They are available. Look in scientific periodicals (Nature and Science being the most accessible for the non-specialist). The data is published, and conclusions are discussed (and argued over).
But, even if you did get the facts, you are obviously not in a position to analyze them. "the prints are in the same period (from carbon dating and geological earth lairs) as dinosaurs." Clearly you don't have a clue about these matters. Look up carbon dating, see what the useful range is for it, tell me how *carbon* can be used to date prints that are not in organic material (or in material of organic origin).
Thus, your ignorance of the underlying material makes you incompetent to hold a valid opinion that is not secondhand. You could no more judge the validity of a claim based on the presented facts than my cat could do algebra. And you are not alone. As fields become more specialized, they become harder to follow, harder to understand. Indeed, even trying to keep up with the literature in many subfields is literally impossible, it is being printed faster than a person could read it, much less assimilate the knowledge.
--Pete
In order to make a decision, you need two things: facts and the knowledge to use those facts.
Now, maybe you could get the facts. They are available. Look in scientific periodicals (Nature and Science being the most accessible for the non-specialist). The data is published, and conclusions are discussed (and argued over).
But, even if you did get the facts, you are obviously not in a position to analyze them. "the prints are in the same period (from carbon dating and geological earth lairs) as dinosaurs." Clearly you don't have a clue about these matters. Look up carbon dating, see what the useful range is for it, tell me how *carbon* can be used to date prints that are not in organic material (or in material of organic origin).
Thus, your ignorance of the underlying material makes you incompetent to hold a valid opinion that is not secondhand. You could no more judge the validity of a claim based on the presented facts than my cat could do algebra. And you are not alone. As fields become more specialized, they become harder to follow, harder to understand. Indeed, even trying to keep up with the literature in many subfields is literally impossible, it is being printed faster than a person could read it, much less assimilate the knowledge.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?