I find it very frustrating when people seem to feel that they must be
spoon fed science, as Chuck apparently wants science to do. Scientists
have a very serious job to do, and they need to do as efficiently as
possible. Yes, jargon is there. But, on the other hand, the jargon can
be learned by anyone, including Chuck. Techinical papers are hard to
read, but anyone can learn to read them. There is no imaginary line
where someone without a degree cannot cross to examine _primary_
literature.
When people criticize science when they only look at secondary
literature, one has to wonder about them. Indeed, freshman (yes, even
just out of high school) are often given primary literature in scientific
fields as supplimentary reading. If freshman can read it, why can't the
critics of science? Indeed, with only a year or two, most undergrads are
expected to look almost entirely at primary literature. So, why can't
all these critics of science? Indeed, at my level, I'm expected to look
at primary literature outside my field and sometimes in another language.
Why can't the critics of science who are at this level or higher do the same?
At to shame all of you who refuse to try to read primary literature, I
was just at a high school science fair where the students were required
to examine primary literature in complex fields, such as medicine, to do
their projects. If high school students can do it, why can't the
critics of science?
Also, why is it strange to Chuck, given that it doesn't take all that
much to begin to learn to read primary literature, that scientists don't
respect critics of science who rely on secondary literature? Indeed, if
they make the huge effort to write a book, why wouldn't an author feel
the need to consult the primary literature? Is he lazy? Cutting
corners? Being intentionally deceptive? Remember, _high school_ students
can do it, why can't these authors?
Indeed, along with myself, the have been others on this reflector who
would be happy to pass along references to do part of the research job
for you. I even maintain a 2700 reference database online (on
creation/evolution topics) with a total offline number of over 5300
references. I've done a ton a hunting for you as a start and I've made
most of it publically available.
So, what exactly is the layman's excuse for not researching the primary
literature. It's obvious that high school level education is all you
need, the rest you can teach yourself. It's not hard to find references,
there are plenty of ways to find them. Libraries exist all over. So,
what exactly is the problem?
Tom