R isn’t blaming the church, but is instead praising the scientific establishment for coming clean about the misconduct of a very respected researcher. (Although I think Harvard could be a bit more forthcoming about the allegations.)

Cheers,
Eliza, DISCOVER online news editor

But none the less, madam, using the comparison of the church to make his point. A point he knows little about. The church doesn’t let you back in when you “diddle” kids. And that dismissive tone is insulting.

Kudos, BTW ,to the assistant who didn’t back down..one more time that a second pair of eyes saved the day.

Thanks

Look how fast they let those enviro nazi’s back into the fold of -ahem- scientific research (eeck….i feel so dirty calling it that) after being caught fudging data.

Will this be any different?

R’s point was an oblique one and I did see it. I didn’t say R was “blaming” the church any more than the church is blaming Hauser. My point was that R was trying to deflect this moment of shame by dragging in some other shame. As in, “Well, at least we’re not that bad”. We learn from mistakes by taking them to heart, not by spraying them. And I agree that science corrects and cleans it’s own house. That should have been the only point and it’s a good point.

As for “meanwhile the church lets you back after you diddle kids”, some university will let Hauser back in after he diddled the data. It won’t be Harvard but he’ll be back at the podium soon enough.

I didn’t say Pinker and Hauser collaborated on papers so I’m not saying Pinker’s data is dirty. I am saying they are “beloved” soul mates. Moreover, I would guess their students chum about some just as Pinker and Hauser do and I would bet their students gossip. So this stuff is known at some accessible level well above the “psychic” level. Pinker was clued in to his students gossip. I read somewhere (NYTimes?) that this suspicion has been out there for some time so it didn’t just sneak up on everyone.

source

R isn’t blaming the church, but is instead praising the scientific establishment for coming clean about the misconduct of a very respected researcher. (Although I think Harvard could be a bit more forthcoming about the allegations.)

Cheers,
Eliza, DISCOVER online news editor

Stand up and take it like a man. It’s disappointing to see you fidget, squirm and deflect Hauser’s faults by invoking everyone’s favorite scapegoat. It’s not about the church and it’s dirty laundry. It’s not about Hauser’s childhood or parents either so forget that excuse. It’s not about anything except Hauser’s lack of integrity and about the silence of too many of his colleagues who must have sensed something of this sort. A man as insightful as Pinker must have had an inkling. Or does Pinker also see what he wants to see? Congratulations to the student who called Hauser’s bluff.