Comments on: Astrology? Sure! Crop Circles! Yeah! Holocaust denial? Buh bye.

By: dorkey

dorkey — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:32:23 +0000

I guess it’s only when publicly embarrassing things get noticed that they decide to take action. It makes me sad they don’t consider astrology and crop circles embarrassing enough. They’re not in the same league as Holocaust denial. On an emotional level, on a personal level, I would not equate astrology or crop circles with the Holocaust, of course. dorkey Wide Circles

By: Journey through a Burning Mind

Journey through a Burning Mind — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:18:14 +0000

Stuff from the Science Blogosphere…

This week includes a good dosage of Bad Astronomy ranging from astrology and crop circles and their infiltration in academia, some typical psychic quackery, and some actual science reporting on behaviour of ‘cheaters’ in honey bee colonies….

By: Ade

Ade — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:01:08 +0000

@ Aj: D’oh, my bad. Too many comments to read them all in detail – particularly as I was reading at work. Never having been in the situation to get funding or a fellowship of any sort, I have to admit I wasn’t really familiar with the setup and thought they did get money from public funds. Ah well, as long as the fruit loop never received any tax money, then I’m happy with that

By: shane

shane — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:23:09 +0000

A few commenters here have complained that the integrity of UCL has been impugned. Possibly. But they certainly took there sweet time before disassociating themselves from Kollerstrom who has variously been described as an astrologer, any writings by the bloke I’ve found have a serious astrological bent, and “respected astronomer and author”. He is generally referred to as a “respected astronomer and author” by decidedly right wing organisations and people. David Duke, no less, is a defender for example. Kollerstrom has also been associated with 9/11 and 7/7 denial and conspiracy theories in the past. He has gone as far as to harass the families of victims of 7/7.

Whatever the relationship between UCL and Kollerstrom it certainly beggars belief that he was “honoured” in the first place let alone keeping an association for as long as they did.

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:13:20 +0000

@ Ade: you obviously haven’t been reading the comments of others… I’ll say it again just for you.

This seems to be a difference of terminology, which is where BA has got confused. in the UK at least, and I think in many other countries (but not the US, which is causing the confusion), when somebody holds an “honorary research fellowship”, that isn’t a paid position.

So he didn’t “get funding in the first place”, because there was no funding involved.

About the rest – I agree with the sentiment. Too many ridiculous degrees out there…

By: mikeb302000

mikeb302000 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:34:05 +0000

This post reminded me of the incredible comments made by another holocaust denier, President Ahmadinejad when he spoke at Columbia:

http://mikeb302000.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/holocaust-denial-thats-where-we-draw-the-line/

I think gay denial is pretty irrational too, but of course he’s no academic.

By: Holocaust Denial, that’s where we draw the line. « Mikeb302000

Holocaust Denial, that’s where we draw the line. « Mikeb302000 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:13:54 +0000

[...] Denial, that’s where we draw the line. Here’s a wonderfully humorous post from a wonderful site called Bad Astronomy. The self-effacing title shouldn’t mislead. Phil [...]