I do not have a string of letters after my name, so what I say may be
quickly discounted as irrelevant by some people. If scientists, researchers
and academics intend to speak only to each other and ignore the 99.9% of the
rest of the population who do not share their language, terminology or
expertise, then they will quickly isolate themselves and their influence
will be correspondingly diminished.
I experience a minimum of three dimensions in every situation: facts,
meanings and values. Facts pertain to the world of science, measurement and
observation: meanings arise from the intellectual comprehension of
relationship and value springs from spiritual understanding. Leaving out
one of these primary dimensions can make any discussion or argument
pointless or endless.
I have often seen opinion masquerading as fact, with plenty of research to
back it up. As a farmer, educator and animator, I thoroughly enjoy this
list for its mix of "fact" and "opinion". After all the studies have been
done, the research completed and the papers written, people will still have
to make up their minds as to what is "true". I hope that the
'professionals' on this list will bear with us amateurs and give us the
benefit of their knowlede and insight. Jeff Gold