Robert Clark:
I most assuredly disagree with your conclusion that they rushed to publication (the strongest phrasing I allow myself in online discussions.)

Alex writes:
Frankly, I personally could care less about one's "phrasing" or whether one adopts a "Gandhi-like" approach; it's the accuracy of one's posts that matters. Usually, rough and tumble debate is at the heart of the quest in obtaining the Truth. I, too, relish civilized, restrained debate and discussion; however, I relish HONEST debate more. If that hurts one's feelings, then so be it. That said, your continuing insinuations on USENET and in the Yahoo! Groups, for example on the issues of water and possible life on Mars, that scientists are ignoring data, hiding data, publishing conclusions they "know" are wrong, etc. are, "lack of [strong] phrasing" notwithstanding, borderline slanderous.

Alex R. Blackwell
University of Hawaii