Reply #66: expect the History channel to show accurate history

[WoodrowFan]

I enjoy the History Channel but it is only as accurate as the many different companies that produce its videos (including a lot of UFO shows it seems). Some are better than others and more than one produce pure crap. PBS's "American Experience' has much higher standards and even it makes me wince at times.

I subscribe to "Discover" magazine and enjoy talking about its articles with friends, but if I were to argue about what "scientists say" with a real Ph.D. in physics and I was spouting stuff that was the scientific equal of "FDR knew" I'd expect to get my head handed to me on a plate. A Ph.D. that is active in his field (back me up here ProfGAC!) not only spent the intellectual equivalent of boot camp getting the damn degree, but they then have to keep up the same level of study the rest of their career to stay up to speed. I did my Ph.D. classwork in the early 80s and haven't slowed down since. You have to read journals, books, articles, reviews, talk with your fellows, write, attend conferences and argue(1). As for my tone toward the original post, well I have little patience with an amateur who read one book (which was rejected by peer review as garbage) and he's telling me that the earth is flat and only 6,000 years old. Sorry. Not buying it. Asking what 2=2 equals gets a respectful answer; telling me bluntly that 2+2 equals 5 does not.

BTW, some liberals may be able to argue every side, but I'm a liberal because I believe that we all have responsibility as a community to take care of one another. To me, the right to food, clothing, shelter, medical care, etc, is FAR more important that if a walmart stockholder receives an extra dollar in his dividend. That's why I am a liberal and a Democrat. Tolerant? SURE. The original poster has every right to stand on a rooftop and yell his opinion, but being tolerant of it doesn't mean I can't stand on my rooftop and tell him he's full of crap.


1.(side note: I LOVE every minute of it, to me, heaven is a library with an archive)