Anthro-L

Deus Ex Machina (X8H1@MUSIC.STLAWU.EDU)
Mon, 22 Apr 1996 15:01:17 EST

This is an open letter to all maybe its premature , maybe I am impatient
but, I feel that what I am about to say needs to be said. The other day
I posted a request to anyone who has physical anthro as a speciality
to give some feedback on a current research project. Granted I would not
"demand" that anyone respond. However, in the few days since the post
the only things that have been posted have for the most part been crap
and drivel. Almost none of it is even pertinent to the topic of
Anthro. Most of the "serious stuff" that ever is posted to this list
serve is oriented more to the realm of sociology or philosophy. The
irony of this is with regard to the philosophy stuff is that many of the
things posted are so wrong it leads me to really wonder if any of the
people who post the stuff have ever taken a reasoning course.
It is also ironic that the "socio-cultural folks can't even agree on
what the hell truth is. I certainly hope that you folks don't consider
yourselves "scientists." It seems to me that you cannot be a scientist
if you can't at least accept the concept that the world is knowable.
On that topic the concept of "subjective" truth is baloney.
How the heck can there be "more" than one truth in a given instance.
What ones thinks they see is not necessarily the truth. If one were
to allow for relativistic and subjective truth then we give power
and creedence to ideas like racism.
Anyway, I am unsubscribing to this list because the socio/cultural folks
have a definite stranglehold on it. This is clear when the next ten or
fifteen posts after a legitimate post are meaningless drivel. This it
also should be pointed out is norm on Anthro-L since I have been on it
Maybe one out of every ten posts has been
specifically focused on anthro and even fewer on phys. or arch.
The irony of this letter is that it will get many more responses than
my posts that I wanted responses to.
Matthew Joanis
x8h1@Music.stlawu.edu

"Those who desire to give up Freedom in order to gain Security,
will not have, nor do they deserve, either one."
-- Thomas Jefferson