Rrhain writes:
When a fool proclaims a competent person to be a fool, it is not improper to point out the foolishness of the fool.
The big problem is that uninformed onlookers can't tell which one is the fool. Better to avoid geting into pissing contests with fools, which appears to be what APS had in mind in their response at
APS Comments on Harold Lewis’ Resignation of his Society Membership.
I do think there's a general rule of thumb one can apply in this case to decide who is the fool:
- Someone who disagrees with well established and widely accepted science by providing evidence and argument supporting their position: worth listening to.
- Someone who claims there is a multi-decade conspiracy involving thousands of people: ignore them.
--Percy
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