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To: SampleMan
Is it really asking so much that scientists don't understate the possible unknowns and as yet unquantifiable variables in their conclussions?

An issue with that is, often they don't know what they don't know. A general attitude of humility would be a better strategy.

And, in fact, that's often the case. Perhaps you've not visited many science threads here, but often a properly hedged report will be ridiculed by our unfortunately large Luddite population.

62 posted on 11/17/2006 1:33:38 PM PST by edsheppa
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To: edsheppa
An issue with that is, often they don't know what they don't know. A general attitude of humility would be a better strategy.

Yes, and I'm not expecting scientists to start every sentence with, "I don't really know, but...". By definition you can't know the specifics of what you don't know, and often you can't even know if there is more to be revealed. But sometimes, as in climatology, you can be most certain that there is a great deal you don't know. When the heat retention of a body of water cannot be forecast 180 days in advance with any certainty, no one should be making forecasts of 1 degree increases over 100 years. Lectures on how it could happen, or what could cause it? Yes, that's exploration. But a forecast? No.

72 posted on 11/17/2006 4:19:13 PM PST by SampleMan (Do not dispute the peacefulness of Islam, so as not to send Muslims into violent outrage.)
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