From:
sukiecrandall@telocity.com
Date: 2002-09-01 04:06:08 UTC
Subject: RE: Bob C: Ferret Caretaker Quiz
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <11993267.1030853168289.JavaMail.root@scandium>
A basic point: The point of advancing hypotheses is not to turn out to be right; it is to get ideas out there and then hopefully have them tested. A study is no less valid if it shows that a hypothesis is false than if it shows that a hypothesis is correct. Either way, things are learned. As a result, while we all need to respect each others' hypotheses -- as we have all so far done -- we also must recognise that on testing specifically for ferrets any of them (the personal favorites of anyone, me included) may turn out to simply not hold water. If so, that is fine because that is what scientific study is all about: finding out rather than being right, which is why it is important that evidence, study approaches, and so on are under discussion in a civil fashion.
I guess this is a warning, in case anyone gets defensive (including me, and I came close resulting in having to whip myself with a wet noodle as the advice columnist used to say) to take 10 deep breaths, hold a post and think twice. Having seen this discussion topic turn ugly in the past, partly due to lack of firm ferret studies giving more credence to one preference over another, it would be best to avoid that result. Today the other moderators seem to possibly be busy elsewhere as happens with any of us on and off, so i guess you are stuck with me asking that it not get defensive, and I ask that this concern be as respected as it would be if it came from any other moderator. Thanks much for being careful.