No subject

   Some things are so entertaining they don't require much comment:

     Dear Prof. Moore,

     As a consultant to the National Science Board's Task Force on
     Transformative Research, I've become intimately familiar with
     issues of orthodoxy and its challenges. In fact, the Task Force is
     now in the throes of piecing together a plan that opens the
     National Science Foundation to non-mainstream approaches. Those in
     the minority currently have little chance of success in winning
     grants. We are trying to right that wrong.

     One of the areas that we focus on is the arrogance of those in
     power. Members of the orthodoxy will off-handedly dismiss minority
     views as the work of crackpots. Sometimes this is true, but, in too
     many instances dismissal is based not on fact but on hearsay.
     Nevertheless, those in power are consistently unwilling to debate
     the minority opinion, dismissing such activity publicly as a waste
     of time, but too often masquerading the underlying issue: fear.
     This is some of what we've learned.

     In the case of AIDS, minority position support from two Nobel Prize
     winners suggests that this is not necessarily the views of
     crackpots. Yet, you swift-boat those scientists with ad hominem
     remarks that seem to have no place in science. In my view, this
     weakens your position.

     Why not be brave and take up the challenge? The opportunity would
     give you a chance to demonstrate to all and forever that
     Nobel-support notwithstanding, these guys are off their collective
     rockers? If you are unwilling to debate Bialy, why not go to the
     horse's mouth and challenge Duesberg? If he's not got something
     real, surely he'll be unwilling to submit to the humiliation of
     debate, and you'll come out on top.

     Best wishes,

     Jerry Pollack

     >>>Gerald H. Pollack, Ph.D.
     >>>Professor
     >>>Department of Bioengineering
     >>>Box 355061
     >>>University of Washington
     >>>Seattle WA 98195

   That would be [1]this Gerald Pollack. And he's referring to [2]this
   National Science Board, and to [3]this committee on transformative
   science.

   Our sad little friend John Moore could come up with no better response
   than this:

     Sorry, I don't agree with you, Jerry. The AIDS denialists have long
     craved respectability, so debating them gives them what they want
     but dignifies their position to an extent that is unwarranted. Our
     position is clearly stated on the AIDStruth.org website and it's
     one I personally believe to be the correct one. You're welcome to
     disagree, of course.

     You should also note that your internet-posted review of Bialy's
     book on Duesberg reveals your sympathy with the AIDS denialist camp
     for all to see. I'll therefore not be communicating with you any
     further.

     Regards
     John Moore

   Now of course Moore has been told time and again that the term
   "denialist" is pure slander, one that borders on anti-semitic. Indeed,
   I've gotten quite a few letters from this Moore fellow, who engages in
   little but circular reasoning and ad hominem slurs and refuses to take
   a stand in any forum where he might have to answer pointed
   questions--as several scientists who've forwarded their correspondence
   with him to me can attest. The man is indeed quite fond of saying
   he'll never correspond with someone again because they're
   "denialists," but then just keeps writing to them anyway. It's rather
   comical.

   I found Gerry Pollack's final response to be pretty much say it all:

     Dear John,

     This is the first time ever, in my 35-year scientific career, that
     a person said they refuse to communicate with me because I was
     impressed by the logic of a scientific argument, and hoped for a
     response from the other side.

     Is there more to say?

     Best wishes,
     Jerry

   All this via Hank Barnes, who [4]has more details, including the even
   funnier response from Moore.

References

   1. http://depts.washington.edu/bioe/people/core/pollack/pollack.html
   2. http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/
   3. http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/committees/cpptrcharge.htm
   4. http://barnesworld.blogs.com/barnes_world/2006/06/scientists_gone.html