On Tue, Feb 04, 2003 at 09:59:58AM -0800, Michael Motyka wrote:

The net effect is that by and large journalists have become a cheerleading squad when what is needed is a vigorous and independent critical facility. That is if we are to retain some degree of the of, by and for philosophy. Maybe nobody wants that except for a few malcontents.

Right. See what I sent to Politech today: Does Richard Clarke know what he's talking about? http://www.politechbot.com/p-04403.html More on Richard Clarke and root servers misstatement http://www.politechbot.com/p-04405.html Richard Clarke misstates Canadian elections cancelled? http://www.politechbot.com/p-04404.html Anyone think that Clarke is going to return my phone calls anytine soon? It's human nature not to like criticism, and to shun (or, if sufficiently annoying, to attack) your critics. As another example, I got a call today from one of the popular Sunday morning talk shows. They wanted my advice on whom to invite on. I recommended someone, and they reminded me, "Um, didn't you watch the program recently? Our host has been critical of that [person]. There's no way we'll get someone from [that organization] on the program." Sigh. -Declan