You're up early. :-)
Starting at the end of your screed and working backwards -
Since you've already mentioned your profession would you mind re-mentioning it to save one having to read all your posts.
Personally I find it easier to interact with other people the more I know about them. Warts and all.
As for you being a Shell secret agent I was only being half serious. Having been here since 2005 I can't imagine the oil companies looking
that far ahead. However, I do think any serious breakthroughs should be discussed in the Community Buzz rather than the General Discussion forum.
All those added complexities while in the end, when perhaps someone on this forum found a mechanism of perpetual motion and shows the world, things still need to be explained clearly and at least a tiny bit understandable (usually in relation to known things).
The problem with that, dear boy, as you would know if you had ever done scientific research, is that the clarity you seek only comes right at the end.
Furthermore, it will involve subjects which are not widely known such as Ashby's Law of Requisite Variety, Multi-Factor Analysis of Variance to mention just two.
Hell, in this forum people's eyes glaze over when one reaches the 3rd derivative of position with respect to time and as for snap, crackle and pop they think that's a joke. The only person I've got any really useful feedback from is cloud camper.
though I must admit when I skid badly off the road I've often been pulled back by some kindly Samaritan. :-)
Freedom goes down the drain when random people start to form a skewed-opinion on a personal level: so this form of freedom could become a career issue.
Perhaps there's a slight argument against online anonymity, but I think online pseudonimity should be mandatory for this very reason.
I disagree. People use their full names on JC's blog. Even our resident gadfly, Primo-thingummy uses James Miller. I don't know whether John's made it a requirement or not but as far as I'm concerned it's a far better arrangement.
Not sure what you mean by a career issue? I suppose if you're an academic and it gets back to your institution that you are consorting with BesslerWheel nutters it might damage your chances of promotion.
That could be catered for by admin granting an exemption in such rare cases.
To give you an opening (I'm not wanting to corner you completely): Perhaps I see things wrong, and it's not fair.
It's not my will in any way to cause you harm, and I'm really sorry when it did - because for me this is just scientific enquiry (which I think you should be able to handle).
Fair enough. Perhaps I did rather go off the deep end. I apologise for the rant.
It's just that in bringing up all those years of struggle against the stream at the scientific coalface has left me somewhat pissed off with research and researchers in general. As for cornering me - don't worry - better men than you have tried. :-)
And I'll leave it there. Kissy-kissy and make up, eh!
Or perhaps we had better just shake hands.
People might get the wrong idea. :-)