LIGO_casebook
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THE <strong>LIGO</strong> COMMENTARIAT<br />
Science reporting in the olden days was simple: Scientists put out information.<br />
Reporters reported this faithfully. If the information put out later turned out to be<br />
wrong, the reporters were not at fault.<br />
Today we have a new breed of science reporters who project themselves as sciencesavvy<br />
arbiters of science, and tend to see themselves as science celebrities. They<br />
promote chosen science like hucksters. They make editorial comments and value<br />
judgements. They ignore critics and criticisms at will. Therefore, when what they<br />
report is false science or fraud, they become part sharers of the blame. Some of the<br />
blame must be assigned to them, including legal blame.<br />
Even worse are the so-called science popularizers, who are actually practicing<br />
scientists. When they promote fraudulent science, it is not science popularizing.<br />
Whatever it is, it is not good for human society.<br />
And then there are the book writers or auteurs. They project themselves as expert<br />
scientists, biographers, psychoanalysts and heroizers – all rolled in one. They are<br />
largely a nuisance for anyone trying to expose bad science. But the bottom line for<br />
them is $$$. Even if their books in the end turn out to be a load of lies, what does it<br />
matter? The money is already in the bank.<br />
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