Re: I'm late, I'm late...

[Danvarner@aol.com]

  It is certainly odd that two questions and a simple statement of fact would
elicit such a strong response from Mr Schmidt. Perhaps a nerve has been struck
here.
  Schmidt states,"Unfortunately, you are very misguided if you believe that
scientific morality will stop dealers from selling scientifically important
specimens." Since I never said anything of the sort, Schmidt is creating a
straw man. He in no way can ascertain my beliefs since I did not state them. 
  Schmidt also states, "As a great number of of these fossils are illegally
exported, no honest academic would even look at purchasing them, so off to
private collectors they go." I ask him, "Do they go legally?"
  Schmidt then states,"Until morality becomes law, don't expect commercial
dealers to lose sales by donating items to science. Unless there is a huge tax
write off, it doesn't often happen." I certainly wasn't "expecting" anything
at all from commercial dealers and I would certainly assume that the "value"
of the "items" would be diminished by the unscientific way in which they were
probably collected and prepared.
  Schmidt goes on, "Your right, it is a great loss to science. If anyone wants
to take up a collection, there are(i think) two more available. Anybody got
$20,000 kicking around they don't need?" Besides possibly being grounds for
removal from this list, this statement should make the students here feel a
little nervous. If they are looking forward at all to having a future in this
field, perhaps they should make sure they attend the business meeting at SVP
and keep their ears open. SVP looks out for the interests of the student. SVP
has an ethics statement. Read it. Dan Varner.