Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 21:44, 27 July 2006

Controlled demo, WTC, etc.

Any advice on how to deal with this situation would be appreciated. (Especially from someone who does not have very strong opinions about the subject.) Talk:Collapse_of_the_World_Trade_Center--Thomas Basboll 13:10, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

So far you're doing what you need to, which is keeping cool and staying on firm ground. I think sticking with that strategy is your best bet.

One of your problems is that the last person to try large changes to the article was a pretty difficult fellow. He would often start out proposing what seemed to be reasonable changes and then get less reasonable. Whether he didn't have the discipline to keep his POV in check, or was trying to sneak things in, I don't know. I think a lot of people are waiting to see if you crack under pressure and say something nutty.

Part of the skepticisim directed at you is also because you don't have much of an edit history. It would probably go easier for you if you had a bunch of edits in an unrelated field (such as your area of expertise) that could be checked over for tone and content. Also, it may have been easier if you had started out as a participant in the discussion at the collapse page rather than the principal. I'm not certain about that, though - It's rather polarized and anything you say will likely get you lumped into one of the two camps. Toiyabe 17:09, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

Interesting. Thanks. I may take your advice. I've done some big (but few) changes on the social epistemology page, some of them a while back before I decided to use my real name. I guess I could just let all this lie for bit longer before actually making the edits.--Thomas Basboll 17:42, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

Apparently new to Misplaced Pages, you jumped into a contentious article, made some improvements, and largely had your way with an extensive rewrite. Rejoice and be glad. You will be in a better position to judge Mongo's behavior after you have more experience. Tom Harrison 15:01, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

Thanks!

Hi Thomas - just want to flash you a big smile for the great job you are doing at Collapse of the World Trade Center. You are apparantly the one needed to get this articles standard up. Keep up the good work :) EyesAllMine 09:29, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

Hey, thanks, it's been interesting. After the original controversy I reread the article and thought that much of the policy talk (POV and OR especially) was pretty minor given the level of the prose. It seemed especially strange to banish even the dismissal of CD, when NIST's own account was hardly on the page at all. Anyway, I'm glad you like it.--Thomas Basboll 10:01, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

Dynamic/Statics in Scope of the Search subsection

I've reworded the "The scope of the search" subsection. I hope it helps folks understand the difference between static and dynamic a bit better. If you are still unclear, let me know - it needs to be understandable to a reasonably intelligent non-specialist.

Structural Engineering is not my field. I've been rather hoping that someone with experiance in that field would step in, but no luck yet. Toiyabe 16:04, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

In case you're wondering

I won't read my resume to you, but I am well educated...so when I see posts on my talk page declaring that you believe I am "a man of a particular kind of science at best" it's pretty hard to take you seriously. I'm not an engineer, but indeed I do know what the differences between reliable sources and those that aren't and I don't appreciate accusations to the contrary.--MONGO 20:46, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

Do a read through of WP:RS, WP:V and WP:NPOV, with the last one, concentrating on the undue weight clause...which is very important in ensuring we don't give undue weight where it has little or no basis in known science.--MONGO 21:23, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

Flat Earth vs Round Earth compared to Controlled demolition vs Massive destuction due to tremendous kenetic energy and massive fires are entirely different things. Here's the difference: the first comparison is benign...no one was killed, no one is hurt by believing in a flat earth. No one is hurt or bothered by whether someone believes in UFO's or the tooth fairy either. Those that postulate controlled demolition adversely affect the quality fo this encyclopedic effort if they try to tweak wording or twist the evidence to support dogma with no basis in science. As is clearly demonstrated in the undue weight clause and in WP:NOR, if there is nothing that has been properly published in any reputable source, then it is best to exclude it. We are not "after the truth" we are after what can be verified. If the "truth" isn't verifiable, then we don't include it.--MONGO 21:44, 27 July 2006 (UTC)