>   it is arguable that the scientific community might be even more
 >  susceptible than the population at large.

It is far safer in the middle of the herd and when the career workers, 
most of whom are very honest and hard working, see what happens to those 
who get on the edge or separate from the herd, they quickly find safer 
topics to research, closer to the consensus. (Speaking of consensus, 
Juanse must be very busy because he did not yet rise to the "hockey 
stick" mention:)

I don't hold it against those who decide to let someone else tackle the 
hot potatoes -- no matter how important those matters may be -- because 
if they don't have a job or a lab, they can't contribute.

However, there are some who decide to pay the price of fearless 
exploration, let the chips fall where they may, and suffer the 
consequences.  I salute them.  I think we know some of them personally.

They manage to carve out a niche and even prosper, but at night, sitting 
alone by their personal campfire, they have to fight off the wolves alone.

And then, there are a few with the charm, the charisma and the creds to 
take on the issues no one else dares even notice from the corner of the 
eye -- and survive.  I think we know some of them personally.

The pursuit of truth has always been a hazardous personal journey and 
today, for all our societies pretenses, nothing has changed.

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