sas@BBN.COM (08/30/88)
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 88 09:18 EDT From: sas@BBN.COM To: AIList@ai.ai.mit.edu cc: sas@BBN.COM In-reply-to: AIList Moderator Nick Papadakis's message of Thu 25 Aug 1988 22:53-EDT Subject: Not Quite Re: The Ignorant Assumption Gilbert Cockton's comment: Admittedly they only murder rival research rather than rival researchers. Stakes don't have to be made from wood :-< reminded me of a story I read in the letters column of Sky and Telescope last year. Apparently, one powerful researcher was dead set against funding a particular objective lens design and issued a statement that, not only would he fight funding for the lens, but that he would fight funding to any individual who so much as put in a good word for it. Interestingly, Charles Babbage, felt this was a bit unfair and that a good design shouldn't be put down so arbitrarily and made his sentiments known. Sure enough, retribution was swift and funding for the Analytical Engine was cut off. Then again, this sort of thing goes on all the time .... Seth