Re: from a class three human

[NCLARK@museum.gla.ac.uk]

Here is the reference.  I added a few comments about the generalisations to 
Tom but have not appended them here.  I am surprised you didn't receive 
this.

Neil


>Date:          Fri, 27 Jan 1995 00:21:20 -0500
>Reply-to:      Tompaleo@aol.com
>From:          Tompaleo@aol.com
>To:            Multiple recipients of list 
><dinosaur@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu>
>Subject:       Re: The Dinosaur Egg Debate
>
>I have preferred to lurk during the ameteur vs professional debate until 
>now.
>     IMHO, there are two major types of paleontologist:
>1)The professional i.e PhD types who work for varoius institutions etc.
>2) The non-professionals of which there are several sub-types;
> a.  Para-professionals (Persons working toward Type #1)
>      i. Graduate Students
>      ii. Undergrad Studens
>  b. Freelancers
>    . i. Private citizens that posess the zeal and the ability to learn
>enough of a "specialty" to practically operate independantly and publish
>their work, but do not hold a degree. In other words, they contribute to 
>the
>science .
>
>3)Ameteurs
>  a.Serious Ameteurs. (self explanitary)
>  b. Hobbyists and those with no interest/ability or desire to contribute 
>to
>the science.
>
>Which leads to the last (and least type)
>
>4)Profiteers.
>Inconsiderate ameteurs and unscrupulous persons that raid valuable 
>collecting
>localities, destroy a fossils scientific value, turn a fossil into jewelry,
>lamps, (or worse) or dismember specimens to sell piece meal for prices 
>beyond
>that which a respected institution could hope to pay (if the specimen had
>great scientific value). These people also have no regard for property
>rights, trespass and continue to do so even after being caught and warned,
>and damage established "professional" sites etc. 
>
>Type 4 non-paleontologists are what cause all of us problems. These are the
>people that should be ostracised and discredited in the eyes of the
>lay-public in the hope  to  decrease demand for brokered fossils. Because 
>of
>inconsiderate trespassers , Calvert Cliffs in Maryland is no longer
>accessible to types 2 and 3 except at two fair to poor locations. As a
>representaive of type 2. sub a. ii, I have had the personal displeasure of
>running into type 4's at _THE_ONLY_ place in Maryland that (Dr. Holtz
>probably knows where) one can collect  Lower Cretaceous vertebrate 
>material.
>I am sworn to secrecy as to it's location!  The owners are very leary of
> "strangers" and require clearance from the Smithsonian before they would
>even consider granting permission! There are only 3 or 4 people including
>myself that have permission to enter  at all and I am the only one that has
>been given the key to the place!  I met  a  type 3 who  claims to be only
>interested in collecting sequoia cones but tramples indiscriminantly over a
>section of the outcrop that the  I have been concentrating my efforts in 
>(for
>good reason) potentially damaging material that is usaually already badly
>damaged by company activity.
>I have also ran into trespassers from _rock_clubs_ who want specimens for
>their show and swap tables.
>  It has taken me nearly 5 years to earn the trust of the owner involved 
>and
>it really irritates me when I run into type 4's! I even report such 
>sightings
>ASAP but of course nothing can be done unless they are caught.
> 
>Do not get me wrong though! I am as big a capitalist as the next guy and 
>also
>have been a type 3a before I set out to reach type 1 status (and may have
>been guilty of ignorance myself  >20 years ago). But the way things are 
>today
>with information exchange etc. I see NO reason at all where the type 3b's 
>and
>4's cannot be aware of the harm and trouble they cause. I have/do try to
>encourage such persons if the opportunity presents itself but I do not get
>confrontational and this has had little effect. As far as the sale of 
>fossils
>goes, unless it is on private property I am beginning to wonder if  more
>stringent measures  be employed to discourage type 3b and type 4 behaviour!
>
>Am I being too overzealous?
>
>                                                      Regards,
>
>                                                      Thomas R. Lipka
>                                       Paleontological/Geological Studies
>                                                       Tompaleo@aol.com
>                                                       
>

Neil Clark
Curator of Palaeontology
Hunterian Museum
University of Glasgow
email: NCLARK@museum.gla.ac.uk

Mountains are found in erogenous zones.
(Geological Howlers - ed. WDI Rolfe)