Re: *Giganotosaurus* running 50 km/h

["Ken Kinman" <kinman@hotmail.com>]

Dear All,
     There is a continuum of philosophies from extreme eclecticism (some of 
whom have been referred to as BANDits or feducciaries) to extreme cladism 
(luckily neither of these extremes exist on DML).  I have never liked either 
extreme, but can still respect the work of those who take these positions 
(or lean toward them).  Although the feducciaries may selectively ignore 
some of what others regard as "hard data", they are capable, intelligent, 
hard-working people, and their viewpoints should not be dismissed.
    I believe it is best to keep your mind open to both sides of such 
debates, as in the end they each may have a piece of the "truth" to 
contribute, each in their own way.  For many years the grouping Glires 
(rodents and lagomorphs) became unpopular, and those who used it were 
unfairly criticized (it was even called an idiotic idea based on 
convergences), but the pendulum has since swung back.  On the other hand 
Vermes seems to have been abandoned for good.  Branding Glires as being as 
"dumb" as Vermes obviously didn't make it so.
    Archosauromorph systematics will continue going through a similar 
series of  popular ideas becoming unpopular and vice versa.  Eventually it 
will all come out "in the wash", but a failure to remain open-minded will 
make the process more drawn out, unpleasant, and inefficient.  It is 
well-known that the hypotheses of one bacteriologist in particular upset me 
a great deal, but I can still respect him for the contributions that he has 
made to science.  And such squabbles seem much less significant in the 
context of recent events, and underscore the need to be more tolerant and 
open to differing ideas.  Who knows what surprises the fossil record still 
holds in store for us and how it may change our present interpretations of 
what we now consider "hard data".
      ---- Take care,  Ken


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