From: XXXX@aol.com
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 08:00:15 EST
To: theroux@borderlandsciences.org
Subject: Fwd: SETI from David Whitehouse.
X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 167
Michael--
I think your readers need to see this.
Dr. Whitehouse is the BBC reporter who first went with the 'EQ
Pegasi' story
(hoax). Even though it was debunked on 10-26 on a PUBLIC LIST he
went with the
story, anyway, on 10-29. Much of the public's perceived
'credibility' of the
story harps back to this reporter's contribution from the
venerable 'Beeb'.
You should note that the BBC (10-29)story now on the web is
modified--despite
its 10-29 date. Various NG posts list the original.
(There is no excuse for failure of fact checking; for failure of
talking to
alleged confirmers; and so on. At least that is my opinion. That
is why this
story was--and is-- so destructive.)
My list comments led to a press release on 10-29 to stop the
obvious firestorm
created by the BBC story's flame.
Cheers,
NC
To: Dr_D_Whitehouse@email.msn.com, seti@sni.net
Subject: Re: SETI from David Whitehouse.
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******NOTICE***********
One and all are invited to re-transmit this across the web, on
newsgroups; web
sites; and so on.
Thanks!
NC
**********************
In a message dated 11/2/98 5:11:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Dr_D_Whitehouse@email.msn.com writes:
<< Greetings,
Given what I have read on this list in recent days about the EQ
Peg hoax
perhaps I may make a few comments.
It is clear that the accumulating inconsistency in the data on EQ
Peg force
one to believe that it is a hoax but that said, it is a great
journalistic
story.>
*By what criterion was this 'news'?
<That it could be a hoax is exactly what we said in our news
online item last
Wednesday "Either the most important discovery ever made or
an elaborate
hoax." We ran the item because, given the debate it had
started, >
*There was no debate. Starting with my comment on
10-26--immediately after the
data was downloaded onto the public list--we ALL knew it was
hoax.
<we wanted
to tell our viewers, in the words of Richard B-W on this list,
that "there's
this thing going on." Those of you who have read the report
will see that it
includes nothing that is incorrect or scientifically
inaccurate.>
*But it says nothing. That's not news.
< I think our approach was the correct one, pointing out that
it could be a
major discovery or a case of interference or a hoax and then
going on to
talk about seti and the problems in identifying a signal from
interference.
It will not surprise you that it was the story with the most hits
on our
website last week. I do not think viewers left the site
misled.>
*They left the BBC site without information. For example, who is
the person
behind the 7193 web site? Did you CALL GU0NHD and ask him about
the alleged
confirmation? Why not? Did you speak to Paul Dore (if he exists).
Why not?
<There is a lot to learn from this incident. >
*We do not have time to re-write 'Extraordinary Popular Delusions
and the
Madness of Crowds'. Apparently you wished to add another
chapter... tough
luck.
<What was surprising was the
slowness of any 'official' response from seti organisations and
individuals.
It seems that the serious-seti people were always behind the
story and were
never in command of the situation. >
*That was absolutely incorrect. Denouncement occurred on 10-26
after the
release of the data on a public list. Many people arrived at this
conclusion;
indeed the SL had done so over the weekend (or so I was informed
later on
10-26) and corroborated my explanation immediately after it was
said. THEY DID
NOT WISH TO CREATE A STORY, Dr. Whitehouse, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO
STORY.
*Your coverage was so provoking that I had to cancel early
morning range/lab
time to respond on 10-29. WHEN THE PRESS PICKED IT UP (THAT IS
THE VENERABLE
BBC) IT WAS IMMEDIATELY SHOT DOWN. That is what responsible
Ph.D.'s do.That
was 10-29.
*SHOULD I OR SOMEONE ELSE HAVE CREATED A STORY BY DOING A PRESS
RELEASE
EARLIER?! That is utterly perverse. There would have been NO
STORY if YOU had
not created it.
*Let me repeat that: There would have ben NO STORY if YOU had not
created it.
<Also the Setileague press release of last
Saturday refers to the "Apparent" hoax in its title,
leaving room for doubt
in the minds of journalists who may only read the headline.
Finally a minor point. My Ph.D is in radio astronomy from Jodrell
Bank (and
I have used the big dish there many times and always looked in my
data for
anything seti-like even though that was not the object of my
observations.)
Also I am on the IAF Seti committee.>
*How could you have acted so irresponsibly with a Manchester
Ph.D.?!
<Regards to you all,
Dr David Whitehouse - BBC.>
*Dr. Nathan Cohen