RyokoTK wrote:I don't have to. When scientists come up with theories, they have to prove them. They have to substantiate their claims and provide evidence. It's not the job of all of the other scientists to disprove any theory brought up -- otherwise you'd have a hell of a lot of crackpot theories floating around. It's the same thing here. You made the claim that they're perfect, and it's your job to prove it. It's not my job to prove you wrong.
Ryoko, your point is meaningful but your analogy is incorrect. Scientists create theories to explain what they observe as an attempt to provide a coherent basis for
explaining and
predicting phenomena. Such theories are checked (internally, by the creating scientist) for consistency and power. If it passes those checks, it's a (usually) slow process of permeation through the community as it disposes the previous, inferior theory. As such, it actually
is the role of the other scientists to disprove existing theories. Theories can never be proven
in toto because we never have complete data.
Your point that he has to substantiate his claim about perfection comes earlier: he's allowed to make any claim he wants (as are scientists), but the burden of proof, so to speak, is on him to convince you of his claim (crackpot theories don't fly around in the scientific community as much as they could because, quite simply, scientists -like you- are skeptical of claims and aren't quick to agree without being convinced). In this context, his map would be sufficient for being evidence. Of course, all you have to do to disprove his claim is take a look at it and realize (as irons did), inferior weapon placement or any other single point. Making a claim about perfection is pretty silly, in general, but he explained his reasoning (I suppose).
Sorry about the very intense correction there, but I make a career out of making sure people understand that point... so I have to evangelize whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Oh, and JC, I think your excitement got the better of you back there. Remember to breathe. And don't feed the troll.