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Date: Fri, 05 Jan 1996 18:48:13 +0100 From: R_Thomas@ACAD.FANDM.EDU (Roger Thomas) Subject: Re: Jurassic Park - Science and Society To: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk MIME-version: 1.0 Status: RO Well said, Roger Kaesler. Technically, Jurassic Park has a lot to recommend it, although I found the climactic 'threat of destruction' sequence unrelenting and ultimately rather tedious. However, the representation of nearly all the characters in the film, notably the scientists, as cardboard caricatures does science and society a considerable disservice. This encourages the general public to go on believing that the main threats to the health of society and the integrity of our environment, posed by human action, result from high technology manipulated by goons. Nothing could be further from the truth. The real challenge is to convince people of the dangers that may arise from the cumulative effects of distinctly low-tech activities by very large numbers of people just like us. But, there is hope. How refreshing to see "Time" magazine make a cover story out of one of the great creative episodes in the Earth's history. No dinosaurs, no catastrophic extinction, unless the possibly sudden termination of hapless vendobionts qualifies, just a spectacular, dramatic expansion of invertebrates with skeletons. Congratulations to the author of the article, who did a first-rate job, and to the editors of "Time". Roger D. K. Thomas Department of Geosciences Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster Pennsylvania 17604-3003 FAX: 717-291-4186 Office telephone: 717-291-4135 Home telephone: 717-560-0486
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