taphonomy question response (posted for W. Clopine)

From
Date
Reply-To
From: WILLIAM.W.CLOPINE@conoco.dupont.com
Priority: Non-Urgent
To: "INTERNET-PALEONET (052)" <paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk>
Subject: taphonomy question response
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 17:23:52 -0500
Status: O

FROM: Clopine, William W.

TO:  paleonet-owner                                           DATE:  08-31-95
                                                              TIME:  17:21
CC:
SUBJECT:  taphonomy question response
PRIORITY:
ATTACHMENTS:

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The following anonymous response to David Kohls request for information on
"the taphonomy of compression fossil insects and flora as found in
lacustrine material, ..." (posted August 30)  strikes me as condescending
and inappropriate to the spirit and intent of paleonet.  I don't know much
about insect fossils or their taphonomy, but surely we can do better than
this!

>   "They die, they fall in the water (or vice versa), they sink, they get
>   covered up, then they get mooshed by more sediment.  Ask a specific
>   question."

Mr. Kohls request for information is as specific as many I've seen on
paleonet.  Well informed and educated amateurs like him should be welcomed
and encouraged. They can be a valuable asset in our efforts to advance our
science and they deserve better.  With attitudes like this from the
"professionals" toward amateurs it is no wonder the tax paying public is
growing more reluctant to support paleontology.

There must be recent publications, ongoing unpublished research, others
interested in US to Asia to Europe insect/flora fossil comparisons, etc.?
Let's hear about them!

Bill Clopine
Sr. Geologist/Biostratigraphy
William.W.Clopine@Conoco.Dupont.Com

***********************************************************************

On Wed, 30 Aug 1995, David Kohls wrote:

> Hi Norm MacLeod--
>
> As you are obviously an integral player in the PaleoNet group,  I am writing
> this note to you to solicit your advice.  I would like to see some
> discussion on PaleoNet regarding the taphonomy of compression fossil insects
> and flora as found in lacustrine material,  especially as represented in the
> fossil record of the Eocene lacustrine beds in Europe, Asia and the western
> interior of the United States.  I would post to the list myself but I feel
> that since I am an amateur collector of Eocene compression fossils, other
> list-members would not be eager to respond.   So, I wonder, do you have any
> advice for how a discussion about this topic might be  initiated?  Thank you
> for your time and consideration of this request.
>
> A bientot,
>
> David
>
>