GIGObuster was not citing the “anonymous guy” on a matter of science, just showing an opinion.
But you are correct, Ají de Gallina, that understanding who you’re citing is important. That’s why I was surprised to see in another thread:
This was the only link I clicked in that thread; I thought a “dropped minus sign” might be something I could understand and save GIGO a click.
(BTW, Kudos to GIGO whose patience in these threads is inspiring!)
The screed you link to, Ají de Gallina, reduces my confidence in your arguments. Right off we see a cartoon poking fun at Al Gore. May I ask you, Ají, whether seeing such a cartoon enhances or diminishes your confidence in the site? Although seeing the cartoon “told me what I needed to know”, I did browse the rest of the page and discovered the fatuous blogwriter and his self-important writing just makes an (easily testable) guess about data. Are you suggesting, Ají, that scientists need to respond to every guess, however inane, put forth by an obviously ignorant layman? (I did see the blogger claimed to have won a Best Science Blog award :smack: )