[Taxacom] Panbiogeography

[JF Mate]

Hi Ken. Sorry for replying so late but i am currently travelling around.
Your optimism is refreshing but ultimately a waste of effort. There is no
evidence that you can offer them that will satisfy them because you don't
know (or them I suspect) what they are arguing against. Whereas you, I or
most others can accept vicariance and dispersal as mechanisms (and have
said so repeatedly) we are labelled dispersalists. Go figure.
When you show them clear, factual evidence of organisms being sent across
the ocean, these events are either "too frequent" or so infrequent that the
probabilities cannot be calculated and therefore no different to astrology
(so much for only being interested in data). What you will never be shown
are the definitions under which they operate. Funny since they are
interested in patterns and this requires some sort of operational
definitions. But when a man's livelihood depends on not understanding
something, then they won't, no matter what you say.
"It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how
smart you are. If it doesn't agred with experiment, it's wrong." Stuff can
cross oceans, let them fight facts if they want. I have critters to catch.

Best

Jason