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| Had I jumped in, I would have given the commercial trade in dinosaur fossils the legitimacy it craves from scientists. Publicly it needs us so say the trade's doing Science and society a service, however indirectly; after all, qualified endorsements are always good for business. |
Back in January of this year I was invited to participate in
the Dino Death Match (DDM) documentary.
I declined.
Why? Because it struck me that
it would turn out as an infomercial for the dueling dinosaurs, which are privately owned specimens that are still for sale (as far as I am aware). I wanted none of it.
The topic of the doc - the Nanotyrannus “controversy” - dodges the substantive issue: the people who sell dinosaur fossils into private collections. But I'm sure the primary talking heads wouldn't want to talk about that, even if the topic was on the table. Interesting that a documentarian hasn't pursued the subject, so far.
I haven’t yet seen DDM, but I will as soon as it is
available to stream (I don’t get the Nat Geo channel from my provider). However, one of the online clips makes it clear that the dueling dinosaurs are a focal point, if not the focus, of the doc. I made the right decision.
Thanks, Thomas, for sticking to principles here.
ReplyDelete"However, one of the online clips makes it clear that the dueling dinosaurs are a focal point, if not the focus, of the doc."
ReplyDeleteI have seen the show, it is indeed the focus of the program. You were basically completely right in saying it is one long infomercial for the specimen.
Thank you Mike and Tom! I saw the doc a few nights ago, and I am preparing a follow-up post. I definitely dodged a steep compromise!
ReplyDeleteThis is a complete nosense, without commercial paleontology this unique specimen would've most likely never be discovered and thus get destroyed by erosion so you should thank the collectors for discovering it rather than crying and pointing fingers at them.
ReplyDelete