I'm really dubious about this whole thread.
I don't like the idea of targetting people who sign a petition we disagree with. I'm concerned that this will appear as a kind of witchhunt. I'm not saying it is a witchhunt; but I think it will be easy to make it appear that way. It may come across as a confirmation that this is about peer pressure and intolerance of dissent.
The strength of the conventional model is that it is NOT based on stiffling dissent, but on following the data and evidence.
It is certainly true that scientists are going to have to get smart about explaining their material and their position. The Steve list, for example, was great. Trying to root out dissent in the petition is probably a bad idea, that will not win over many of the folks we need to be reaching.
Just a thought -- Sylas
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