[vsnet-chat 7633] Recent postings to vsnet-chat

[Martin Nicholson]

I am left wondering about the influence on amateur astronomy of a man capable of writing a considered article of the kind that appeared in vsnet-chat with such elaborate hatred. John seems to take delight in pointing out perceived errors in the work of others while remaining curiously indifferent to the analytical and methodological mistakes in his own work.

In the last paragraph of an email sent to me recently the author, a well-known European variable star observer, declared it to be "certain" that John Greaves' work as an amateur astronomer "will continue to be remembered long after his personal attacks have been forgotten". I suggest that this is rather like claiming that Captain Edward Smith will be remembered for his 32 years' service with the White Star Line rather than for the couple of minutes when he steered the Titanic into an iceberg.

It is possible that another variable star astronomer might have escaped less badly damaged but John has spent some years setting himself up for precisely this fall. John is so eager to give offence and, above all, so violently contemptuous of the achievements and views of other people that there will be few who did not rejoice when hubris duly called forth nemesis. He seems to feel that almost everyone around him is dishonest or incompetent or a fool or a liar.