Dale Brown wrote:
> Jan Heine wrote:
> > ...Instead, we'll be stuck with this
> > [mis]information from an "authoritative" source.?
>
> That is the real rub, this book will be used
> and quoted over and over again... Arrggh!!
Such citations serve as a gauge to the expertise of the person using
the citation. For example, it's currently faddish among cycling
advocates to cite Peter Jacobsen's "Safety In Numbers" article as
support for building all sorts of bicycle infrastructure. Last summer
it was Ian Walker's article about overtaking clearance. When you hear
an argument that leans heavily on Jacobsen's or Walker's findings, you
know the argument is likely to be specious. Similarly, when you hear
"75 Years" cited as an authoritative reference, you know to keep
looking elsewhere for the real information, and for someone who is
actually well informed on the subject.
--
Bob Sutterfield
Saratoga California USA