From: lee burwasser Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 13:49:25 -0400 Subject: NEW: Search for Terrestrial Intelligence (1/1) by Lee Burwasser Rating - G Category - V Spoilers - none, but this obviously takes place after "Field Trip" Keywords - none Summary - Hello, Earth to Mulder . . . Archive - yes, with the usual provisos Disclaimer - they ain't mine Feedback - sure Search for Terrestrial Intelligence by Lee Burwasser "Mulder, do I really have to tell you the basics of investigative procedure? "Yeah, Scully. Tell me. Spell it out for your clueless partner." Damn him, he was spoiling for a fight. OK, but don't let him choose the ground. Keep the voice calm, be the soul of reason. "Have you thought why SETI is respectable while UFOlogy isn't?" "You're doing the explaining, Scully. Why are the professionals with their high-tech scanners respectable while backyard UFO-sightings aren't?" "Straw man, Mulder." He looked startled. She had never called him on fallacies before. "Attributing a deliberately weakened argument to the opposition for the purpose of overthrowing it. In this case, factually incorrect; the SETI League is made up of amateurs, who build their rigs at home." Mulder said nothing, looked wary. "SETI is respected because neither the SETI Institute nor the SETI League blows off to the tabloids. They want to believe, and they know the danger of it. The first quasar and the first pulsar were mistaken for intelligent signals. Very embarrassing." "Where'd you pick up all this, Scully?" "The Internet, where else? My partner believes in extraterrestrials, I'd better learn about beliefs in extraterrestrials, hadn't I? "Where were we? Oh, yes: Wanting to believe can distort your observation and cloud your judgement -- *will* do so, if you don't take steps against it. The SETI groups take those steps. They have a regular protocol for reporting: re-acquire the signal, call for corroboration, check the database of Earth-origin signals, check the signal for Earth-origin fieldmarks, and *then*--" She thrust her finger at him like an epee. "*Then*, Mulder--" Another thrust. "--try to think what *else* it might be. Do that *before* you announce it. "It's just like what Bugliosi said about trying the case against himself; find all the holes in your case *before* you go to court and the defense counsel finds them for the jury. Criminal investigation or scientific, you test your hypotheses before you announce them. And you test by trying to disprove them. If you haven't the touch, get a friend to do it for you." She advanced to just into his personal space to continue: "For six years, I have been that friend to you, Mulder, and I WILL NOT BE TREATED LIKE AN ENEMY!" He backed away. Not expecting that, were you? You want me to open up, here's open. "*I* deserve better than that, Fox William Mulder! Do you want me to keep you honest or not? Yes or no?" "Of course I do," he said placatingly, trying for sweet reason now himself. "Do you understand now why I won't believe?" "Yes, I think you've explained that." He was recovering his snark. "Do you still want to be exempted from our 'perfunctory little dance'?" "'Exempt'?" "That 'perfunctory little dance' is *how* I keep you honest, Mulder. That 'perfunctory little dance' is what reminds you to back your hunches with evidence. You will *never* 'deserve the benefit of the doubt' from that 'perfunctory little dance,' because IT IS WORKING *FOR* YOU!" What, Mulder, you don't like me opening up? "You don't have to shout, Scully." "Nothing else gets your attention, Agent Mulder." He flinched at the sudden formality. "I can shout, or I can transfer. Take your pick." ===== ===== AUTHOR's NOTE: Vince Bugliosi is best known as the chief prosecutor of the Manson trial. ===== ===== Lee Burwasser *working stiff--don't blame me for policy*