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Crackpot thug Stuart Pivar sues PZ over book review
I’m having the weirdest sense of deja vú.
From Boing Boing:
PZ Myers, Ph.D., Division of Science & Math, University of Minnesota, Morris, says:
I’m in an interesting situation. I wrote a very negative review of two versions of a book [Lifecode: The Theory of Biological Self Organization] by Stuart Pivar here and here. He claims to have a revolutionary idea for how evolution works, but his ideas have no connection to reality, and these lovely elaborate drawings he made look nothing at all like actual embryos. The bottom line is that I said his work was more about the evolution of balloon animals than biology.
His response is to sue Seed Media and Paul Z. Myers for “Assault, Libel, and Slander.”
One of my tasks on taking the job at Earth Island Journal was to repair the magazine’s reputation: a number of ill-advised articles had given EIJ a reputation for extreme credulity in matters pseudoscientific. I did my best to repair the damage, though I got complaints, like the one from the woman whose article on homeopathic treatments for radiation sickness I’d rejected. A legacy: the Journal had a fair following of people who would send me their fringe-science books, articles, and fifteen-minute voice mail messages.
I tended to smile and shine such folks on: life’s too short to argue with people who’ll never admit they could possibly be anything but the next Galileo. (Though I did let myself take out my frustrations on one guy who called me with a pitch about the nefarious link between Judaism and dioxins.)
But I always wanted to run stuff like that, with commentary added inline. If EIJ had been a blog rather than a 48-page magazine, I might have given in to the temptation to do so.
You have to wonder what Stuart Pivar was thinking, if indeed he was thinking at all, which is doubtful. The self-delusion involved, for anyone who knows about Pharyngula, in thinking that PZ would treat your New Grand Unifying Theory of Biology And Donuts as rosy-glow-suffused received wisdom? Just staggering. Add thuggery to the mix, being willing to sue (for assault!) over a bad book review, and the condemnation from the net is certain to be swift and uniform. Pivar should have left well enough alone: it’s almost certain at this point, given the way the internet operates, that “Stuart Pivar” and “whiny little thug” will become more or less synonymous. But that’s the crackpot fringe for you: only tenuous contact with reality.
Also, I really want to get my book finished now so that PZ can review it.
Posted by: Chris Clarke
Note: A database glitch in 2008 ate a bunch of archived comments. Don't be offended if yours isn't here, or confused if the conversation seems disjointed. Thanks!
I’ve never heard of such a thing! SLANDER??? Did he say something like “Pivar really isn’t a scientist”? (IS he really a scientist?) Because it seems to me, that would be the only way you could claim slander.
I’m curious as to what kind of evidence he thinks he has.
By: By Daisy on 2007 08 21
news flash: anyone can file a lawsuit about any alleged grievance at all. the primary requirement is paying the filing fee.
news flash: courts are equipped to deal with junk lawsuits.
random hypothetical example: assault is usually defined as an act to cause physical harm to someone, accompanied by an intent to cause physical harm to someone. [e.g., taking a swing with a baseball bat aimed at one’s head, but missing.] a negative book review doesn’t come close.
caveat: the person being sued has to show up in court and call bullshit. otherwise, the suing person wins by default, just like with baseball games.
random fact about libel and slander allegations: truth is a defense. also, people who put themselves in the public eye open themselves up to fair criticism.
the rule of publicity: any news is good news, as long as it gets people to pay attention. publishing twist on the rule: especially if it will get them to buy the book.
equal access to justice caveat: anyone with money can sue. anyone without money might have a hard time defending, if sued.
potential silver lining: i think at least some jurisdictions make the person suing pay attorney fees for the other side, if the lawsuit is deemed frivolous. but if the objective is to get press at any cost, that is not much of a disincentive to a rich plaintiff.
By: By kathy a on 2007 08 21
Perhaps Pivar should just stick to art collecting?
By: By Nikki on 2007 08 21
Also, I really want to get my book finished now so that PZ can review it.
Ha! Dude, we’ll all review it. Just get ‘er done.
By: By Dave on 2007 08 21
Dave, I don’t have enough cash to sue ALL of you. Just PZ.
By: By Chris Clarke on 2007 08 21
So, how is that book coming along, Mr. Clarke?
By: By nina on 2007 08 21
He must have money to flush down the toilet because when this is over he’ll be paying court costs, his legal fees and her legal fees. Law suits aren’t cheap.
By: By Lesley on 2007 08 21
Okay, so when I first saw this, I thought: it’s probably going to be a really unfortunate time and energy suck for PZ Meyers (though hopefully not too much, and also hopefully not a money-suck, once all the crazy comes out in the wash), but it will be damn funny in hindsight.
Then I clicked through the links.
With his craziness to the tune of 15 million dollars, Pivar not only harasses Pharyngula unconscionably, but also sullies the memory of my imaginary husband, Stephen J. Gould.
Now it’s personal.
Co-opt Not The Gould!
He Is Mine!
Some crazy can only be met with crazy.
You just let me know if you want to turn me and my mad Gould-Fu skilz loose on those balloon animals, PZ.
By: By Theriomorph on 2007 08 21
I remember when God sued PZ to prove his existence. That God ultimately lost is evidenced by the fact that PZ remains unscourged by locusts, unstruck by lightning and the Mariners are nearly even with the Angels. And God remains unavailable for comment.
Pivar had better have a better attorney than the Rumored Lord Almighty. Otherwise, he too, may be reduced to a myth, trolling science blogs with his battered shopping cart and unable to mutter obscenities at passing bloggers.
May PZ have mercy on his alleged soul.
By: By Kevin Hayden on 2007 08 25
