Hi Michelle,

By the way, is that Judy Singer from ASPAR, the same one who is a mainstay on the ISNT.

You said “Clare's observations re the connection between defamation and diagnosis are bang on. Even AutCom, who you mention, has been treated a great deal more politely and accurately (see the Clarifying Comments 2000 paper).”

Unfortunately that is accurate.

I was discussing general behaviorist opinion on the promotion thing, not certifiable reality.

You said “How much good critical writing about ABA have you seen in the public?”

Come to think of it, none. Its even more of the same in most professional critiques.

I have never met or heard Dr. Maurice speak, nor do I recall any advice on selling ABA, although I am sure that it exists.

You said “My conclusion is that maybe behaviourists are very thin-skinned re any criticism whatsoever, especially if it comes from outside the field, and exponentially more so if it comes from a person who uses the very behaviours they "treat" to educate herself and form a critique.”

You are over generalizing more than I can agree with. Behaviorists must be open to somewhat open to criticism if we are to succeed.

You said “Or maybe it's insecurity: if behaviourists don't know other fields, they will not want to hear from them. Easier just to invalidate the other fields from afar. Dr Mulick, for instance, made a large sweeping statement about all cognitive scientists.”

I take note.

You said “Interesting that Dr Maurice was "attacked" by accusations that her kids weren't really autistic. Now, anyone who opposes any aspect of ABA is accused either of not having "really" autistic kids (if parents), or of not really being autistic (if autistic). The irony isn't mine, John; it just arises from an accurate description of reality.”

Yes, the irony is not lost on me. Nor is the irony of the irony, so to speak. I don’t know though…..you claim that Twain was too sophisticated for you, but I think you would have done him proud.

You said “Any behaviourist could earn my support by arguing with my position and winning. I'm not wedded to a particular field. I work in cognitive science just now because my criticisms in this area were greeted not with invective but with the challenge, to me, can I prove it?”

Yes and that is the way it should be. Good for the cognitivists. And unfortunately your most active behaviorist partner/adversary/student/whatever on this site is barely old enough to legally drink, let alone incline you to DTT and ABA.